What A plank: Robber Starting Prison Term For Brutal Robbery

A robber, who repeatedly struck his middle-aged victim over the head with a plank of wood – inflicting a broken nose and cuts to the head – has been locked-up.

Jody Cole, 44, struck in the dark near Earl's Court Underground Station at 11.10pm on Tuesday, December 2, 2022, leaving his victim – aged in his fifties – bloodied and unconscious.

At Inner London Crown Court Cole, of Nunhead Lane, Nunhead, south-east London received three years and four months imprisonment.

He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and two counts of assaulting police officers who intervened.

As the victim approached the station from Warwick Road, Cole was approaching on a bicycle. 

He dismounted, ran towards the victim from behind and struck him over the head with a plank of wood.

The victim fell to the floor, and Cole continued to strike him repeatedly across the head and body until the victim fell unconscious.

Cole began to rummage through the victim’s pockets while he was laying on the ground, taking his wallet which contained his bank cards and driving licence.

Cole attempted to flee but two Metropolitan Police officers, who had been alerted to the incident by members of the public, had rushed to the scene to help.

He punched and kicked at both of the officers in the middle of the road and managed to escape the scene after a car run over one of the officer's feet.

The officers immediately administered first aid to the victim, who was bleeding profusely from his head. 

He was taken to hospital with a broken nose and several cuts and wounds across his head.

Later in the evening, at around 11.40pm, Cole attempted to use the stolen cards in a nearby supermarket on the same road.

An urgent investigation was launched and an image of Cole was distributed to multiple police forces in an attempt to identify him. 

A British Transport Police officer recognised Cole having previously interacted with him, and Cole was then arrested.

Detective Constable Richard Rowe said: "I'm very pleased with the outcome in this case. 

“Cole is a depraved individual who brutally assaulted his victim in an unprovoked attack, in full view of other commuters and the public.

"I also want to commend the actions of the two officers from the Metropolitan Police, who put themselves in harm's way while attempting to protect the victim and detain Cole.

"I hope that this sentence provides the victims with a sense of closure, and underscores our commitment to the travelling public that there is absolutely no place for behaviour like this on the railway network."

Accused Fraudster Son Left Mum Suicide Note

A supermarket worker left his widowed OAP mother a Beachy Head suicide note after she discovered her bank accounts had been emptied of £595,000 in life savings, a court heard.

However, even though officers found his car near the infamous south coast suicide spot Simon Grimes, 44, walked into a police station a few days later.

He confessed to transferring the money from the bank accounts of his mother Linda Grimes, 73, telling police he spent the cash on cocaine, alcohol and gambling, plus the payment of a loan shark debt.

The former Tesco employee, of Kenilworth Road, Petts Wood, Orpington, is now fighting the charges at Croydon Crown Court.

He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud by abuse of position in relation to a Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) account and Nationwide account between May 20, 2016 and June 16, 2022.

Linda investigated with the assistance of her other son, Mark, 48, and the pair visited her local branch.

“I was devastated. I just broke down in Nationwide and cried, not thinking my son could do that to me,” she told the jury today (Monday). 

“I did not give him any permission to do that. He just did it himself and there was never a straight answer.

“I confronted him and he became angry because I think he knew what he did was wrong.

“He said he put the money in an offshore account in Amsterdam to make more money, but it was a lie.”

Grimes had moved into his mother’s Andover Road, Orpington bungalow on the condition he contribute to the utility bills after his marriage collapsed, but the trial heard he took advantage of this to intercept his mother’s post.

“We did find all the letters he kept from me,” said Linda. “In his bedroom there were lots of letters in my name, new bank card and PIN’s.”

A few days after he was exposed Simon left his mother a note on the coffee table.

She told the court it read: ‘I’m sorry for what I’ve done. By the time you read this I will be at Beachy Head and I will be dead.’

“I had to call the police and they did a search of Beach Head. That was not a very good day either,” she added.

“They did a search and a couple of days later he walked into a police station. I then heard he was in a psychiatric hospital and that is the last time I have heard of or seen Simon.”

Earlier, prosecutor Robin Griffiths told the jury: “Over several years Simon Grimes abused the trust of his mother Linda by transferring funds from her RBS and Nationwide accounts into his own bank account.

