A family from Flintshire have expressed profound relief after the builder who swindled them out of £57,000 was sentenced to two years in prison. Claire and Dave Eddon’s dream of creating extra space for their three children turned into a prolonged nightmare when Chris Williams abandoned their two-storey extension project after just two weeks, leaving them in a hazardous construction site.
A Catalogue of Excuses and Social Media Revelations
For months following the abrupt halt in September 2022, Williams offered a stream of excuses to the desperate couple, citing poor weather, cashflow issues, illness, and unreliable subcontractors. Meanwhile, he was actively posting on social media about holidays, football matches, and days out at the races, flaunting a lifestyle funded by his victims’ money.
"We did everything right; we met him multiple times, checked his online reviews, and even spoke with previous clients who gave positive feedback," said Dave Eddon, 42. "He seemed like a perfectly normal guy. We could never have envisaged the nightmare that was coming our way."
Living in a Dangerous Building Site
The couple’s home in North Wales became unsafe and uninhabitable. A critical structural beam under their daughter’s bedroom was incorrectly measured and placed, posing a long-term safety risk. Their garden was rendered a dangerous bombsite, inaccessible and littered with debris.
"We had to live with that for months," Dave explained. "We were told by another builder that if the beam wasn’t rectified, it would be unsafe. There was unfinished work everywhere. We paid nearly £57,000 for a few weeks of work and we will never get that back."
The Emotional and Financial Toll
The stress took a severe toll on the family. Claire Eddon, 40, a teacher, ended up on medication for anxiety due to the constant worry and sleepless nights. The couple, who rarely argued, found themselves clashing daily over how to handle the situation.
"The irony was, we needed an extra bedroom because we were not getting any sleep with three small children," Claire said. "We got no sleep because of all the worry which followed. It was a nightmare."
Uncovering a Pattern of Deceit
In January 2023, another disgruntled customer arrived at their door, revealing that Williams had similarly vanished mid-project after taking his money. This prompted the Eddons to connect with seven other families who had grievances against the builder. Together, they formed a group and approached trading standards.
"Trading standards agreed to support us, but meanwhile Chris was allowed to continue working as a builder, which was unbelievable," Dave stated. "We found out he was about to go bankrupt for the third time but was still allowed to trade."
The Struggle to Complete the Project
Finding a new builder proved exceptionally difficult, as no one wanted to touch the partially completed and potentially unsafe work. The couple ended up paying tradesmen individually, with Dave, a marketing manager, taking on much of the labour himself alongside his full-time job.
They incurred an additional £60,000 to complete the extension, not including the cost of Dave’s own labour, bringing the total financial impact to over £117,000.
A Call for Tighter Regulation
"We went to court, not for ourselves, but to make others aware," Dave emphasised. "We’d like legislation changed so that builders are more tightly regulated. Williams was free to continue taking money from people right up to his court appearance, which just isn’t right."
Christian Williams, 53, was sentenced at Mold Crown Court on December 10 after admitting one count of theft and three counts of fraud by false representation. The Eddons hope his imprisonment will prevent others from suffering a similar ordeal and spur regulatory reforms in the building industry.
