Rogue builder jailed after leaving Bristol family with disabled children £36,000 out of pocket

A Bristol tradesman was jailed for eight months after admitting three offences under consumer-protection laws tied to a loft-conversion project for a family with two disabled children. Jason Brice, who traded as Creo Creations, took about £36,000 from the family and disappeared, leaving a roof that leaked and an unfinished job.

Mother-of-two Jaime Fagan, 46, and her partner Noah Fagan, 48, had remortgaged their home to fund the project, which they hoped would include a loft extension with a wet room and a spare room to allow a carer to stay overnight as their children aged 17 and 14 received care. They say the work was meant to improve long-term safety and enable their sons, who have special needs, to live more comfortably at home. Bristol Crown Court heard Brice promised to complete the eight-week job, and he presented himself as understanding of the family’s financial and caregiving pressures.

The project was more than a simple renovation: the plan envisioned upgrading windows, installing a bathroom and creating an accessible loft space that could eventually serve as a small apartment-style living area for the boys. The couple remortgaged to cover the costs, but Brice walked away after taking the money, leaving the roof to deteriorate and the home unsafe. Jaime said the situation rapidly spiralled from a hoped-for improvement to a prolonged, stressful ordeal that strained the family’s finances and their mental and physical health. "He walked away from our project with all our money leaving us with no means to make the house safe and usable," she recalled.

Brice had initially told the couple he needed a month off due to mental health problems, and they were sympathetic. But he never returned to work, changed his contact numbers and effectively vanished. It later emerged that he had posted photographs online of himself socialising in a nightclub and spending what appeared to be the family’s money. The images, which surfaced after the project stalled, added insult to injury for the family, who had already suffered a leaking roof and an increasingly dangerous living environment. The Heat of the moment pictures at venues like Popworld were described in court as a stark contrast to the empathy he had shown when pitching for the job.

The couple initially reported the matter to police, who said it was a civil dispute. Trading Standards subsequently took up the case and identified two other victims tied to Brice’s activities. At Bristol Crown Court, His Honour Judge Picton noted that Brice had engaged in “terrible stuff” by taking money for work he did not complete and by leaving families in distress. Brice acknowledged the offences at sentencing and was visibly subdued as he was remanded for punishment. As he was led away, he shouted, "What, I am going to prison, is that really necessary?" The judge’s one-word reply was unequivocal: "Yes."

Jaime spoke after the sentencing, describing the emotional and financial toll of the experience. She said the family had believed Brice’s initial assurances of understanding their situation and that the contract was essential to their children’s long-term wellbeing. She added that the pictures of him partying after taking their money felt like a betrayal of the trust they had placed in him. "The empathy and understanding disintegrated after the contract was signed," she said, recounting a period in which she felt trapped and intimidated. Jaime said she and Noah had to adapt and forgo other work and opportunities to care for their children, while fighting to keep their mortgage afloat and bring the loft project back under control.

The financial impact was severe. The couple had to spend more than £20,000 to fix basic issues and a further £29,500 for work Brice had already been paid to complete. By the time the project was abandoned in the wake of Brice’s disappearance, the family had remaining unfinished renovations and a roof that still leaked. They only recently began using the new space in July 2024, more than two years after Brice had started, but significant elements remained incomplete, including stairs and the landing ceiling. The extended delays forced Jaime to adjust her work commitments, switching hours and relying more heavily on support from family and friends to care for the children.

Trading Standards said Brice’s conduct affected multiple families, and two additional victims had come forward during the investigation. The court heard that Brice’s business, Creo Creations, gave the impression of a legitimate operation with references and a presence on consumer-review platforms, but the scheme proved to involve misrepresentations and substandard workmanship. The case underscores the risks associated with hiring tradespeople, especially for complex projects that require careful budgeting, scheduling and ongoing oversight. It also highlights the role of consumer-protection agencies in pursuing justice for households vulnerable to exploitation, and the penalties that can follow when trust is abused and a family’s safety and welfare are put at risk.

For Jaime and Noah, the outcome offers a measure of closure, even as the scars of the experience linger. They say the eight-month sentence, while not enough to repair the damage, signals that the court recognized the harm done to their family and the broader issue of rogue traders in the housing market. They emphasized that their focus remains on rebuilding their home and ensuring their children have a stable place to grow. In the meantime, the case serves as a cautionary tale for other homeowners who may be enticed by promises of quick, low-cost improvements, especially when vulnerable due to caregiving responsibilities or financial strain.