Brierley Hill dementia sufferer, 86, 'targeted by firm'
An elderly Black Country dementia sufferer was repeatedly targeted by an unscrupulous company that ignored pleas from her family to stop, a jury heard.
Betty Tipper , aged 86, from Brierley Hill, was sold windows and guttering by Summit Roofguard Ltd to replace products installed just four years earlier, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
"Thankfully her son John managed to cancel the orders," declared Mr Mark Jackson, prosecuting on behalf of Dudley Trading Standards. A chartered surveyor later confirmed the proposed work was unnecessary, it was said.
Mr Jackson continued: "Despite requests from her son, both by letter and orally, not to contact his mother the company continued to do so."
Other customers were given inflated quotes valid for a year to make subsequent offers look like a 'fantastic bargain,' the jury was told. One elderly couple quoted a 12-month reference price of £17,000 for work , finally signed to pay £9,585. A chartered surveyor later said they should have been charged £2,820, said Mr Jackson.
Summit and sister firm Status Glass had offices in Birmingham and have since ceased trading.
Martin Evans, 58, from Lower Broadheath, Worcestershire, and Sarah Beadle, 39, of Yew Tree Road, Moseley – directors of the company – together with its general manager Prytherch, 57, who lives in Crawley, Sussex, appeared in the dock with sales staff Nadeem Yasin, 34, from Hodge Hill, Richard Ledwith, 38, of West Heath, Derrick Fisher, 64, from Wootton Wawen, and Glenys Bolton, of New Oscott, also 64. They are variously accused of unfair, misleading or aggressive commercial practice. Beadle and Evans are further alleged to have obstructed an authorised officer. All charges are denied. The case continues.
