A SALESMAN has been ordered to repay a pensioner's deposit after a scam which saw her into paying for unnecessary work to her house.

A 72-year-old from Lyonshall, near Kington, was deceived into buying unnecessary and expensive spray foam loft insulation by Bournemouth-based Francis Ballyntyne.

Ballyntyne, 47, was given a three month suspended sentence and ordered to pay £700 compensation and £2,000 towards legal costs after Trading Standards brought the case.

Worcester Crown Court heard how Eco Roof Ltd, the company where Ballyntyne worked as a commission-only salesman, targeted elderly home owners to undertake unnecessary work at excessive prices.

Ballyntyne, of Harcourt Road, made false statements, including the victim's fibre glass loft insulation should be replaced with spray foam to save 35 per cent on her fuel bills.

The discounted price of £3,495 was said to be three times more than what a chartered surveyor estimated.

The victim was suspicious as the work was done the next day, breaching her legal 14 day cooling off period. She then cancelled the cheque.

Marc Willimont, Herefordshire Council’s acting assistant director for regulatory, environment and waste said: "The way that vulnerable elderly home owners are sold spray foam loft insulation and roof and wall coatings is a scam."

He added this case shows the "aggressive" way to scam people into agreeing to unnecessary work.