Tuesday 10 November 2015

Ex-Employee Must Pay For Late-Night Water-Dunk Damage

A disgruntled noodle bar employee, who sneaked into his workplace in the early hours of the morning and dunked electronic payment equipment in water during an on-going contractual dispute, has been ordered to compensate his ex-boss.

Simone La Barbera, 22, of Pipewell Road, Carshalton worked at the New Culture Revolution (pictured) restaurant in King's Road, Chelsea, where he was caught on CCTV entering with borrowed keys at 1.30am.

Hammersmith Magistrates Court heard he dunked two hand-held payment card readers in a tub of water and poured more water over a receipt printer and the till, causing £3,000 worth of damage.

He pleaded guilty to burgling the restaurant on September 19, with intent to cause criminal damage, and was conditionally discharged for six months.

La Barbera was also ordered to pay £1849.20 compensation, £85 costs, a £180 criminal courts charge and a £15 victim surcharge.

The court heard La Barbera did not have permission to be on the premises at that time and the owner did not know he had a key.

CCTV captured him filling a tub with water in the kitchen and placing the two card readers inside and causing more water damage to the other equipment.

The owner identified him from the footage and the first-time offender was arrested by police, although he initially claimed he had nothing to do with it.

La Barbera's lawyer said he was in a “contractual dispute” and the defendant accepts this was no way to resolve his employment issues.

Monday 9 November 2015

Car-Driving Clown Gets Whiskey Road Ban

One of the country's oldest performing clowns – whose act involves a customised vintage vehicle – will not be able to perform on public roads for the next year after he was banned for being in charge of a car while over the drinks limit.

Rudi Wallenda, 80, of Wesley Avenue, Harlesden, who performs all over the country with his Comedy Car Act – a multi-coloured 1926 BullnoseMorris – says he only started drinking whiskey after the car he was driving suffered a flat tyre.

He was convicted of being in charge of a Ford Granada outside the Ramada Hotel, London Gateway Services, Mill Hill on January 7 with 196 milligrammes of alcohol in his urine – the legal limit is 107.

North West London's Brent Magistrates Court disqualified him from driving for twelve months and fined him £85, with £200 costs and ordered him to also pay a £20 victim surcharge.

Wallenda was born into the famous European Flying Wallenda's high wire and trapeze act family.

He says he was not in charge of the vehicle after pulling into the services with a flat tyre and had no intention of driving the vehicle away.

The court heard Wallenda fell over and cut his face when trying to deal with the tyre and relieved his situation by drinking whiskey he had in the vehicle.

He had called his son Anthony for help, but the police turned up and arrested him.

Sunday 8 November 2015

'Sports Pro' Jailed For Violent Attack At Soccer Centre

Goals, New Malden
A young man, who describes himself as a sports professional, has been jailed for a violent attack on a footballer at a soccer centre.

Sebastian Luke Morally, 24, of Carmichael Close, Winstanley Estate, Battersea was sentenced to nine months imprisonment at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to wounding Matthew Drage, 22, inflicting grievous bodily harm, at Goals Soccer Centre, Beverley Way, New Malden on October 13, last year.

On his LinkedIn profile Morally simply describes himself as a 'Sports Professional.'

He will also have to pay a £100 victim surcharge.

Saturday 7 November 2015

Mum Jailed For Mowing Down Cyclist During 'Road Rage' Row

Three Years: Natalie Pyne
A mum-of-six with a car full of screaming children, who mounted the pavement to mow down an autistic cyclist during a dramatic 'road rage' row in which she also demolished a beauty salon, was jailed for three years yesterday.

Jobless courier Natalie Pyne, 31, had five youngsters in her powerful three-litre Audi Q7 turbo-diesel, which weighs over three metric tonnes, when she cut-up Simon Edgely, 43, causing him to bump into the rear of her vehicle.

Judge Susan Tapping told her: "You lost your temper. You must have put your foot down, witnesses heard the tyres screech. The cyclist was knocked off an either went over the bonnet and rolled off or was dragged along.

