Speeding James Bond And EastEnders Star Colin Salmon Wins Driving Licence Fight

James Bond and EastEnders star Colin Salmon has kept his driving licence despite multiple motoring offences, after a court heard the heart-breaking family reasons he needs to keep it.

The 64 year-old actor broke down in the witness box at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court while detailing the serious health conditions of artist wife Fiona Hawthorne and daughter Sasha.

The magistrates ruled the Bethnal Green-born star, who appeared in three 007 movies as MI6 Deputy Chief of Staff Charles Robinson, needed to continue driving them to medical appointments and honour his charitable commitments.

Wearing a smart grey suit, lilac shirt and blue tie father-of-four Salmon pleaded guilty to driving his twenty-two year-old silver 1.3 litre Suzuki Wagon in excess of the 20mph limit in Old Oak Road, Acton on March 31.

The court heard a speed camera snapped him travelling at 24mph at 7.17am, not far from the £1.2m family home in
Shepherd’s Bush. 

He already has nine points on his licence for speeding on April 30, 2023; jumping a red light on February 27, this year and driving without due care and attention on April 15.

Salmon was fined £666, with £130 costs, ordered to pay a £266 victim surcharge and received three more penalty points, which usually trigger an automatic six-month disqualification.

“We note you are the main breadwinner and carer for your family and within the family, members have life-limiting conditions, including your wife and children, who all have varying medical conditions,” bench chairman Mark Stollery told him.

Ruling Salmon and his family would suffer ‘exceptional hardship’ if he was disqualified, the magistrate added: “They rely on you abnormally compared to most families and we also note your charitable work and that takes up time and travel.”

Earlier, the Hollywood actor-turned soap star, who appeared in ’Tomorrow Never Dies’; ‘The World Is Not Enough’ and ‘Die Another Day’, told the court why it is so important he keeps his licence.

Salmon previously opened up about Fiona’s serious health condition earlier this year on Good Morning Britain, detailing her battle with interstitial lung disease, which left her dependent on an oxygen tank.

The main reason he abandoned his international acting career to take a £15,000 per month role on the BBC soap was to ensure he was close to home in the event of any sudden emergencies.

He told  the magistrates: “My wife fell ill while I was working in America, so I needed to stay home and in 2022 the opportunity came to join the cast of EastEnders and stay in London.

“They don’t offer cars. You have got to get yourself to and from work,” explained Salmon, remarking on the contrast between the beeb’s finances and some of the big budget Hollywood productions he has appeared in.

“It is part of our contract that we are self-sufficient in relation to that.”

Salmon plays ex-boxer George Knight in EastEnders - patriarch of the Knight family and co-owner of the Queen Vic.

He previously made a name for himself in multiple tv shows including Prime Suspect 2; Silent Witness; Band of Gold; Judge John Deed; Bad Girls; Doctor Who; Spooks; Death in Paradise; Arrow and Midsomer Murders. 

He has also repeated the role of James “One” Shade in the Resident Evil franchise.

“Having the car means I can get back to Fiona easily from the studio in Borehamwood. I have a big mortgage and two adult children that live with me.”

Salmon was handed a tissue by the court usher as he became emotional when explaining daughter Sasha fell ill with lymphoma, a cancer that affects the blood cells, in 2019.

“I had to dodge a few jobs because of her illness and savings are short apart from money tucked away for the tax bill.”

He said Fiona was well until developing a cough in April, 2019, with scans revealing inflamed lungs and the interstitial condition. “She had months, not years.”

A secondary condition, which complicated a potential operation resulted in lung specialists at Harefield Hospital ruling out a lung transplant.

Fortunately, due to his acting career in the USA, Salmon had health insurance for himself and his family and Fiona underwent a double lung transplant on June 20, 2024 in Chicago.

After developing pneumonia travel was impossible for Fiona and the couple remained in the USA for a year until she was medically fit to return home.

“She arrived back in time for my son’s wedding, a massive moment in her life as it is something she thought she would not have,” the actor told the hearing.

Since then Fiona has had three visits to Accident & Emergency and continuing treatment at Harefield Hospital.

