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Weighing in at 15-and-a-half stone, ex-army boxer John 'Winky' Watson is an imposing sight - and he could be patrolling your area for just £13.

The 37-year-old set up his own security company to patrol crime-ridden estates eight weeks ago and already has more than 1,000 customers and 20 major clients, including a multi-million pound property developer.

Mr Watson, from Teeside, claims his firm, John Watson Security LTD provides a better service than the police as forces across the country struggle to cope with a cash crisis.

“We stop break-ins, burglaries - the other day we got two stolen puppies back from a bloke robbed at knifepoint,” he told Gazette Live .

(Image: Evening Gazette) (Image: Evening Gazette)

“My service is better than the police - that’s why people pay me.”

Mr Watson, who served in Bosnia and Northern Ireland, runs his business with pal Carl Teasdale, Neil Peacock and his sister, Natalie Watson.

Punters pay John via PayPal.

Their names go onto a spreadsheet and a van patrols their home around every 20 minutes.

The trio have one van at the moment but hope to have another in a few days and plans to get another four in two months.

As well as home patrols, he also does business and door security.

Mr Watson, a former oil and gas offshore worker, got the idea for the company in December, while recovering from a shoulder operation.

(Image: Evening Gazette)

And he insists people pay him because he gets results.

“As soon as they see my van they scarper.”

But this week, the rising number of private security firms with similar business models were slammed in the House of Commons by Redcar MP Anna Turley, who said she feared their popularly stemmed from people “losing confidence in the ability of the police to support them.”

“Some of my constituents have been driven, in desperation, to pay for private protection companies to protect their homes and their businesses.”

(Image: Evening Gazette)

“These companies are offering protection packages for around £13 per house, which involve offering security, responding to incidents and investigating crimes.

“I’m deeply worried about the legality of such companies, and the fact that vulnerable people are feeling obliged to pay for protection because they have no faith the law is being upheld.”

Her Conservative neighbour, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Simon Clarke, added the practice was “unacceptable” and “wrong”.

(Image: Parliament tv)

For his part, Mr Watson denies being a vigilante.

He said: “I provide a better service than the police but that’s because they don’t get the funding and don’t have the manpower anymore.

“I’m not saying the police are bad, I work alongside them with the same aim as them. “What I can do though hopefully is get to people before stuff kicks-off.

“When you have these little creatures kicking your doors at night or scratching your car, I will be straight there to prevent that - and you can’t always say that with police.”

“I’m a professional set up. I don’t beat anyone up, I don’t do anything like that.

“But I’m well known in the area and I’m always getting texted about stuff. I’ve got a good reputation and that’s enough.”

(Image: Evening Gazette)

Barry Coppinger, Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner said he shared the concerns of MPs. He said: “It is important that such firms carry out effective checks as to the suitability of anyone employed in this work and that staff are properly trained and licensed where appropriate, this is something the Government needs to ensure nationally as a matter of urgency.

“Most important of all is that the Government reverses its cuts to police funding so we can put more officers on patrol.

“Irrespective of whether there are private security patrols or not, I would urge local people to continue to report all crime to Cleveland Police and continue to support our officers.”