"Unable to stop you ploughed into the ground floor of a beauty salon, which demolished the front and caused glass and debris to reign down in a frightening manor.

"You were out of control and in a rage it boiled over very quickly. You had five children in the car and they must have been terrified by your subsequent actions and it is a great pity you did not think more of them at the time.

"That is the terror you subjected them to," added the judge, also disqualifying Pyne for four years and ordering her to complete an extended driving test - her second - before she is allowed back on the roads.

As a friend of Pyne's sobbed in the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court public gallery the defendant shouted as she was led to the cells: "Don't cry, don't cry. Kiss my kids for me. Don't let anything happen to them."   

The children will now be taken into care.

"Don't Cry": Natalie Pyne 
Judge Tapping added: "The car was used as a weapon. She was convicted of deliberately driving at the cyclist, with intent to cause him really serious harm, the prosecution put it as a road rage incident.

"What she did was gun her car into life, wheels spinning, and pursued him onto the pavement. She's been convicted of a deliberate attempt to mow him down on the pavement.

"She was driving so fast and in such a rage she clattered a Mercedes van and knocked it a metre out of its position."

Pyne's then 14 year-old eldest son was a front seat passenger and he told the court: "I thought I was going to die." 

Pyne reversed out of the ship front almost immediately. "The cyclist was still in the rubble," said the judge. "She could have run over him.

"Having the children in the car did not moderate her reaction to what happened with the cyclist."

Mr. Edgely, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered neck pain and abrasions to his right hip and wrist and tenderness to his right elbow and has suffered increased anxiety as a result of the court case.

Outside court he said: "I have not been able to go outside on my own and jump into the air whenever I see an SUV or large vehicle. Over a year later I have not been able to ride the bike and pushed it for two weeks.

"I don't want her to go to prison though. Why would I want to see a mother with six children go to prison."

Cyclist Simon Edgely
The court heard Mr. Edgely kicked the car twice and the pair had a screaming match in the middle of the busy road.

Pyne shouted: "You've hit my car," and Mr. Edgely replied: "I didn't hit your car. You didn't see me." After running him over she yelled: "Do you want to start making up more shit?"

During the trial prosecutor Mr. James Lofthouse said: "She got back in and chose to drive deliberately, in anger, at Mr. Edgely and drove into him, knocking him off his bike, with the car carrying on and ploughing into the shop."

Thirty minutes earlier a salon employee was folding towels at the front of the shop, which bore the brunt of the damage. 

The jury unanimously found Pyne guilty of attempting to cause Mr. Edgely grievous bodily harm, with intent, dangerous driving and causing over £26,000 worth of criminal damage to the salon.

Pyne, of Heatherdale Close, Kingston-upon-Thames has a previous conviction in March, 2009 for dangerous driving while over the alcohol limit, when she was pursued by police in the early hours at over double the speed limit, jumping two red lights and ignoring a no entry sign.

She was banned for a year and forced to pass an extended driving test to get her licence back and bought the Audi five months before running over Mr. Edgely.

A witness saw the cyclist rolling over the bonnet of the white Audi and heard Pyne shouting: "Shut up" at her crying children after the car came to rest in the wreckage of Park Salon, Park Road, Kingston-upon-Thames.

Mangled Bike At Crash Scene
She had just left Richmond Park, where the children had been playing, at approximately 5.30pm on June 7, last year, when Mr. Edgely, who was wearing a badge indicating his disability, bumped into Pyne when she suddenly pulled out.

"What happened was a road rage incident," explained Mr. Lofthouse. "Mr. Edgely remonstrated and kicked her vehicle and she got out and remonstrated with him."

A woman driving behind, Frances Teague, told the court: "The driver got out and they were shouting with hands flinging at each other, but there was no contact.

"The lady got back in and the cyclist was leaning down and shouting through the window and kicked the passenger side of the car. He then got on his bike and cycled off on the pavement.

"The Audi was revving and just zoomed off in the same direction as the cyclist. It shot off quickly and turned to the left very fast.

