KIND-HEARTED builders are stepping in to help an 83-year-old woman after a cowboy builder allegedly fleeced her out of thousands and left her house in danger of collapsing.

A builder employed to create a house extension to help Jacqueline Johnston’s dying husband is said to have taken almost £16,000 in payment before disappearing, leaving the job unfinished and in a dangerous condition.

Backed by builders across the UK, a Darlington firm has now launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund the £22,000 needed to demolish and rebuild the extension.

Just weeks after the death of her husband, Mrs Johnston realised that the rogue builder was not going to return to finish his job and contacted Darlington firm Premier Building to complete the outstanding work.

Company surveyor Steven Mitchell said he was brought to tears after meeting Mrs Johnston, who is from Leeds, and seeing the damage caused to her home.

A structural engineer’s report reveals a catalogue of errors in the builder’s work, including foundations built on landfill, window fixing screws used to hold timber and a “very poorly installed” roof structure that “if it had any weight imposed, would fail instantly and collapse causing death or serious injury.”

Angered, Mr Mitchell shared Mrs Johnston’s story on the Builder’s Talk website, where he was inundated with offers of help from builders and tradespeople.

The team at Premier Building are now hoping to raise enough money to restore Mrs Johnston’s property and complete the extension at no cost to her.

Mr Mitchell said: “While this building was going on, her husband died and this man still took money off her.

“I’m glad he didn’t complete the work because it could have all collapsed and killed someone.

“When I met her, I could feel myself welling up one minute and angry the next as she sat crying and blaming herself - she’s looking at £22,000 to rebuild it and she’s got no money left.”

Warning others to be on their guard against cowboy builders, Mrs Johnston praised the Darlington firm whose workers have rallied around her.

She said: “This man took advantage of the situation, of my age and I feel very angry, I had never insulted him and he has never apologised or offered to make this right. - it could have caused someone to be killed.

“I was desperate when I hired him and I would warn people to make sure they only get a reputable builder by checking they are registered with the Federation of Master Builders or government accredited.

“I think those helping me are marvellous because I’m in a really bad situation now and I’m very grateful that they are trying to help in such a way.”