:00:00. > :00:00.Welcome to BBC Points West, with Ali Vowles and David G`rmston.
:00:00. > :00:10.That West Country scam that robbed thousands of their savings.
:00:11. > :00:12.The ringleaders boasted of wallowing in cash, but ordinary
:00:13. > :00:27.Don't do it, just don't do ht, it is too good to be true, so do not do
:00:28. > :00:33.it. Even a judge was fooled,
:00:34. > :00:36.so how can we avoid being tricked An official report blasts mdntal
:00:37. > :00:44.health services in the West. Why did so many patients
:00:45. > :00:48.kill themselves in hospital? The woman once told she couldn't do
:00:49. > :00:54.the half marathon, is raring to go. How film makers brought the wild
:00:55. > :01:11.into our living rooms. A group of greedy women who cheated
:01:12. > :01:16.thousands out of their savings can be exposed as the masterminds
:01:17. > :01:18.of a get`rich`quick scheme The victims, many women,
:01:19. > :01:25.were invited to pamper parthes and encouraged to beg or borrow
:01:26. > :01:27.?3,000 to invest, with The ring leaders,
:01:28. > :01:32.from Bristol and Somerset, ran what Those who were taken in include
:01:33. > :01:36.a judge and police officers. Our home affairs corresponddnt,
:01:37. > :01:38.Steve Brodie, has been Secret filming of a meeting in
:01:39. > :01:49.the West where those invited think And it's people introducing
:01:50. > :01:53.friends and family. The spoils enjoyed by some were
:01:54. > :01:59.used to recruit new members who It sounded absolutely fantastic
:02:00. > :02:07.there was no way I was going to I was told it was backed
:02:08. > :02:11.by major solicitors Give and Take took in 10,000 people,
:02:12. > :02:30.most of whom lost their mondy. So, how does a pyramid schele work,
:02:31. > :02:35.and why are they a scam? Eeverybody who joins the scheme
:02:36. > :02:40.has to recruit two more people. They need 14 investors
:02:41. > :02:46.below them to fill the pyralid get But the pool for new
:02:47. > :02:55.recruits quickly evaporates. By the time we get to the 10th row,
:02:56. > :02:59.we need to recruit 1,024 people It is a scam because,
:03:00. > :03:03.if I keep doubling the numbdrs, I will get to a number that is bigger
:03:04. > :03:08.than the entire world popul`tion. Early on,
:03:09. > :03:10.it is still small enough th`t you But, at some point,
:03:11. > :03:15.you just run out of people that are When it does, almost nine ott
:03:16. > :03:35.of 10 people involved lose loney, Some people make money out of it but
:03:36. > :03:39.eventually people putting money in will not get money back. Frdquently
:03:40. > :03:46.they do not have a huge amotnt of money.
:03:47. > :03:48.So, the then Office of Fair Trading brought prosecutions
:03:49. > :03:50.against 11 women, using new legislation to target
:03:51. > :03:53.Because it's illegal to operate or promote one.
:03:54. > :03:56.In a trial two years ago, that we can only now report,
:03:57. > :03:59.Laura Fox, the chairman of G, was jailed for nine months, as was
:04:00. > :04:06.treasurer Jennifer Smith`Haxes, and venue organiser Carol Chalmers.
:04:07. > :04:13.And another woman, Sally Phhllips, was handed a suspended sentdnce
:04:14. > :04:21.You might be happy to put your ?3,000 in, you might be happy to
:04:22. > :04:24.lose it. But the people you get involved in it, the friends or
:04:25. > :04:29.relatives, how happy would xou be for them to lose their monex in
:04:30. > :04:34.something you actually suggdsted that they do?
:04:35. > :04:37.In a trial last year, two women Rita Lomas and Jane Smith,
:04:38. > :04:39.admitted promoting Give and Take, while Rhalina Yuil was cleared
:04:40. > :04:43.Three more women eventually pleaded guilty to operating
:04:44. > :04:47.Hazel Cameron refused to colment as she left court, as did Susan Crane.
:04:48. > :04:50.But Mary Nash did apologise to her many victims.
:04:51. > :05:02.The effects remain. Do not do it, just do not do it. It is too good to
:05:03. > :05:07.be true. A salutary lesson for those thinking
:05:08. > :05:10.of getting involved in the future. Gary Bracken is from the Colpetition
:05:11. > :05:13.and Markets Authority, which It's easy for us to sit herd
:05:14. > :05:20.and think, "I'd never be But people do, 10,000 peopld in this
:05:21. > :05:25.case, many of them vulnerable women. How can your organisation stop
:05:26. > :05:33.this sort of thing from happening? It is a feature of these types of
:05:34. > :05:37.schemes that they feed throtgh family, friends and work
:05:38. > :05:41.colleagues, through communities if you like. They build in an dlement
:05:42. > :05:47.of trust. People want to trtst people. If a relative is seding a
:05:48. > :05:54.large pay`out, they trust that relative they want to buy into it.
:05:55. > :05:58.Many lost more than ?3,000. Some invested multiple times, in an
:05:59. > :06:02.effort to get their money b`ck. One lady we met had lost ?18,000, others
:06:03. > :06:04.had lost similar sums. Gary, what advice would you give to
:06:05. > :06:07.someone watching tonight who thinks they may be caught up in ond
:06:08. > :06:15.of these schemes? If they have invested already, the
:06:16. > :06:20.best thing would be to report it to their local trading standards
:06:21. > :06:23.office. If they are thinking of invested but haven't, by strong
:06:24. > :06:29.advice would be to steer cldar. Nearly 90% of people who invest in
:06:30. > :06:34.these schemes will lose thehr money. If it looks too good to be true it
:06:35. > :06:37.is highly likely it is. Thank you very much indeed.
:06:38. > :06:39.He was "a true gentlemen, intelligent and kind".
:06:40. > :06:41.Just some of the words used to describe Sam
:06:42. > :06:44.Amin, the 18`year`old who dhed in the River Avon, after a night out in
:06:45. > :06:48.He was due to start university next week.
:06:49. > :06:51.Hundreds of friends and family have signed a scroll of
:06:52. > :07:03.Reverend Richard Wilson had known Sam Amin since he was a small boy.
:07:04. > :07:16.I have seen him grow from a sweet young boy, to ` tall,
:07:17. > :07:17.handsome, intelligent effortlessly cool, smiling,
:07:18. > :07:20.On Tuesday night, hundreds of Sam's friends
:07:21. > :07:25.and family filled the church still reeling from the news he was gone.
:07:26. > :07:27.I was really delighted that Amin, Sam's died,
:07:28. > :07:39.Amin came to the front and picked up a picture of Sam,
:07:40. > :07:42.and kissed it and held it to his heart, and we held each other.
:07:43. > :07:52.If ever it were possible to measure just how much someone was loved
:07:53. > :08:01.A scroll of messages of lovd for Sam, it stretches
:08:02. > :08:04.the entire length of the aisle here at St Michael's Church.
:08:05. > :08:11.Messages calling him a hero amongst his peers,
:08:12. > :08:14.the coolest and kindest guy they could wish to meet.
:08:15. > :08:16.Sam should have been taking up a place at the University
:08:17. > :08:22.He was a really great role lodel because he was very well`mannered,
:08:23. > :08:24.polite, and he worked exceptionally hard on securing that university
:08:25. > :08:29.Sam died after falling into the river on Saturday night,
:08:30. > :08:34.The safety debate will no doubt continue, so will the memorhes,
:08:35. > :08:37.tributes, the outpouring of love for ` young
:08:38. > :08:54.Psychiatric patients in the West may have been put `t risk
:08:55. > :08:58.That's according to a report by the Care Quality Commisshon
:08:59. > :08:59.into the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership.
:09:00. > :09:02.The trust's been told it must improve and, in response,
:09:03. > :09:04.claims it's already launched a programme of urgent improvements.
:09:05. > :09:14.Here's our health correspondent, Matthew Hill.
:09:15. > :09:17.I've discharged myself because I wasn't getting thd support
:09:18. > :09:24.I needed, and I could get bdtter help at home, 24 hours a dax.
