0:00:02 > 0:00:03Meet the sheriffs.
0:00:03 > 0:00:05My name's Mr Grix. My colleague and I are enforcement agents.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07It's to do with a High Court order.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10They work for the High Court, and if it says you're owed money,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13it's their job to go and get it.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16I'm here for £6,072.18.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18They can demand payment on the spot...
0:00:18 > 0:00:20I'm here for the full balance.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22How are you going to pay it?
0:00:22 > 0:00:24..or remove assets instead.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26The car will be going unless you can pay it.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29You'll have a week to pay in full before it gets sold at auction.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33Obstructing their work can be a criminal offence.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35I wouldn't do that if I were you.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36The door needs to stay open.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Every year, in England and Wales,
0:00:40 > 0:00:43unpaid debts totalling more than £80 million
0:00:43 > 0:00:45are recovered by the sheriffs.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Coming up, a budding property developer's lost out
0:00:51 > 0:00:54after squatters took over his building.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56We have subsidised the squatters,
0:00:56 > 0:00:58approximately £20,000.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01When the sheriffs tried to evict them,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04they get more than they bargained for.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Didn't see all that, did you?
0:01:06 > 0:01:09A locksmith's done a botched job on Pete Mullany's door.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11The mechanism was the wrong one.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13The whole frame and everything was damaged.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15It was a bit of a disaster.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18The boss of the company responsible doesn't want to cooperate.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22But can Ken change his mind?
0:01:22 > 0:01:25That's what I like to see, plenty of stock in the shop.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28And Lawrence and Kev are on the hunt for a stables manager
0:01:28 > 0:01:30who owes money.
0:01:30 > 0:01:31Hello?
0:01:31 > 0:01:32No sign of anybody, is there?
0:01:32 > 0:01:36The place is deserted, but can they get the debtor's attention?
0:01:36 > 0:01:38HORN BEEPS
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Return to the stables immediately please,
0:01:40 > 0:01:42so that we can deal with this.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49This morning, enforcement agent Ken Warby
0:01:49 > 0:01:52is in his usual North London patch.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56He's heading to a shop in Barnet, in pursuit of an unpaid debt.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00On the face of it, it looks like a run-of-the-mill job,
0:02:00 > 0:02:02but he's about to be reminded
0:02:02 > 0:02:04that it takes some people longer than others
0:02:04 > 0:02:08to come to terms with the realities of High Court enforcement.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13We are going to visit a company called All Service For You.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15I believe they're a security company.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20To be precise, All Service For You Ltd
0:02:20 > 0:02:21is a locksmiths,
0:02:21 > 0:02:24and their debt of more than £2,000 all began
0:02:24 > 0:02:26with a surprisingly simple problem,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29a broken lock on the front door
0:02:29 > 0:02:31of Pete Mullany's family home in Stockport.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35The locks themselves wasn't shutting properly,
0:02:35 > 0:02:37such that when you shut the door,
0:02:37 > 0:02:39it was just slightly sticking out a bit.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Pete and his wife called around locksmiths for quotes,
0:02:42 > 0:02:44before settling on All Service For You,
0:02:44 > 0:02:46thinking it was a local company.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50It wasn't until we found out a little bit further on in the process
0:02:50 > 0:02:53that the company was based in London,
0:02:53 > 0:02:57and they'd outsourced it to local contractors to pick up the deal.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00So it wasn't kind of what we were hoping for.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02And when a workman came to fix the lock,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05it didn't exactly go as planned.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09It's a composite door with its own unique locking mechanism,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12and the mechanism that he put in was the wrong one,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14so as a result, there was loads of holes everywhere,
0:03:14 > 0:03:16which had been filled in with Polyfilla.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19The door was slightly damaged, as well,
0:03:19 > 0:03:20and at the bottom, didn't shut properly.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22You could actually see the light coming through,
