A FRAIL pensioner was tricked out of her savings by two bogus builders who charged almost £18,000 to replace six fence panels and paint a few bricks.

The fraud has disgusted police, who last night labelled the two thieves as scum.

They told how the bogus builders systematically robbed the woman - who suffers from dementia - over a six-week period.

Neighbours eventually raised the alarm, but not before the victim's bank account had been emptied of £17,750.

The two conmen, who have been spotted driving a white van, targeted the 84-year-old - who The Northern Echo has agreed not to name - at her Stockton home in June.

Concerned neighbours saw work being carried out at the front and rear of the bungalow, but the victim assured them that the workers were genuine.

The alarm was raised on Monday when friends of the woman grew concerned and contacted Cleveland Police.

Detective Constable Phil Dawson told The Northern Echo how the victim was not aware of the full extent of the fraud, because of her illness.

He said: "These people are the scum of scum. They have simply milked her for work which should have cost a few hundred pounds.

"They have targeted vulnerable and lonely old people and they may have gone door-to-door to find their target.

"We need help from the public who have seen the van or the men. We know it started in mid-June and went on until September. These people need to be caught."

The bill for the fence panels alone was £4,700.

The woman's next-door neighbour told how she felt guilty for not acting sooner.

The pensioner, who lives with her husband, said: "I asked her if she needed us to do anything, and when I noticed these two lads I was concerned.

"But she adamantly told us they were fine and these two men carried on with the work. They were here every week, mainly on a Sunday.

"This road is full of bungalows and pensioners, so they must have planned their target. I'm just so upset and can't believe they have managed to take all that money.

"She's a lovely lady and has lived here all her life. She never married and lived quite happily on her own."

The neighbour told how several builders had called to the street in recent years looking for work, but most people turned them away.

She said: "I have heard about these bogus callers picking on the elderly and I think it's despicable.

"I hope these people are caught quickly and locked up for what they have done to a vulnerable old lady."

The Northern Echo launched its Doorstoppers campaign in 2003, calling for legislation to end to door-to-door visits by property repair companies. The campaign has the support of police and trading standards officials across the North-East.

Det Con Dawson said there were at least two men police were trying to trace and possibly two vans that had been spotted in the area.

One man was in his early 40s, 5ft 11in, with short grey hair. He had dark skin and was of thin build. He was seen wearing blue overalls.

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