0:00:01 > 0:00:04Two year's ago this man's building company went bankrupt...
0:00:05 > 0:00:08..owing thousands of pounds in debts to dozens of people.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Tonight, we'll hear from some who say...
0:00:11 > 0:00:14..they've been treated unfairly.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Upset. Having to tell my parents.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20I was crying. I didn't have any money.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24There wasn't any money. Owen was alright but we didn't get a penny.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28His words were, "By hook or by crook, I will pay you back."
0:00:28 > 0:00:30We've heard nothing.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34We'll try and get some answers from the businessman.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36Mr Smart? Is Mr Smart here?
0:00:36 > 0:00:40Tonight on Taro 9, who pays the price...
0:00:40 > 0:00:43..when a construction company goes to the wall?
0:01:11 > 0:01:14The construction industry is a competitive world...
0:01:14 > 0:01:18..which employs one in ten people in Wales and England.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23In 2007, after working as a carpenter, Owen Smart...
0:01:23 > 0:01:27..a young man in his early 30s from the Llandeilo area...
0:01:27 > 0:01:30..set up a building company Conwen Construction.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37Among his sub-contractors was Terry Davies, a friend and local plumber.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42He was a good bloke at the start. He was a friend.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44I went to his wedding.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48I went to his children's birthday parties.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51We attended his daughter's christening.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54So over the years we were quite close.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58But after doing some plumbing work for Owen Smart for about a year...
0:01:59 > 0:02:01..Terry Davies suspected something was wrong.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04We did some work in Ammanford.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07The cheques were always bouncing.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09He'd always give them back.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13In the end we did get paid for the jobs in Ammanford...
0:02:13 > 0:02:16..but it took longer to get paid.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20In the summer of 2010, things went from bad to worse.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24In the end, we weren't paid at all.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Since then, we've been chasing him for years to get something.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32The plumber wasn't the only one having trouble getting his money.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Kevin Jones and his father Adrian experienced the same problems.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Kevin was a labourer for Conwen for two years.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41He was a conscientious worker.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45I enjoyed work. I always turned up on time.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49Even on Saturdays and throughout the week.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53I'd be there on time. I'd work on for longer.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57But it appears that his efforts weren¹t recognised.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01From the end of July until November 2010...
0:03:02 > 0:03:06..Kevin Jones didn't receive a penny for his work for Conwen.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10I asked for money, and he¹d always say, "Next week, next week."
0:03:10 > 0:03:15Then one day he gave me a cheque. I thought, good.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19I took it to the bank and the bank sent it back because it bounced.
0:03:19 > 0:03:24I went back to Owen and I said the cheque had bounced.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27He told me to try again...
0:03:27 > 0:03:31..so that took two weeks and I still hadn¹t been paid.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36A month went by, and then the following month was the same.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40He¹d always say, "Next Friday", but he wouldn't turn up on the Friday.
0:03:41 > 0:03:42There was no money.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47But this wasn¹t the first time Kevin Jones had difficulty...
0:03:47 > 0:03:48..being paid by Owen Smart.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54It had happened before. But after a while he did give me the money.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58I thought the same thing would happen this time...
0:03:58 > 0:04:01..but after four months it was very difficult.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04Christmas was coming up and I was struggling.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07That struggle sometimes turned into tears...
0:04:07 > 0:04:10..and that broke his father¹s heart.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14I felt sorry for him because he was a good worker.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17He worked hard and put in the hours.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19He'd work his holidays...
0:04:19 > 0:04:23..and if he didn't feel well he'd still go into work.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27We'd see him come home without money, week after week...
0:04:27 > 0:04:31..and I knew myself that this had to end some time.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35Taro 9 investigated Conwen further.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37The only director was Owen Smart.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40The company website said it was a credible business...
0:04:40 > 0:04:42..within the industry.
0:04:43 > 0:04:44Here it is - Conwen Construction.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49Then you have the slogan Building a future on solid foundations.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52It goes on then to describe the company.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56"One of the leading privately-owned regional contractors...
0:04:56 > 0:05:00.."in South Wales with offices in Carmarthenshireº.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03Then, "Our commitment to the highest standards...
0:05:03 > 0:05:07.."of quality, value, customer service, and client satisfaction...
0:05:08 > 0:05:12.."is second to none and we are able to count the construction...
0:05:12 > 0:05:15.."of some of the finest buildings in the country...
0:05:15 > 0:05:18.."as part of our portfolio". But which ones?
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Conwen worked on this house in Gorslas near Cross Hands.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Julie Wellard and her husband, Tom, had agreed a price...
