0:00:02 > 0:00:06All over the country, people are fighting back against crime that happens on our very own doorsteps
0:00:06 > 0:00:09and we're here to celebrate their brave efforts.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13Our most vulnerable citizens may find themselves at the mercy
0:00:13 > 0:00:16of cold-calling conmen and rip-off rogue traders.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18But there's no escape for the crooks
0:00:18 > 0:00:21because you are working hard to stop them,
0:00:21 > 0:00:25along with award-winning police and trading standards teams all over the UK.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29It's time to show these criminals the door!
0:00:29 > 0:00:30Today, I'm going back to school
0:00:30 > 0:00:34to join a class of nine-year-olds for a gadget-packed lesson
0:00:34 > 0:00:37on crime-fighting guided by Cambridgeshire Police.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41You're going to warn them all, are you? Good girl!
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Plus we find out how a rogue trader was brought to justice
0:00:44 > 0:00:48after targeting elderly victims in West Wales.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52Anybody that puts terror into an elderly person, I think, is despicable.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55And the incredible story of a local hero councillor
0:00:55 > 0:00:58who saved the day for one of his constituents
0:00:58 > 0:01:01when she was ripped off by a door-stepping con man.
0:01:01 > 0:01:06I couldn't believe the amount of money she'd actually paid.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08It's only through his intervention
0:01:08 > 0:01:11that we became aware of this particular crime.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19Hello, and welcome to the programme.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23Did you know that the Government advice website Consumer Direct
0:01:23 > 0:01:26received more than 13,000 complaints
0:01:26 > 0:01:28about uninvited traders just last year.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32One way of fighting back, of course, against doorstep crime
0:01:32 > 0:01:35is to get people used to the idea of spotting con tricks
0:01:35 > 0:01:37before it's too late, and in Cambridgeshire,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40they're starting with the consumers of tomorrow.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45Today I've come to St Mary's School in Cambridge,
0:01:45 > 0:01:47where nine- and ten-year-old children
0:01:47 > 0:01:49are learning about doorstep crime.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53These sessions are known as "Net Detectives"
0:01:53 > 0:01:54and their teacher Janet King
0:01:54 > 0:01:58hopes the children won't be the only ones to benefit.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00The Net Detectives scheme
0:02:00 > 0:02:03allows us to look at different areas of our social curriculum
0:02:03 > 0:02:06and this afternoon we're looking at distraction burglary
0:02:06 > 0:02:09and because we obviously don't take the children out
0:02:09 > 0:02:10to experience it first-hand,
0:02:10 > 0:02:15we're linking them with police constables and PCSOs
0:02:15 > 0:02:19and we're setting up a scenario, so the children are actively involved,
0:02:19 > 0:02:23they're making decisions, asking questions, answering questions
0:02:23 > 0:02:25with a live online link and video clips
0:02:25 > 0:02:28and so that's how they're learning about this topic.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32So hopefully they'll be really involved and engaged in what they're doing
0:02:32 > 0:02:35and take the messages to other people in the community.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39At the other end of the internet link are local police officers
0:02:39 > 0:02:42including Sergeant Gary Webb.
0:02:42 > 0:02:47Basically, the police and PCSOs work in a makeshift control room.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49The idea is that via the internet,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52we communicate with the children in their own school environment.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55We're there to answer questions they have about crime prevention
0:02:55 > 0:02:58and about what crimes take place.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00The reason we're involved today is to try and make sure
0:03:00 > 0:03:05that distraction burglary and doorstep crime doesn't become a particular issue for us.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Our aim is to prevent the crime happening rather than cure it.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12With everything set, it's time for me to join the class
0:03:12 > 0:03:15and see for myself how this innovative scheme works.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18So what have you been learning this morning so far?
0:03:18 > 0:03:22- We've been learning about distraction burglary...- Yes.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25And they send messages to us
0:03:25 > 0:03:27about burglary, and there's films sometimes
0:03:27 > 0:03:30and there's votes and messages.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33So what's this message saying today?
