Britain's 'kindest plumber' apologises for using dead woman's photo to raise cash

A man dubbed "Britain's kindest plumber" has been accused of faking heartwarming acts of kindness as he pushes for donations.

- BARNEY DAVIS

Burnley-based tradesman James Anderson, 56, set up Depher – which stands for Disabled and Elderly, Plumbing and Heating Emergency Response – in 2017 but has now been accused by the BBC of recycling photos of the same dead woman in social media posts.

He also allegedly repeatedly posted video and images of a vulnerable man in his nineties publicising information about his sexuality, despite the unnamed customer pleading “God no” when asked if he would agree to be filmed for social media, according to the BBC.

One post from 12 June 2022, said: “A lady, 84 years old rang @DepherUK & spoke to myself, she was upset and desperate. She lived 53 miles away in #Preston I drive as fast as I could, when [I] got there she had a noose ready to commit suicide. All she wanted was hot water! #costoflivingcrisis.”