:09:25. > :09:26.Kate Brett says, if it wasn't for her husband's support,
:09:27. > :09:30.Her lowest point was just before Christmas when she r`ng staff
:09:31. > :09:36.I said to them, I can't copd any more, I want to die, I need
:09:37. > :09:39.They said, your appointment is in two weeks,
:09:40. > :09:52.According to a report today into the trust that's in ch`rge
:09:53. > :09:55.of Kate's care, many other patients may have been put at risk.
:09:56. > :09:59.An inspection in June by thd CQC found that wards,
:10:00. > :10:01.including this medium`securd unit, were poorly staffed.
:10:02. > :10:09.Earlier this year, an inquest found James Pollard had killed hilself
:10:10. > :10:12.in this unit, using the lead from his CD player, and staff neglect
:10:13. > :10:18.Since then, three other pathents have hanged themselves, one at this
:10:19. > :10:22.unit in Bristol, and two here Bath.
:10:23. > :10:25.`` in Bath. The report says there are too many ligature points
:10:26. > :10:30.Even these trees here are considered a risk.
:10:31. > :10:33.There have been some unnecessary, severe incidents
:10:34. > :10:37.That is why the Care Quality Commission is taking
:10:38. > :10:42.While the CQC found staff to be c`ring
:10:43. > :10:53.and under good leadership, they are demanding 30 urgent improvelents.
:10:54. > :11:00.If the trust fail to make these improvements by the end of the year
:11:01. > :11:02.they could face prosecution, or even be closed down.
:11:03. > :11:05.Iain Tulley is the chief exdcutive of the Avon and Wiltshire Mdntal
:11:06. > :11:20.If you have a relative in one of your units tonight, how confident
:11:21. > :11:22.can they be that they are in safe hands?
:11:23. > :11:26.I would like to assure the public they will be in safe hands. The
:11:27. > :11:37.commission has pointed out ` number of challenges we have two f`ces The
:11:38. > :11:41.field of psychiatric medicine is a difficult field to recruit staff. We
:11:42. > :11:46.have a turnover of staff of 600 people a year. We want to m`intain a
:11:47. > :11:52.recruitment process. You putting it down to staff shortages?
:11:53. > :11:55.It will impact if we have insufficient staff on the ground so
:11:56. > :11:59.it is important we have adepuate numbers to deal with the most
:12:00. > :12:05.challenging people. If they are more challenging, and
:12:06. > :12:10.other staff, other trusts do not have the same death rate?
:12:11. > :12:14.Any suicide is a tragedy. It is a context issue. We had to assess the
:12:15. > :12:19.risk of people in our care to make sure they have adequate support
:12:20. > :12:27.It does not sound like a particularly safe place to work We
:12:28. > :12:31.know in the medium`secure unit in Bristol, six members of staff in the
:12:32. > :12:36.last six weeks have been off sick after being attacked by pathents.
:12:37. > :12:42.The commission pointed out our staff is very good, high quality `nd
:12:43. > :12:47.compassionate care. These units are a high`risk place to work and have
:12:48. > :12:50.dedicated staff. They deal with some very challenging individuals. It is
:12:51. > :12:56.important we support our st`ff so they do not endure the injuries some
:12:57. > :12:56.staff have had the misfortune to do so.
:12:57. > :13:01.It's nice to have your comp`ny on this Thursday evening.
:13:02. > :13:04.Still to come on this evening's Points West:
:13:05. > :13:06.Last`minute training for thd Bristol half.
:13:07. > :13:09.We meet the woman who battldd hard to even take part, after
:13:10. > :13:15.How devices like this shell`cam have helped
:13:16. > :13:26.the BBC's Natural History Unit hold onto its worldwide reputation.
:13:27. > :13:29.A farmer's son has been charged with attempting to murder his father
:13:30. > :13:36.Lewis Clapp was arrested after the incident allegedlx took
:13:37. > :13:38.place on the family farm at Baltonsborough near Glastonbury.
:13:39. > :13:40.He was remanded in custody `t Exeter Crown Court today.
:13:41. > :13:43.His father is believed to bd in a serious but stable condition
:13:44. > :13:51.at Southmead Hospital where he's being treated for stab wounds.
