Lydia

My 19 year old son just passed his test first time thanks to Sarah. We found her to be a brilliant instructor. She was very accommodating and patient, and all through lockdown and beyond she kept us regularly informed about when we would get to the top of the waiting list. She's very committed to her existing clients and we would recommend her without reservation.

Fake window cleaner...just to follow up, the police have already closed the case on my report of 'Steve' - altho' at least one other neighbour had reported him to the 'Safer Neighbourhood' people. Clearly he is in a different category from sellers of either religion or genuine building services, however pressurising. If the window cleaning scam is still continuing in the neighbourhood, it would be good to put a stop to it. Over and out.

Has anyone told the police about this one?

I can't say I felt very entertained, or got any value at all for my wasted money. He was fairly non-descript - white, late middle-age, short dark, possibly receding hair, stocky medium build, London. As Dez said, he does a number when he pretends to ring up his hirelings up the road and arrange for them to come, then demands the money in advance - which made sense as i was going to be out. Caught mid-work, I clearly acted hastily. But afterwards I rather got the feeling he was casing up the joint - he commented on the doorkeys hanging on the front door several times, as if solicitously, and obviously had a good (apparently valid) chance to check windows and daily routines. I feel he should be easy enough to catch, if enough people know about him. He tried something similar with another neighbour in Ivanhoe, but didn't ask for money upfront - just said he'd send his people a few hours later. So that can surely only have been about assessing potential future burglarly victims, I'd have thought.

I've just been had by a conman posing as a window cleaner - in SE5 - Grove Hill Road. He seems to be doing the rounds so I just wanted to warn people in the area to be careful, and alert police if he comes to you. Very plausible!