Roofer guilty of elderly con

A cowboy roofer was this afternoon found guilty of cheating pensioners across the West Midlands out of tens of thousands of pounds by charging sky high prices for shoddy work.

Jurors at Birmingham Crown Court found Vincent Smith, aged 37, guilty of conspiring to obtain property by deception. He had denied the charge.

Smith, of Eastfield Road, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, left court, cursing at onlookers and drove away in his blue Peugeot car which jurors were told was specially adapted and paid for by the department for Work and Pensions.

Co-defendant, Stephen Allen, aged 41, of Station Road, Stechford, Birmingham, admitted an identical charge earlier this year.

Recorder Mr Tom Rochford said they would be sentenced following reports.