TWO bogus workmen who attempted to con elderly victims, including one from Ealing, by falsely claiming urgent repair works were required on their properties were jailed on Wednesday.

Martin Sweeney, 42, of and Lee Murphy, 37 (11 were sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

Sweeney received four years and three months and Murphy four years, plus an additional year for breaching a suspended sentence.

The pair were originally found guilty in November following a trial at the same court.

Between July and September last year, they visited six elderly victims in their homes and advised them that repairs for leaks to roofing, drainage and plumbing were needed on their homes.

The victims would typically be asked to provide a landline number, and once the defendants one of them would call, claiming to be 'the boss', who would give details of how they should be paid.

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Luckily, on most occasions no money was handed over as victims realised it was a scam before it was too late.

However, in one case, an elderly man paid £2,500 to the pair after being told he needed urgent work to his Ealing home.

Sweeney introduced himself as a builder, claiming that work next door had caused damage to the victim’s property and that they would need to hire large machinery to carry out the repairs.

The property next door was actually having building work done, so the victim was convinced by the claim.

He was told they needed £2,500 as soon as possible to get the work completed, sohe  went immediately to the bank to withdraw the cash.

He handed it over and the defendants left saying they would get the machinery and return. The victim soon realised it was a scam and called police.