Forum Topic

Darren Bingham

Knocked on the door today. "Father collapsed - taken to Chelsea &Westminster". Asking for bus fare to go there. Reported on 101.

Robert Fish ● 2405d21 Comments

Local police asked, IIRC, that you call 999 for door-to-door scammers like Bingham.

N V Brooks ● 2405d

Oh really don't . Poor old Darren obviously has a lot of issues that a night in the cells or a short jail sentence won't change.He's an annoyance and and his mental health or addiction issues won't get solved by the judicial system.Obviously if his presence is threatening or disturbing then do of course call 999 but if not I'd call 101.

Tessa Russell ● 2405d

His presence has to be threatening and disturbing to all the elderly people self-isolating in the area. Don't hesitate to call 999 just because you don't feel personally threatened.

Anita Blake ● 2404d

OWL (if you have not signed up, they are effectively an online 'Neighbourhood Watch') is clear in that all bogus callers to your home should be reported to 999 not 101.

N V Brooks ● 2404d

... according to Thursday's London Evening Standard:"A SERIAL conman who used fake sob stories to beg for money on doorsteps during the lockdown has been jailed.Darren Bingham, 40, pretended his father had collapsed and been rushed to hospital and claimed to be locked out of his home.He ignored lockdown rules and went door-to-door asking for money in March, Isleworth crown court heard yesterday [20 May 2020]. One victim was 'intimidated' into handing over £20, but others recognised him from past offending and called police.Bingham, from Feltham, admitted fraud by false representation and breaching a criminal behaviour order in a hearing conducted by Skype. Judge Sarah Paneth jailed him for eight months."

Richard Cathcart ● 2352d

Thanks for that, Richard. Well it's a result, but I'm in two minds about the wisdom of reporting him. It led to having to give a statement to the police, who made no attempt to observe social distancing in my home, despite my request to do so. Bingham is just an inadequate who can't help himself (imagine the stupidity of going to the same street two days running), and he clearly has a problem (not just drug addiction) which I'm not sure an 8-month jail sentence will address. I hope he takes note of the judge's strong recommendation to engage with probation and mental health services the next time he's released. 

Robert Fish ● 2352d

He must have been let out - we have just had a visit with the same story.

Johanne Coker ● 2241d

I used to work at Wormwood Scrubs and know Bingham very well. He’s a victim of substance misuse but his behaviour had never been threatening. Every time he gets locked up, he gets fed and put on medication to stabilise his addiction but he’ll never be free of it. Whether you call the police or not, doesn’t make any difference.

Dorota Zelazny ● 2239d

Is there no help for these poor people when they are released?

Steve Taylor ● 2239d

There is lots of help if they are willing to try.www.nhs.uk Drug addiction : getting help

Rima Jones ● 2239d

There are drug workers in prison, however this isn’t enough for people like Bingham. He’d have to go to some expensive rehab centre which would never be considered for someone like him. Sometimes they get relocated to help them get isolated from their usual environment but it can only work with those who are serious and determined their lives. Unfortunately you can’t help people who don’t want to be helped.

Dorota Zelazny ● 2239d

"You can lead a horse to water ...... "  springs to mind.Unfortunately, there are many who wish to freely wander, lonely as a cloud and do not want to be "helped" or restrained as they would see it.  Darren appears to be one such.  Wasn't that elderly lady who died last year, she used to live in her car, another such person?  Perhaps all we, the rest of us, can do is leave some food and a warm coat or blanket out for them.

Jennifer Selig ● 2239d

Agreed, Dorota. There was nothing threatening about his behaviour when he knocked on my door (in marked contrast to some of the hawkers of cleaning products, who can be very abusive when you decline to buy anything). He was ultra polite. I rather wish I hadn't shopped him, because I can't see another short-term jail sentence would have helped him at all.

Robert Fish ● 2239d

I wouldn’t worry Robert, he’s safe and well looked after in prison. At least he’ll have shower and some hot food. Re those trying to shift cleaning products, I encountered it once and the man was quite aggressive as I refused to buy his tea towels. I remained calm but consistent. He eventually stormed out of my studio and never came back.

Dorota Zelazny ● 2239d

So much for client confidentiality.

Chris Davies ● 2239d

The people who sell door to door always say they have been in prison. Whoever sets them up should consider that most of the stuff is for sale in Poundland. However, i’ve Never found them aggressive: they need better help.

Vivienne Cox ● 2239d

Dorota I’m shocked that you find it necessary to talk about Darren in a professional capacity. I can’t imagine HMP would be happy about this. You should be struck off immediately. I’m not defending what he has done, but you are out of order talking about his prison stays.

Georgina Flint ● 2239d

I’m struggling to understand what exactly I said that offended you so much. Is it the bit about being safe and looked after in prison? What confidentiality are you talking about? That prisoners get shower and hot food? What would you like me to say that Bingham is a dangerous criminal?! Would that be more drama for you to fill your life with? Well, he’s not dangerous, he’s a gentle lost soul, a victim of substance misuse and sorry to break it out to you but it isn’t a secret. Re people selling cleaning products door to door. I’ve never heard of any scheme that involves ex prisoners in n this kind of activity

Dorota Zelazny ● 2238d

Thank you Dorota for letting us know that Darren is harmless.Re duster sellers. They are known as Nottingham Knockers because it all started in Nottingham.It’s an organised crime with the sellers being dropped off in vans to obtain cash for poor quality items.The probation service does not set up such schemes.safelocaltrades.com Doorstep PedlarsReally scarey!Personally I never open the front door to cold callers at any time of day and certainly not late at night, even with a chain on the door.One Saturday morning there was a violent banging on my front door and shouting through the letter box.I thought there must have been a dreadful accident or that my roof was on fire.Opened the door and two men pushed me in and slammed the door closed. Something to do with Thames Water and sewage backing up.One of them then rushed round the house turning all the taps on whilst the other kept me in the hall.My shoulder bag was snatched with cash and cards. My cheque book found in a drawer which had been turned out.Then they fled.I called the police and cancelled my cards. Totally traumatisedApparently the two then jumped on a bus to Oxford Street and used my cards for writing out cheques for expensive clothes, shoes and food until they’d used all the cheques.A long list on my bank statement.I was able to give a very good description of both of them. The one who kept me in the hall had an awful scar down one side of his face. From a knife?Had to go to the police station and look through piles of files with photos but neither of them were there.Case closed.Never again!

Rima Jones ● 2238d

Since fitting our Next doorbell we haven't had any cold callers. I imagine even a dummy one would work!

Chris Blackwell ● 2238d

OMG! Rima, that’s terrible! Your home should be your safe place. I hope the criminals were caught and punished. Unfortunately the justice system doesn’t make it easy for the offenders to rehabilitate. A few months prison sentence isn’t a deterrent. Thank you for sharing, it’s important that people are aware of all those different scams. Best wishes.

Dorota Zelazny ● 2238d