"I saw the cyclist's head and then it disappeared. A parked van juddered as if it had been hit and the car went straight into the building."

Fortunately Mr. Edgely was not seriously injured. "He was up and walking around in a daze. He was agitated."

Mr. Lofthouse told the jury: "By driving at him deliberately and knocking him off she intended to cause Mr. Edgely very serious harm.

"By driving into the front of the salon she was reckless about the collateral damage and her driving over that short period was very dangerous indeed.

"She also caused substantial damage to a silver Mercedes Sprinter van that was parked."

When questioned by police Pyne claimed it was an accident outside of her control.

"She said she had children in the car and was panicking because the car would not start and an involuntary motion caused it to lurch onto the pavement.

"The lurch onto the pavement was not caused by an involuntary movement of the car," said Mr. Lofthouse. "She got back into the car, in anger, the red mist descended and she chose to drive into Mr. Edgely."

Her lawyer, Miss Lisa Bald told the court: "Custody is avoidable in this case as a justifiable act of mercy. This was a flash of anger, it happened in seconds."

After eleven years on the council waiting list Pyne and her children, aged seven to fifteen years-old, have recently moved into a four-bedroom house. Her four eldest were with her first partner and the two youngest with her second.

The consequences for them are grim if a prison sentence was passed, added the lawyer. "It will look like all the children will have to go into care."

Friday 6 November 2015

Bank Exec Guilty Of Brawling With Black Bouncer He Racially Abused At Speed-Dating Event

Guilty: Jonathan Le Roith
A drunk RBS executive, who turned violent and racially abused a black bouncer who ejected him from a bar's speed-dating event he gatecrashed, was convicted yesterday for what a judge called an: "appalling and regrettable incident."

Privately-educated Jonathan Le Roith, 31, was sacked from his role as Director of Capital Resolutions at Royal Bank of Scotland when charged earlier this year and his career in the financial sector is now over.

"You were a thoroughly respectable, bright, intelligent professional man with a good career in front of you," Blackfriars Crown Court Judge John Hillen QC told Le Roith, who attended £30,000 a year Reed's School, Cobham, Surrey followed by Bath University.

"Because you were drunk you have lost your good character and your profession. You either had more to drink than you said you had or the drink you had taken had a different effect on you.

"You were intoxicated and behaving out of character, both in the threats you were making and your disorderly behaviour and what it released from your mouth, which were very unimpressive words.

"You did utter those very unpleasant, racist words and you have to address the fact they were lurking in your mind and released by your use of alcohol."

The jury convicted Le Roith of assaulting bouncer Dean Platt, 35, manger Daniel Jennings and using racially-aggravated threatening behaviour outside the House of Wolf, Upper Street, Islington bar on November 27, last year.

He was found not guilty of the racially-aggravated assault of Mr. Platt.

Dean Platt
Le Roith, of nearby Richmond Grove was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes 140 hours community service and was ordered to pay £3,500 costs, £500 compensation to Mr. Platt and £250 to Mr. Jennings.

His lawyer Mr. Daniel Pawson-Pounds said: "He lost his job with RBS earlier this year and will not be able to work in the financial sector again.

"Because of the press reports, and I'm not playing the violin here, there will be a social impact on him and he has been receiving messages from people he knows all day."

The trial heard Le Roith refused to budge despite being repeatedly asked to leave the private event, hosted by internet dating site 'Plenty of Fish', and grabbed the bar manager's shirt and doorframe to prevent his exit.

"He quite rudely shrugged me off twice, like I was nobody," explained six-foot three, sixteen stone Mr. Platt. "He told me he wasn't leaving and walked back to the bar.

"I took his left arm and was walking him out and it got into a bit of a frenzy."

Mr. Jennings tried to assist and told the court: "He was shouting and screaming and holding onto the doorframe.

"He grabbed hold of my throat, tried to grab my throat and was thrashing around. He ripped my shirt."

