TWO builders have been convicted of fleecing elderly Oxfordshire homeowners of thousands of pounds in an “extremely obnoxious” scam.

Rogue traders Trevor Bateman and David Merriman “proved themselves wholly unworthy to trade in any way in the building industry” after they left a trail of shoddy, overpriced and unfinished work throughout the county.

And it emerged yesterday leaflets touting for business with the same contact details as used by the pair were being distributed in Oxford during their trial.

Jurors at Oxford Crown Court yesterday found 54-year-old Bateman guilty of 10 frauds, seven counts of engaging in unfair commercial practices and six charges of transferring criminal property.

Merriman, 49, was convicted of six frauds, six counts of engaging in an unfair commercial practice and six charges of transferring criminal property.

The third defendant, former Swindon Town and Aston Villa footballer Phil King, 43, was cleared of all charges of laundering the money through his Swindon pub where the traders cashed cheques.

Prosecutor Nigel Lickley told jurors at the start of the month-long trial: “They undertook work often for elderly females which turned out either poorly performed, poorly priced or simply unnecessary.”

Judge Anthony King told the pair yesterday: “Your sentences are almost inevitably going to be significant terms of imprisonment.

“This has been an extremely obnoxious matter where you have latched on to people in a quite unfair way and sought to deprive them of sums of money when you have proved yourselves wholly unworthy to trade in any way in the building industry.”

One Oxfordshire victim, Jean Price, who was too unwell to give evidence, paid the duo £47,000 for work valued at less than £10,000.

In all, 10 people from the county fell victims to the work of AS Contractors, as they were known.

They undertook work in Oxford itself, Benson, Kidlington, and Wallingford, as well as at two addresses in West Berkshire.

Mr Lickley told the court leaflets touting for trade with the same contact details as those used by the two men were distributed in Oxford while the trial was going on.

Merriman, of Swansdowne Drive, Clifton, Nottinghamshire, and Bateman, of Oakham Close, Swindon, were bailed until sentencing on January 9. They are both forbidden from trading in the intervening period.