0:03:33 > 0:03:34"The following film shows us
0:03:34 > 0:03:37"what the words 'distraction' and 'burglary' mean."
0:03:37 > 0:03:40'The children watch a series of short animations
0:03:40 > 0:03:44'to help them understand how distraction burglars operate
0:03:44 > 0:03:46'and how they can be sent packing.'
0:03:46 > 0:03:47What's that showing us?
0:03:47 > 0:03:50That's showing us there's an old lady on her own
0:03:50 > 0:03:55and there's a man knocking on the door, and she goes to open the door
0:03:55 > 0:04:00and then he might come in and he might want to borrow the toilet or...
0:04:00 > 0:04:04- So he would make some excuse.- Yes. - Maybe he'd want a glass of water
0:04:04 > 0:04:06- or something like that? - Yeah, and steal something.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09What's the philosophy behind teaching children so young
0:04:09 > 0:04:12about burglary situations, about distraction crime?
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Yes, some people might say it's too frightening for them
0:04:15 > 0:04:17but the children live in the real world,
0:04:17 > 0:04:21they look in the newspaper every day and see evidence of these crimes
0:04:21 > 0:04:23and really, we're trying to get them to understand
0:04:23 > 0:04:26that they can take an active part in their community,
0:04:26 > 0:04:28helping protect vulnerable people.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31OK, now, I've been asked to find Louis' table.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Are you Louis?
0:04:33 > 0:04:35- Hi, Louis. Hi, everybody. What's your name?- Francesca.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39- Francesca, and...- And that's Mosey. - Mosey.- Very nice to meet you all.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45- Can you also send questions back to the police and so on?- Yeah.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48- What kind of questions do you normally ask?- Well, like...
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Or we answer those questions.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Can we put in any question, do you think?
0:04:53 > 0:04:55So the question is,
0:04:55 > 0:04:58what's the worst case of distraction burglary you've ever seen?
0:04:58 > 0:05:00Let's see what they say back.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03'These children are obviously whizzes when it comes to computers -
0:05:03 > 0:05:07'something I have to admit I never quite mastered - but they're also
0:05:07 > 0:05:09'becoming experts on doorstep crime.'
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Over in the makeshift control room,
0:05:11 > 0:05:15Sergeant Webb also seems very pleased with their progress.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18The children appear to be interacting really well as a class
0:05:18 > 0:05:22and certainly it feels as though they're getting good direction from their teachers.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Ultimately, our aim is to prevent them becoming victims
0:05:24 > 0:05:26and from what they're asking today,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29they seem to be getting a good grip of distraction burglary
0:05:29 > 0:05:32and what they can do to prevent themselves being victims.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Back in the classroom, we have a response to our question.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38"What's the worst distraction burglary you've come across?"
0:05:38 > 0:05:39So what's the answer?
0:05:39 > 0:05:43"It was when I visited an old lady who had all of her..."
0:05:43 > 0:05:44"Pension money stolen."
0:05:44 > 0:05:48So all her money that she had been looking forward to collecting,
0:05:48 > 0:05:50it all went, so that's very bad.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52So that was good to get. See, that's great,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55the fact you can send a message through to the police
0:05:55 > 0:05:58and then they answer you straightaway. Very good.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01My family will never get burgled by distraction burglars
0:06:01 > 0:06:04because I will be telling them all about this.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07You're going to warn them all, are you? Good girl!
0:06:07 > 0:06:10'It's important that the children take home
0:06:10 > 0:06:13'the information they've gleaned from today's lesson
0:06:13 > 0:06:16'and I've been given an invitation to tea with Louis' mum and grandma
0:06:16 > 0:06:20'to find out how that side of it works, and we'll join them later.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23'But for now, it certainly seems as if the message is getting through
0:06:23 > 0:06:25'to these bright Cambridgeshire youngsters
0:06:25 > 0:06:30'that distraction burglaries must be prevented.'
