Sunday 21 August 2011

Elusive Graffiti Artist Admits Spree


A notorious graffiti ‘tagger’ who caused £100,000 worth of damage to trains and a sports ground in South-East London admitted his spree.

Ishak Hussain, 19, of Steiner Street, Accrington, Lancashire covered train carriages in his ‘ENDA’ tag after sneaking into a train depot in Grove Park.

He pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court to seventeen charges of causing criminal damage to South Eastern trains on various dates between January 11 and October 12, last year.

He also pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to walls and benches at Beckenham Hill Railway Station on New Year’s Eve, last year and a railway bridge near the station between March 1 2010 and March 30, this year.

Hussain also admitted causing criminal damage to a Powerleague club in Canadian Avenue, Catford on February 15, last year.

He has already pleaded guilty to a separate arson charge and will be sentenced for all offences at Woolwich Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

Saturday 20 August 2011

Badcop Fleeces Child Crime Victims Charity


A disgraced female detective has admitted defrauding a police children's charity, which raised funds for crime victims, out of at least £26,000.


Ex-Detective Sergeant Louise Ord, 42, who was sacked by City of London Police in February, last year controlled the force's charity Child Victims of Crime.


Ord, of Harwich Road, Colchester, Essex, who worked with sexual abuse victims, was a nominated signature on cheque's paid on the charity's behalf and sat on it's committee.


She pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to one count of fraud in that between January 16, 2007 and April 6, 2009, dishonestly, with intent to gain, or expose others to the risk of loss abused her position of trust as a police officer and committee member by taking monies.


Alcoholic Ord, who has an eleven year-old daughter with her ex-husband - a Royal Protection Police Officer - has made "serious attempts at suicide" the court was told.


Prosecutor Miss Claire Howell told the court (pictured): "The defence has always maintained she intended to repay the money, but the prosecution say she did not have anything like the money she had taken."


The prosecution confirmed Ord paid £26,000 into her bank account, but the charity's total losses were £46,500.


"She was regularly taking money out an deposited a lesser figure in her account," explained Miss Howell. "She was clearly keeping some of that cash for herself."


Ord organised a charity dinner and did pay for a band and speaker in a fund-raising function sponsored by major banks and companies.


"The defendant has insisted throughout her disciplinary hearing and interviews that she had made repayments to the charity during the time the offences were committed," said Miss Howell.


"She offered to show the police through her bank statements, but after a suicide attempt her solicitor gave her advice and from then on she answered all questions: 'No comment.'


"There is no evidence on the bank accounts, no evidence whatsoever that she paid money back to the charity before or after her arrest."


Judge Nicholas Lorraine-Smith bailed Ord until November 4 when the probation service asked for him to order a psychiatric report if he considered imprisonment was the only option.


"I have seen who the losers are and the amounts and based on that the care of the daughter has become extremely important in my mind," he announced.


"This is a very serious case and I am considering not just a prison sentence, but an appreciable prison sentence and this will effect not just this lady, but her child.


"I understand she is an alcoholic and extremely depressed at the moment and I have spoken bluntly so Mrs Ord is not under and misunderstanding.


"The defence are asking for a suspended sentence, but I think that is going to be extremely unlikely."


The charity was founded in 1994 to support children whose lives had been affected by crime following the 1993 IRA bombing of Warrington, which killed 12 year-old Tim Parry.


Patrons of the charity include Crimewatch presenter Fiona Bruce and former England rugby star Dean Richards - himself a police officer.


Money raised is used to pay for care and equipment required by children who fall victim to crime, and to send them on holidays.

Friday 19 August 2011

Teen Locked-Up For Hurling Beer Bottle At Drinker's Head



A boozy teenage thug who threw a beer bottle at a fellow-drinker outside a pub - causing a gash to the victim's forehead - was caged for twelve months yesterday.

Anthony Corps, 19, admitted assaulting the man, causing him actual bodily harm, outside Wibbas Down Inn - a JD Wetherspoon pub - in Gladstone Road, Wimbledon (pictured).

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard two groups were hanging around outside the pub when a man from the victim's group asked one of the defendant's friends for a rizla paper.

Members of the defendant's group then began taunting one of the other individuals.

Tempers flared and overly-aggressive Corps had to be led away from the confrontation by one of his pals.

CCTV footage, which was played in court, showed the defendant shrugging off his friend and returning to the row.