:13:52. > :13:53.It's being reported that a new nuclear power station
:13:54. > :13:59.The European Commission is trying to work out if a deal
:14:00. > :14:03.between our government and the French power company EDF is legal.
:14:04. > :14:05.Tonight, the Commission wouldn't comlent on
:14:06. > :14:10.But one local MP told us he was now "totally confident" that Hinkley C
:14:11. > :14:13.Our Somerset correspondent, Clinton Rogers, has been
:14:14. > :14:21.If you look at the number of bulldozers already on site,
:14:22. > :14:27.you'd be forgiven for thinkhng the deal's already done.
:14:28. > :14:31.They've already started exc`vating 4.2 million tonnes of earth here,
:14:32. > :14:45.enough to fill 1,300 Olympic`size swimming pools.
:14:46. > :14:47.The company is keen this is not seen as arrogance,
:14:48. > :14:50.that in some way the Europe`n Union decision is a foregone conclusion.
:14:51. > :14:53.On the other hand, you don't do all of this,
:14:54. > :14:56.you don't invest ?1 billion, unless you're pretty confiddnt the
:14:57. > :15:04.An unconfirmed report from Brussels tonight suggests that
:15:05. > :15:06.an inquiry into whether the price the Government will pay
:15:07. > :15:09.EDF for new nuclear electricty breaches EU competition laws has
:15:10. > :15:19.And, while neither the comp`ny nor EU officials will confirm or deny
:15:20. > :15:22.that report, one local MP s`ys Hinkley will be built,
:15:23. > :15:31.We are depending on the Ukr`ine and gas from Russia.
:15:32. > :15:35.No, we have to go beyond th`t, grow up, and get on with the damned job.
:15:36. > :15:45.Unsurprisngly, anti`nuclear campaigners see it difrerently.
:15:46. > :15:48.`` differently. They point out EDF still hasn't got investment partners
:15:49. > :15:54.I personally do not see it being built.
:15:55. > :16:00.Pension funds are taking the money into the new revolution,
:16:01. > :16:06.EDF says the investors will come on board, once the European hurdle
:16:07. > :16:09.The Commission is expected to make a formal announcement
:16:10. > :16:18.As thousands get ready for this weekend's half mar`thon
:16:19. > :16:21.in Bristol, among them is one competitor who's already won a race
:16:22. > :16:28.Jo Blinman, from Almondsburx, lost two daughters in a house fire,
:16:29. > :16:34.She was originally told she couldn't compete because it would take too
:16:35. > :16:39.But I'm pleased to say she's made it!
:16:40. > :16:42.Well, to get her in the zond, Andy Howard is with Jo
:16:43. > :16:56.on that all important start line this evening, Andy.
:16:57. > :17:03.This is the sight which will greet more than 05,0 0
:17:04. > :17:06.people who are about to start the 13.1 miles of Bristol h`lf
:17:07. > :17:11.From here on Anchor Road, they'll snake out to the harbour side, under
:17:12. > :17:14.the suspension bridge, before coming back around to there, to finish
:17:15. > :17:17.One woman who'll be here wahting really didn't expect to be hnvolved.
:17:18. > :17:19.Jo Blinman was told a few months ago that she wouldn't
:17:20. > :17:22.be allowed to compete by being walked around the circuit
:17:23. > :17:29.But she wasn't going to be beaten, and will now take part, in this
:17:30. > :17:31.You've had a crash course in wheelchair racing.
:17:32. > :17:46.It has been hard work. Yes, very hard work, you need to get the
:17:47. > :17:55.rhythm right, the steering right. I think I can win over my famhly in
:17:56. > :17:57.hand wrestling! As we look out from here,
:17:58. > :18:00.with more than 13 miles to go, We've filmed it and sped thd footage
:18:01. > :18:04.up, it's all on our Facebook page. Here it is for you, Jo,
:18:05. > :18:14.what do you make of it? It is daunting. It is going to be
:18:15. > :18:20.exciting. I am nervous, but bring it on. What point in the route are you
:18:21. > :18:28.looking forward to passing? Most of the way, actually.
:18:29. > :18:33.You have the suspension bridge above you if all else fails.
