Brothers who conned elderly residents hit with injunction
Fraudster brothers who cheated elderly people out of thousands of pounds by tricking them into having urgent repair work done to their homes, have been served with anti-social behaviour injunctions.
Police took action against Lyndon Pardoe, who was believed to have operated across Dudley and Birmingham, and older brother Glenn after being alerted by suspicious bank managers.
The scheming brothers targeted the elderly by posing as self-employed builders, convincing them to have unnecessary work done including roof renovation, brickwork, paving and drainage.
They would then quote vastly inflated prices.
Detectives said the fraudsters would often re-visit victims that they knew were particularly vulnerable and more likely to hand over large amounts of cash.
Superintendent Brandon Langley, from West Midlands Police, said: “We are pleased with the terms of these injunctions. The restrictions put in place mean that the Pardoes are no longer free to target the most vulnerable people in our communities by tricking them into handing over large amounts of money.
“They have repeatedly shown a distinct lack of honesty in order to cheat elderly residents out of thousands of pounds, by exaggerating the cost of repair work.
“Little or no regard has been shown for the humiliation they have caused their victims. We hope that our actions show that we are committed to working with our partners to ensure that no-one has to endure the actions of these individual’s behaviour. I’d also encourage anyone who has suffered in a similar way to report it.
“I’d also urge anyone who sees either of them breaking the terms of their injunction to report it to police on 101."
Glenn, aged 59, from Shard End, Birmingham, and Lyndon, 52, of Sheldon, Birmingham, were served the two-year injunctions at Birmingham County Court, which ban them from harassing homeowners and accepting cash or cheque payments for work on homes.
Police started investigations after being contacted by a victim's bank.
The older brother worked for Wylde Green Roofing, based at a council tenancy home controlled by Andrea Clarke-Fitzgerald, of Plowden Road, Stechford.
Clarke-Fitzgerald was also served an injunction preventing her premises being used for anything other than a private home.
Birmingham City Council’s director of housing Robert James said: “We make it absolutely clear to tenants from the start that we will not tolerate anti-social behaviour and I’m pleased that we have been able to work with West Midlands Police to bring these people to justice.
“These crime group members brought misery to their vulnerable victims in the communities in which they were operating - but what we have now achieved shows we take all criminal and antisocial behaviour seriously. If Clarke-Fitzgerald ignores the injunction we will not hesitate to evict.
