PHILIP GARDINER FROM DEREHAM, NORFOLK, REVEALED TO HAVE CRIMINAL RECORD INCLUDING LEWD ACT WITH DOG

In April 2017, the criminal record of Philip Gardiner, known from the TV show 'Can’t Pay? We’ll Take It Away,' was publicly disclosed. The 40-year-old resident of Dereham, Norfolk, appeared on the show where he was described as a "High Court enforcement officer." However, it is legally prohibited for bailiffs with such roles to have a criminal background.

Gardiner participated in the second series of the program, and he appeared in a third episode as well. During the third, although his face was initially pixelated and he was referred to as a "back-up colleague," his identity became apparent when he was seen hanging up a court notice.

He was charged and pleaded guilty in August 2014 at Norwich Magistrates’ Court to possession of an extreme pornographic video depicting a sex act with an animal—specifically, a video in which a dog was made to perform a sexual act on him. As a result, he was fined £500, with additional costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £50.

A representative from Brinkworth Films clarified that Philip Gardiner was not a qualified enforcement agent. The statement said, "Philip Gardiner is not, and never has been, a High Court Enforcement Agent. He does not appear on the programme in that role."

The spokesperson explained that under the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, a certified bailiff enforcing a High Court Writ can be accompanied by an unqualified colleague. They added that in Series 2, episode 1, Gardiner was mistakenly referred to as an agent, but this was rectified once the error was discovered. The commentary for the episode was re-recorded, and subsequent broadcasts refer to him as a colleague.

Furthermore, the episodes featuring Gardiner in Series 2, specifically episodes 1 and 7, were filmed prior to his conviction. The segment in Series 3, episode 10, where his face was pixelated, was not related to the enforcement of a High Court Writ. The filmmakers stated, "We were not aware of this conviction when he was filmed."