0:03:22 > 0:03:25the wind blowing through into the hallway.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28So all told, it was a bit of a disaster.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31At first, it looked like All Service For You
0:03:31 > 0:03:34were keen to help and sent someone else out
0:03:34 > 0:03:37to fix the problem, only HE fared no better.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41He himself had to, in parts in the door, lathe down the door,
0:03:41 > 0:03:43and as a consequence of lathing down the door,
0:03:43 > 0:03:47he actually splintered all the door, so the damage got worse.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50This time, when the Mullanys tried to complain,
0:03:50 > 0:03:52they found the company was less responsive.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Calls and messages went unanswered and in the end, they just gave up,
0:03:56 > 0:04:01until several months later, when events spurred Pete into action.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03I went to slam the door and the actual splinter
0:04:03 > 0:04:04started to come away,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07and that's when I realised that this job wasn't good enough.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09So what I did, I did two things, really.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12I checked the original invoice that we got for the locks.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16They'd put one-year warranty, so I thought I was within that one year,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19so still within my rights to do something about it.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23So I contacted them and asked them to ring me,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26sent all the pictures again, and as usual, they never got back.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30Pete made a claim against All Service For You Ltd
0:04:30 > 0:04:32through the County Courts,
0:04:32 > 0:04:36and when they didn't offer a defence, he won a default judgment.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40But weeks down the line, there's still no sign of his money.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42More than anything, we need to get that door sorted.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Three daughters in the house,
0:04:44 > 0:04:48my constant fear is that someone could break that door down.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51When it rains heavily, we're always scared about ingress of water
0:04:51 > 0:04:53coming into the house. When it's windy,
0:04:53 > 0:04:56you can hear it whistling through the bottom of the door.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59Desperate to get his money, and with the law on his side,
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Pete's escalated the case to the High Court
0:05:02 > 0:05:04and called in the sheriffs.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07I'm hoping that they are going to get that money for me,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10because this has been a mega process,
0:05:10 > 0:05:13and it just feels like if it falls at the last step,
0:05:13 > 0:05:15I'll be absolutely devastated.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24In Barnet, Ken's on his way to the shop
0:05:24 > 0:05:27where All Service For You are thought to trade.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29As he reaches the address,
0:05:29 > 0:05:31it seems the name of the shop doesn't quite match
0:05:31 > 0:05:33the name on his writ.
0:05:33 > 0:05:3637, All Time Security...
0:05:36 > 0:05:39But it's probably just a trading name for the same business,
0:05:39 > 0:05:42and Ken likes what he sees.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Walk straight in the shop front, that should be easy enough.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49Little does Ken know the extent to which his patience will be tested,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52but he does at least find a nice place for the car.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54That's a good little spot. It's free...
0:05:56 > 0:05:58..and it's literally over the road.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02Time for Ken to discover whether the company's planning
0:06:02 > 0:06:04- to finally pay up for Pete's door. - Hello.
0:06:07 > 0:06:08All Service For You Ltd?
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Yes.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12I need to speak to the person in charge.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14It's the right company,
0:06:14 > 0:06:17and the woman behind the desk quickly finds the manager.
0:06:17 > 0:06:18My name is Mr Warby.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20OK.
0:06:20 > 0:06:25This is regarding a judgment from an individual called Mr Pete Mullany.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27The situation's this...
0:06:27 > 0:06:29These now have a High Court judgment against you,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32so I'm here for the full balance.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35After costs, it's now £2,311, that's what I'm here for.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46The man now says he's willing to pay the original judgment debt,
0:06:46 > 0:06:47without costs and fees,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50but the time to pay this lower figure has long gone.
0:06:51 > 0:06:57The amount with Sheriffs' fees currently stands at £2,311.50.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Yeah...
