A MAN who reduced a 70-year-old woman to tears when charging her €1,900 for a roof job costed at €250 has been told by a judge he will go to jail he if he does not pay her €5,000.
At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, David Connors (26), Ballybeg Square, Waterford city, pleaded guilty to defrauding Catherine Hayes at Clonboy, Bridgetown, Co Clare, on June 13th, 2006, by dishonestly inducing her to pay a cheque for €1,900.
Det Sgt Bernard Casey told the court that three men, including Connors, called to Mrs Hayes's home and said they would carry out a spray job on her roof for €250 that would bind together the tiles.
Mrs Hayes lives with her husband, who has a mild form of Alzheimer's disease and, according to Det Sgt Casey, Mrs Hayes gave the go-ahead for the work. However, when the three had completed the job, they demanded €2,400.
Det Sgt Carey said Mrs Hayes was reduced to tears during the argument over the price. He said she was "was very frightened, intimidated and felt threatened during the argument".
Det Sgt Casey said that, after the argument, Mrs Hayes agreed to pay over €1,900.
Stephen Coughlan, prosecuting, said "certain lewd suggestions" were made to the woman. Det Sgt Casey said Mrs Hayes's son phoned the bank the next day to have the cheque stopped, but it was too late.
Michael Collins, for Connors, asked Judge Carroll Moran to take into account his plea of guilty and said his client would pay back €2,000 in restitution to Mrs Hayes and an additional sum in compensation.
The court was told Connors had four previous convictions,
Judge Moran said Connors should also pay €3,000 in compensation and have it in court for January 12th. "He won't got to jail if he comes up with the money. He will go to jail if he doesn't."