A family who won a High Court battle for a grant to convert their home for their wheelchair-bound son have now been forced to take court action against the builder.

Lawrence and Julie Pickering, whose son Ryan, 11, has spina bifida, were awarded more than £12,000 compensation by a Bradford County Court judge against the building company over a catalogue of complaints about the work.

The shoddy building work included wires left exposed, doors unfinished, and a fire escape omitted.

But the family fear they may not see a penny of the award to rectify the work after the builder, James McConville, of Calverley, failed to reply to any of their solicitor's letters or attend the court hearing.

Mr and Mrs Pickering successfully took Bradford Council to the High Court last year to win a Disabled Facilities grant of £22,000 to provide a downstairs bedroom and bathroom for Ryan at their home in Romsey Gardens, Holme Wood.

But although the work was approved by a Bradford Council inspector, an independent surveyor found a catalogue of defects following the family's complaints.

Mr McConville did not file a defence to the county court case and the Pickering's solicitor Jaroslaw Stachiw applied for judgement in default which was awarded at £12,294 to have the work put right comprising of £11,884.33 for debt and interest plus £410 costs.

Mr Stachiw, of Bradford solicitors Stachiw and Bashir, said he had not heard from Mr McConville since April and would now be filing an oral examination which obliges him to answer questions under oath at county court.

He said: "My client has got the county court judgement which is a court order but it is difficult to enforce and we are playing a cat and mouse game to get the money from Mr McConville's pocket."

Mr Stachiw also said he had not received satisfactory answers from the Council as to why its inspector approved the building work.

He said: "I asked the Council why its inspector didn't spot the work was defective but have not got a good answer."

When contacted by the T&A, a Council spokesman said it had no comment to make on the role of its inspector.

Mr Pickering, 41, pictured, said he was incensed about the quality of the workmanship in which wires had been left exposed, doors unfinished and a fire escape being omitted despite being detailed in the approved plans.

"This is just a waste of money, for £22,000 you expect a lot better," he said.

"There was not even a door on the back when the builder left, how can you expect my son to come through a window?"

Ryan is only able to sleep in his downstairs bedroom when a family friend is there to look after him.

"I just want to get it sorted out and if it is not sorted then I will not go in my bedroom, it is scary I do not like it," he said.

The T&A made numerous attempt to contact Mr McConville directly and through his solicitor.