A gang of bogus builders were jailed yesterday after conning old and vulnerable people out of nearly £150,000, which they spent in the pub.

Teesside Crown Court heard how John Richards, 52, George Anthony Chaffer, 46, and Allan Phillips, 44, carried out "shoddy, unnecessary and largely worthless work" on the properties.

Described in court as "the worst type of cowboy builders", the gang targeted 11 elderly householders in Redcar and Saltburn, east Cleveland, Billingham, Great Ayton and Stockton, on Teesside, and Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

The three - described at an earlier hearing as chronic alcoholics - conned two vulnerable people out of their life savings, which they spent on drink.

It is unlikely that any of the money will be recovered to compensated the victims.

Richard Bennett, prosecuting, said that Richards, of Britannia Place, Dormanstown, East Cleveland, was the talker and money man, who cold-called victims and then charmed them on their doorsteps.

He would then send in handymen Chaffer, of Oliver Street, and Phillips, of Queen Street, both Redcar, to make repairs that were worthless but expensive.

Many of the victims, because of their poor health, were unable to check the quality of the work.

North Yorkshire Trading Standards was alerted and, using undercover officers, witnessed the three men smashing roof tiles before approaching residents to tell them urgent repairs were needed.

A 69-year-old man from Great Ayton was conned out of £58,500 and lost his substantial life savings, went into debt and sold shares to pay the gang for worthless work.

A 75-year-old lost £75,000 for work that should have cost £700.

Mr Bennett said: "It would be fair to describe the defendants as the worst type of cowboy builders. Not only were they unqualified to carry out the work, they were totally incompetent."

Judge George Moorhouse said the behaviour of the three men was "despicable" and had caused misery.

Richards was jailed for six years, Chafer, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years and Phillips was jailed for four years.

All three, who admitted conspiracy to defraud over a three-year period, were given anti-social behaviour orders banning them from operating as residential builders for ten years.

Phillips changed his plea to guilty having originally indicated he wanted a trial.

After the hearing, Ruth Taylor, of North Yorkshire Trading Standards, said: "We echo the judge's comments that the defendants' behaviour was despicable."

She said she hoped this would encourage victims of similar crimes to come forward.