A window fitter who stole more than £3,000 from people in the Black Country by taking deposits for work that was never carried out was today starting a nine-month jail sentence.

Paul Lane came up with a catalogue of excuses for failing to do the work, including that he had been stabbed or injured quad biking. The 46-year-old, who traded under the names Elan Glazing and Paul Lane Window Repairs, was convicted earlier this month of 18 counts of theft.

The jury heard that the stolen sums ranged from £20 to £650 and seven of the 18 victims were elderly. The offences took place between December 2005 and September 2008.

Mr Mark Jackson, prosecuting on behalf of Sandwell Council, said Lane would meet customers, offer to do work such as window replacement and conservatory roof repairs, take a deposit but then never return.

Lane, formerly of West Bromwich now of Wolverhampton Street, Dudley, at one point owed more than £18,000 to 65 customers.

During his trial he told the jury he always intended to pay his customers back, but ran into money troubles after splitting with his wife and was never able to get on top of the debt.

Lane, who defended himself, told Judge Hilary Watson yesterday: “I’m extre- mely sorry. I’m not a crook. I’m 46 and I’ve gone through my life with a clean record, but things went wrong.”

But the judge told him: “There were 18 individuals, some whom were elderly, all who thought they were dealing with a reputable tradesman who advertised in the local paper or who came recommended.

“You robbed Peter to pay Paul but you were paying yourself. You didn’t live a lavish lifestyle, but you were using other people’s money for ordinary living expenses and to pay customers who were wanting money from you.”

By Lisa Wright