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.

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.

Trees Alpha 6 Re-Trial

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10967191/Couple-claimed-fake-bomb-detector-could-even-find-Madeleine-McCann.html

I will update as further reports are received.

This is a retrial as the Jury was unable to decide last time around. We had thought that this was due back in May, but seems to have been delayed for some unknown reason. Probably best not to make any detailed comment at this stage as would not want to stymie the proceedings with anything potentially prejudicial. Will just say for now that hope for the right outcome!

UPDATE 1900 15 July

I regret to have to inform you that the trial has apparently been postponed due to the Judge falling ill. We can only hope that the delay is not too long, as we are keen to see justice is done. If we receive any further news we will of course try to let you know as soon as possible.

UPDATE 0800 28 July

Just a quickie to let you know that the trial picked up last week from where it left off following the Judge falling ill. We will keep an eye out for any media reports, and for the result. 

Business Week

Courtesy of a good spot by our old friend Lumpy Low, thought you might like to see an excellent report from Business Week:

http://sniffexquestions.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/how-was-james-mccormick-convicted-of.html

ANONYMOUS PROBLEM

I have a request to make to all my wonderful followers and readers. I hope it is not too much to ask.

As those of you who have been keeping up with the comments to my blog pieces recently will know, there has been a flood of people using the posting name 'Anonymous'.

Now, the first thing I have to say is that if you want to keep your identity a secret, I have no objection to that. In fact, if you try to defend dowsing or the fake detectors then I can understand why. After all, if you are that daft, then you really would not want anyone to know who you are. People might laugh at you, and that would not be nice.

On the other hand, so many different people calling themselves Anonymous can get a bit confusing at times, especially when trying to reply. In consultation with Techowiz we have come up with a solution to this problem.

Don't worry! You can still keep your real identity a secret. All you need to do is create a user name so that we can reply specifically to your comments.

If you are struggling to think up a user name, we have some suggestions. For those who are supporters of dowsing or the fake detectors, here is a list of possible names you could choose from:

PLONKER
DIPSTICK
MORON
BRAINDEAD
DOH!
NUMPTY
BLOCKHEAD
NUTTER
AIRHEAD
FRUITCAKE
MEATHEAD
IMBECILE
APOSTOL

And, for those of you who don't like the people who sell or support the frauds:

LOVELY PERSON
GENIUS
TERMINATOR
JUDGE DREDD
EINSTEIN
BONA FIDE
Mr or Mrs SCRUPLES
EVI DENCE
F.ACTUAL

P.S. In case you have not had a chance to read the sort of comments I have been receiving lately, there are some very good examples on the post 'A TRUE GENIUS?' below. Enjoy!

THE AMAZING RANDI

Anyone who has followed the Fake Explosives Detectors Campaign (FEDC) will know that I was inspired by James Randi of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF)

Back in 2008 Randi issued his Million Dollar Challenge (MDC) to the ADE651. It was the fact that the ADE651 was being sold by a British company that got my goat (Damn, I loved that goat! Not carnally I hasten to add! Just joking. Got my goat means it made me mightily angry),

Anyway, it was the Randi MDC that motivated me to start to investigate further, and subsequently to encounter my great friend and great man Techowiz. Anyone who wants to know more can go back to the beginning of this blog and follow the story, or see the book of the blog at the link below (the book is easier to follow because it starts at the very beginning).

Here we link to a recent interview with The Amazing Randi at the Magic Castle. The interviewer is the marvellous mentalist, Max Maven.

It's well worth listening to the whole interview because Randi is truly a great skeptic. Despite his advancing age and recent illness, he is a deep well of great stories and wisdom.

However, for those of you with not much time, fast forward to 40 minutes in when Randi discusses the MDC with Max, and explains a little of how it works. He also mentions the Quadro Tracker and the ADE651 (actually he calls it the ADE561 but I think we'll forgive him for getting two digits the wrong way around!).

Well, we are now over three years into the campaign, and of course, none of the main criminals involved in the trade in fancy dress dowsing rods have been charged with any crime. Since Randi has been publicising this scam since 1995, isn't it AMAZING that little or nothing has been done to end this disgusting fraud? If you agree, please spread the word.

N.B. Randi can be very generous to deluded people who believe in all sorts of BS, despite the fact that he endeavours to expose frauds, scams, psychics (e.g. Sylvia Browne and John Edward) etc etc. We just want to make it clear that none of the Fake Explosives Detectors have ever been put forward for the MDC despite numerous challenges from Randi down the years, and despite some of our 'favourite'  fraudsters saying they would or might take the challenge, or indeed get proper testing carried out. WHY NOT? Because of course they know they are selling a fraud!


THE AMAZING RANDI INTERVIEW

THE BOOK OF THIS BLOG

James Randi Educational Foundation    

INSIDE KNOWLEDGE

OK folks. For your delectation, delight and dissection we present the fruits of our labours. Boy, have we been detecting!

BACKHANDERS AND BACKSLIDERS AND THEIR CATACLYSM

YES, SNIVELLING SWIVELLER SELLERS AND BUYERS, YOU!

CHUCK E'S IN LOVE

Chuck: Chuck Christensen

E's: Hallucinations

In Love With: H3Tec

Here is the great sum of human knowledge as espoused by Chuck Christensen at H3Tec:

MESSAGE TO CHUCKY AT H3TEC

What delightful dodgy dowsing device do we have for you today boys and girls?

The H3TEC from Chuck Christensen and his little mob of con artists in Utah. Are you a moron Chuck? Sorry, meant Mormon, but la meme chose as my French friends might say.

I'M SO EXCITED, I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT

Newsnight...Hip Hip Hooray.

If you haven't seen it yet (Jim, David, Gary et al, do follow the link I so kindly provide here...

SLAP ME BABY ONE MORE TIME!

Just Like Being Slapped With A Wet Fish.

What is he talking about they all chorus. Well, here at the underground bunker, where we hide away secretly campaigning against Fake Explosive Detectors, we just love our legal threats. The more the merrier we say. And we have reason to celebrate. The recent arrival of a 0.1 gram weight threat from David Vollmar at Unival in Germany.

ROT IN PRISON

This is how I would like to see Jim McCormick, Gary Bolton, David Vollmar, and the others involved in this sorry saga!

That includes the corrupt buyers!

However, if that is not to be then perhaps the best we can hope for is what a professional has called for: