Rogue trader jailed Kitchen fitter stole £100,000 from families

A ROGUE kitchen fitter who took around £100,000 from 19 different families, ripped out their kitchens and then walked away with their money, has been jailed at Bristol Crown Court.

- Tristan CORK

Jamie Brown told a 'string of lies' to the couples and individuals who had hired him to fit kitchens, along with some who wanted new bathrooms or flooring, and left people 'devastated' when he finally admitted he wouldn't be doing any work and they wouldn't be getting their money back.

He even ripped out the kitchen of one couple who were weeks away from having a baby, and didn’t turn up to fit a new one, leaving them with serious disruption that affected the care of their newborn for months.

The 56-year-old, from All Saints Close in Longwell Green, appeared at Bristol Crown Court to be sentenced on 19 counts of theft in a prosecution brought by South Gloucestershire Council's Trading Standards department.

Nine of his victims were also in court to see his sentencing, and hear the circumstances around how he stole from them over the spring and summer of 2023.

Prosecuting, Lee Reynolds told the court that Brown would be very keen to be hired to undertake work, most of which was to either supply and fit or just fit new kitchens. He said "a pattern emerged" where he would warn prospective customers they needed to agree to the job and pay up front quickly or prices would go up, but once money had changed hands he would be evasive and elusive.

The court heard Brown would arrive to start work, ripping out kitchens and often leaving them there, but disappear again and give a variety of excuses about why he was not returning to begin work to fit a new one.