Crown Court - Patch's Patch (1973) - video Dailymotion

Jezza

Crown Court: the gripping courtroom drama from the 1970s and 1980s.  Fulchester builder Benjamin Patch is accused of fraud. He became a national celebrity when he devised a revolutionary scheme which enabled young couples to purchase cheap new houses for just one thousand pounds' deposit. After the scheme collapsed, hundreds of investors have lost their money and are still without a house. Norman Rossington stars of as the defendant.

Transcript

00:00:00Benjamin Patch, small-time Fulchester builder, became a celebrity overnight

00:00:19with his revolutionary new concept in cheap housing.

00:00:22Patch is Patch, they called it.

00:00:24On paper, it looked marvellous.

00:00:26To all those hundreds of young married couples who didn't earn enough to afford mortgages,

00:00:30Patch's housing association seemed the answer to a dream.

00:00:34£1,000 in cash they paid, and were promised a house.

00:00:38But like all dreams, it faded.

00:00:40Within three years, Patch's Patch had become a sick joke.

00:00:44Hundreds of young couples lost their money.

00:00:46Patch himself went bankrupt.

00:00:48But by now, the fraud squad had started to investigate.

00:00:51And today, Benjamin Patch stands trial in Fulchester Crown Court, charged with fraud.

00:01:08Kate, before you call your evidence, I want to have a word with the defendant.

00:01:14Mr Patch, you have elected to conduct your own defence.

00:01:17Yes, Your Honour.

00:01:19My Lord.

00:01:20What do I call you, sir?

00:01:21My Lord.

00:01:22Thank you, my Lord.

00:01:22As I say, Mr Patch, you have elected to conduct your own defence, which, of course, is your

00:01:27right.

00:01:27But I wonder if you are aware of the task that you've taken upon yourself.

00:01:32Well, to be perfectly honest, in the greatest respect, my Lord, I don't see it as all that

00:01:35much of a task.

00:01:36I admire your confidence.

00:01:37Oh, it's not confidence in myself, my Lord, but I have faith in British justice.

00:01:41I've pleaded not guilty, and I am innocent.

00:01:43I've got nothing on me conscience, unlike some of the people who will be appearing at

00:01:47this trial.

00:01:48And I hope the jury will see me for what I am, an ordinary, decent, honest man like themselves.

00:01:52My Lord, I'm prepared to extend every reasonable courtesy to the prisoner, but really.

00:01:56Yes, Miss Tate.

00:01:58Mr Patch, you must not make speeches to the jury, at least not at this stage of the trial.

00:02:03Sorry, my Lord.

00:02:03Sorry, Miss Tate.

00:02:04The time for speeches will come later.

00:02:07I will tell you when.

00:02:08Er, yes, my Lord.

00:02:09It's just that I'm new to all this, and no doubt she'll get the hang of things pretty

00:02:12soon.

00:02:13Are you sure that you're not being a trifle optimistic, Mr Patch?

00:02:17It takes a barrister a good many years to, er, get the hang of things.

00:02:21Er, yes I know, my Lord, but it's no use crying over spilt milk.

00:02:24As you know, I've just been declared a bankrupt, and I can't afford to hire a clever London barrister

00:02:29like Miss Tate.

00:02:30You could apply for legal aid.

00:02:31Yes, I wouldn't feel right about it, my Lord.

00:02:33Why not, Mr Patch?

00:02:34Well, I've never accepted charity in all my life, if I haven't been able to afford something

00:02:38I've done without.

00:02:39It's been the way I've been brought up.

00:02:40Well, I hope you will not regret your decision.

00:02:42I hope not, my Lord.

00:02:43Er, your Lordship.

00:02:45Yes, Mr Patch?

00:02:46I'm not asking special favours or anything like that.

00:02:49And you will get none, Mr Patch?

00:02:51Oh, I'm glad to hear it, my Lord.

00:02:52It's just that, er, if I put some of the questions the wrong way round, you know, what do you

00:02:56call them, leading questions, could you give me the nod so I could rephrase them, put them

00:03:00properly?

00:03:00I will not accept leading questions, either from Miss Tate or from yourself.

00:03:05Er, yes, my Lord.

00:03:06And may I say how delighted I am to be faced with such a charming opponent.

00:03:09Yes, yes, indeed.

00:03:10Please begin, Miss Tate, or we shall never get on.

00:03:12Oh, sorry.

00:03:13And my first witness, my Lord, is, er...

00:03:15No, my Lord.

00:03:16Oh, what is it, Mr Patch?

00:03:18You must not keep interrupting the proceedings.

00:03:20Well, I am sorry, my Lord.

00:03:21It's just that it's very difficult to conduct a case from up here.

00:03:24Would you mind if I sat where the lawyers sit?

00:03:26There's a number of books I want to refer to and some documents I'd like to show to the jury.

00:03:30Hmm, very well, Mr Patch.

00:03:32You may move.

00:03:33Thank you very much.

00:03:45My Lord, may I proceed?

00:03:48Yes, okay, I'm fine now, thanks.

00:03:50I call Robert Tarrant, my Lord.

00:03:54Robert Tarrant, please.

00:03:55Yes.

00:04:00Shall give, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

00:04:06You are Robert Tarrant of 17B, Sebastopol Drive, Fulchester.

00:04:10I am.

00:04:10What is your profession?

00:04:11I'm a teacher.

00:04:12Are you married?

00:04:13Yes, my wife's a teacher too.

00:04:15Any children?

00:04:16No.

00:04:17We'd like to start a family, but we haven't got a house of our own yet.

00:04:20When did you first come into contact with Mr Patch?

00:04:23Through his advertisements.

00:04:24Is this the advertisement?

00:04:28Yes, that's it.

00:04:29This advertisement appeared on numerous occasions in 1971 and 72 in provincial newspapers, including the Fullchester Herald.

00:04:36Now, Mr Tarrant, what attracted you about the advertisement?

00:04:41Well, it offered new houses to young married couples for £1,000 down.

00:04:46All you had to do was join this association, and your money was used to finance the building of houses on some land owned by Mr Patch.

00:04:55You will see, members of the jury, that the idea was to sell half the houses built to members of the public, and the other half were to be sold to members of the association at cost.

00:05:04So, theoretically, at any rate, the idea was self-financing.

00:05:07What do you mean, theoretically? It was self-financing.

00:05:09Mr Patch.

00:05:10Well, at least it was meant to be, my lord.

00:05:11Mr Patch, you must not interrupt.

00:05:13Oh.

00:05:14Oh, I'm sorry, my lord, but I thought lawyers were always interrupting each other.

00:05:17If you wish to contest anything said by opposing counsel, you must direct that protest to me.

00:05:23Oh, I see. I'm sorry, my lord. Sorry, Mr Tarrant.

00:05:24Mr Tarrant, would you please continue?

00:05:26You will also hear, members of the jury, that Mr Patch was to get £1,000 profit from the sale of each house sold on the open market.

00:05:34But otherwise, he was to get nothing from the scheme.

00:05:38Now, Mr Tarrant, I asked you, what attracted you to the advertisement?

00:05:41Well, it was the mortgage, I suppose, really.

00:05:43The mortgage?

00:05:44Yes. You see, once you paid your £1,000, you got the house at cost price.

00:05:49And what was cost price?

00:05:51£5,000.

00:05:51So, when a member of the association moved into the house, they still owed £4,000?

00:05:57That's right, but they could pay this back over a period of 25 or 30 years.

00:06:01And they paid no interest, you see. It was an interest-free loan.

00:06:04Which was a big attraction, of course.

00:06:06Well, yes. You see, like a lot of people, it's not easy for someone in my position, my wage bracket, to get a regular mortgage.

00:06:14But by joining Patches Association, all it was going to cost me was £3 a week for 25 years.

00:06:21With an ordinary £4,000 mortgage, it would cost nearly three times that.

00:06:25Yet you had enough money for the £1,000 deposit.

00:06:28That was every penny we possessed.

00:06:30All our savings, plus what we got when we sold the car, plus a bit of money my wife's aunt left us.

00:06:36Everything.

00:06:37Did you see Patches Patch?

00:06:39Yes.

00:06:39By then, he'd built about 20, no, 60 houses, and half were occupied by members of the association, people like us.

00:06:49The rest had been sold to outsiders.

00:06:51Now, did Mr Patch tell you when you could expect to get a house?

00:06:54Well, he didn't give us an exact date, but he did say it wouldn't be very long.

00:06:58All we had to do was pay our £1,000, go on the waiting list, and in due course, we'd get a house.

00:07:05But did he say how many people were in front of you on the waiting list?

00:07:0846.

00:07:0946.

00:07:10So, according to the way Mr Patch organised his scheme, he would have to build 152 houses before you got one.

00:07:17That's what he said at first.

00:07:19He changed his story later, did he?

00:07:20Oh, yes.

00:07:20When was this?

00:07:21At a protest meeting.

00:07:23And who was protesting?

00:07:24We were the members of the association.

00:07:26Well, those of us who'd paid our £1,000 and were still on the waiting list.

00:07:30How long had you been on the waiting list?

00:07:32Fifteen months.

00:07:33We held the first protest meeting at the beginning of June last year.

00:07:37Did Mr Patch attend these protest meetings?

00:07:39Oh, yes.

00:07:40He was there.

00:07:41He's incredible, really.

00:07:43He's always making speeches.

00:07:45Said he couldn't understand why we were so angry.

00:07:48There were problems, he said.

00:07:49The price of land had gone up.

00:07:52Oh, he always had a million and one excuses, he did.

00:07:55You accepted his explanation?

00:07:57Personally, no.

00:07:58Did you ask for your £1,000 back?

00:08:00No.

00:08:01Why not?

00:08:01Well, even if I got it back that day, I'd still have been in the same situation.

00:08:05I still couldn't afford to have bought a house.

00:08:07Patch was the only chance we had.

00:08:10Anyway, his new scheme sounded more hopeful.

00:08:12And what new scheme was this?

00:08:15Well, instead of building alternate houses for members of the association,

00:08:20he proposed to increase the ratio by two to one.

00:08:23Two houses for members of the association and one for public sale?

00:08:26Yes.

00:08:27But surely the idea was to finance the construction of one house

00:08:31by selling the other on the open market.

00:08:33Yes.

00:08:33Well, you see, with his new plan,

00:08:35he said he planned to build bigger luxury homes for sale.

00:08:40And from the profit on one of those,

00:08:42he'd be able to build two smaller, cheaper houses for us.

00:08:45His mugs.

00:08:47Did you see any of these luxury houses that he was building?

00:08:50Oh, yes.

00:08:50How many?

00:08:51Two.

00:08:51Were they sold?

00:08:53Patch moved into one of them himself

00:08:54shortly after he was declared bankrupt.

00:08:57Is he still there?

00:08:58No.

00:08:59He moved out two weeks before this trial began.

00:09:03Now, did you hold any other protest meetings after June?

00:09:06We've held seven since then.

00:09:07It's getting to be quite a regular event.

00:09:10And how many couples attend these meetings?

00:09:12175, 200.

00:09:14And what is your position in the association, Mr. Taylor?

00:09:16I was elected president.

00:09:18I chair the meetings.

00:09:20Does Mr. Patch attend these meetings?

00:09:22Oh, yes.

00:09:22To all except the last couple.

00:09:25He really is incredible.

00:09:26Speeches, always making speeches, promises, fresh promises.

00:09:30What promises?

00:09:31Oh, new schemes, new variations on an old theme.

00:09:34If only we had another 20, 30, 40,000, we could, um...

00:09:39Well, I don't know, really, wave a magic wand, make it all come true.

00:09:43Frankly, I'm amazed that the swindling bastard hasn't been lynched.

00:09:48Silence, silence in court.

00:09:49Mr. Tarrant, I will not put up with that sort of language in this court.

00:09:54I'm sorry, Your Lordship.

00:09:56And if there is another disturbance, I shall clear the galleries.

00:10:01Now, mistake, please.

00:10:02I have finished, my lord.

00:10:05All right, Mr. Patch.

00:10:06My lord.

00:10:07You may now question the witness, Mr. Patch, if you wish to.

00:10:10Thank you, my lord.

00:10:11Uh, Mr. Tarrant, where are you living at the moment?

00:10:1817...

00:10:18No, no, no, no.

00:10:19I meant, um, are you living in furnished rooms?

00:10:21Yes.

00:10:22So you're not exactly homeless?

00:10:23No.

00:10:24No thanks to you, though.

00:10:25No.

00:10:25Mr. Tarrant.

00:10:26It's all right, my lord, I don't mind.

00:10:27I do, Mr. Patch.

00:10:29Oh.

00:10:29Mr. Tarrant, I warned you.

00:10:31Yes, I'm sorry, my lord.

00:10:33Uh, Mr. Tarrant, you said in your evidence that you had no chance of getting a house.

00:10:37That's right.

00:10:38So by joining my scheme, you've lost nothing?

00:10:40I've lost a thousand pounds.

00:10:42Yeah, but you haven't lost the chance of getting a house, have you?

00:10:45No.

00:10:46Hmm.

00:10:47Now, the association elected you the president of the action committee, the action group.

00:10:52Yes.

00:10:53At how many meetings have you tried to get them to take action against me?

