A company director who tried to charge an East Cambs home owner nearly £6,000 for decorating, has been charged with fraud

Carl Shrubshall of Thurston near Bury St Edmunds has appeared in court charged with fraud relating to building contracts worth just under £1million.

Shrubshall is facing a total of 25 charges involving five houses after an investigation by Suffolk County Council’s Trading Standards officers.

The 45-year-old was a director of Beckwill Builders Limited in Bury St Edmunds when the alleged offences are said to have taken place.

Shrubshall is facing nine charges of fraud by false representation.

These date from April 2010 to June 2012.

Shrubshall is alleged to have intended to make a gain of £5,600 for decorating costs which were not completed at a property in Stretham, near Ely.

Another relates to a property in Whittlesford, Cambridge, where Shrubshall is accused of trying to make a gain for himself of £5,800 for gas to be connected, when the actual supply cost was £397.

Another charge alleges that in falsely claimed in an email that he had a total workforce of 22 people employed directly by him intending to secure a building contract worth £369,323.

Another accusation involves a cottage in Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire which alleges Shrubshall had written to someone claiming his company was based in Wokingham in order to secure a building contract. The amount of money involved is said to be £161,556.

In addition to the false representation charges, Shrubshall is also accused of 13 offences of fraud by abuse of position.

One claims he invoiced for £4,006 for a local building control warranty which was not obtained.

Shrubshall’s first hearing was before South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.

The case was committed to Ipswich Crown Court where Shrubshall’s preliminary hearing will be on July 7.