An Angus joiner who failed to complete promised work, defrauding tens of thousands of pounds from unsuspecting customers, has narrowly avoided jail.
Lawrence Kettles scammed a Carnoustie man out of £27,500 over a bathroom which never appeared.
While dealing with that customer, Kettles conned a Downfield man out of more than £33,000 for a kitchen he had already returned.
Still negotiating with both clients, Kettles managed to trouser another £5,900 after promising to fit a boiler at a Hilltown flat.
The 52-year-old, of Tiger Beach Drive in Carnoustie, was told his crimes has entered the “custody zone” when he appeared for sentencing.
His solicitor said his client had been overtaken by a “tsunami of incidents”.
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael sentenced Kettles to 210 hours unpaid work, reduced from 280 due to his guilty pleas.
He said: “These were serious offences, the gravity of which puts them in the custody zone.
“This will be a direct alternative to custody.”
‘Tsunami of incidents’
Kettles has been forced to sell his house in efforts to recompense his victims and has also declared himself bankrupt, Dundee Sheriff Court heard.
Defence solicitor Jim Laverty said: “He found himself caught in a tsunami of incidents.
“Legal advice was sought but at that time he was declared bankrupt.
“He sold his house to try and make good the repayments but the legal fees came to £40,000 — his house sold for £70,000.
“This was swallowed up by these fees.
“He has not put his head in the sand.
“All he can do is offer his abject apologies.
“He is ashamed.”
£27,500 from first victim
The Courier previously told how Kettles’ JWK Joinery had attracted a host of bad reviews online.
The first customer Kettles defrauded was a resident at Gibson Street in Carnoustie.
Court papers confirm the joiner had promised to complete building works which he stated would take 12 weeks.
Kettles initially quoted £31,500 and managed to induce him into paying £27,500 of it.
He claimed he had already purchased materials including bathroom fittings.
Kettles and the man had initially agreed the deal in February 2015 but by the end of June that year, the relationship had broken down.
The work was never completed.
Second and third victims
While Kettles was still being chased for work to be completed in Carnoustie, he began targeting another man in Dundee.
Kettles pretended he would complete £24,000 worth of building work in Eskdale Avenue.
He told his client he had bought a kitchen and timber frame to induce him into parting with his cash.
In fact, the kitchen had been returned to the supplier and the timber frame had never been purchased.
Between March and August 2015, Kettles manged to fraudulently obtain £33,850 from the man.
Kettles’ final victim was a man living in Nelson Street in Dundee.
In May 2015, he quoted £8,000 to install a new boiler and requested advance payments.
Their working relationship broke down within a week.
At a previous hearing, Kettles admitted defrauding the three customers.
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