Wakefield cancer patient’s SOS over garden disaster - can you help?

Sherine Hampshire from Wakefield was hoping to have her back garden and patio completed in time for her recent 40th birthday, but was left with piles of dirt and rubble after the man they hired to carry out the work walked off the job.

Sherine has secondary breast cancer and is undergoing draining chemotherapy treatment.

With her husband Jonny, they had booked the builder to create a garden space for Sherine who is ‘shielding’ due to Covid-19. But after demolishing the existing patio and garden, the so-called builder unexpectedly walked out but not before the couple paid hundreds of pounds for unsuitable materials.

The whole job including materials, labour and plants was only supposed to be £3.500, but was already running into thousands even before the labour costs.

Trading standards are now investigating the builder.

Jonny said: “This builder made incorrect measurements, misquoted for materials and made fundamental mistakes. It has been a total nightmare for us both.”

Because of her need to continue shielding, Sherine has to stay indoors.

She said “The whole episode is so upsetting and I am having so much anxiety about the situation at what is already a very difficult time.

“This was just meant to be some light at the end of a dark tunnel and this has now been taken away by this unscrupulous business.”

Sherine is appealing for any business to help finish the job.

Meanwhile, a Go Fund Me page set up to help the couple has so far raised £1,300.

To donate got to Go Fund Me and type in ‘Sherine Hampshire’.