Joanne Dennis, 81, took on Kelvin Humphries to build an extension on the bungalow she shared with her husband Charles.

Joanne said she needed the extension so life would be easier for her husband, who was suffering from cancer. But after the work got underway, it became “stop-start”, according to Mrs Dennis, and eventually stopped altogether.

By the time Dennis passed away, aged 80, they had paid Humphries just under £66,000, StokeOnTrentLive reports. And the couple's daughter and son-in-law, who also commissioned Humphries to work on their home, said they too were left in the lurch by the builder.

Joanne, who lives in Longton, Staffordshire, said: “I wanted the work done because I knew my husband was on borrowed time. I wanted him to be able to spend time in the extension, to listen to his music on his sound system. I wanted a proper kitchen so I was able to cook for him. But with the work going on all I had was two microwaves, a toaster and an ActiFry.”

Joanne said work got underway at Christmas 2020, and in June Humphries asked her for another £16,000 towards the work. She said in November of 2021, she was told by him that he had under-estimated the cost of putting foundations in. She grew concerned around Christmas 2021 that the cold weather was going to set in and have an impact on the extension, so she says she handed over money for doors and windows.

Banking records seen by StokeonTrentLive show Humphries received £65,890 from the couple between November 2020 and December 2021.

Joanne's daughter Cath, 58, who attended Berryhill High School and was in the same year as Humphries, had a similar experience - not seeing or hearing anything of him since the same time last year.