00:10:56Just about every one.

00:10:57Have you ever succeeded in persuading them to take action against me?

00:11:00Depends what you mean by action.

00:11:03Well, something more than just a mild censure motion.

00:11:05I mean, had the association started taking proceedings against me before the police stepped in?

00:11:11No.

00:11:12Hmm.

00:11:13So, there were some of the action committee who weren't convinced that I was entirely a swindler.

00:11:20I wouldn't say that.

00:11:21There was just a difference of opinion regarding the best method of dealing with you.

00:11:26But some of them, the majority of them obviously, didn't want to go to law.

00:11:29We couldn't afford to.

00:11:31You pinched our money, remember?

00:11:32Well, as his lordship pointed out to me, there's always legal aid.

00:11:36Or was it because in their heart of hearts, the majority of them were not convinced that I was a swindler?

00:11:42Oh, they were convinced, all right.

00:11:44Our sole argument was about the best method of getting our money back.

00:11:48Ah.

00:11:49Now, about this money I'm supposed to have swindled you out of.

00:11:52Do you remember when you came to my office to pay the thousand pounds, who did you see?

00:11:55I saw you and Mr. Jordan.

00:11:57My accountant?

00:11:58Yes.

00:11:59And who did you pay your money to?

00:12:01Mr. Jordan.

00:12:02And who did all the other members of the association pay their money to?

00:12:06Well, I can't speak for them, can I?

00:12:08Well, it was Mr. Jordan.

00:12:10Now, do you see him in this court?

00:12:13No.

00:12:14Hmm.

00:12:15The police don't know where he is either.

00:12:17Now, what's this to do with me?

00:12:18Quite a lot, I should have thought.

00:12:20He's got your thousand pounds, not me.

00:12:23He's the one that should be on trial here today, not me.

00:12:26Mr. Patch, you must take care that you can substantiate allegations against persons who are not here to defend themselves.

00:12:53Well, my lord, it's not my fault that Raymond Jordan's not in court.

00:12:56Blame the police.

00:12:57Mr. Patch, Superintendent James will be called as a witness.

00:13:01You will have every opportunity of questioning him as to Mr. Jordan's whereabouts.

00:13:05Yes, my lord.

00:13:05Well, if Superintendent James had taken his finger out...

00:13:08The witness in the box is Mr. Tarrant.

00:13:11Are you suggesting that he knows what happened to Mr. Jordan?

00:13:14No.

00:13:15Then how can he answer the question?

00:13:18Yes, my lord.

00:13:20I'm sorry I lost my rag.

00:13:21Now, have you finished questioning this witness?

00:13:24Yes.

00:13:24Um, no, not quite.

00:13:25Then please continue with your crass examination and remember that the court's time is not limitless.

00:13:31I will be brief, my lord.

00:13:33Mr. Tarrant, do you remember when you first came to see me with your wife?

00:13:36Yes.

00:13:37Not something I'll forget in a hurry, either.

00:13:39Do you remember what you said to me that day?

00:13:42No.

00:13:43No.

00:13:44Did you not say to me how grateful you were for my scheme?

00:13:48I don't remember.

00:13:49And did you not say that without it, you and thousands like you would have no chance of getting a house?

00:13:55I may have done.

00:13:56And did I not warn you that this scheme had never been tried before, that I was no lawyer, no accountant,

00:14:03just a simple builder trying to help house the married couples, young married couples of this country?

00:14:08I remember you set yourself up as the great public benefactor.

00:14:12Did I warn you or did I not?

00:14:14You may have done.

00:14:15That's not good enough, Mr. Tarrant.

00:14:17Did I warn you, yes or no?

00:14:20Yes.

00:14:21Now, did I not tell you there was a waiting list and you'd have to wait your turn?

00:14:27Yes.

00:14:28You wouldn't accept that, would you?

00:14:30I don't know what you mean.

00:14:31Did you not try to persuade me to move your name up the list?

00:14:35No.

00:14:36I beg your pardon, Mr. Tarrant, you're quite right.

00:14:39It wasn't you who tried to persuade me.

00:14:42It was your wife, wasn't it, when she came to see me?

00:14:45My wife?

00:14:46What do you mean?

00:14:47My wife never came to see you.

00:14:48You mean you didn't know?

00:14:49My lord, I must protest.

00:14:51Yes, Miss Date.

00:14:51Mr. Patch, what is the purpose of this line of questioning?

00:14:55Well, my lord, I'm just trying to establish that this witness's evidence is not based merely

00:14:59on his natural disappointment not getting a house, but there are personal reasons which

00:15:05my colour is evident.

00:15:06There's nothing between Patch and my wife.

00:15:08There never has been.

00:15:09My lord, I've no wish to cause dissension between husband and wife.

00:15:12I've no wish to reopen old wounds.

00:15:14There aren't any old wounds because there's never been anything between you.

00:15:17If Mr. Tarrant believes that, I'll withdraw the question.

00:15:19My lord, I must object to what is obviously a cheap trick to get the sympathy of the jury.

00:15:24First, Mr. Patch insinuates that there is a liaison with the witness's wife, and when

00:15:29it is vigorously denied, he acts like a character from a Victorian melodrama.

00:15:33Miss Tate may wish a divorce on her conscience, my lord.

00:15:35I don't.

00:15:36No further questions.

00:15:38Carry on, Miss Tate.

00:15:40Mr. Tarrant, did you pay Mr. Patch £1,000 for which he promised to build you a house?

00:15:45Yes.

00:15:46Did he build you a house?

00:15:47No.

00:15:48Did you get back your £1,000?

00:15:50No.

00:15:51No further questions, my lord.

00:15:53You may step down, Mr. Tarrant.

00:15:59I call Superintendent James of Fulchester Fraud Squad, my lord.

00:16:04Superintendent James, please.

00:16:08What is it?

00:16:09God, the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the

00:16:12truth.

00:16:13Ronald Ernest James, Superintendent, Fulchester Fraud Squad, my lord.

00:16:17You will not object to a personal question, Superintendent?

00:16:20No, ma'am.

00:16:21Do you have any reason to suspect your wife of having had an affair with Mr. Patch?

00:16:25No, ma'am.

00:16:26In any case, it would be no concern of mine if he had.

00:16:29Why is that, Superintendent?

00:16:30I'm divorced.

00:16:31Thank heaven for that.

00:16:35Now, when did the affairs of the accused, Benjamin Patch, come to your notice?

00:16:391971, ma'am.

00:16:40When you began your investigations into Patch's Patch.

00:16:43Now, what evidence were you able to consult?

00:16:46There was, of course, the evidence of the members of the association.

00:16:49I also consulted the records of the various companies, either owned by Mr. Patch, or in

00:16:53which he held a financial interest.

00:16:55I also obtained access to the company accounts, ledgers, checks, bank statements, and other

00:17:00documents of his various companies.

00:17:02In addition, I have interviewed the defendant on several occasions.

00:17:05Do you produce four bungles containing these documents?

00:17:07I do, my lord.

00:17:08My lord, these four bungles are documents two to five.

00:17:14Superintendent, can you summarize for us what you discovered from these documents, and

00:17:18from your interviews with Mr. Patch?

00:17:20First of all, when did you discover that Mr. Patch's housing association was first formed?

00:17:25May I consult my notes, my lord?

00:17:27Yes, I see no objection.

00:17:29Mr. Patch?

00:17:30If the superintendent feels that his memory is failing me, lord, I've no objection.

00:17:35Mr. Patch's housing association was registered as a limited company in November 1970.

00:17:40And who were the directors of the company?

00:17:41Benjamin Patch, the defendant, Raymond Jordan, Mr. Patch's accountant, and Margaret Patch, Mr.

00:17:46Patch's wife.

00:17:47Did Mrs. Patch play any part in the running of the company?

00:17:49None, as far as I could see.

00:17:51She's an invalid and lives on the south coast near Hastings.

00:17:53How many people joined the accused association?

00:17:55Well, as I've said, Mr. Patch's association was formed in November 1970.

00:18:00By January 1971, there were 72 members.

00:18:02And by January 1972, the membership had risen to 243, all of whom had paid £1,000 each.

00:18:10So Patch Housing Association Limited should have received £243,000 from its members?

00:18:15Yes, ma'am.

00:18:16Now, how much land was available to the association, and by whom?

00:18:21Initially, 15 acres.

00:18:22This was provided by Benjamin Patch Builders Limited at a price of £3,000 an acre.

00:18:27Did the association acquire any other land?

00:18:29Yes, another nine acres in April 1971, again purchased at £3,000 an acre, this time from

00:18:35a company called Nimbus Estates Limited.

00:18:37And when was Nimbus Estates registered?

00:18:38February 1971.

00:18:39And who were the directors?

00:18:41Raymond Jordan, Mr. Patch's accountant, and Frederick Oliver.

00:18:45Who is Frederick Oliver?

00:18:46A night watchman employed by Benjamin Patch Builders Limited.

00:18:49A night watchman?

00:18:50Yes, ma'am.

00:18:51Mr. Oliver was 71 years old.

00:18:53Unfortunately, he died last year.

00:18:55But who is the principal shareholder in Nimbus Estates?

00:18:58Benjamin Patch, he holds 60% of the shares.

00:19:01Superintendent, I'm curious about the name, Nimbus Enterprises Estates.

00:19:05Nimbus was the name of a greyhound owned at that time by Mr. Patch.

00:19:09And when did Nimbus Estates acquire its nine acres?

00:19:12In 1970, at £1,500 an acre.

00:19:15Again, a profit at the expense of the Housing Association of 100%.

00:19:18Yes, ma'am.

00:19:20Thus, the association acquired in all 24 acres of land at a cost of £72,000.

00:19:26Yes, ma'am.

00:19:27Now, how many houses were built on those 24 acres?

00:19:30144, Shelley bungalows, six to an acre.

00:19:32And half the houses had to be sold on the open market?

00:19:35That is correct, ma'am.

00:19:36Only 72 of those houses were for members of the association.

00:19:39So, 243 couples each gave £1,000, but he only managed to build 72 houses.

00:19:45That is so, ma'am.

00:19:47How much should the association have received from the sale of the 72 houses which were to be put on the open market?

00:19:54£720,000. That's £10,000 each.

00:19:57And how much should the association have paid to the accused for building costs?

00:20:01Well, £6,000 for the houses to be sold on the open market and £5,000, that is cost, for the houses for the members of the association.

00:20:09So, if we can do a simple sum, correct me if I'm wrong.

00:20:12The association should have received £243,000 in subscriptions and £720,000 for selling houses to the public.

00:20:20That makes a total of £963,000.

00:20:24Yes, ma'am.

00:20:24And it should have paid out £72,000...

00:20:28A moment, Miss Tate, if you would.

00:20:30Now, that is £243,000 in subscriptions and £720,000 from selling the houses.

00:20:39Yes, my lord, that's a total of £963,000.

00:20:41Quite.

00:20:42And then it should have paid out £72,000 for land and £792,000 in building costs.

00:20:51In all, a total of £864,000.

00:20:54I see, Miss Tate.

00:20:55So, the association should have assets of £99,000, has it?

00:21:01No, ma'am, it has debts of £60,000.

00:21:04And how much of the £963,000 which it should have received, did it receive?

00:21:09I can't be precise, ma'am.

00:21:11Why not, Superintendent?

00:21:13Unfortunately, some of these accounts of these various companies are either missing or destroyed.

00:21:18The rest are confused, to put it no more strongly than there.

00:21:21Well, how is it that some of the accounts are missing?

00:21:23There was, it seems, a small fire in the offices of Benjamin Patch Builders Limited and the Housing Association.

00:21:29But the building was not destroyed.

00:21:30No, my information, ma'am, is that only the offices were burned.

00:21:34So, there is really £159,000 unaccounted for, of which you have no idea what happened to it.

00:21:40That is correct, ma'am.

00:21:42Did Mr Patch's standard of living improve at all after he started the association?

00:21:47Well, in 1971, Mr Patch purchased a Rolls-Royce car, a racehorse called Nifty Lass and Three Greyhounds.

00:21:54Now, racing is an expensive item.

00:21:56You can say that again.

00:21:57The Greyhounds won frequently and may have made Mr Patch money.

00:22:00The racehorse did not.

00:22:02The blasted thing never finished higher than six in the seventh horse race.

00:22:05Not a good one.

00:22:07Did Mr Patch indulge in any other little luxuries?

00:22:10Well, we've been able to trace certain stock market operations of his.

00:22:13We assess a profit on these deals of about £15,000.

00:22:16And what happened to these shares?

00:22:18They were sold before he was declared bankrupt.

00:22:20Mr Patch insists that he use the money to pay off some of the association's debts.

00:22:24And did he?

00:22:25I don't know, ma'am.

00:22:26We have not been able to trace what happened to that money.

00:22:29Now, Mr Jordan, Mr Patch's accountant, seems to figure largely in this business.

00:22:33Were you able to interview him?

00:22:34Yes, I saw him on three occasions in my office when I and my staff were going through the accounts of various companies.

00:22:39Was Mr Jordan cooperative?

00:22:41Evasive is the word I'd use to describe Mr Jordan, ma'am.

00:22:45Now, I will anticipate Mr Patch's next refrain.