He was holding a beer bottle, which he threw at the victim, causing a Y-shaped gash to the man's forehead, which required three stitches.

Thursday 18 August 2011

Internet Perv At It Again


An online pervert, who breached a strict court order when he made sexual suggestions to underage teen girls during Internet chats, has dodged prison with a suspended sentence.

Mark Slater, 24, of Leatherhead Road, Chessington asked one fifteen year-old to expose herself via a web cam and whether she would perform a sex act on him before similarly moving onto a fourteen year-old.

He was made subject to a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) on July 1, last year after being convicted on eight counts of possessing indecent photographs of children.

Slater pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court (pictured) to breaching the order, which prohibited him from engaging in online communication with girls aged under eighteen.

The court heard his supervising police officer made a spot-check at the family home on February 24 and Slater’s laptop was seized after he admitted receiving and deleting images sent by a young girl.

A forensic examination of the computer revealed Slater had looked up Facebook profiles of young girls and asked one: “show me your boobs” and “tell some of your nice-looking friends to add me.”

While posing as a young boy Slater also asked the fifteen year-old: “Would you suck me?” to which she replied: “Yes.”

He attempted a similar tactic with a fourteen year-old girl, but this time admitted how old he was and was told: “Why don’t you find someone your own age?”

Further teen chat sites were found on the laptop, plus a picture of a young girl naked from the waist up.

When quizzed at Kingston police station on April 6 Slater admitted trawling the internet in the search of topless shots of young girls for his own sexual gratification.

There were also cartoon images of children engaged in “sexual acts” on the laptop.

Judge Peter Birts QC sentenced Slater to fifty-one weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a two-year supervision requirement that he attends the community sex offender group treatment programme.

“The order is to protect young girls from predatory people like you,” the judge told the defendant. “It is a destructive, soulless, lonely activity.

“You are a perfectly decent person in every other way and you have not tried to put these fantasies into action.

“This addiction to pornography will destroy you if you do not get out of it. You have to kick the habit or you are on a downward slope.”

Slater, who works at homewares store Wilkinson’s, was also ordered to pay £340 costs.

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Royal Mail Sorter Helped Loot Xmas Gifts


A casual Royal Mail sorter - employed to clear the Christmas rush - used his car boot to hoard nearly £2,000 worth of expensive gifts stolen at an East London depot.

Computing student Numan Hussain, 20, currently a second-year BA under-graduate at East London University, stored the items for a thief - also employed at the depot.

He pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court (pictured) to dishonestly handling three stolen mobile phones, an I-phone, Blackberry and Kindle and was ordered to perform 120 hours community service and pay £1,000 costs.

The court heard Hussain was "deeply ashamed and embarrassed" at being the first member of his family to be convicted of a criminal offence.

He met the thief while working at the depot and investigators moved in when the second man placed the items in his car boot.

Hussain is now "depressed" and "full of remourse and regret" the court was told and is reeling from losing an important computer internship as a result of the conviction.

"The items were products of a breach of trust," Recorder Millar QC told the defendant. "After the thefts you were providing storage space in the boot of your car."

Tuesday 16 August 2011

Neighbour-From-Hell Back Home


A notorious neighbour-from-hell, who breached a court-imposed ASBO by making death threats to long-suffering neighbours while wielding a fearsome gardening tool, has been jailed for four-and-a-half months.


However, 44 year-old jobless gardener Clive Farquharson was immediately released to return to Grierson House, Aldrington Estate, Tooting Bec (pictured) due to time served on remand.


He pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to breaching the Anti-Social Behaviour Order on May 2 by subjecting his neighbours to harassment, alarm and distress.


The five-year ASBO was imposed at South Western Magistrates' Court on August 11 last year following a catalogue of complaints about his disruptive, noisy and aggressive behaviour.


Neighbours reported Farquharson banging on their front doors at all hours demanding food or money, vandalising their property and making threats.


Prosecutor Abigail Husbands told the court Farquharson, who has been convicted of 34 previous offences, was arrested yet again for angrily roaming the block of flats with a four foot long bladed gardening tool.


One neighbour heard the defendant shouting: "I'm going to chop your heads off" and called police, telling officers he was at the end of his tether and wanted an injunction against Farquharson.


"Another neighbour heard four or five loud bangs to the window of her flat and could hear the defendant shouting at the top of his voice," explained Mrs Husbands.


