Ian Puddick

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Ian Puddick is a Londoner who, from the summer of 2009 found himself embroiled in - and victim of - an almost unbelievable saga of corruption and gross abuse of power by large city corporations and the City of London police.

Introduction

In May 2009, Ian Puddick was a 39 year old married man minding his own business - which was a small plumbing company employing 20 people. Typical of hundreds of thousands of other self-employed individuals, though with the less typical drive required to build a business from scratch, he had similarly typical views of his country's police, political and legal authorities; viz that they may have their share of bumbling, incompetent jobsworths - even the odd corrupt 'rotten apple' - but all were basically well-meaning law-abiding/upholding organisations doing their best to 'serve the public' - after all they do style themselves public servants don't they?

Like many before him, Ian's cosy view of the country he inhabits was poised for a radical challenge which would turn it on its head.

The catalyst was another common enough occurrence: Ian's discovery of his wife's long-standing affair with her boss. As Ian himself observes, had the affair been with the milkman or other plebeian, whilst he would have been similarly upset and his response little or no different, that would have been the end of the matter. But it wasn't. His wife's boss just happened to be a director of Guy Carpenter Ltd, the world's largest reinsurance broker [1], retaining Kroll Associates UK Ltd - part of the worlds most notorious provider of privatized spying and covert intelligence/dirty tricks know-how to those with pockets deep enough to pay for it - for its risk management and mitigation needs.

Ian quickly found himself to be a large company risk in dire need of management and mitigation.

Ian's initial actions

Ian learned of the affair on Sunday 24 May 2009. Like anyone in his position, he was both angry and upset. The main focus of his anger - again naturally enough - was his wife's boss (Mr X).

  • On Monday 25 May 2009 (the day after he learned of the affair) Ian made a single contact with the Mr X by telephone informing him that he knew of the affair and generally conversing in a manner to be expected in the circumstances. He was told to mind his own business; that Mr X had nothing to say to him; and not to call again or else….
  • Tuesday 26 May 2009: Ian telephoned the Chairman of Guy Carpenter Ltd, Nick Frankland. Mr Frankland was sympathetic, polite, conciliatory and professional. It was an attempt to resolve issues amicably by a man who was in an emotionally devastated state. Ian was impressed with Franklands attitude.
  • On 11 June 2009 Ian visited Mr X's wife at home and informed her of the affair and showed her his wife's letter confirming it. He did not show her any other documents.

Having learned that the affair had been facilitated by improper use of a company expense account, Ian went on to inform several of Mr X's clients of the affair and to tell them that Mr X was "a person of no integrity". Not the most judicious of actions perhaps but, in all the circumstances understandable - even reasonable.

Guy Carpenter Ltd's response

  • Late June 2009: Ian received an anonymous telephone call from a man who told him: "you have no idea who you're fucking with, we have deep, deep pockets and we will fuck you like you have never been fucked before." He did not know it at the time, but among the documents provided by the court discovery process in October 2009 was a statement by Kroll Associates UK Ltd Managing Director Ben Hamilton which, paraphrased says: "I got a clean phone, called Puddick and told him you have no idea who we are, we have deep deep pockets .." - No foul language mentioned - naturally - but enough to positively identify the caller beyond reasonable doubt.
  • July 2009: Mr X complains to Sussex police (the county of Mr X’s domicile) that his clients have been contacted by Ian who has slandered him (note: NOT "threatened his clients"). Sussex police decline to get involved as they believe the issue to be civil not criminal. They also note that if they did prosecute, Mr X would likely not turn up in court

Subsequent Events

The Wall St CIA

In the US, Kroll are known as "The Wall St CIA". [2] Their profile in the UK is similar and they have a relationship with the City of London Police which might best be described as "Cosy". That relationship quickly became a major strand of Kroll's "Risk Mitigation" work for Guy Carpenter Ltd. A narrative was constructed. It had Ian Puddick as a "threatening violent person". It was a total fabrication with no basis whatsoever in fact, but coming from "The Wall St CIA", it had a certain ring to it.

Secret court order

The narrative was constructed following a court order obtained through the good offices of Buckingham Palace Lawyers, Mishcon de Reya [3] on 19 July 2009. The application for the order was heard in secret and without the knowledge of Ian Puddick. It alleged that, in the context of aviation insurance, "persons unknown had contacted clients of Guy Carpenter Limited and made threats of physical violence" - in other words it pushed all the right buttons. The application was successful and Ian Puddick's Bank account and telephone records, together with permission to monitor his telephones and those of his employees were handed to The Wall Street CIA - You couldn't make this up could you?

Ian's Wife called to a meeting

Ian's wife was then called to a meeting with a City of London Police officer by the name of Dan Valor (Though the C of L Police say they have no record of such a meeting). At the meeting it was suggested that Ian's wife had fabricated the affair and the related expenses allegations - jealousy over Ian's lowly 'Plumber' status -v- that of her billionaire boss being the suggested motive (honest!). Ian's wife confirmed both the affair and the expenses fraud.

Police Actions and Dirty Tricks begin

  • Ian receives lots of anonymous telephone calls, by turns mocking and/or threatening. They continue sporadically throughout the next 18 months.

Operation Bohan and follow up

On 12 August 2009. Ian’s home, his business premises and those of his accountant are raided by a team of armed anti-terrorist police under the control of the Counter-Terrorism Directorate of the City of London Police. All his personal and business computers, phones GPS’s, digital cameras etc are seized and sent to the high tech specialist crime laboratory for forensic analysis. Ian himself is arrested and, in a short interview with no lawyer present, volunteers the information about his initial actions as detailed above. He is released on police bail.

In early September 2009, Ian answers his police bail alone and is dealt with in the manner that the police know they can get away with when seeking to intimidate someone who has never been charged nor even seen the inside of a police station before. Again there is no lawyer present and the interview is not video-taped. Ian is neither cautioned nor charged

Ian's first court hearing is set for October 2009. It is to consider continued bail conditions pending further police ‘investigations’. It is Ajourned due to mislaid court papers but the police are made to look foolish over unsubstantiated and forced withdrawal of suggestions, made in support of onerous bail conditions, that Ian had a history of threatening violence.

Through November and December 2009, Ian’s business suppliers are contacted anonymously and told that his business is in financial trouble. His accountants are contacted and told that Ian is a convicted drugs dealer. Ian continues to receive threatening and mocking anonymous calls.

City of London Police drop their Case

On 22 February 2010. Mr X is informed that an internal company disciplinary process is to begin; he resigns his directorship and position. Then, on 23rd March Mr X meets with City of London police and informs them that he does not wish to proceed with the case against Ian. The police drop the case.

Ian is finally allowed to collect all his computers and other seized equipment. (running a 20 man business with all your business computer records missing for 7 months is no picnic).



Video List

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Guy Carpenter Ltd - Web Site
  2. ↑ Kroll Inc - The Wall St CIA
  3. ↑ Mishcon de Reya - Lawyers to those who can afford the very best legal advice
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