Five months had passed since Sarah left Greg.  Now she found herself summoned before the benefits agency officer, interviewed under caution and accused of living with her ex partner for three years whilst claiming benefit as a single mother.

            “Oh for cryin’ out loud,” Sarah screamed.  “Are you lot ganging up on me or something…. you, police, social services?  I keep telling you, Gregory Potter is the criminal.  I’m the long-suffering WRONGED PARTY.”

            “Well I have reason to believe that you’ve been living with him,” Joseph Drinkwater gloated.

            “Yeah, just cos he tells you so.  This letter that you sent me is dated a week ago, how come I only received it yesterday?” Sarah accused.  “Anyway why am I not allowed to know before hand, BEFORE you started that tape, what this is all about?  It says on this letter that I’m allowed to know all the details BEFOREHAND.”

            “All will become clear as we proceed.  You are being interviewed under caution.  You do not have to say anything; but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned, something which you later rely on in court.  Anything that you do say may be given in evidence.  You are not under arrest.  You are free to come and go as you please and you may seek legal advice if you wish to do so at any time.  Ok?” droned on Drinkwater.

            “Yeah, well, I don’t know if I can trust the ‘legal system’.  This looks a bit like a mock trial to me, like it’s all been fixed up some time ago by you heavies, like it’s all part of the plan towards him getting my children.  I keep telling you HE is the one claiming incapacity benefit when he’s fit enough to pass the police fitness test, HE is the one who drilled a hole in his meter, sticks a pin in it and gets free electricity, HE is the one who claims massive sums on insurance fraud, HE is the one who kits out his lounge and bathroom in his luxury home - all courtesy of social services.  Furthermore HE is the one who drives around in a brand new fifteen thousand pounds motor - courtesy of mobility allowance, AND HE is the one with county court judgements as long as his arm and who frequently gets visited by bailiffs.  AND he doesn’t pay one penny in child maintenance either.  Why don’t you do your job properly and go and question HIM?  And how many other Gregory Potters are out there that you refuse to investigate?  You lot are the criminals because you are guilty of aiding and abetting them.  No wonder this country and the world has gone to rack and ruin when you have criminals in power.”

            As part of Drinkwater’s evidence that she had moved in with him, he stated that neighbours of Greg’s were prepared to testify that she had been seen at his house on a daily basis; to which she retorted that they must lead miserable and boring lives if they spend their days with their noses in the window watching the comings and goings of others.  He then cited letters that Mr Potter allegedly had in his possession, which had supposedly been sent to her at his address. And he proudly informed her that he was in possession of some of her utilities bills and also some of her bank statements, which would suggest that Mr Potter was telling the truth.

            “Those statements prove that I was living at home but that for some periods I was either away or more economical with the bills.  I’ve explained that I stayed with Mr Potter at the time of the births, during renovations, odd weeks here and there,” blasted Sarah.  “And in any case, did he also hand you my diary and address book and my daughter’s birthday money and her nan’s watch which has huge sentimental value for me, which he STOLE?  And did he give you my dear mum’s last diary, which she wrote in during her dying days which he also STOLE and which has considerable personal value to me?  How low can you sink?  Stealing is a criminal offence, but to be robbed of something so nostalgically valuable is beyond belief.  Just picture it, how would you feel?  I’ve already explained that I also scrimped and saved on all my bills to give money to him to pay off HIS debts and I’ll admit to washing some of my laundry at his house using his free electricity to further save money to give to him. 

            Are you also in possession of solicitor’s letters, confirming the two and a half thousand pounds that my dad lent him, of which not a penny has been repaid?  And has he also shown you evidence of the hundreds of pounds worth of re-structuring works done by my uncle in his dining room/hall and stairway which was done for him in his sumptuous home, buck shee by my family?  No, I didn’t think so - I wonder why!  I call his behaviour galling and crass.  He needs a thump on his nose not protection, encouragement and pampering by your type.  He is an evil, vengeful, compulsive liar, and an abuser of women and children.  He should be languishing behind bars.

            If your daughter or sister had innocently and good-heartedly got involved with a bastard like Greg, you wouldn’t be so quick to listen and support him and incriminate his victim - YOUR loved family member.  Don’t you people realise that this is what the world has degenerated into and that it won’t be long before people like you, who are in positions of power, become victims yourselves of evil men in one form or another because you repeatedly fail to punish the offenders?  Maybe you lot will change your tune then.  Don’t think it won’t happen to you - eventually it will.  Trouble is, it’ll probably be too late then - the planet will be well and truly destroyed by crime.”

            Drinkwater then wittered on about Sarah’s terminology as he referred to a statement that she had signed for court which Greg had handed him.  It read, “For the safety of myself and my children I had to leave.” 

            She wearisomally explained for the umpteenth time that the statement referred to Christmastime, one of the times she had holidayed at Greg’s. “You don’t seem to realise how violent and dangerous guys like Greg are,” Sarah blasted.  “He’s made the most hellish and heinous of threats, such as of snatching my babies and ensuring that I’ll never see them again and of torturing me and my older children.  He’s carried out some of his threats already.  He’s constantly plagued me and sent social workers to see me after feeding them a pack of lies, intending for them to start child-care proceedings.  He’s damaged my property and he’s attacked my children. 

            It’s like walking a tightrope and wondering when you’re going to be pushed into the roaring fires of hell.  I never know what’s going to happen next and it scares the living daylights out of me especially as people like you, who have any clout, are siding with him.  This sort of thing happened to his ex wife too - a hard working, decent, law-abiding citizen and doting mother who lost everything - her kids, her home.... and her security, whereas he gained everything.  I don’t understand it.  It is unbelievable and scandalous.  The worry and stress is eating away inside me.  The way I see it, Gregory Potter must’ve planned all this while we were together.  All the time he must’ve been looking at ways that he could blackmail me into staying with him if I got any ideas about dumping him.  He made it clear often enough that I’d be the loser.  Shows you what a low-life he is.”

            But the benefit agency officer cared not one jot and continued to incriminate her with determined resolve.