:18:34. > :18:40.Let us show you the wheelch`ir in action. Do you have a Time hn mind?
:18:41. > :18:43.All I can say is that we ard saying four hours.
:18:44. > :18:47.If someone sees you along the route? You are more than welcome to shout
:18:48. > :18:51.out! Your family has gone through an
:18:52. > :18:54.awful lot. You have lost two daughters in a
:18:55. > :18:58.house fire which is where you hurt your legs. What would they think of
:18:59. > :19:04.you for doing this? I am hoping they will be urging me
:19:05. > :19:08.on and be proud of me. I just want... It's not just for them but
:19:09. > :19:15.for other people, to let thdm see that an ordinary housewife can do
:19:16. > :19:20.what an athlete can do. An inspirational woman, and after a
:19:21. > :19:22.battle, she will be there on Sunday morning.
:19:23. > :19:27.So, today is the actual day we are officially 80!
:19:28. > :19:30.Throughout the week, we've been celebrating eight decades
:19:31. > :19:35.Yes, we've enlisted the help of TV legend John Craven to help ts
:19:36. > :19:41.And, for many, it's the programmes made just across the car park in the
:19:42. > :19:52.So, I popped along this aftdrnoon to see what they're up to.
:19:53. > :20:02.Just take a look at these, beautiful pictures. I am in one of thd edit
:20:03. > :20:05.suite at the Natural Historx Unit. This is the latest wildlife
:20:06. > :20:12.blockbuster to come out of here This is a training camera, the
:20:13. > :20:18.cameramen learn how to fly ht so they can use this gadget to create
:20:19. > :20:21.some of the latest animal m`gic Mention BBC Bristol, and for most
:20:22. > :20:28.people the Natural History Tnit springs to mind.
:20:29. > :20:32.The NHU was created in 1957. And steadily built its reputation to
:20:33. > :20:36.become a global leader making TV and radio programmes about the natural
:20:37. > :20:38.world. I hope we have something interesting
:20:39. > :20:49.for you next time. It was in 1979 that it really took
:20:50. > :20:56.off with the landmark series Life On Earth, with David Attenborotgh.
:20:57. > :21:02.10,000 feet up, in central Africa...
:21:03. > :21:07.I have come to Gorilla Island at Bristol Zoo to sit `` to medt Martin
:21:08. > :21:09.who worked on the programme with Sir David.
:21:10. > :21:13.Perhaps the most famous momdnt, you were behind the camera, when David
:21:14. > :21:18.Attenborough had that encounter with the gorilla.
:21:19. > :21:22.We were preparing a piece to camera with David when this little gorilla
:21:23. > :21:29.came out and started to sit on his lap. It was too good to miss. It
:21:30. > :21:32.became quite an iconic sequdnce Surrounded by 15 mountain gorillas
:21:33. > :21:39.in Africa. There is more. Mutual
:21:40. > :21:47.understanding, and exchange of glances.
:21:48. > :21:52.Were they all quite friendlx? The one with David as robots. All of
:21:53. > :21:56.them. The amazing thing, looking back, at no time did any of us feel
:21:57. > :21:59.afraid. I am told that famous sequence
:22:00. > :22:04.nearly did not get shown? When we came down from the lountain,
:22:05. > :22:08.we got into a truck. David and the sound recordist were
:22:09. > :22:15.in the back, I was with the driver. We rounded a corner. There was a
:22:16. > :22:21.roadblock. The driver said, bandits, he charged through. Bullets started
:22:22. > :22:25.flying. David Attenborough was flattened on the back of thd truck.
:22:26. > :22:30.We went another few miles and it turned out to be the Army.
:22:31. > :22:36.We had driven through an arly roadblock. We were arrested.
:22:37. > :22:41.They wanted to confiscate the film. While the producer and David were
:22:42. > :22:47.distracting the security people we were putting exposed labels on an
:22:48. > :22:56.exposed film. That was cheeky. They wanted to open
:22:57. > :23:01.it and hold it up to the light. The exceptional programmes that Sir
:23:02. > :23:04.David produced over the years have been an inspiration to millhons
:23:05. > :23:10.worldwide, including the current head of the unit.
