:00:09. > :00:14.A group of women who cheated thousands out of their savings have
:00:15. > :00:18.been exposed as the mastermhnds of a scam which left families in ruins.
:00:19. > :00:21.They ran what is known as a pyramid scheme.
:00:22. > :00:26.Steve Brodie has been following the case for two xears.
:00:27. > :00:29.A meeting secretly filmed bx Inside Out West where those invited think
:00:30. > :00:34.It's people introducing fridnds and family...
:00:35. > :00:41.The spoils enjoyed by some were used to recruit new members,
:00:42. > :00:51.There was no way I was going to lose.
:00:52. > :00:53.I was told it was backed by major solicitors
:00:54. > :01:05.Give and Take took in 10,000 people, most of whom lost their mondy.
:01:06. > :01:12.So how do pyramid schemes work and why are they a scam?
:01:13. > :01:19.Everybody who joins the schdme has to recruit two more people.
:01:20. > :01:25.They need 14 investors below them to fill the pyralid to
:01:26. > :01:32.But the pool for new recruits quickly evaporates.
:01:33. > :01:35.By the time we have got down to the 10th row,
:01:36. > :01:44.It is a scam because if I kdep doubling the numbers, eventtally I
:01:45. > :01:49.will get to a number which hs bigger than the entire world popul`tion.
:01:50. > :01:52.Early on, it is still small enough th`t you
:01:53. > :01:55.can get enough people to recruit and you can get the money ott.
:01:56. > :01:58.But at some point you just run out of people that are gullhble
:01:59. > :02:04.So the then Office of Fair Trading brought prosecutions against 11
:02:05. > :02:08.women, using new legislation targeting pyramid schemes
:02:09. > :02:14.for the first time, because it is illegal to promote or operate one.
:02:15. > :02:22.In a trial two years ago th`t we can only now report, Laura Fox,
:02:23. > :02:25.the chairman of G, was jailed for nine months, as was
:02:26. > :02:27.treasurer Jennifer Smith`Haxes and venue organiser Carol Chalmers.
:02:28. > :02:30.And another woman, Sally Phhllips, was handed a suspended sentdnce
:02:31. > :02:33.And in a trial last year, two women, Rita Lomas and Jane Smith, `dmitted
:02:34. > :02:39.promoting Give Take, whild Rhalina Yuil was cleared of the samd charge.
:02:40. > :02:41.Three more women eventually pleaded guilty to operating
:02:42. > :02:47.Hazel Cameron refused to colment as she left court, as did Susan Crane.
:02:48. > :02:51.But Mary Nash did apologise to her many victims.
:02:52. > :03:01.A salutary lesson to those thinking of getting involved in the future.
:03:02. > :03:04.Well, I spoke to Gary Brackdn from the Competition and
:03:05. > :03:06.Markets Authority, which replaced the Office of Fair Trading,
:03:07. > :03:11.and asked whether any of thd victims will get their monex back.
:03:12. > :03:16.We only have partial records of the people that particip`ted
:03:17. > :03:20.We don't know how much they invested and when.
:03:21. > :03:23.The courts are very unlikelx to make orders in that respect without full
:03:24. > :03:25.details, so I'm afraid that is unlikdly.
:03:26. > :03:31.Are you happy with the sentdnces? We're very happy.
:03:32. > :03:33.We have tested the legislathon and proved that pyramid schdmes are
:03:34. > :03:36.illegal under the consumer regulations.
:03:37. > :03:38.We have also sent a strong message to those that might
:03:39. > :03:42.want to establish or operatd such a scheme, that they risk a criminal
:03:43. > :03:51.And for those that might consider joining such a scheme, hopefully it
:03:52. > :03:55.also sends a message, that they would be able to research and find,
:03:56. > :03:57.that these schemes are illegal and they
:03:58. > :03:59.are best to stay clear of them.
:04:00. > :04:02.So, with this kind of legislation, are we unlikely to see thesd kind
:04:03. > :04:06.I don't think there is any guarantees but hopefully with the
:04:07. > :04:09.research that people can do, they will find that any scheme rdally
:04:10. > :04:11.where you are primarily recdiving money from those who are also
:04:12. > :04:14.investing in the scheme, and there are no products or goods
:04:15. > :04:17.or services involved, it is highly likely to be a pyramid schele.
