Caroline Hawley Reports

Following the news about the sentencing of Samuel Tree and Joan Tree, here is a round up of the fake detectors story by Caroline Hawley at the BBC. Caroline and Meirion Jones were responsible for the original BBC Newsnight reports back in 2010 and 2011. The report highlights the ongoing use of the fake detectors in some parts of the World, as well as the fact that the U.K. Government supported export sales promotion despite warnings as early as 2001.

Also below you will see an interesting comment that was left by Anonymous after the previous post today reporting sentencing of the Trees:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29459896

Anonymous comment:


I'm fairly surprised that she didn't get a custodial sentence. After all, Joan knew as much about Sam's little/huge scam as he did. She was "tuning" the "devices" to the required frequency using sterilised scissors etc.
You're right about Sam bringing the idea to Europe although back then, nearly twenty years ago, it probably seemed like nothing more than a bit of a wheeze.
Malcolm had seen the potential to turn a novelty golf ball "finder" into something rather more lucrative and Sam had the luck/misfortune to see Roe waving his magic wand about at some police convention in the US.
Apparently Sam chuckled ruefully at this first encounter with Roe, "The Bounder."
That conversation, probably, went something like this:
Tree: That's interesting! How does it work?
Roe: At this moment, it's tuned to detect mugs.
Tree: Why's it pointing at me, then?
Roe: Only kidding. I've set the frequency to "bank notes."
Tree: Wow. That's amazing. It's pointing straight to my wallet.
Roe: It appears so, yes.
Tree: How does it REALLY work, though?
Roe: Gravity combined with a low coefficient of friction in the pivot.
Tree: Oh. How dull. I didn't really do physics at school.
Roe: That's the beauty of this device. It defies the boring laws of physics that nobody's interested in. You could make a packet.
Tree: OK, what else can it detect?
Roe: *slants wrist* WIGS. That guy over there is wearing a toupée.
Tree: So he is. Wait here, sir. I must make an international call to my imports manager, Joan, and tell her the good news.
Roe: OK. *yawns*

Thus, Keygrove Intl. comes into being.
The Trees legitimate business was flogging forensics equipment to UK police forces. Plenty of contacts there, then.
Quadro® could have been nailed as fraudsters in the US fifteen? years ago but, as we have seen, not all jurys can see through the waving arial effect.
Roe jumped bail, I believe, and slummed it with his new-found friends, The Trees, in Bedfordshire for longer than he was welcome. They helped him, financially, and he went on to other projects before dying [citation needed].


Anonymous

Trees Sentencing

Just heard from Meirion Jones (top man BBC Producer and Reporter!) that following their guilty verdicts Samuel and Joan Tree will be sentenced on September 25th.

I hope the Judge will take into account the fact that Samuel Tree was responsible for originally introducing the Quadro Tracker into the U.K. Initially he and Malcolm Roe cooperated with Gary Bolton to produce a new version (identical) called The Mole.

When Bolton, Tree and Roe fell out Bolton re-invented the scam with the GT200. Meanwhile James McCormick spent some time helping Bolton to market Mole. They also fell out and McCormcik went on to the ADE651.

Tree went on to work on the Alpha 6 with Simon Sherrard. How he was found Not Guilty still amazes me, especially in the light of the guilty verdicts of the Trees.

So, to repeat my previous comment, Samuel Tree is at the root of all the UK variants of the fraud, and deserves a heavy sentence for that reason, even if he managed to sell fewer units than Bolton or McCormick.

MORE GOOD NEWS ON BOLTON

Following news of the guilty verdicts on Samuel and Joan Tree (see last post), the news has emerged that Gary Bolton of GT200 infamy appealed against both his conviction and sentence.

Bolton lost challenges against his conviction and seven-year jail sentence yesterday.

Bolton was present in the dock of the court to hear Lord Justice Pitchford, Mr Justice Wilkie and Mr Justice Green reject his claims that he suffered "unfair prejudice" during his trial and that his sentence was too long.

Lord Justice Pitchford said the sentence was "appropriate" for the criminality involved in his case.

ANOTHER GUILTY VERDICT - HIP HIP HOORAY

I am sure you will join me in celebrating the guilty verdicts against Samuel and Joan Tree. See news reports below.