0:05:30 > 0:05:32..with the builders for the work.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Owen's wasn't the highest and it wasn't the lowest...
0:05:37 > 0:05:40..but it was one we thought was acceptable.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Having seeing his work and spoken to him...
0:05:44 > 0:05:47..that's how we took him on to do the build.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51The Wellards paid Conwen periodically as the work continued.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55But a year into the project, Julie Wellard and her husband...
0:05:55 > 0:05:59..started to sense things weren't quite as they should be.
0:05:59 > 0:06:04In the beginning of 2011, we had a note put through the door...
0:06:04 > 0:06:08..of the old house where we living and it was from Nolan Windows...
0:06:08 > 0:06:11..asking if we could contact them.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13The windows and the doors were all in.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17My husband phoned them up and they said...
0:06:17 > 0:06:20.."We haven't been paid for your windows and doors".
0:06:20 > 0:06:23So, that was an alarm bell.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25By October 2011...
0:06:25 > 0:06:31..it was obvious Conwen Construction Ltd was in trouble.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34With debts of £300,000 to 44 creditors...
0:06:35 > 0:06:38..HM Revenue & Customs wound up the company.
0:06:39 > 0:06:44The company¹s fall was felt right across Carmarthenshire and beyond.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire is home to many different businesses.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Among them local businesses like Thomas & Thomas Hire Zone.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59Cross Hands Hydraulic Services and the well-known company, Leekes.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02These are all different companies...
0:07:02 > 0:07:05..but they¹ve got one thing in common.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08They're all on Conwen¹s list of creditors.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12For months before Conwen went to the wall...
0:07:13 > 0:07:16..Lliw Building Supplies from Pontardawe...
0:07:16 > 0:07:20..tried to claim a payment of £5,000.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23The owner, Geraint Llewelyn, faced an uphill struggle.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27To get hold of Owen Smart himself...
0:07:27 > 0:07:29..we've never been able to talk to him.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33He¹s impossible to talk to.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36When someone refuses to talk to you...
0:07:36 > 0:07:40..and they owe you thousands of pounds...
0:07:40 > 0:07:44..the only thing you can do is go through the courts...
0:07:44 > 0:07:48..and see if you can be paid through the courts.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Conwen failed to respond to the court order.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Lliw Building Supplies employed a debt collecting agency...
0:07:55 > 0:07:58..to chase the payment.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01We are chasing them. We've got everything on paper.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Every call they made, every call we made.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08Despite that, we¹ve had no response by Owen Smart himself...
0:08:08 > 0:08:10..to anything.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14But Lliw Building Supplies weren¹t the only ones...
0:08:14 > 0:08:17..who were waiting for payment by Conwen.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Four similar Carmarthenshire companies...
0:08:20 > 0:08:23..were on the list of creditors.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26One of those, UGS, now sold to Keyline...
0:08:27 > 0:08:30..was located on Cross Hands industrial estate.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34Conwen owed UGS more than £43,000.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39UGS has now been sold. The owner didn¹t want to appear on camera...
0:08:40 > 0:08:44..but told us Conwen had acted illegally.
0:08:44 > 0:08:49He said Conwen had been dealing with individuals and businesses...
0:08:49 > 0:08:52..at a time when it should have been apparent...
0:08:52 > 0:08:55..they didn't have the money to pay for the goods bought.
0:08:55 > 0:09:01An accountant who specialises in insolvency is Vaughan Jones.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04In his opinion it's difficult to prove a company...
0:09:05 > 0:09:08..has been trading illegally despite the creditors' suspicions.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13It happens frequently especially in the building industry.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18Creditors often ask us, as liquidators, this question.
0:09:18 > 0:09:24It's something we have to do research into a lot.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31As he worked on a house Owen Smart was building...
0:09:31 > 0:09:35..plumber Terry Davies sensed that the builder was in difficulties.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40But he had also been promised he'd be paid when the work was complete.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44I'd go into to finish a house.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48When he paid off the mortgage, the bank took a lot of the money...
0:09:49 > 0:09:52..but Owen took the money himself.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56The plumber usually billed another company...
0:09:56 > 0:09:59..Owen Smart and other directors had, Celtic Projects Ltd...
0:10:00 > 0:10:03..for the work he completed for the builder.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06But he said Owen Smart changed the usual arrangement.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10I met Owen and he said the money would go into Conwen Construction.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14I should invoice Conwen and I'd get paid quicker...
0:10:14 > 0:10:16..when the mortgage paid out.
