AN 84-YEAR-OLD woman was left in tears after a rogue workman installed a security camera at her home in Clayton-le-Moors despite her insisting she didn’t want it.

David Fricker, 46, even returned to the home of Jessie Rennox to fit an intercom system after ‘getting his foot in the door’ and charging £130 for the work, Preston Crown Court was told.

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But Mrs Rennox, who had also paid £130 for the security camera previously, reported the workman to police and Fricker, of Gorse Road, Blackpool, was later questioned by Lancashire Trading Standards.

He is now starting a six-month jail sentence and was ordered to pay £1,000 court costs and £271 in compensation, after pleading guilty to two offences of engaging in aggressive commercial practices.

David Traynor, prosecuting on behalf of Lancashire Trading Standards, said Mrs Rennox, first came across Fricker when he called at her house in early 2013, accompanied by two younger men.

Fricker was offering to fit security equipment and the pensioner felt he “wouldn’t take no for an answer”, keeping her talking in the kitchen while the younger men fitted a camera outside.

The workman told her it would cost £300 but Mrs Rennox insisted she didn’t want it but she became “scared” as the defendant appeared to be getting agitated with her, and agreed to hand over £130.

Mr Traynor said: “When she came downstairs she says tears were literally dripping down her face but the defendant was not bothered and took the cash .”

The court heard Fricker returned later that year and when Mrs Rennox answered he “got his foot in the door and took hold of her shoulders”, before moving her inside.

Mr Traynor said this time an intercom system was fitted and the pensioner again agreed to hand over £130, after becoming concerned that Fricker was getting annoyed .

The court was told that the workmen had even cut through an oxygen pipe, leading to a tank which the OAP used, as she had breathing difficulties.

In interview the defendant accepted undertaking work but claimed he had done it free of charge. He denied exerting pressure upon her to make her pay.