King's Road Zebra Crossing: Lord Charlie Brocket Convicted Of Failing To Stop

Court On Camera: Lord Charlie

Celebrity aristocrat Lord Charlie Brocket has been convicted of riding his moped through a King’s Road zebra while a female pedestrian was crossing.

The 73 year-old told Wimbledon
Magistrates’ Court it was too dangerous to make a sudden emergency stop on two wheels and he was nowhere near the woman anyway.

However, he was found guilty of failing to accord precedence to a pedestrian on a zebra crossing on August 19, last year.

Lord Brocket was fined £346, with £650 costs, plus a £138 victim surcharge and given three penalty points on his driving licence.

He told the court he is “retired” but receives approximately £3,000 per month in expenses to manage his family’s assets.

Lord Brocket, who arrived at court on the same Piaggio moped, dressed in a dark grey suit, light blur shirt and dark blue tie was determined to fight the case.

The ‘I’m a Celebrity……Get Me Out of Here!’ star, of The Piper Building, Peterborough Road, Fulham was riding home through Chelsea at 6.00pm.

He was caught on camera by pedal cyclist Oscar Blanco, 53, who was on his way home to New Malden from his finance job near Marble Arch, and recording the surrounding traffic.

“I saw that there was a pedestrian twenty to thirty yards away, waiting to cross. The pedestrian was already looking to the right to make safe passage across the crossing.

“I came to a very slow rolling, allowing the pedestrian to know I was slowing for them to cross,” he told the trial.

“There was an acknowledgment from the pedestrian, thanking me for slowing down. She mouthed: ‘Thank-you.’

“She began to cross the zebra crossing. As she started to cross the moped rider drove through the zebra crossing without stopping.

“I think I said: ‘Oh my God.’

“I stopped to allow the pedestrian to cross and the motorcycle didn’t.”

Cyclist Oscar Blanco

The video footage was played to the magistrates.

Lord Brocket told the court: “I was returning from running an errand to Peter Jones for one of my children back too my home, which is a mile from the incident.

“You try to ride in the middle of the road, on the central line to file past other cars if you have to.

“I was going down the middle of the road to the rear and right of a car that went over the crossing.

“I was doing the normal 20mph. The car in front of me made it slightly obscured for anything to the left and when I realised the pedestrian had put her foot on the zebra crossing the only possibility for me would have been an emergency stop.”

Quoting the Highway Code stopping distances Lord Brocket added: “I’ve been riding motorbikes for fifty years. These stopping distances are for four-wheel vehicles.

“Two-wheel vehicles don’t stop so quickly.

“The time between the pedestrian putting one foot on the crossing and my front wheel touching the crossing is 0.3 of a second and the emergency stop would have taken two seconds.

“I judged it too  dangerous to do an emergency stop on two wheels. I drove through the middle of the crossing and was nowhere close to the pedestrian.

“I judged it was unsafe to do an emergency stop. I judged it safer to carry on.

“In London you never quite know. Some people step onto a crossing and then change their mind.

“I did not know she was going to cross. You never quite do.

“She put half of her right foot on as my front wheel comes onto the crossing.

“I had to make a quick decision and it was safer to carry on than do an emergency stop.

“If you have got to do a rapid stop on two wheels, even on a dry road, you’ve got to know what you are doing.

“I would never have stopped and I had to make a snap decision. The bike would have just skidded, even on a dry road.

“You can’t stop in that time and I wasn’t going to risk it.”

However, the magistrates ruled that established case law meant any motorist with an obstructed view of a zebra crossing must show down sufficiently so they can stop safely if they have to.

“From the video evidence and the evidence of Mr Blanco we are satisfied the pedestrian was on the carriageway before any part of the defendant’s vehicle reached the crossing,” announced Chairwoman Wendy Preston.

“He said the car in front partially obstructed anything to his left.

“If you cannot see if there is a person on the crossing you must drive in such a way that you must stop if there is a person on it.”

More Points On Licence For Speeding Pret A Manger Millionaire

Court Out: Metcalfe Leaving City Magistrates'

The multi-millionaire founder of restaurant chain Pret A Manger has already received three points on his driving licence for speeding - a couple of weeks after getting it back after a six-month ban.