"A woman who also phoned the police went outside because her daughter was there and saw the defendant walking up the stairs waving a gardening tool shouting: 'Do you want some?'


"They were concerned he may try to threaten them directly with it."


Eventually a local shopkeeper who is on better terms with Farquharson persuaded him to hand over the tool and he was arrested.


The defendant has been in custody since his arrest.


"There is no point ignoring what the future is. The residents have to be left in peace. What am I supposed to do?" asked Judge Peter Birts QC.


"I have been told you were agitated and there is something about your personality that makes you behave like this and upsets the peace of others," the judge told Farquharson.


"I have heard you are having some help with your drinking through your local church and I am trusting you to continue with that help and not disturb your neighbours.


"If you do you will be back here for another breach and the consequences will be very serious."

Benefit Cheat Gardener Grassed-Up By Neighbour


A benefit cheat, whose £46,000 disability scam was exposed by damning photographs of him gardening and carrying heavy loads, has dodged prison because he now claims to be bed-bound.


Ex-bus driver David Port, 52, (pictured) claimed he could only walk a few steps without support and paid a relative to lift him upstairs to bed every night.


He was given a free motobility vehicle; sheltered accommodation; a carer's allowance and free designated parking spot after successfully exaggerating his condition to doctors.


Among the array of ailments he claimed to suffer were chest pain, shortness of breath, carpal tunnel syndrome, fits, vascular disease and brittle bone disease.


Ironically Port, of Kuala Gardens, Norbury, South London, suffered a genuine stroke awaiting sentence - although a judge indicated he is still exaggerating his symptoms.


Port failed to appear at Croydon Crown Court where he pleaded guilty over two years ago to dishonestly making false statements to obtain Disability Living Allowance (DLA) between February 15 1999 and July 20 2005.


Further benefit fraud charges amounting to approximately £100,000 will lie on the file because any trial would involve Port being brought before a jury in his bed and Judge Stephen Waller ruled this was not in the public interest.


Benefit fraud charges amounting to around £3,000 against the defendant's wife, Susan Port, 56, will also lie on the file.


Prosecutor Miss Wendy Hewitt told the court: "A neighbour became suspicious when the local authority painted a dedicated parking bay outside the defendant's sheltered accommodation.


"The neighbour took a series of photographs in 2006 that showed Mr. Port outside erecting a wooden structure, hanging a gate and sawing and hammering.


"In both the care and mobility sections of his claim Mr. Port was granted benefits at the very, very highest level, reserved for those who cannot walk or care for themselves."


While claiming he could not walk Port was cautioned by police in 2005 for kicking a motorist's car during a road-rage incident.


"That is further evidence that this is not a man who was disabled at all, but manipulated the system to obtain public funds," added Miss Hewitt.


Port's lawyer Mr. Nick Corsellis told the court: "This is a case right-minded people will find scandalous.


"For a man who wished to be disabled the fact is he now is after suffering a stroke and is now bed-bound and cared for by his wife and other carers."


Judge Waller, who agreed to scrap the trial on further benefit fraud charges, announced: "He would have recquired a stretcher or a bed in court. A trial may have been possible with his co-operation, but that was not forthcoming.


"The defendant was far from co-operative in seeing a prosecution medical expert and the court considered issuing a warrant for his arrest or having the trial in his absence.


"Although it is possible he exaggerates his symptoms he is now a man who is genuinely ill and spends his days in bed at home.


"He has done little to try and make himself better since suffering the stroke and if he exercised as the doctors have advised his condition would not be as bad."


Port was sentenced to ten months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to obey a nightime curfew and residency requirement for six months.


No compensation was ordered and Port continues to receive benefits.

Monday 15 August 2011

Bent Solicitor Jailed For Audacious Mortgage Fraud


A disgraced solicitor who conspired to arrange 360 bogus marriages in a notorious immigration scam has also been convicted of falsely inflating his salary threefold and forging two mortgage application forms in a bid to borrow £323,000.


Nigerian-born Michael Adelasoye, 51, of Chapel Mews, Marianne Park, Old London Road, Hastings, will now serve additional time behind bars for lying to two different building societies and forging his manager's signature.


He was convicted at Croydon Crown Court that on or about September 13, 2007 he dishonestly falsely represented to the Principality Building Society an exaggerated salary of £78,000 and wrote his own reference from his line manager.


He was also convicted that on or about October 10, 2007 he dishonestly falsely represented to the Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society an exaggerated salary in the same figure and wrote his own reference from his line manager.


