POLICE today made a new appeal to help trap a suspected bogus workman as a gang who preyed on the elderly were all jailed.

Detectives in Kirklees believe the wanted man was working alongside James Cunningham, who was yesterday part of a five-strong gang sentenced for conning vulnerable elderly people out of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

All were guilty of “ruthlessly executed” fraud, a judge said.

The Price family targeted a 99-year-old West Yorkshire woman, and it’s estimated they conned people out of around £1m.

Their blind victim, whose identity has been protected by the court, was targeted by a man who was caught on camera snooping inside her home, having claimed to work for the council.

Yesterday he and members of the Price family, who lived on a caravan site in Brigg, North Lincolnshire, were jailed at Teesside Crown Court.

Leader David Price Snr, 42, was handed a seven year and eight month sentence.

His sons Abraham, 20, and David Jnr, 19, were sent to Young Offenders’ Institutions for three years and eight months and three years and four months respectively.

Angelina Price, 40, was jailed for 16 months and Shane Price, 41, was sentenced to three years and four months.

Family associate James Cunningham, of Castleford, who targeted the blind 99-year-old, was jailed for five years and four months.

The gang picked on elderly people and overcharged them for gardening or roofing jobs.

The gang’s victims came from Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire.

Judge Howard Crowson, sentencing at Teesside Crown Court, said: “This fraud involved a well-organised, planned and ruthlessly executed course of conduct.”

Police in Kirklees revealed the crime at the blind woman’s home happened on November 14 last year.

A man purporting to be from the council called at the woman's home stating that he was there to mend a fence and that it would cost the woman £10.

The woman let the man into her home and was showing him into the lounge when a second suspect, seen on CCTV, entered the house through the kitchen door at the rear of the property.

From CCTV in the area, seen after the matter was reported, police identified two suspects, including Cunningham.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy White of West Yorkshire Police said: “Cunningham was responsible for a cynical burglary against a very old and very vulnerable woman.

“He conned his way into the victim's home by posing as a council worker and took full advantage of her vulnerability to steal money from her.

“The sentences handed out here demonstrates that the police and our partners in the Criminal Justice System take these crimes very seriously and will work together to prosecute offenders and put them before the courts.”

Anyone who may have information on the man in the picture is asked to contact Dc Cath Uttley on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.