A salesman who forged an the signature of an elderly woman from Skipton on documents for improvements to her home has walked from court despite a judge's wish to jail him for four years.

Judge Roger Scott branded commission-only salesman Richard Parfitt "an unsuitable person" to have contact with members of the public or their money, but said he could only sentence him for the offences which he had admitted.

Parfitt, 24, formerly of Barnoldswick, was charged following a complaint by Patricia Brewster that her elderly aunt, who suffered from Alzheimer's, had been persuaded to pay for home improvements she did not need.

Prosecutor Richard Bennett told Bradford Crown Court last Thursday that Phyllis Slater, who was in her 90s, paid thousands of pounds to Harrogate-based K2 Home Improvements Limited who employed Parfitt as a salesman.

The court heard that Mrs Slater was visited by Parfitt at her home in Skipton in March 2006.

On April 3 he returned and she agreed a contract for a new front door, side panel, toilet window and patio doors.

She paid a deposit of £687, but that was returned within two days after her niece contacted the company and told them the work should not continue due to her aunt's mental state.

But Mr Bennett said Parfitt visited Mrs Slater again and a cheque for almost £4,000 was obtained after she indicated the work should be done.

Parfitt, who had previous convictions for theft and false accounting, forged her signature on the contract and did the same again a few days later when she agreed to have block paving laid to the side and rear of her home.

After the work began Parfitt made further visits to Mrs Slater, during which she entered a contract to have more work done including the purchase of an electronically-operated garage door.

Mr Bennett said the total cost of the improvements was put at more than £14,000, but a prosecution expert had stated that the work was largely unnecessary and overpriced.

The true value of the work had been assessed at £6,500.

Parfitt, who now lives at Wayman Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to four charges of false accounting relating to the forged signatures on the various documents.

But Judge Scott told him: "There is such a big smell in this court I feel I ought to be wearing a gas mask.

"What I would like to do is sentence you to imprisonment for preying upon old ladies aged 90 who are self-evidently not with it."

He explained that the smell resonating around the court was the suspicion that that was what had happened in Mrs Slater's case, but he said he was only allowed to sentence Parfitt for the false accounting offences he had admitted.

"Those offences are aggravated by the fact that in 2003 you have not only theft convictions, but three associated false accounting convictions," said Judge Scott.

"Those convictions and these convictions show to me that you are not a suitable person to have any contact with members of the public and any contact with members of the public involving money directly or indirectly.

"You are apparently employed by a firm who have sent a little note through to me. Whether they know about your previous history I don't know, but many who know about it wouldn't dream of employing you.

"The smell is rank in this court, absolutely rank, but I've got to do my job, as I've said, as to what's in front of me and not what I wish was in front of me."

Judge Scott noted that Parfitt had in fact paid back to the company employing him the £1,700 commission he made, but he said it was a pity he had not paid it directly to the representatives of Mrs Slater.

Imposing a suspended sentence supervision order for 12 months, Judge Scott warned Parfitt that he would have no hesitation in imposing the 39 weeks in custody if he breached it.

As part of the order Parfitt will have to attend a "Think First Programme". He must also pay £1,000 costs.

Speaking after the case, County Coun Helen Swiers, executive member for trading standardsm said: "It is absolutely unacceptable for vulnerable, elderly members of our community to be targeted in this way.

"We are committed to ensuring they are protected from unscrupulous salesmen such as this individual."

And Graham Venn, assistant director for trading standards and regulatory services, said: "In every case such as this we will take strong enforcement action to secure convictions for those rogue traders who believe they can take advantage of vulnerable consumers.

"This case should act as a warning for such traders that they will not escape prosecution in this county."