Travelling family of conmen who preyed on the elderly

Five members of the Price family, who live in a caravan park in Brigg, were at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced over two days for their part in a huge fraud involving at least 81 separate victims from Yorkshire, Humberside, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire.

The Prices, who set up illegal travelling sites when working away, were spotted as far south as Essex.

The amount they defrauded, or tried to con, on the charge sheet amounts to £175,645 but North Yorkshire trading standards believed the real figure was more than £1 million and that there could be hundreds of victims.

The Prices tried to charge one woman £3,200 to repair a damaged roof tile when an expert later judged the real value of the work was £18 plus VAT.

Neil Davey QC, prosecuting, said pensioners were overcharged for simple jobs by massive amounts, and if the family found someone particularly vulnerable, they would call and call again.

The leader was David Price Snr, 42, who worked with his sons Abraham, 20, and David Jnr, 19, his brother Shane, 41, and wife Angelina, 40, who helped bank the proceeds.

Also charged is family associate James Cunningham, 26, who was caught on camera snooping inside a blind 99-year-old woman’s home in West Yorkshire having claimed to be from the council.

Judge Howard Crowson will pass sentence on the gang on Friday.

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.