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| Rogue builders preyed on elderly | Rogue builders preyed on elderly |
| (1 day later) | |
| Three rogue builders from Kent who tricked 43 people out of £880,000 have been jailed and a fourth is on the run. | Three rogue builders from Kent who tricked 43 people out of £880,000 have been jailed and a fourth is on the run. |
| William Smith, of Greenhithe, was jailed for eight years; his son Billy, from Dartford, for 30 months; and Tim Killick from Maidstone for four years. | William Smith, of Greenhithe, was jailed for eight years; his son Billy, from Dartford, for 30 months; and Tim Killick from Maidstone for four years. |
| They admitted conspiracy to defraud at Canterbury Crown Court. | They admitted conspiracy to defraud at Canterbury Crown Court. |
| Mark Baker, from Caterham, Surrey, convicted in his absence, will be sentenced when found. Police welcomed the sentences as a "satisfying" result. | Mark Baker, from Caterham, Surrey, convicted in his absence, will be sentenced when found. Police welcomed the sentences as a "satisfying" result. |
| Paul Baker and Gary Begg, both of Dartford; and John Saunders, of Sidcup, who all worked as labourers for Smith, were acquitted by the jury. | Paul Baker and Gary Begg, both of Dartford; and John Saunders, of Sidcup, who all worked as labourers for Smith, were acquitted by the jury. |
| After the case, police said the group would select, intimidate and worry elderly and vulnerable victims. | After the case, police said the group would select, intimidate and worry elderly and vulnerable victims. |
| Sometimes they clambered onto roofs and damaged tiles, guttering or chimney stacks before knocking on the door of the property and offering to make the repair or run the risk of the house being condemned. | Sometimes they clambered onto roofs and damaged tiles, guttering or chimney stacks before knocking on the door of the property and offering to make the repair or run the risk of the house being condemned. |
| Kent Police appealed for help to find Mark Baker in June | Kent Police appealed for help to find Mark Baker in June |
| They would then find other "problems". Work was carried out even when they were asked to stop by homeowners. | They would then find other "problems". Work was carried out even when they were asked to stop by homeowners. |
| At one property they claimed £16,000 for repair work from a pensioner couple and took a "special offer" of £3,500 when they said they could not afford it. The work was worth about £50, a surveyor said. | At one property they claimed £16,000 for repair work from a pensioner couple and took a "special offer" of £3,500 when they said they could not afford it. The work was worth about £50, a surveyor said. |
| Investigating officer Det Sgt Tristan Kluibenschadl said: "The group sought out elderly and vulnerable people and exploited them in the most shocking way, using scare tactics to ensure they parted with their life savings in many cases. | Investigating officer Det Sgt Tristan Kluibenschadl said: "The group sought out elderly and vulnerable people and exploited them in the most shocking way, using scare tactics to ensure they parted with their life savings in many cases. |
| "They were organised and cunning men who, without any due respect for those people who had the misfortune to have been paid a visit by them, built up a weighty fortune through their trickery and lies, with the audacity to continue their activities even after arrest. | "They were organised and cunning men who, without any due respect for those people who had the misfortune to have been paid a visit by them, built up a weighty fortune through their trickery and lies, with the audacity to continue their activities even after arrest. |
| "It is satisfying to have brought this case to court when criminals of this nature often elude capture. | "It is satisfying to have brought this case to court when criminals of this nature often elude capture. |
| "The advice is to not use builders who cold-call. Use reputable firms with a proven track record." | "The advice is to not use builders who cold-call. Use reputable firms with a proven track record." |
| Kent Police appealed for help to find Mark Baker in June, following the trial in his absence in May. | Kent Police appealed for help to find Mark Baker in June, following the trial in his absence in May. |
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