The life savings of an elderly couple have been returned after they were tricked out of thousands of dollars by a gang of roof scammers. 

Earlier in the year the 93-year-old man and his 91-year-old wife were targeted by conmen who charged them to repair non-existent cracks in the ceiling of their Haberfield home.

The thieves accepted payment for repairs they never carried out and returned to steal a tin full of the couple’s savings.

Among three people arrested was a 38-year-old British national sentenced to a year in prison for “dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception”.

He agreed to return the money as part of his sentence and will be deported back to the United Kingdom once his time is served.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Pride tells Ray Hadley he is glad the couple got their money back.

“It beggars belief… they’re vulnerable people in the community and they just target them.”

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