Heartless rogue trader cons family of amputee boy out of £4,250 in botched garden refurb – but hero locals save the day

A HEARTLESS rogue trader has allegedly conned the family of a double-amputee boy out of £4,250 in a botched garden refurb.

William Ashington, 10, struggles to walk in his garden in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire due to his prosthetic legs.

His parents Philomene and Craig saved up to pay for a new garden so he could play outside during the summer.

The couple claimed they handed £3,900 to a landscaper for materials, along with a further £350 for some raised flowerbeds so their son could grow vegetables.

But soon after handing over the money, Philomene and Craig, both 44, claim the contractor fled with their money – reportedly on holiday to Skegness.

Philomene said the worker was “the lowest of the low” as he knew he was “taking from a disabled child”.

Left more than £4,000 out of pocket, the family were then amazed as local dad Nick Harris rallied around for William.

Mr Harris – who also claims to be a victim of the same alleged scammer – contacted contractors so the brave little boy wouldn’t be let down and set up a page.

More than eight local businesses have helped transform their previous yard into an ideal play area for William.

William was born with fibular hemimelia, a birth defect where part or all of the fibular bone is missing, meaning he had both feet amputated when he was eight.

Philomene said: “We’d saved up quite a lot of money. We’re just a normal family. We were originally going to put it towards a sports wheelchair for William, and we gave him a choice.

“He said, ‘Mummy, I’d love a really nice garden so I can play’. That’s what we decided to do.

“William suggested we used his wheelchair money to get the garden nice and safe and secure.

“We instructed this tradesman, a garden landscaper who we thought was fine, because he’d done work for others in the town.”

Philomene said the turmoil has taken its toll on William.

“William is a really happy child, he’s never stopped smiling, but this has really worried him recently,” he said.

“It’s been really stressful. We felt initially quite embarrassed that we’d given all this money upfront to somebody. It’s an impossible situation.

“It’s made us more aware now, but when you struggle to get a tradesperson to come in the first place, you trust that person.

“He knows what he’s doing. He was messaging Craig saying ‘I can’t wait to see the smile on your boy’s face’.

“It’s cruel. Fair enough, take money out of our pocket, we can deal with that and it’s a mistake that you learn from.

“But to take from a disabled child, that’s the lowest of the low.”

‘DISAPPEARED’

William’s parents claim the worker disappeared without a trace a couple of weeks before he was due to start the project.

After Mr Harris learned of their story he made it his mission to help them out.

Philomene said: “It was really heart-warming for us that someone like Nick has orchestrated everything. He’s got all these tradesmen involved, which is the positive side for us.

“It’s been really overwhelming for us. We’ve been through a lot, but just we’re normal people and don’t take any charity.

“We don’t like to ask for help because we get on and do things ourselves, so for us it’s overwhelming that these people want to help William and give us an amazing garden.

“It’s restored our faith in humanity. Someone set up a GoFundMe page – it’s been amazing.

“Ten’s a funny age and William picks up on things. The fact these guys are going to come and do the garden, he said ‘there are good people out there’. I said ‘yes, there are’.

“If there’s ever an award, Nick needs it. He’s been amazing.

“We can’t believe how kind people are. We’re really humbled by it.

“We can’t say thank you enough to these people. It’s going to make a huge different to William and our family.”

Mr Harris claims the original contractor has “done a runner to Skegness'” and even allegedly scammed other families – taking £35,000 in deposits.

Staffordshire Police confirmed they are investigating.

A spokesperson said: “Staffordshire Police is investigating a number of frauds in the Uttoxeter area. No arrests have been made.”