0:10:16 > 0:10:22He put Conwen through, just after the mortgage got paid...
0:10:23 > 0:10:26..but then they said they didn't owe the money...
0:10:27 > 0:10:31..it was all to do with Conwen and nothing to do with Celtic.
0:10:31 > 0:10:36Terry Davies has told us he is still waiting for £11,000.
0:10:37 > 0:10:42But more than two years later he hasn¹t received a penny.
0:10:42 > 0:10:47This has come to the attention of the Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51At least 15 businesses and individuals have lost money...
0:10:51 > 0:10:53..at the expense of Conwen.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58Many of them haven't been included on the company's list of creditors.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02It appears the company's debts are thousands of pounds more...
0:11:02 > 0:11:05..than the recorded £300,000.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09We have to remember that in this case a lot of the traders...
0:11:09 > 0:11:12..are sole traders or individual companies...
0:11:12 > 0:11:15..with only a few people working for them.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18When you lose thousands of pounds...
0:11:18 > 0:11:22..it puts your company in a difficult position.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26After the break, we'll hear more about one father's battle...
0:11:26 > 0:11:28..to get justice for his son.
0:11:28 > 0:11:33I didn't think it was fair. If we could help, that's what we did.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37The shock this woman had after paying Conwen to build her home.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41It was like having a bucket of cold water thrown over you.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44And what happens when I try to get answers...
0:11:44 > 0:11:46..from Owen Smart.
0:11:46 > 0:11:47.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03October 2011. Conwen Construction Ltd went bankrupt.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07It had debts of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Dozens of people were owed money.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Kevin Jones used to be a labourer for the company.
0:12:12 > 0:12:17After being unpaid for four months his father said enough was enough.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21They went to the arbitration service, ACAS...
0:12:21 > 0:12:24..and took Conwen to an employment tribunal.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27The judge found in favour of Kevin.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31He worked out Kevin was owed around £4,000.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36We chased him up after this but ACAS said they'd taken us...
0:12:36 > 0:12:40..as far as they could, and they were sorry...
0:12:40 > 0:12:42..but they had to take a step back.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45From then we've tried to get the money.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48In March 2011, the tribunal said...
0:12:48 > 0:12:53..Conwen should pay Kevin Jones £4,300.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58Despite the effort, the labourer hasn't received a penny.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03We phoned him up and eventually he wouldn¹t answer.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08He changed his number and the only way we could get hold of him...
0:13:08 > 0:13:11..was to go to his house but he wouldn't answer.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16In Gorslas, Julie Wellard's home had been under construction...
0:13:16 > 0:13:20..for a year, and they were seeing less and less of Owen Smart.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24The frame was in place and an underground heating system...
0:13:24 > 0:13:27..had been installed by a company called Thermal Earth.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31I phoned the owner of Thermal Earth and he said...
0:13:31 > 0:13:34.."Are you sitting down, Mrs Wellard?"
0:13:34 > 0:13:38I said, "You haven't had any money?" "We've not had a penny."
0:13:38 > 0:13:42But the Wellards had given Owen Smart more than £12,000...
0:13:42 > 0:13:45..in January 2010 to pay two companies...
0:13:45 > 0:13:48..that had worked on the underground heating system.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52A year later, none of the companies had been paid.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54I was horrified.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58What's he done with it? He's not spent it on our build.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Has he spent it on one of the others?
0:14:01 > 0:14:04It was complete horror, because it was a lot of money.
0:14:04 > 0:14:09Despite this, the Wellards agreed to directly pay the companies...
0:14:10 > 0:14:15..who'd completed the work. In all purposes, they had paid out twice.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19The couple then contacted Owen Smart and were promised...
0:14:19 > 0:14:23..he'd repay them £1,000 a month for six months.
0:14:23 > 0:14:28He emailed us and said we'd expect the first payment on 1st July 2011.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33On a regular monthly basis after that we texted or emailed...
0:14:33 > 0:14:36..and we were promised, "I'll see about it."
0:14:37 > 0:14:40But it just didn't come. Nothing came at all.
0:14:40 > 0:14:46The Wellards paid another builder to finish the work for them.
0:14:46 > 0:14:51The questions continue about what exactly Owen Smart did...
0:14:51 > 0:14:54..with the £12,000 the Wellards paid him.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58But one thing is certain, he didn't pass the money on...
0:14:58 > 0:15:01..to the companies who needed to be paid.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05So legally, was this fraud?
0:15:03 > 0:15:05There is an element of fraud.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09Under the Insolvency Act there is illegal trading...