“Before he plundered her bank accounts she considered herself comfortably well-off, following the death of her husband Malcolm in 2015.

“He was a successful chartered accountant with his own business and owned four other properties and the entire estate passed to his widow.

“Those properties and the accountancy business were sold for substantial sums and the proceeds paid into Linda’s RBS account.”

Eventually Linda also sold the bungalow she had shared with her late husband, banking the proceeds with Nationwide, and moved into a Croydon rental property with Simon, which he claimed was owned by a friend of his.

“By June, 2022 it was all gone and the account was in overdraft,” explained Mr Griffiths. “The RBS account was also in a £6,000 overdraft.

“These accounts were to provide a comfortable existence in her golden years, but now she has a bleak financial outlook with only her pension.”

On July 4, 2022 Linda and older son Mark finally discovered the truth at a West Wickham branch of Nationwide.

“When asked what had happened to the money Simon was angry and defensive, claiming the funds were offshore gaining interest.”

On August 8, 2022 Mark reported his brother to the police and he was finally questioned on June 9, 2023.

“He said since his father had passed away he had a really bad time and was drinking, taking drugs and gambling, going to sleep at 7am and 8am.

“He said his mother allowed him access to her accounts and he fell into a cycle and lost £40,000 of his own money from the sale of his own matrimonial home.”

Grimes also told police a loan shark debt increased from £15,000 to £40,000 and aggressive collectors had been banging on the bungalow’s front door.

“I went to Beachy Head to do myself in, but I didn’t,” said Grimes. “I was doing drugs, cocaine, everyday.”

Linda continued giving evidence from behind a screen “Most of the money had been taken out of the bank without my knowledge. Certain things happened and there was northing in the bank.

“The way to pay the mortgage off was to sell the bungalow and move. I liked it, but there were too many sad memories there.

“The idea was to buy another property, but that did not happen as most of the money had been taken from the bank without my knowledge.

“It was supposed to be hidden away and not touched.”

Via his defence lawyer Grimes has suggested his brother Mark is an “intimidating” individual, describing him as a “money-orientated successful businessman.”

His defence team also produced bank records, which they suggest proves Linda was capable of making online and international money transfers, which she denies.

Trial continues……………

Police Hunting Thameslink Pervert

Detectives investigating an incident of outraging public decency on
board a Thameslink service to Luton have released this image in connection with their investigation.

At around 7.30pm on Friday February 27, a woman boarded the train at St Pancras International, heading towards Bedford, when a man sat in the seat next to her.

He proceeded to touch himself inappropriately beneath his clothes before leaving the train at Luton railway station.

Detectives would like to speak to the man pictured, as they believe he may have information that could help their investigation.

Anyone who recognises him is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 704 of 27 February.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Lady Is Not For Waiting: Speeding Ban For Princess Diana's Former Flunkie

Court Out: Beckwith-Smith

The former Lady-in-Waiting to the late Princess Diana was banned from driving for six months yesterday after being caught speeding for the fourth time.

Anne Honor Mary Beckwith-Smith, 74, fought to keep her licence, insisting she needed it to drive from her £2.2m property in Onslow Square, South Kensington to visit her ailing brother in Wiltshire.

However, Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court found a disqualification would not cause her ‘exceptional hardship’ and also fined her £307, with £130 costs and ordered her to pay a £123 victim surcharge.

She pleaded guilty to driving her blue Audi Q2 in South Street, Wilton, Salisbury, Wiltshire at 36mph in a 30mph zone on August 7, last year.

Beckwith-Smith was Lady-in-Waiting to the late HRH Princess of Wales between 1981 and her tragic death in 1997.

She told the court her brother James Merton Beckwith-Smith, 77, resides in Milford House care home and a ban would impact her ability to regularly visit him.

However, she did not reveal in her evidence the existence of her second property, the Grade II-listed Bishopstone House, Salisbury, which has been in the family for many years.

It is only a fifteen minute taxi ride from the care home, which prosecutor Oliver Hall was quick to pick up on.

“Do you have an address in Salisbury?” asked prosecutor Mr Hall. “Why haven’t you mentioned that?

“You took an oath to tell the truth. Didn’t you think it was relevant to mention that?”