“The transplant was successful, but she is still terminal and I had to shield her during COVID when she got sepsis. She gets infected very easily as her immune system is really low.”

Regarding daughter Sasha, he explained: “I assist her as much as I can and I drive her to medical appointments. Eastenders have been amazing. If I give them dates they make it work for me.”

His artist son Ben is high-functioning autistic, the court heard and a recent graduate of Central Saint Martins College of Art.

“He gets overwhelmed in public and misreads situations,” said Salmon, adding Ben is in receipt of PIP benefit (Personal Independence Payment).

The actor has endured his own health troubles, having been “hit hard” by COVID and needing steroids and supplementary oxygen.

Last month he underwent hip replacement surgery and walked to the courthouse from his Uber with the aid of a walking stick.

“I had been walking around for two years bone on bone. The pain was necrosis of the hips and in November I had one hip replaced.”

Keeping his licence would enable his charity work to continue, particularly a steel drum band that along with his wife assists older performers and isolated women.

“It has also kept Fiona going and I am needed to drive the gear everywhere. I’m the Captain,” Salmon told the magistrates.

He is also a King’s Trust ambassador, having previously fulfilled a similar role with the Prince’s Trust and plays cricket for the Lord’s Taverners, another charitable organisation.

Salmon said he also needs his licence to drive to the young offenders institution attached to HMP Portland, where he teaches cricket to the inmates and similarly at HMP Oakwood, Birmingham.

Regarding his latest speeding offence he added: “I am embarrassed and ashamed. I feel strongly about speeding near schools so to do this is ridiculous.

“I am sorry for letting down the people I am trying to help and my family and I have now bought a radar and fitted it to the car.”

Before the hearing Salmon’s lawyer Sasha Laurel Jagroo made a failed attempt for her client’s address not to be given in open court, claiming he is the victim of stalkers.

“My application is there is no public interest and in fact it will be distressing to Mr Salmon and his family if his house number and address is revealed in open court.

“Mr Salmon is regularly stalked. He is in EastEnders and he has been stalked before and his family and home is at great risk if his address is published.

“He has had unwanted attention, been followed and pursued for interviews, particularly when he was appearing in the James Bond movies.”

When challenged by the magistrates, Ms Jagroo conceded she could not identify a specific case of stalking.

Following objections from Square Mile News, reminding the bench of the importance of open justice and defendants fully identifying themselves in court the application was dismissed.

Bench Chairman Mr Stollery announced: “The overriding principal is the public administration of justice. We have not heard anything that persuades us that revealing your address frustrates the administration of justice.

“We have heard of the attention you must get from fans, the press, but that does not meet the threshold in our view.

“If stalkers are overstepping the mark and go to your house it would be down to you to call the police.” 

Train Station Fight After Palace v Millwall Cup-Tie

Police investigating a group fight at Norwood Junction railway station after a League Cup tie between Crystal Palace and Millwall have released these images of more suspects.

British Transport Police (BTP) are seeking the assistance of the public in identifying them.

Just before 11.00pm on Tuesday, September 16 a fight broke out between a group of people on Platforms Four and Five at the station.

Earlier in the evening at nearby Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace defeated south-east London rivals Millwall 4-2 on penalties after the match finished in a 1-1 draw.

BTP officers believe the four males in the images may have information which could help their investigation.

A boy in his late teens and a man in his fifties from Lingfield, and a man in his thirties from Horsham, have been arrested and bailed following the incident.

If you recognise any of the people pictured, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 2500112790

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Best Wishes At Christmas

Wishing a very Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year to all of our readers, old and new.

I hope you all enjoy this extremely festive photo we took today of City of London Magistrates' Court, here in the heart of the Square Mile.

There will be no crime and court posts for a few days.

However, we will be back at this courthouse, plus plenty of others all over London and the south-east come 2026.

Talking of which, have a great New Year everybody and don't become a Square Mile News headline!

Best wishes.

SMN

Train Depot Cable Thief Jailed

A railway depot thief, who used an angle grinder to cut free £2,000 worth of metal cabling, has been jailed for twenty-three weeks.