These verdicts are particularly pleasing because Samuel Tree was responsible for bringing the scam to the U.K. from the U.S. in the form of the Quadro Tracker (along with one Malcolm Roe, who we understand may be dead).

Tree and Roe introduced the Quadro Tracker to Gary Bolton (convicted of fraud last year over the GT200 variant of the 'detector').

The Quadro Tracker was then renamed MOLE. At some stage it seems Tree, Roe and Bolton fell out, and then Bolton hooked up with James McCormick (convicted last year over the ADE651 variant). Tree then when on to hook up with Simon Sherrard of Comstrac to make and sell the Alpha 6 variant, with substantial orders in Thailand, Mexico and Lebanon.

Of course, Bolton and McCormick fell out and went their own ways with the GT200 and ADE651.

So you could say that Tree is the root of all this evil, and all the branches of the U.K. end of this fraud stem from him. Well, now he will take his leave of us for a while in prison, and I hope his sentence will reflect his central role in the scandal.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-28602876

That makes five of the six defendants in these fraud cases who have been convicted (the other being Anthony Williamson with his XK-9 variant). Regrettably, incredibly and sadly Simon Sherrard was found not guilty. He must be feeling very lucky today, but you never know when and how he might yet come a cropper. Perhaps the Police will be able to get the Trees to drop him in it, and a retrial with new evidence would then be on the cards. Let's hope so!

So, raise a glass tonight and wish them all the best in jail. They are a delightful couple, aren't they!

P.S. What a nice guy Sam must be! To allow his wife to go down with him.

MIRA MADNESS

If you have read the post below you will know that the BBC recently reported that Stelian Ilie at Mira Telecom just can not give up the idea of getting rich by selling fake explosive detectors. (see MIRA TELECOM- THE FRAUD GOES ON).

Now we can bring you the brochure for the new version of the 'detector'. The MEXD (Medium Range Explosive Detector) which comes in two versions:

MEXD100 - The manual version
MEXD100A - Automatic version

We can't quite work out the difference.

It seems that Mira have just made the device look a bit more sophisticated than the ADE651 by adding a few knobs and lights (remember when Jim McCormick said he wanted to add flashing lights to make the ADE look more believeable?). Oh yes, it's also got a battery! That does not mean it can work as they claim. As Dr Michael Sutherland at Cambridge University has said, there is no way that it can operate as they claim. Unfortunately Mira have their tame, paid for (or should we say paid off) so called physicist, Dr Marian Apostol, who claims they have tested this equipment. The fact that Apostol still says the ADE651 was legitimate just goes to show how much he has sold his science soul to Mira (for 900 Euros a Month!).

Of course Mira and Apostol have not responded to repeated invitations to have this equipment independently tested or submitted for the James Randi Million Dollar Challenge. We wonder why not? 

As you will see Mira Telecom are making almost identical claims to those made for the previous versions e.g. ADE651, GT200 etc.

Particularly interesting is the VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE at the bottom of page 2:
"For a reliable security measure it is highly recommended an integration of
complementary explosives detection technologies and dogs in order to obtain a
high success rate of detection with a high level of safety in difficult and unfriendly
environments."

So, having made extraordinary claims for the capabilities of this device, they then want to make sure that it is impossible to understand which method of detecting explosives was successful. This is also very similar to the way that James McCormick and Gary Bolton marketed the ADE651 and GT200 devices. Of course this tells us that Stelian Ilie knows that the MEXD does not and can not work.

It would be fascinating to find out how much Mira are trying to sell this garbage for. If anyone knows please do leave a comment.

Anyway, here is the brochure:

¿Habla usted español

If you do you might be interested in this interview from Mexico.

In the interview Luis Mochan, a Phyiscs Professor at Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, UNAM, speaks to the journalist Carmen Aristegui, about the role of the UK Government in helping to promote the GT200.

Luis has been working hard to end the use of the GT200 and the ADE651 in Mexico. We hope the coverage that he is getting will finally make the Government in Mexico see some sense and stop the use of these useless devices once and for all.

Hopefully it will also cause further embarrassment to the UK officials responsible for helping Gary Bolton sell the GT200. This despite the fact that a Home Office report was circulated in Whitehall in 2001 that warned these devices were not capable of the claims made for them. 

