Swindon cowboy builder caused 'suffering and misery'

According to a surveyor, this loft conversion could have "catastrophically collapsed"

A cowboy builder who carried out substandard work was "highly reckless", causing his victims "suffering and misery", a judge has said.

Raj Kumar Bagga, 59, from Swindon, installed a loft conversion that could have "catastrophically collapsed".

He admitted three trading offences at Swindon Crown Court.

Bagga, who traded under the name of R and L Building Solutions, was given a suspended eight-month prison sentence and 200 hours community service.

The court was told Bagga, from Old Walcot, carried out house extensions and renovation work but left many of his victims out of pocket.

'Highly reckless'

Sentencing Bagga, Judge Townsend described him as a "cowboy builder who was highly reckless and had caused his victims suffering and misery".

He was investigated by Swindon Borough Council's Trading Standards team, which found he did substandard work that he left incomplete after taking money in advance.

A surveyor also found a loft conversion to be unsafe, the court was told.

Bagga is not allowed to do any building work for 10 years

Bagga admitted three charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations which took place during 2022 and was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on 23 February.

He was also handed 25 rehabilitation days and a criminal behaviour order banning him from undertaking any building work in his own capacity, or any business operated by him, for 10 years.

'Destroyed hopes'

Councillor Jim Grant, Swindon Borough's Council's cabinet member for communities and joint working, said Bagga's actions were "reprehensible".

He said the council would "not tolerate" traders who behaved in this way and would continue to take action against them when they were reported.

"They [customers] thought he was carrying out work to improve their homes, yet he destroyed their hopes and dreams leaving behind a trail of shoddy sub-standard work, often incomplete," Mr Grant added.