Bogus gardeners frogmarched Pontefract pensioner to bank to withdraw thousands
The pair “hardly did any work” and asked for money
A pair of bogus workers duped thousands of pounds from of a pensioner, even escorting to him to the bank after offering to tidy his garden.
Cold callers John McDonagh and Robert O’Neill were told by the judge at Leeds Crown Court that their actions were “exceptionally mean and calculated”.
Then pair were both jailed this week.
Prosecutor Jennifer Gatland said the pair knocked on the door of the 75-year-old’s home in Pontefract in August 2023, telling him his garden required work and offered their services.
The man agreed and the pair returned the next day, bringing fencing panels.
They asked him for a bank transfer of £5,000 , standing over him while he completed the transaction.
They cleared rubbish and cut part of a hedge but left soon after, telling the elderly man they would return in a day or two.
They did not return for three months, apologising to the victim and saying they would refund him.
They offered to cut his lawn, starting the work but did not complete it. After a couple of hours they asked him for more money.
He tried to transfer another £4,000 but it was declined, so they offered to drive him into Pontefract town centre to attend the Halifax branch.
He got the cash and handed it over.
It was then suggested they take him to Natwest for another £5,000, but while in the branch, the staff became suspicious and called the police.
Both O’Neill and McDonagh were found in a hired Mercedes nearby and they told police they were from Scotland and visiting relatives, before driving off.
They were both arrested a few weeks later.
The victim said it left him “feeling foolish” after believing the pair were genuine. He added: “I’m now more cautious about opening my front door. I should not have to feel like this.”
O’Neil, 27, formerly of Longlands Street, Bradford, admitted two counts of fraud. He appeared in court over a video link from a prison in Scotland where he is serving a sentence for another matter. He has seven previous convictions.
McDonagh, 25, of Leeds Road, Shipley, also admitted two counts of fraud. He has no previous convictions.
Mitigating for O’Neill, Anastasis Tasou, he said he played a “secondary role” and did not get involved with the negotiations, but Judge Neil Clark told him it was a “joint enterprise”.
Mr Tasou said O’Neill did not benefit from the fraud.
For McDonagh, Jeremy Barton said: “He has had a great deal of time to think about the impact of the offence on the victim. He has never been involved in anything like this before.
“It’s easy for a defendant to say they are remorseful and feel sad and sorry for what they have done and not mean it at all.
“But since this case began he has been trying to obtain money in order to pay compensation to the victim.
“It was cruel and wicked and he accepts that.”
He said he had raised more than £2,000 to help pay back the victim. He added that McDonagh had issues with a gambling for which he needed help.
Judge Clark told the pair: “You knew exactly what you were doing. It was a vulnerable old man targeted repeatedly to get as much money as possible from him.”
He jailed O’Neill for 15 months, which will run consecutively to his existing sentence.
McDonagh was jailed for 12 months. He was order to pay £2,000 compensation to the elderly victim.