A ROGUE trader who tried to con an old age pensioner out of £2,600 has been jailed for six months.

Hugh Fury junior called at the woman’s home in Carterton and told her he had worked on the drains, before demanding she pay him £2,600 with two cheques.

However, the scam was uncovered by a friend of the victim and she alerted police.

Fury, of The Beeches, Chipping Norton, was jailed at Oxford Crown Court for six months. The 26-year-old admitted a single count of fraud.

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for safer and stronger communities Judith Heathcoat said: “Thanks to the actions of the victim’s neighbours and friends, this rogue trader has been caught.

“We would encourage everyone to look after their vulnerable neighbours in this way. This is another great result for partnership working between Trading Standards and Thames Valley Police.”

Oxfordshire County Council's head of trading standards Nigel Strick added: “This was a despicable crime - picking on a vulnerable 90-year-old and trying to take a large sum of money for doing nothing. We must praise the action of her friend and neighbour who both stopped the money being taken and provided the evidence to allow us to track down the offender.

“We would advise anybody who is cold-called at their home to be very cautious and make sure they obtain estimates elsewhere before agreeing to have any work done.”