05/03/2012 Inside Out South East

It is a holiday rip off, be on mines down that route hundreds.

Complete devastation. Humiliating as well.

Texting, sending tweets, and even surfing the net, while you are

driving? Driving while using a smart phone is more distracting

than being over the legal limit for drink-driving. It is even more

distracting than been under the influence of cannabis.

And we meet the leaders of the future being trained right here in

Kent. I have come here at... I am Natalie Graham at with untold

stories closer to home. From all around the south and the south-east,

Tonight, we are in one of Kent's most picturesque villages. We are

back later, but first, thinking about your holidays yet? If so,

watch out. At this time of year, lots of us

are thinking about our holidays. Traditionally, we would be booking

in places like this, but statistics show that more than half of us are

breeding it and booking our own holidays on mine now. And why not?

Look at this villa with stunning views and a private pool. It sounds

like the perfect holiday so what could possibly go wrong?

Decided to have a look at villas on the internet. Surged through a

couple of websites, trying to find one's which were unsuitable for

three families. Unfortunately, duly fell in love with that dream villa.

A I contacted the owner who then contacted me and said -- gave me

the cost of the villa, which was around �5,700. The evil That was

owned by a couple who were not travel agents, but they definitely

have the knack for getting bookings. Uncertain weeks, they had up to 10

parties booked into the they were so it wasn't just a case of making

�2,750 a week. In August in one week, you can times that by 10.

The couple seemed perfectly hospitable and reassuring. They

would answer any questions about the villa by phone and e-mail, but

once they were paid, that service stopped. I transferred money from

my bank account to the owner's bank account. I heard nothing at all. I

sent another e-mail and I actually said that I was getting worried

because she had not responded and it had been maybe a week since I

had paid the balance and I have still got no response. Julie had

transferred money to an account at this bank in have on an, an account

police were already investigating on behalf of another holiday maker

he was having trouble contacting the couple.

They were over cupping the below to such a degree that at one point, 12

holidays were shed job in for the same week. The property wasn't even

available. They were advertising be below for a holiday bookings,

knowing that there was a tenant in the Villa and it was unavailable

for hire. I had a phone call informing me

that the villa was under police investigation. I was informed that

their work may be another 16 families that were also reporting

the same thing. There were people from Norway, Switzerland, France,

all these people who had booked into this villa as well. There were

different age ranges, from young teenagers going on their first

group holiday with friends, a party from Sweden, and again a group of

female teenagers going away. One group actually went out and you can

imagine going away for the first time only to turn up at a villa

where it is no longer available. The police learned that the money

that Julie and others have paid into the bank account had long gone.

But the investigation team wasn't giving up. Although the account was

leaked to a bogus address, upon closer examination there was a

reference to a cottage in Dorset so the team headed west.

Colleagues and myself attended that address and spoke to the occupants

could turn out to be the parents of one of the offenders. But the

parents denied knowledge of the couple's whereabouts so the police

began to search the House for clues. White seized two diaries from the

cottage. I had a tug-of-war with Mrs Grant where she forcibly tried

to remove them from my hand. In one of the diaries at the back was an

address so we suspected that was where they were living at the time.

Meanwhile, Julie had to come to terms with her last holiday and

break the news to the other families who were travelling with

her that their money had gone. Complete devastation. I felt

responsible because I had booked this holiday on behalf of the other

parties. You feel that you have been taken for a ride. There was no

intention of letting us have the holiday. It is a hard lesson to

learn. The address the police found in the

diary lead them to a luxury farmhouse in Somerset from where

the couple were running their business. The game was up. They

must be really stupid people to think they can get away with such a

thing or, because in this day and a, a lot of things are traceable. They

were doing it through e-mail, bank account transfers, I don't know how

they thought they could get away with it.

The grants were arrested on suspicion of fraud. Having managed

to con hundreds of people out of their holidays, they were brought

to Guildford police station for questioning.

Whilst Darren and Tracey had plenty to say to potential customers and

the police, it was a different matter. You have a number of

outstanding debts. No comment. had tried to obtain money

fraudulently from these holidaymakers whilst knowing that

they would not be able to use the Villa's services. No comment.

and Mrs Grant maintained a not guilty plea until the trial.

What right did either of you have to mislead these people? No comment.

Mrs Grant was questioned for a number of hours and never gave one

answer to a single question. comment. She chose, as is her right,

to reply no comment to all of the questions.

In December at the Crown Court in Guildford at the 11th hour, the

couple had a change of heart. the last minute, they pleaded

guilty so the trial did not go ahead. I am glad they did not get

away with it in the end. They have been punished.

He stated he was responsible for sending those e-mails despite them

being in Tracy's name. Because of that, Mr Grant was sentenced to 27

months imprisonment and Tracey Grant, his wife, was sentenced to

nine months imprisonment. To be honest, I think it was greed. They

were living far beyond their means. They had no means of employment at

the time, and their daughter was attended a private school.

While the couple are holidaying at Her Majesty's pleasure, it looks

like their victims were only ever see a fraction of their money back.

