Bogus builders jailed for deceiving 89-year-old woman

Latest news in Yorkshire: July 31, 2017 12:01:12 PM

Three men who conned an 89-year-old Rotherham woman out of thousands of pounds after performing minor repairs at her home have been jailed for just over two years.

Tommy Maughan ,32, of Eastern Avenue, Sheffield, Billy Jay Hilton, 32, of Whitelea Road, Mexborough and Paul Birch ,43, of Burgoyne Road, Upperthorpe, Sheffield, admitted, at Sheffield Crown Court, fraud by joint enterprise and were sentenced on Thursday (20 July).

Maughan received an eight-month prison term, Hilton was jailed for eight-months and Birch was sentenced to nine months’ detention.

The men may have taken more money from the pensioner had it not been for a sharp-eyed teller who recognised the victim as she was drawing more funds from her account.

After clearing her gutter, the three men charged the victim £2,000. They then drove her to the Natwest bank in Wickersley, Rotherham, where they attempted to gain a further £1,500 from her in April 2016.

After recognising the victim from her earlier visit, the bank teller took the woman to one side before quickly alerting police.

Detective Constable Doug McGraghan said: “The quick-thinking members of staff at the branch prevented the offenders from getting more money and presented officers with an opportunity to apprehend the men, as they attempted to leave the area.

“The work they completed was assessed by a chartered surveyor who concluded that it was worth no more than £28. “

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