The support that we deserve?

Following up on Monday's shenanigans, I found this on the Staffordshire police website:

Cannock woman found guilty
(29 April 2008)
A Cannock woman was yesterday (April 28) found guilty of blackmail charges at Stafford Crown Court.
Following a two-week trial, Rebecca Meakin of Rowancroft Immobilisers, was found guilty of Conspiracy to blackmail.
Twenty-seven year old Meakin, of Millers Vale in Heath Hayes, was released on conditional bail and is due to be sentenced in the next month.
Sergeant John McCreedy, of Stafford Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU), said: “During 2006, Rowencroft Immobilizers used sharp practices to extort large sums of money from motorists who, in some cases, had parked on private land without the owner’s permission.
“The company owner, Rebecca Meakin, fronted the operation and took this opportunity to clamp and remove vehicles to undisclosed locations - making thousands of pounds and causing misery to her victims.
“Amongst these was a doctor delivering blood for an elderly patient and a grandmother who witnessed Rowencroft trying to tow her vehicle with her young grandson still inside. Victims were told their vehicles would be taken to secure compounds which did not exist.
“There is no doubt that it was the courage of motorists to support a police enquiry which resulted in a guilty verdict at Stafford Crown Court. Our communities have sent a message to other rogue traders that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.
“On behalf of Staffordshire Police, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to the victims and the witnesses. I hope that the verdict will give them reassure that others who may find themselves in similar difficulties can place their trust in us and be confidence that we will give them the support that they deserve.”

So I rang Steelhouse Lane Police Station to ask whether Mr Wilkins might've committed the crime of blackmail. The impatient response I got was that he is perfectly within his rights!

I also rang Mr Wilkins and he helpfully pointed out that if I went to court to get my £350 back and won the case he wouldn't give it back anyway. He says that such judgements aren't enforceable.