0:06:30 > 0:06:34Now, here's yet another example of doorstep crime.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Hello, Gloria. My name is Ann Mahoney.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40In 2011, my godmother and I
0:06:40 > 0:06:43were victims of a rogue trader who called at her door.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47The police and Trading Standards officers have done a brilliant case
0:06:47 > 0:06:50and have got a prosecution and they're now working on the fact that
0:06:50 > 0:06:52we may be able to get our money back.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55Thanks for that, Ann. We were intrigued by the story
0:06:55 > 0:06:58and decided this contemptible cowboy
0:06:58 > 0:07:00needed a bit of further investigation.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05Take a look at convicted rogue trader Peter Gilmore.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07He targeted a string of elderly victims,
0:07:07 > 0:07:09charging them extortionate prices
0:07:09 > 0:07:12for shoddy jobs that were often unnecessary.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15He plied his trade in the beautiful county of Ceredigion
0:07:15 > 0:07:17on the west coast of Wales.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22These pictures show the appalling standard of his workmanship.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26This so-called chimney repair was unsolicited, overpriced
0:07:26 > 0:07:28and of shocking quality.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30This was so often the case with Gilmore's work,
0:07:30 > 0:07:35as Laurence Martin from Ceredigion Trading Standards points out.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38I've been working with Trading Standards for five years
0:07:38 > 0:07:41and this is definitely the worst case of rogue trading
0:07:41 > 0:07:44I've come across, or at least that we've been able to prove
0:07:44 > 0:07:49because its very hard to get a good dossier of evidence together against rogue traders.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53The unfortunate customer in this case was 71-year-old Ann Mahoney.
0:07:53 > 0:07:54As she just mentioned,
0:07:54 > 0:07:58she handles the upkeep of her 91-year-old godmother's house.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01I had a telephone call from my godmother
0:08:01 > 0:08:05and her next-door neighbour was with her, and they were very concerned
0:08:05 > 0:08:08because they could hear what appeared to be cement
0:08:08 > 0:08:11falling down her chimney. She said there was someone working on next door's roof.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15I said, "Well, can you go and ask him to stop whatever's happening?
0:08:15 > 0:08:16"I'd like to speak to him."
0:08:16 > 0:08:19So he came down off the roof and came in and spoke to me
0:08:19 > 0:08:22and I said, "Can you explain what you're doing?"
0:08:22 > 0:08:26He said, "I was working on next door's bungalow roof
0:08:26 > 0:08:29"and the elderly lady here came out and asked me to check hers."
0:08:30 > 0:08:34And I said, "That old lady can't walk outside.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36I said, "Did she actually ask you to do the work?"
0:08:36 > 0:08:38And he didn't answer me.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41It seems Gilmore took it upon himself
0:08:41 > 0:08:45to carry out the roofing work - a classic rogue trader trick.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50I said, "Do you realise that I do all the repairs for this lady
0:08:50 > 0:08:53"and see to all the running of her affairs?"
0:08:53 > 0:08:56And I said, "You should really have contacted me first."
0:08:56 > 0:08:58"Oh, well, I didn't realise that."
0:08:58 > 0:09:01"Well, fair enough," I said, "but I'd like you to stop."
0:09:01 > 0:09:03"Oh," he said, "but I've nearly finished.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06"I can't leave it now, it won't be weather-proof."
0:09:06 > 0:09:10Gilmore was now demanding payment of £350,
0:09:10 > 0:09:13an amount which Trading Standards later discovered
0:09:13 > 0:09:17was a complete rip-off. A job like that would cost around £200
0:09:17 > 0:09:19if it had been done properly -
0:09:19 > 0:09:21which, of course, it wasn't.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Gilmore had claimed that he'd re-rendered it,
0:09:23 > 0:09:28he'd repainted it, he'd put a new concrete capping on top.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32And so obviously, we got a surveyor along to have a look
0:09:32 > 0:09:36and all the surveyor could say was yes, he definitely had repainted it
0:09:36 > 0:09:39and he had put an extra layer of concrete on top of the existing cap,
0:09:39 > 0:09:43but that was it. So for £350,
0:09:43 > 0:09:46he'd just slopped a bit of extra concrete on and repainted it.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48It is truly despicable behaviour
0:09:48 > 0:09:53and although Ann stood firm, Gilmore wanted his money.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56And he said he had to have cash
0:09:56 > 0:09:58and I said, "I'm very sorry, I live 100 miles away.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00"There's no way I can do that."