Julian Metcalfe, 65, sold the business for £364m and went on to establish another High Street success - Japanese fast food giant Itsu.

The Old Harrovian, who splits his time between a manor house in Great Haseley, Oxfordshire and a property in North Terrace, South Kensington appeared at City of London Magistrates’ Court.

He pleaded guilty to driving his £120,000 black three-litre hybrid electric Mercedes Benz over the speed limit in Upper Thames Street, near Southwark Bridge on September 1, last year.

Prosecutor PC Steven Reid told the court it was 1.44pm when Metcalfe was caught on a speed camera driving at 29mph in a 20mph zone.

Ironically, the following day Metcalfe appeared at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court, where he was disqualified for six months after receiving six penalty points for using his mobile phone while driving.

That brought him to a total of twelve penalty points - triggering an automatic six-month ban under the totting regulations that only expired around the beginning of this month.

“He has totted so now has a clean licence,” said PC Reid. “The previous offence was when he was caught using a mobile phone so he totted out then.

“So, Mr Metcalfe, as far as I can see, has a clean licence.”

Metcalfe, who was unrepresented and wore a dark grey suit, blue shirt and gold-coloured tie did not address the magistrates.

Bench Chair Simon Mansfield announced that Metcalfe would be fined £146, with £110 costs and ordered him to pay a £58 victim surcharge.

He also received three penalty points.

“I can pay that today,” said father-of-three Metcalfe,  who co-founded Pret A Manger in 1984 with college friend Sinclair Beecham and sold it in 2018.

His grandfather Edward was best man to newly-abdicated Edward VIII at his marriage to Wallis Simpson.

Train Creep Targeted Teen

A train creep, who exposed himself to a 19 year-old young woman and pursued her to the next carriage, has been locked-up.

Shane Youngman, 43, of Icarus Avenue, Burgess Hill, West Sussex deliberately targeted the lone female and stared at her while pleasuring himself.

He received twelve months imprisonment after pleading guilty at Crawley Magistrates' Court to exposure.

On February 19, 2023 Youngman was travelling on a train between London Bridge and St Albans when he sat opposite the victim, even though there were seats available elsewhere.

Youngman stared at her, making her feel uncomfortable, before touching himself over his trousers and then exposing himself. The teenager managed change carriages, but a short time later Youngman followed. 

In desperation, the woman moved again and told a group of other women what had happened.

Police were called and Youngman was arrested at St Albans City railway station.

On release Youngman will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and a Criminal Behaviour Order for five years.

The SHPO means Youngman has to notify his allocated offender manager at least 24 hours before travelling on the railway network.

It also bans him from approaching, following, touching, or making any attempts to communicate with any females while doing so, as well as undoing or removing any clothing in a public place or touching himself in a way which would be considered lewd in a public place.

Detective Constable Stacey Adams said: “Youngman’s behaviour was absolutely disgusting and there is zero tolerance for this on the rail network. 

“I would like to commend the victim for reporting what happened and thank the group of women on the train who helped her.

“Not only has Youngman received a custodial sentence, but he will also live with the restrictions of his SHPO for five years to prevent him reoffending. 

“Tackling violence against women and girls is one of our key priorities. 

“Anyone who is a victim of a sexual offence can report it discreetly to us by texting 61016. Always call 999 in an emergency.”

City Exec Assaulted During Restroom Row

Restroom Assault: Comptoir Libanais

A City executive was attacked in the female toilets of a Broadgate Circle restaurant after parroting the mobile phone conversation of a young woman in the next cubicle, a court heard.

Clumps of blonde hair were ripped from 30 year-old Marzena Grabiec’s head at Lebanese restaurant Comptoir Libanais in the heart of the Square Mile.

Another customer, Yasmin Behal, 20, of Towpath Way, Croydon pleaded guilty to assaulting her at the venue on November 7, last year.

She was fined £200, with £85 costs and was ordered to pay £50 compensation to Ms Grabiec, plus an £80 victim surcharge.

Her friend, 22 year-old Lia Elkan, of Hill Green Road, Stockbury, Sittingbourne denied the same assault charge and was found not guilty by City of London magistrates.

