Britain's 'kindest' plumber has had his citizen award rescinded after the trader faked stories about helping vulnerable people and pocketed £10,000 in donations.
James Anderson, 56, was given the honour in 2023 for his work giving boilers and free plumbing services to those in need.
Anderson, from Burnley, Lancashire runs Depher – which stands for Disabled and Elderly, Plumbing and Heating Emergency Response – and regularly posted on social media about repairing and replacing broken boilers free of charge.
But a BBC investigation claimed that the company faked stories of helping people as it raised thousands of pounds in donations.
Now British Citizen Awards has rescinded their award, statingthat information about the plumber which has come to light does not align with their values.
James Anderson has been hailed as 'Britain's kindest plumber' and received awards for his work helping vulnerable people but a BBC investigation claimed the plumber used fake stories
Anderson went viral with his social media posts during the cost of living crisis , in which he performs utility services for the elderly and vulnerable without charge
Anderson went viral after social media stories of his charity work went viral during the UK's cost of living crisis.
Anderson's company became known for including fitting boilers for the elderly and carrying out plumbing work for free.
But a BBC investigation accused him of peddling lies and exploiting the vulnerable as he made £2million in donations from the public as well as stars including Lily Allen and Hugh Grant who donated £75,000.
Anderson was even accused of making up claims he saved an 84-year-old woman from killing herself and publicising clients' private information despite them refusing him permission.
A spokesperson for the British Citizen Awards told the BBC:'We pride ourselves in recognising individuals across the UK who work tirelessly and selflessly to make a positive impact on their communities and charities.'
They added that the plumber's actions didn't reflect their values and confirmed his accoladehad been rescinded.
When recently challenged by the BBC and GB News about the posts he's allegedly faked, he didn't give an explanation, but denied using the raised moneyfor his own benefit.
However he told GB News: 'I'm only human, I'm doing the best I can.'
Speaking on the channel, he said: 'I think in hindsight I've done too much too quick on my own, instead of getting in other people to help me and support me. Saying that, it's no excuse. But today has been very horrendous for me.'
Following the BBC's revelations, the Fundraising Regulator has opened an investigation into the plumber's company to decide whether Depher breached sectioned of the code of Fundraising Practice.
Elements of the code include being legal, transparent, and respectful.
The supposed do-gooder has found himself in the centre of a BBC investigation which claims he exploited the vulnerable. He admitted to making mistakes during an interview on GB News
The 56-year-old was accused of making up claims he saved an 84-year-old woman from killing herself
His company Depher was said to have posted videos and photos of a man in his 90s more than 20 times that included information about his sexuality even though he said 'God no' when asked if he would agree to be filmed
Other fundraising platforms have said that they will co-operate with the investigation.
A Crowdfunder statement said: 'We encourage all project owners to be absolutely transparent about their aims and what they will spend funds raised on.'
While JustGiving said it took any allegations of wrongdoing 'extremely seriously'.
The Charity Comission confirmed that it had refused applications by Depher to become a charity three times from 2020 to 2023.
While their 2020 application was incomplete, the Charity commission rejected two further attempts after concluding that the plumbing company was not charitable and did not believe the services provided by Anderson 'met a charitable need'.
The Burnley plumber landed himself in hot water after posts on social media about his good work were debunked.
In one such case, Depher allegedly peddled a false suicide claim that portrayed Anderson as a hero.
A post from June 12, 2022, showed a woman with her face covered next to Anderson with the caption: 'Shared with permission. A lady, 84 years old rang @DepherUK & spoke to myself, she was upset and desperate. She lived 53 miles away in #Preston. I drive as fast as I could, when in got there she had a Noose ready to commit suicide. All she wanted was hot water! #costoflivingcrisis.'
The plumber has now had his British Citizen Award rescinded after the charity said his actions did not align with their values following revelations over his conduct including lying about his charity work on social media
Anderson went viral on social media and his work attracted the attention of celebrities including Lily Allen and Hugh Grant (pictured) who donated £75,000 to his company Depher
Anderson has been accused of mis-characterising on of his social media posts where he claimed to have saved a pensioner but the fireplace belonged to a39-year-old father of two
The woman actually died in February 2020, the BBC said.
What are the allegations set out in the BBC report?
- Depher recycling the same photos in misleading and false posts, including using the image of a dead woman
- A victim of domestic abuse, who was pictured on social media with her young child and baby, was accused of theft
- Depher funds were used to purchase a house
- Buying a car with company cash
- Depher posted video and images of a vulnerable man in his 90s in fundraising posts more than 20 times - despite him pleading 'no' to being filmed
- Personal information was published including his worries about being targeted for being gay
- Employee smoking a cigarette next to a leaking boiler
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The woman's daughter told the broadcaster the post's claims were 'a complete lie' and made it seem Anderson was 'using vulnerable people like my mother as a money-making machine'.
Anderson admitted the post was false and apologised to the family but denied putting the image online himself.
The same image was posted online seven times between February 2021 and August 2023, with varying ages and locations, the BBC reported.
In another case, Depher was said to have posted videos and photos of a man in his 90s more than 20 times that included information about his sexuality even though he said 'God no' when asked if he would agree to be filmed.
In another case a domestic abuse victim was allegedly pictured online with her child and accused of theft despite no evidence being provided.
Anderson has also beenpublicly accused of wrongly characterising one of his moving social media stories - as rather than an endangered pensioner, the fireplace in question actually belongs to a disgruntled 39-year-old father of two who says he had to call out Mr Anderson's company to repair a minor fault.
However, there are concerns over some of the promotion material he uses to encourage people to donate to his Community Interest Company.
On April 5 DEPHER's official X account posted a photo of a coal-effect gas fire with the message: 'This fire was allowing #carbonmonoxide into the living room of a 87 year old gentleman.
'He said "I'm cold and need my fire, but when I turn it on, it makes me tired and sick."
'We attended immediately, a full and FREE SERVICE, was carried out, it is now fully safe, and he will live for many more years.'
Anderson admitted the post about an84-year-old woman was false and apologised to the family but denied putting the image online himself. the lady had died in 2020 the BBC revealed
However, MailOnline has discovered that rather than a fortunate octogenarian, the fire is pride of place in the living room of a much younger businessman, his wife and two children.
They have asked to remain anonymous but live close to Mr Anderson's headquarters in Burnley, Lancashire.
The unnamed businessman said: 'I don't know any 87-year-old man, whoever he is, he certainly doesn't live in this house. And that is definitely not his fireplace. It's mine.
'The company sent someone out on April 5 to fix the problem but charged me a £40 call out fee which annoyed me as it was their fault in the first place.
'But what irritated me even more was later in the day when I was relaxing at home and scrolling through social media.
'I noticed that DEPHER's official X account had posted a cropped picture of my fireplace and told their followers that it belonged to an 87-year-old man who'd they'd reached in the nick of time and saved him from Carbon Monoxide fumes.
'I double checked it and it was definitely my fireplace.
'Why James Anderson posted such a message, I have absolutely no idea, but I immediately replied on X with a photo of my fireplace and called him out on it and I phoned the company the next day. But nothing was ever done and the message was still up until very recently.'