0:10:00 > 0:10:03I said, "If I have a bill,
0:10:03 > 0:10:08"a proper headed bill and itemised account,
0:10:08 > 0:10:12"then I will pay it by return of post," but no way was he having cash.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Gilmore had met his match in Ann,
0:10:15 > 0:10:17but when the bill finally arrived two weeks later,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19she couldn't believe her eyes.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21I was a little suspicious because
0:10:21 > 0:10:25it was done in sepia, the printing, which is unusual,
0:10:25 > 0:10:29and across the middle of it in the printing was "copy"
0:10:29 > 0:10:32and I thought, "I've never seen that before."
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Yes, you've guessed it.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37The invoice was actually a proof copy from a local printer.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41Now rather than Gilmore go and buy a pad of invoices,
0:10:41 > 0:10:43he went to a copy and design shop
0:10:43 > 0:10:46and asked them to make a proof copy for him,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48actually design one for him,
0:10:48 > 0:10:53and he just used that one copy to send to Mrs Mahoney.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Because he used that copy without the permission
0:10:56 > 0:10:59of the copy and design shop, he also committed an offence
0:10:59 > 0:11:02contrary to the Copyright Designs And Patents Act as well.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Breaching copyright as well as ripping off his customers?
0:11:06 > 0:11:09This man really is the lowest of the low! But here comes the good news.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12This doorstep criminal was arrested and convicted.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15What's more, we have previously unseen footage
0:11:15 > 0:11:18recorded by a policeman's CCTV camera
0:11:18 > 0:11:20when they finally caught up with him.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Do you have an itemised bill
0:11:24 > 0:11:26or any estimate that you've done for the work?
0:11:26 > 0:11:30This particular incident didn't form any part of the case
0:11:30 > 0:11:32that was eventually brought against Gilmore
0:11:32 > 0:11:35but it demonstrates how when questioned,
0:11:35 > 0:11:38his version of events changes from answer to answer.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Detective Inspector Dave Roberts led the investigation.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45He started off by saying that the householder had approached him.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48- So you knocked on this door? - No, I haven't knocked on this door.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50I was parked there and he come out and seen me and said,
0:11:50 > 0:11:52"Could you have a look at the work?"
0:11:52 > 0:11:55He then goes on to say that a written quote had been provided.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57And you haven't given him a written quote?
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Yes. I wrote all that out and he wouldn't take it.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Where have you put it, then?
0:12:01 > 0:12:03It's gone. He wouldn't take it off me.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05- Is it still in your van, then, or what?- No.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09He then changes it again to say that he can't read or write.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12- Did you write it or not? - No, cos I'm dyslexic, aren't I?
0:12:12 > 0:12:13So you didn't write it for him?
0:12:13 > 0:12:16- You didn't write it? - Right, the original one...
0:12:16 > 0:12:18- I know what you're trying to do. - I'm just...