00:22:49Why isn't Mr Jordan in court?

00:22:51Because he's disappeared, ma'am.

00:22:53Have you any idea what's happened to him?

00:22:54My information is that he is at present residing in South Africa.

00:23:00Now, you've told us that you also interviewed Mr Patch.

00:23:02Yes, several times.

00:23:03And what was his reaction when you questioned him about the missing £159,000?

00:23:07Mr Patch said, and I quote,

00:23:09I don't believe it.

00:23:11Why should Jordan do this to me?

00:23:13He was implying that Jordan had the missing money.

00:23:16Yes, ma'am.

00:23:17Still, at least, Mr Patch did build some good houses for young couples.

00:23:20Well, I took the advice of a surveyor and showed the report at a subsequent interview with Mr Patch.

00:23:26Do you produce that report?

00:23:27I do, my lord.

00:23:28Exhibit 6, my lord.

00:23:31What is the substance of this report?

00:23:33Many of the houses were substandard, particularly those built for members of the association.

00:23:37Substandard? In what way?

00:23:39Materials and construction.

00:23:40But surely every house was supposed to sell for £5,000?

00:23:44Yes, ma'am, but according to the surveyor, many were not built to that standard.

00:23:48What was Mr Patch's reaction when you told him about the report?

00:23:51He said, you've got some evidence at last, then.

00:23:54So it would appear that Mr Patch made an extra profit on the building of houses for the association.

00:23:59Well, somebody must have done, ma'am.

00:24:00However, we have been able to trace any sign of that profit,

00:24:03either in the accounts of Benjamin Patch Ltd or of the housing association.

00:24:07Thank you, Superintendent.

00:24:08Is the surveyor giving evidence?

00:24:11No, my lord. I'm afraid he died a few months ago.

00:24:13I see.

00:24:15Oh, well, you may now cross-examine the witness, Mr Patch.

00:24:20Mr Patch.

00:24:21Mr Patch.

00:24:48Mr Patch.

00:24:50The case of the Queen against Patch will be resumed tomorrow in the Crown Court.

00:25:09This is the second day of the trial of Benjamin Patch at Fullchester Crown Court.

00:25:14Patch, a Fullchester builder who became a national celebrity

00:25:17with his revolutionary new concept in cheap housing,

00:25:20is charged with fraud.

00:25:22Hundreds of young married couples lost their savings when Patch's housing scheme collapsed.

00:25:27Patch was declared bankrupt,

00:25:29but already the fraud squad had begun their investigation.

00:25:32Benjamin Patch has chosen to dispense with the services of counsel.

00:25:36He is defending himself.

00:25:43All stand.

00:25:50Well, Mr. Patch, are you recovered?

00:26:03Yes, thank you, my lord.

00:26:05I must apologise for my conduct yesterday,

00:26:07but this certificate from my doctor will explain it.

00:26:10Must have looked as if I was putting on an act, but believe me, I wasn't.

00:26:13I do have a heart condition.

00:26:14Do you feel up to continuing with your cross-examination?

00:26:17I'd like to try, my lord.

00:26:18I feel I've wasted enough of the court's time already.

00:26:20Well, I'm delighted to hear it, Mr. Patch.

00:26:23You may continue your cross-examination seated, if you wish.

00:26:27Oh, thank you.

00:26:29May I remove my jacket, too?

00:26:31If you must, Mr. Patch.

00:26:34Miss Tate?

00:26:34I wish to recall Superintendent James, my lord.

00:26:40You understand, Superintendent, you are still on oath.

00:26:43I understand, my lord.

00:26:46Very well, Mr. Patch.

00:26:48We are ready.

00:26:50Er, Superintendent, what qualifications do you need in your job?

00:26:56A knowledge of accountancy,

00:26:58a wide experience of general commercial practice,

00:27:01some knowledge of financial techniques,

00:27:03and, of course, a good grounding in commercial law.

00:27:05You've got to be clever in your job.

00:27:07Knowledgeable.

00:27:08Oh, don't be so modest, Superintendent.

00:27:10You must have had to do a lot of studying.

00:27:11Yes.

00:27:12Like my accountant, Raymond Jordan.

00:27:13You certainly don't become an accountant without studying hard.

00:27:16Ah, I need a good head for figures.

00:27:18Yes.

00:27:19Would you believe me if I told you I left school at 14?

00:27:22The furthest I got was long-division sums.

00:27:24If you say so, sir.

00:27:27Superintendent,

00:27:27you've given evidence in this court implying that I,

00:27:31because I'm the one that's on trial

00:27:33and now you've let Raymond Jordan disappear,

00:27:36implying that I was capable of organising an ingenious fraud.

00:27:44I don't even understand how it's supposed to work.

00:27:47Was I an accountant?

00:27:49No, sir.

00:27:49You said in your job you've got to be an accountant.

00:27:52So you've got to be an accountant to understand this fraud.

00:27:54I didn't say that, sir.

00:27:56Well, I don't understand it,

00:27:57and I wonder if the jury did.

00:28:01I left school at 14.

00:28:03I'm a small-time builder,

00:28:05a self-made man,

00:28:06and you're asking the jury to believe

00:28:08that I'm a financial wizard

00:28:10capable of figuring out an ingenious fraud.

00:28:13I'm not asking the jury to believe anything, sir.

00:28:15It's my job to deal in facts.

00:28:16Oh, facts?

00:28:17Well, let's have a look at these,

00:28:18few of these facts you're so used to dealing in.

00:28:21Like why you let Raymond Jordan disappear, for instance.

00:28:23I didn't let him disappear, sir.

00:28:25He just did so.

00:28:26It's one of the dangers of investigating any fraud case.

00:28:28Oh, aye.

00:28:29So is that why you're trying to pin everything

00:28:31on the one poor devil who didn't run away?

00:28:33My lord.

00:28:33Mr Patch,

00:28:35Superintendent James is not trying to pin anything on you.

00:28:37His job is to amass the evidence.

00:28:40It is for the jury to decide

00:28:41in which direction that evidence points.

00:28:45Well, can you explain then, my lord,

00:28:46why Superintendent James is appearing

00:28:48as a witness for the prosecution?

00:28:50Because that is the way

00:28:51in which the formal procedures of English law operate.

00:28:55Well, that may very well be, my lord,

00:28:56but they seem to operate against poor mugs like me.

00:28:59In what way, Mr Patch?

00:29:00Well, here we have a senior police officer, my lord.

00:29:02A superintendent, no doubt.

00:29:04Now, let's be honest about it.

00:29:05He's made a right mess of things.

00:29:07He's let the principal villain of the police,

00:29:10Raymond Jordan, slip through his fingers.

00:29:12He's not going to admit that, is he, my lord?

00:29:13Not for a moment.

00:29:14Well, it's not human nature, is he?

00:29:16He might lose his pension, his job, everything.

00:29:19So he's going to load everything

00:29:20on the one poor mugs who stayed behind,

00:29:22hoping for a fair trial.

00:29:23My lord, this is the most outrageous attack

00:29:25upon the honour of a distinguished police officer.

00:29:27Oh, to hell with his honour. I'm on trial.

00:29:28Mr Patch, Miss Tate, I will have no more of this.

00:29:32I apologise, my lord.

00:29:33I trust the accused will withdraw the statement.

00:29:35I'm withdrawing nothing.

00:29:36It's all right for you, my dear.

00:29:38Your good name, your freedom's not at stake.

00:29:39Now, Mr Patch, I have been very lenient with you.

00:29:42But I will have no more shouting or bad manners.

00:29:46Have I made myself clear?

00:29:47Yes, my lord.

00:29:48You elected to defend yourself against my advice,

00:29:51I may remind you.

00:29:53And you may be unfamiliar with the procedures of the court,

00:29:56but those procedures cannot be altered just to suit you.

00:30:00Now, do you understand that?

00:30:01Yes, my lord.

00:30:02And as for Superintendent James,

00:30:04I would remind you that he is on oath,

00:30:07and the law takes a very serious view of anyone,

00:30:09be they police officer or not,

00:30:11who lie on oath.

00:30:13And are you...

00:30:15Are you all right, Mr Patch?

00:30:17Yes, my lord, thank you.

00:30:18I'm all right.

00:30:20Would you wish me to adjourn for a little while?

00:30:21No, no.

00:30:22No, no, my lord.

00:30:23I'll be all right.

00:30:24Don't worry about me, please.

00:30:25Very well, Mr Patch.

00:30:28Thank you, my lord.

00:30:32Superintendent,

00:30:32you told the jury yesterday

00:30:34about my involvement in two companies,

00:30:37Nimbus Estates

00:30:38and the Fullchester Property Development Company.

00:30:41That is correct, sir.

00:30:42You are the principal shareholder in both.

00:30:44Who normally runs a company?

00:30:46I don't understand what you mean, sir.

00:30:48Superintendent,

00:30:49you've just said that you had to be an expert

00:30:51in general commercial practice.

00:30:53Do shareholders usually run a company?

00:30:55No, sir.

00:30:55The directors do.

00:30:56And was I a director?

00:30:57No, sir.

00:30:58And the shareholders usually consulted

00:31:00about every company decision?

00:31:01No, sir.

00:31:02Was Raymond Jordan a director?

00:31:05Yes, sir.

00:31:06And did you question him

00:31:07about his activities in these two companies?

00:31:09I did.

00:31:10Ah.

00:31:10Could you tell us the last date

00:31:12when you interviewed him?

00:31:13Er,

00:31:14October 19th, 1972.

00:31:16Ah.

00:31:17And when did he disappear?

00:31:18Two days later.

00:31:19Two days?

00:31:20Not the following day

00:31:21or the same day?

00:31:22One cannot be absolutely certain, sir.

00:31:24My information is that Mr Jordan

00:31:26left this country 48 hours

00:31:28within his last interview with myself.

00:31:29Oh.

00:31:30Didn't you keep watch on him?

00:31:31No, sir.

00:31:32The police force is under man,

00:31:33the fraud squad in particular.

00:31:35Would you have done

00:31:35if you'd had the men?

00:31:36That is a hypothetical question, sir.

00:31:38A hy...

00:31:38My lord,

00:31:40I think it's a simple question

00:31:41to which you answer yes or no.

00:31:42My lord.

00:31:43Miss Tate,

00:31:43I agree with Mr Patch.

00:31:45The witness will answer the question.

00:31:47Thank you, my lord.

00:31:48Naturally,

00:31:49as a police officer,

00:31:50I would like to keep

00:31:51all suspects under observation.

00:31:53That's not what I asked,

00:31:54superintendent.

00:31:54I would like to have kept

00:31:56Mr Jordan under observation.

00:31:58Particularly in light of what happened?

00:31:59Yes.

00:32:01And all you were left with was me?

00:32:03I interviewed you, Mr Patch,

00:32:05before I saw Mr Jordan.

00:32:07Oh, so you crossed me off

00:32:08and went after Jordan?

00:32:09No, sir.

00:32:10I saw you first

00:32:10because it was your building company,

00:32:12your housing association.

00:32:13Yes, but Jordan was the accountant

00:32:15and the company director.

00:32:16You were the boss.

00:32:18Do you mean to say

00:32:20if there's a ticket fiddle

00:32:21on British Rail,

00:32:22you start off

00:32:23by interviewing Richard Marsh?

00:32:24I fail to see the connection

00:32:25between British Rail

00:32:26and Benjamin Patchfield.

00:32:27Superintendent,

00:32:27if you'd not let

00:32:28Raymond Jordan disappear,

00:32:29it's ten to one.

00:32:30He would be on this stand

00:32:31with me today.

00:32:32That is a decision

00:32:33for the director

00:32:34of public prosecution,

00:32:35sir, not the police.

00:32:36You are being evasive,

00:32:37superintendent.

00:32:37No, sir.

00:32:38I am being factual.

00:32:39Mr Patch,

00:32:40I don't see any purpose

00:32:41in following this line

00:32:42of questioning.

00:32:43Superintendent James

00:32:44is quite correct

00:32:45in what he says.

00:32:47My lord,

00:32:47I'm simply trying

00:32:48to establish

00:32:49that the evidence

00:32:50brought about

00:32:51by the prosecution

00:32:52against me

00:32:53applies equally well

00:32:54to Raymond Jordan

00:32:55and if he'd been arrested

00:32:56it'd be a pound to a penny

00:32:57I wouldn't be on trial

00:32:58here today.

00:32:59The jury can reflect

00:33:00upon that

00:33:01when they have heard

00:33:01all the evidence.

00:33:02This prosecution

00:33:03is obviously malicious

00:33:04and has been brought about

00:33:05only to cover up

00:33:06the professional incompetence

00:33:07of superintendent James.

00:33:08You may leave the jury

00:33:09to draw their own conclusions

00:33:11as to that too,

00:33:12Mr Patch.

00:33:14Very well,

00:33:15my lord.

00:33:16I have every confidence

00:33:17in the jury's common sense.

00:33:20Now,

00:33:22Superintendent James,

00:33:23you've said

00:33:24that many of the accounts

00:33:26of these various companies

00:33:27were lost

00:33:27or destroyed

00:33:28or in some chaos.

00:33:31Now,

00:33:32a company's accounts

00:33:32are of the business

00:33:33of the company accountant,

00:33:34are they not?

