An unlicensed builder who accepted thousands of dollars in payments from consumers for work that was either never completed or of a poor standard has been fined $50,000 in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court.

The court had been told that over 16 months, 30-year-old Joshua Robert Jones  accepted payments from 12 consumers for a range of building works around suburban Adelaide, including at Davoren Park, Greenwith and Mount Barker.

Jones accepted payments of up to $32,000 for building work he wasn’t licensed to carry out, including the construction of retaining walls, as well as fencing and concreting works.

The work was either never performed, or defective.

Jones admitted to working without a licence, and to wrongfully accepting payment for the works.

Magistrate Elizabeth Ferris noted Jones’ 12 victims experienced emotional and financial trauma as a result of Jones’ dishonest conduct.

“They repeat a common theme of having been ‘scammed’ by the defendant,” she said.

“I note some victims now have difficulty placing trust in others.”

“The defendant’s offending is serious by the fact of his using business funds for personal expenses, including paying for his wedding… this falls outside ‘making mistakes’ in the running of the business, and squarely into dishonesty offending.”

Magistrate Ferris fined Jones $50,000 in addition to compensation orders requiring him to repay a total of just over $136,000 to his victims.