'Cowboy builder scammed us out of £440k over 15 years'

AT LEAST 30 people have accused a "cowboy builder" of conning them out of more than £440,000 for incomplete construction work over more than 15 years.

- Tom Campbell

The group, most of whom have asked to remain anonymous, say they were scammed by Devon-based Steven Gent, who operates under many company names.

He was reported to the authorities in 2009 and more than a dozen times since with the total fraud claimed to be £442,665.

Trading Standards confirmed Gent was under investigation after a "number of complaints".

Wendy Craig, 66, from Preston, South Devon, paid him £7,000 to renovate her garage in September 2021 but was left with a mess.

She then created a "name and shame" Facebook group and soon found dozens of people complaining about Gent.