Builder from Birmingham jailed over house fraud
A builder has been jailed for four-and-a-half years after swindling a man out of nearly £170,000 for unnecessary work to his house.
David Parkins, of Horrell Road in Sheldon, Birmingham, befriended a 64-year-old man from Walsall in January, West Midlands Police said.
Unnecessary work carried out included re-tiling the roof, the force said.
Parkins was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation.
He took almost £170,000 over three months from the Aldridge man by escorting him to the cash machine for work he claimed needed doing, the West Midlands force said.
It added that according to independent assessors, about £8,000 worth of work was actually carried out.
Det Con Phil Caldwell, from West Midlands Police CID, said: "Parkins targeted a vulnerable man who ended [up] paying a huge amount of money for work that didn't even need doing.
"We would urge people to be wary of asking cold callers at the door to carry out work and always ask for proper identification."
Det Con Caldwell added inquires were under way to trace other members involved.