'He took us for fools' Cowboy builder caught partying online

A COWBOY builder from Bishopsworth was caught out after abandoning a job for two disabled children after pictures of him partying in a nightclub were posted on social media.

- Tom BEVAN bp@reachplecom

Rogue tradesman Jason Brice had been employed by mum-of-two Jaime Fagan after she remortgaged the family home to build a loft conversion to accommodate their two teenage sons with special needs.

But after walking out on the job leaving it in a ‘shoddy’ state of repair and with a leaking roof, Brice disappeared with their money claiming mental health and family difficulties.

He was eventually tracked down when victims Jaime, and her partner Noah Fagan, 48, saw images of him on social media partying at a nightclub and “flashing” wads of cash at the bingo.

Last month he was jailed for eight months after admitting three offences under consumer protection legislation.

Speaking after the sentencing Jaime, 46, from Bristol, said it had been “years of hell” and they were left around £36,000 out of pocket with some work still unfinished.

And she said finding the picture of him ‘partying’ in Popworld while flashing their cash had just added insult to injury.

She said: “He had disappeared, leaving us with a hole in our roof. When I saw the pictures of him out and about at Popworld, and the Brean holiday site, spending our money with his friends, I felt completely sick.

“He had taken us for fools. He had played on our insecurities to take our money for a good time.

“He was aware this was all the money we had. He knew what a negative impact this would have on our family, and he did it anyway”