A homeowner told today how a bogus double glazing salesman threatened to put his head in a vice and watch him ‘bleed to death’ – because he refused to buy new windows.
Shocked Paul Shipman, 68, said the man issued the chilling warning after he cold-called him at home.
The salesman, who claimed to work for a firm called Bowater, had earlier told another woman she would be fined unless she bought his products.
Yesterday Leicestershire trading standards confirmed the salesman is a conman who is deliberately targeting elderly people.
Officers are investigating a total of 12 complaints from distraught residents in the Leicester area.
Mr Shipman, a retired engineer from south Leicestershire, was contacted by the man on January 25.
Today he said: ”He threatened to put my head in a vice and watch me bleed to death.
”In the end, he said he’d come round and kill me.
”I was concerned about other people being targeted and called trading standards and the police.
”The salesman started out saying there were new British Standards and I needed new windows.
”He said his company had been given a £1.4 million grant to carry out the work.
”I smelled a rat because, being an engineer, I know about British Standards and he could not quote its number.”
Another victim, a 79-year-old man from Cosby, Leics., was told by the bogus seller he would be slapped with a £1,000 fine.
He said: ”They called me and they knew my name and where I lived.
”When I said I didn’t want to speak to him, he said I had to speak to him or I would be fined £1,000.
”It was very upsetting.”
Shockingly, the conman has targeted elderly residents and claimed they will be hit by a fictitious ”green tax” unless they replace their windows.
He has even threatened to have their single occupancy council tax reduction – granted to elderly and vulnerable people – cancelled.
Homeowners have also been told they qualify for a Government grant to have their windows replaced.
David Bull, head of Leicestershire County Council trading standards, branded the conman ”sick”.
He said: ”It is sickening that older people are being threatened with fictitious taxes or fines, the loss of benefits or even death.
”We are very concerned that this firm is deliberately targeting older people.”