Fake cleaners attack woman in extortion bid

POLICE are hunting a pair of bogus workmen who subjected a woman to a horror ordeal on her own doorstep.

The pretend cleaners spat in the woman’s face and threatened to kick her door down after she refused to pay £50 they were demanding.

Traumatised Kerry Allison suffered a black eye and was left “sick to the stomach” following the terrifying 20-minute ordeal on Wednesday night.

She was targeted as she returned home from work by the men who posed as cleaners to get into the communal stair on West Newington Place, Newington.

The duo, who had mops and brushes and both dressed in blue trousers and sweatshirts, initially let her pass while she was on her mobile.

But as soon as she hung up, they launched into a tirade of abuse, claiming she owed them money before blocking off the stairs to her flat.

She said: “When I started to go upstairs one of them shoved past me and stood between me and my door, stopping me getting in. I was absolutely terrified.

“The other guy was on the level below so I couldn’t go down either.

“He was shouting and swearing right up to my face. He was incredibly intimidating and threatening. I was scared of what he was going to do.”

Kerry, a regional manager for the brewer BrewDog, explained she was just renting the property and they needed to speak to her landlord.

But the pair became increasingly aggressive until she 
managed to force her way through to her door.

“I managed to get my key in the door and get inside but then him and the other chap were trying to kick my door in, threatening me, and telling what they do to “tight b*****s” like me.

“It was horrible. I just had to wait until they left.”

Kerry listened to hear the communal door close before going down to look for a car or van they might have been using. But when she opened the main door she was horrified to see the more aggressive man stood in wait.

He spat in her face and shoved the door, hitting her in the head and causing a black eye.

Shocked Kerry, in her mid-20s, spoke to neighbours who reported having seen the men on previous occasions, with one man admitting he had handed over money before raising concerns with his landlord.

She said: “The whole thing was horrible. I don’t feel safe at all and I don’t want to live here any more. I’m scared to go in and out of my property alone.

“If they’ve done it to me then they must have done it before.”

The men, who had no identification or logos on their clothing, are described as white, mid-40s to 50s, of scruffy appearance and at least one had bad teeth.

Police confirmed they were investigating the incident and advised anyone with information to get in touch.

Inquiries have established they had no right to be in the building and were not cleaners.

The News understands police have offered to station an officer outside the close.