0:12:18 > 0:12:19I know what you're trying to do.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22I'm trying to find out exactly what's happening. That's all.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26Just over an hour after this footage was filmed, Gilmore was arrested.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28To bring this rogue to justice,
0:12:28 > 0:12:32DI Roberts worked alongside Laurence Martin from Trading Standards.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34Following the initial interview with Gilmore,
0:12:34 > 0:12:39Laurence and I sat down and looked at all the evidence we had before us
0:12:39 > 0:12:41and it soon became apparent
0:12:41 > 0:12:45we had to form an alliance so that between the two lots of expertise,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48we could make sure that no stone was left unturned
0:12:48 > 0:12:51and that no offences went without being investigated.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54A search of Gilmore's van revealed paperwork
0:12:54 > 0:12:57which led them to other victims, including Ann Mahoney.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59It soon became apparent
0:12:59 > 0:13:02that many hapless people in the area had been left in his wake.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07Our enquiries revealed that Gilmore had conned just over £4,000
0:13:07 > 0:13:12out of five vulnerable elderly ladies who all lived on their own.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16It just goes to show that this man wasn't a legitimate builder, but a con man.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20Now, the good news is that on 17th February 2012,
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Peter Gilmore pleaded guilty to eight offences
0:13:23 > 0:13:26and was given a 22-month custodial sentence.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30Trading Standards and the police will obviously keep a watchful eye
0:13:30 > 0:13:32on this doorstep criminal.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35What we have to ensure now is that when Gilmore is released from jail,
0:13:35 > 0:13:39he isn't given the opportunity to go on and commit further such offences.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42The heavier they can come down on these people,
0:13:42 > 0:13:44not just this one man in particular, but on all of them,
0:13:44 > 0:13:46brilliant.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49I don't think they can come down heavily enough on them
0:13:49 > 0:13:51because it's not just the monetary damage,
0:13:51 > 0:13:55it's the psychological damage that they've done.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58And anybody who puts terror into an elderly person,
0:13:58 > 0:13:59I think, is despicable.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01He may be off the streets for now,
0:14:01 > 0:14:05but there are valuable lessons for all of us in Gilmore's story.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08It just goes to show how important it is
0:14:08 > 0:14:11that people get these quotes in writing
0:14:11 > 0:14:14and to ensure they get a seven-day cooling-off period
0:14:14 > 0:14:18so that other people can examine exactly what is being quoted for
0:14:18 > 0:14:23and everyone knows exactly what is expected, not of the trader,
0:14:23 > 0:14:25but also for the customer himself.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Still to come, the Staffordshire County Councillor
0:14:29 > 0:14:32who swung into action when he discovered
0:14:32 > 0:14:34that one of his constituents was being ripped off
0:14:34 > 0:14:39I couldn't believe the amount of money she'd actually paid.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43For a £400 or £500 job, she'd paid thousands of pounds.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50As always, thank you very much for all your letters and emails,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53I must say, they continue to pour in, which is great.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Gordon Archer from Warwickshire points out that using a door chain
0:14:56 > 0:15:00requires a kind of discipline which doesn't come naturally to us
0:15:00 > 0:15:03because we all have an inclination to simply hope for the best.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Now, he suggests that criminals will think twice
0:15:05 > 0:15:10when faced by a resolute householder speaking from behind a door
0:15:10 > 0:15:12which is secured by a stout, heavy duty chain.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15I think that's really good advice, Gordon. I agree with you.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Now, let's see how the youngsters of Cambridgeshire have been getting on
0:15:18 > 0:15:20with their crime-busting classes.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26At St Mary's Primary School, this class of nine- and ten-year olds
0:15:26 > 0:15:31are learning about the dangers of distraction burglary and how to prevent it.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36It's an interactive lesson run in conjunction with Cambridge Council and Police Force
0:15:36 > 0:15:39and gives the children a chance to ask questions via an internet link
0:15:39 > 0:15:44which are answered by real police officers in a mock control room.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47To reinforce what they're learning, the children are given the task
0:15:47 > 0:15:50of designing and making their own posters
0:15:50 > 0:15:53to remind relatives and friends what they need to do
0:15:53 > 0:15:55to stop themselves from becoming victims.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58"Not sure, don't open the door." Good slogan!
0:15:58 > 0:16:01- "When in doubt, keep them out." - I like that one as well.
0:16:01 > 0:16:06Right, "It's up to you - open the door or not, but don't forget to stop, chain and check."
0:16:06 > 0:16:11Very good. That is excellent. I like your big "Stop" here.
