AN 87-YEAR-OLD was conned out of almost £11,000 by a crook who masterminded a gang of bogus workmen.

Stuart Connal, 35, registered a fake roof repairs firm and preyed on the elderly with his accomplices.

The brazen conman even continued to target vulnerable pensioners in Glasgow, days after being arrested for crimes in Lanarkshire.

He was snared after the 87-year-old alerted police and bravely arranged to meet Connal at his home.

Connal was convicted of two charges of fraud at Airdrie Sheriff Court and sentenced to four years imprisonment for each, running concurrently. Police believe at least three other pensioners were targeted.

The arrest was part of Operation Doric, a special unit set up 18 months ago to target doorstep crime.

Connal's elderly victims were forced to go through the ordeal of giving evidence in court - the first time in the unit's history -because he continued to protest his innocence.

Detectives revealed exclusively to the Evening Times the lengths Connal went to as he conned his victims into believing his company was real.

He registered the company, put glossy flyers through doors and set up an 0800 telephone number. Police believe he had at least five people working for his fictitious business - Advanced Home Improvements.

The elderly man, from Shawlands, told how he parted with almost £11,000 for a string of fake roof repairs.

He said: "He came into the garden and said that he was from health and safety.

"He said there was a problem with my roof and if it wasn't fixed he would have to report me. He gave me a quotation for £1050 to go into my loft. I'm in my late eighties and can't get into the loft.

"I didn't think there was anything wrong at the time. He had papers and invoices. When he was done he found another problem."

He saw six "workers" in total, including Connal, who is from the Blantyre area, and paid the money in cheques and cash for fake repairs in April this year.

The alarm was raised after a neighbour checked his loft and realised no work had been carried out.

The pensioner called the police, arranged to meet Connal at his home and detectives from Glasgow Division CID swooped.

Two months earlier Connal and his gang conned a couple, aged 74 and 78, out of almost £3000 in Airdrie, in North Lanarkshire.

He was arrested in April but continued to target pensioners.

Police Constable Stuart Devine, who helped lead the inquiry said: "The level of cunning Connal showed would fool anyone.

"He had registered the company with himself as the director. They had professional invoice sheets, glossy flyers.

"It's a rarity for victims to have to give evidence in court. Out of around 200 cases this is the first time it has happened.

"He continued to plead his innocence all the way. There is an arrogance in that.

"He was given two sentences of four years and unfortunately they were to run concurrently.

"In our experience though for this type of crime, it's quite a significant sentence.

"The message we would put out is that anyone could be a victim. We have had cases involving people from 21 to 99."

Since Operation Doric started in January 2013, 239 people have been charged with 393 offences involving a total of £393,363.

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes