An unlicenced builder who “preyed” on homeowners in the Illawarra and elsewhere has been arrested on the Gold Coast.
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Matthew Geoffrey Rixon – who has been permanently banned from working in the home building industry – fled the state in January, failing to appear at the NSW Supreme Court.
Rixon was arrested in Bundall on the Gold Coast on Wednesday and appeared in the Southport Magistrate’s Court the following day.
He was refused bail and will be extradited to NSW to face the supreme court on March 2.
Rixon is known to have operated in the Illawarra, as well as Newcastle, Sydney and in Queensland and the ACT.
He has traded under a number of business names, including Rixco Fencing, Rixco Group, Quality Building Solutions and Affordable Home Services.
In a 2014 court ruling Justice Peter Garling said Rixon had “preyed” on home owners.
Since 2012 the NSW Department of Fair Trading has issued numerous warnings about Rixon.
Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean was pleased Rixon was in custody.
“I thank the Queensland Police and Queensland Office of Fair Trading for their hard work in locating and arresting Rixon, as well as the NSW Police for carrying out the extradition,” Mr Kean said.