Outside Le Roith refused to leave. "He tried to knee me in the groin twice, but missed and kicked my inner thigh," said Mr. Platt, who is also a part-time actor.

"I looked at him and thought: 'Are you serious? Why would you want a fight with me?'
House of Wolf

"He told me he was coming in and took a swing at me and then swung a second time so I pinned his arms and he was shouting: 'You're hurting me.'

"Eventually we ended up on the floor. He was resisting and told me I should let him go because of what would happen to me.

"He called me a 'shit' and called me a 'black bastard' and told me I was worthless and that my people were nothing.

"He told me he could shoot me in my head and said he had a gun at his house and would shoot me.

"He told me I was lucky to be allowed in the country and I told him I was born in London and raised in London.

"He kept saying what would happen to me if I was in South Africa and that upset me."

Le Roith was restrained on the ground for up to thirty minutes until police arrived. "His whole line was: 'I'm a white man, I'm superior.'

"He was looking at me dead in the eye and you could see what he was like and he was saying: 'You won't get justice. I'll get let off'."

Mr. Platt denied referring to the defendant as "white boy" during the incident and ejecting him from the bar without warning.

Prosecutor Mr. Orlando Gibbons told the jury: "He wouldn't leave when asked to do so and wanted to stay because he had a drink."

There were additional offensive comments during the assault on Mr. Platt, said the prosecutor. "He said: 'You disgust me. I know why you are doing this, it's because we are suppressing you.


"'You are only in this country because we welcomed you. You're doing this because you're black and I'm white'." 

Thursday 5 November 2015

'Mum' Hunted After Boisterous Youngster Repeatedly Kicked In Shop

This woman is being hunted by police after a young boy with her was repeatedly kicked in a north London Mothercare store.
Staff told the woman – believed to be the youngster's mother – that the boy was being extremely disruptive in the shop, but were shocked by the strict discipline meted out.
Detectives from the Met’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command are appealing for the assistance of the public to identify the woman.
At approximately 2.30pm on Saturday, February 28 a woman was approached by staff in Mothercare on High Road, Wood Green as the child with her was causing significant disruption in the shop.
A short while later she was seen by staff and a member of public to repeatedly kick the child to his body.
The matter was reported to police who attended the store and carried out numerous inquiries to try and identify the woman
Detective Sergeant Clive Myers said: “All efforts to trace this woman have been unsuccessful which is why officers are now releasing an image in the hope someone will recognise her and get in touch.
This was clearly a distressing incident and we need to ensure the welfare of the young boy.”
The suspect is described as black, aged in her mid-thirties, of large build, wearing a blue sports jacket with white stripes along the arms, and pushing a buggy.

Anyone with information that can assist is asked to contact the Haringey Child Abuse Investigation Team on 020 8721 6920. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Wednesday 4 November 2015

Teenage Girl Groped At Bus Stop: CCTV Of Suspect Released

Police are hunting this suspected sex pest after a 17 year-old girl was assaulted at a south London bus stop.
The youngster was waiting for a bus in Brixton Road, Brixton at 11.10am on June 4.
The suspect is described as a black man, aged between thirty and forty years-old, wearing green trousers, a black baggy jacket and black trainers.
Police have released this CCTV image in their attempts to identify the suspect.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Constable Teresa Moore on 07920 590261 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 182379.

Tuesday 3 November 2015

Bank Exec Accused Of Race Assault After Black Bouncer Ejected Him From Private Speed-Dating Event

Jonathan Le Roith
 An executive with RBS, who drunkenly gate-crashed a bar's speed-dating event, attacked and racially-abused the black bouncer who ejected him and threatened to shoot him in the head, a court heard today.

Privately-educated Jonathan Le Roith, 31, the Director of Capital Resolutions at Royal Bank of Scotland, twice tried to knee 35 year-old Dean Platt in the groin while shouting: "You black bastard," the jury were told.

