A ROOFER accused of a £23,000 ‘cowboy builder’ fraud has pledged to repay some of the money.

Traveller William Loveridge, 48, from Redearth Road, Darwen, was due to face trial charged with defrauding pensioners Vincent Cheetham, 72, and Alwyn Charlton, 81, in separate incidents.

But on Monday he pleaded guilty to fraud after taking £2,000 from Mr Charlton in 2007 for an ‘investment opportunity’ after driving him to the Golden Cup pub in Blackburn Road, Darwen.

He also admitted the theft of coping stones from Mr Cheetham’s address in Greenway Street, Darwen.

Prosecutor Timothy Brennan QC said the crown would take a ‘realistic view’ on the alleged £21,000 incomplete building work fraud against Mr Cheetham if Loveridge agreed to pay.

Mr Brennan said: “The defendant has obtained money from two senior citizens in aggravated circumstances.

“What the defendant is minded to do is gather what funds he can to pay back as much as he can to the complainants in this case.

“The crown makes it quite plain this is not a case of him buying his way out of trouble. We have taken a realistic and pragmatic view.”

Mr Brennan explained that Loveridge had offered to pay £2,000 to Mr Charlton and £12,500 to Mr Cheetham via personal cheques.

He said preliminary financial investigations showed that on conviction, police and the CPS may not have been able to seize ‘a penny’ in compensation or via the Proceeds of Crime Act.

He said: “We are very mindful these amounts are significant and represent the entirety of the life savings of the complainants."

The court heard that if Loveridge, now living at a caravan park in Bagworth, Leicestershire, had not paid up by March 16, the crown would pursue the case to trial.

Loveridge was bailed and the case was adjourned.