A cold caller who took part in a late night cold calling session on a Southampton flat in which the occupier was offered double glazing windows at an extortionate price, has begun a seven-year jail sentence.
Thomas Fletcher, 24, was part of a group of cold callers from Riverside Windows in Southampton, which targeted the home of Josh Brown in the mistaken belief he did not already have double glazing.
In reality he already had double glazing and did not require any services. He also had a sign above his door that clearly said "No Cold Callers" but this was disregarded by Fletcher and his group.
The city crown court heard how he feared they were never going to leave as he was repeatedly given information about various double glazing offers despite Brown repeatedly informing Fletcher that he wasn't interested.
His ordeal began last July when he was in his dressing gown watching television and eating ice cream at his home in Clover Nook, Redbridge.
Suddenly he heard a knock on his outer door and he answered it to find Fletcher along with a group of other cold callers holding a folder titled "Riverside Windows".
However, said prosecutor Rebecca Austin, Fletcher began discussing the various offers of double glazing Riverside Windows could offer Brown, but Brown told Fletcher that he was not interested and that Fletcher was breaking the law by not leaving the premises when requested to, but Fletcher disregarded this and continued to discuss their double glazing offers.
It was at that point that Brown saw the prices being offered for their double glazing windows and he was extremely outraged at the ridiculously over-extortionate prices. Fletcher offered Brown a 10% discount if he purchased their services but Brown immediately closed the door on Fletcher.
“His ordeal lasted several minutes even after the victim closed the door Fletcher continued to talk about the double glazing and even started posting information leaflets from Riverside Windows through Mr Brown's letterbox. It was then that Mr Brown decided he had had enough and telephoned the police.” said Ms Austin.
“It must have been a terrifying experience for him.”
Three of the cold callers were arrested at the scene but Fletcher and group leader Elliot Phillips quickly escaped the four-storey building and ran off, dropping leaflets as they did so.
A police dog and his handler followed their scent until they lost it at the main road.
Judge Ryan Davies QC described their double glazing windows as “a complete rip off.” Fletcher, of Windermere Avenue, Millbrook, Southampton, admitted offering overpriced goods and refusing to leave the premises when asked to do so.
The judge added it was fortunate that the victim had not purchased any of their extortionate goods.
“He was a rather decent man who had done nothing to provoke or deserve this sort of treatment.”
In mitigation, Sarah Jones said Fletcher had been told by his boss that if he could make some sales, he would be offered a promotion when the proposition was put to him.
“In a moment of impulse he continued to attempt a sale of the goods when requested to leave. He should have behaved differently and he knows that now.”
Judge Ryan Davies sentenced Thomas Fletcher to seven years in prison, he was also ordered to pay a £500 victim surcharge, £150 court costs and he must carry out 200 hours' of unpaid work in the area he targeted.
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