0:16:11 > 0:16:12I think that's very good.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16So you stop and you think, and you keep the chain on.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20And then you check and if you're not very happy, don't take the chain off at all.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24I think every elderly person in St Neots will get a poster
0:16:24 > 0:16:26for the back of their door by the end of the week!
0:16:26 > 0:16:28It's the starting point to a conversation.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31So if they're going to a neighbour and saying,
0:16:31 > 0:16:33"We'd like to give you this for the back of your door."
0:16:33 > 0:16:35And then, obviously, say why.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37It's a starting point then for their communication.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42Now, do you think that this type of technology and this type of lesson
0:16:42 > 0:16:43helps you learn about this?
0:16:43 > 0:16:45ALL: Yeah.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47- Do you think others schools should have this?- ALL: Yeah.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52Cos it gives you a good idea, like what methods they use, to like, steal stuff.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Well, I have to say I've never seen this idea before,
0:16:55 > 0:16:59I think it's a brilliant idea. And it's great for us to be able to feature it on our programme,
0:16:59 > 0:17:04so that young people like you can teach older people a lot of very good advice.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07'To see how effective this scheme is beyond the classroom,
0:17:07 > 0:17:12'I'm going home with Louis and his mum, Claire, to meet his grandma, Julia.'
0:17:12 > 0:17:14So this is where you live, Louis, eh?
0:17:14 > 0:17:17- Yeah.- Excellent!
0:17:17 > 0:17:21So Claire, it's pretty impressive. What do you think about this type of teaching at the school?
0:17:21 > 0:17:24I think it's brilliant. It's really good for them to learn that.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27I think it shows that they can, you know, hopefully prevent
0:17:27 > 0:17:29things like that happening in the future, really.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Now, Louis, tell me the truth.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34What did you say about Nan at school today?
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Erm, forgetful, and... THEY LAUGH
0:17:37 > 0:17:39- Well done! - And too forgiving.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Now that you know all the details from the police,
0:17:42 > 0:17:44what advice would you give your nan now?
0:17:44 > 0:17:48Erm, don't open the door to who you don't know.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50Right. I'll remember that.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53You have hidden about your person something for your nan.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56That you made at school today. Do you want to show her that?
0:17:56 > 0:18:00- And I've...- Yeah. Hidden them under the stool here.
0:18:00 > 0:18:06Erm, that one is a poster. "Think before you open the door."
0:18:06 > 0:18:10Good one. So you hang that on your door, or inside. Good one.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14This one, "Stop, chain, check."
0:18:14 > 0:18:16- Very good.- Did you design those yourself? At school, yes?
0:18:16 > 0:18:21- With two or three other people. - They're brilliant!- They're gorgeous. I think they're lovely. Brilliant.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23You've made this lovely present for Mum,
0:18:23 > 0:18:27it's a good reminder from school today. So where are you going to hang it?
0:18:27 > 0:18:30- Up here.- I think that's very good. Excellent.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34That can be your job from here on in, make sure the chain is on.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Excellent! Louis, you've done a wonderful job. Congratulations!
0:18:38 > 0:18:42You should be proud of yourself. And Mum will have that now forever, won't she?
0:18:42 > 0:18:46- As a good reminder at the door. - Yeah.- Good. You happy?
0:18:46 > 0:18:48- Yes. Very happy.- Good. Well done, Louis!
0:18:53 > 0:18:55Our thanks go to all at St Mary's Primary School
0:18:55 > 0:18:59for a really enjoyable day and making us feel very welcome.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02Now it's time to celebrate a councillor who became a bit of a hero,
0:19:02 > 0:19:04when he came to the aid of a consumer in need.
0:19:08 > 0:19:13'Now, we all love to have a knight in shining armour should the need arise!
0:19:13 > 0:19:16'Staffordshire County Councillor John Wells assumed that role,
0:19:16 > 0:19:20'when one of his constituents was targeted by a doorstepping con artist.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23'He was so incensed when he heard she had been ripped off
0:19:23 > 0:19:28'by a rogue trader, that he felt he had to step in and see that justice was done.'