0:15:09 > 0:15:13..but there is also fraudulent trading.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17One case is not usually considered enough evidence...
0:15:17 > 0:15:21..to bring forward a case of fraudulent trading.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25But the local MP has called on the authorities to investigate...
0:15:25 > 0:15:29..in order to find out where the money has gone.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32I think she has acted appropriately.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35The contractor has behaved immorally.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38I think the evidence from this case will interest...
0:15:39 > 0:15:42..the official receiver during their investigation.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45When Conwen started to buy building materials...
0:15:45 > 0:15:50..from Lliw Building Supplies, Owen Smart worked as a sole trader.
0:15:50 > 0:15:55But in July 2009, Geraint Llewelyn received a letter from Owen Smart..
0:15:56 > 0:16:02..saying he'd changed Conwen¹s status to a limited company.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07As an individual who owed money to a company like ours and others...
0:16:07 > 0:16:12..everything he owned such as the house and everything else...
0:16:12 > 0:16:17..could be taken away from him in order for him to repay that debt.
0:16:17 > 0:16:22As a limited company, there's limited liabilities...
0:16:22 > 0:16:28...so the law can't seize property from him personally...
0:16:28 > 0:16:30..because he can say...
0:16:30 > 0:16:34.."That belongs to the company, not me."
0:16:35 > 0:16:39At one time, Conwen Construction bought a lot from the yard.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42But since September 2010, Lliw Building Supplies...
0:16:43 > 0:16:46..haven't received a penny from Conwen. They¹re owed £5,000.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51We received a letter from the insolvency agency to say...
0:16:51 > 0:16:55..there wasn't any money in Conwen Construction at all...
0:16:55 > 0:17:00..and we wouldn't be receiving a penny, nor would anyone else.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04On the other hand, people are telling me...
0:17:05 > 0:17:09..that Mr Smart is living the high life.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Owen Smart's family home is a renovated farmhouse...
0:17:13 > 0:17:16..in Llandyfan near Ammanford.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20The builder pays for private schooling for his son.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24This was the photo posted on Facebook by Owen Smart's wife...
0:17:24 > 0:17:27...of the view they had while on holiday last year.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31It seems the family have also just come back from Portugal.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35This image of a luxurious lifestyle has angered those...
0:17:35 > 0:17:38..still waiting for their money. People like Terry Davies.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Over the years, they were documenting their holidays.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Not just once a year, but three or four times a year.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50They'd go to London and spend £400 on food at Ramsay's Kitchen.
0:17:50 > 0:17:55They've been spending our money over the years.
0:17:55 > 0:18:00Taro 9's investigations have found that 12 companies...
0:18:00 > 0:18:03..have succeeded in obtaining court orders to claim...
0:18:03 > 0:18:08..what's rightfully theirs from Conwen. It totals £90,000.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Three other companies have obtained orders...
0:18:11 > 0:18:15..against Celtic Projects Ltd one of Owen Smart's other companies...
0:18:16 > 0:18:18..but none of the companies have been paid.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21What rights do they have to get their money?
0:18:21 > 0:18:26It is almost impossible for the creditors to do anything directly.
0:18:26 > 0:18:31They need to ask bailiffs to go after it.
0:18:31 > 0:18:36Right across the country, the construction industry...
0:18:36 > 0:18:40..has suffered during the recent recession.
0:18:40 > 0:18:45In 2011, there was a 20% drop in new housing built in Britain.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48When a business like this goes to the wall...
0:18:48 > 0:18:52..Owen Smart might say that's the nature of business.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55People take risks and sometimes things go wrong.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58How would you respond to that?
0:18:58 > 0:19:03If he had sold the house and had struggled himself...
0:19:03 > 0:19:06..and lost everything it wouldn't be so bad...
0:19:06 > 0:19:09..because he'd be trying to sort things out.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12He still lives in his big house, he's got a nice car...
0:19:12 > 0:19:16..and they haven't changed their lifestyle at all.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Back in Pontardawe, Lliw Building Supplies are continuing...
0:19:20 > 0:19:23..in their fight to get their money.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Geraint Llewelyn has employed bailiffs to chase the debt...
0:19:27 > 0:19:29..but he¹s still waiting for his £5,000.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31I think the law is totally wrong.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36It makes it very difficult to get people like Owen Smart to pay.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39If he doesn't want to pay, he won't pay.
0:19:39 > 0:19:44It hasn't got much to do whether they can afford to pay or not.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47If they don't want to pay, they simply won't.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52Taro 9 wanted to know what state Mr Smart's other companies were in.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Getting the accounts was impossible.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59Celtic Projects Ltd hasn't registered its annual accounts...
