TWO men who were part of a gang which fleeced a pensioner out of £10,000 for gardening work that was never done were spared jail yesterday.

Alex Old and Karl O’Hara were arrested after a worried neighbour called the police and an officer waited for them to arrive at the victim’s home, Durham Crown Court heard.

Old and O’Hara joined the gang after the money was taken from the victim, said Ros Scott Bell, prosecuting.

“There were several people much more heavily involved,”

said Ms Scott Bell.

“They were members of the travelling community and they contacted their victim at his home in Fencehouses, near Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside.

“He was persuaded to pay £10,000 in cash for gardening and paving work, little of which was ever done.

“One of the men, who called himself Peter Lee, rang the victim several times to demand more money.”

The police became involved when neighbour Claire Proud became suspicious of callers at the victim’s home, the court heard.

Ms Scott Bell said: “The victim’s telephone was tapped.

Several menacing calls demanding more money were recorded. Old and O’Hara became involved on the last day when they were sent by the gang to try to get more money from the victim.”

Old, 32, of Runswick Avenue, Leeds, and O’Hara, 28, of Coalville, Leicestershire, admitted conspiracy to defraud in September of last year.

The other members of the gang have not been caught.

Nicholas Peacock, mitigating, said: “It is apparent the gang suspected police were onto them and sent the defendants to the victim’s address because they were expendable.

“Old and O’Hara effectively agreed to be paid £60 to run an errand, although it is conceded they knew a little of what was going on.

“They certainly didn’t make any other money out of it. Mr Old has since received an injury, so it can perhaps be understood why neither man has been forthcoming as to the identity of the other gang members.”

Judge Peter Armstrong jailed both defendants for 12 months, suspended for two years. Each must do 200 hours of community work and each must pay £1,000 in compensation to the victim.

The judge commended the public-spirited behaviour of neighbour Claire Proud and awarded her £250 from public funds.