0:07:03 > 0:07:06At this point, our camera is asked to leave.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Inside, Ken attempts to explain to the manager
0:07:11 > 0:07:15that he needs to find more than two grand pretty quickly,
0:07:15 > 0:07:17or else goods will be removed from the shop.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21But the man doesn't like what he's hearing and closes the shutters,
0:07:21 > 0:07:22trapping Ken inside.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28Ken follows protocol and calls the police.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32For 25 minutes, the discussion continues behind closed doors,
0:07:32 > 0:07:35until eventually, the shutters reopen.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38The boss thinks he's found a loophole in Ken's paperwork
0:07:38 > 0:07:40and wants to show us.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00The address on the writ is the company's registered office,
0:08:00 > 0:08:03not here, where they are trading from.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06Thinking he's onto a winner, the boss lets us back in.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08But he's barking up the wrong tree.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Sheriffs can attend anywhere the debtor resides
0:08:11 > 0:08:14or carries out a trade or business.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16Yeah, we're instructed by the client to attend here,
0:08:16 > 0:08:18so that is an extension for the writ.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22To be here.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26The manager seems to think it's unreasonable for the claimant
0:08:26 > 0:08:28to want the money he's legally owed.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Ken decides the easiest thing is to just wait for backup.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Later, as he starts listing goods for potential removal...
0:08:36 > 0:08:38I can go wherever I want, mate.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41..Ken gets locked in again.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54Using the county courts to try to recover money you're owed
0:08:54 > 0:08:57isn't difficult. 1.5 million money claims
0:08:57 > 0:08:59are made every year in England and Wales,
0:08:59 > 0:09:03involving anything from faulty goods or poor workmanship,
0:09:03 > 0:09:04to unpaid invoices.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10Claims can be filed by post or online for a small fee.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Both parties in the case will be asked to submit evidence,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16and you may have to attend a court hearing.
0:09:16 > 0:09:17If you're successful,
0:09:17 > 0:09:22a County Court Judgment or CCJ will be issued against the debtor.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25And if they still don't pay, that's when you call the sheriffs.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33It's 6am in Brixton, South London.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35All right, I'll give out a couple of copies of the writ.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Under the cover of darkness,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40the sheriffs are quietly preparing to carry out an eviction
0:09:40 > 0:09:42on a group of squatters.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46They've taken over a nearby commercial premises,
0:09:46 > 0:09:48and it's the job of team leader Mark King
0:09:48 > 0:09:51to take it back for the owner.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54The client has said there is potentially
0:09:54 > 0:09:56up to 15 people in there.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58We'll give them the opportunity to get their stuff together.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03If they don't, or they mess about or become aggressive or anything,
0:10:03 > 0:10:05they'll just be removed from the property.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12The building is owned by Julien Gressier.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15He works in the fashion industry but with a background in architecture,
0:10:15 > 0:10:20also has a sideline in small-scale property development.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22The property in question is a commercial building,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25which, until recently, was used to sell car parts.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27But Julien is hoping to develop it
0:10:27 > 0:10:30into a mix of residential and commercial units.
0:10:32 > 0:10:39It is currently a large warehouse on two floors, probably 1930s built,
0:10:39 > 0:10:41industrial to some extent,
0:10:41 > 0:10:45which is very much part of the DNA of the building
0:10:45 > 0:10:48which we want to retain.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50However, shortly after buying it at auction,
0:10:50 > 0:10:54Julien was informed that squatters had moved in.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56As the building had been empty for a few months,
0:10:56 > 0:11:00at first he was sympathetic, and went to speak to them.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04They were keen on some sort of deal whereby they stay in the place,
0:11:04 > 0:11:08look after it, and it wouldn't deteriorate any further.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12To some extent, we were probably open to discussion,
0:11:12 > 0:11:17but I think came a point where we fairly quickly realised
0:11:17 > 0:11:20that they were taking the mickey, if you can use that!
0:11:23 > 0:11:26The squatters are preventing access to the building
0:11:26 > 0:11:28which Julien needs to progress the works,
0:11:28 > 0:11:31and because he was unable to persuade them to leave,
0:11:31 > 0:11:34he's embarking on the legal process of getting them removed.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38He's ploughed all his savings into this project,
0:11:38 > 0:11:40and reckons the squatters' intervention
0:11:40 > 0:11:42has cost him a small fortune.
0:11:44 > 0:11:45We are paying, every month.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49Business rates are probably about £3,000 a month on the place.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52Overall...
