A dodgy fish salesman who used high-pressure tactics to dump bags of smelly seafood on elderly customers has been jailed.
Peter Carroll, 51, preyed on the elderly and vulnerable to sell them "excessive quantities of fish" - enough to fill a 6ft freezer in one case.
His firm cold-called old people and charged exorbitant prices for far more produce than they wanted, TeessideLive reports.
One customer asked for four pieces of haddock and ended up with two carrier bags full of fish, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Gunman who caused these horrific injuries to dad on his doorstep in murder bid jailed for 21 years
Another wanted £30 to £40 worth of fish, only to pay for five carrier bags stuffed with surplus seafood.
Householders received smelly and slimy fish, two days before the use-by date on one occasion.
The company traded around the country as Pete's Plaice, P Carroll's Fisheries and P Carroll's Fresh Fish, cold-calling homes in refrigerated vans.
Prosecutor Jonathan Goulding said Carroll targeted the elderly in their homes and sold them unwanted fish.
He said Carroll used "exploitative commercial practices" and a "deliberate strategy" for profit.
Carroll collected £1,000 orders from Hartlepool Fish Quay and knocked on doors of sheltered housing and bungalows, even where "no cold-callers" signs were displayed.
Investigation into tragic deaths of 'Romeo and Juliet' couple found dead together in Walker home
He and salesmen under his "command" went to victims with serious health problems, one an 85-year-old woman with dementia who left the house once a month.
They used high-pressure methods making victims feel uncomfortable and unable to say no, the court was told.
One elderly man felt trapped and intimidated after a seller moved to block his door after giving him a price.
Prices were hiked up, with some customers only learning the full inflated amount when a PIN machine was brought into the home.
When customers said they did not have space for the food, they were told to get relatives to help out with storage.
Murder accused Nicola Lee appears at Newcastle Crown Court accused of killing Paul Taylor
One seller said he would get the sack if he returned with unsold stock.
A trading standards investigation revealed 27 victims who paid a total of £5,273 in areas including North and West Yorkshire in 2016 to 2017.
Customers felt upset, embarrassed, ripped off and anxious answering the door and blaming themselves.
One said he "wanted the earth to open up and swallow him".
Carroll made more than £43,000 from the business during this time, turning over £379,000 since 2009.
He had ignored warnings and tried to wriggle out of trouble when he was interviewed by investigators.
'I thought I was paralysed' - Hit-and-run victim relives terrifying night he was left for dead
He said he told employees not to be aggressive and claimed he had to stop the business "because his workers were going around threatening people".
He carried on trading while already under investigation for similar fishy business dealings in 2015, which earned him a suspended jail term at Preston Crown Court in March 2017.
In the latest case, Carroll admitted engaging in commercial practices contravening professional diligence.
Keith Allen, defending, said Carroll closed his business immediately after his last sentence, reorganised his life and now worked as a delivery driver.
He said the dad-of-four did not make significant profit from his crime and had financial difficulties including tax and mortgage arrears.
Judge Howard Crowson said: "There's a good deal of concern about this in this area at the moment.
"What was happening was pressurised selling to people who did not wish to buy.
"I'm satisfied it was quite deliberate the people targeted were elderly, far less able to resist the high-pressure techniques employed."
He said Carroll persisted in his activities for nine months with staff under his direction, and moved his business while he was investigated in Lancashire.
Carroll, of Kimblesworth, Chester-le-Street , was jailed for a year.
He was given a seven-year criminal behaviour order banning him from selling fish or other products at people's homes and making unsolicited door-to-door sales.
From Charles Bronson to Yorkshire Ripper - Twisted criminals who will never be released from prison
Man jailed for posting knife through his dad's letterbox in 'misguided' attempt to protect him