Meanwhile, there are lessons to be learnt. Safeguard yourself, it is

quite difficult in that environment, but there is insurance out there,

either through your bank account all through companies that

advertise that specifically cover fraud advertising. If this happens,

you are covered by an insurance company. Some of the victims

involved in this case did receive some of their money back. I am

still in shock that someone can still do that and to think they can

get away with it. I really would think twice about using private

rental again, although I have used it previous do this and everything

has been OK. But I suppose it is a Coming up: The leaders of the

future been trained here in Kent. Is it tight enough?

Now, a dangerous game. Ms Thomas examines how texting, sending

tweeds and using Facebook at the wheel puts lives at risk. -- using

They came on the scene and changed our lives forever. Mobiles have

come a long way since then, but could our need to be constantly

connected be to blame for more deaths on our roads? We have a

startling new evidence on how dangerous our love affair with

phones can be. Over the last four years, the

number of drivers getting caught in Kent have increased. -- number of

drivers using mobiles at the wheel had increased it.

The number has more than doubled in five years. Daniel knows the human

cost behind the statistics. He lost his brother Jordan because a driver

was using her phone at the wheel. He was only 19 years old, he had so

many friends, he was on the cusp of starting his adult life. He was a

very popular boy. Daniel's brother was on a bike at a

junction when he was hit by a driver who was sending a text

message. He died of head injuries. When we found out that it could

have been prevented, the accident, it's sort of took us to a new level

of emotion. We were obviously very upset about what had happened, but

then there was anger which took over and a real necessity to find

out what happened. We have filmed this reconstruction

in safe conditions on private roads at the Transport Research

Laboratory. But experts are becoming increasingly concerned

about the dangers that smart phones present. People are not as texting

all talking while driving, they are using Facebook, the internet and

Twitter. The rise of the smart phone it is making people take

stupid risks. This man is from the Institute of Advanced motorists. He

says one of the extra features on a smart phone increases the

A lot of people are starting to use smartphones, in particular a lot of

young people. One in four have admitted that the regularly use a

smartphone to check e-mails and so on when they are driving. Officers

from the roads policing unit in Kent literally pick up the pieces

if there is a crash caused by a phone. Today we are being taken out

on patrol to spot drivers breaking the rules. Sometimes they will

swerve, or they will go through a traffic light. We go on have a look

and they are on their phones. We will ask them if they knew they had

gone through a red light and they will say, sorry, I wasn't

concentrating. If that person wasn't speaking on the phone,

someone would be alive. If that was a member of my family and would

find that very difficult to understand. We have only been in a

car for 10 minutes and have already spotted someone on their mobile.

Because of the amount of people killed on the roads, we need to

start hammering the message home. We can send due to courts. You can

have a conditional offer, a fixed penalty tickets. It is �60 and

three points. They man admits his guilt, that says he has only been

talking to his partner for a few minutes. Do you regret it? It is

against the law, so I have to say yes. Do you regret it or regret

being caught? Yes, I regret both. Would it be a deterrent to stop you

doing it again? Honestly, if they need be, I will have to phone. But

it was urgent, I would pick up the phone, yes. They should have pulled

over, but there was nowhere to stop. So you would use it again, if you

were driving? Yes, if it was an emergency. If I'm being honest,

camel or no camera. That is a typical reaction, really. They are

so blase about the dangers. If they were to look at some of the

accidents they would have a different attitude. We stop three

more drivers. All have the same excuse, there are only on the phone

for a short time. According to the statistics they are four times more

likely to crash and twice as likely to miss at traffic signals. That

isn't the talking on the phone, but experts are wake -- are worried

about the smartphone as it is even more distracting. Little research

has been done into this, until now. This man is from the Transport

Research Laboratory and he is going to show me how to using a

smartphone affects our drive. is the driving simulator. Get in

and drive as if it was a normal car. We will ask you to do to drives,

one more you are a -- distracted by a variety of social network tasks,

and want then you are not distracted. We will compare those

two. What kind of things would you be looking for? How well you do in

traffic. Your reaction times and how well you can keep the car in

the middle of that thence. Agrees to the test without the smartphone,

seeing hazards in managing to keep the car on the road. You will

shortly encounter a vehicle in the inside lane. Police approached this

vehicle and follow it at a safe distance. It is quite easy to do 70

miles an hour and not realise it. But soon it is time to drive

producing a smartphone. I will see exactly how distracting a greedy

gaze. Please send a private message from Facebook saying, don't worry,

have a nice time in Paris. I sway through the road and Miss Hazard

Warning signs. Some pretty hairy I feel actually really stressed out

by that. I feel really hot. We didn't think it would be as bad as

that. That was pretty offensive! I don't think I dare ask. How do I

do? The when you were driving using the smartphone you were working

really hard just to stay on the road. Your position was drifting a

lot more. You were taking her eyes away from the road to look at the

phone and drifting before you could correct the steering. You missed

some of the reaction time hazards. We couldn't even recorder reaction

time because you have missed the hazards. Would it have made any

difference if I had done it hands- free? We have done work comparing

hands-free phone calls and we find the impairment to driving is about

the same, so hands-free and hand- held give a similar level of

impairment to driving. How serious do you think the risk is from

driving at the smartphone? I think the risk to a driver of using a

smart phone is huge. Taking your eyes off the road, having slower

reaction times and missing hazards or contribute to huge safety risk.

