Protia Design & Build - Espen Jewhurst - insolvent Post Reply

[Robertgarrett81]

If you have been affected by Protia Design & Build (now in insolvency) failing to complete work, or any of their related companies, please get in touch. Please be wary of Protia if they are continuing to quote to take on contracts. I would be interested to know.

[schoolgatesmum]

Didn't you just post about Gerry McGratten? You're not having much luck are you?

[MHX]

We have been stung by this building company and we would suggest people steer clear! Happy to discuss off line ...

[Morrison60]

Yes, he's tucked up quite a few people and it's not the first time he's closed down a company. Who was that off sunning himself in South Africa and then the Bahrain Grand Prix with a pocket full of cash as Protia went under? Federation of Master Builders. Really? Give them a call.

[Robertgarrett81]

Morrison60 - Have you been directly affected? It beggars belief that there is no recourse to redress in our legal system when someone like Espen Jewhurst does this, and with full knowledge of the consequences, having done it before, as we found out to our cost too late. I happened to have the misfortune to bump into the blighter in Sainsburys Local not so long ago, and it is clear he is still not on the bread line, and feels no remorse - he associates it all "with the Company". He forgets that he is the Company in the client's eyes - if not the law. I would dearly love to get my money back, and failing that, to know that he cannot do this again to people.

[Morrison60]

Have a read of Lifting The Corporate Veil. Also look at his father's connection to Protia. Do you enjoy going to the gym? I hear there's a good one at Virgin Active Clapham Common. Perhaps look out for a guy in a Protia T-Shirt.

[Morrison60]

Also, you need to look closely at the affiliations he claims to have at Protia such as Gas Safe and Federation of Master Builders. I'm sure he's aware that installing boilers without relevant certifications is a criminal offence. Laughably poor quality of work at Protia. When he's strolling around the gym in the Protia T shirt, I wonder which Protia it refers to. Is it the bust one where he pocketed tens of thousands of client money? Remarkably proud of it.

[supergirl]

I am sure i dont understand all the details, but i gather they went bust, havent finished the work they started in your houses, so you lost your money, and one guy (the MD?) still parade locally... I m sorry for you, really this is horrible.

I dont know the law fully in this country, but could you not organised a class action of some sort? Or is it only in US?

Good luck.

[Morrison60]

This is the law. If Jewhurst is using Protia Group of companies as a trading name then is worth finding out if he could be criminally liable.

http://www.bis.gov.uk/insolvency/Compan ... of-the-law

When a company goes into insolvent liquidation any person who was a director of the company in the 12 months before the liquidation is generally restricted from acting as a director of another company with the same or significantly similar name, (which is known as a prohibited name) without the permission of the court. Breach of that restriction may be a criminal offence.

[Ladystardust]

I'm sorry to hear this also. I'm not sure if the company is in liquidation or administration but in either case one of the duties of the liquidator or administrator is to investigate dodgy conduct of directors, and transactions which took money out of the company leading to its insolvency with a view to recoup that cash for creditors. There could be personal liability for the directors for wrongful or fraudulent trading ( which means the directors would have to stump up to make good losses to creditors as a result of such trading) but the liquidator or administrator would have to prove it, and would need the resources (ie cash) to pursue a case against the directors. For that, they will look to the creditors. These investigations can be a costly and time consuming business and how they are conducted comes down to whether there is funding, and the cost/benefit analysis of pursuing such litigation.

The liquidator must also report on the directors' conduct which can result in the director being struck off for any future director appointments.

One saving grace may be if you had an arrangement whereby any deposit or other monies you paid could be deemed to be held on trust and therefore not actually released to the company (eg if you paid money into an identifiable account to be used for a specific purpose). If so, technically those monies would still be yours, and therefore you would not be treated as an unsecured creditor of the company and you would be entitled to be paid back in whole ( assuming there is any money left in the company and those funds are identifiable) rather than a percentage of what's left in the pot for unsecured creditors.

I hope this helps. I'm an insolvency lawyer on maternity leave so you've got a 1000 mile over view of the general legalities without knowing any details.

[Morrison60]

I suspect there was no segregation of client monies. I understand the admin at Protia at 2 Scout Lane was shockingly poor, even when the office wasn't being vandalised by angry people. As far as the liquidator is concerned, I understand there is some suspicion that they are friends that go way back. It's hard to imagine him breaking his back to help out. Someone should look into that if they attended the liquidation meeting and know who he is. Use Facebook and Linkedin to better understand their relationship. Maybe he handled a previous liquidation for Espen.....

Protia Plumbing and Heating is in business. The address is below. It's also possibly a residence of Gisela Sharpe, an accountant who helps Espen Jewhurst. Maybe she knows what he did with all his client's money?

PROTIA PLUMBING & HEATING LTD
c/o GISELA SHARPE
48 MARTINEAU LANE
HURST
READING
BERKSHIRE
UNITED KINGDOM
RG10 0SF
Company No. 07096519

[Robertgarrett81]

I am fairly certain that there was no segregation of client monies. The conclusion you have reached about 2 Scout Lane is not far from the truth that I witnessed in person.

Furthermore, I also attended the insolvency hearing and witnessed the close relationship between the account handler and Espen Jewhurst. I intend to write to the Ombudsman to let them know that it is not overtly professional or advisable to call the insolvent client "'mate" in front of assembled creditors. The conduct of the appointed Partner, Lane Bednash, was slightly more professional, however I am certain that we can demonstrate that the same firm and potentially the same partner have acted for Jewhurst both in 2010 and 2012. This should surely raise concerns with Wandsworth Trading Standards.

As for Protia Plumbing and Heating, who are still trading I believe, thank you for highlighting this interesting information. I can demonstrate clearly that Protia Plumbing and Heating were operating in compass with Protia Design and Build, as I have electronic copy of quotes for elements of the work which they were quoting to undertake (demolition) whilst Design an Build were slated to complete the main build, something which they never did, nor had the opportunity to do before insolvency.

As for where the money went, well whilst this was all unravelling, we had evidence that Espen Jewhurst was in Abu Dhabi and South Africa whilst we were in misery. My wife has been in contact with at least two other clients who were victims of Jewhurst, whilst I have contact with the other client who was able to attend the insolvency hearing.

[Clapham_uncommon]

Espen Jewhurst in currently living in Ibiza. The house he lived in 74 Taybridge Road is currently for sale.

[Robertgarrett81]

Well up for viewing this. Wonder if he found a decent, honest company to do it?

[Annabel (admin)]

If he contacted you through NVN can you please email me if you know what username he was using?

I can ban it if I know what it is.

Thanks MM

A