A ROGUE trader who conned an elderly Keighley couple out of more than £30,000 has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.

Simon Fielding, 56, was already serving a 35-month sentence after admitting to two counts of fraud and breaching a suspended sentence in March, Preston Crown Court was told.

Jeff and June Andrews, of Lynwood Court, Keighley, were visited by Fielding in February 2015.

They needed work doing to clear moss from their roof, and saw an advert for a company being run by Fielding, called Skipton Roofing.

Fielding told them a number of tiles on the roof were cracked and needed replacing.

Over the following eight months, the court was told he then carried out a number of jobs which were deemed to be of an inadequate standard by an independent surveyor, including sealing an extension to the property, replacing all the wood and under-boards of the extension, replacing plastics on and under the extension and re-using old roof tiles while claiming they were new.

He also cleaned and sealed the patio, which the court heard was unnecessary work.

Prosecutor Paul Brookwell said Fielding would often not provide the couple with invoices or undertake work without their consent.

He was eventually told not to return to the house by the couple’s son who was concerned about his regular presence.

Fielding also conned Michael Riding, a man in his 70s, of Darwen, near Blackburn, out of £147,380 over a three-year period after lying about work which had never been completed.

The court heard Fielding, of Leagram, Chipping, Lancashire, left his victims feeling “embarrassed” and “concerned for their financial loss”.

He admitted eight counts of fraud and six counts of engaging as a trader in an unfair commercial practice contrary to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations.

In mitigation, Andrew Alty said his client regretted his actions and his world had been turned upside down since he was jailed.

Mr Alty said: “He is now 56. He is not in good physical health. Any lengthy prison sentence is going to be very physically difficult for him.”

But sentencing him, Judge Simon Newell said: “Many of your victims have been vulnerable, ill, aged or all three.

“It is humbling and depriving them of their savings. It is nasty and brutal and, in many ways, has the same impact of being the victim of a violent attack.”

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Craig Atkinson, of Lancashire Constabulary said: “I am pleased with the sentence passed today by the court.

“Prolific rogue trader Simon Fielding has targeted an elderly and vulnerable couple out of their hard earned life savings. He has travelled some considerable distance from where he resides to commit these offences.

“In this case, over several months, he has gained their trust and has falsely claimed work needed to be completed at their address that totalled over £30,000. This work was not necessary, not completed or done to a very poor standard.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners to investigate rogue traders, protect the most vulnerable in our communities and bring offenders before the courts.

“I would advise everyone to research carefully anyone who they intend to carry out work for them and to always say ‘no’ to traders who unexpectedly turn up on your doorstep offering to carry out work.”