0:11:52 > 0:11:57We have subsidised the squatters by approximately £20,000.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01While the squatters are asleep,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04the sheriffs are getting ready to make their move.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08There are two doors which are both locked,
0:12:08 > 0:12:10but they're barricaded on the inside.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Barricaded doors are bad news for the sheriffs.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20They want to gain access quickly and quietly
0:12:20 > 0:12:24before the squatters are awake and can cause any trouble.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26So Mark needs to choose which of the doors
0:12:26 > 0:12:30he thinks will be the easiest for the team to force open.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Just get the door open.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35He opts for one which he thinks the squatters might be using
0:12:35 > 0:12:38to go in and out themselves, and gives the go-ahead.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Knock it in.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45The door is putting up a fight, but persistence pays off.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49And with a bit of elbow grease, the sheriffs manage to prise it open.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53All right. Hold on, hold on.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57What's behind it, though, is going to be much more of a problem.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59That ain't the way they're coming in, then.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01The doorway's thoroughly barricaded.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06The sheriffs throw everything at it they can.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Someone else give it a go.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14But they've lost the element of surprise,
0:13:14 > 0:13:17so Mark might as well appeal to the squatters directly.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19Right, listen, fellas.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22We're enforcement officers with a High Court writ.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25We're coming in. You need to start packing up your stuff, yeah?
0:13:27 > 0:13:30What the sheriffs don't want is to give the squatters enough time
0:13:30 > 0:13:32to create any more obstacles...
0:13:34 > 0:13:36..especially as the heavily fortified barricade
0:13:36 > 0:13:41they're already up against isn't showing any signs of budging.
0:13:41 > 0:13:42Keep going at that one.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Mark can't afford to waste any more time,
0:13:46 > 0:13:49so turns his attention to the shutters instead.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55That doesn't prove to be much easier, but eventually,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59they managed to force a gap just wide enough to squeeze through.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02- All right, we're in, we're in.- Go, go, go.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07Once inside, they set about waking everyone up and moving them out.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Right, you need to pack your stuff straightaway.
0:14:12 > 0:14:13You've got ten minutes.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16All right, fella, get your stuff packed up.
0:14:16 > 0:14:17You need to leave, yeah?
0:14:18 > 0:14:22Half-asleep squatters aren't the easiest to get motivated.
0:14:22 > 0:14:23DOG BARKS
0:14:24 > 0:14:28And it's not only people that need to leave.
0:14:28 > 0:14:29We've got dogs, yeah.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31- Yeah, three upstairs.- All right. OK.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35They were throwing stuff against the door first off,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38but once we're in, they're just packing up, aren't they?
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Because they know what's happening.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46The sheriffs' priority now is to try to get the squatters
0:14:46 > 0:14:49to remove as many of their possessions as possible.
0:14:49 > 0:14:50If they've got their stuff,
0:14:50 > 0:14:52then they're not going to want to get back in here.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55So far, things are all going smoothly enough.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57Just when it looks like this eviction
0:14:57 > 0:14:59might pass without incident,
0:14:59 > 0:15:00the mood starts to change.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Just come and go, get your stuff, if you carry on, listen,
0:15:04 > 0:15:06if you carry on playing up, yeah,
0:15:06 > 0:15:08it's going to affect other people getting their stuff, OK?
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Come and get your stuff as you need to, and that's it.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15Another of the squatters isn't keen on having their 15 minutes of fame,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17and is obstructing our cameraman.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19- Just leave her alone.- No, I'm in the street, you're not police,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22you do your job, this is a public highway.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Yeah, it's a public highway.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27When the sheriffs step in, tempers flare.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Don't touch me, not in a public place, don't touch me.
0:15:30 > 0:15:31I'm not touching anything.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Not touching anything.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Hey, hey, hey, hey!
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Look, just calm down, fellas.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40- Do you want to get arrested?- Why?
0:15:40 > 0:15:41Do you want to get arrested?
0:15:41 > 0:15:43- We're in the street.- Well, then, stop.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46You don't want to make things worse for everyone else out here.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49The squatters are becoming more and more agitated.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51The situation is starting to turn ugly.
0:15:53 > 0:15:54Watch me! Hey, hey, hey!