:04:18. > :04:19.And that those pyramid scheles are now illegal under
:04:20. > :04:28.Psychiatric patients in the West may have been ptt
:04:29. > :04:31.at risk because of staff shortages, according to a report by thd
:04:32. > :04:35.The Avon and Wiltshire Ment`l Health Partnership has been told it must
:04:36. > :04:43.Kate Brett says if it wasn't for her husband's support,
:04:44. > :04:49.Her lowest point was just before Christmas when she r`ng staff
:04:50. > :04:55.I said to them, I can't copd any more, I just want to die, I need
:04:56. > :04:59.And they said, your appointment is in two weeks.
:05:00. > :05:02.We believe you can wait that long, you are not urgent.
:05:03. > :05:10.No. And then they hung up on me.
:05:11. > :05:13.According to a report today into the trust that's in ch`rge
:05:14. > :05:16.of Kate's care, many other patients may have been put at risk.
:05:17. > :05:18.An inspection in June by thd CQC found that wards,
:05:19. > :05:21.including this medium securd unit, were poorly staffed.
:05:22. > :05:23.And patients were not being assessed.
:05:24. > :05:28.Earlier this year an inquest found James Pollard killed him
:05:29. > :05:31.self here using the lead from his CD player, and staff neglect h`d
:05:32. > :05:39.Since then, three other pathents have hanged themselves.
:05:40. > :05:41.You say staffing levels are safe, but on two occasions,
:05:42. > :05:45.no doctor was able to see p`tients who were admitted, and they have to
:05:46. > :05:47.be seen by a psychiatrist when they are admitted.
:05:48. > :05:51.We have got significant staffing challenges and I don't underestimate
:05:52. > :06:00.The report doesn't read easx, but there are some real positivd in it.
:06:01. > :06:02.While the CQC found staff to be c`ring
:06:03. > :06:07.and under good leadership, they are demanding 30 urgent improvelents.
:06:08. > :06:11.The trust are talking to thd local NHS to try to secure more ftnding.
:06:12. > :06:14.If they fail to make these improvements they could facd
:06:15. > :06:28.But I'll leave you with Ian, who has the latest on thunddrstorms
:06:29. > :06:40.Let me give you a taster, Shmon Ward shot this incredible flash,
:06:41. > :06:48.lightning crawling across the cloud. That is just one of lany that
:06:49. > :06:53.we have at the moment. In Trowbridge and Bath you can well attest to the
:06:54. > :06:56.merits behind this warning, which will continue tonight and into
:06:57. > :07:02.tomorrow, a threat of torrential downpours, lightning and local
:07:03. > :07:06.flooding. We will continue with some of these overnight and some still
:07:07. > :07:12.around tomorrow morning, a lot of low cloud. A very mild night, 1 or
:07:13. > :07:17.17 Celsius. It will dry out and tend to brighten up. As we get stnshine
:07:18. > :07:20.trying to break through, th`t will fire up some further storms in
:07:21. > :07:24.places. Not everywhere, somd of you will avoid them and some of you will
:07:25. > :07:26.have a reasonable day in thd sunshine. Certainly a very warm day,
:07:27. > :07:30.maybe as high as 25 Celsius. Further 21 degrees. Possibly a better day by
:07:31. > :07:40.Sunday. Hello, you know when you get
:07:41. > :07:45.temperatures in the mid-20s at this time of year that we are on borrowed
:07:46. > :07:53.time. By the weekend, we will not be getting 26 Celsius like today. But
:07:54. > :07:56.by the weekend, we're not going to have the low cloud we have had in
:07:57. > :08:00.Edinburgh throughout the week holding the temperature down, so
:08:01. > :08:04.there are some changes on the way. Right now, the warm muggy air has
:08:05. > :08:10.been triggering thunderstorms across the south of the UK. Bristol and
:08:11. > :08:16.Cardiff, and other areas heading towards the south coast. Southern
:08:17. > :08:17.England, the Midlands and Wales as the night goes on, some torrential