Forum Topic

Darren Bingham alert

OWL have communicated to say that he is around again.They want us to call 999 if he knocks on your door as he is wanted.

Iris Hill ● 1710d29 Comments

I've already shopped him to the police, and regretted it. Another short spell in jail will do nothing to help him. He's quite polite and not at all threatening, and the best thing you can do is tell him you know his game and suggest that he looks for a better way of getting money. However, I fear that, given his criminal record, the avenues open to him may be quite restricted.

Robert Fish ● 1709d

Agreed that he isn't a threat but I do worry about him taking advantage of the elderley and vulnerable.

Chris Blackwell ● 1709d

He could start a political career? Hounslow is a good start

Basil Finnis ● 1709d

He must be desperate because most people don’t carry any cash these days.

Steve Taylor ● 1709d

Is Darren beyond any help seems like an ongoing problem that never getssorted out, he must need help rather than put away and let out to continue in the same situation.

Janice Evans ● 1708d

Absolutely right, Janice.

Robert Fish ● 1708d

Calling in Corney Road this pm

John Davies ● 1708d

I have no axe to grind about this and wish he would change, but as for those suggesting 'help' for him,what kind of help do you invisage could or should be offered? It's quite easy to say what should or should happen in many situations, but not as easy to say what form it takes.

Keith Iddon ● 1708d

I have no idea, Keith. A better, and better-funded, unified Probation Service might help, after the shambles of Grayling's privatisation. One thing's for sure: repeated short prison sentences are no solution.

Robert Fish ● 1708d

Not knowing Darren's problem not sure what sort of help he needs, if drug related I have seen others get help which has led to leading a normallife, sadly some are unable to adjust.

Janice Evans ● 1708d

Helping him to get a job would be a start. There are 1.4 million job vacancies. Perhaps a councillor could get him a job in the Council. Instead of walking around knocking on doors begging, he could be walking around picking up litter!!

Steve Taylor ● 1708d

It’s not within the gift of councillors to get people jobs in the Council. Thankfully.

Stewart Jones ● 1708d

“ It’s not within the gift of councillors to get people jobs in the Council.”In your dreams perhaps!

Steve Taylor ● 1708d

In your imagination more likely.We’ve been here before.

Stewart Jones ● 1707d

Who do you think  interviews and appoints senior council staff?

Steve Taylor ● 1707d

'Helping him get a job would be a start'.Who would give him a jog, in view of his previous?

Keith Iddon ● 1707d

It’s not in their gift though, is it? There is a process  They can’t shoe in one of their mates to be a chief exec or a man or woman to be on the bins

Stewart Jones ● 1707d

Well ST thinks that a councillor could put in a word and it’s a done deal. He’s wrong, of course, but there you go,

Stewart Jones ● 1707d

So what happens to Darren and his ilk? The local councillors can't apparently help, he is clearly not being redirected by wherever he has spent time in prison, and it is probably difficult for him to get a job through the Job Centre, given his previous.  Has anyone asked him what he would like to do? Maybe he finds it easier to live however and then knock on a few doors to keep him going for the next foreseeable. But has he ever told anyone what would give him a better life, less stress, a reliable income he could live with?  If he knocks on my door, I'll ask him

Vivienne Cox ● 1707d

It seems apparent that he isn't in the right mental state, or position to get a job.

Elle Jones ● 1707d

Are you saying that ex cons can never get a job once released?

Steve Taylor ● 1707d

Timpsons employ ex Cons.  I believe 10% of their workforce are now ex cons.

Steve Taylor ● 1707d

Vivienne, I like that, some people in similar situation have never had an interest shown in them or even a kind word.

Janice Evans ● 1707d

I sincerely hope he can get a job of some sort and turn his life around,but am assuming, perhaps wrongly,that he has had the usual interventions and support from probation officers and their ilk for him to stay on the straight and narrow.I wonder if there is a particular time of year or set of circumstances that drive him to doing this,Some people are locked into cycles of destructive behaviour that are quite often triggered by events or times of year because of past trauma or upheaval.Cognitive behavioural therapy is quite often useful to help people use those same triggers to alert themselves to what is happening and then react in a more constructive way, but this usually takes time and the work can be intensive.

Keith Iddon ● 1707d

It also sometimes takes a number of attempts, as the person needs toreally want to change, you can meet some really nasty people during your working life maybe has experience that and was unable to overcome it.  There are all sorts of reasons, seeing the death of very young childrenrecently shows how cruel some parents can be.

Janice Evans ● 1707d

I remember reading an article about him, going back to pre Covid times, that Darren has mental health problems ? If that's true then locking him up will not help him, I venture to suggest that he needs psychiatric support to break the circle of his behaviour.

Loraine Pemberton ● 1706d

Oh, could prove much more difficult.

Janice Evans ● 1706d

If he has mental health problems the Council should be looking after him. Where is his Caseworker?

Steve Taylor ● 1706d

He rang my doorbell a few nights ago at 11.30pm, then my neighbours. Having ascertained through peephole that it looked very much like him,  I called 999 but didn't see any action after that

Ms A Mark ● 1705d