Rogue builder who charged pensioner extortionate price for substandard work prosecuted by Islington Council

Antonio McCarthy misled the victim, who is in her 80s, to extract money for work that should have cost £20,500 less than he charged.   

McCarthy, the sole director of UK Central Builders Ltd, cold-called the woman in her Islington home in May 2019, regarding a damp patch in her living room.    

He claimed that roof work would need to be done and quoted the woman a £35,000 price for the work – much of which was either not carried out, or was carried out to a poor standard.    

When the woman revealed that she did not have the financial means to pay the full price of the quote, the price was reduced by £8,000.   

However, the £27,000 fee that she paid was estimated by a council surveyor to be £20,500 more than the woman should have been asked to pay for the work. It is also believed that it will cost her roughly £4,000 to repair damage done to her roof during the work.   

On Wednesday, 17 March 2021, McCarthy, who is from the Haringey area, pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to two offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations. He was ordered to pay back £20,500 to the victim.    

At a sentencing hearing at the same court on Thursday, 6 May, McCarthy was given 16 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.   

He was also ordered to complete 190 hours of rehabilitation activity requirement, and to pay £2,000 toward prosecution costs. McCarthy was also handed a five-year criminal behaviour order - prohibiting him from “cold calling” at people’s homes.   

Sentencing McCarthy, His Honour Judge Holmes said the 25-year-old had caused more damage to the property than he had fixed, stating that the money he had obtained from the woman was “not for a true purpose”.  

Cllr Diarmaid Ward, Islington Council’s Executive Director for Housing and Development, said: “Islington Council is on the side of renters and home owners across the borough, and we are determined to ensure that everyone has a decent, safe and affordable place to call home.    

“McCarthy’s actions were nothing short of shameful, as he preyed on his victim’s vulnerabilities for his own financial benefit. It is only right that he be brought to justice and ordered to repay the money that he took from the victim.   

“This case sends out a very clear message that, where rogue builders look to criminally overcharge people for substandard work, they will be held to account by the council and the courts."  

Local people are strongly encouraged to be careful when choosing a trader, and to not agree to have work done by cold callers. The council recommends using a reputable trader approval scheme, such as buywithconfidence.gov.uk or www.trustedtraders.which.co.uk.  

Anyone wanting a “no cold calling” sticker can arrange this by emailing trading.standards@islington.gov.uk