TWO teenagers were locked up for conning a "vulnerable" Monmouth man out of £47,000 for home improvements he didn't need.

Charlie Lee, 19, of Justin Caravan Park in Northampton, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud.

His 17-year-old accomplice, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and one count of concealing criminal property.

At their sentencing at Newport Crown Court, prosecutor Matthew Cobbe said between September 14 and October 8 last year they took advantage of a vulnerable man from Monmouth, aged 61, stealing £47,000.

"[The victim] is a lonely vulnerable man who had no social skills," Mr Cobbe said.

The court heard how the victim was walking home from work and stumbled.

A car stopped and a defendant in the car recognised they could take advantage.

They asked if he needed any work doing to his house and the victim said he needed some work doing to his roof.

They defendants took his address and arrived at his home half an hour later.

The defendants gave fake names and pressed the man to draw out more and more sums of money over coming weeks.

They charged him £1,000 for guttering; £5,000 to pay labourers; and £20,000 to repair the whole roof.

They also carried outside more "work" to the garden and path costing a further £15,000. The defendants said they discovered a crack in the base of the house and would require a further £20,000. The victim also received a call from a fake solicitor who said that if he did not pay they would remove the work.

The victim was forced to make payments via bank transfer and it was only through his bank raising concerns that prompted an investigation.

Surveyors estimated that the work was only £2,200.

Gemma Maxwells, defending Lee, said he was illiterate and would be incapable of writing threatening notes to the victim.

Recorder Gregg Bull QC said: "It was planned and persistent.

"The victim was cajoled and threatened to give money.

"It is the thinking of hardened criminals."

Lee was sentenced to 19 months' custody and his co accused received a detention training order and 18 months in custody.

Gwent Police DC Mark Price said: “This was an incident where two people took extreme advantage of a someone’s vulnerability to con them out of a significant amount of money.

“This criminality is dealt with robustly in Gwent, and we will continue the work we do locally to raise awareness of rogue trader activity and promote steps members of the public can take to better protect themselves, family members and their neighbours.

“I would like to thank Trading Standards and the local community for working with us to secure the sentences given today.”