The firm of “Britain’s kindest plumber” is under investigation amid allegations the company faked stories about helping people and used those accounts to raise millions in donations
A man dubbed “Britain’s kindest plumber” is under investigation by the Fundraising Regulator amid allegations his firm faked stories about helping people and used those accounts to raise millions in donations.
James Anderson, from Burnley, Lancashire, who runs Depher Community Plumbing and Heating, shared numerous social media posts of the company installing boilers and giving out food for free. It heavily relied on donations from the public.
The company had been supported by celebrities, including Hugh Grant, who previously donated £75,000 to the firm. But it has now emerged that Depher is under investigation by regulators.
The allegations, revealed by the BBC, claim company funds were used to buy a house and car and that Depher uploaded a post claiming to have prevented a woman from killing herself when, in fact, she died years before.
Mr Anderson says the house is registered in Depher’s name and that any profit made in rent is returned to the company.
The BBC also alleged Depher accused a domestic abuse victim of theft without proof. It also claimed Depher posted a video and photos of a vulnerable man in his 90s in more than 20 fundraising posts where they shared information about his…
