A PENSIONER was cheated out of life savings of nearly £20,000 by bogus roof repair workmen, a court was told.

Seventy-two years-old retired caretaker Eric Farrington was first told that the work on his home would cost only £12.

But as the days went by, demands for cash escalated, said Robin Lewis, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court. The workmen even took him to his building society to withdraw money.

Two Birmingham men, Glenn Pardoe, aged 43, of Bessborough Road, Yardley, and Stephen Pope, 25, of Eastleigh Grove, Yardley, admitted conspiracy to defraud.

Pardoe was jailed for two-and-a-half years and Pope for 18 months. The court was told Pardoe's 45-year-old brother John had also been charged but died before the case came to court.

Judge Frank Chapman described the offence as despicable and mean. He told the defendants: "You were like leeches sucking the life savings from an old, sick and vulnerable man. You have left him with nothing and your behaviour was contemptible."

Mr Lewis said the men carried out a door-knock on Tuesday, March 2, 1999. They had a van bearing the name Area Plastics and told Mr Farrington, of Wellington Road, Bromsgrove, that ridge tiles were loose on his roof.

The estimate of £12 soon increased to £2,000 and there were other demands to cover bogus VAT payments and a 15-year guarantee.

They also obtained £16,500 from Mr Farrington by saying that he would be reimbursed by his insurance company for storm damage.

Minimal work was carried out, said Mr Lewis, and Mr Farrington had to pay another £1,400 to have it rectified.

Mr Farrington picked out Pardoe on an identity parade and police found that two cheques had been "laundered" through Pope's bank account.

Pope is currently serving a four-year sentence for robbery.

Judge Chapman said his 18-month jail sentence would start immediately so that the earliest he could apply for parole was next March.