The information that Luis is speaking about is from the article in The Guardian (see THE GUARDIAN FOLLOWS UP)

Here is the interview with Luis:

http://m.aristeguinoticias.com/3101/mexico/embajada-britanica-promovio-la-ouija-del-diablo-en-mexico-luis-mochan/

THE GUARDIAN FOLLOWS UP

More from Rob Booth at The Guardian concerning British Government support for Gary Bolton and his Mole and GT200 fake detectors. (Well done Rob!)

Amazing that they are still so defensive. Or perhaps not. After all, the whole scandal must be very embarrassing for officials probably still working in Whitehall who allowed this to happen.

Let's hope the efforts of Rob in tenaciously following up this story help to hit the idiots who were involved right where it hurts! And that the further coverage helps the campaigners in Mexico to end the use of the GT200 and ADE651.

Of course, we have recent reports that the ADE651 is still in use in Iraq, and possibly Kenya. The more media coverage of these scandals the sooner we hope they will be brought to an end.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jan/26/fraudster-paid-government-promote-fake-bomb-detectors

Don't miss the second part of the story. Look for the link to the right of the article.

WELL DESERVED AWARD!!!!

Pleased to report that The Gnome Business Awards for 2013 (Private Eye Number 1357 10 - 23 Jan 2014) Crook Of The Year is James McCormick.

To quote Private Eye, "The most odious in the award's history...who made £50m selling fake bomb detectors to the gullible and corrupt of Iraq ([i]and elsewhere of course[/i]). McCormick, jailed for 10 years, edged out former partner Gary Bolton, who used the same con in less dangerous countries and was jailed for seven years."

Well deserved I would suggest!

2014 - NEW YEAR. SOME JOY, BUT STILL MUCH NONSENSE

Hello and a happy New Year to our faithful readers. Well, not all of them! The ones that don't deserve a happy New Year know who they are.

2013 was a mixed year for the Fake Explosives Detectors Campaign. Naturally we celebrated the convictions and jailing of James McCormick (ADE651) and Gary Bolton (GT200). Hope you are enjoying your surroundings boys. Of course, we await the Proceeds of Crime actions against these two, and hope that they will be unable to comply, hence allowing them to spend even more time at Her Majesty's pleasure (i.e. in prison), given that the Judge was sadly limited in the sentences he could hand out.

On the down side we saw another of the crooks, Simon Sherrard (ALPHA6) manage to convince a jury he was innocent of fraud. A crying shame! This year will see the re-trial of his partners, Sam and Joan Tree. We will of course report on that, subject to reporting restrictions.

Other bad news included reports of ongoing use of the ADE651 in Iraq, and the GT200 in Mexico, even after the convictions of McCormick and Bolton. Just goes to show what a mad World we inhabit.

Sadly we have yet to see any action in Germany against David Vollmar and Frank Trier at Unival, where they are still selling the entirely useless HEDD1 (formerly known as Sniffex). We hold out hope that they will eventually be rounded up. Of course, Yuri markov, who invented Sniffex, and managed to evade prosecution for fraud in the U.S. by running away back to Bulgaria may have been a bit worried that one of his co-conspirators was jailed in the U.S., some 7 years after the Sniffex case blew up. We still hope the FBI will seek to extradite Markov.

There are so many loose ends to the fake detectors fraud, but after nearly five and half years of our campaign, at least we can be grateful for some progress against this despicable trade.

Naturally we salute our old friend Techowiz, and wish him a great New Year. Hoping to be sharing a drink or two with him again soon.

Will leave it there for now, but you may be sure this is not the last you have heard from us.

Au revoir. 

THAT'S A RELIEF!!! YIPPEE!

Just had the news that appeal by McCormick (see last post) against the length of his sentence has been rejected.

Word has it that his case was dismissed quickly, and that the Judges gave the defence lawyer making the case a tough time.

As we understand it, the main grounds on which McCormick made the appeal was that Gary Bolton only got 7 years, versus the 10 given to McCormick. It is of course a shame that Bolton did not get the maximum as well.

Here is a report from The Western Daily Press. It has few details, and we will update you if we hear more.