Frank Lane, 47, of Church Lane, Bedford pleaded guilty to the theft from Bedford Railway Depot, where he was captured on CCTV at just before 11.00am on Thursday, October 5, 2023.

Cambridge Crown Court heard Lane gained access to the depot via a pedestrian gate, carrying the angle grinder with him.

He approached the cable storage area, taking a moment to identify which roll drum of cable to steal, before using the angle grinder to free one of the drums, each of which contains high value metals.

After cutting it free, he rolled the drum out of the depot and down the street, into the back of a nearby white van that had a false registration plate on it before driving away from the scene.

After viewing CCTV footage and finding a clear image of Lane, officers arrested him in February and he was bailed before being charged in May, 2024.

British Transport Police’s investigating officer PC Alex Charge, said: "This conviction sends a clear message that dangerous, costly, and disruptive crimes such as cable theft will not be tolerated.

"Attempting to steal metal from the railway network or from depots can pose a serious risk of harm to the offender, and the costs incurred by the railway operator are passed on to the average commuter."

Dan Matthews, operations director at Network Rail, added: "Cable theft - even from our depots - can delay our upgrade work to make services more reliable and means we can't respond as quickly when things go wrong. It also makes running the railway more expensive for taxpayers.

"We're delighted that British Transport Police has secured this conviction which shows we're working ever more closely together to protect trains and passengers from the effects of crime."

London Underground Robber Gets More Time Behind Bars

A machete-wielding prolific robber, who targeted six victims on the London Underground system in just four days, will now be locked-up for even longer.

Teddy Kelt, 20, of Bower Close, Romford pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to three counts of robbery and three counts of attempted robbery.

He also pleaded guilty to two public order offences, two counts of possessing a knife or bladed article in public, and common assault.

Kelt received eighteen months custody for the offences, which will be added consecutively to the three years and eight months he is already serving.

Once released he will be subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order (CRIMBO).

The CRIMBO will bar Kelt from wearing a face covering on public transport; being in possession of a mobile phone not registered in his name and his ability to travel on the national railway network will be restricted.

The court heard how on December 4, last year at around 9.30pm, Kelt followed a 22-year-old man onto the platform of Mile End Underground station and approached him, telling him he had a knife.

He said he would stab the victim if he called for help and demanded his mobile phone.

After the victim handed it over, Kelt patted down the victim and went through his pockets before slapping him in the face, pushing him onto the floor, and leaving the station.

The following day, Kelt sat next to a 16-year-old boy on a Jubilee Line train, where he asked about his mobile before showing him a machete and demanding he hand his phone over.

Two days later, Kelt attempted to rob three people on a Northern Line train towards Totteridge and Whetstone Underground station, sitting opposite a 21-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy and asking about the man's watch, threatening the pair.

He then approached a 19-year-old man and asked about his headphones before threatening to stab him for his phone.

He dropped his knife on the floor in front of the man before leaving the train.

The next day, Kelt approached another man on the platform of Finchley Central Underground station and asked to use his phone to call a friend.

He then followed the victim onto the train showed him the handle of a knife in his waistband, threatening to kill him.

The victim handed over his phone, laptop, and iPad out of fear before Kelt demanded the victim get off the train at Tufnell Park with him.

Kelt led the victim into a newsagent before further robbing him of his headphones and rucksack.

Later that day, Kelt attempted to rob a 17-year-old of their phone on an Elizabeth Line train, again threatening to stab him.

When other passengers intervened, Kelt attempted to punch one of them.

Not long after, on another Elizabeth Line train, Kelt tried to rob another man of his phone and said he would "slash his neck" before walking off.

In total, over four days Kelt robbed three people of items worth nearly £4,000.

Kelt is already serving a 3-year and 8-month sentence for three more robberies of items worth around £2,000, two more attempted robberies, two counts of possessing Class C drugs, and possessing a corrosive substance in a public place.

These robberies and attempted robberies took place at Ilford, Gidea Park, Goodmayes, Bexleyheath, and Seven Kings between November 29 and December 9, 2024.

Officers identified Kelt after they were called to Gidea Park on December 9, following a robbery he had committed.

