Birmingham 'cowboy builder' accused over £10,000 renovation

May 24 2009 by Jonny Greatrex, Sunday Mercury

A COWBOY builder has left a family-of-five living in chaos after abandoning construction work at their semi-detached Midland home.

Paul Henstone, from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, was previously ordered by Trading Standards to clean up his act after a string of complaints from customers.

Now the businessman, 39, could now face a new court case for contempt after being accused of abandoning a Birmingham home extension – despite being paid £10,000.

Mohammed Kola, 41, says he has been left living in just three rooms with wife Salima, 36, and their three young children because of the dispute.

The electrician had hired Mr Henstone and his firm, the Extension Company Inc, in November to carry out renovations to his home in Handsworth.

An initial fee of £5,900 was agreed for the works, which included erecting a new roof on an extension and fitting new windows and plastering rooms.