The Test side in here has been carried out on a larger scale and

it compared the effect of using a smartphone to other distractions

like drink-driving. We all know that drink-driving is bad. It is

socially and expect -- socially unacceptable. Driving while using a

smartphone is actually more distracting than being over the

legal limit for drink-driving. It is even more distracting than being

an to the influence of cannabis. It is that distracting. You messed

things, you don't react quickly enough and it is a recipe for

crashes to happen. Road safety experts say most reasonable people

would not drink and drive, but when it comes to using a smartphone, the

public perception needs to keep up with technology. We want the

mobile-phone providers, to social networking providers, the

Government, the industry, everybody to get together and start sending

out this message of how distracting it can be to use a mobile phone for

Kids growing up in the inner cities miss out on so much that the

countryside has to offer, but a lucky few a couple of miles from

here are enjoying adventure, fresh- air and are being kept on the

straight and narrow. These kids were probably normally

be kicking a ball against the wall of a tower block in London where

they live, but not today because they are at an outdoor learning

centre in Kent. It is here is that be bumping to a 12-year-old chap

called Israel. I have come here because I want to have a break from

mum! My mum is always saying that I need to leave the house. I am from

Bromley and my name is Israel. I like eating rice crispy East.

are on the pilot of a new course called East, which stands for her

action, challenge and explore. The idea is to give inner-city kids a

taste of adventure throughout their teenage years and so help them

become leaders of the future. They decided it would be a good idea to

get them out of the city and into the countryside of Kent. We have

just changed to another world. is why they are spending a

residential weekends at the Kent pace of wide horizons outdoor

Education Trust. Most of the children have disadvantaged

backgrounds who would not have been away and may not have had the sorts

of experiences that often we take for granted. We have just done our

survival challenge and are getting ready for lunch. If you would like

to film us at lunch, please do. The website is www. Inside Out .co.uk.

I think Israel is a lovely lad. That is the first time he has ever

been in that kind of context. He is engaged in this journey about what

this is all about, I venture, challenge and explore. How are you

getting on with everyone? Quite well, some not quite well, then

that is how things go. This is Darnell. Usually I find it hard to

to be around other people. I will be leader. I have learnt that I can

be around other people without getting stressed-out and angry.

Folded up a little bit more so we can fit it in nicely. Do you often

get angry? Yes. Why is that? Because I have anger problems. We

want to go back to No. 3 again, cross over and get back to base. I

have learnt more about myself, really. Stuff that I never knew I

could do. And I never thought I would be able to do. I have figured

out that I can. Mike's main focus and all of this is to encourage

leader should be young people. He found some inspiration in an

unlikely place. Last some were rioting swept through London. At

the same time, it might was planning this course. Then he chose

the wrong time to ride his motorbike through Peckham. I was

attacked by a young man, closely followed by a whole load of other

youngsters. I was pelted with a chair. Then Roxanne beer bottles

followed suit. What struck me was down macro what struck you was a

chair! That is absolutely true! As I was driving away, it struck me

that this was a young man and the group who were at misadventure in

and that we could channel planned and venture into positive outcomes,

the very thing this is designed to do you, how that young man could be

a great leader. Meanwhile, Alan, a volunteer mentor is dealing with

one of the children who has been upset by another. Don't let him in

power himself against you in that way. Cable only do its if he knows

it bothers you. Alan knows what it is like to be a teenager in trouble.

I got involved with the wrong crowd. Went to prison a couple of times. I

came out in got approached by my social worker. I have been involved

Alan here is a very nice man. Thank you. A strongly believes that any

kid from any background with the right support and direction will

excel in anything they want to do. Do you want to go back in and give

it another go? Tried the ignoring thing, you will see. Tell me if it

doesn't work. It is time for decades to face their fear. What

they are going to need is a head for heights. I don't want to! I

can't. I don't want to! Climbing is a fantastic activity because it

involves not just a personal challenge, but also it is a team

activity so it involves a lot of trust, working together and

respecting people. Kieran is 13 years old and has a bit of a temper.

I can be a grumpy person. Just remember, relax. But he knows if he

doesn't make it to the top he will be angry with himself. I am too

scared. You are so close. And too scared, too scared. Please don't do

it to me. He challenged himself and pushed himself. I have made it.

want from gets the magic on his face. Superb! Well done. How did

that feel? Way you good. He can meet any challenge he wants,

because, remember the climbing? Kieran, Darnell and Israel now have

another challenge in front of them, called the rest of their lives.

you follow me I will show you the way. This way you won't get lost.

Whether they succeed is said to If you want any more information

about the show tonight visit art Kent or Sussex website. You can