Bust Scots boss brags about flash cars as workers plead for lost wages

A construction boss driving a Mustang bragged to former employees about his luxurious lifestyle as workers battled for unpaid wages.

Joe Chambers, 46, boasted of owning overseas apartments, a £ 500,000 house and a high-end fleet cars in a text message he sent to former workers.

Staff claim he is owed thousands of pounds in wages after his construction company went bankrupt with debts of nearly £ 1million.

In an SMS exchange sent to Sunday mail, a former worker asked Chambers, who is linked to a number of companies, about his struggling businesses.

But the arrogant bodybuilder, who was seen driving through Lanarkshire in his bright yellow Mustang, hit back to mock the man for living in an apartment, writing: “Two apartments overseas, Range Rover, Mustang, two Jeeps, Porsche, 500K house. F ****** hard innit life.

One of Chambers’ companies, JC Groundworks and Civils Limited, which he established in September 2019, closed in May.

Directors at the company, which has done work for the NHS including at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, said the company has been put into liquidation.

Liquidator Blair Nimmo of Interpath Advisory said the company owed the tax authorities £ 610,000.

Just months before its collapse, Chambers started another construction company called JC Construction Sco Limited, with the tagline
“Dig deeper for trust, build relationships.”

But the company – which has also landed a number of lucrative public contracts, including work on the Edinburgh Trams project – also appears to have run into problems.

Disgruntled staff at JC Groundworks and Civils Ltd said JC Construction Sco, which sponsored the SPFL Albion Rovers club, has gone out of business, with more workers and suppliers owing thousands of pounds.

Chambers told the Sunday Mail that the two companies had been “liquidated”.

He also established a third civil engineering and earthworks company called Acaen Limited. The public Facebook page of the married father of four is full of lavish lifestyle claims, including vacations abroad and hospitality outings at Celtic Park.

Two of the cars in his detached house in an upscale Cambuslang neighborhood have private license plates.

But one, according to the Department and Vehicle Licensing Agency, a white Fiat Fullback, has expired the road tax, making it illegal to drive on public roads.

Disgusted former employees created a Facebook page called Pay-Up Joe warning workers to avoid his businesses.

A former worker, who did not want to be named, said: “His name is mud in the construction industry. I am owed around £ 2000 and am far from alone.

“There are a multitude of out-of-pocket workers – workers trying to make a living. “

Another former staff member said: “They weren’t paid for their work. He can’t face the people his business owes money to.

“Something really needs to be done because it disrupts people’s lives. “Supplier who claims JC Construction Sco owes him thousands of pounds:” He likes to play the big man but he’s out of breath.

“What’s worse is that he keeps repeating the same pattern.”

No one answered the door or the phone at JC Construction Sco’s headquarters in Cambuslang.

But a shameless Chambers later said direct workers would be reimbursed through taxpayer-funded protection programs.

He told the Sunday Mail: “I’m sure you know how the construction industry works.

“Both companies are liquidated and employees are receiving amounts owed through government programs in place.

“I’m also sure you know that there are two sides to every story and that the employees you mention are the reason the company disappeared due to poor site management despite being paid more than the usual. average to perform their duties.

“Sadly, I am a working man and have a family to support and over one hundred thousand pounds lost in the bankrupt business that must be paid back.”