Gardener saves the day after crooks target OAP
Eden Groundcare offers to tidy up mess left by conmen
The family of a man with Alzheimer’s who fell victim to bogus gardeners has thanked a Paisley gardening company for cleaning up the mess for free.
The 78-year-old man was duped into handing over £750 to three men who called at his door in Crags Road, Paisley, and said they could tidy up his garden last week.
After chopping down part of a tree, the men said they were taking a lunch break and would be back the next day, leaving all the branches lying on the ground.
When the men came back the next day to demand more money, concerned family members phoned the police.
After the Paisley Daily Express reported on the sickening story, Charlie Connell, from Eden Groundcare, got in touch to say he and his crew would happily tidy up the man’s garden free of charge.
We put him in touch with his daughter and they’ve arranged to tidy up the mess that’s been left behind.
The grateful daughter said: “My husband and my dad had tried to clear it up, but it was too big a job.
“We were considering hiring a skip to finish it off, which would have cost about £150.
“We are so grateful to Charlie for offering to do this, it’s so kind.
“My faith in humanity has been restored.
“The tree will be taken down by the experts.
“It’s nice that something good has come of this.”
Charlie said his team will be out to clean up the garden and finish pruning the tree in a couple of weeks once they’ve finished their current jobs.
Paisley Inspector Tracy Harkins is still appealing for information to help track the crooks down.
She said: “This was a despicable act these men carried out, deliberately targeting a vulnerable old man for cash.
“The three men were wearing orange jackets and travelling in a white flatbed van, which had the licence plate SF03 PS2.
“I would ask anyone who was in the area who spotted these men or their van to contact police on 1 01.”