0:15:54 > 0:15:57Try and burn me again with it, and I will chuck it.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59- No.- You don't... You are grabbing me.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01You just tried to burn me with your cigarette.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Don't grab me. This woman is grabbing me.
0:16:04 > 0:16:05I'm not doing anything.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08No-one else to go back in now.
0:16:08 > 0:16:09No-one goes in now, Rupert.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11What?
0:16:11 > 0:16:12Take a step back.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14- What?- Take a step back, take a step back.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16No-one's going back in there because she's messing about.
0:16:18 > 0:16:19Enough is enough.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21With some of the squatters getting aggressive,
0:16:21 > 0:16:25the sheriffs take the decision not to let anyone else back in.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29Whatever possessions are inside will have to be left behind.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34So it's now all the more important the building's well and truly secured,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36so they don't break back in later.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40Locksmith Andy's already on the case,
0:16:40 > 0:16:44and there is at least one door where the job's been done for him.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46Yeah, a bit of barricading from the front.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49So I don't think Andy will do anything with that,
0:16:49 > 0:16:51because it's as good as it's going to be.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56As the new locks go on, the squatters start to disperse.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59But just as it appears that the tensions have been defused,
0:16:59 > 0:17:03one man who was causing trouble earlier comes back for more...
0:17:03 > 0:17:05A MAN SHOUTS
0:17:05 > 0:17:08..kicking our cameraman in the shins as a parting shot.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11We don't care. You're not welcome.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13He's just doing his job. Leave him alone.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15That's the last we see of him, though,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18and as the final stragglers head on their way,
0:17:18 > 0:17:20the sheriffs' work is done.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22All the locks have been changed.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26All the padlocks, exterior locks, door locks, everything.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28The property's secure.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30Um...
0:17:30 > 0:17:33just got to sign vacant possession to the client,
0:17:33 > 0:17:35and then it's time for breakfast.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41The property is now back in the hands of the owner,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44and, a few weeks later, we're catching up with him.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Julien says the damage turned out to be far worse
0:17:47 > 0:17:48than he had feared.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54You had the alarm system that they ripped out,
0:17:55 > 0:17:59you had the copper pipes, which were pretty much running all across,
0:17:59 > 0:18:01that they nicked.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04You know, chopped them off, sold for scrap, I guess.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08The worst was actually all the rubbish that we had to get rid of.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12That was probably about £3,000 to get rid of it.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17Julien is relieved to have his project back on track.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19I'm really happy I got the place back.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23It was pretty much two months of delay,
0:18:23 > 0:18:27but it's now behind us.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29I have to thank the sheriffs very much
0:18:29 > 0:18:31for their...for their help.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34And for giving us the space back, really.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47In the South-east, enforcement agents Lawrence Grix
0:18:47 > 0:18:50and Kev McNally are heading into the countryside.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53We are in Horsham in West Sussex today.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57We're going to West Sussex Livery.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00The debt is relating to...
0:19:04 > 0:19:05HE CHUCKLES
0:19:07 > 0:19:09Is that a wind-up?
0:19:09 > 0:19:11What is the debt relating to?
0:19:12 > 0:19:13Kev can barely believe it,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16but the dispute began with the purchase of some
0:19:16 > 0:19:20horse semen, as Lawrence explains.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24Apparently, our claimant's mare, um,
0:19:24 > 0:19:27was due to be impregnated by the debtor's stallion.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30I don't know if it was artificial or if they actually covered the mare.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33But the mare didn't get pregnant.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38Test results on the stallion's semen revealed it was substandard,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41and was therefore unlikely to result in a pregnancy.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44This is basically the money she paid for the...
0:19:45 > 0:19:47..for the duff semen.