Officers recognised him in the CCTV footage and attended his address early in the morning, finding him in the garden wearing a stolen coat with several stolen phones in his home.

Detective Sergeant Steven Ridpath-Mitchell said: "Kelt is an exceedingly violent and dangerous individual, who spent four days mostly targeting teenagers, threatening them at knifepoint, for his own benefit.

“I hope that his guilty plea provides some sense of closure to the victims after he put them through such an awful ordeal.

"He's shown no remorse for his actions, either refusing to be interviewed or providing no comment or reply.

“The threats that he made against innocent commuters and the violence he used to rob them of their belongings is frankly sickening.

"There is absolutely no tolerance for robbery on the railway network, and we have regular patrols on trains and in stations of uniformed officers alongside our specially trained plain-clothed officers to detect and deter robbery around the clock."

Justice Catches Up With "Vile Predator" Who Raped 14 Year-Old Girl At Train Station

A “vile predator", who groomed an underage girl and raped her in a railway station shelter, has been locked-up for four years.

Marvin Ogbogbo, 23, of Millstone Close, Stratford fought the charge, but was convicted by an Isleworth Crown Court jury.

The victim, who was 14 years-old at the time of the offence on 2019, came forward and reported Ogbogbo last year.

He must also sign the sex offenders register for life and obey a restraining order, prohibiting contact with the victim.

In 2019, Ogbogbo, aged 17 years-old at the time, met the girl through social media. 

After interacting online for a few months, he invited the girl out shopping.

They met for the day at Lakeside shopping centre in Essex before heading to Chafford Hundred station so Ogbogbo could travel back to London.

He took her to a sheltered seating area on the platform and repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap before raping her.

Ogbogbo then fled the scene on a London-bound train, leaving the victim at the station.

Five years later, the victim reported the attack to police who launched a full investigation.

In interview he denied what had happened and tried to make out to detectives that he only kissed the girl at the Essex rail station in 2019.

British Transport Police Detective Constable Jennifer Brown said: “Putting Ogbogbo behind bars for this abhorrent rape is testament to the victim who showed immense bravery in reporting what happened to her.

“Ogbogbo is a vile predator who targeted an underage girl and groomed her for his own sexual gratification.”

Saudi Arabian Tube Train Sex Predator Jailed

A tube train predator, whose sexual assault on a 17 year-old female was interrupted by another passenger, has been locked-up.

Saudi Arabian national Muslih Alotaibi, 40, deliberately sat next to the victim on the near-empty Central Line carriage and used his jacket to hide his sordid actions.

Fortunately, a passenger identified what was going on and was joined by others, who detained the asylum seeker.

At Inner London Crown Court Alotaibi received nineteen weeks imprisonment for sexually assaulting the woman as the train approached Mile End station on Monday, October 2, last year.

He must also sign the sex offenders register for seven years and was made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Alotaibi roamed the train carriage and deliberately chose to sit down next to the lone teen, despite many other seats being available.

He placed his jacket over his lap and proceeded to sexually assault her by rubbing her leg and trying to force his hand under her bottom.

The suspicious passenger sat opposite her and silently mouthed to ask if she was ok.

With tears in her eyes the victim responded no.

She got up and sat next to the other passenger and confirmed Alotaibi had touched her.

Alotaibi tried to get away, but was stopped by male passengers, who prevented him leaving the train and escaping.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Julie Skinner said: "Alotaibi acted in an abhorrent and predatory manner towards this young woman, but the selfless actions of those on the train who noticed something was wrong and offered to help her kept her safe from further assault and ensured we were able to arrest Alotaibi and bring him to justice.

"When a member of the public bravely intervenes to confront or call out callous behaviour and sexual assaults, it reminds the victim that they are not alone and helps to prevent further unacceptable behaviour. 

“I thank everyone who supported this investigation and supported the victim, and I hope that this result can bring her some comfort.”

TV Home Office Pathologist Caught Drink Driving

A television Home Office forensic pathologist - who has investigated some of the UK’s most notorious deaths - was caught at nearly twice the drink-drive limit after consuming over a bottle of wine the night before, a court heard.