00:33:35Yes, sir.

00:33:36And who was

00:33:37the company accountant?

00:33:38Mr Jordan, sir.

00:33:40How long have you been

00:33:41with the fraud squad,

00:33:42Inspector,

00:33:42Superintendent?

00:33:4321 years, sir.

00:33:44And have you seen

00:33:45accounts in a worse mess?

00:33:46Yes, sir.

00:33:47Ah.

00:33:48Now,

00:33:48did you or any of your staff

00:33:50personally interview

00:33:51any of the members

00:33:53of the association?

00:33:54Yes, sir.

00:33:55And were they all

00:33:56without exception

00:33:57convinced that I was

00:33:58a swindler and a criminal?

00:34:00Not all of them, sir, no.

00:34:01Ah.

00:34:02Now,

00:34:02I put it to you,

00:34:04Superintendent,

00:34:05that when you showed me

00:34:06that surveyor's report,

00:34:08I said to you,

00:34:10you're scraping the barrel

00:34:11to get evidence.

00:34:12No,

00:34:12you said

00:34:13you've got some evidence

00:34:14at last then.

00:34:15And on the last occasion

00:34:16when you interviewed me,

00:34:18did you or did you

00:34:19not say to me,

00:34:21we've got you now,

00:34:22Patch,

00:34:23why don't you make

00:34:24things easy on yourself

00:34:24and confess?

00:34:26I may have done, sir.

00:34:26Ah.

00:34:27And did I or did I

00:34:29not say to you,

00:34:30this is a put-up job

00:34:31and you want

00:34:32your head examining?

00:34:33Yes,

00:34:34I believe you did

00:34:34say something like that.

00:34:36Well,

00:34:37I withdraw that remark,

00:34:38Superintendent.

00:34:39It's not your head

00:34:40you want examining,

00:34:41it's your conscience.

00:34:42No further questions,

00:34:43me lord.

00:34:43Superintendent,

00:34:45was your conduct

00:34:46in this case

00:34:47motivated by malice

00:34:48towards the accused?

00:34:49No, ma'am.

00:34:49Did you conduct it

00:34:50as any other investigation?

00:34:52Yes, ma'am.

00:34:53Now,

00:34:53Mr Patch seems to be

00:34:54asserting that

00:34:55he knows nothing

00:34:56of the money

00:34:56that was missing.

00:34:58Would you tell us

00:34:59how much money

00:35:00was missing?

00:35:00At least

00:35:01159,000 pounds.

00:35:04Thank you,

00:35:04Superintendent.

00:35:05You may stand down,

00:35:07Superintendent.

00:35:07The last witness

00:35:13for the prosecution,

00:35:14my lord,

00:35:14is Miss Rachel McIntosh.

00:35:17Rachel McIntosh,

00:35:19please.

00:35:26The evidence I shall give

00:35:27shall be the truth,

00:35:28the whole truth

00:35:29and nothing but the truth.

00:35:30You are racial

00:35:31Elizabeth McIntosh

00:35:32and you live

00:35:33at 126

00:35:34Sickleman Avenue,

00:35:35Fultestown.

00:35:35Yes.

00:35:36Until December 1971,

00:35:38you were secretary

00:35:39for Benjamin Patch.

00:35:40Yes.

00:35:41When did you first

00:35:42start working

00:35:42for Mr Patch?

00:35:43In September 1967.

00:35:45Malone.

00:35:46What is it,

00:35:47Mr Patch?

00:35:47A point of law,

00:35:48your lordship.

00:35:49Yes.

00:35:51Is there not some law

00:35:52against people

00:35:53giving evidence

00:35:53against you

00:35:54if you have had

00:35:55intercourse with them

00:35:55many times

00:35:56over several years?

00:35:57Silence.

00:35:59Silence.

00:36:09My lord,

00:36:10this is yet another

00:36:11blatant and unfair

00:36:13attempt to discredit

00:36:13the witness.

00:36:15Mr Patch,

00:36:16there is no law

00:36:17preventing people

00:36:18who have had

00:36:19intercourse with each other

00:36:20from giving evidence

00:36:21against each other

00:36:22as you must

00:36:23very well know.

00:36:24I'm sorry, my lord,

00:36:25I did phrase the question badly,

00:36:26but I am new

00:36:27to this legal business.

00:36:28Yes, it's still not

00:36:29too late to apply

00:36:30for counsel

00:36:30to be appointed

00:36:31to you, Mr Patch.

00:36:32No, my lord,

00:36:33I've made me bed

00:36:34and I must lie in it.

00:36:35Now, what I meant

00:36:36to ask by that question

00:36:37is whether a person

00:36:38was jealous

00:36:39and bitter against you,

00:36:40whether it would

00:36:41invalidate their evidence.

00:36:42That, Mr Patch,

00:36:43is for the jury

00:36:44to decide.

00:36:45Well, suppose I can

00:36:46prove to the jury

00:36:47that this witness

00:36:47is motivated by jealousy.

00:36:49What then?

00:36:50You must prove it

00:36:50to the satisfaction

00:36:51of the jury, Mr Patch.

00:36:53I see, my lord.

00:36:54Carry on, my dear.

00:36:55Thank you, Mr Patch.

00:36:58Miss McIntosh,

00:36:59were you an employee

00:37:00of Mr Patch?

00:37:02Yes, sir.

00:37:03Madam,

00:37:04I was his secretary

00:37:05for four years.

00:37:07Now, since Mr Patch

00:37:08has given notice

00:37:08that he will ask this,

00:37:09let me ask it first.

00:37:11Were you and Mr Patch

00:37:12lovers?

00:37:14Will this case

00:37:14be reported

00:37:15in the papers?

00:37:16I have no means

00:37:17of knowing,

00:37:18Miss McIntosh.

00:37:19However,

00:37:20since Mr Patch's

00:37:20original housing scheme

00:37:22attracted nationwide

00:37:23interest at the time,

00:37:25I wouldn't be surprised

00:37:26if his financial collapse

00:37:28attracted some

00:37:29press coverage.

00:37:31Very well,

00:37:31Miss Tate.

00:37:32Continue, please.

00:37:33I asked if you were lovers,

00:37:34Miss McIntosh.

00:37:34Yes.

00:37:35For how long?

00:37:35Four years.

00:37:37When did you leave

00:37:37Mr Patch's employee?

00:37:39In December 1971.

00:37:41And why did you leave?

00:37:42Why?

00:37:43Yes, why,

00:37:43Miss McIntosh?

00:37:45Must I answer?

00:37:47I'm afraid you must,

00:37:48Miss McIntosh.

00:37:50Well, I found out

00:37:51he'd been having other women.

00:37:53I'm sure the jury

00:37:54appreciate your frankness.

00:37:55There was another reason, too.

00:37:57What was that, Miss McIntosh?

00:37:57Well, I was afraid

00:37:58I might end up in trouble

00:37:59with the police.

00:38:00Why?

00:38:01Well, because Ben

00:38:01and Mr Patch

00:38:03had been swindling

00:38:03all those youngsters

00:38:04out of their saving.

00:38:04This is just what I was

00:38:05trying to warn you about earlier.

00:38:07This witness is

00:38:07motivated by jealousy.

00:38:09She's deliberately

00:38:09trying to ruin me.

00:38:10Sit down,

00:38:11Mr Patch.

00:38:12Sorry, Bill.

00:38:13Miss McIntosh,

00:38:14that is an expression

00:38:15of opinion or belief.

00:38:17You are here

00:38:18to give evidence

00:38:19about what you saw

00:38:20and heard.

00:38:21I see.

00:38:23When did you start work

00:38:24for Mr Patch?

00:38:26Well, in 67.

00:38:28As his secretary?

00:38:29Secretary,

00:38:30typist,

00:38:30telephonist.

00:38:31There was only me

00:38:32and Mr Jordan.

00:38:33We were the office staff.

00:38:35This was before

00:38:35Mr Patch started

00:38:36the housing association?

00:38:37Yes.

00:38:38Now, was Mr Patch

00:38:39successful in those days?

00:38:41No.

00:38:41He always seemed

00:38:42to be short of money.

00:38:43How do you know that?

00:38:45Well, I was on the switchboard.

00:38:47I was the one

00:38:48who had to lie,

00:38:49save us out

00:38:49or away on business

00:38:50when any of the suppliers

00:38:51rang up to pester him

00:38:52for money.

00:38:54As far as I could

00:38:54make out for Mr Patch,

00:38:55the firm was on the verge

00:38:56of bankruptcy.

00:38:57Didn't Mr Patch tell you this?

00:38:58Well, he said things

00:38:59were very tight.

00:39:00But another of my jobs

00:39:01was opening the mail.

00:39:03For weeks,

00:39:04the only letters we got

00:39:05were either bills

00:39:05or threats

00:39:06to take out summonses.

00:39:08Well, you only had

00:39:09to add up the bills

00:39:10to know the firm

00:39:10was in a bad way.

00:39:11Well, why did you

00:39:12stay with them?

00:39:13Well, by that time

00:39:14I was involved

00:39:14with Mr Patch.

00:39:16I didn't want

00:39:17to let him down.

00:39:18Now, when did the firm's

00:39:19finances start to improve?

00:39:21Well, after he started

00:39:22the housing association.

00:39:23And when did you

00:39:24first hear of the

00:39:24housing association idea?

00:39:26Well, it was

00:39:27one morning.

00:39:29Mr Patch

00:39:30and Mr Jordan

00:39:31were very depressed.

00:39:32How can you be sure

00:39:33things were as bad

00:39:34as they seemed,

00:39:35Miss Macintosh?

00:39:36Well, they hadn't been

00:39:36able to pay my wages

00:39:37for a fortnight, my lord.

00:39:38I see.

00:39:39Go on, please.

00:39:41Well, it all started

00:39:42one morning.

00:39:44Mr Patch came in

00:39:45very bright and cheerful.

00:39:46Well, I was surprised

00:39:47because for weeks

00:39:48he'd been down in the dumps.

00:39:51Well, he came in this morning

00:39:52and he said,

00:39:53Josephine, I've just...

00:39:54Josephine.

00:39:55Oh, he used to call me

00:39:56Josephine.

00:39:57It was a pet name.

00:39:58I see.

00:39:59Go on, please.

00:40:01Well, he came in

00:40:01this morning

00:40:02and he said,

00:40:04Josephine, I've just

00:40:05had a stroke of genius.

00:40:06I've figured out

00:40:07a way to make my fortune.

00:40:09Well, I didn't take

00:40:10him seriously at first.

00:40:12I mean, he was a man

00:40:13who'd like to make a joke.

00:40:15Well, he then

00:40:17got on the phone

00:40:17and persuaded a local

00:40:19printer to print

00:40:19500 leaflets.

00:40:21And what were the leaflets?

00:40:22Well, to advertise

00:40:23this housing scheme.

00:40:24Do you produce

00:40:25one of these leaflets?

00:40:29Yes, these were

00:40:32the leaflets.

00:40:33Exhibit 7, my lord.

00:40:35As you will see,

00:40:36it starts,

00:40:37Patches Patch,

00:40:38a new conception

00:40:38in housing.

00:40:39Why should people

00:40:40who can't afford

00:40:41an ordinary mortgage

00:40:42repayment

00:40:42be unable

00:40:43to buy their own

00:40:44homes?

00:40:46Now, what was

00:40:46the public reaction

00:40:47to this?

00:40:48Fantastic.

00:40:49There's no other word

00:40:50for it.

00:40:51Within 48 hours

00:40:52of the leaflets

00:40:53going out,

00:40:54we had four checks

00:40:55in for 1,000 pounds.

00:40:57Mr. Patch said

00:40:58it's like taking

00:40:58money from a baby.

00:41:00Took me and Mr. Jordan

00:41:01out to lunch

00:41:01and we drank champagne.

00:41:03And he bought me

00:41:04a new dress.

00:41:04This was on the strength

00:41:05of the checks

00:41:06that had just arrived

00:41:07from the housing

00:41:07association people.

00:41:09Now, who made

00:41:11the decisions

00:41:11regarding this project?

00:41:12Oh, Mr. Patch.

00:41:14Mr. Jordan

00:41:14was very much

00:41:15in awe of him.

00:41:16You're sure of this?

00:41:17Oh, yes.

00:41:18It was as if

00:41:18Mr. Patch

00:41:19hypnotised him.

00:41:20He'd do anything

00:41:21Mr. Patch said.

00:41:23Mr. Patch

00:41:23is a very persuasive man.

00:41:25I'm in.

00:41:27Yes, I'm sure

00:41:27the jury appreciate

00:41:28what you mean,

00:41:29Miss McIntosh.

00:41:30Now, when did

00:41:32Mr. Patch start

00:41:32building houses

00:41:33for the association?

00:41:34Well, it was after

00:41:35the money started

00:41:36coming in.

00:41:37He waited till he

00:41:38got about 20,000

00:41:39and then he started

00:41:40on four houses.

00:41:41Two for members

00:41:41of the association

00:41:42and two for the

00:41:43general public?

00:41:43Yes.

00:41:44But he did build

00:41:44more houses later?

00:41:45Oh, yes.

00:41:46But only as the

00:41:47contributions came in.

