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Five members of a travelling gang have been jailed for a total of 19 years today at Bristol Crown Court.

57-year-old David Evans, sons Buddy, 22, and Shannon, 21, and friends Patrick Maughan, 21, and Stephen Maloney, 20, targeted pensioners "ripe for the picking" over a five year period.

The gang would convince them that vital building work was needed on their homes and then charge them extortionate prices. Eleven residents aged between 81 and 94-years-old were conned out of thousands of pounds in Gloucestershire.

One 94-year-old from Cheltenham was duped out of £70,000 for work worth just £250.

Another victim, an 88-year-old widow - who suffers from Alzheimers, handed over nearly £40,000 for a job that was costed at £780.

Stephen Mooney, prosecuting, said: ''These defendants were involved in a lengthy and determined conspiracy to identify elderly, vulnerable and trusting individuals with large savings available.

''They were targeted and persuaded to part with large sums of money for work done badly or not done at all.

''They returned to their victims to extract money over and over and over again.

''People in a confused state were preyed upon ruthlessly - it was both cruel and callous.''

All of them pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud between February 2003 and October 2008 today at Bristol Crown Court.

David Evans was jailed for six years and four months while his son Buddy Evans was jailed for five years and six months.

His other son Shannon Evans was imprisoned for three years and seven months for his involvement, and Patrick Maughan will serve two years and six months.

Steven Maloney has been sentenced to 13 months in prison.

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