0:19:30 > 0:19:34'The 76-year-old victim of this scam is keen to share her story,
0:19:34 > 0:19:38'but she wishes to remain anonymous, so I'm going to call her Mary.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41'In October 2010, and recently widowed,
0:19:41 > 0:19:43'she needed some minor repairs to her kitchen ceiling.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46'She was given the telephone number of one Mark Duggan.'
0:19:47 > 0:19:50He said it would cost me £1,000,
0:19:50 > 0:19:54but he'd have to get the money before he started work
0:19:54 > 0:19:56because he's got to buy the material.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59I said, "What about a receipt?" He said, "Oh, don't worry about a receipt."
0:19:59 > 0:20:02'Mary was unaware that Mark Duggan was a real scoundrel,
0:20:02 > 0:20:07'who had already preyed on at least one elderly victim in the county.'
0:20:07 > 0:20:09I think Duggan,
0:20:09 > 0:20:14like a lot of these rogue traders, is very plausible.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18And they're just there to initially gain the confidence of the victim
0:20:18 > 0:20:22and then at a later stage, exploit them.
0:20:22 > 0:20:29'Before she even realised it, Mary handed over £1,000 to Duggan for materials,
0:20:29 > 0:20:31'but not only did he fail to fix the leak in her kitchen ceiling,
0:20:31 > 0:20:35'his shoddy workmanship caused another leak in her garage.'
0:20:36 > 0:20:39'Of course, Duggan wasn't interested in the chaos that he'd caused.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41'All he wanted was more of Mary's money.'
0:20:43 > 0:20:48Duggan would take cheques, but he preferred cash.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52He would take his victim to the bank.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55On one occasion, her took her to the bank and left her there,
0:20:55 > 0:21:00and told her to get public transport back home because he was too busy.
0:21:00 > 0:21:01Um...
0:21:01 > 0:21:04I think they used, or Duggan used,
0:21:04 > 0:21:07whatever methodology they could
0:21:07 > 0:21:10in order to get cash money out of victims.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15'The pressure put on Mary by Duggan was becoming unbearable.
0:21:15 > 0:21:21'In a matter of days she had handed over almost £4,500 to the trickster.'
0:21:21 > 0:21:26He kept saying he needs some more money to buy the material."
0:21:26 > 0:21:29That's all he would say, "We need some more money to buy materials."
0:21:29 > 0:21:33He bought the material, then he started doing the work, which was shabby.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37I was concerned about the work, so I contacted Clifton.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41'Mary's community leader Clifton Nicholson saw straight away
0:21:41 > 0:21:44'that she was being duped by the heartless rogue.'
0:21:44 > 0:21:48I think the builder realised that the lady had recently
0:21:48 > 0:21:52lost her husband and was in a vulnerable situation.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55And thereby took advantage of that.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59'Luckily for Mary, strong links throughout the community
0:21:59 > 0:22:03'meant that quick-thinking Clifton knew exactly who to call. That's right -
0:22:03 > 0:22:08'it was time for Staffordshire County Councillor, John Wells, to swing into action!'
0:22:08 > 0:22:12I actually went round to her house. I asked her if she'd got a ladder,
0:22:12 > 0:22:16so I could actually look up on the roof at the work that had been done.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18And I couldn't believe
0:22:18 > 0:22:22the amount of money she'd actually paid
0:22:22 > 0:22:27for a £400 or £500 job. She'd paid thousands of pounds.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30'It was clear that Mary had been the victim of a ruthless scam.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32'She had paid Mark Duggan using cheques,
0:22:32 > 0:22:37'and John realised that he had to act fast to have them cancelled.'