McCORMICK LOSES APPEAL (HOORAY!)

We can also breathe a sigh of relief because no doubt if McCormick had succeeded in getting a reduction of sentence, no doubt Bolton would have tried to do so as well.

We are eagerly waiting for details of the cases against McCormick and Bolton under the proceeds of crime legislation. We believe that they should be billed for every penny they invoiced (irrespective of the fact that some of the money was paid back in bribes). If they cannot account for it all and pay it all back then they should face susbtantial additions to their sentences. The payment of bribes should not be an excuse!

MORE MALARKEY DOWN MEXICO WAY

I am saddened to have to pass on the latest report from Mexico, where it seems that, despite the conviction of Gary Bolton for fraud, the GT200 is still in use.

The corrupt and/or brain dead officials who bought these useless devices continue to defend their use to the bitter end. I suppose the alternative is to admit that they were bribed or stupid (or both), so perhaps we should not be surprised.

The latest reports of miscarriages of justice associated with the use of the GT200 also suggest that it is being used to repress political activists who campaign against corruption. Somewhat ironic!

We will be urging the U.K. Government to make every possible effort to persuade their Mexican counterparts to put an end to the use of the fake detectors. The least they can do, when, as we have pointed out before, the British Government helped Gary Bolton promote and sell his fraud.

So, here is the news from one of the campaign heroes, Dr Luis Mochan, who has been a staunch, brave and tenacious campaigner against the fake detectors:

A lawyer and human rights activist, Jesús Robles Maloof published today an article where, among other things, he describes how the GT200 was presented as evidence to arrest and imprison a blogger, accused of selling drugs, as recently as August the 8th! This happened in the state of Chiapas, in the south of Mexico, whose attorney general claimed a couple of days after Bolton's sentence that in Chiapas, the detectors do work. I had challenged him publicly some weeks ago to test them, but he hasn't taken the challenge, in contrast to the governor of the state of Colima, who did accept the challenge and later announced that his detectors indeed didn't work. Jesús Robles Maloof got his article translated into English and posted it at his blog

http://roblesmaloof.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/the-devils-ouija-against-a-digital-activist-in-mexico/

In other news, the annual report of the army was published in Septermber 1. Sadly, it does mention the GT200 as if it were in use, at least in 14 mobile checkpoints, without mentioning that it is worthless. I posted a copy in my blog (in Spanish). It seems that the corresponding report from the Navy refrained from mentioning the GT200.





It is pleasing to note that the Governor of Colima is reported as having come to his senses! See my earlier blog post  MARIO ANGUIANO - ANOTHER BLOODY FOOL

If it is true that he has put a stop to the use of the GT200 in his state then we must be magnanimous and say thank you, and well done. Perhaps he is not such a fool after all. Those who are prepared to admit they were wrong and take action to correct their mistakes deserve praise, and set a good example to others.

The title of BLOODY FOOLS now passes to the Governor and the Attorney General of the State of Chiapas

MOCHAN - THE MEXICAN MARAUDER

For those of you who do not know him, Luis Mochan is a Physics Professor at the National University of Mexico.

Along with Andres Tonini, and a few other campaigners, he has fought a long battle against the use of the fake detectors in Mexico, which was one of the largest markets for the ADE651, GT200 and Alpha 6 variants.This has been a real struggle. They have often reported how difficult it has been to get media coverage, and how intransigent politicians, military and security personnel have been in defending the use of the useless detectors.

Given that Mexico is not exactly the safest place on earth, we can also say that Luis, Andres etc have been very brave to take on the fight.

Thankfully, following the conviction and sentencing on fraud charges of both James McCormick (ADE651) and Gary Bolton (GT200) the pressure has built. Luis has sent us some excellent news of progress. We would still like to receive confirmation that Iraq, Thailand, Kenya (amongst others) are clear, and China remains a major blind spot, but it seems that we may finally be seeing the beginning of the end in Mexico.