00:41:49But surely the sale

00:41:50of the houses

00:41:50on the open market

00:41:51was supposed to

00:41:52finance the building

00:41:53of houses

00:41:53for members

00:41:54of the association.

00:41:55Well, that wasn't

00:41:56how it worked

00:41:56in practice.

00:41:58Well, what happened

00:41:58to the money

00:41:59for the sale

00:41:59of the houses?

00:42:00It all went

00:42:00into Mr. Patch's

00:42:01account, of course.

00:42:02How do you know this?

00:42:03Well, I was the one

00:42:04who took the cheques

00:42:05to the bank.

00:42:06I knew which account

00:42:07I put them into

00:42:08and it wasn't

00:42:08the housing associations.

00:42:10My lord,

00:42:11I put in evidence

00:42:12bank statements

00:42:13exhibit eight

00:42:14dating from

00:42:15November 1970

00:42:16to December 1971.

00:42:18As you'll see,

00:42:19the statements refer

00:42:20to bank accounts

00:42:20in the name

00:42:21of Benjamin Patch

00:42:22Builders,

00:42:23the association

00:42:23and also

00:42:24to private accounts

00:42:26in the name

00:42:26of Mr. Patch.

00:42:28Now, these indicate

00:42:29that some

00:42:29£19,000

00:42:30was paid

00:42:31into Mr. Patch's

00:42:32own bank account.

00:42:33I do not deny

00:42:34the sums paid

00:42:35into my account,

00:42:35my lord.

00:42:36Mr. Patch,

00:42:36I must advise you

00:42:37that there is

00:42:37no necessity

00:42:38at this stage

00:42:39for you to admit

00:42:39or deny

00:42:40the prosecution's charge.

00:42:42No, I do not

00:42:43deny the sums paid

00:42:43into my account,

00:42:44my lord,

00:42:44simply the source.

00:42:45Nonetheless,

00:42:46Mr. Patch,

00:42:46I do strongly advise

00:42:47you to remain silent.

00:42:49In my experience,

00:42:50more defendants

00:42:51have lost cases

00:42:52by talking too much

00:42:53rather than

00:42:54by talking too little.

00:42:56Yes, my lord,

00:42:56but I just want

00:42:56to make it clear

00:42:57that I can explain

00:42:58the £19,000

00:42:59and its source.

00:43:00It's all perfectly

00:43:01innocent like me.

00:43:02Then make your explanation

00:43:03when you yourself

00:43:04come to give evidence.

00:43:06Yes, my lord.

00:43:07Miss Tate?

00:43:09Miss McIntosh,

00:43:10can you remember

00:43:10any specific occasion

00:43:12when you placed money

00:43:12in Mr. Patch's accounts?

00:43:14Yes, it was in March

00:43:151971.

00:43:16I remember

00:43:17because it was

00:43:17my birthday.

00:43:19Mr. Patch gave me

00:43:20a cheque for £4,000

00:43:21to put into his account.

00:43:23He also gave me

00:43:24a cheque for £50.

00:43:26He said he hadn't

00:43:27had time to get me

00:43:27anything for my birthday

00:43:28and would I spend

00:43:29something with the £50?

00:43:31Now, what is the date

00:43:32of your birthday?

00:43:33March the 19th.

00:43:34March the 19th.

00:43:35Now, as you will see,

00:43:36my lord,

00:43:36members of the jury,

00:43:37on March the 19th,

00:43:38£4,000 was deposited

00:43:40and a cheque was drawn out

00:43:42for the sum of £50.

00:43:44Miss McIntosh,

00:43:44in your experience,

00:43:45was this an unusual way

00:43:46to celebrate your birthday?

00:43:48Certainly was.

00:43:49The year before,

00:43:49he'd only been able

00:43:50to afford me

00:43:51to take me out

00:43:51to a supper

00:43:52at an Italian restaurant.

00:43:54That came to about

00:43:54£4.

00:43:55Now, Mr. Patch

00:43:56appears to have developed

00:43:57extensive sporting interests.

00:44:00Do you mean

00:44:00the greyhounds

00:44:01and the racehorse?

00:44:02Yes.

00:44:02When did he acquire these?

00:44:04I seem to remember

00:44:05it was in April,

00:44:06about a month

00:44:06after my birthday.

00:44:07That would be

00:44:08Nimbus and Valerian Lad.

00:44:10That's right.

00:44:11He bought the other one.

00:44:12Oh, I've forgotten the name.

00:44:14In the autumn.

00:44:15A special delivery.

00:44:17That's right.

00:44:17Now, as Mr. Patch's secretary,

00:44:19were you in any way

00:44:19connected with his sporting interests?

00:44:21Oh, yes.

00:44:22I was the one

00:44:22that wrote the letters

00:44:23to the trainers

00:44:24and the jockey club

00:44:24and so on.

00:44:25You mean,

00:44:25you typed the letters?

00:44:27Well, I actually composed

00:44:28most of them.

00:44:30Mr. Patch would tell me

00:44:31what he wanted to say

00:44:32and I'd write the letters.

00:44:34He didn't like dictating letters.

00:44:36Anyway,

00:44:36he was always very casual

00:44:37with his correspondence.

00:44:39Now, do you happen to know

00:44:40how much Mr. Patch

00:44:40paid for the greyhounds?

00:44:42Yes.

00:44:42The first two

00:44:43cost him $1,400.

00:44:46Valerian Lad was $650

00:44:48and Nimbus was $750.

00:44:50And what about the racehorse,

00:44:51Nifty Lass?

00:44:52That was $2,000.

00:44:54Did any of the greyhounds

00:44:55ever win?

00:44:56Oh, yes.

00:44:57But I don't know how much.

00:44:58And did Mr. Patch

00:44:59back his own horse?

00:45:00Oh, yes.

00:45:01I know that for a fact

00:45:02because he took me

00:45:03to Thirsk and to Chepstow.

00:45:05He put $1,000 on each time.

00:45:07He put some money on

00:45:08for me, too.

00:45:09And the horse lost

00:45:09on both occasions?

00:45:11Now, the training fees

00:45:12must have been quite considerable.

00:45:14$2,500 a year.

00:45:15I know because I wrote

00:45:16the letter to the trainer.

00:45:17Was Mr. Patch worried

00:45:18about the cost

00:45:19of his sporting activities?

00:45:20It's only money, he said.

00:45:21And anyway, it's not mine.

00:45:23Well, whose money was it?

00:45:24Well, the housing associations,

00:45:26of course.

00:45:28Miss McIntosh.

00:45:29One moment, Miss Tatebees.

00:45:31Are you all right, Mr. Patch?

00:45:33Oh, yes.

00:45:34Yes, my lord.

00:45:35I'll just take a couple of pills

00:45:36and be as right as I am.

00:45:37But I could adjourn if you wish

00:45:38so that you could be examined

00:45:39by a doctor.

00:45:40No, no.

00:45:41Please, my lord.

00:45:41I've wasted enough

00:45:42of the court's time.

00:45:43Please don't worry about me.

00:45:45Very well, Mr. Patch.

00:45:47Miss McIntosh.

00:45:48A moment, Miss Tate,

00:45:49if you please.

00:45:49I should like to return

00:45:50to Miss McIntosh's last statement.

00:45:53She said that the money

00:45:54from Mr. Patch's racing activities

00:45:56came from the association.

00:45:57It did.

00:45:58How can you be sure

00:46:00where the money came from?

00:46:02Well, where else

00:46:02could it have come from?

00:46:04I mean, after Mr. Patch

00:46:05started the association,

00:46:07he gave up building houses

00:46:08for anyone else.

00:46:09Can you be absolutely sure

00:46:11of the source of the money,

00:46:13Miss McIntosh?

00:46:15Well, I...

00:46:15Now, remember,

00:46:15you are still on oath.

00:46:18I suppose I can't be absolutely sure.

00:46:21I see.

00:46:22Go on, Miss Tate, please.

00:46:23I've nearly finished, my lord.

00:46:25Miss McIntosh,

00:46:26you knew Mr. Jordan fairly well,

00:46:28did you not?

00:46:28I worked in the same office

00:46:29with him for four years.

00:46:31Now, when was the last time

00:46:32that you saw Mr. Jordan?

00:46:33Well, I met him and Mr. Patch

00:46:34in the street

00:46:35the day before he vanished.

00:46:37Did Mr. Jordan say anything to you

00:46:39about leaving the country?

00:46:40Yes.

00:46:41He said Ben's really done it this time.

00:46:43The balloon's about to go up.

00:46:44By Ben, he meant Mr. Patch?

00:46:46Yes.

00:46:47He said Mr. Patch

00:46:48had suggested he get out

00:46:49while he could,

00:46:51that he go to South Africa.

00:46:53Mr. Patch had given him

00:46:54the money for the air ticket

00:46:55and suggested that he go to Rhodesia.

00:46:57And you say Mr. Patch

00:46:59was present during this conversation?

00:47:01Yes.

00:47:02Thank you, Miss McIntosh.

00:47:07Rachel.

00:47:08Miss McIntosh.

00:47:10It is not true

00:47:11that the first time

00:47:11we made Lovers

00:47:12on the floor of my office

00:47:13and five minutes after we finished

00:47:14I gave you your pay package,

00:47:15your purse pay package

00:47:17from Benjamin Patch Builders, Limited.

00:47:19My lord,

00:47:20I must protest

00:47:20at this line of questioning.

00:47:22I can see no purpose in it

00:47:24except to embarrass the witness.

00:47:25My lord,

00:47:26this witness is invented

00:47:27and exaggerated

00:47:28and told downright lies

00:47:29while under oath.

00:47:30She has deliberately

00:47:31and maliciously

00:47:32tried to blacken my name

00:47:33and I want the jury

00:47:34to see her as she really is.

00:47:35Miss Tate,

00:47:35I think I misuse my discretion

00:47:37and allow Mr. Patch

00:47:39some freedom.

00:47:41Thank you, my lord.

00:47:42But I warn you, Mr. Patch,

00:47:43that I shall put a stop

00:47:44to this line of questioning

00:47:45if I think you are

00:47:46abusing the privilege.

00:47:47I wouldn't want it

00:47:48any other way, my lord.

00:47:50Now,

00:47:51Miss McIntosh,

00:47:53you said you left my employ

00:47:55because you found out

00:47:56I was going with other women.

00:47:57And because you've been

00:47:57swindling all these young people.

00:47:59When did you find out

00:48:00about my affairs

00:48:01with other women?

00:48:02I can't remember.

00:48:03Is it not true

00:48:04that you only gave notice

00:48:06when you found me

00:48:07with June,

00:48:08our new typist?

00:48:09It may have been.

00:48:09And that was the day

00:48:10of the Christmas party,

00:48:11wasn't it?

00:48:11Oh, I saw how you'd been eyeing her.

00:48:12Did you think I was blind

00:48:13and stupid?

00:48:14Well, you can't have it

00:48:17both ways, Rachel.

00:48:19Either you left me

00:48:20because I was having affairs

00:48:21with other women

00:48:22or because I was guilty

00:48:24of a swindle.

00:48:26And if I was guilty

00:48:27of a swindle,

00:48:28you could have wound up

00:48:29as an accessory, Rachel.

00:48:31Have you thought of that?

00:48:32The case of the Queen

00:48:58against Patch

00:48:59will be resumed tomorrow

00:49:01in the Crown Court.

00:49:18This is the last day

00:49:20of the trial

00:49:20of Benjamin Patch.

00:49:22The charge is fraud.

00:49:24Patch,

00:49:24a small-time

00:49:25Fulchester builder,

00:49:26came to prominence

00:49:27when he advertised

00:49:28a revolutionary new scheme

00:49:29to provide cheap housing

00:49:30for young couples.

00:49:32Hundreds of young married couples

00:49:34invested their savings

00:49:35in his scheme

00:49:36in the hope

00:49:36of getting a house

00:49:37of their own.

00:49:38But Patch

00:49:39was declared bankrupt,

00:49:40his housing association

00:49:41collapsed,

00:49:42and the investors

00:49:43lost their money.

00:49:44Today,

00:49:45Benjamin Patch

00:49:46is on trial

00:49:47in Fulchester Crown Court.

00:49:48He's chosen

00:49:49to defend himself.

00:49:50At this moment,

00:49:51the final prosecution witness,

00:49:53Rachel McIntosh,

00:49:54Patch's ex-secretary

00:49:55and ex-mistress,

00:49:57is on the stand.

00:49:59My lord,

00:50:00not only is Mr Patch

00:50:01trying to discredit

00:50:02this witness,

00:50:02he's trying to intimidate

00:50:03her as well.

00:50:05It is not the intention

00:50:06of the prosecution

00:50:06to indict this witness

00:50:08as an accessory,

00:50:09nor will she be so indicted

00:50:10if she gives evidence.

00:50:12My lord,

00:50:13nothing was further

00:50:13from me mind.

00:50:14Miss Tate,

00:50:15it is for the jury

00:50:16to decide on the veracity

00:50:17of Mr Patch's statements

00:50:18and of Miss McIntosh's statements.

00:50:21I do not think

00:50:22we should attempt

00:50:23to prejudge

00:50:24their conclusions.

00:50:25As your lordship pleases.

00:50:27I withdraw the question.

