A COMPANY boss and his employees have admitted a home improvement rip-off, which preyed on the elderly.
Director Steven Rudd, 28, and three of his salesmen from Gateshead's Global Seal Home Improvements were involved in a string of deception charges.
The men admitted their parts in obtaining more than £30,000 from elderly customers, who were conned into believing they needed home improvements.
The men were due to stand trial with four others at Newcastle Crown Court, but entered guilty pleas yesterday.
Rudd, of Thorn Bridge, Teal Farm, Washington, admitted nine charges of obtaining property by deception, Garry Donoghue, 24, of Finchale Close, Sunderland, admitted five, his brother, Kevin Donoghue, 25, of Lundale Avenue, Sunderland admitted two and Albert Jones, 60, of North Primrose Hill, Gateshead admitted one.
The charges relate to business activity between January 1998 and June 1999, when they were arrested.
The four are due to be sentenced on a date after June 25. They were granted bail.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article