0:19:59 > 0:20:04..to Companies House in Cardiff since 2010, which is illegal.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09In June it was suggested that the company name should be removed...
0:20:09 > 0:20:12..from the register and wound up.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16Taro 9 has since learned that process has been halted...
0:20:16 > 0:20:19..and Companies House is investigating further.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24But it doesn't appear that Mr Smart has had any problems...
0:20:24 > 0:20:28..in establishing a new business despite the fact...
0:20:28 > 0:20:32..that he owes thousands of pounds to businesses and individuals.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37In October 2011, Conwen Construction Ltd was wound up...
0:20:37 > 0:20:39..by HM Revenue & Customs.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44Less than a month later, Owen Smart had registered a new company...
0:20:44 > 0:20:48..here at Companies House, Quantum Civil and Construction Ltd.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53Quantum's accounts were supposed to have been submitted in August.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Companies House still haven't received them.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59The local MP says the authorities should investigate...
0:20:59 > 0:21:04..Owen Smart's companies in detail especially Conwen Construction Ltd.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08It is essential the official receiver in this case...
0:21:08 > 0:21:12..investigates to see whether Mr Smart's company...
0:21:12 > 0:21:16..has broken the law, and if it has, to take action.
0:21:16 > 0:21:21Jonathan Edwards has written to the Business Secretary Vince Cable...
0:21:21 > 0:21:26..describing his constituents' fight to get the money from Conwen.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29Tonight, he's calling for a parliamentary inquiry...
0:21:30 > 0:21:33..to make it more difficult for company owners...
0:21:33 > 0:21:35..to turn their backs on their debt.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39I think a Commons committee should investigate this...
0:21:39 > 0:21:42..to see if there are further examples...
0:21:42 > 0:21:46..that this isn't an isolated case and whether it's widespread...
0:21:46 > 0:21:48..in the economy.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51It's essential that the government acts to make sure...
0:21:52 > 0:21:54..these loopholes are closed.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58Owen Smart denies doing anything wrong.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Last week, we tried to tack him down...
0:22:01 > 0:22:04..in order to get some answers from the builder.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Mr Smart? Is Mr Smart here? Is he on site?
0:22:08 > 0:22:12Due back today but not here at the moment?
0:22:13 > 0:22:16We asked the men if they knew when Owen Smart would be back.
0:22:17 > 0:22:18No.
0:22:18 > 0:22:23We know now, the man sitting in the background here is Owen Smart.
0:22:23 > 0:22:28Later in the afternoon his van left the site. He wasn't driving.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31It appears he was hiding in the back.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35After that, Owen Smart contacted Taro 9.
0:22:35 > 0:22:41He said he'd promised to pay off Conwen Construction's debts.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45Due to the recession the company had gone to the wall.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49He hadn't paid off his creditors because settling some bills...
0:22:49 > 0:22:51..would be seen as favouritism.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56But there was no explanation why so many debts remain unpaid...
0:22:56 > 0:22:58..why so many people had to go to court...
0:22:59 > 0:23:03..and why he wouldn't pay the creditors out of his own pocket.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07In Gorslas, Julie Wellard is coping with life on her own.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Her husband died without receiving a penny...
0:23:10 > 0:23:13..of what Owen Smart owed him.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17If I was in Owen Smart's position, I wouldn't want to live here.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22I would be ashamed to show my face.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26The widow doesn't think she'll get any of the money...
0:23:26 > 0:23:28..Owen Smart promised to pay back.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33What would your message be to someone who may have...
0:23:33 > 0:23:36..future business dealings with Owen Smart?
0:23:37 > 0:23:41I would say find yourself another builder.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46Others have made similar warnings of being out of pocket...
0:23:46 > 0:23:49after dealing with Owen Smart.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49Don't give him a penny.
0:23:49 > 0:23:55And I mean a penny. And don't touch him with a bargepole!
0:23:56 > 0:23:59He looks nice enough and he says, "Yeah, yeah".
0:23:59 > 0:24:02But it¹s always, "No, no, no".
0:24:03 > 0:24:08Terry Davies and Owen Smart are no longer friends.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12The debt still remains.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14I hope he loses everything.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18His house, the business - everything.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21So he'll have to go back and start from the bottom...
0:24:21 > 0:24:23..just like everyone else.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Are you being hard on him?
0:24:25 > 0:24:26No.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30He's been much harder on everyone else.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33He deserves everything he gets.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57S4C subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:24:57 > 0:24:57.