A Victorian builder has been found guilty of leaving jobs unfinished and working while unregistered and lacking insurance.

Mark Ashley Salmon and his companies Marrach and Lakshmi Projects took upfront deposits from several clients before leaving building and renovation work incomplete, according to the state’s Building and Plumbing Commission, which investigated him.  

He was found guilty at Frankston Magistrates’ Court of carrying out building work without a permit and without required registration, and of entering a major contract without the required domestic building insurance.

Salmon was ordered to pay $16,000 in fines and other associated costs.  

Under Victorian law, builders are required to have domestic building insurance for any work valued above $16,000.