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Builder jailed for £100,000 scam | Builder jailed for £100,000 scam |
(40 minutes later) | |
A builder who conned up to £100,000 out of elderly people in the West Midlands for work they did not need has been jailed for three-and-a-half years. | A builder who conned up to £100,000 out of elderly people in the West Midlands for work they did not need has been jailed for three-and-a-half years. |
Stephen Allen, of Stechford, Birmingham, admitted conspiracy to obtain property by deception during a three-year scam. | Stephen Allen, of Stechford, Birmingham, admitted conspiracy to obtain property by deception during a three-year scam. |
The judge at Birmingham Crown Court described him as "evil and wicked". | The judge at Birmingham Crown Court described him as "evil and wicked". |
Allen's co-defendant, Vincent Smith, failed to turn up at court and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. | Allen's co-defendant, Vincent Smith, failed to turn up at court and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. |
Both men were arrested following a joint investigation by Sandwell Trading Standards and West Midlands Police. | Both men were arrested following a joint investigation by Sandwell Trading Standards and West Midlands Police. |
'Pay off bills' | |
Smith, also of Stechford, was found guilty of the same charge last November and will be sentenced on 22 March. | Smith, also of Stechford, was found guilty of the same charge last November and will be sentenced on 22 March. |
Both men targeted vulnerable elderly people across the West Midlands region. | Both men targeted vulnerable elderly people across the West Midlands region. |
The court heard that, in some cases, they did not do any improvements, while in others they even damaged parts of the buildings they were supposed to be repairing. | |
Brenda Weston, of Birmingham, who lost £18,900, said the experience had left her "destroyed". | |
Brenda Weston was scammed out of £18,900 | |
She said: "I just want to pay off my bills. I can't have a holiday, I can't buy new clothes, I've very little food. | |
"I'm 59 this year and I won't be able to retire. I have to work full time and overtime just to pay my bills and my overdraft." | |
She said Allen and Smith appeared "very nice gentlemen", adding: "When I did question how much I was spending, the only time they raised their voices, they said 'We're not running a charity'." | |
Chris King, of Sandwell Trading Standards, said two 84-year-old women had lost £9,000 and £17,000 respectively to Allen and Smith. | |
"As a general rule the victims had been cold-called and told their roofs needed urgent work. | "As a general rule the victims had been cold-called and told their roofs needed urgent work. |
"They would be given false names - Stephen Allen would call himself Frank while Vincent Smith said his name was Dave. | "They would be given false names - Stephen Allen would call himself Frank while Vincent Smith said his name was Dave. |
"We had evidence that showed that they actually damaged the roof." | "We had evidence that showed that they actually damaged the roof." |