Derby builder who wrecked victims’ homes sentenced for fraudulent trading

Fraudster exploited victims during two-year period

Update 26 August 2026: At the time of publication on 2 July, Michael Haslam had been sentenced to 28 months in prison. The Court of Appeal has suspended the sentence at a hearing on Wednesday 26 August. Haslam’s sentence will now be suspended for two years with a rehabilitation order. He will also be required to complete 160 hours of unpaid work.

At the time of publication on 2 July, Michael Haslam had been sentenced to 28 months in prison. The Court of Appeal has suspended the sentence at a hearing on Wednesday 26 August. Haslam’s sentence will now be suspended for two years with a rehabilitation order. He will also be required to complete 160 hours of unpaid work.

A rogue Derby builder who took more than £200,000 from homeowners while knowing his company could not pay its debts has been jailed.

Michael Haslam cynically ran M&J Builders Limited when it was insolvent, taking money upfront from homeowners and delivering as little work as he could get away with.

His victims, who often found his company through adverts in local magazines, paid thousands of pounds for home improvements between 2020 and 2022.

However, they were left with dangerous structures, no running water, and bills they could not afford to fix.

In the same period, money from the accounts was spent on cash withdrawals, Amazon and eBay purchases, and payments to Haslam’s own family.