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Everybody knew me at the bank, so I actually went to see the bank manager with her.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44And we actually showed him the cheques
0:22:44 > 0:22:47that had been made out.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50He went through the stubs with us,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53and cancelled about £4,500 worth of cheques.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55'What a good result, John, well done.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58'Mary also told the courageous councillor that Duggan
0:22:58 > 0:23:02'was bullying her into paying a further £6,000 to fix the garage.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05'You're right - it's the garage that he'd damaged in the first place.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09'And that he would be returning the next day for the money.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12'Quite simply, Duggan had to be stopped.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15'The final link in this impressive chain of community co-operation
0:23:15 > 0:23:18'was the team at Trading Standards.'
0:23:18 > 0:23:25John happened to become aware of the problems the victim was suffering at the hands of Duggan.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27He intervened, erm,
0:23:27 > 0:23:30decided to contact us.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33We went to see the victim,
0:23:33 > 0:23:36and it's only through his intervention
0:23:36 > 0:23:40that we became aware of this particular crime.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45'I'm sure Duggan was looking forward to getting his hands on the six grand,
0:23:45 > 0:23:48'when he returned to Mary's house. Instead, he found Trading Standards
0:23:48 > 0:23:51'and the police lying in wait for him!'
0:23:52 > 0:23:55The surveyor found poor quality work,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58work that wasn't really necessary.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01And the most significant thing
0:24:01 > 0:24:05was he'd charged the victim £6,900
0:24:05 > 0:24:10for a job that was only worth just over £1,200.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Duggan was arrested and bailed.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16He gave a "no comment" interview.
0:24:16 > 0:24:22Following that, charges were laid against him
0:24:22 > 0:24:26and the court case went ahead.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30'Greed had finally got the better of Mark Duggan.
0:24:30 > 0:24:37'In March 2012 he was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for fraudulent trading practices.
0:24:37 > 0:24:42'The sentence took into account another scam to which he'd pleaded guilty the year before.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45'With Duggan safely behind bars,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48'everyone agrees who is the real star of this story.'
0:24:48 > 0:24:52'I think John's a real modern-day hero.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55'I'm very grateful to John for the work that he's done for this lady
0:24:55 > 0:24:59and what he does within the community and Trading Standards.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01And I think it's a real example for anyone
0:25:01 > 0:25:07who would be in such a position to come forward with confidence
0:25:07 > 0:25:13that not only Trading Standards, but people like John are out there who are willing to help.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16There are a lot of people who do keep their eye on the community,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19Neighbourhood Watch people,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22but if you've got elderly neighbours,
0:25:22 > 0:25:25people who potentially can be exploited,
0:25:25 > 0:25:30I think that there's no reason why you can't intervene.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32We're only a telephone call away.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36'Meanwhile, John is very modest about the crucial role he played
0:25:36 > 0:25:41'in saving Mary many, many thousands of pounds and bringing Duggan to justice.'
0:25:41 > 0:25:44The whole department of the county council
0:25:44 > 0:25:47reacted to this particular problem, which I was rather pleased about,
0:25:47 > 0:25:53and it stopped him taking advantage of other people, which I was rather pleased about as well.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58'Now, he might play down his part, even so, John has made quite an impression on Mary.'
0:25:58 > 0:26:01He was my knight in shining armour.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04He was a great big hero.
0:26:04 > 0:26:05John was a big hero.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08He'll always be in my thoughts.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14Well, it's certainly a relief to know that the rogue got his just desserts.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18Now Barry Taber swears by the A4 laminated sheet by his front door
0:26:18 > 0:26:21which wards off cold callers with a very polite notice.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24He says it's 99.9% guaranteed
0:26:24 > 0:26:28and the only surprise is when he gets the odd caller who says they can't read!
0:26:28 > 0:26:30and he thinks to himself, "Yeah, a likely story(!)"
0:26:30 > 0:26:32I think I agree with you, Barry.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35We're here to fight back against doorstep criminals
0:26:35 > 0:26:39and we'd love to hear more about how you've stopped them ripping you off.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43You can find all the details about how to reach us at:
0:26:43 > 0:26:45And that's just about it.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49Thanks very much indeed for watching and your company and I hope you'll join me again, next time.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd