A retired accountant from Watford told a jury how he handed over tens of thousands of pounds to a team of builders.

He said it happened after two men called at his home on the Cassiobury estate one day in August 2011 and told him tiles had fallen from his roof.

The man, who is now 70, told St Albans crown court how the pair, brothers Jimmy O'Brien and Michael O'Brien, said they were builders.

He went on: "It was James doing the talking. He said he could repair my roof and it would cost very little. He was going to replace the tiles."

A jury have been told that, in the months that followed, the pensioner ended up paying out almost £100,000 to the gang.

The work was said to have been of a poor standard and should have cost around £8,700, it's alleged.

Six men are on trial at St Albans crown court. They are: James O'Brien, 49, of Chauncy House, Croxley View, Watford; Michael O'Brien, 37, of Russells Ride, Cheshunt; Nathan Newman, 33, of Twyn Carmel, Merthyr Tydfil; Paul Watkins, 37, of Kemp Road, Enfield; Darren O'Driscoll, 21, of Purkiss Road, Hertford and Patrick O'Driscoll, 34, also of Purkiss Road, Hertford.

Michael O'Brien, James O'Brien, Nathan Newman and Paul Watkins deny conspiracy to commit fraud between August 1 2011 and December 31 2011 when the accountant handed over £40,000.

Michael O'Brien, Patrick O'Driscoll and Darren O'Driscoll deny conspiracy to commit fraud between December 1 2011 and January 31 2012, when it's claimed their victim paid out a further £45,000.

At the start of the trial, prosecutor Ann Evans said: "The vicim had never married and had no children. His mortgage was paid off several years ago and he had amassed quite a lot of savings.

"He could look forward to a comfortable retirement, until one day in August 2011 when two strangers knocked on his door and told him his roof was in need of repair.

"As a result of this knock on the door, and the trust he put in these strangers, he also became deeply indebted by re-mortgaging his house. The only reason he parted with this money to these fraudsters was because of the lies and threats made to him.

"If it wasn't for good friends around him, it seems this matter may never have been reported to the police. It came to light only as a result of one of his friends reporting her suspicions to the police after Wing had phoned her up asking to borrow £45,000."

The jury have heard there were two phases in which the victim lost money to the gang.

Work on his roof began in the summer of 2011 and went on into the winter of that year and by then he had parted with almost £100,000.

Mrs Evans told the court "Whatever work had been done was to such a poor standard as to cause condensation, with items coming loose and falling off the roof.

"The victim called Michael O'Brien who said he was in Ireland, but he was told not to worry as everything was under guarantee and an associate who was working in Watford would come and sort out the problems.

"Patrick O'Driscoll then arrived and claimed the whole roof may fall down. He was told to pay Mr O'Driscoll further money which will be reimbursed by Mr O'Brien - it never was."

Case proceeding