Text of email from Luis:

Things have moved somewhat in Mexico. El Universal (a major newspaper)
published yesterday several stories about Bolton and the GT200:
     http://www.eluniversalmas.com.mx/editoriales/2013/08/66115.php
     http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion-mexico/2013/impreso/mochan-un-cientifico-a-la-caza-de-la-8220ouija-del-diablo-8221-208489.html
     http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion-mexico/2013/creador-de-39ouija-39-recibe-sentencia-de-7-anios-de-prision--944004.html

As a consequence I was contacted by two reporters and asked about the
device, etc. To my biggest surprise, the major TV news program (and,
of course, the worst) conducted by Joaquín López Dóriga presented last
night a report on Bolton's trial.
     https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Ffeature%3Dplayer_embedded&v%3Dt9_8M--rcYo
It was surprising as López Dóriga had previously been very
enthusiastic about the device:
     https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DNfuuPRmjWXI
His reports are usually very benign towards the government and big
business and very agressive towards everyone else.

This morning I was interviewed by Carmen Aristegui, conductor of a
major live radio talk show (probably the best, and quite
important). We talked for about half an hour:
     https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DFU86qsiSTnM&feature%3Dyoutu.be

It turned out that at the end she interviewed the spokesman of the
security council of the ministry of the interior (gabinete de
seguridad de la secretaría de gobernación), Eduardo Sánchez. He said
quite timidly that these detectors were not used to obtain
incriminating evidence, but she somehow cornered him and he said
(reluctantly) that they are not used at all. That is false, but I
believe it important that he said so in front of a national audience.

The other news is that the governor of Colima did announce that we had
made a new test on the ADE651 and he stated publicly that his
detectors won't be used anymore.
     http://colimanoticias.com/colima-rectifica-que-detectores-moleculares-fueron-un-fraude-y-dejara-de-usarlos/


Time for a fiesta!

NOW FOR THE FALLOUT

Kudos to Rob Booth at The Guardian for an excellent follow up piece

HERE

Let's hope some heads will roll !!!!!!

BOLTON GOES DOWN

It is with great joy and jubilation that I bring you the news that Gary Bolton has been sentenced to 7 years in prison following his conviction on fraud charges related to his making and selling the fake Mole and GT200 detectors.

See BBC report HERE

I was hoping he might get the full ten years that James McCormick received, but I suppose we must be happy that he was convicted and did not manage to con the jury that he was a sweet, innocent.

More news to follow as we receive it.

Trebles all round!

And to Gary, you got what you deserved you scum.

IT'S A FINE MORNING FOR....

A hanging... Well, sadly not a hanging, but the sentencing of Gary Bolton for his GT200 fraud conviction.

Let's hope that Judge Hone got out of bed on the wrong side and gives Mr Bolton the full ten years to match what he sent McCormick down for!

The sentencing hearing kicks off at 0930 GMT...And we will let you know the result as soon as possible.

Better make the most of your last 90 minutes or so of freedom Mr Bolton, then you can sit in your cell and contemplate all those who died, or were injured, or falsely arrested because of the use of your useless GT200.

Techowiz thinks you should share a cell with your old friend and business partner McCormick so that you can reminisce about the good old days when the money was rolling in.

I RECOMMEND!

The following article in the Bangkok Post. Written by Jens Franz, this piece gives an excellent insight into the history of the GT200, and the trial and conviction of Gary Bolton.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/investigation/365168/the-gt200-on-trial

IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER

Now that Gary Bolton has been found guilty of fraud for making and selling the Mole and GT200 fake detectors, we must await sentencing. Apparently this has been delayed until late August or early September. It seems Bolton is trying to claim that he has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Perhaps the thought of losing all his money is causing him some distress? Sounds like a try on to us. 

It does seem a bit cheeky of him to claim he has psychological problems. We wonder how his victims feel about this i.e. those who were blown up, or falsely arrested because his dodgy devices did not work.

We are sure Judge Hone will not be fooled, and will give him the maximum sentence of 10 years. The same as James McCormick.

Anyway, there are quite a few loose ends still to tie up, apart from his sentencing:

1. Hopefully the convictions of both Bolton and McCormick will finally see the end of the use of the GT200, ADE651, and other similar devices in places like Iraq, Mexico, Thailand and Kenya. If you have been following this story, you will know that despite the overwhelming evidence that these 'detectors' detect nothing at all, some of those who were probably recipients of bribes have continued to defend their use.

