Any tradesmen can help - plasterer, plumber, someone to fix alarm

[Dulwich handy]

While I was doing some decorating work in opposite nigel Road in peckam

I was approached by a woman who asked how much would I charge to paint the house for her ...

Went to see it and was shocked by her story

She's (I think)in her late 60s and after her husband had a stroke she was forced to reduce to part time work so she can care for her husband while carers aren't there

Gentleman is bed bound and 100 % depending on 2 other people 24/7

.

This lady used some of her pension money to pay someone to remove wallpapers

Plaster the house

Install alarm

And decorate the house

So she and her husband can have a nice home till he's time run out

...

NOW

she paid staggering ?4500 upfront to a builder who worked for 3 days and done a runner after leaving the house in a building side state 8 months ago!!

..

After hearing that

And having some great conversation with the poor guy and his shattered wife

I have decided that I'll step up and do all do for free but there things that I'd ask people to help and come forward to help for free and do something good

While I've managed to repair most of the house I'm beginning to run out of steam and would seek someone who can remove wallpaper from the last room on the list and plaster the ceiling

Also that cowboy disconnected radiator and plumber would need to help to make it good and safe

Also alarm is no longer working and as much as would love to play with it I will ask if someone could take a look and see what he's done to it

Just so you people know

I am on my own and done walls

Repaired skirtings

Covings

And painted half of the house already and will carry on and put new floors up for the unfortunate couple but if anyone could assist with the other tasks please call or text

07477 626 488

[Pugwash]

Some time ago an elderly friend was approached re new roof and replacement guttering and down pipes. He agreed the work and gave a few hundred pounds towards materials. Wife was furious what he had done and tried to contact contractor who gave her the runabout. She mentioned this to our local SNT Police who advised that this was a scam. Several other people were approached by the same 'contractor'. In the end the police posed as a relative of the family and were there when contractor called and arrested the man.

I suggest that Dulwich Handy get the lady in question to contact the police with as much details as possible. He and her husband would be classed as Vulnerable Adults and need to be referred to the Safeguarding Adults Team at Southwark Social Services. She appears to be having carers for husband so may already have a link to social services.

In my professional life I dealt with many incidents like this, a 'gardener' who visited an elderly lady. over a period of months, cutting her lawn- she eventually trusted him enough to give him her bank card to draw out money and do shopping. What she did not realise that he drew out more than she needed and pocketed the rest. When we heard his name, it was familiar to us and we discovered that the same guy was visiting other elderly people in Southward and doing the same thing. The police took over the case and we heard some time later that he was charged and imprisoned.