Police drop investigation into serial job applicant who caused a meltdown in the third sector
Police Scotland has dropped an investigation into Gerry Freedman, more than 18 months after TFN exclusively outed him as the sector’s most notorious fake job applicant.
Detectives confirmed they closed the case into the Edinburgh-based pest, whose modus operandi was to threaten charities with legal action if they did not accept his outrageous demands, over a lack of evidence.
Freedman is thought to have applied for thousands of jobs across the UK, mostly with charities but also with universities and colleges as far afield as Dorset, England.
Detectives investigating the case initially looked at charging Freedman with fraud after he demanded hotel accommodation and expenses for job interviews he would never attend.
Our initial story led to dozens of charities, universities and colleges inundating TFN with complaints. We then passed on a dossier to Police Scotland.
However Police sources say evidence was inconclusive and the case is now closed.
Claiming to suffer from ailments including anxiety, depression and ME, Freedman used disability legislation to threaten charities to accede to his demands. Fearful of legal repercussions, some gave free travel for him and his carer and put him up in hotels. Others told TFN they had paid expenses to him.
Under the 2010 act, employers are required to make “reasonable adjustments” so that disabled applicants can attend interview.
However Freedman would say he couldn’t be interviewed via Skype as it “causes me deep anxiety and distress” and that “due to severe lumbar stenosis, lung illness, arthritis, and OCD . . . as well as depression”, he requires a two-night hotel stay if he has to travel more than 60 miles.
This would mean he required a large hotel room with a walk-in shower “so as to not hit my leg or lower back which could lead to permanent paralysis” and open off-peak return or anytime return rail tickets as “rushing has led to serious mental anxiety attacks and psychotic episodes and hospitalisation in the past.”
Jackie Hothersall, chief executive of Befriend a Child, an Aberdeen charity, said Freedman made contact last year. “He wanted two nights in a hotel and, as I recall, specified Irn Bru and sandwiches during the interview. We spent money on legal advice and declined his application. But I can see how his approach would scare the living daylights out of most charities.”
All attempts to Freedman to comment have failed though last year he responded to the initial allegations saying he had done “absolutely nothing wrong” and that his disabilities “are my business.”