00:50:29May I carry on,

00:50:29your lordship?

00:50:30Please do,

00:50:31Mr Patch.

00:50:32Miss McIntosh,

00:50:33you said that I said

00:50:35it was like taking money

00:50:36from a baby.

00:50:38Were those my exact words?

00:50:39Yes.

00:50:40They were?

00:50:41Yes.

00:50:42Well,

00:50:43near enough.

00:50:44My dear,

00:50:44you're in court

00:50:46on oath.

00:50:47You must be precise,

00:50:48please.

00:50:49They also reported

00:50:50about my racing activities.

00:50:53I said it's only money

00:50:54and it's not mine anyway.

00:50:55Yes.

00:50:56Hmm.

00:50:57You sure I said that?

00:50:59Well,

00:50:59that was more or less

00:51:00what you said.

00:51:01Well,

00:51:01you're dead right.

00:51:02That's exactly

00:51:02what I did say.

00:51:04But did I say

00:51:05whose money it was?

00:51:07Well,

00:51:07who else's could it have been?

00:51:08Not the associations.

00:51:10It was the bookies.

00:51:11The bookies?

00:51:12Yes.

00:51:13A one on the dobs.

00:51:14I may not know

00:51:15a horse when I see it.

00:51:16By God,

00:51:17I know a good dog.

00:51:18All I know

00:51:19is you lost

00:51:19at least 2,000

00:51:20at Thirsk

00:51:21and Chepstow.

00:51:22That's right.

00:51:22But were you with me

00:51:23at Red Car,

00:51:24Kempton Park,

00:51:25Sandown?

00:51:27No.

00:51:27Ah.

00:51:28But nifty lass

00:51:29never won anywhere.

00:51:30Well,

00:51:30I backed other horses.

00:51:32The question is,

00:51:33did they win

00:51:34or did they lose?

00:51:35How would I know?

00:51:36Precisely.

00:51:38Now,

00:51:38can you be absolutely sure

00:51:39that I was betting

00:51:40with the association's money?

00:51:42Well,

00:51:42I...

00:51:43It's not for me to say.

00:51:45Oh,

00:51:45yes it is.

00:51:46I've just asked you.

00:51:48I'm not sure.

00:51:49Hmm.

00:51:50Now then,

00:51:51let's get on to Mr Jordan,

00:51:53your bosom pal

00:51:54and chatty friend.

00:51:55Mr Jordan was

00:51:56neither of those things.

00:51:57You've just made him out to be.

00:51:58I've known Raymond Jordan

00:52:00many years

00:52:00and he's not given much to gossip.

00:52:03Now,

00:52:03you said you met him and I

00:52:04on the street

00:52:04the day before he vanished.

00:52:06I did.

00:52:06And what day was that?

00:52:08It was October the 20th.

00:52:10Hmm.

00:52:10What sort of a day was it?

00:52:12Pardon?

00:52:13Well,

00:52:13it was a nice day.

00:52:14Sunny,

00:52:14raining,

00:52:15snowing.

00:52:15Was there a typhoon blowing?

00:52:17It was just an ordinary day.

00:52:18An ordinary day?

00:52:20In our climate,

00:52:20there's no such thing.

00:52:22All right,

00:52:22you don't remember the weather.

00:52:23Do you remember where you met us?

00:52:25In Davies Street.

00:52:26Where about?

00:52:27Outside the supermarket.

00:52:28Where Mr Jordan

00:52:29was no doubt

00:52:29kitting up for his African safari.

00:52:31I don't know what he was doing.

00:52:32I didn't ask him.

00:52:33You did ask him

00:52:33if he was going to South Africa.

00:52:35I didn't exactly ask him.

00:52:37He told me.

00:52:37You expect the jury to believe

00:52:39that shy,

00:52:40uncommunicative Mr Jordan

00:52:41suddenly blurted out

00:52:42in the middle of the street,

00:52:43I'm off to South Africa

00:52:44and Ben Patch has paid me ticket.

00:52:46It wasn't like that.

00:52:48I happened to meet him

00:52:49and you in the street.

00:52:51I asked him how things were

00:52:52and he said,

00:52:53the balloon's about to go up.

00:52:55He said you'd told him

00:52:56to go to South Africa.

00:52:58Oh.

00:52:59Now,

00:52:59you'd left the company

00:53:00nine months before.

00:53:01Were you very friendly

00:53:02with Mr Jordan?

00:53:03We were always on good terms.

00:53:04How good?

00:53:05Did he ever make a passenger,

00:53:06have it off with him?

00:53:06Mr Jordan was always very correct.

00:53:08Shy,

00:53:09I would have said.

00:53:10Yes.

00:53:10Hmm.

00:53:11And you expect the jury

00:53:13to believe that this

00:53:14shy little man

00:53:15suddenly unburdened himself

00:53:17in the street,

00:53:18in front of a supermarket,

00:53:20before a woman

00:53:21he hadn't seen for nine months,

00:53:22in the presence of a man

00:53:23who overawed and hypnotised him?

00:53:25He did.

00:53:26Well,

00:53:26the jury can place

00:53:27what reliance they may

00:53:28on that statement.

00:53:29You're making it up.

00:53:31You never did meet us.

00:53:32Now then,

00:53:35let's turn to money.

00:53:37Hmm.

00:53:38Am I a careful

00:53:39and precise man

00:53:40with money?

00:53:41Anything but.

00:53:42Hopeless with money?

00:53:44Yes.

00:53:44Which is why

00:53:45I employed Mr Jordan.

00:53:47Now,

00:53:47did you ever see me

00:53:48ask her to go over

00:53:49the books with him?

00:53:50No,

00:53:50you were always off racing.

00:53:52Oh,

00:53:52no doubt with one

00:53:53of your women.

00:53:54Hmm.

00:53:55We only,

00:53:56wouldn't I be the sort of man

00:53:57that would ever know,

00:53:58er,

00:53:58how much there was

00:53:59in the bank,

00:54:00let alone how many

00:54:01bank statements there were?

00:54:03Well,

00:54:03it's not for me to say.

00:54:06I wish it is.

00:54:06I've just asked you.

00:54:09You never stop spending money.

00:54:11Am I the man

00:54:12to plan an ingenious fraud

00:54:13and get away

00:54:14with 159,000 pounds?

00:54:16The witness cannot

00:54:16possibly answer that,

00:54:18my lord.

00:54:18I agree.

00:54:20I'm sorry,

00:54:21Mr Jordan,

00:54:21my lord,

00:54:21I withdraw the question.

00:54:24Now,

00:54:25Miss McIntosh,

00:54:27our love affair,

00:54:28was it calm

00:54:29and placid?

00:54:30No,

00:54:30it was not.

00:54:31Pretty stormy,

00:54:32wasn't it?

00:54:32Yes.

00:54:33Stuart had his moments,

00:54:34though,

00:54:34didn't it?

00:54:35I suppose so.

00:54:37Remember Dublin?

00:54:39And remember throwing

00:54:40a bowl of mayonnaise

00:54:40over me?

00:54:42It was in the,

00:54:42er,

00:54:43King's Head,

00:54:43Fullchester.

00:54:44Shouldn't be difficult

00:54:45to prove,

00:54:45any other waiters

00:54:46remember it.

00:54:47And there was the day

00:54:47you smashed the telephone

00:54:48in the office,

00:54:49wasn't there?

00:54:50Quite a few outbursts,

00:54:52all told.

00:54:53Why?

00:54:54Different reasons?

00:54:55Different reasons?

00:54:56Not as I recall.

00:54:58Only one.

00:54:59All was the same one.

00:55:02Jealousy because you found me

00:55:03going out with other women.

00:55:04It was a long time ago.

00:55:06You're still jealous,

00:55:06aren't you?

00:55:07No,

00:55:07certainly not.

00:55:08No!

00:55:11No.

00:55:14No further questions,

00:55:15my lord.

00:55:16There are one or two more points,

00:55:18my lord.

00:55:18I shall be brief.

00:55:19Miss McIntosh,

00:55:20you left Mr Patch's

00:55:21employee in December

00:55:22of 1971,

00:55:2480 months ago.

00:55:25Now,

00:55:25have you seen Mr Patch since?

00:55:27No.

00:55:27Except that time

00:55:28I met him and Mr Jordan

00:55:29in the street.

00:55:30Now,

00:55:30have there been any other

00:55:31men in your life

00:55:32besides Mr Patch?

00:55:33Yes,

00:55:34several.

00:55:35So you could not be

00:55:36described as a sex-starved,

00:55:37love-lorn woman?

00:55:38No.

00:55:39Now,

00:55:39you worked for several years

00:55:40with both Mr Patch

00:55:41and Mr Jordan.

00:55:42In this relationship,

00:55:44who would you say

00:55:44was responsible

00:55:45for the,

00:55:46um,

00:55:46decisions?

00:55:47Mr Patch.

00:55:48There's no doubt about it.

00:55:50Mr Patch is a very

00:55:51overwhelming personality.

00:55:54Thank you,

00:55:55Miss McIntosh.

00:55:56You may go,

00:55:57Miss McIntosh.

00:55:59That completes the case

00:56:01for the prosecution,

00:56:02my lord.

00:56:04Now,

00:56:04Mr Patch,

00:56:05before you begin

00:56:06your defence,

00:56:07it is my duty

00:56:08to tell you

00:56:08that there are

00:56:09certain legal courses

00:56:10open to you.

00:56:12Now,

00:56:12first,

00:56:13you may go into

00:56:14the witness box

00:56:14and give evidence

00:56:15on oath

00:56:15like any other witness.

00:56:17And in that event,

00:56:18Miss Tate

00:56:19can cross-examine you.

00:56:21Alternatively,

00:56:22it is within your rights

00:56:23to refuse

00:56:24to give any evidence.

00:56:26And of course,

00:56:26in that case,

00:56:27the prosecution

00:56:28cannot cross-examine you.

00:56:30Now,

00:56:31I would advise you

00:56:32to think very carefully

00:56:33about what you do next.

00:56:35There's nothing to think about,

00:56:36my lord.

00:56:36I've nothing to hide.

00:56:38I'll go into the box

00:56:39and Miss Tate

00:56:39can do her damnedest.

00:56:40I call as my first witness

00:56:42myself,

00:56:43Benjamin Ernest Patch.

00:56:45Do I go into the box,

00:56:46my lord?

00:56:47You do,

00:56:48Mr. Patch.

00:56:53Almighty God,

00:56:54that the evidence

00:56:54I should give

00:56:54should be the truth,

00:56:55the whole truth

00:56:56and nothing but the truth.

00:57:00My lord,

00:57:01the members of the jury,

00:57:02it's practically impossible

00:57:04to question yourself

00:57:05but I hope you'll bear with me.

00:57:09I am

00:57:09Benjamin

00:57:10Ernest Patch,

00:57:13a present living

00:57:13at Curran's

00:57:14Commercial Hotel,

00:57:15Haydock Street

00:57:16and if you think

00:57:17that's the lap of luxury

00:57:18you should try it yourselves.

00:57:20Why,

00:57:21second question,

00:57:22why am I here?

00:57:24Answer,

00:57:25because I had

00:57:26the ridiculous notion

00:57:27that people should

00:57:28own their own homes.

00:57:30Ordinary people,

00:57:31young married couples

00:57:32who can't afford

00:57:33a mortgage at today's rates.

00:57:34Now,

00:57:34don't get me wrong,

00:57:35I'm not a philanthropist.

00:57:36I am

00:57:36or was

00:57:37a builder.

00:57:39Sometimes I made money,

00:57:40sometimes I didn't

00:57:41but that's the building trade.

00:57:43Do you know,

00:57:43the highest rate of bankruptcy

00:57:44in the country

00:57:45among builders?

00:57:47Now,

00:57:47not that I didn't start

00:57:48Patch is Patch

00:57:48to make money,

00:57:49I did,

00:57:50but that wasn't

00:57:50the sole reason.

00:57:52If it had been,

00:57:53I could have sold me

00:57:5415 acres

00:57:55and retired on the cash.

00:57:56Can you imagine

00:57:57what 15 acres

00:57:58would bring

00:57:58at today's prices?

00:58:00Next question,

00:58:02where does Raymond Jordan

00:58:04figure in all this?

00:58:06Answer,

00:58:07if the police

00:58:07had done their job properly,

00:58:08wouldn't need to ask.

00:58:10He handled the money,

00:58:11he fixed up

00:58:11all the accounts

00:58:12and all the companies.

00:58:14Why?

00:58:15Because I couldn't

00:58:16be bothered.

00:58:17I'm a builder,

00:58:18I'm not a lawyer,

00:58:19an accountant.

00:58:20If I had,

00:58:21well,

00:58:21maybe I would be

00:58:21in business today

00:58:22and Patch is Patch

00:58:24would be the real revolution

00:58:25in cheap housing

00:58:26it was meant to be.

00:58:28Next question,

00:58:30where is the missing

00:58:32159,000?

00:58:34Well,

00:58:34don't ask me,

00:58:35I haven't got it.

00:58:36If I had,

00:58:37would I be here today?

00:58:38Next question,

00:58:42what about all these

00:58:43greyhounds

00:58:43and racehorses

00:58:44and stock market deals

00:58:45of yours,

00:58:46Mr Patch?

