THE doggedness of an Amesbury detective in tracking down two men who had been ripping off elderly and vulnerable people in a tarmac scam, has been recognised with two awards.

Detective Sergeant Bill Walker (49) has been presented with a judge's certificate of commendation and a Chief Constable's certificate of merit.

DS Walker began his inquiries into the activities of Peter Smith and Derek Ayres in 1999, after a 71-year-old Amesbury man was persuaded to part with £3,500 to have his driveway tarmaced.

And, as the investigation continued, it emerged that they were involved in deception offences across Wiltshire and in four other counties.

The pair operated a bogus surfacing firm, calling on householders and telling them they were working on a major road project and had tarmac left over that could be used on their driveways.

The victims of their crimes were often the elderly and vulnerable and, on more than one occasion, the pair accompanied pensioners to the bank to collect payment.

But DS Walker's exhaustive probing finally led to Smith (44) and Ayres (55), both from Hampshire, being arrested and charged with conspiracy to deceive.

They pleaded guilty and, at Southampton Crown Court in January last year, Ayres was jailed for three-and-a-half years and Smith for three years, and confiscation orders amounting to £95,000 were made to ensure they did not profit from their crimes.

DS Walker, who has served in the police force for 30 years, officially retired last Friday.