Three charged over elderly fraud
Three men charged with stealing money from several pensioners across Northern Ireland have been remanded in custody.
It is claimed the offences happened between October and January.
Elijah Lee, 49, and his son Ray, 21, of Scrabo Road in Newtownards, are accused of charging a number of pensioners almost £15,000 for building work that was not carried out.
The men, along with Miley McCann, 21, of Birchwood in Bellaghy, were also charged with several burglaries.
Accused of fraud
The three men appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court following a series of arrests in Holywood, County Down, on Monday.
Elijah and Ray Lee are accused of fraud offences including an attempt to scam one woman out of £10,000 for building work.
Elijah Lee faces charges of burglary, two counts of fraud by false representation, altering an electricity meter and dishonestly obtaining electricity.
He is accused of dishonestly seeking to obtain money for work that was to be carried out at homes this year.
He is also accused of stealing cash and a credit card from a house at Belair Avenue in Newtownards.
Ray Lee is accused of three counts of fraud by false representation on different dates this year.
He is alleged to have pretended to be an employee for a home improvement firm offering to carry out building work.
He is also accused of two burglaries involving the theft of £800 in cash, 400 euros and a bank card from the house at Belair Avenue, and stealing £49 from a house in Newtownabbey.
Mr McCann is charged with two counts of burglary in connection with the same properties.
None of the men applied for bail, and they were remanded in custody.