Between 2019 and 2021, a calculated deception unfolded, leaving a trail of shattered dreams and financial ruin in its wake. Operating under the guise of TD Cole Ltd, Mark Killick preyed on homeowners, accepting substantial upfront payments for construction projects he had no intention of completing.
The scheme wasn’t simply a failure to deliver; it was a meticulously constructed Ponzi scheme. Killick used funds from new, unsuspecting clients to temporarily cover costs for existing jobs, creating a false illusion of progress while sinking deeper into debt and personal indulgence.
The scale of the fraud was staggering, estimated at £1.25 million. But beyond the monetary loss, lay a profound emotional toll. Victims described a harrowing experience of broken trust, relentless lies, and a future irrevocably altered.
One homeowner, stripped of £75,000, confessed the loss was “unbearable and haunts me every day.” Forced to extend his mortgage, he faced the agonizing task of finding another contractor to salvage a project left in ruins.
For another, the dream of a comfortable retirement vanished. A loss of £17,000 meant her husband, battling health issues, could no longer leave his job as planned, their golden years stolen by Killick’s greed.
The consequences extended beyond finances. Families were displaced, forced to abandon homes rendered uninhabitable by unfinished, and often dangerous, construction. One victim recounted the terrifying reality of a collapsing roof directly above her son’s bedroom, a hazard Killick knowingly ignored.
The deception was relentless. Victims spoke of endless false promises, fabricated excuses, and constant demands for more money, even as the work remained undone. A sense of helplessness and betrayal permeated their accounts.
One woman endured months without a functioning kitchen, living amidst holes in the walls and floor, washing dishes in the bathtub. The constant frustration and stress, she explained, were “incredibly” difficult to bear, compounded by the realization that her money was simply gone.
Killick wasn’t a novice; he was a seasoned fraudster. Prior to operating as TD Cole Ltd, he had been investigated and convicted for similar crimes under different names – Killick in 2008 and Mark Jenkins in 2014. A prior bankruptcy further underscored a pattern of financial dishonesty.
In a calculated move to conceal his past, Killick legally changed his name to Marc Cole in 2019, making it significantly harder for potential clients to uncover his history. He presented himself as a legitimate businessman, expertly manipulating trust to fuel his scheme.
Detective Constable Charlotte Suter described Killick as “a master of deception,” a serial offender who repeatedly exploited the vulnerability of others. The investigation, a complex three-year effort involving multiple agencies, meticulously traced a web of banking records and alias names.
After a five-month trial, Killick was found guilty on 37 counts of fraud and sentenced to 14 years in prison. He will also be barred from acting as a company director for 15 years and subjected to a five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order upon his release.
While the sentence offers a measure of justice, the emotional and financial scars left by Killick’s actions will undoubtedly linger for years to come. The investigation team hopes the conviction provides some solace to the victims, a small step towards rebuilding their lives.
