A MAN who took advantage of a vulnerable woman over roof repair works at her home has been told his behaviour was "absolutely horrendous".

A court heard the victim was a vulnerable woman from Saltney in her 40s with mobility problems who suffered from multiple sclerosis (MS).

She lived alone, depended on carers and because of her condition slept in her bed in the living room.

Andrew Ryder Foulkes, 25, of Bryn Helyg in Flint, called at her home in May of last year and said that after recent storms her roof was damaged.

They agreed a figure of £1,200 and she got him to write out the cheque for her.

He seemed genuine but due to her mobility she could not see if the work had been completed and did not see any van or company vehicle.

He introduced himself as Scott and said he worked for a roofing company.

A month later she heard a knock on the patio door, she called to whoever it was to come in, and he had returned.

He said his boss, a man named Dean, had instructed him to return and collect a further £1,200 payment.

Prosecutor James Neary told Flintshire Magistrates Court she did not think that was correct but told him to write out a second cheque, which she signed, just to make him leave her home.

He told her he would return to check out the work and to give her a final invoice.

When she told her carer, arrangements were made to stop the second cheque.

A check with the bank revealed that the first cheque had been paid into an account linked to the defendant and he was arrested.

He denied being involved but was picked out by the victim during an identification procedure.

Foulkes, who admitted the fraud, had a similar previous conviction involving a man aged 77 in the South Shields area of Tyne and Wear dating back to 2015.

Defence barrister Gemma Gordon told the Mold court it was conceded the complainant was a vulnerable person but her client denied she had been deliberately targeted.

District judge Steven Jonas said Foulkes’ behaviour was "absolutely horrendous" and the case would be sent to the crown court for sentence.

In a victim impact statement, the complainant said that the incident had a huge impact on the quality of her life.

She was bed bound due to MS but there were days with assistance when she could get out and about.

The incident had affected her nerves and she no longer trusted anyone regardless of who they were.

She believed she had become more exposed and vulnerable and lived in fear of becoming a victim again.

The woman said she was “extremely saddened” that someone would take advantage of someone like herself in her condition and she felt angry and upset.