:23:11. > :23:18.Everyone associates the Nattral History Unit with Sir David. They
:23:19. > :23:22.do, take me for example, I was 4. Life On Earth became the inspiration
:23:23. > :23:27.for me to be curious in the world around me. Like many colleagues and
:23:28. > :23:33.the camera teams, that was the catalyst that set us on our journey.
:23:34. > :23:40.The NHU now makes a huge variety of programmes for all ages, live
:23:41. > :23:47.shows, and children's series. The quest to get ever closer,
:23:48. > :23:51.unobstructed shots of natur`l animal behaviour has led to ingenious
:23:52. > :23:54.methods, like disguising thd camera is as natural objects, even other
:23:55. > :24:00.animals. Right now, we are pushing the
:24:01. > :24:04.boundaries with things like helicopters with multiple c`meras on
:24:05. > :24:08.them which have the ability to fly into the environment.
:24:09. > :24:17.Is there a danger the audience might become blase and want even lore
:24:18. > :24:22.sensational tricks? It is our job to make sure that we
:24:23. > :24:25.are always one step ahead. Ht is what the world expects of you.
:24:26. > :24:33.Utterly. Today, I will have 50 throughs in
:24:34. > :24:38.seven continents, in remote locations, halfway up a tred, doing
:24:39. > :24:40.some filming. As for David Attenborough, he is still m`king
:24:41. > :24:52.films, such as this new blockbuster. We are very proud of all our
:24:53. > :24:55.colleagues. And it wouldn't be
:24:56. > :24:58.a birthday without cake. This was our entry in the
:24:59. > :25:03.BBC Bristol birthday bake`off. Sadly, we didn't win but,
:25:04. > :25:06.as they say in the best competitions, we w`s robbed
:25:07. > :25:23.by our friends at Radio Bristol They were lovely. I have eaten so
:25:24. > :25:28.much! Congratulations to the women,
:25:29. > :25:31.because it has only taken 269, but the women have got the vote, and can
:25:32. > :25:44.play golf. It has been a while since wd have
:25:45. > :25:49.been talking about lively wdather. That is on offer over the ndxt 4
:25:50. > :25:54.hours. Some of you are seeing that in the shape of thunder storms and
:25:55. > :25:59.heavy downpours. A very warl day tomorrow. Not everywhere will see
:26:00. > :26:03.this. But a fair number of xou will. That has warranted a Met Office
:26:04. > :26:09.yellow warning which will come into force tonight, running into Friday,
:26:10. > :26:13.the potential for torrential downpours, surface water flooding,
:26:14. > :26:18.lightning risk, as much as two inches of rain.
:26:19. > :26:25.Potentially disruptive. We do have thunderstorms at the moment tracking
:26:26. > :26:30.through Wilts, and Bath. Tonight and tomorrow, this disturbance runs up
:26:31. > :26:36.from France, sparking things of through the day. Through thd rest of
:26:37. > :26:42.this evening, the key clustdr is heading towards Devizes. Later on
:26:43. > :26:47.tonight, particularly after midnight, a succession of hdavy
:26:48. > :26:51.showers and thunderstorms. Ht will be a decidedly warm and sultry
:26:52. > :26:56.night, especially for this time of year, temperatures no lower than 16
:26:57. > :27:01.Celsius. A lot of cloud tomorrow. Still some heavy showers. For many
:27:02. > :27:06.of you, it will be a gradually brightening process in the liddle of
:27:07. > :27:11.the day. That is how the dax will remain, pleasant enough. But not so
:27:12. > :27:15.where you are under the showers Some of those could remain ` feature
:27:16. > :27:21.into the evening. Temperatures in sunny spots, 24
:27:22. > :27:27.Celsius is likely. We will see some further showers on Saturday, after a
:27:28. > :27:35.foggy start. Sunday looks bdtter. A fresher feel as well.
:27:36. > :27:42.Nice to have some summery wdather still.
:27:43. > :27:46.You can see our programme on Scotland tonight. I will be watching
:27:47. > :28:14.all night because it will bd fascinating.
:28:15. > :28:19.MENACING VOICE: You will rob the Bank of Karabraxos.