Bath University-graduate Le Roith, who attended £30,000 a year Reed's School, Cobham, Surrey brawled outside the House of Wolf, Upper Street, Islington, which is near his £650,000 apartment in Richmond Grove.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard Le Roith refused to budge despite being repeatedly asked to leave the private event, hosted by internet dating site 'Plenty of Fish', and grabbed the manager's shirt and doorframe to prevent his exit.

"He quite rudely shrugged me off twice, like I was nobody," explained six-foot three, sixteen stone Mr. Platt. "He told me he wasn't leaving and walked back to the bar.

"I took his left arm and was walking him out and it got into a bit of a frenzy."

Bar manager Daniel Jennings tried to assist and told the court: "He was shouting and screaming and holding onto the doorframe.

"He grabbed hold of my throat and was thrashing around. He ripped my shirt."

Outside Le Roith refused to leave. "He tried to knee me in the groin twice, but missed and kicked my inner thigh," said Mr. Platt, who is also a part-time actor.

Dean Platt
"I looked at him and thought: 'Are you serious? Why would you want a fight with me?'

"He told me he was coming in and took a swing at me and then swung a second time so I pinned his arms and he was shouting: 'You're hurting me.'

"Eventually we ended up on the floor. He was resisting and told me I should let him go because of what would happen to me.

"He called me a 'shit' and called me a 'black bastard' and told me I was worthless and that my people were nothing.

"He told me he could shoot me in my head and said he had a gun at his house and would shoot me.

"He told me I was lucky to be allowed in the country and I told him I was born in London and raised in London.

"He kept saying what would happen to me if I was in South Africa and that upset me."

Le Roith was restrained on the ground for up to thirty minutes until police arrived. "His whole line was: 'I'm a white man, I'm superior.'

House of Wolf
"He was looking at me dead in the eye and you could see what he was like and he was saying: 'You won't get justice. I'll get let off'."

Mr. Platt denied referring to the defendant as "white boy" during the incident and ejecting him from the bar without warning.

Prosecutor Mr. Orlando Gibbons told the jury: "He wouldn't leave when asked to do so and wanted to stay because he had a drink."

There were additional offensive comments during the assault on Mr. Platt, said the prosecutor. "He said: 'You disgust me. I know why you are doing this, it's because we are suppressing you.

"'You are only in this country because we welcomed you. You're doing this because you're black and I'm white'." 

Le Roith, who is claiming self-defence, has pleaded not guilty to the racially-aggravated assault of Mr. Platt, an alternative count of assault and racially-aggravated harassment onwards the bouncer.

He also denies assaulting Mr. Jennings on November 27, last year.


Trial continues…………. 

Monday 2 November 2015

Suited Suspect Sought After Bus Sex Assault

Police are hunting this suspected bus sex pest, they believe touched a 31 year-old woman as they travelled through Shoreditch.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Roads and Transport Policing Command have released this CCTV image.
The woman was sexually assaulted and the image has been released in their attempts to identify the suspect.
On Monday, 23 March at about 9:50pm the woman was assaulted as she travelled on a route 55 bus near Shoreditch Town Hall.
The suspect is described as a white man, aged about 20 to 25 years of age, slim build, with dark hair, wearing a grey suit.
Police officers are releasing an image of the suspect and ask anyone with information to contact Detective Constable Joanne O'Connor, who is leading the investigation on 07795 266293 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 175616.