“I heard banging on the cubicle door and when I opened the door I was attacked,” Ms Grabiec told the trial. “Two people were in front of the cubicle door.

“I was pulled down by my hair by both of them, very low to the floor and I am one hundred percent sure it was both of them pulling from both sides.”

She admitted moments earlier repeating words of the telephone conversation Miss Elkan - who was in the next cubicle - was having with Behal, who was upstairs in the restaurant.

“The lady mimicked in a squeaky voice a few things Yasmin said to me on the phone,” Miss Elkan told the trial. “She did it twice again, mimicking in a high voice.”

Ms Grabiec admitted repeating some words of the phone conversation, but stressed she had no intention of poking fun or mocking her cubicle neighbour, who she said had told her: “Don’t mug me off.”

Describing the 10.00pm assault she continued: “I had no opportunity to get out and could feel both of their hands on me.

“I told them: ‘Let me go,’ but that didn’t work and one of them said: ‘Take her, take her,’ and they pulled even more aggressively.

“I felt a kick in my ankle and started screaming at the top of my lungs so somebody would hear me. I remembered there was a security guard outside and in five to ten seconds he opened the door and they let go.

“Out in the corridor one of them came very quickly at me and I got slapped.

“My hair was everywhere and there was pain in my scalp for the next forty-eight hours.”

When cross-examined Ms Grabiec stressed: “I did not mimic anyone, but I did repeat the last sentence, but did not want the person next to me to think it was insulting.”

During her evidence she failed to specifically identify Miss Elkan as somebody who deliberately grabbed her hair.

Police were called and one officer described Miss Elkan as “very intoxicated, slurring her words and unsteady on her feet” and she was arrested and handcuffed.

When questioned by officer she said she tried to break-up the fight between her friend and Ms Grabiec and did not assault the complainant.

She admitted consuming four glasses of wine that evening, but denied ever saying the words: “Don’t mug me off.”

Miss Elkan told the trial her friend Yasmin came down to the toilet and they both gave Ms Grabiec a “funny look” when she emerged from the cubicle.

“I was brushing my hair, Yasmin was doing her lip gloss and then the woman did the voice again for a fourth time and Yasmin and her got into an altercation.

“They were having a bit of an argument and the lady was saying: ‘I’m only joking,’ and she kind of pushed Yasmin and Yasmin at that point did slap her and they both went for each other.

“The lady got in Yasmin’s face and they each pulled each other’s hair and I pulled Yasmin back again and when the security guard opened the door that lady left.

“I was trying to apologise on Yasmin’s behalf. I did not pull her hair.”

Forte Hotels Daughter's Mercedes Drive By

Bexley Magistrates' Court

The daughter of luxury hotelier Sir Rocco Forte has been fined for driving her Mercedes too close to a cyclist on Chelsea Embankment.

Lydia Forte, 37 - Group Director of Food & Beverage at Rocco Forte Hotels - claims she had to swerve to avoid an oncoming motorcyclist.

She did not appear at Bexley Magistrates’ Court, where she was fined £146, with £110 costs, plus a £58 victim surcharge and given three penalty points on her licence.

The magistrates had no financial information on Lydia, who has an executive role within her celebrated hotelier family, who have an estimated wealth of over £300m.

She admitted driving her blue two-litre Mercedes without reasonable consideration for other road users on January 31, last year on Chelsea Embankment, half-a-mile from her £4.5m home in Shawfield Street.

Mother-of-two Lydia was reported to the police by the unnamed cyclist, who was recording other road users and captured footage of her poor driving.

Prosecutor Alison Larkin told the court Forte only admitted the offence after her lawyers examined the video footage.

“She overtook a cyclist without being leaving 1.5 metres between her vehicle and the cyclist and then moved near the kerb while the cyclist was still present.

“There is no evidence of any contact or injuries.”

The video footage was not played in court.

In a letter read to the magistrates Forte’s lawyers confirmed they viewed the video evidence and after a case conference the offence was admitted.

However, they stressed Forte only drove her Mercedes to the left due to an oncoming motorcyclist approaching her on the wrong side of the road.

Announcing their fine, based on an estimate of Forte’s means, the Chairman Mehmet Tahsin announced: “The bench feel that is commensurate with what we have heard.”