Trailer-park family who made a million from conning old folk

Five members of the Price family, who live in a caravan park in Brigg, south of the Humber, have admitted their part in a nationwide scam picking on the most vulnerable people.

Most victims were from Yorkshire, but the gang also travelled to Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and as far south as Essex to con pensioners.

If the family found someone particularly easy to prey upon, they would repeatedly visit them, draining their victims’ savings by charging exorbitant amounts for simple gardening chores.

At other times, the gang would claim roofing work was necessary, but when Trading Standards officials checked later, the jobs were not completed.

Leader David Price Snr, 42, involved his sons Abraham, 20, and David Jnr, 19, and his brother Shane Snr, 41.

The boss and his wife Angelina, 40, operated a number of accounts in which they banked large cheques.

Family associate James Cunningham, 26, of Wood Lane, Castleford, West Yorkshire, was also involved in the fraud and he was caught on a hidden camera committing a distraction burglary on a 99-year-old in Batley, West Yorkshire, while on bail.

A teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons was handed a six-month referral order at Teesside Crown Court today after admitting money laundering and concealing criminal property.

Neil Davey QC, prosecuting, said: “David Price led a team of male family members - together with family friend James Cunningham - and the team made it their business to identify householders who could easily be overcharged for gardening and roofing work.

“Victims usually were women, usually old and invariably vulnerable, typically through the effects of old age or illness.

“The team made a substantial amount of money like this.”

North Yorkshire Trading Standards acted after a spate of cons was reported in the Thirsk area two years ago.

The Prices had set up an illegal camp in North Yorkshire on their way to Cumbria’s famous Appleby Horse Fair at the time.

The investigation spiralled and culminated in more than 100 officers raiding the Brigg campsite in Mill Lane in September 2009.

The scale of the fraud amounted to £175,645 on the court indictment, totalling 81 named victims, but Trading Standards believed the real number of victims was in the hundreds, many of whom are now dead, and that more than £1 million was dishonestly charged.

David Price Snr, Abraham Price, David Price Jnr, Shane Price Snr and Cunningham all admitted conspiracy to defraud at an earlier hearing.

The gang boss also admitted money laundering and stealing £600 from a blind woman aged 96.

His wife Angelina, their sons Abraham and David Jnr, as well as Cunningham admitted money laundering.

Their sentencing hearing next month will take two days.