'Rogue' traders go free due to 'victim's dementia'

ROGUE traders who preyed on an elderly Hungerford resident have walked free from court - because their victim was too frail to give evidence against them.
The two men, both in their 40s and from Salisbury in Wiltshire, were said to have conned the woman, who suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease, into paying for unnecessary tree surgery at her Park Way home.
At a previous hearing Helen Waite, prosecuting, told Newbury magistrates that the alarm was raised by an alert cashier at the town centre branch of Lloyd’s Bank.
She said: “The cashier was suspicious as to why the lady suddenly needed to withdraw such a large sum of money. After speaking to the customer, they called the police on her behalf.”
Officers caught the pair “red handed,” back at their victim’s house after driving her to the bank themselves, magistrates were told.
Ms Waite added: “They had apparently cut down a tree in her garden, then knocked on her door and charged her a large sum of money for the work. When she was unable to pay, they took her to the bank.”
The problem facing the prosecution, admitted Ms Waite, was that the main witness suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease and therefore her memory was impaired.
The two men each denied engaging in an unfair commercial practice which was aggressive due to harassment or coercion on February 27 this year.
Several court appearances followed and the case was repeatedly adjourned.
Finally the matter was listed on Thursday, November 11, before Newbury magistrates.
On that occasion, Louise Attrill, prosecuting, said the defendants had been advised that the matter was being discontinued due to lack of available evidence.
The charges were formally dismissed.
Mean while Thames Valley Police and West Berkshire Councilk trading standards department have issued the following advice:
Residents are urged to verify the identity of strangers who call at their homes, either by asking to see their identity card or by calling the company or organisation they claim to be from and checking with them.
A legitimate caller will never mind and will be happy to wait while you do this. If someone claims to be from the police, this can be verified by asking for their shoulder number and calling the 101 enquiry line to verify this.
Never let someone into your home without doing this.
If you have handed over cash to anyone who has claimed to be carrying out work which was not planned by you, contact the police on 101 or Trading Standards on 01635 519 930.
Alternatively the independent Crimestoppers charity can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
She said: “The cashier was suspicious as to why the lady suddenly needed to withdraw such a large sum of money. After speaking to the customer, they called the police on her behalf.”
Officers caught the pair “red handed,” back at their victim’s house after driving her to the bank themselves, magistrates were told.
Ms Waite added: “They had apparently cut down a tree in her garden, then knocked on her door and charged her a large sum of money for the work. When she was unable to pay, they took her to the bank.”
The problem facing the prosecution, admitted Ms Waite, was that the main witness suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease and therefore her memory was impaired.
The two men each denied engaging in an unfair commercial practice which was aggressive due to harassment or coercion on February 27 this year.
Several court appearances followed and the case was repeatedly adjourned.
Finally the matter was listed on Thursday, November 11, before Newbury magistrates.
On that occasion, Louise Attrill, prosecuting, said the defendants had been advised that the matter was being discontinued due to lack of available evidence.
The charges were formally dismissed.
Mean while Thames Valley Police and West Berkshire Councilk trading standards department have issued the following advice:
Residents are urged to verify the identity of strangers who call at their homes, either by asking to see their identity card or by calling the company or organisation they claim to be from and checking with them.
A legitimate caller will never mind and will be happy to wait while you do this. If someone claims to be from the police, this can be verified by asking for their shoulder number and calling the 101 enquiry line to verify this.
Never let someone into your home without doing this.
If you have handed over cash to anyone who has claimed to be carrying out work which was not planned by you, contact the police on 101 or Trading Standards on 01635 519 930.
Alternatively the independent Crimestoppers charity can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.