´óÏó´«Ã½

Our top story in the latest episode (Monday, 7 March 2011 at 19:30 GMT on ´óÏó´«Ã½1) is about the remarkable roman helmet that was unearthed in Cumbria.

I've written about that in my previous blog entry.

If you have a view on how it's ended up hidden away instead of on view in a museum please add your comments there.

Catch up

As it's the final show in our current series I get a chance to update you on some of the stories we've covered in the last year or so.

I do get asked:

"You know that programme you did about X, Y or Z? Well whatever happened to them?"

It shows people rally do connect with the people and stories we bring to you each week.

Care Homes

The biggest ever response I had on this blog was after we featured some serious problems in some Southern Cross homes which in turn sparked a follow-up film.

We have now spoken to the who say that some Southern Cross homes are on their high risk list. The CQC says it keeps a close eye on all high risk homes.

Airport Scam

Our airport conman Andrew Gradon is still up to his old tricks.

Reports of his scamming unsuspecting travellers at Europe's airports have slowed a little but he's still at large.

The and Inside Out are tracking his movements, but there's still no sign of the police doing anything to catch him.

I do now have a passport photo of him - see right. It was taken from someone who wanted proof of his identity before giving him some money.

Needless to say Gradon never paid up.

If you're going abroad on holiday or business, keep your eyes peeled - and let me know if you see him.

Charity collectors

The say they have, for the moment, stopped using the Coulson Organisation to raise funds. It followed our exposé of the techniques and calibre of staff employed by the Tyneside based group.

Dogs

After receiving numerous complaints we investigated County Durham puppy sellers, Ivy Leaf Kennels. In a follow-up we tracked owner Kevin Knox to Wales where we saw him collect puppies by the roadside.

The county council says it has re-issued a pet shop and breeder's licence but warns it will carry out unannounced inspections of the kennels.

Whitley Bay con

Judging by your emails one of our most popular "busts" was when we caught up with Whitley Bay conman Bob Wilson.

Having ripped off the seaside community he scarpered back to his native America, but we tracked him down.

Since then our film has been seen in the States and it shocked previous business partners who had no idea he'd been wreaking havoc in Europe as well.

People power

One the uplifting side, we have seen nothing but smiles on the faces of those in Thornaby we filmed for our people power story.

They met with the and movers and shakers of the high interest lending industry and it's hoped it could lead to reform of the way people with no credit rating are able to borrow.

7/7 bombings

Lisa French faced a huge milestone in January.

Having survived the in which her bus was blown up at Tavistock Square, she was called to give evidence at the inquests of those who did not get out alive.

I first met her when she challenged me to do a parachute jump - she then conquered her fear and got back on to a London bus.

She's now involved with the and working with to give them the victim's perspective in the work they do.

Death in custody

2011 has also given some sense of closure to Carol Pounder.

Her son Adam committed suicide in Hassockfield Secure Training Centre in County Durham and she has long campaigned to get to the truth of a rather brutal control technique called "nose distraction".

It was used on Adam the night he died and she always believed it had played a part in her son taking his own life.

.

Life-changing surgery

We also featured two young people who've undergone medical treatment to improve their difficult situations.

Jen Hogarth became the youngest person to undergo gastric surgery to combat her obesity. Since the operation she has now lost seven stone.

And Mitchell Spencer who has cerebral palsy went to the States for an operation that has already changed his life.

He couldn't place his heels on the ground when walking nor could he put his own socks on.

Neither of those are now a problem and he's even using a running machine!

So now we're off air we can work on stories for our next series. If you have any suggestions for people or subjects the rest of us should know about please email me: chrisjackson@bbc.co.uk.

Thanks for watching and keep reading the blog!

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?