Air ambulance scam is to feature in BBC show
TWO scam companies which targeted Burton and South Derbyshire householders, claiming to be collecting clothes on behalf of air ambulance charities, are set to be highlighted in a BBC documentary.
The unnamed show is currently in the early stages of production and will feature details of several cases in the area which saw victims targeted by St Anthony Ltd and St Anthony Repatriation Ltd.
No transmission date has yet been set for the programme but producers have revealed that it will contain several segments related to the scam firms presence in East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire.
The firms, formally known as Air Ambulance Service Ltd, were closed down last year alongside associated company Air Ambulance Support Community Interest Company (CIC).
This came following an investigation by the company investigations department of the Insolvency Service.
The companies, headed by director Anthony Joseph Durkin, claimed to be supporting air ambulances throughout the country.
However, they turned out to be profitmaking enterprises rather than charitable ones.
Previously, the Midlands Air Ambulance, which covers Burton, and the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA), a registered charity which covers South Derbyshire, reported in the Mail that the company was not acting on their behalf, and had warned people not to be taken in by the scam.
Both services revealed that homes in Horninglow and Church Gresley had red, black and white collection bags posted through their doors requesting clothing, accessories and phones be donated to ‘Air Ambulance Service’, a profit-making organisation.
The registered charities both told the Mail that they had had several calls and inquiries from confused members of the public.
At first glance, those making donations were being led to believe that they were supporting air ambulances across the country.
However, the bag was not what it appeared to be and goods donated were not going towards supporting the local air ambulance.