Sunday 1 November 2015

Black Cab Driver Attacked In Late-Night Vomit Row: Couple Hunted

Police are hunting a couple after this black taxi driver, who demanded sick be cleaned up, was beaten unconscious in the early hours of the morning.
The man and woman, in their early twenties, had hailed the cab near Harrods on January 26 and paid the £20 fare.
However, the 62 year-old driver was severely beaten when he demanded the vomit be cleaned up or an extra £45 be paid to cover the cost.
Detectives from Kensington and Chelsea are appealing for help to identify the pair, who got into the cab near Brompton Square, Knightsbridge at 2.20am.
The cab driver, who does not wish to be named, agreed to take the couple to Addison Gardens, Kensington.
Following the journey of three or four miles, the man paid the fare, but the driver noticed that the woman had been sick in the back of his cab at some stage during the journey.
He suggested to the man that they should clear up the mess or give him an extra £45 to pay for the cleaning of the cab.
The cab driver has no recollection of what happened next, but when he regained consciousness he was badly injured and his clothing was covered in blood.
He managed to drive home where his son took him to hospital for treatment.
He had sustained multiple fractures around his eye socket.
Officers were called to the hospital where they began an investigation.
Detective Constable Simon Jewell, from Kensington and Chelsea CID, said: "The victim's injuries are consistent with having been repeatedly kicked or punched in the head.
This would appear to be a vicious attack on a sixty year-old man who has only recently been able to return to work.
"We have released a photo of the cab driver in hospital taken from a Body Worn Camera in the hope that this will encourage people to come forward with information to help the investigation.
"We are appealing for anyone who can help us to identify the couple, a white man and woman in their early twenties, who caught the cab in the early hours on Monday, 26 January from the vicinity of Brompton Square to Lower Addison Gardens.
"We'd particularly like to speak to the residents of Lower Addison Gardens and Addison Gardens who may have heard noise at approximately 02:30 hrs on Monday, 26 January or may even have witnessed the assault."
If you have any information about this incident please call police on 020 8246 0217 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Saturday 31 October 2015

Knicker-Sniffing Ex Stalked Former Girlfriend

An estate agent, who tricked his way into his ex-girlfriend's flat to sniff her knickers and then accused her of seeing another man, received a suspended sentence yesterday for stalking.

Luke Daniel Moise, 30, also showed up at her home at all hours and checked her mobile phone, forcing Lucy Coleman to end their two-year relationship due to his: "controlling and jealous ways."

First-time offender Moise, of South Oak Road, Streatham pleaded guilty to stalking Miss Coleman, knowing it would cause harassment, between August 28 and September 1.

Prosecutor Mr. Claudius Taylor-Sonko told Camberwell Green Magistrates Court Moise showed up on Miss Taylor's doorstep as she arrived home from work at 2am on September 1.

"She says it is not unusual because he often shows up at her home in his vehicle.

"She did not have her keys and was persuaded to spend the night with the defendant and when she woke up in the morning she noticed her mobile phone was no longer in flight mode.

"When she returned home her flatmate told her Mr. Moise had followed her into the address the day before and gone into her bedroom."

She confronted Moise on this. "There were a pair of knickers the defendant admitted he had sniffed and he accused her of sleeping with another man."

In her statement Miss Coleman says: "I have not been sleeping due to anxiety. I keep thinking he is going to be in my address and this worries me greatly.

"I work late and return home after dark, which I know find very scary."

Moise told the court; "I have no history of violence or anything. we had an on-off relationship and she invited me around to break-up amicably and we ended up sleeping together."

District Judge Timothy Stone sentenced Moise to six weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years and ordered him to complete 180 hours community service.


Moise is also subject to an indefinite restraining order, prohibiting him contacting his ex and was ordered to pay a total of £315 costs.

Friday 30 October 2015

Racist Gay-Hating Nailbomber David Copeland Slashes Fellow-Prisoner In Exercise Yard

Notorious nail-bomb murderer David Copeland has had an extra three-year sentence added to his life term for slashing a fellow-inmate's face with a homemade razor weapon in the exercise yard of top-security Belmarsh prison.

The 39 year-old racist, who brought terror to London during three weekends in April 1999, and killed a pregnant woman and her two male friends in Soho's Admiral Duncan pub is already serving a minimum of 50 years.

His victim, fellow-prisoner Thomas McDonagh, 40, required 14 stitches and almost lost an eye and has been left with lifelong scars across his face as a result of the attack, which occurred on the fifteenth anniversary of Copeland's life sentence.

Copeland deliberately targeted the black, Asian and gay communities and received six life sentences at the Old Bailey on June 30, 2000 for three counts of murder and three of causing explosions in order to endanger life.

