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Cousins in court charged with defrauding elderly pensioner

Shane Ward, left and Charles Ward at Newtownards Court on Thursday. Picture by Colm Lenaghan.
Shane Ward, left and Charles Ward at Newtownards Court on Thursday. Picture by Colm Lenaghan. Shane Ward, left and Charles Ward at Newtownards Court on Thursday. Picture by Colm Lenaghan.

TWO cousins from Co Tyrone appeared in court today accused of defrauding an elderly woman.

Charles Ward and Shane Ward from Coalisland spoke only to confirm they understood the charges against them.

With all the offences are alleged to have been committed on July 4.

Charles Ward (23), from Gortview Park and 22-year-old Shane Ward, from Dixon Court, are jointly charged with fraud by falsely representing to a pensioner they had undertaken work at her home, failing to give notice of the right to cancel a contract and possessing class B cannabis.

Charles Ward is further charged with engaging in misleading commercial practice and engaging in aggressive commercial practice in that he allegedly "demanded cash with menace so as to significantly impair...the average consumer's freedom of choice or conduct in relation to the product concerned through the use of harassment, coercion or undue influence."

It is understood the charges arose after a woman in her 80s paid £2,000 for roof repairs at her Bangor home but that the work was not in fact carried out.

Giving evidence at Newtownards Magistrates Court a police constable said he believed he could connect the Wards to the charges.

A prosecuting lawyer asked the case to be adjourned for six weeks as the investigating officer had requested further information.

District Judge Mark Hamill freed the defendants on their own bail of £300 and banned the pair from contacting their alleged victim.