Dr Olaf Biedrzycki, 50, who appeared on BBC’s documentary series ‘Death Unexplained’ has been axed by the Home Office and now fears for his career.

Ironically, it was the concerns of his wife Alexandra, 49, that led to his arrest as she informed police of his vehicle’s details, asking them to look out for him as his behaviour seemed off that morning.

He appeared at Staines Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to driving his red MG3 hatchback in Egerton Road, Guildford on November 28 with excess alcohol in his breath.

The pathologist gave a reading of 68 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

He was fined £500, with £85 costs, ordered to pay a £200 victim surcharge and was disqualified from driving for sixteen months.

The father-of-three had just left the £1.7m detached five-bedroom family home in Weston Green, Thames Ditton, where Alexandra felt his behaviour was out of character.

The doctor followed his father into forensic pathology and has spoken of his love for his role and how he enjoys waking at 5am each morning, excited about what challenges the day will bring.

“His wife contacted the police and she deeply regrets her over reaction because he was out of sorts that morning,” said Dr Biedrzycki’s lawyer Corinne Bramwell.

“He was stopped because his car was flagged that day, not because of the manner of his driving.”

Dr Biedrzycki conducted the post-mortem of former footballer Dalian Atkinson, who sadly died after being tasered by police officers, aged forty-eight years-old.

He also investigated the death of Anthony Walgate, 23, who was the first victim of East London gay serial killer Stephen Port.

Dr Biedrzycki also conducted the post-mortem of murdered Kent dog-walker Julia James, 53, and IT consultant Lee Pomeroy, 51, who was stabbed to death on a train near Guildford.

Prosecutor Rabbi Khan told the court Dr Biedrzycki was pulled over by police as he exited an A road.

“A member of the public had called the police, in this case the wife of the defendant, and he was seen driving at 14mph in a 30mph zone, drifting towards the near side.

“He told the police officers he had a few drinks the previous evening and was arrested after failing a road-side breath-test.”

Dr Biedrzycki was emotional as he sat in the secure dock during the twenty-minute hearing, which was also attended by his wife and a professional colleague.

“It is devastating for him to find himself in this situation,” explained Ms Bramwell. “It is extremely regrettable that he is here and it is not something that will be repeated.

“The last two weeks have been incredibly difficult to deal with and Dr Biedrzycki did not sleep for forty-eight hours after his arrest.

“The impact of a criminal record for this man is devastating. His career is his whole life.

“He has been suspended from Home Office work and that is fifty per cent of his income and he has referred himself to the General Medical Council (GMC).

“I hope that it is obvious the ramifications of his behaviour is huge. It is over and above the fine.

“He has to travel around to perform post-mortem’s. Often more than one in a day and he understands that a driving disqualification is a reality.

“He has had a good income and that has now been cut in half and is at risk because the GMC have the option of suspension or erasure for five years.

“Having been told he has high blood pressure he lost three stone in weight and was taking medication and not consuming any alcohol,” said Ms Bramwell.

“He started drinking when his wife was out and had not drank in months. He drank over a bottle of wine and went to bed and got up early.

“There are many mitigating factors. He is a person of good character, with an exceptional background.

“Taking into account the devastating impact this is having I ask the court to show as much mercy as possible.

“In reality he is now going to have to take taxis or rely on his wife.”

Dr Biedrzycki’s work regularly involved travel all over Kent and Surrey and to Poplar, east London and St. Helier, south-west London.

“The financial burden may run into many hundreds of pounds, increasing the financial burden of this family man,” added the lawyer.

“He works all of the time to support his family. He is busy and hard-working in a stressful job.”

Bench Chairwoman Jane Hargrave told Dr Biedrzycki: “We give you credit for your good character and your guilty plea and there are no aggravating features.

“Clearly you are a man of exceptional public service and your skills are in high demand.

“I am shocked that a man of your standing has to drive himself around south-east England, going from place to place and that obviously has had an effect on your health.

“You had a high income and that is now going to be halved.

“You will put this behind you. We see people such as yourself that reach a crisis and put it behind them and we wish you all the best.”