A Bedfordshire carpenter has been handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting to defrauding customers out of thousands of pounds for work he never completed. Michael Kempson, 39, of High Road, Beeston, ran TwistedKnott, a business operating across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, and took upfront payments for jobs ranging from window glazing to room renovations, which he subsequently failed to carry out.
Kempson appeared at Luton Crown Court, where Recorder Kate Aubrey-Johnson described his victims as “vulnerable” and left feeling “violated” by his actions. The court heard that over a two-year period between 2022 and 2024, ten victims lost a combined total of approximately £15,000.
Prosecutor Victory Abang explained that Kempson had used a consistent pattern to defraud his clients. He advertised services on social media, visited homes to provide quotes on letter-headed paper, and requested half of the payment upfront. Once the money was paid, he would fail to complete the work, offering a variety of excuses such as hospital visits, a poorly child, or even the death of his father, who was in fact still alive. Most of those affected were elderly.
Barrister Victoria Gainza, representing Kempson, stated that he had not deliberately targeted vulnerable individuals and emphasised his remorse and willingness to make restitution. She added that Kempson, of previous good character, was now training to become a driving instructor. The victims’ average age was reported to be 56.
Recorder Aubrey-Johnson sentenced Kempson to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years. He must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work, pay £15,000 in compensation within three years, and participate in a mental health treatment programme as part of his sentence.
The judge told Kempson: “He has gone into their own homes. He has told everyone lies in order to win their trust and get them to part with money. They are left violated.” While acknowledging the seriousness of the offences, she also noted that there was a “really big prospect of rehabilitation” for Kempson.
The case highlights the dangers of trusting tradespeople without proper verification and the lasting impact that fraud can have on victims, particularly older and more vulnerable members of the community.
