Don't be scared, I've done this before

I first registered with my dentist, Mr Hammond, in 1977 when I started work in Loughborough. For some 36 years he restored and maintained my teeth, repairing damage that had started when I was much younger, intervening only when it was really necessary, and responding to emergencies.

When he went private because the NHS would not allow him to work to the quality he wanted to provide I gladly followed; there was no way I wanted to change to someone else who may not be as good. I paid an annual 'retainer' which covered the check-ups and hygienist and half any treatment costs. As far as I was concerned he was a great dentist and the drive to Loughborough twice a year after I retired was no problem at all. The last time I saw him I asked if he was thinking of retiring and he said 'No, not as long as I'm enjoying it'.

He had other interests - he talked about going to modelling fairs with his business which sourced products from China, and also had a property business in Loughborough. I knew about the latter as he once approached me, during a routine check-up, to invest in it "with a guaranteed 10% p.a. interests, tax free!". I wasn't even tempted with this, but C, I recall, was not impressed with this approach when I told her.

Then, out of the blue, a letter from Mr Hammond last summer saying he had had to close his practise, and recommending another dentist in Loughborough! Half-way through my annual retainer period! I was gobsmacked but wrote back to ask if he could recommend someone nearer Nottingham. No reply - but the reason soon became clear.

Then the second bombshell - somebody told me he's been made bankrupt! And sure enough a Google search gave some newspaper articles indicating that he owed some £7 million! His property, model, and dentist business had gone down. Some of his patients had lost money that they had lent him! His wife was bankrupt as well.

Then, blow me, when I googled him again the results lead me to the pixilated but unmistakable John Hammond beard being pursued on the BBC programme The Sheriffs are Coming last week. A patient who trusted him had lent him £35,000 and lost the lot ...plus some £40,000 in solicitors and court fees trying to get it back. The poor guy had had to reconsider his retirement plans.

My guess is that John Hammond's businesses got into trouble and in an attempt to keep them afloat he was persuading acquaintances to lend him money. He made some really bad decisions and it all got out of hand without deliberately conning people. Which isn't to say I would not feel cheated and vengeful if I'd lost money I'd lent to him.

C had a little "I told you so" moment.

POSTSCRIPT

In June 2015 John Hammond was struck off by the General Dental Council for poor quality work and in June 2016, at Leicester Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering and received a 6 year prison sentence.

I won't be recommending any dentists to anyone in the foreseeable future!