Burnley based Depher - BBC Investigation

[TheOriginalLongsider]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3gxg4jd0ggo

[claretonthecoast1882]

The truth was always going to come out eventually.

Amazed just how many people were taken in by this guy

[Clovius Boofus]

Daily Mail from last year.

EXCLUSIVEBritain's 'kindest plumber' is caught claiming he fixed deadly fireplace that was putting 87-year-old at risk - with photo of 39-year-old businessman's perfectly safe fire

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... -fire.html

[Rowls]

Who'd have thought it, eh?

Person who shouts loudly about being kind, isn't actually one of the good guys. Shocker.

[Quickenthetempo]

I put a thread up here about a year ago about him, when people were giving him lots of stick on twitter.

Sad for Burnley as it was a good news story for the town.

[Clive 1960]

Shame as i thought he was a decent guy helping vulnerable people out but just shows you can't trust anyone these days..

[BurnleyFC]

This is sad news, because I do personally know people that James Anderson has helped out free of charge, so he was doing some good at least.

I suspect he probably started out with the best intentions but fame and greed went to his head.

[pushpinpussy]

So he’s not been found guilty of anything and people are already pointing the finger and making disgusting allegations.

[GetIntoEm]

So he’s not been found guilty of anything and people are already pointing the finger and making disgusting allegations.

he's admitted it, come on, dont be so naive

[pushpinpussy]

he's admitted it, come on, dont be so naive

if hes done something wrong he will get arrested. I havent seen that yet, so stop jumping on the bandwagon and accusing people of crimes.

[Crookedbillet]

He has done work for people and not charged them. That is a fact.

But it's the general public who have been the charity ..... not him. He has taken a wage, bought a second house and a second car all from the charity donations.

It's the best business model ever. Get people to donate to a 'charity ' take a wage from said charity then do the work for 'free'

Best paid plumber in Burnley.

[GetIntoEm]

if hes done something wrong he will get arrested. I havent seen that yet, so stop jumping on the bandwagon and accusing people of crimes.

Who's accused him of crimes?

[CharlieinNewMexico]

So he’s not been found guilty of anything and people are already pointing the finger and making disgusting allegations.

I dunno where I sit with this. “Elaborating the truth “ as it used to be called and everyone is shock horror scandalized but people have been elaborating the truth for centuries

[GetIntoEm]

is he still driving that Bentley?

[Cirrus_Minor]

There were posters in the James Hargreaves gents advertising about this chap. Very disappointing to see this on BBC news this morning.

[pushpinpussy]

Who's accused him of crimes?

people are implying hes acted fraudulently. Just like you are. dont try and backtrack

[turfytopper]

..............................

Sad for Burnley as it was a good news story for the town.

Exactly, I live in Sussex and felt pride when I heard of his good deeds. So I feel quite ashamed of that now. BIG disappointment.

[GetIntoEm]

people are implying hes acted fraudulently. Just like you are. dont try and backtrack

im not backtracking, he's clearly abused and admitted his CIC status, got personal gain while maintaining the holier than thou mantra. He used photos and events (that people have not agreed to) to benefit himself and his family. i'm no lawyer, so not sure thats a criminal matter, but its certainly scummy way to make a living. glad its been uncovered

[SalouClaret]

people are implying hes acted fraudulently. Just like you are. dont try and backtrack

And right on cue; the board's resident pretend lawyer.

[Socrates]

He’s fabricated social media posts to magnify the work he’s done in order to solicit further donations.

He’s implied that DEPHER are running out of money to solicit further donations whilst sitting on a significant sum of money.

He’s used that money to buy a house in Burnley which he’s put family members in.

In the interview, in his own words, he accepts that he’s magnified this stuff.

I don’t doubt that he’s helped some people for free. But that really doesn’t excuse the multiple admitted counts of manipulation, deceit and likely fraud he’s committed.

[GetIntoEm]

Lets hope there is enough evidence for arrest and prosecution, but i'll wait for a more informed poster to say if its possible.

[Acting Claret]

From what I have read, he charged £125 an hour for the free work, taking the money from the donations.
The media would have you believe that he gave his time and materials for free.
As I work mostly in this field, I could never understand how this worked, the cheapest boilers on the market are £450.
I understand that he has turned down numerous plumbers who have offered to help out, which again, does not make sense, if it’s all as we are led to believe.

[AGENT_CLARET]

His only crime is posting the wrong picture on his social media account

[Burnley1989]

His only crime is posting the wrong picture on his social media account

Maybe I'm being naive, but I'm struggling to see the crime. He's bent the truth, which is wrong, but believe me, all the top charities do far far worse and get away with it
Hes still doing good work, people less off are getting the benefits

[Ptgclaret]

I know he did some good for some needy people, but the lads he sent round to change my boiler did a absolutely amateur job. They left one of the radiator valves open, and the fitted cupboards in the kitchen are a right mess. The boiler exhaust isn't straight and the bricking up of the old hole is a bad job.

Never complained because he does charity work, maybe I was suckered in.

[GetIntoEm]

I know he did some good for some needy people, but the lads he sent round to change my boiler did a absolutely amateur job. They left one of the radiator valves open, and the fitted cupboards in the kitchen are a right mess. The boiler exhaust isn't straight and the bricking up of the old hole is a bad job.

Never complained because he does charity work, maybe I was suckered in.

did he do it for free?

