'Cruel, targeted fraud' against elderly widow

A CONMAN who cruelly deceived an elderly widow into handing over £1,500 for loft work he didn't even start has been jailed.

- By NAOMI CORRIGAN

Patrick William John White, 26, from Middlesbrough, told the 84-year-old woman the work had been completed but when surveyors inspected the property they found no work had been carried out and was not needed in the first place.

White turned up unannounced at the widow's property in Thirsk in June 2024. He told her he had been carrying out work in a neighbour's property, and claimed her loft also needed work at a cost of £1,500.

The woman agreed and offered to pay by cheque, which White did not accept, so she walked to her bank to withdraw the cash. After spending some time in the house, White left.

The resident spoke to her neighbour who said they had not had any builders round.