A ROGUE trader who tried to fleece £8,500 from an 87-year-old man after offering to clean his gutter for £15 has been jailed.

Jake Ward, 22, of Burmarsh Lane, Widnes, was sentenced to 20 months at St Albans Crown Court today.

He told pensioner William Bailey that tiles on his house in Whippendell Road, Watford were broken and the batons were rotten.

The con man offered to replace the whole roof for £8,500.

Prosecutor Ann Evans said one of Ward's accomplices, James Loveridge or John Reilly, had thrown down roof tiles, damaging a greenhouse.

She said: "Tiles were lifted and thrown down into the garden, leaving it in a terrible mess.

“Ward kept him talking. He told him not to speak to his neighbours and said he would do the roof for £8,500.

“An expert said the true value of the work was £464.”

Ward also persuaded Mr Bailey to sign an invoice waiving his right to a 14 day cooling off period.

But Ward did not get any money. When Mr Bailey went to Barclays bank to withdraw £4,000 staff were suspicious and told him to come back the following day to collect it.

He returned with the cash for Ward the next day but the police were waiting and all three were arrested.

The damage caused by the men in March last year left Mr Bailey £4,300 out of pocket, the court heard.

In a victim statement, Mr Bailey said: "I have a feeling of guilt that I got conned in the first place. They picked out so many things that they made me confused."

Ward admitted fraud and criminal damage in March last year. He had six previous convictions including theft, possessing Class B drugs and for driving offences.

Loveridge, 20, of Fairbank Road, Chester and Reilly, 24, of The Old Pumping Station, Marsh Lane, Frodsham admitted reckless criminal damage.

Loveridge had previous convictions for theft and assault Reilly had been jailed for five years in 2012 for making counterfeit currency.

Defending Ward, Jonathan Taylor asked for full credit for his guilty plea at the first opportunity.

He was living in a caravan at the time and was trying to start a business.

Lawrence Selby for Reilly said there is no doubt the victim was vulnerable and elderly, but he said his client was not the one who targeted Mr Bailey.

"He did not know there was a fraud being participated. He has absolute and genuine remorse for the victim," said Mr Selby.

Defending Loveridge, Bozzie Sheffi said he had lost his father when he was 15 and had struggled with literacy.

Judge Jonathan Carroll told Ward: "This was an old man, still living an independent life in his own home, minding his own business, doing no harm to anyone when he was approached by you, Ward, who cold-called him.

“Once your victim was identified, you saw there was a glorious opportunity to fleece him."

He jailed Ward for 20 months and ordered him to pay £1,000 compensation. Reilly and Loveridge received 12 month community orders and must carry out 180 hours' unpaid work and pay £600 compensation.

Loveridge must also attend a 60 day rehabilitation programme.