0:19:48 > 0:19:49THEY LAUGH
0:19:51 > 0:19:55It may not be your typical case, but the law works the same nonetheless.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58After the mare's owner was refused a refund,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01she took West Sussex Livery to court - and won.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04That was six months ago, and with costs and fees,
0:20:04 > 0:20:09the stables now owes £2,273.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15Kev reckons he's got a pretty good idea of what assets
0:20:15 > 0:20:17they're likely to find.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21There's going to be stuff to remove at a stables, you presume.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26I suppose, potentially, horses but, in reality,
0:20:26 > 0:20:28that's not going to be happening.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30But if that's the only asset they've got, we have to take it.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32We're not going to take any horses.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34THEY LAUGH
0:20:34 > 0:20:37They've found it, and it doesn't look like they'll have any problem
0:20:37 > 0:20:39getting in.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41That gate will open.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43- Shall I go in that way? - Yes, please, mate, yeah.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51Having finally found the premises, they head in to look for the owner,
0:20:51 > 0:20:53a woman called Anne Hawes.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Hello?
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Hello?
0:20:58 > 0:21:00- Hello?- Anybody around?
0:21:00 > 0:21:03But the only signs of life are either equine...
0:21:03 > 0:21:05Horses. Big heads.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07..or canine.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09There's dogs here.
0:21:09 > 0:21:10Hello, pups.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13Where is everyone, Lawrence?
0:21:13 > 0:21:17- Don't know, mate.- Do you not think that's odd?
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Someone has been here recently. Everything's open,
0:21:20 > 0:21:23there's half a dozen horses and the stables are clearly working.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28Whether they've made themselves scarce after seeing the sheriffs
0:21:28 > 0:21:31arrive, or just popped out for lunch, without making contact,
0:21:31 > 0:21:33there's not much Lawrence and Kev can do.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36- I don't think anyone's here, Lawrence.- I don't.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Lawrence has a number for the woman
0:21:38 > 0:21:41who runs the place, but gets no answer.
0:21:42 > 0:21:43This is a message for Anne Hawes.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46My name is Mr Grix. I'm an enforcement agent.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48I've got a High Court writ against West Sussex Livery.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51I'm actually at the stables at the moment.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Would you be able to ring me back, please,
0:21:53 > 0:21:55or return to the stables immediately, please,
0:21:55 > 0:21:57so that we can deal with this? Thank you.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59You wouldn't expect them to just disappear,
0:21:59 > 0:22:02so we're just going to sit here for a little while in case somebody
0:22:02 > 0:22:05comes back. Or, as is sometimes the case,
0:22:05 > 0:22:07on jobs like this,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09the first thing you know is the police turn up.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12People put in a call to the police saying "Oh, there's people on my
0:22:12 > 0:22:15"land, there's people doing this, people doing that."
0:22:18 > 0:22:19After waiting it out,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22there's still no sign of either the police or the debtor.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26And eventually, they have to call it a day.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29They take down the registration numbers of the vehicles here
0:22:29 > 0:22:31so that they can run some checks.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34Lawrence prepares some paperwork, and with nowhere better to leave it,
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Kev tucks it under the gate latch as they leave.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41Anyone getting in is seeing that.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45The job might seem like it's a bit of a 'mare, but, in fact,
0:22:45 > 0:22:47it turns out to be quite the opposite.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52While the sheriffs never manage to meet Ms Hawes in person,
0:22:52 > 0:22:55the paperwork does have the desired effect.
0:22:55 > 0:23:00Shortly after their visit, she paid the £2,273 owing,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03and the claimant has finally got their money back.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12Back in Barnet, Sheriff Ken Warby is still in a high-street locksmiths -
0:23:12 > 0:23:14All Service For You Ltd -
0:23:14 > 0:23:19trying to convince the boss to pay up £2,311.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23He says he's happy to pay the original court award,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26but not the extra fees incurred after he didn't pay and the case was
0:23:26 > 0:23:28transferred to the sheriffs.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31He's adamant he's not going to pay our charges at all.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34He'll pay the debt, he's not going to pay our charges.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37He's spoken to his solicitor. His solicitor has advised him to pay.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40But he's still not having it, he's just being very stubborn.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43The police are still on their way because he says no-one's going
0:23:43 > 0:23:45to be removing goods from here. Hopefully, when the police turn up,
0:23:45 > 0:23:48they will advise him that we can remove goods from here
0:23:48 > 0:23:50and he'll pay the debt in full.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Sorry, sir. I'm going to have to crack on with this.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02So your charges will now apply, OK? You have been warned.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05Ken calls for a removal truck...
