Mark Killick, who also went by the names Marc Cole and Mark Jenkins, had more than 100 complaints made against him, resulting in a jury finding him guilty of 37 counts of fraud by false representation after a lengthy trial at Bristol Crown Court, which lasted from May to October 2025.

Following a joint investigation by Avon and Somerset Police and Bristol City Council’s trading standards team, Killick, 56, from Paulton in Somerset was charged with 46 offences of fraud which took place between 2019 and 2021.

The value of the work not done by Killick for 37 customers was estimated at £1.27m, the equivalent of a ‘lottery win’, the court was told.

Customers spent over £1.47m with Killick’s company, TD Cole Ltd. The court heard how Killick would start work for some of his customers, who would then see no progress for months at a time, even after already spending tens of thousands of pounds.