The High Court ruled he must serve a minimum of 50 years custody and today's Woolwich Crown Court sentence will begin on the day that expires, although he will get a 50% discount

The former British National Party and National Socialist Movement member from Cove, Farnborough, Hampshire pleaded guilty to wounding Mr. McDonagh, with intent, at the prison on June 30, last year.

Wearing a light-blue t-shirt and sporting a trendy beard Copeland, who's hair has receded to a widow's peak, appeared via video link from top-security HMP Frankland, Durham and only spoke to say: "Yes I do. Okay," when asked if he understood the sentence.

Judge Anuja Dhir QC said: "Mr. Copeland slashed the face of Mr. McDonagh twice with a weapon he made himself with a toothbrush and two razor blades, which he deliberately took onto the exercise yard at Belmarsh.

"The attack was vicious and left Mr. McDonagh with lifelong scars to his face and eye."

It is believed Copeland, whose nickname growing up was 'Mr. Angry' melted the blades into a plastic toothbrush so 'tramline' scars would be inflicted on his victim.

The court heard there was a verbal confrontation at the prison the day before, which also involved another inmate, Sean Duignan, who punched Copeland in the face when he approached on the yard.

Copeland pulled the weapon from his trousers and chased Duignan into the laundry room, where the prisoner pulled a notice board off the wall and tried to get back out to the yard, shouting: "Let me do him."

"Mr. Copeland has accepted he lost his temper and attacked Mr. McDonagh and that attack involved Mr. Copeland, armed with a bladed weapon, running twenty metres or more across the yard with the weapon on show to where his victim was.

"When he did that Mr. Copeland intended to cause him serious pain and suffering and inflict a permanent reminder of what he had done and he achieved those aims.

"The photographs show the horrific nature of the injuries. One starts at the left ear and runs across most of his face. It required eleven stitches," added the judge.

"There are two parallel cuts that have become two permanent and noticeable scars. The second starts just above his left eye, requiring three stitches. This cut just missed his eye." 

Two prison officers, Frank hughes and Paul Leahy were present, but were not quick enough to stop the attack and they feared Copeland would try to slash them.

He refused to drop the weapon and was only overpowered when an officer struck his leg with a baton and the prison officers involved received a formal commendation from the judge.

As a result Copeland, who was deemed "dangerous" by Judge Dhir, was moved to HMP Frankland and spent eleven months in solitary confinement.

The engineering assistant planted bombs in Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho during 13 days in April 1999, with each homemade device containing up to 1,500 four-inch nails in holdalls left in public places.

The first was outside Iceland supermarket in Electric Avenue, Brixton, which has a large afro-caribbean population, then Brick Lane in the heart of the East End's Bangladeshi community and finally Soho, which has a large gay population. 

The final blast at the Admiral Duncan pub, Soho killed pregnant Andrea Dykes, 27, and friends John Light, 32, and Nik Moore, 31, from Essex.

A total of 139 people were injured during the three attacks.


The jury rejected his manslaughter plea on grounds he was paranoid schizophrenic.

Thursday 29 October 2015

King's Road Restauranteur In Court On Shotgun Charge

Shotgun Charge: Richard Gladwin
A restaurant boss and his friend, accused of brandishing a double-barrelled shotgun outside his trendy Chelsea eatery, have appeared in court for the first time.

Richard Gladwin, 31, co-owner of King's Road's 'Rabbit' restaurant and Frederick Lawrence Samengo-Turner, 27, were sent to Isleworth Crown Court for a preliminary heating on November 24.


Gladwin, who lives in a £1.4m apartment in Albany Mansions, Albert Bridge Road, Battersea and Samengo-Turner, of Bolingbroke Road, West Kensington did not enter pleas.


Both face one count of possessing a firearm, with intent to cause fear of violence, on August 28, namely a decommissioned double barrelled shotgun.


Prosecutor Mr. Darren Watts told Hammersmith Magistrates Court: “The charges the defendants face are indictable only.”


Agreeing they could remain on unconditional bail he added: “The Crown have no issues. They are gentlemen of good character.”