00:58:47Well,

00:58:47what about them?

00:58:48I've always been a

00:58:49betted man,

00:58:50ever since I was

00:58:50eight years old

00:58:51and I cleaned up

00:58:51at Marbles.

00:58:52It's true,

00:58:53I did have

00:58:54three greyhounds

00:58:55and one very

00:58:56unsuccessful racehorse.

00:58:58I betted them

00:58:58regularly,

00:58:59the racehorse lost

00:59:00but the greyhounds

00:59:01won.

00:59:02No,

00:59:02I can't prove it,

00:59:04I haven't got

00:59:04neat little slips

00:59:05to say that

00:59:07Ben Patch

00:59:07won this amount

00:59:08of money

00:59:09in such and such

00:59:09a day

00:59:10and such and such

00:59:11an account

00:59:11but that's what

00:59:12I did

00:59:13and all that money

00:59:14went into the

00:59:14general pool

00:59:15into Patch's patch.

00:59:19Last question,

00:59:20Mr Patch.

00:59:22Are you

00:59:22or are you

00:59:23not guilty

00:59:24of this deliberate

00:59:25swindle

00:59:26you are charged

00:59:27with?

00:59:29No.

00:59:30Definitely

00:59:31no.

00:59:33I am guilty

00:59:34of stupidity

00:59:35about money.

00:59:35I am guilty

00:59:37about being

00:59:37too fond

00:59:37of women.

00:59:39I am guilty

00:59:39of liking

00:59:40a gamble

00:59:41and I am

00:59:42guilty

00:59:42of the high

00:59:42living

00:59:43but guilty

00:59:44of masterminding

00:59:46and organising

00:59:47this ingenious

00:59:48fraud

00:59:49well I haven't

00:59:50got the patience

00:59:51or those

00:59:51sort of brains.

00:59:54I have no

00:59:54further questions

00:59:55of this witness

00:59:55my lord.

00:59:58I must

00:59:59congratulate

00:59:59my knowledgeable

01:00:00friend on his

01:00:01shrewd examination

01:00:02of this witness.

01:00:02Mr Patch

01:00:04you said

01:00:05you hadn't

01:00:05the brains

01:00:05to organise

01:00:06this fraud

01:00:06I think

01:00:07you're

01:00:07playing

01:00:07with words.

01:00:09Whose idea

01:00:09was the

01:00:09original concept

01:00:10of Patch's

01:00:11Patch?

01:00:11Mine

01:00:11but it

01:00:12wasn't intended

01:00:12to be a fraud.

01:00:13Well perhaps

01:00:13not at first

01:00:14Mr Patch

01:00:14but I put it

01:00:15to you

01:00:15that you

01:00:15couldn't

01:00:16resist

01:00:16plundering

01:00:17the finances

01:00:18of your

01:00:18housing

01:00:18association.

01:00:19That's not true.

01:00:19Well let's

01:00:20just look at

01:00:21this housing

01:00:21scheme

01:00:21shall we?

01:00:22You began

01:00:22it when you

01:00:23had only

01:00:2315 acres

01:00:25of building

01:00:25land available.

01:00:26Yes I

01:00:26planned to buy

01:00:27more land.

01:00:27Which indeed

01:00:28you did

01:00:28from a separate

01:00:28company of which

01:00:32well Jordan

01:00:33was the

01:00:33director

01:00:34of Nimbus

01:00:34Estates.

01:00:35Are you

01:00:35asking the

01:00:36court to

01:00:36believe that

01:00:37he acted

01:00:37without your

01:00:38consent?

01:00:38No.

01:00:40Jordan said

01:00:40I found

01:00:41some land

01:00:41I say

01:00:41okay let's

01:00:42buy it

01:00:42and he

01:00:43arranged the

01:00:43details.

01:00:43This shy

01:00:44uncommunicative

01:00:45little man

01:00:45as I think

01:00:46you described

01:00:46him.

01:00:47Well he

01:00:47wasn't

01:00:48uncommunicative

01:00:48with me

01:00:49when it

01:00:49came to

01:00:50business.

01:00:50He was

01:00:50an accountant.

01:00:52He was

01:00:52just shy

01:00:52with women.

01:00:53You keep

01:00:53pushing Mr

01:00:54Jordan

01:00:54forward as

01:00:55the mastermind

01:00:56behind this

01:00:56whole thing

01:00:57and yet

01:00:57you've

01:00:58admitted the

01:00:59original concept

01:00:59of Patch's

01:01:00Patch was

01:01:00your idea.

01:01:01Yes but

01:01:01the day-to-day

01:01:02running was

01:01:02Jordan's

01:01:03responsibility.

01:01:03But your

01:01:04hand was

01:01:04constantly in

01:01:05the till

01:01:06Mr Patch

01:01:06was it not?

01:01:07I denied

01:01:07that.

01:01:08Miss

01:01:08McIntosh

01:01:09has said

01:01:09that your

01:01:10business was

01:01:10on the rocks

01:01:11before you

01:01:11started the

01:01:12association.

01:01:13Well Miss

01:01:13McIntosh's

01:01:14idea of rocks

01:01:14is ice cubes

01:01:15and a drink.

01:01:16Yet it was

01:01:17only after the

01:01:18association started

01:01:19that you

01:01:19required a

01:01:20racehorse and

01:01:21greyhounds and

01:01:22a taste for

01:01:23share dealing.

01:01:23That's true.

01:01:24The association

01:01:24was a success.

01:01:25My firm was

01:01:26building houses

01:01:27and as I

01:01:28didn't have to

01:01:28pay Miss

01:01:29McIntosh's

01:01:30salary I

01:01:30could indulge

01:01:31myself.

01:01:32Indulge

01:01:32yourself to

01:01:33the extent of

01:01:33three greyhounds

01:01:34and a racehorse

01:01:35not to mention

01:01:36trips to Paris

01:01:37and Nice etc.

01:01:38I've always

01:01:38spent up to

01:01:39the hilt.

01:01:40Besides me

01:01:41greyhounds

01:01:41made money.

01:01:42They'd have

01:01:42to.

01:01:43Two of them

01:01:43cost you

01:01:44£1,400.

01:01:45Your horse

01:01:46cost you

01:01:46£2,000 to

01:01:47buy and

01:01:48more than

01:01:48that to

01:01:49train.

01:01:49Your racing

01:01:50activities

01:01:50must have

01:01:51cost you

01:01:51over £6,000

01:01:52plus

01:01:53unsuccessful

01:01:54bets of

01:01:54about £2,000.

01:01:56Now it's

01:01:56a lot of

01:01:56money to

01:01:57come out

01:01:57of just

01:01:57winnings.

01:01:58It didn't

01:01:59all come out

01:01:59of me

01:01:59winnings but

01:02:00most of

01:02:00it did.

01:02:01As I said

01:02:01I'm a gambler

01:02:01a big

01:02:02glam

01:02:02gambler.

01:02:02But you

01:02:02can't win

01:02:03all the

01:02:03time.

01:02:04No of

01:02:04course you

01:02:04can't.

01:02:05But when

01:02:05you gamble

01:02:06like I

01:02:06do when

01:02:07you win

01:02:07big.

01:02:08Did you

01:02:09employ this

01:02:09same

01:02:09principle

01:02:10with your

01:02:10share dealings?

01:02:11Yes.

01:02:12But where

01:02:12did you

01:02:12get the

01:02:13initial

01:02:13stake

01:02:14from?

01:02:14I've

01:02:14told you

01:02:15out of

01:02:15me

01:02:15old

01:02:15pocket

01:02:15out of

01:02:16me

01:02:16gambling

01:02:16winnings.

01:02:17Hmm.

01:02:18Well let's

01:02:19return to

01:02:19the housing

01:02:20scheme for

01:02:20a moment

01:02:20shall we?

01:02:21Now you

01:02:22owned 15

01:02:23acres of

01:02:23land when

01:02:24you started

01:02:24it and

01:02:25then you

01:02:25bought a

01:02:26further nine

01:02:27acres from

01:02:27another of

01:02:28your companies

01:02:2824 in

01:02:29acres in

01:02:29all.

01:02:30Surely you

01:02:31must have

01:02:31realised that

01:02:32such a scheme

01:02:32could not

01:02:33work unless

01:02:33you had

01:02:34more or less

01:02:35unlimited

01:02:35supply of

01:02:36building land.

01:02:37I wouldn't

01:02:37say unlimited.

01:02:38243 people

01:02:41paid £1,000

01:02:42into your

01:02:43association fund.

01:02:45To build

01:02:46homes for

01:02:46243 people

01:02:47you would

01:02:48need about

01:02:4940 acres?

01:02:50Hmm.

01:02:51I suppose

01:02:51so.

01:02:52And as you

01:02:53sold alternate

01:02:53houses on the

01:02:54open market

01:02:54then that

01:02:55means you

01:02:56would need

01:02:56a minimum

01:02:56of 80

01:02:57acres in

01:02:58order to

01:02:58house the

01:02:59people in

01:02:59the association?

01:03:00Yes.

01:03:00Something like

01:03:00that.

01:03:01And yet you

01:03:01never owned

01:03:02more than

01:03:0224 acres.

01:03:04Well I

01:03:04intended to

01:03:05buy more

01:03:05land.

01:03:05Then why

01:03:06didn't you?

01:03:07Because we

01:03:07ran short

01:03:08of funds.

01:03:09Well I

01:03:09wouldn't

01:03:09have called

01:03:09contributions

01:03:10amounting to

01:03:11a quarter

01:03:11of a million

01:03:11pounds in

01:03:12cash as

01:03:13being short

01:03:14of funds.

01:03:14But £159,000

01:03:16worth of it

01:03:17is supposed

01:03:17to be

01:03:18missing.

01:03:18It is

01:03:19indeed Mr.

01:03:20Patch.

01:03:21Well Jordan

01:03:22handled the

01:03:22money not

01:03:23me.

01:03:24Jordan told

01:03:25Miss Rachel

01:03:26McIntosh that

01:03:26you gave him

01:03:27money for his

01:03:28trip to South

01:03:29Africa.

01:03:30Well if you

01:03:30believe Rachel

01:03:31McIntosh you'll

01:03:32believe anyone.

01:03:32Miss McIntosh is

01:03:33giving evidence on

01:03:34oath like yourself

01:03:35Mr. Patch.

01:03:36I did not

01:03:37finance Raymond

01:03:39Jordan's escape

01:03:40to South

01:03:41Africa.

01:03:42243 people

01:03:44gave you money

01:03:45to build them

01:03:45homes.

01:03:46You only

01:03:47managed to

01:03:47build 72.

01:03:48Now are you

01:03:49also blaming

01:03:49that on

01:03:51Jordan?

01:03:53No further

01:03:53questions my

01:03:54lord.

01:03:55Mr. Patch

01:03:56do you wish to

01:03:56re-examine?

01:03:57Yes my lord.

01:03:58All right Mr. Patch

01:03:58you only built

01:03:5972 houses out of

01:04:00243.

01:04:01What do you say

01:04:01to that?

01:04:03Things went

01:04:03wrong but

01:04:05all right at

01:04:06least I did

01:04:07build 72

01:04:08houses and

01:04:08people had

01:04:0972 homes who

01:04:10would not

01:04:10otherwise have

01:04:11had them.

01:04:13Now what

01:04:13about all that

01:04:14lovely money

01:04:15you suppose

01:04:16to have got

01:04:16off with Mr.

01:04:17Patch?

01:04:18Did you?

01:04:19Don't be

01:04:20bloody silly.

01:04:21If I had

01:04:21would I be

01:04:22here today.

01:04:23Well where

01:04:23is all that

01:04:24lovely money

01:04:24Mr. Patch?

01:04:26Don't ask

01:04:26me.

01:04:27Ask Mr.

01:04:28Jordan if

01:04:29you can find

01:04:29him.

01:04:29All went

01:04:31sour.

01:04:32All went

01:04:32wrong.

01:04:33Patch is

01:04:33patch.

01:04:34The great

01:04:34new revolution

01:04:35in housing

01:04:36ended in a

01:04:38mess and

01:04:39nobody plans

01:04:40a mess.

01:04:41Nobody.

01:04:43I have no

01:04:43further questions

01:04:44my lord.

01:04:45Very well

01:04:46Mr. Patch

01:04:46you may

01:04:46leave the

01:04:47witness box.

01:04:51I have

01:04:52one last

01:04:53witness to

01:04:53call my

01:04:54lord.

01:04:54Joyce

01:04:55Graham a

01:04:55character

01:04:56witness.

01:04:57Now

01:04:57members of

01:04:58the jury

01:04:58this witness

01:04:59is appearing

01:05:00as a

01:05:00character

01:05:01witness.

01:05:02That means

01:05:02that Mr.

01:05:03Patch is

01:05:03calling her

01:05:04solely to

01:05:05give evidence

01:05:06as to his

01:05:06character.

01:05:08So therefore

01:05:08she will not

01:05:09be likely to

01:05:10give any

01:05:10new factual

01:05:11evidence.

01:05:12you are

01:05:27Mrs.

01:05:27Joyce

01:05:28Graham of

01:05:29eight

01:05:29Walton

01:05:30Close.

01:05:30Yes.

