Two rogue tree surgeons who ripped off a series of women in Bromley have been convicted of fraud offences.

James Cunningham, from Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, and Essex-based Peter Varey targeted elderly women who lived alone and deceived them into parting with large amounts of money.

They found work in Bromley by distributing flyers which listed false addresses.

The offences took place between June and September 2015.

One victim was originally quoted £200 to remove some small shrubs blocking a drain but the cost was bumped to £1,000 and she was then told to pay another £210 for the waste to be removed.

She went to the bank to collect the money but staff called Bromley Trading Standards after suspecting she was a victim of rogue traders.

Another woman was initially quoted £1,250 plus £750 for waste removal for cutting back some conifers and tidying a magnolia tree but the price later rose to £5,000.

The woman managed to argue the price down to £2,750 despite feeling threatened.

The work completed was valued at £210.

A third woman, aged 90, agreed to work costing £400 plus £170 per ton of waste removal, which she was later told had gone up to £4,600.

She was taken to a local bank to withdraw the money but the bank manager suspected rogue trading and contacted trading standards.

The final case involved a 77-year-old woman who needed a small conifer cut back.

Varey and Cunningham quoted her £600 plus £170 per ton for waste removal.

When the work was complete she was told that almost 7.5 tonnes of waste had been removed and the cost had risen to £1,875.

The woman was also accompanied to the bank to withdraw cash.

The work was valued at £100. The woman later contacted trading standards.

A full trading standards investigation was conducted and the BBC Watchdog programme carried out a ‘sting ‘operation which featured Varey and Cunningham. A third suspect was also identified and he remains at large.

Varey and Cunningham both pleaded guilty to offences of fraud by false representation.

Cunningham was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years as his wife has recently died and he has dependents.

He was ordered to attend a Think First Programme for offenders and 30 days' rehabilitation, and will be sent to prison if he fails to do so.

Varey was sent to prison for three years.

Both men were ordered to repay their victims.

They were sentenced at Croydon Crown Court.

Bromley Council's executive councillor for public protection and safety Kate Lymer said: “This is a stark reminder to us all and our advice is to carefully check the credentials of any trader you are about to agree work with.

“Do bring this case to the attention of older relatives or friends as our experience shows they are particularly at risk as they are often targeted in similar scams.

“These commuting rogue traders were ruthlessly cynical and have deliberately set out to take as much money as they could from their victims and despite their distance from our Borough, this prosecution should serve as a warning to other potential offenders that they are never beyond the law.”