A CONMAN labour who fleeced an elderly householder of several thousand pounds and a man who helped cash a fraudulent cheque are beginning jail sentences.

It was only a suspicious bank employee whose vigilance prevented the frail 85-year-old woman losing a further £3,800, paid for “repairs" to the roof of her Chester-le-Street home.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that over the space of three days, last July, James Dolan called at her home at least twice to carry out the "work", which he told the victim was needed to repair her roof.

John Gillette, prosecuting, said she made an initial cash payments of more than £2,500, and Dolan kept her card to pay bills and to bet on the horses - resulting in eventual losses of about £4,547.

When Dolan returned claiming more work was required, she handed over a cheque for a further £3,800.

It was made out to a companion of Dolan, 28-year-old Jonathan Keogh, who paid it into his account, at a bank in Peterlee.

A bank cashier had concerns about the cheque and, following inquiries, stopped the transaction on the day it was paid into the branch.

Recorder Taryn Turner sentenced Dolan, 26, of Greenacres Stables, Haswell, who admitted fraud, to 12 months behind bars.

Keogh, 28, of Station Road, Easington, who was convicted by a jury of acquiring criminal property, was sentenced to 18 months behind bars.

The recorder said: "You targeted this lady. She was vulnerable, and she deserved respect.

"She certainly did not deserve to be taken to the cleaners as she was by you two.

John Wilkinson, mitigating , said Dolan, who is about to become a father for the third time, comes from an honourable family and is determined to pay the money back.

Keogh had denied wrongdoing, but was convicted following a trial at Durham Crown Court.