A gang of rogue builders who conned more than £140,000 out of elderly victims and spent it on booze will be sentenced today.

They admitted defrauding 11 people living in North Yorkshire and Teesside by repeatedly charging for unnecessary, shoddy and often worthless repairs.

They would finish their so-called working day by 11am and then head for the pub, drinking until the cash they had conned ran out.

Teesside Crown Court heard how team leader John Richards, 51, of Britannia Place, Redcar, Cleveland was the talker who gained the victims trust on the doorstep.

He would then send in George Chaffer, 45, of Oliver Street, and Allan Phillips, 41, of Queen Street, both Redcar, who carried out in effective but costly repair work.

The gang would even drive customers to cash machines to get their money, while taking care not to be caught on CCTV cameras.

One pensioner from Billingham, Teesside, lost £79,000 while a £70-year-old from Great Ayton, North Yorkshire paid out £58,500.

Following a tip-off, North Yorkshire County Councils Trading Standards mounted an undercover investigation and the gang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud over a three-year period.

The trio were due to be sentenced at 10.30am at Teesside Crown Court by Judge George Moorhouse.