A FAMILY is living on a building site after paying £53,000 to a builder who failed to do the work.
Carmel, 35, and Gareth Pondsford, 42, paid an initial £30,000 for Carl Harrison Mills to carry out work inside their house, including separate bedrooms for their three kids.
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But the couple and their children, two of whom have autism, have been living on a building site since he abandoned the work halfway through in August 2021, demanding more money.
They have since secured a county court judgement against Mr Mills for a final total of £53,263.95 that he owes them after the builder did not defend the case.
Parish council clerk Carmel, who lives with engineering manager Gareth and their kids, in Stroud, Glos., said: “We are devastated.
“We work so hard and it’s all been what it seems like for nothing.
“We just wanted a bedroom and safe space for the kids, because they all need that.
“Children with additional needs are a lot and it takes its toll on the rest of the family, let alone the parents.
“The kids just need somewhere that’s their own.
“It’s been pretty tough. We try to count our blessings, but some days it’s tough if we’ve had a bad night with our son or work.”
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Parents Carmel and Gareth had remortgaged their home to pay for the work after wanting separate bedrooms for their kids with two about to start their GCSEs in September.
After Mills stopped turning up for work and answering their calls, the couple turned to Gloucestershire Police who said their situation was a civil matter and they could not intervene at this stage.
They then applied for the county court judgement against him.
Carmel added: “We just don’t want anyone else to be conned by this man.
“If we can stop just one person being in this situation then that’s exactly why we’ve done this.
“We’re trying to make our family’s life better and he’s ruined it.
“It’s unlikely we’ll ever see our money again, but hopefully nobody else will get hurt by this man.”
Mr Mills has so far not responded to requests for comment.
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