Householders have been offered hints and tips to keep cold callers at bay — after a callous Eden conman was jailed for duping a vulnerable pensioner out of thousands of pounds.
Previously convicted rogue trader Ralph Brook was handed a 43-month jail term at Carlisle Crown Court for his crimes against a 96-year-old man who lived alone.
Brook, aged 48 and from Brough, near Kirkby Stephen, tricked the Kendal resident into believing he’d carried out work on his gutters and required payment. No such maintenance had occurred and he was owed no money.
Brook was caught out after the victim’s daughter installed a secret camera at her father’s home. After this was activated, Brook was heard saying to the pensioner “well you normally keep your chequebook here”, while his daughter also watched footage of the unwanted visitor checking the pockets of a jacket.
Brook paid one £3,000 cheque he’d been given into his own account, and a second, for £2,000, into his teenage daughter’s before transferring the cash to himself. He pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud by false representation and was jailed the lengthy prison sentence having also breached two suspended jail terms.
In addition, Brook was given a 10-year criminal behaviour order aimed at cutting out his criminal conduct.
Speaking after Brook’s sentencing, a Cumbria police spokesman said: “We would like to take this opportunity to remind people there are some simple steps they can take to protect themselves against any door-to-door fraud or crime.
“If anyone knocks at your door carrying out door-to-door selling activities, please ensure that they have identification, a contact telephone number for their head office and a registered business or charity number.
“If anyone has any doubts of the credibility of any doorstep seller then they are not to engage with them and politely decline their business.”
Officers have also asked anybody with elderly or vulnerable relatives and neighbours to share the message with them.
“It is often the most vulnerable in our society that criminals target,” added the spokesman.
Anyone with information about any suspicious incidents can contact police on 101.
