Bogus caller gang sent to prison

The gang targeted seven pensioners in their own homes

Three builders who conned pensioners out of their life savings are beginning jail sentences totalling 12 years.

Alexander Allan, William McPhee and Andrew Cummings took nearly £70,000 from seven victims by pretending they needed roofing work carried out.

They inflated the cost of jobs and claimed more work was needed. They were convicted after a three-week trial.

The victims were aged between 75 and 84 and targeted in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire in 2003 and 2004.

Jane McCreath, 76, from Ayr, South Ayrshure, was told that she would be made homeless if she failed to pay.

It's clear in this case there has to be a custodial sentence for each one of you Sheriff John McGowan

She said: "They said I needed work done on the roof and it would cost £4,000."

Allan, 46, from Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, kept coming back for more money until he had £38,000.

Miss McCreath added: "They told me they'd get a lawyer and I'd lose my house.

"They drove me to the bank to get the cash."

Margaret Tennant, 84, from Troon, South Ayrshire, handed over £14,350.

But the work carried out by McPhee, 40, from Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, and Cummings, 25, from Ayr, was worth £1,500.

Ruth Johnstone, 84, from Ayr, who is registered blind and deaf was conned into signing a cheque for £600.

Witness protection

The gang altered the amount to steal £6,000 from her account.

They also called at 77-year-old Catherine Cooper's house in Dunure, South Ayrshire, and said her roof was leaking before taking £3,200 from her for work worth only £300.

Passing sentence at Ayr Sheriff Court, Sheriff John McGowan said: "It's clear in this case there has to be a custodial sentence for each one of you."

Allan was sentenced to five years and eight months, McPhee received five-and-a-half years and Cummings was jailed for a year.

A fourth man, Alexander Townsley, 45, from Crieff, Perthshire, gave evidence for the Crown against his former co-accused after having charges against him withdrawn during the trial.

Townsley is now under a witness protection scheme.