A rogue builder who tried to fleece a Tooting pensioner out of her life savings has been sentenced to 30 months in prison.
Michael O’Driscoll, 44, told the 86-year-old woman that her house needed a complete refurbishment, totalling £38 000, Kingston Crown Court heard this week.
Wandsworth Council’s trading standards team prosecuted the conman following an alert from staff at Lloyds Bank, Tooting, after he tried to withdraw £27,000 in cash.
The council’s spokesman on trading standards and consumer protection Councillor Jonathan Cook said: “Tribute must be paid to the manager at Lloyds who spotted this fraud and also to the swift response of the trading standards team who managed to apprehend Mr O’Driscoll before he was able to flee the scene.
“This case should serve as a serious warning to any other rogue traders who are tempted to try and operate in Wandsworth.”
An independent surveyor has since found that none of the building work was necessary and that the “crude and haphazard work” was carried out “for no apparent reason”.
At the sentencing on Tuesday, Judge Tapping said the fraud had been carried out over a prolonged period of time and the victim was vulnerable.
The court also heard that O’Driscoll was in the middle of serving a 100-hour community service order after stealing lead from a roof.
Coun Cook said: “This was a despicable and heartless crime that targeted an elderly and vulnerable woman’s life savings.
“An immediate jail term was absolutely the right sentence in this instance.”
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