ELDERLY residents have been targeted by a conman who is selling Poundland products for extortionate prices.

The offender is reportedly sneaking into the grounds of Harold Thorpe Gardens in Walcot where he then door-knocks his victims and tricks them into handing over their cash.

Alan Bowles informed the Adver of the scam after his mother paid £80 for plasters and a torch. He said: “They came knocking at her door and obviously it’s sheltered accommodation so we don’t know how they got in. He told her, ‘I’ve got a really bad back can I come in,’ and so she bought things from him on the basis that he would go away. But then he came back the next day and said she owed him payment.

“She was crying on the phone when she called me. She said she was all right initially and believe you me it takes a lot for her to start crying.”

The Warden of the accommodation block is aware of the issue and is helping the police with their investigations. It is not yet known whether the man is operating alone or with accomplices, but CCTV footage is reportedly being used to identify the suspect.

Mr Bowles added: “I said to the warden if they come around again I’ll pin them to the wall and call the police, but she told me not to put myself in danger. These people are scum. They’ve taken a sizeable chunk my mother’s pension money.”

“They’re all elderly people in there. These people work on the basis that the people living there are a little senile. They’ve got no self-esteem to do this to old people.

“I would reiterate to people who have relatives living in these establishments to be careful, be vigilant, and warn them not to open their doors to people they don’t know.”

The block of 49 flats is managed by Swindon Borough Council. Council media leader Kevin Burchall said: “We have reported it to the police and they are investigating how the guy got in. We don’t know if he tailgated his way in behind a resident or anything yet.

“We’re doing everything we can to deal with the issue.”

Mr Bowles told the Adver he was not overly worried by recent events: “It’s a nice accommodation area and we haven’t had too many problems before. I live five minutes down the road and she’s just a phone call away.”