TWO predatory “workmen”, who charged a vulnerable elderly woman for roof repairs that did not need doing, were both jailed for three years today (Monday April 15).

Paul Dennis Bradshaw and David John Gascoigne called at the 88-year-old woman’s house in Seaham, County Durham, offering to carry out roofing work, on November 6 last year.

Durham Crown Court was told that the victim suffers from dementia, which would have been immediately obvious to anyone speaking to her.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said they did do some token work on the roof, but it was later examined by a builder who said nothing needed to be done.

“It was not clear how much money changed hands as the victim gave differing accounts, and it may have been that a cheque was also handed over.

“But her daughter believes some money had gone.”

Mr Towers said police were told of the visit and a camera was installed near the house doorway.

Two days later the pair returned and Bradshaw asked to be paid in cash as the cheque had not been accepted at the bank.

But, Mr Towers said when her son came to the door they, “made a hasty retreat.”

He said a neighbour took note of their hire van registration number and the pair were arrested, but both denied any dishonesty.

They claimed they were paid an agreed fee of £65 and the cheque was destroyed.

Bradshaw, 40, of Tredegar Walk, and 53-year-old Gascoigne, of Greenwood Road, both Hartlepool, each denied two counts of fraud by false representation.

But on the day they were to stand trial both changed their pleas to ‘guilty’.

The court was told both have served previous prison sentences for targeting elderly victims with similar offending.

Jonathan Devlin, for Bradshaw, said, “the reality is that he was always likely to be caught,” as he hired the van using his own name and address, while a business flyer he was carrying contained his own phone numbers.

Jim Withyman, for Gascoigne, told the court: “He has, effectively, been a builder for 30 years and only for the last two or three has acted in this way.

“But, he has resolved to stop roofing and become a labourer for cash in hand payment in future.”

Mr Withyman said Gascoigne wished to “apologise” for the distress caused.

Recorder Ben Nolan said he believed they were more likely to have charged about £300.

Jailing them, Recorder Nolan described them as “predators” deliberately targeting vulnerable elderly victims.