A 95-year-old Second World War veteran was forced to pay £200 to rogue traders who conned him into letting them cut a tree in his garden.
The shocking incident happened yesterday (Thursday) at 1pm when two males approached the victim at his home on Eversley Grove in Malvern.
Two men, described as well built, approached the veteran as he was leaving his house and asked him about cutting a tree at the back of garden. An initial price of £40 was agreed.
But when he returned to his home, the two men demanded he pay £700 for their services and insisted if he did not pay they would throw all the rubbish back into his garden.
The two men refused to leave or accept a cheque until they were given £200 in cash.
It all happened on the same day the victim received a prestigious war medal by the French Government for his efforts in liberating France during the Second World War.
Police have described the two men as white with one aged between 35 and 40-years-old wearing a yellow Hi Viz vest. The second man was younger and did not speak. They drove in a white van with ladders on it.
A similar incident happened in Pickersleigh Grove earlier in the day at 12pm when a man knocked on the window of a home claiming to be from ‘Fortis’ and trees in the garden needed to be cut due to drainage issues.
The man stated it would cost the homeowner £200 and was allowed into the home where he was then handed cash.
but the man handed back the money stating that he was in the wrong property before leaving the address.
Following the two incidents police in the Malvern area have conducted house to house enquiries.
A West Mercia Police spokesman said: “Rogue trading is a UK wide problem with evidence suggesting a number of burglars associate with rogue traders. Rogue traders often travel vast distances to commit offences.
“It is not illegal for traders to sell at the door. Legitimate callers will not mind if you shut and lock the door while you verify that they are genuine.
“Rogue traders often offer gardening work or maintenance services at attractive rates but the quality of work is substandard, unnecessary or overpriced. They often use persuasive sales techniques to encourage people into making hasty decisions.”
Anyone with information which could lead to the arrest of any doorstep offender or rogue trader should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
