ROGUE roofer Danny Sherwood was jailed yesterday for tricking a Poole pensioner into paying thousands of pounds for unnecessary work.

Recorder Richard Davison said the 30-year-old still seemed to be “seeking to minimise” his crimes, as he passed a sentence of nine months imprisonment.

“You took full advantage of her age and frailty and did work to her chimney that was completely unnecessary,” he said.

“I have seen little evidence of any recognition on your part of the significant impact these offences have had on the victim.”

Bournemouth Crown Court heard Sherwood, of Wimborne Road, Kinson, had cold called at the home of a “vulnerable” 73-year-old in Rossmore, in September 2012, informing her that her chimney needed work.

“It is ironic that her first comment to Mr Sherwood was ‘You are not rogues are you?’, but that is exactly what they were,” said prosecutor Michael Tomlinson.

He said the work Sherwood and his team carried out, although sound, was unnecessary and only worth around £630.

However, Sherwood drove the victim to a cash point on more than one occasion and ‘helped’ her push the buttons to withdraw his payment, which eventually totalled £2,150.

The victim later contacted Borough of Poole’s trading standards department.

When arrested Sherwood denied all 11 charges against him, but was found guilty on seven counts at trial – including dishonestly informing the victim that her chimney was unsafe, overcharging, engaging in an aggressive business practice, giving a false address and failing to provide a valid receipt or guarantee.

The court heard Sherwood has seven previous convictions for 11 offences, including a similar case in 2011 with an elderly female victim for which he was fined.

Defending, John Dyer said Sherwood had not been threatening at any point, and had “got on well” with the victim while the work was carried out.

“Although he is signing on at the moment, he is from a background where one makes one’s own way in the world and tries to be in work, and sometimes that means one strays,” he added.

He said Sherwood was currently signed off work due to stress and would struggle to pay compensation, but an order for £2,200 was made anyway.