[Quickenthetempo]

There were posters in the James Hargreaves gents advertising about this chap. Very disappointing to see this on BBC news this morning.

Just seen on twitter he bad mouthed the club when they refused to be associated with him.

And tried bringing the community team down when they refused him free tickets to the football.
(Presumably to give away to people from the charity)

[Socrates]

His only crime is posting the wrong picture on his social media account

Definition of fraud according to the CPS


The defendant:

made a false representation

dishonestly

knowing that the representation was or might be untrue or misleading

with intent to make a gain for himself or another, to cause loss to another or to expose another to risk of loss.

The offence is entirely focused on the conduct of the defendant.


Hmm …… I’ll wait for somebody more learned than me. But I think he meets that test by his own admission.

[Rick_Muller]

I put a thread up here about a year ago about him, when people were giving him lots of stick on twitter.

Sad for Burnley as it was a good news story for the town.

it's OK - he's a scouser isn't he?

[Ptgclaret]

did he do it for free?

No. I know I should have got him back. Too nice.

[GetIntoEm]

No. I know I should have got him back. Too nice.

its easily done, when you are deceived into thinking its a good cause

[SMClaret]

No. I know I should have got him back. Too nice.

Get him back? After a job like that I imagine you'd never want him in your house again.

Similar happened to me. Job in my bathroom. Left it in such a state he never bothered chasing for the balance I owed. Not surprised at all to see this coming out today.

[mikeS]

Sad news. A showing up by the BBC all for the sake of a handful of bad social media posts after helping hundreds and hundreds of people who needed his help. Not good.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Also had to be banned for abusive behaviour from a local bookies

[AGENT_CLARET]

Definition of fraud according to the CPS


The defendant:

made a false representation

dishonestly

knowing that the representation was or might be untrue or misleading

with intent to make a gain for himself or another, to cause loss to another or to expose another to risk of loss.

The offence is entirely focused on the conduct of the defendant.


Hmm …… I’ll wait for somebody more learned than me. But I think he meets that test by his own admission.

Has he been charged

[GetIntoEm]

Has he been charged

file has been handed to the police, will be soon

[Herts Clarets]

Clarify an inaccuracy in this thread - Depher were not and are not a charity. They are a so called CIC (Community Interest Company), which in reality turned out to be a SIC (Self Interest Company). I have followed a lot of stuff on X and seen so many lies and deceit from this man, rehashing stories, multiple use of the same photographs for various good deeds he claims to have done, invoices with dates altered, photos of him attending late night emergencies when you can clearly see it is daylight through the windows. And a load of other stuff. Been waiting for his cover to be blown and the whole charade uncovered. Plenty more to come by all accounts.....

[Socrates]

Has he been charged

Since this came out at breakfast?

Probably not, no.

[GetIntoEm]

The lad that got the wheelchair recently was distressing, i saw his mother asking multiple times to stop using photos of her disabled son for his own gains, he just carried on doing it.

selfish indulgent so and so

[bfcjg]

Such a shame as he did a cracking job for an elderly couple we came across, free as well.

[Herts Clarets]

Such a shame as he did a cracking job for an elderly couple we came across, free as well.

He may not have charged them, but nothing he did was for free. Things were just paid for by alternative means. Plenty of receipts he posted showing him buying food for people who had "nothing in their cupboards", which in reality were more likely his or members of his family doing their weekly shop. Receipts included champagne, brandy and make up amongst other items.

[GetIntoEm]

He may not have charged them, but nothing he did was for free. Things were just paid for by alternative means. Plenty of receipts he posted showing him buying food for people who had "nothing in their cupboards", which in reality were more likely his or members of his family doing their weekly shop. Receipts included champagne, brandy and make up amongst other items.

yeah i saw those receipts on twitter, bottle on Laurent Perrier & duck breasts for someone who's cupboards were bare with kids to feed.

[AGENT_CLARET]

file has been handed to the police, will be soon

And if he isn't are you going to publicly apologise on here, people always to quick to hang on here without the full facts

[GetIntoEm]

And if he isn't are you going to publicly apologise on here

100% NO. He's admitted enough to see that what he's done is despicable. Using pictures of disabled children despite their mother pleasing multiple times is not acceptable. Regardless of criminal charges, he's ****

[Rileybobs]

And to think some people were calling for a statue of him in Burnley town centre.

[IanMcL]

And to think some people were calling for a statue of him in Burnley town centre.

[IanMcL]

I have happily supported this CIC, as the intention to do good, seemed clear and transparent. I wonder what Himugh Frant must be thinking, at this moment?

People have obviously been helped, however, to do millions of jobs needs an army of customers and plumbers. I am not sure either exist. The population of Lancashire is 1.236m so you must all have a brand new boiler, need it or not.

If his 'hourly rate' was above the norm, that could be accepted, as there is much other work to be done, to maintain the public presence/search for donations.

Nonetheless, the claims appear bogus and that is deceiving the public.

Who has the extracted funding and what about the remaining pot?

I foresee jail for the current directors.

[Quickenthetempo]

Just watched the BBC documentary on him. He's just a bull shitter plain and simple.
Lie after lie after lie.

[Clovius Boofus]

And to think some people were calling for a statue of him in Burnley town centre.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

First Captain Tom and now this. Where have all the good guys gone?