0:24:05 > 0:24:07meaning even more fees.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10And he begins to make an inventory of assets in the shop.
0:24:10 > 0:24:11And the stock, for example.
0:24:12 > 0:24:13OK.
0:24:16 > 0:24:17Not really, not if we can help it.
0:24:19 > 0:24:20You sure have.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25Ken's not sure of a door lock's auction value,
0:24:25 > 0:24:28but he's likely to need a lot of them to get close to the value of
0:24:28 > 0:24:32the debt. So he needs to list everything he can find.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35Only the boss isn't happy with him looking around.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36I can go wherever I want, mate.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42It's under the same roof.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47The man once again sends our camera outside...
0:24:53 > 0:24:56..locks the doors and closes the shutters.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00Ken puts another call in to the police.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04And they arrive shortly afterwards.
0:25:09 > 0:25:10Hello?
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Hello, it's the police.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Can you open the door, please? Thank you.
0:25:19 > 0:25:20The police are let in, and it's
0:25:20 > 0:25:23still a relatively good-natured atmosphere inside.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26But as the boss continues to repeat
0:25:26 > 0:25:28the same arguments Ken's been listening to
0:25:28 > 0:25:31for the past two and a half hours, patience is wearing thin.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36The eventual sight of the removal truck is welcome relief.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40Ken's hoping that will provide the incentive for the boss to pay.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44Come in when you're ready, mate.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48With a police escort, Ken and the removals man get to work.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52But even when faced with the prospect of an almost
0:25:52 > 0:25:55completely empty store, the boss still doesn't cave in.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01Now the police have arrived, now the removal guy's arrived,
0:26:01 > 0:26:05he's now claiming that there's other companies in here that own
0:26:05 > 0:26:07certain things, so we're looking for invoices and stuff
0:26:07 > 0:26:09on that now as proof.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11It's looking at the moment like he's not going to pay it.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14He's digging his heels in, so I'm going to have to do the same.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18And so the excruciating task of comparing thousands of locks and
0:26:18 > 0:26:21parts against individual receipts continues.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Finally, as the first box of his stuff is set down in the lorry,
0:26:26 > 0:26:30the boss reaches for his credit card and pays in full.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32The saga is finally over.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36He thought as soon as the police turn up that we would have to go.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40I started listing stuff inside, the guy turned up to remove them,
0:26:40 > 0:26:43and his bottle went. I knew he would pay in the end.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52The man is still convinced he's in the right.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56He says Mr Mullany tried to get the damage done to his door fixed after
0:26:56 > 0:26:58their standard guarantee had expired.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14But he's not helped himself.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18By failing to pay when he was ordered to after the first court hearing,
0:27:18 > 0:27:20and again when Ken turned up this morning,
0:27:20 > 0:27:23his final bill is more than double the original judgment.
0:27:24 > 0:27:30He ended up paying a whopping - drum roll -
0:27:30 > 0:27:32£3,993.52.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36He's had full fees on there. Stupid, really,
0:27:36 > 0:27:38because all that could have been avoided.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40All he wanted to do was pay the debt.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42He didn't want to pay any of our charges at all.
0:27:42 > 0:27:47And the upshot was, he's ended up paying a hell of a lot more than
0:27:47 > 0:27:52what I originally went in there for, to the tune of over £1,500.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56The boss might be wishing today had panned out differently,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59but back in Stockport, his customer, Pete Mullany,
0:27:59 > 0:28:01is more than happy with the outcome.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04I'm just over the moon, really relieved.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08The main thing now is to get this door repaired.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11If I'm honest with you, I would have done the door before but I genuinely
0:28:11 > 0:28:14thought it might be used as evidence at some point.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17But I'm already intending to get a lad that I know quite well to come
0:28:17 > 0:28:18and fix the door.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21I think everyone has a good laugh at it when they come in
0:28:21 > 0:28:24now and see the state that it's in at the minute.