01:05:31You reside with

01:05:33your husband in a

01:05:34house I built.

01:05:35Yes.

01:05:36Is it a good

01:05:36house?

01:05:37It's a lovely

01:05:38house.

01:05:38Mrs.

01:05:40Graham until

01:05:40recently you

01:05:41were employed

01:05:41as my

01:05:42secretary.

01:05:43I was.

01:05:44I've been

01:05:44your secretary

01:05:44since 1971

01:05:46since the

01:05:46raincoat

01:05:47left.

01:05:48The

01:05:48raincoat?

01:05:49Oh our

01:05:50pet name

01:05:51for Miss

01:05:51Mackintosh

01:05:52my lord.

01:05:53I see.

01:05:55Mrs.

01:05:55Graham how

01:05:56would you

01:05:57describe me

01:05:57as a

01:05:58businessman?

01:06:00Describe you?

01:06:00Yes.

01:06:01Am I shrewd,

01:06:02careful,

01:06:02cautious with

01:06:03money?

01:06:04Oh no

01:06:04my lord he's

01:06:05hopeless about

01:06:06money.

01:06:06He's the

01:06:06most disorganised

01:06:07man I've ever

01:06:08met.

01:06:08He's lots of

01:06:09drive but

01:06:10most of it.

01:06:11Not all.

01:06:12Completely

01:06:13misdirected.

01:06:14Yes Mrs.

01:06:14Graham but

01:06:15what I wanted

01:06:16to know is

01:06:16about the

01:06:17money.

01:06:18Did you

01:06:19ever observe

01:06:20me making

01:06:21off with

01:06:22the association's

01:06:23funds?

01:06:23That question

01:06:24is not

01:06:24admissible.

01:06:25Oh Mr.

01:06:26Patch never

01:06:27handled money

01:06:28my lord or

01:06:28very rarely.

01:06:30That was

01:06:30Mr.

01:06:30Jordan's

01:06:31department.

01:06:32Mr.

01:06:32Patch was

01:06:33most concerned

01:06:34about getting

01:06:34houses for

01:06:35members of

01:06:35the association.

01:06:36He helped

01:06:36me get

01:06:37mine.

01:06:38He was

01:06:39always most

01:06:40helpful if

01:06:41any problems

01:06:41came up.

01:06:43Mr.

01:06:43Patch is an

01:06:44awfully generous

01:06:44man.

01:06:45Ah thank

01:06:46you Mrs.

01:06:46Graham.

01:06:47Is that all?

01:06:48Not quite

01:06:49Mrs.

01:06:49Graham.

01:06:50Now you

01:06:50said Mr.

01:06:50Patch helped

01:06:51you get

01:06:51your house.

01:06:52Yes.

01:06:53Yes and a

01:06:54very nice

01:06:54house it is

01:06:55too.

01:06:55So you

01:06:56said.

01:06:56What is

01:06:57your relationship

01:06:57with Mr.

01:06:58Patch?

01:07:00Relationship?

01:07:00Yes how

01:07:01intimate is your

01:07:02relationship with

01:07:02Mr.

01:07:02Patch?

01:07:03Do I have

01:07:04to answer

01:07:04that my lord?

01:07:05Yes Mrs.

01:07:06Graham.

01:07:07Well the

01:07:09answer is that

01:07:10I'm a married

01:07:10woman.

01:07:11A very

01:07:12respectable

01:07:12married woman.

01:07:13I see.

01:07:14And how long

01:07:14have you been

01:07:15married?

01:07:15Five years.

01:07:16And in 1971

01:07:17you became Mr.

01:07:19Patch's secretary?

01:07:20Yes.

01:07:21When did you

01:07:22obtain a house on

01:07:23Patch's patch?

01:07:24In 1972.

01:07:26Before or after

01:07:27you became his

01:07:28secretary?

01:07:28After.

01:07:29So first of

01:07:30all you worked

01:07:31for Mr.

01:07:31Patch and

01:07:32then he

01:07:32found you

01:07:33a house?

01:07:34Yes but

01:07:35we paid

01:07:36£1,000 like

01:07:37everybody else.

01:07:38But you

01:07:38didn't get

01:07:38your house

01:07:39until after

01:07:40you worked

01:07:40for Mr.

01:07:40Patch?

01:07:41No.

01:07:42Thank you

01:07:42Mrs.

01:07:43Graham.

01:07:45No further

01:07:46questions

01:07:46there my lord?

01:07:48You may

01:07:48stand down

01:07:49Mrs.

01:07:49Graham.

01:07:55Now members

01:07:56of the jury

01:07:56because Mr.

01:07:57Patch has

01:07:58chosen to

01:07:58call no

01:07:59other witnesses

01:07:59apart from

01:08:00himself and

01:08:01his character

01:08:02witness the

01:08:03prosecution is

01:08:04not allowed

01:08:05to make a

01:08:06final address

01:08:07to the jury.

01:08:09Mr.

01:08:09Patch

01:08:10however is.

01:08:12My lord

01:08:12ladies and

01:08:14gentlemen

01:08:15as you've

01:08:16already guessed

01:08:17I'm a plain

01:08:18simple builder.

01:08:19I'm not trained

01:08:20to put my case

01:08:21cleverly and

01:08:22eloquently like

01:08:22Miss Tate here.

01:08:25All I can

01:08:25tell you is

01:08:25the facts

01:08:26as I know

01:08:26them.

01:08:28Now when I

01:08:28first started

01:08:29the scheme

01:08:29to bring

01:08:30cheap housing

01:08:31into practically

01:08:31everybody's reach

01:08:33I didn't start

01:08:34off with the

01:08:34idea of

01:08:35planning a

01:08:35swindle.

01:08:36I just

01:08:37wanted to

01:08:37build houses

01:08:38and that's

01:08:38exactly what

01:08:39I did.

01:08:40Oh I didn't

01:08:40build enough

01:08:40of them I

01:08:41know.

01:08:41I admit I

01:08:42ran out of

01:08:42land.

01:08:43But if I

01:08:44had succeeded

01:08:44in building

01:08:45houses for

01:08:45243 families

01:08:47I would have

01:08:48been a hero.

01:08:49As it was

01:08:50I didn't

01:08:51and that is

01:08:53why I'm

01:08:53here.

01:08:54Now the

01:08:55prosecution has

01:08:56told you about

01:08:56my gambling

01:08:57and my racing

01:08:57I don't deny

01:08:58it.

01:08:59But if you

01:09:00think I

01:09:01planned this

01:09:01whole scheme

01:09:03to make

01:09:04off with

01:09:05£159,000

01:09:06then ladies and

01:09:08gentlemen of the

01:09:09jury you are

01:09:10daft.

01:09:12If you think

01:09:12I'm guilty of a

01:09:13swindle ask

01:09:14yourself why

01:09:15am I a

01:09:16bankrupt now

01:09:16and believe

01:09:17me I am

01:09:18otherwise I

01:09:18wouldn't be

01:09:19here.

01:09:20I'd be off

01:09:20with Raymond

01:09:21Jordan in

01:09:22South Africa

01:09:22or Timbuktu

01:09:23or wherever

01:09:24and don't

01:09:24forget I

01:09:25did have

01:09:25the opportunity

01:09:26Superintendent

01:09:27James took

01:09:28his time

01:09:28over this

01:09:28case.

01:09:29Now I'm

01:09:29not knocking

01:09:29the police

01:09:30they do a

01:09:30marvellous job

01:09:31believe me

01:09:31but they

01:09:32can make

01:09:33mistakes.

01:09:35Now as

01:09:35for Miss

01:09:36McIntosh's

01:09:36evidence

01:09:37well as I've

01:09:38said I'm

01:09:38no saint

01:09:39I'm separated

01:09:41from my wife

01:09:41and she's

01:09:41an attractive

01:09:42woman and

01:09:43let's be

01:09:43honest about

01:09:43it she's

01:09:44every right

01:09:44to feel

01:09:44bitter about

01:09:45the way I

01:09:45treated her

01:09:46but I am

01:09:46not on trial

01:09:47here for

01:09:47my morals.

01:09:49This is a

01:09:50case of

01:09:51fraud so

01:09:52they say.

01:09:54Now I'm

01:09:54guilty of

01:09:55lots of

01:09:55things but

01:09:57conscious

01:09:57deliberate

01:09:58fraud is

01:10:00not one

01:10:00of them.

01:10:02Thank you

01:10:02my lord.

01:10:04Now members

01:10:04of the jury

01:10:05the accused

01:10:06is charged

01:10:07with stealing

01:10:08from the

01:10:08Patch Housing

01:10:09Association

01:10:10the sum

01:10:11of £159,000.

01:10:14Now there

01:10:15is no doubt

01:10:16that £159,000

01:10:17has disappeared

01:10:19but Mr Patch

01:10:20says that if

01:10:21it has

01:10:22it has

01:10:22disappeared

01:10:23without his

01:10:24knowledge.

01:10:25He suggests

01:10:25that Mr Jordan

01:10:26is guilty.

01:10:28Now if you

01:10:28believe Mr Patch

01:10:29you must acquit

01:10:31him.

01:10:32But I think

01:10:33you should

01:10:33bear in mind

01:10:34the reduced

01:10:34circumstances

01:10:35in which Mr Patch

01:10:36is alleged to

01:10:37have found

01:10:38himself before

01:10:39he conceived

01:10:39the Housing

01:10:40Association

01:10:41and the

01:10:41subsequent

01:10:42change in

01:10:43his standard

01:10:43of living

01:10:44which he

01:10:45attributes to

01:10:46betting profits.

01:10:48Now there

01:10:49is some

01:10:49evidence that

01:10:50Mr Patch

01:10:51may possibly

01:10:51have made

01:10:52some profit

01:10:53over and

01:10:53above the

01:10:54£1,000 profit

01:10:55on each house

01:10:56built for the

01:10:57open market

01:10:58by building

01:10:59substandard

01:11:00houses

01:11:01and because

01:11:02other companies

01:11:03with which

01:11:04he was

01:11:04connected

01:11:05sold land

01:11:06at a profit

01:11:07to the

01:11:08Housing

01:11:08Association.

01:11:10Now some

01:11:11juries think

01:11:12that when

01:11:12a man

01:11:13elects to

01:11:14defend himself

01:11:15that they

01:11:16should favour

01:11:16his cause.

01:11:18Now this is

01:11:18quite incorrect.

01:11:20No matter

01:11:20who defends

01:11:21or who

01:11:21prosecutes

01:11:22it is for

01:11:23you the jury

01:11:24to listen

01:11:25carefully to

01:11:26the evidence

01:11:27weigh it

01:11:28in the

01:11:28privacy of

01:11:29the jury

01:11:29room

01:11:30and without

01:11:31fear or

01:11:32favour

01:11:32arrive at

01:11:33your verdict.

01:11:35Now remember

01:11:35it is for

01:11:36the prosecution

01:11:36to prove

01:11:37its case

01:11:37beyond all

01:11:38reasonable

01:11:39doubt

01:11:39so that if

01:11:40you have

01:11:41a reasonable

01:11:41doubt

01:11:42as to

01:11:43Mr Patch's

01:11:44guilt

01:11:44then you

01:11:45must return

01:11:46your verdict

01:11:46accordingly.

01:11:48Now members

01:11:48of the jury

01:11:49will you

01:11:49kindly retire

01:11:50to consider

01:11:51your verdict.

01:11:53All stand.

01:11:57The prisoner

01:12:13will remain

01:12:14standing.

01:12:18Will your

01:12:18foreman

01:12:19please stand?

01:12:20Answer this

01:12:20question yes

01:12:21or no.

01:12:22Have you

01:12:22reached a

01:12:22verdict on

01:12:23which you're

01:12:23all agreed?

01:12:24We have.

01:12:25Do you find

01:12:25the prisoner

01:12:26at the bar

01:12:26Benjamin Patch

01:12:27guilty or

01:12:28not guilty

01:12:28of the

01:12:29charge of

01:12:29fraud?

01:12:30Guilty.

01:12:30I'm innocent

01:12:31I tell you

01:12:32I'm innocent

01:12:32I won't

01:12:33accept this

01:12:33decision

01:12:34I won't

01:12:34accept this

01:12:35decision

01:12:35of course

01:12:36Now

01:12:39Superintendent

01:12:40James

01:12:40have you

01:12:41prepared a

01:12:41record of

01:12:42the

01:12:42prisoner's

01:12:42antecedents

01:12:43if so

01:12:44could you

01:12:45hear them

01:12:45now?

01:12:45Mr

01:12:56Mr Justice

01:12:56Campbell

01:12:56sentenced

01:12:57Benjamin

01:12:58Patch

01:12:58to seven

01:12:59years

01:12:59imprisonment

01:13:00for fraud

01:13:00next week

01:13:02a chance

01:13:02for you

01:13:02to join

01:13:03another

01:13:03jury

01:13:03when our

01:13:04cameras return

01:13:04to watch

01:13:05a leading

01:13:05case

01:13:05in the

01:13:06Crown Court

01:13:07The

01:13:12House

01:13:12of the

01:13:13House

01:13:14and

01:13:14the

01:13:14House

01:13:14of the

01:13:15House

Crown Court - Patch's Patch (1973)

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