Two men who pressured a 84-year-old dementia sufferer into handing over thousands of pounds after posing as workmen were sentenced to three years in prison at Sheffield Crown Court today.
Simon Collins (30) and Patrick Maughan (29) had earlier pleaded guilty to fraud.
Prosecutor Kevin Jones said Leslie Sheldon, of High Street, Laughton, was approached at home by Collins and his wife, who persuaded him that his driveway needed repaving at the cost of £1,400.
The following day, July 18 2014, Collins returned with accomplice Maughan and told Mr Sheldon the price had increased to £2,500 and with the cost of hiring a skip and JCB, the total price would be £7000.
The pair then drove Mr Sheldon to the branch of his bank in Dinnington and ordered him to withdraw £1,500.
After staff became suspicious, Collins and Maughan took him to Rotherham, where they managed to get £2,500. An attempt to then withdraw £2,500 at Darnall saw a bank manager intervene before the transaction was carried out.
Police were first alerted at Dinnington, and their vehicle was tracked down at Darnall. Collins was seen by a member of the public leaving his vehicle, and stuffing an envelope down his trousers.
Mr Jones said Maughan had 14 previous convictions, including dishonesty, theft and burglaries, dating back to 1998.
Collins had two previous convictions, which included robbery.
James Gould, defending Maughan, said he was sorry for the offence. His wife was expecting their first child, and he wanted to be reunited with his family.
James Baird, defending Collins, said Collins was of “limited intellect” and was regarded as being vulnerable to peer pressure.
Judge Peter Kelson QC described the men as “preying on one of the most vulnerable in society”, and ordered them to pay a victim surcharge upon release.
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