Cowboy Builder Jailed After Leaving Home on Brink of Collapse, Impacting Couple's Wedding Plans
A rogue builder has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for defrauding 13 households out of nearly £700,000, with one victim reporting her home was left structurally unsafe after paying £64,000 for unnecessary work.
A woman has detailed how her home was left at risk of collapse and her wedding plans severely stressed due to the actions of a "cowboy builder." Joanne Dagostina and her husband, Anthony, paid rogue builder Patrick Hartley £64,216 for an extension and new kitchen. Following the completion of the work, a structural engineer determined the house was unsafe.
Hartley, 51, has been described by Lancashire County Council as one of the most prolific and heartless fraudsters they have encountered. He defrauded 13 households across the North West of England, accumulating nearly £700,000 in total, with many victims requiring additional funds to rectify incomplete or substandard work.
Last month, Hartley was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for his actions, which resulted in approximately one million pounds in costs and losses. Joanne Dagostina expressed that the sentence was too lenient given the risk to her family and neighbors, stating, "The fact that me and my children are still alive is nothing short of chance."
Dagostina recounted that Hartley provided numerous excuses for delays and shoddy workmanship while continuing to accept payment. The construction project, which was initially estimated to take 12 weeks, ended up taking seven months. The Dagostinas had to pay to have the entire installation ripped out and rebuilt to ensure structural safety.
The couple found Hartley through Facebook in late 2021, reportedly swayed by positive reviews and his seemingly genuine demeanor. Hartley initially quoted £34,000 for the extension and kitchen, commencing work in February 2022.
During the project, Hartley claimed additional issues were discovered, necessitating updates to the electrics, damp-proofing, and replacement of shower and tap fixtures. Dagostina later questioned whether these additional repairs were truly necessary, especially as her father passed away during this period. The disruption included prolonged periods without a functional bathroom, forcing the family to live in disarray.
The Dagostinas paid Hartley over £70,000, with £5,000 being refunded when Hartley admitted he could not source specific doors. By August, the project was declared complete, though the couple was dissatisfied. Their concerns escalated when Building Control requested documentation for steel beams that were not visible in the extension. An engineer subsequently informed them that their home was at a 200% failure risk and unsafe downstairs, posing a danger to neighbors as well.
The couple incurred an additional £14,000 for urgent remedial work, which Hartley refused to cover. After failing to get restitution from Hartley directly, they contacted the police and trading standards. They eventually joined forces with other victims to pursue a prosecution.
Hartley initially faced 26 charges but pleaded guilty in May 2025 to six fraud offenses and three under consumer protection regulations. He was sentenced at Preston Crown Court and received a seven-year criminal behavior order prohibiting him from owning a business involved in private building work.
Hartley's sentencing coincided with the UK government's announcement of new measures to combat cowboy builders. Prime Minister Andy Burnham proposed that customer deposits be held securely and released incrementally as construction progresses, aiming to protect homeowners from similar experiences.