The church pastor, who also preached at the Ark of Hope Christian Centre, Marine Court was employed by a Cooper, Carter, Claremont of Hailsham, East Sussex.


"This was an incident that was fraudulent from the outset and involved multiple frauds," Recorder Neil Saunders told Adelasoye. "You are not a person of good character and were sentenced for fraud last year at Lewes Crown Court to four years.


"What I do find aggravating is this was a planned event and you were in a position of trust as a solicitor," added the Recorder, sentencing Adelasoye to three-and-a-half years imprisonment.


"In the course of your evidence I find aggravating the the fact you sought to blame others, not only your wife with whom there is animosity, but Home and Search brokers."


Prosecutor Mr. Stephen Requena told the court Adelasoye - who was earning £25,000 a year - forged the signature of the firm's practice manager, Karen Goldsmith, to confirm he was earning a £78,000 salary in his Principality application.


"The crown say that was clearly dishonest and was something done to gain a mortgage for himself or cause loss to the building society.


"Those events did not bear fruit and less than a month later Mr. Adelasoye was at it again, making false representations that his salary was seventy-eight thousand pounds to Cheltenham and Gloucester.


"This time it worked and was approved on the basis of that salary figure he gave that had been certified by his manager."


The fraud was uncovered, the court heard, when Principality contacted Mrs Goldsmith for verbal confirmation and she revealed she had never completed a reference.


Significantly, Adelasoye had earlier tried to persuade his boss to complete a mortgage reference and include bonuses yet to be earned in a bid to inflate his salary, but this was refused.


Mr.Requena told the jury the defendant's marriage to wife Stella was breaking down and he needed to re-mortgage the matrimonial home to pay her of and allow him to remain.


"His twenty-five thousand a year salary was never going to give him a big enough mortgage to stay there. That is why he inflated his salary figure so he could pay-off his wife and continue living there."


The mortgage's monthly £1900 payments were funded by Adelasoye's lucrative immigration scam until that was uncovered.


"There was overwhelming evidence the documents must have been sent from the company you worked at," added Recorder Saunders. "You undoubtedly lied to the jury when you said there was no dishonesty in what you were doing."


The sentence will start immediately, pushing back Adelasoye's release date from April, next year until May 2013.


He was sentenced to four years imprisonment on September 6, last year at Lewes Crown Court for conspiring to facilitate the commission of breaches of immigration law in relation to 360 sham marriages between July 1, 2005 and September 1, 2009.


He introduced mainly African immigrants to Eastern European EU citizens and marriages took place at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in St. Leonards.


Rev. Alex Brown, 62, and Vladymyr Buchak, 34, were also sentenced to four years.

Saturday 13 August 2011

Theatreland Assault Pair Punched Victim's Ticket


Police are hunting these two vicious suspects, who attacked a 43 year-old man in the early hours of the morning, in London’s busy Theatreland district.

The victim had just turned into The Strand from Villiers Street at 3:40am on July 22 when the duo pushed him to the ground and repeatedly kicked him in the head.

The victim was rushed to hospital with facial injuries and later discharged.

Officers from Westminster Community Safety Unit have released these CCTV images of two suspects they wish to quiz.

The pair are believed to have made off in the direction of Trafalgar Square after the attack.

They are described as a black woman, aged 25 to 30 years, of slim build, with shoulder length hair. She was wearing a red top and jeans.

She was with a black man, aged 25 to 30 years. He was wearing a white short-sleeved t-shirt, white trousers and black trainers.

Detective Constable Steve Beech, said: “This was a completely unprovoked attack on the victim.

“I am confident that someone will recognise the two people in these pictures.

“There were a lot of people in the area at the time and I want to ask anyone who knows who these people are, or who has any information about the incident, to come forward.

“Any detail, however small, could help us to piece together what happened.”

Anyone with information should call the Metropolitan Police Service non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

Two Robbers Jailed For Massage Parlour Raid


Two armed robbers who raided a North London sauna and massage parlour – snatching takings plus staff cash and valuables – have been locked-up.

Adrian Henry, 29, (pic.top) and Terry Heywood, 35, (pic.bottom) were both sentenced to minimum five-and-a-half year indeterminate terms for public protection.

Henry, of Hind House, Hornsey Road, Holloway and Heywood, of Burgos Close, Croydon both pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing a firearm at the premises in Kentish Town Road, Kentish town on January 12, 2009.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard it was 4:00am when the defendants, plus a third man, entered and threatened staff with a handgun and knife.

The Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad eventually arrested Henry on November 2, 2009 and Heywood was tracked-down in September, last year after many months on the run.

Detective Constable Siân Newell of Finchley Flying Squad said: “This was a frightening experience for the staff in the premises and I am pleased that the weight of evidence presented against the defendants at court resulted in them pleading guilty.

“This case demonstrates that the Flying Squad is committed to solving these crimes and putting repeat offenders in prison.”

Friday 12 August 2011

OAP Left To Freeze To Death By Callous Burglar


A heartless burglar, who left his terrified 83 year-old victim to die a slow painful death on the cold floor of her North London home, could be free in just seven years.

Jewish spinster Eveline Kelmenson, of Leweston Place, Stamford Hill was bound, gagged and left for dead after her grandmother’s wedding ring was ripped from her finger and gold necklace and pendant ripped from her neck.

Polish-born Kuba Dlugosz, 33, was convicted of manslaughter by an Old Bailey jury and received an indeterminate sentence – with a seven-year minimum.

The serial burglar – wanted on a European arrest warrant – also ransacked the large five-bedroom house, looking for more valuables.

The victim – known as Lina – who had lived in the house all her life struggled to free herself, but eventually died of hypothermia and lay undiscovered for five weeks.

Dlugosz was trapped by DNA he left on a chisel handle during the break-in on November 27, 2008. Lena was not discovered until New Year’s Day, 2009.

An alleged accomplice, 26 year-old fellow-Pole Szymon Wyrostek will face a manslaughter and burglary retrial.

Detective Chief Inspector Stewart Hill said: “Miss Kelmenson was a defenceless and vulnerable woman who had lived at the address in Stamford Hill her entire life.

“She must have been absolutely terrified the night Dlugosz entered her home and restrained her on the floor.

“As he left her property, carrying her valued possessions, he didn't spare one single thought for her welfare. She had no means to escape, could not raise the alarm and died a slow death on a freezing floor.

“My officers worked tirelessly on this case and conducted some of the most extensive and detailed searches I have ever seen.

“Over 4,000 items were removed from the property to be examined by our forensic specialists.

“The determination and tenacity of all those involved in the investigation has helped to secure the conviction of a ruthless and wicked individual.

“I can only hope that this result today brings some solace to Eveline's family.”

Thursday 11 August 2011

Dad Jailed For Molesting Teen Twin Girls


A Littlehampton father-of-five, who began sexually abusing his twin daughters after their sixteenth birthdays – even paying one to visit his new flat – has been jailed for six years.

“These are sad and disgraceful offences committed by a father who has probably damaged forever the trust they would expect,” announced Judge William Wood QC at Chichester Crown Court (pictured).

“It is a course of conduct over a considerable period of time and with twin girls it makes it twice as bad,” added the judge. “Both girls are seriously affected.”

The 62 year-old dad, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to nine charges of sexual assault committed at the family home in Dean Close, Wick between March 2010 and April, this year.

Prosecutor Mr. Alisdair Smith told the court: “From the time they turned sixteen and as his marriage broke down the defendant sexually assaulted both of them with his finger and one of the girl’s with a metal tube.

“He told his wife she was too old for him and he preferred younger women and wished she looked as she did when she was aged sixteen.”

The first daughter assaulted told police her father fondled her breasts after encouraging her to sit on his lap as they watched television.

He similarly assaulted her as she prepared breakfast, but the abuse escalated to fondling her between her legs and became a daily occurrence.

As the family was torn apart the defendant moved to a flat nearby and paid the teen £50-£100 to visit him, when she was also assaulted with a thin metal tube.

He even forced her to strip naked and masturbate him on ten to twenty occasions and performed oral sex on the girl.

Her sister was similarly abused, but the assaults did not go beyond groping her breasts and forcing his hand between her legs.

When eventually arrested on April 4 the Polish-born father told police his marriage was “hell” insisting he was the victim of “lies.”

The first-time offender later admitted the offences, claiming he was always drunk when he committed them and did not gain any sexual gratification.

He has been locked-up since his arrest and both twins have insisted they never want to see him again.

“I need to impose a prison sentence on you,” Judge Wood told the defendant, also placing him on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

A sex offenders prevention order was also made, prohibiting the defendant having any contact with girls aged under sixteen without consent.