A con man tried to defraud an 82-year-old resident out of £2,500 by falsely telling him he needed his roof repaired.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how James Townsley, 21, of Marshall Crescent, Luncarty, left a four by two metre hole in the elderly man’s roof.
Surveyors concluded the work was not “legitimate” and the quote given by the accused was “grossly excessive.”
Depute fiscal Michael Sweeney told the court Townsley and a partner arrived at the man’s Scone home at around 10am on the day in question and spoke to the complainer, who walks with the aid of a wooden leg.
He said: “The man was told that he had loose slates on his roof along with woodworm and Townsley claimed he could fix this.
“An initial quote of £600 was given but the accused didn’t supply a name for a company, other than to state he operated from the Inveralmond Industrial Estate on the outskirts of Perth.”
The court heard Townsley began work on November 30 last year but did not give a 14-day cancellation policy and then upped his quote to £2,500.
“The complainer visited the TSB bank the same day and told a bank teller he had to withdraw £2,500 for the roof repairs,” Mr Sweeney said.
“However, the bank employee became suspicious when told that no invoice had been provided and decided to contact the police.”
Mr Sweeney said when officers arrived at the property, they found a “large hole” measuring in the roof and some building materials lying around. Townsley was still on site.
Townsley admitted that between November 26 and 30 last year, at an address in Scone, he told the man that his roof had loose slates, woodworm and rotten wood and thus attempted to get him to pay £2,500 for unnecessary roof work and attempted to obtain this sum of money by fraud.
He also admitted that between the same dates and address he failed to supply a notice of the man’s right to cancel contract while acting as a trader.
Co-accused, John Kinloch, 27, of Scott Street, Perth, had a not guilty plea to both charges accepted by the Crown.
Sheriff William Wood told the accused: “This is a serious charge of fraud against a vulnerable member of society and the court takes a dim view of this.”
He deferred sentence on Townsley until August 29 for the preparation of background reports.
