Bogus 'council pest contractor' preyed on scores of elderly people across the West Midlands and Staffordshire

Crimea Price cold called on victims while posing as a local authority contractor dealing with pest control, a leaking roof or fences.

The 32-year-old conman lied that neighbours had already paid for remedial work such as traps and poison to end non existent problems such as an infestation of rats, Birmingham Crown Court heard yesterday.

Then he offered a 'special' discounted cash-only price of up to £360-a-time to pensioners for repair or prevention work before driving off after pocketing the cash.

Up to two accomplices tried to steal from the address while the unsuspecting victim was distracted. The crooks fled empty handed on several occasions after being caught rifling through drawers and cupboards.

Price is feared to have struck at least 60 times between September 1 last year and his arrest on February 1, escaping with a haul of £18,000 cash and numerous possessions of priceless sentimental value. A widow had her wedding ring and that of her late husband taken.

Those targeted were aged over 80 with the oldest a 99-year-old woman. An elderly Wolverhampton man had £5,000 life savings stolen while handing over his 'specially discounted' fee. A Dudley victim lost jewellery and £2,000 cash while another pensioner had £2,400 cash taken.

Forty nine people gave statements after being targeted although a majority of these had disturbed the gang before they could take anything.

Price and his accomplices - none of whom has been traced - committed up to six frauds a day. The gang struck in West Bromwich, Walsall, Oldbury, Tipton and Dudley as well Wolverhampton while also tricking the elderly out of cash and possessions in Rugeley, Burntwood, Chase Terrace, Heath Hayes and Cannock.

They used up to ten different vehicles - none of which were registered to them or recovered - and were forensically aware deliberately avoiding CCTV cameras.

Father of two Price, from Long Lane, Great Wyrley - who admitted conspiracy to defraud - was awaiting trial for a similar offence when the conspiracy started. He was bailed in March last year after people were duped into paying for roof work that was never carried out.

He also had a previous conviction involving £700 worth of uncompleted work and was identified as a suspect in the latest case after 'good old fashioned police work.' Mobile phone traffic then tied him to the various offences.

Det Sgt Mark Donnelly, from West Midlands Police Force CID, who tracked down Price said: "He is a career criminal who left his victims devastated. They were tricked because of their kind nature and age."

Mrs Kerry Moreton, a senior West Midland Crown Prosecution Service lawyer, added: "We take criminal acts against older people very seriously as this investigation and the sentence passed on the culprit bear testimony."

• In earlier editions of this article we published a photo of Crimea Price given to us by the police. Unfortunately the photo was of a different Crimea Price, aged 56, who was not involved with the proceedings. We have now published the correct photo and are happy to clarify that Mr Price, aged 56, had nothing whatsoever to do with this case".