WHEN it comes to elderly victims of criminals, Joan Elford is a pretty feisty one.

Without her evidence, two con-artists who swindled hundreds of elderly victims out of thousands of pounds would never have been jailed.

But even the 74-year-old former schoolteacher from Poole was terrified when she had to stand in court and speak.

She was helped by a Dorset service that has now officially become the first Witness Care Unit in the south.

In June she helped secure five-year sentences for fraudsters Roy Williams, from Clarendon Road, Broadstone - nicknamed the Fiddler on the Roof by a prosecuting barrister in the Daily Echo in 1999 - and Anthony Bolt, of Southbourne House in High Wycombe.

She invited them to her house to look at a damp patch on an outside wall after they conned her 86-year-old friend out of £6,500.

They gave her an estimate of £5,000 - but when she called a master builder she was told the repairs would cost £40.

Although she had given evidence on video and doctors advised her not to speak in front of a jury, she did so.

Joan is glad she did it but said without the support she was given by a Dorset witness liaison unit it would have been an altogether much more harrowing experience.

Joan said: "I was worried before court until I got a phone call saying it was witness support.

"I had never been to court before but they said they would go through it with me - what would happen."

Joan said the best piece of advice given to her was not to look at the defendants while she was giving evidence.

She said: "They told me not look at the men. I found that helpful. I think it would have thrown me if I had."

She was called several times before the court date and could phone any time she had a question.

She was taken to court early in the morning before the events started and had someone sitting with her through the proceedings. Now the service that helped her has officially been launched jointly by Dorset Police and the Crown Prosecution Service as the Witness Care Unit, supported by the witness service for Dorset and other criminal justice agencies.

It was officially opened this week by the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith.

Pilots have been run in other parts of the country but, because support has unofficially been offered here for the past couple of years, the Home Office decided to give Dorset the first £340,000 to set up the unit.

Joan said: "This is an excellent idea. Anything that will help people come forward is a good idea.

"Giving evidence in court is not a nice thing to do.

"You feel because you have told the truth someone is going to suffer.

"It's very daunting - it was worse than my first day in the classroom.

"But with the support there is someone there to take you through it. You realise you are not alone."

As well as emotional support and reassurance, the service will also help with practical matters such as child care and travel.

Chief Inspector Gill Donnell of Dorset Police said: "We've always recognised the importance of the support of victims and witnesses, which is essential in bringing offenders to justice.

"This new unit is a tremendous opportunity to work closely with our criminal justice partners and bring a level of service to victims and witnesses that recognises their individual needs and provides the support they justly deserve."

She said the service would support all victims and witnesses involved in cases which are going to trial in both magistrates' and crown courts.

"Victims and witnesses will be at the centre of the process.

"We are doing what we can to support them and bring more offenders to justice," she added.

Opening the unit, Lord Goldsmith said: "Witnesses have a responsibility as good citizens to give evidence at court, but they also have a right to expect to be supported, protected and informed.

"Dorset's new Witness Care Unit will provide this support, to enable witnesses to give the best evidence they can."

First published: October 23