It would also be jolly nice if the officials who were bribed to buy the 'detectors' were also prosecuted, wherever they are. I am sure the victims of the failure of these devices to operate would appreciate that.

2. We still want to know the full extent of UK Government support for Bolton, and to see some heads roll here for having been so damned stupid as to get involved with such an obvious fraud. Please be assured, we will be continuing to work to expose them.

3. We will also be working to continue to expose those who tried to defend the indefensible. In particular, Mt Grahame Gardner of the British Society of Dowsers (below you will find a picture of the 'delightful' Gardner, looking a tad too smug for our liking!), and Mr Geoffrey Crockford, who acted as witnesses on behalf of Bolton and his fake detectors at his trial.

I have no hesitation in calling these 'gentlemen' total scumbags. They presented no evidence. Just useless anecdotes. To defend the fake detectors which have resulted in so much misery is simply despicable.

Finally, for now, we hope that this fraud is well and truly on the way to the dustbin of history, although we are realistic enough to know that these things have a tendency to return. After all, sadly, there seems to be a fraudster, a corrupt official, and a gullible fool born every second.

Grahame Gardner, President of the British Society of Dowsers, and also a bloody fool.
See previous post DOWSING -  ILLUSION AND DELUSION

GARY BOLTON GUILTY! YEE HA!

News just in. Gary Bolton has been found guilty of fraud in connection with his fraudulent GT200 'detector'.

We are, of course, extremely happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He will be sentenced at a later date and we will bring you more details as we get them.

Apparently he told BBC South East that when the case was over he was going to sue them. Of course, he may yet appeal, but we have no hesitation in saying:

Gary, you are a dirty, low down, scumbag fraudster, and you will rot in jail like McCormick for being responsible for deaths, injuries, false arrests and destruction in places like Thailand and Mexico where you sold your useless devices.

Hip, Hip, Hooray!!!

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23461638

Below are the two posts that the Judge asked me to remove in case they unduly influenced the jury during their deliberations:

THE ALIENS HAVE LANDED

 

In a recent post (BOLTON TRIAL UPDATE) I brought you the news that the defence at the trial of Mr Gary Bolton produced two witnesses who were there to support the unsupportable i.e.the use of dowsing for explosives.

The two gentlemen concerned were Mr Geoffrey Crockford, and Mr Grahame Gardner (President of the British Society of Dowsers).

As we have pointed out on many occasions, dowsing is a load of old tosh. There is not a shred of credible evidence that it can be used to find anything at all. It operates purely on the principle of the ideomotor effect i.e. if you consciously or subconsciously expect to find something with dowsing rods (or even a pendulum dangling over a map - remote dowsing), then small, almost imperceptible movements you make become magnified by free pivoting rod, or into swings of a pendulum. All reliable testing shows that dowsing is completely useless, but there are those who persist with a belief in this twaddle.

One of those clearly blind to the evidence is Mr Crockford. As so often the case, a belief in one lot of nonsense is often accompanied with other, equally absurd notions.

To illustrate my point I have discovered the following report by Mr Crockford and others which claims to substantiate the idea that an alien craft landed in Rendelsham Forest.

I would love to go through this line by line and have a good laugh at the sheer volume of lunacy it contains, but that would take some time, and so I leave it to you to decide which is the funniest bit (be warned, there are a lot of funny bits!)

http://biolocation.com/Biolocation%20survey%20of%20Rendelsham%20Forest%20UFO%20site.pdf

NOTE TO THOSE OF YOU OUT THERE WITH DIRTY MINDS!: GILF means 'Galactic Intelligent Life Forms'!

It is in no way to be confused with an older generation of MILF! I hope that is understood. No sniggering at the back of the class or there'll be dire consequences.

UPDATE - I have just found the following FROM COURT NEWS UK dated 19 July 2013
'A self-proclaimed 'dowsing' expert told a court technology similar to that used in a 'bogus' bomb detector had been used to search for an unexploded bomb at Buckingham Palace. Graham Gardner, president of the British Society of Dowsers, said the principle had also been used by US troops in Vietnam to locate booby traps. He said dowsing worked by amplifying a person's subconscious response to 'earth energy' into 'subconscious muscle movements.' Mr Gardner was giving evidence at the Old Bailey trial of Gary Bolton, 47, who is accused of defrauding customers across the world with his GT200 devices'.

