A homeowner left without water or heating for three years after a conman turned his home into a building site has been rescued by a Mitcham builder.

Richard Burgess, who runs AK Home Improvements, made his television debut on BBC’s Cowboy Trap last month to help a family who had become the victim of bogus builders.

The owner of the one bed flat in Tooting paid the conman over £17,000 to redecorate and refurbish his home with a new bathroom, kitchen, boiler and oak flooring throughout.

But the builder failed to complete the work instead turned the flat into a building site demanding more money for it to be completed.

For three years the owner was left with no water or heating forcing him to wash at a nearby gym, while the chimney was left dangerously hanging from the roof.

The bathroom had been left unfinished with live electric cables hanging from the ceiling.

37-year-old Mr Burgess, whose team are nicknamed Burgess’s boys, were called in by the BBC show and spent three weeks correcting the damage.

He said: "It’s hard as a builder, seeing the devastation cowboy builders leave behind.

"I wanted to help someone in our neighbourhood.

"The show gave us a chance to do that and also to show, that not all builders are cowboys."