Pensioner conned out of £30,000 by odd job gang who never carried out work
Five men repeatedly targeted a vulnerable woman, who paid more than £30,000 for odd jobs at her home that were never carried out.
The victim, who is in her 80s, was contacted on several occasions by the men who told her that she owed them money for work which never took place.
She was made to meet them at various locations, as well as her home address, where she handed about £33,000 in cash to them.
A police investigation was launched and five men were arrested and charged in connection to the offence, which happened between September 2013 and January 2014, within the Kington area of Herefordshire.
Shane Warner, of Buntingsdale Road, Market Drayton, was one of the five men sentenced at Worcester Crown Court.
The 23-year-old admitted money laundering and was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment.
Joseph Carter, 29, formerly of Addison Court, Hereford, was jailed for two years having admitted conspiracy to steal.
Steven Lock, 22, of Pembridge, near Leominster, was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, suspended for two years, handed a supervision order for 12 months, and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work after admitting money laundering.
Kieron Tisdale, 25, of no fixed abode, admitted conspiracy to steal.
He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, suspended for two years, ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work, and handed a 12-month supervision order.
Danny Warner, 46, of Cheaton Close, Leominster, was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid work having admitted conspiracy to steal.
All five men were issued with a criminal behaviour order, which will last for seven years.
The men had appeared at the crown court at earlier hearings where they entered guilty pleas to various charges.
Detective Sergeant Kirsty Smith of West Mercia Police said: "It is shameful that these men picked on a vulnerable member of our society and we are pleased that they have been put brought to justice.
"We are pleased that the courts also saw fit to issue these criminals with criminal behaviour orders which we believe will further help protect our community. It's sad but true that very often victims of crimes such as this don't report the incident to police or even tell their family and friends, this can be for various different reasons.
"As such it's imperative that we all look out for those vulnerable members of our communities and I'd urge family, friends and neighbours to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and immediately report any concerns to us. We would much rather be called to something that turned out to be a legitimate business call that to miss an opportunity to prevent someone from becoming a victim."