'Earth energy' eh! Wonder what that might be? Sounds a bit woo woo to me. But, as we said before, if he is so confident that dowsing works then he can always apply for the James Randi Educational Foundation Million Dollar Challenge. Available at www.randi.org

P.S. I have just noticed the following picture on the home page of the BSD (British Society of Dowsers, Who was the cheeky bastard who called them fruitcakes?

P.P.S. I have just sent the following email to the Council of the British Society of Dowsers:

Dear Council members,

I recently wrote to your President, Mr Gardner, questioning his appearance as a witness for the defence at the trial of a Mr Gary Bolton. I have yet to receive a reply.

Mr Bolton is being tried on charges of fraud related to his selling of the MOLE and GT200 detectors.

I understand that Mr Gardner gave evidence to the effect that the use of dowsing is a credible method for the detection of explosives.

Given the deaths, injuries, destruction and false arrests that have resulted from the use of products like the GT200, since they cannot and do not operate as claimed, I am writing to you to suggest that in supporting Bolton, without being able to present any substantive evidence, Mr Gardner has acted in an unethical manner.

Further, your articles/memoranda of association state that:

DISQUALIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
54. The office of a member of the Council shall be vacated -
(A) If he becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition
with his creditors generally.
(B) If he becomes of unsound mind.
(C) If he ceases to be a Member.
(D) If by notice in writing to the Society he resigns his office.

I sincerely submit that for Mr Gardner to support dowsing for explosives means that he must be of unsound mind, and that the BSD should consider his Presidency and membership of the Council and the BSD as a matter of utmost urgency.

Wednesday, 17 July 2013

BOLTON TRIAL UPDATE

THE ABOVE PICTURE HAS NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH THE FOLLOWING BLOG POST. WE JUST THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE IT. HONEST!


Reports suggest that the trial of Gary Bolton on charges of fraud related to the MOLE and GT200 'detector' devices may be progressing faster than we had expected.

The case for the defence has commenced, and we are told that the cross examination of Bolton is nearly complete (the Court is not sitting today, 17 July).

Next up in the witness stand after Bolton will be a Mr Geoffrey Crockford, who is apparently a believer in dowsing, and who peddles a theory that it works on paramagnetic and dia-magnetic principles. No doubt his testimony will include high quality evidence, or perhaps not?

Also appearing will be a certain Mr Grahame Gardner, President of the British Society of Dowsers. Again, we anticipate only the most rigorous proof from such a distinguishable figure (or should that read 'distinguished' - sorry, I do get confused at times). On the other hand, perhaps we are being a little optimistic? You decide!

Following the trial we expect that Messers Crockford and Gardner will be making a joint application for the James Randi Educational Foundation Million Dollar Prize. We simply cannot hold back our excitement.

Of course, if they do not provide any credible evidence, and do not apply for the Million Dollar Challenge, then we shall be re-naming them Geoffrey Crockfullofshit, and Grahame Fairiesatthebottomofthegardener.

DEAR OUTRAGED

Thank you for your comment on my post 'THE JURY IS OUT'.

I deeply regret that I cannot publish your comment, despite being in full agreement with what you have written. There are many people who feel the same way. Unfortunately it might be seen as potentially prejudicial.

We can but hope that the jury comes to the right decision, and that justice is done. As you say, it would be a disgrace if it is not.

As soon as the trial is over, and whichever way it goes, I will publish your comment and will have a lot more to add.

THE JURY IS OUT

Latest BBC report on the trial of Gary Bolton.

Starts at 13.38 in....


http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b037b0h1/South_East_Today_24_07_2013/

For those of you not able to access this there is not much we don't already know. One interesting aspect was that Bolton admitted there was no scientific basis for how the GT200 'worked'. Apparently he claimed that you have to see it in operation.

The report emphasises that the decision the jury have to make is whether Bolton knew the device did not operate as he claimed. All the evidence confirms that, like the other variants e.g. the ADE651 and Alpha 6, the GT200 can not and does not detect anything, let alone explosives.