A conman who cruelly deceived an elderly resident into handing over £1,500 has been jailed.
Patrick William John White, 26, from Middlesbrough, turned up unannounced at a property in Thirsk on 11 June 2024.
He told the resident – an 84-year-old widow – that he had been carrying out work in next door’s loft, and claimed her loft needed work too.
White told the resident the work would cost £1,500. She agreed and offered to pay by cheque, which White did not accept, so she walked to her bank to withdraw the money.
After spending some time in the house, White left, and the resident spoke to her neighbour, who said they had not had any builders round. The loft was checked, and it appeared no work had been carried out.
White returned the following day, at which point the resident called North Yorkshire Police.
A police investigation began, and a white van that had been parked outside the house was traced to Middlesbrough, and linked to Patrick White. He was identified as the man who entered the house following an ID procedure.
A chartered surveyor examined the property and confirmed that no work had been carried out in the loft – and in fact no work needed to be carried out anyway.
White was arrested and charged with fraud. He was found guilty on 27 November 2025 following a trial at York Crown Court.
On 10 December at the same court, he was sentenced to three years.
After the trial, the officer leading the investigation paid tribute to the victim and a crucial witness, for ensuring White could be brought to justice.
DS Quita Readman, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “This was a cruel, targeted fraud against a vulnerable elderly victim in her own home. White took advantage of her, and at no stage has he shown any remorse for his actions.
“Without the support and bravery of the victim and another witness, we could not have secured this conviction.”
Police say genuine traders will not call uninvited at your door and try to persuade you that work needs doing to your home or garden.
By contrast, rogue traders will often approach your home directly, looking to trick you into agreeing to let them do work.
If you agree, they’ll overcharge you for shoddy work, which they might not even complete and probably wasn’t necessary in the first place.
When it comes to home repairs, follow this crime prevention advice:
- Never agree to have work done by a cold caller, either over the telephone or at your door.
- Do your research and don’t rely solely on posts or recommendations on social media.
- Obtain three different quotes, and ask family and friends for recommendations.
- Don’t be rushed into making a decision – genuine traders will allow you time to think and won’t pressure you to start work straight away.
- Don’t pay cash or transfer money to the trader before work has begun.
If you live near any vulnerable or elderly residents, please look out for them and contact the police immediately if you think they may be being targeted.
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