Rogue trader jailed over distress
A convicted rogue trader who cold-called at the home of a vulnerable pensioner from the Black Country causing him "alarm and distress" has been jailed.
A convicted rogue trader who cold-called at the home of a vulnerable pensioner from the Black Country causing him "alarm and distress" has been jailed.
Mark Cunningham breached a criminal anti-social behaviour order, known as a Crasbo, by offering to empty guttering for the 82-year-old man from Woodsetton, near Sedgley.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that the 40-year-old was made the subject of the seven-year Crasbo in 2006 after causing damage to houses and completing unnecessary maintenance work to properties around Shirley, Birmingham.
Sentencing Cunningham to 16 weeks in prison, Judge Michael Challinor told him yesterday: "It must have been clear to you that you were dealing with a vulnerable 82-year-old man, yet you continued to ask if he wanted work doing and lied to him about having completed work on a neighbouring property.
"You were planning to benefit from targeting a vulnerable elderly victim, and that makes this a serious breach."
Miss Jane Sarginson, prosecuting, said Cunningham breached the order on February 11 while searching for work repairing buildings.
"The 82-year-old victim saw a Transit van pull onto his drive and heard a knock at his front door," she added.
"The defendant told him he had done some work at the house next door, which was a lie, and then offered to empty some guttering for the man.
"The pensioner said no, and he did walk away from the property."
Two plain clothed officers saw the van parked on the drive and questioned Cunningham because he looked suspicious, Miss Sarginson said.
"A police database search showed he was breaching the Crasbo and he was arrested," she added.
"When he was interviewed, he told police he was looking for work because of financial difficulties."
Miss Sally Cairns, defending, said Cunningham was unable to complete unpaid work instead of a prison sentence because he receives incapacity benefit for a back injury.
She added: "He did not mean to cause harassment, alarm or distress but accepts the elderly man was upset by the cold calling."
Rejecting her submission, Judge Challinor added: "I do not understand how he can't complete unpaid work but was out cold calling and offering to empty guttering which would undoubtedly involve climbing a ladder."
Cunningham, of Tudor Croft, Chelmsley Wood, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to breaching the Crasbo.