“Nobody asked me,” replied Beckwith-Smith, who stressed the loss of her licence would cause considerable hardship because she lives in London, eighty miles away from her brother.

“You could have a nice summer in the country, couldn’t you?” asked Mr Hall, mentioning the weather was particularly pleasant today.

“Well, what’s tomorrow going to be like?” asked Beckwith-Smith, stressing life away from London would be devastating for her socially.

Happier Times: Beckwith-Smith with Princess Diana

The court heard at the time of the offence Beckwith-Smith had nine penalty points on her driving licence for three speeding offences on October 11 and 18, 2022 and April 15, 2025.

“That’s why I’m here,” she replied when asked if she knew today’s three points would trigger an automatic six-month ban.

“The impact it would have, particularly on my severely disabled brother, who is seventy-seven. He lives in a care home just outside Salisbury, Wiltshire.

“Salisbury is eighty to ninety miles from London and I try and go two or three times a week.

“I am his only next-of-kin. I am unmarried, he is unmarried and I deal with all of his financial affairs, health affairs, his well-being generally.

“He is autistic basically and as age crept on he is more autistic and routine is vital in his life.

“He has been in the care home for three years and they have had three different managers and it is important they know his needs and I communicate with the care staff regularly.

“They are always changing. They have notes, but nobody reads them and now it is all on iPad and I don’t know how easy it is.

“I ensure his routine is kept to the basics,” added Beckwith-Smith, explaining her visits usually last two or three hours or can be simply “dropping in.”

“I like to do that because it keeps them on their toes.

“I do have family nearby, but they have their own care problems, an eighty-nine year-old mother with mobility problems  and slight dementia and two children.

“They will go in occasionally, but I have Power of Attorney.

“It would be a train from London to Salisbury and there are taxis from the station to the care home.

“He has a catheter and if there is a problem, if ever I have to get there it would be inconvenient.

“Public transport in Salisbury, Wiltshire is not as good as it is in London.

“It has happened in the last month. I was rung up to say there was a problem with his catheter.

“They feel they have to ring at any opportunity and I feel I have to get there to reassure him.

“We watch the horse racing on television and that reassures him and from my point of view that is important. He likes that routine.

“I could get a taxi from London I suppose, but I have not looked into that.

“The stress, I think, would be quite considerable. I have never been in this position before, getting to the age I am it would be quite catastrophic, but I know you don’t take that into consideration.

“We are incredibly well-provided with public transport in London. It is getting to friends and family in the country.”

She reminded the court that the two oldest speeding offences have dropped off her licence, adding: “I apologise for wasting all your time on this.

“I should stress it would be a hardship for my brother. I have mobility, I can walk, I can get on buses in London.”

The prosecutor also worked out a bus journey from her Salisbury home to her brother would take approximately forty-four minutes, but Beckwith-Smith insisted this would be unsuitable.

“There is a bus that goes from Milford House. It is a very narrow and dangerous short-cut that people use to avoid Salisbury,” she told the court.

“Then there is a three-hundred to four-hundred yard walk along an unpaved road. I personally would not want to walk along that road at any time of day or night.”

When asked about her financial position she replied: “I’m comfortable,” agreeing she can afford train and taxi fares.

Mr Hall suggested: “You could get a fifteen minute taxi to the care home in the event of an emergency couldn’t you?”

Beckwith-Smith replied that relocating full-time to Salisbury would not work for her. “It would not be terribly convenient. Social life would impact on me personally.”

When asked further about the impact of a disqualification Beckwith-Smith said: “I believe it would be quite considerable.”

Bench Chairwoman Isobel Vass announced: “We are not going to find ‘exceptional hardship’. We do not underestimate the medical and care needs of your brother in the care home.

“We note your dedication and commitment to visit him regularly, but we find you will bet able to live in the area several days a week to meet your obligations.

“I must warn you not to use any motorised vehicles during this period. There is a risk you could be brought back to court and punished.

“The points will come off due to the disqualification. You will be absolutely free.”

In 1990 she was appointed Lieutenant Royal Victorian Order (L.V.O.) and was Princess Diana’s longest-serving Lady-in-Waiting and by 1986 also adopted the role of Assistant Private Secretary.

She went onto work for the Tate Modern.