A fraudulent builder based in Porthcawl has been ordered to repay more than £71,000, following a litany of complaints from customers who claim to have been left significantly out of pocket, and in some cases, emotionally traumatised. Paul Atkinson, 46, whose building companies targeted homeowners seeking extensions and orangeries, had previously admitted to a variety of offences including fraud and dishonest business practices.
Atkinson’s scam spanned at least three years, according to court documents, with the offending taking place between September 2019 and July 2022. Victims collectively lost over £147,000 during this period, money they had entrusted to Atkinson after being convinced by his professional demeanour and what later turned out to be fabricated evidence of prior work. In many cases, after deposits were paid, little to no work was carried out at all, or was left incomplete and of poor quality.
The builder operated under several company names, most notably Protecta Home Improvements, Protecta Design and Build Ltd, and later MET Construction Ltd. His companies advertised several fictitious office locations across South Wales and the South West, and showcased false portfolios on their websites. These misleading claims lured in clients, many of whom described a pattern where Atkinson’s initial communication was prompt and convincing, only to cease almost entirely once payments were made.
Several victims described being pressured—sometimes with threats—into removing negative reviews posted online, under the pretence that doing so was a condition for receiving refunds. The court heard grim accounts of customers falling into financial hardship as a direct result of Atkinson’s actions; one family’s plans to improve their home for a disabled child ground to a halt, while others had to remortgage their properties or cancel long-awaited holidays.
Emotional statements read in court painted a picture of mounting distress among his clients. Some described feeling naïve for having trusted Atkinson, with one person admitting his actions left her feeling “financially and emotionally drained.” Another spoke candidly of mental health struggles, revealing the ordeal led her to contemplate suicide. The impact was not only financial, but also cut deeply into victims’ personal and family lives.
A recurring theme was Atkinson’s aggressive conduct following payment. Customers reported that, instead of providing updates or refunds, he became increasingly dismissive and intimidating. Where work had begun, it was often left in an unsafe or unusable state—trenches dug and never finished, gardens rendered unusable, and construction left to deteriorate.
In a notable example, a mother seeking an extension to make her home more accessible for her disabled son detailed how Atkinson not only failed to complete the promised works but also responded with anger when confronted, forcing her to carry her son in a wheelchair through treacherous ground simply to get to their car.
Despite the financial windfall Atkinson enjoyed, including funding personal holidays and golf trips, the authorities were only able to recover assets worth approximately £71,250. This sum, made up of half the equity in a property and £3,000 in available cash, falls far short of the total losses suffered by his victims. Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Judge Carl Harrison at Newport Crown Court gave Atkinson three months to repay this amount.
Atkinson, of Woodland Avenue, previously pleaded guilty to numerous counts relating to fraudulent trading, false representation, and operating a business with intent to defraud creditors. He is currently serving a prison sentence of 43 months, handed down in September the previous year.
The case represents a stark warning to homeowners across the UK to remain vigilant when selecting tradespeople. It also highlights the significant emotional and psychological toll that financial scams can take on unsuspecting individuals and families, well beyond the immediate monetary losses. The community will be hoping that this ruling provides some measure of justice for the many customers whose lives were upended by Atkinson’s actions.