District Judge Shenaugh Bayne revealed she was “taken aback” the men are on unconditional bail announcing: “Clearly the offences they face are extremely serious and not matters that can be dealt with in this court.”


Gladwin is the co-owner of the 'wild food' restaurant and was arrested by armed police after allegedly being seen drinking champagne and pointing the shotgun at passers-by and taxi drivers on the King's Road.


A report to Kensington and Chelsea council by director of environmental health Nicholas Austin said Mr Gladwin appeared to be “heavily intoxicated” and “waving the gun around which he kept on display in the restaurant.”

Rabbit opened last year and is run by Mr Gladwin, who is front of house and his younger brothers Oliver, a chef, and Gregory, who grows produce on the family farm in West Sussex.

As their website boasts, it is “sustainable ingredients and wines from the family farm in Sussex are served in a bucolic space.”

The trio also run The Shed in Notting Hill - which they opened in October 2012 - and its licence is also under review.

A spokesman for Rabbit said: “There was an incident at Rabbit in August which is being resolved in the correct manner. Mr Gladwin is fully co-operating with police.".”

Wednesday 28 October 2015

Pro-Israeli Activist Who Attacked Respect's George Galloway Trolled His Facebook Page

A pro-Israeli activist, jailed for attacking former Respect MP George Galloway in the street, was fined yesterday for trolling him on facebook – breaching a restraining order.

Former BBC manager Neil Masterson, 40, of Central Drive, Penwortham, Preston, has left the ex-Bradford West MP fearing for his safety every time he leaves the house.


The construction student, who moved back home with his mother after his release from a 16 month sentence pleaded guilty to harassment and breaching the court order on July 30.


You clearly have an issue with George Galloway, many people have an issue with George Galloway, but because of your previous history you cannot air those views,” Hammersmith Magistrates Court District Judge Shenaugh Bayne told him.


Masteron was jailed at Isleworth Crown Court on November 7, last year and spent another twenty-eight days inside for this breach of parole after armed police swooped on his home.


Prosecutor Mr. Darren Watts said: “The defendant posted a comment on George Galloway's facebook page, which read: 'If the denizens of Bradford West with the help of the, by his own deranged admission, the Zionists find him unbearable to the point of unceremoniously despatching him from office.


'What on God's earth makes him think that the majority of voting Londoners will show him any favour?


'The very fact he's parading his dreadful eminently punchable 'boat' with a tawdry begging bowl is evidence in itself that anyone with money and sense is rightly turned off by his deeply cynical motivations.'


Mr. Galloway feels the words: 'eminently punchable boat' was a threat and says: 'I am fearful the male will assault me again. I'm constantly looking over my shoulder when I'm out of the house.'”


The probation service told the court the 28 day parole recall was sufficient punishment for the breach of the indefinite restraining order.


His lawyer Mr. Julian Hunt described the offence as a: “single comment, legitimate political comment.


By putting that comment on George Galloway's facebook page he's spent twenty-eight days in custody.


Since August, last year when he went cold turkey he's been free of drugs and progressed incredibly well.


He's found it difficult to get a job since his conviction. He's living with his mother.


He was arrested at home and his computer and phone were seized and an armed response unit came to his house to arrest him.


He realises he should not contact George Galloway even if it is on facebook, via this post.”


Masterson was fined £250, ordered to pay a £180 court charge and a £25 victim surcharge.


The original assault hearing, when Masterson admitted inflicting actual bodily harm, was told he had a “pathological loathing” of Galloway and attacked him in a London street while calling him an “anti-semite little man.”

Masterson punched the ex-MP ten times before delivering a “Kung fu kick” during the frenzied assault in Notting Hill.

Masterson - who was wearing a pink t-shirt with an Israel Defence Forces logo when arrested - told police he felt “morally justified” in attacking the MP because he was a “Nazi” with a “shameful” attitude towards Jews.


He had “recently undergone a conversion towards Judaism,” and saw Galloway as a “serpent” and “enemy of Judaism.”