Bogus builder jailed for conning pensioner

12:13pm Wednesday 27th August 2008

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A BOGUS builder who conned an elderly man out of thousands of pounds has been jailed for five years.

Patrick Carty, aged 22, from Wandsworth persuaded a 77-year-old man from Greenwich to hand over £21,000 of his life savings on house repairs which were not needed.

Carty, who often used the name John Tierley, painted red bricks with black paint and told his victim that the work he had carried out would solve his damp problems.

A quick-thinking Barclays bank employee who had noticed large amounts of money being withdrawn by the elderly victim, alerted police as she became suspicious.

At this point, Carty had already received £21,000 of the £51,000 bill he had charged his victim.

On April 26, officers from Greenwich police went to the elderly man's home to collect statements and continue the investigation.

But while they were there Carty arrived to collect his latest payment and found two detectives ready to confront him.

He assaulted the two officers leaving one needing stitches to his arm after being pushed against a glass cabinet.

Carty was then arrested and charged with fraud by misinterpretation and one count of actual bodily harm. He pleaded guilty to both charges.

He was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court to four and a half years in jail for the fraud charge in addition to a six month prison term for the assault - to run consecutively.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable John Farthing, said: "I am pleased with the result of the investigation. Carty was targeting a vulnerable member of our community."

Have you ever met Patrick Carty or John Tierley? Did he ever carry out work in your home? Detectives from Greenwich police want to speak to anyone who might have had dealings with him.

Call 020 8284 9554 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with information.