Grandmother, 70, misplaced her life financial savings after ‘cowboy’ builder promised her dream extension however saved demanding extra cash earlier than leaving her backyard like a ‘scrap yard’
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A grandmother said her life was ‘ruined’ by an unscrupulous ‘cowboy’ builder who took her £14,000 life savings and left the rear of her house looking like a ‘scrap yard’.
Yvonne Elloitt, 70, had saved up for 10 years with the hope that she could have a 3m x 6m extension added to her living room at her home in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
The pensioner was planning to start the work in summer 2026 when she was approached by the builder who at the time was carrying out work in her neighbour’s garden.
Yvonne told him she was looking for an extension in the near future, but when he made her an offer last June she declined and said she would think about it.
Two days later the builder, who also lives in Leeds, knocked on her door holding a contract and said he could complete the work in three weeks if she agreed to it.
Over the next two months he allegedly took Yvonne’s life savings while never completing the extension as promised and leaving her backyard looking like a tip.
She also believed she was shown an invoice for around £9,000 worth of materials he claimed to have bought and were stored in his garden, which she paid up front.
But she says it turned out to be just a quotation, meaning the order for materials was never placed.
Yvonne Elloitt, 70, said her life was ‘ruined’ by an unscrupulous ‘cowboy’ builder who took her £14,000 life savings and left the rear of her house looking like a ‘scrap yard’
The builder built just two walls with breeze blocks before failing to complete the work
Yvonne also claims the builder has since agreed to pay back £13,500 for the incomplete work, which he has started paying.
The grandmother said the builder has ‘ruined’ her life and she is now sharing her story to raise awareness of cowboy builders.
She said: ‘Instead of doing a good job he ruined my life.
‘I don’t even go onto that side of my house, anymore because it upsets me.
‘I worked hard for that money and I have nothing to show for it.
‘At 70, I never imagined I’d be starting again – I can’t continue living like this.
‘If I can make one person stop and think before going ahead with a cowboy that would be great.’
Yvonne first met the builder when she was hanging washing out in her back garden.
Yvonne claims the ‘receipt’ she was shown for building materials was in reality just a quotation. Pictured: Her back yard has been left in an unfinished state
She said: ‘I told him I was saving for an extension and he then pitched to me that I would get a pensioner’s discount and if I paid cash upfront he would complete it in three weeks.’
‘I told him I would think about it and went on with my day.’
But Yvonne claimed he turned up unannounced in the following days with a contract and a fake receipt, which turned out to be a quotation including £8,500 worth of building materials.
She also claimed he said he could get started the next day if she agreed.
Yvonne signed the contract and paid the builder the money up front for what she believed was an actual material invoice.
The grandma said: ‘In the first week he worked three days where he dug down and laid foundations.
‘Over the next two weeks he built two walls with breeze blocks and that was it.’
Yvonne said the builder kept ignoring her calls or making excuses for why he could not come to work and finish the extension, which was supposed to have been completed.
The grandmother said she was left feeling ‘depressed’ and as though she had been ‘played a fool’ by the builder who took her life savings
She said: ‘He would say his car has broken down, or that he is poorly or that he is on holiday.’
Yvonne said on several occasions he returned to work and said he needed more money to buy materials like steel rods to support the ceiling, leading her to send him another £5,500.
She said: ‘I kept on giving him money even though there was no progress as I wanted the work completed.
‘I was getting desperate for it to be done and for him to move on.’
In late August – the last time she saw the builder – he came with four workmen she had never seen before, who told her could complete the work for another £7,500, but would have to start from scratch.
Yvonne said that was the moment she knew she had been ‘played a fool’.
She said: ‘I felt really depressed. I felt stupid and that I had been done over.
‘All I have is a scrap yard in my garden to show for it.’
Following her mother’s plight, Yvonne’s daughter – who wishes to remain anonymous – came across another builder called Graham Nash.
Graham – who runs his own company, Pinnacle Builders – regularly calls out rogue traders on his social media pages and helps homeowners who have been affected.
Yvonne said Graham came to the house within half-an-hour of being contacted.
Graham has since agreed to fix Yvonne’s extension if they can raise enough funds through a GoFundMe page.
He advised her to report what happened to the police, Trading Standards, and Citizens Advice.
Yvonne was told by West Yorkshire Police that the dispute was a civil matter.
Graham said: ‘The money will pay for the materials and we’ll give out labour for free.
‘Yvonne is 70-years-old and should be enjoying peace, warmth, and security in the home she has lived in for decades.
‘Instead, she’s been left with the pain and chaos of a shattered dream.
‘This isn’t about profit, it’s about dignity, and it’s about restoring a safe home and restoring faith.’
Yvonne has said Graham has been a ‘godsend’ and has given her hope for the future.
The builder declined to comment after being approached on multiple occasions.
