Former Waterloo Road star Zachary Sutcliffe has been handed a prison sentence after his double life as a deceitful builder was uncovered in Manchester Crown Court. The 32-year-old actor, who played troubled student Kyle Stack in the hit BBC drama, exploited his television fame to con customers through his sham construction company.
The Elaborate Deception
Sutcliffe operated ZS Building and Maintenance, using his acting credentials to appear legitimate while systematically defrauding clients. The court heard how he would accept substantial deposits for building work that was either never started or left incomplete, leaving victims thousands of pounds out of pocket.
His most prominent role as Kyle Stack in Waterloo Road between 2009 and 2011 provided the perfect cover, with customers trusting the familiar face from their television screens. However, this trust was brutally betrayed as Sutcliffe's business practices were revealed to be entirely fraudulent.
Victims Left Devastated
Multiple victims came forward with harrowing accounts of how Sutcliffe's actions had impacted their lives. One customer paid £3,500 for work that was never completed, while others described how their homes were left in dangerous conditions with building projects abandoned mid-way.
The court heard emotional statements from victims who spoke of the financial hardship and emotional distress caused by Sutcliffe's actions. Many had used life savings or taken out loans to fund home improvements, only to be left with building sites instead of finished rooms.
From Screen Star to Convicted Criminal
Sutcliffe's fall from grace marks a dramatic turn for the actor who once shared screen time with some of British television's biggest names. His character Kyle Stack was involved in some of Waterloo Road's most memorable storylines, including challenging relationships with teachers and fellow students.
Since his time on the popular school drama, Sutcliffe had struggled to maintain his acting career, gradually turning to construction work. However, rather than building a legitimate business, he chose to exploit his former celebrity status to perpetrate fraud.
Justice Served
Manchester Crown Court sentenced Sutcliffe to immediate imprisonment, with the judge describing his actions as "a systematic betrayal of trust" that had caused "significant harm to multiple victims." The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences and the calculated nature of the deception.
This case serves as a stark warning about the importance of thorough vetting when hiring tradespeople, regardless of their public profile or apparent credibility.
