'A Drive & Nicking': Simple Minds Drummer Admits Speeding

Up On The Perpwalk: Gaynor arriving at court

Simple Minds drummer Mel Gaynor is facing another speeding ban after being caught breaking the limit yet again, a court heard yesterday.

The 66 year-old musician, who played on the Scottish band’s biggest hits, including Number One ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me) appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court.

He was determined to fight the charge and argue the speed camera was not properly calibrated, but gave up when the prosecution produced evidence it was.

Balham-born Gaynor, of The Clock House, High Road, Byfleet pleaded guilty to driving his Alfa Romeo 159 at 41mph in a 30mph zone on August 3, last year in Green Wrythe Lane, Carshalton.

The court heard he was also banned for six months for speeding on the motorway on April 18, 2022; received six penalty points for motorway speeding on July 17, 2024 and another three points for speeding on August 27, last year.

Those nine points, plus the minimum Gaynor will receive for the latest offence make him subject to a six-month disqualification.

However, the veteran rocker will claim any disqualification will cost him ‘exceptional hardship’ and he will return to court to argue his case next year.

Gaynor drummed on hits including ‘Alive & Kicking’; ‘Glittering Prize’; ‘Waterfront’; ’Speed Your Love To Me’ and ‘Sanctify Yourself’.

“I’d like to say I’m not a dangerous driver, I am a safe driver,” Gaynor told the magistrates. “I have to take my grandson to medical appointments and school as well.”

Prosecutor Arama Thompson told the court it was 4.53pm when Gaynor was caught on the speed camera and he confirmed he was the driver when the notice of intended prosecution was sent to his address.

Don't You (Take A Picture Of Me): Gaynor outside court

“I also have the calibration certificate that has been sent through from July, 2025 to July, this year.

Gaynor had originally claimed the speed camera must have been inoperative because his own in car sensor did not alert him to exceeding the speed limit.

Chairman Richard Hay didn't promise Gaynor any miracles and told him: “It has to be ‘exceptional hardship’. When you get to twelve penalty points you are liable to be disqualified.

“To go beyond that we need to see evidence and we will adjourn the case for you to bring your evidence of what you are going to be relying on to avoid getting disqualified.

“If you have great exceptional hardship you will not be disqualified.”

Big Brother Star Sentenced For Pummelling Little Sister

Big Brother Is Watching You: Haji Outside Court

Big Brother star Hanah Haji has been sentenced for pummelling her little sister’s face with punches during a row over her bringing men to the family home.

The 26 year-old appeared in 2024’s Series 21 of the reality show, where she went on hunger strike in protest over the show’s food.

Ealing Magistrates’ Court saw an image of a cut above the left eye of her 19 year-old sister Mona Shiekh, along with bruising to her face.

Former HR consultant Haji, of Reade Court, Stanley Road, Acton was convicted of assaulting her sister at the address on July 16, last year.

Last week, she was sentenced to a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to a total of fifteen days and fined £100.

Haji was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to her sister and £250 costs.

She was also made subject to a two-year restraining order, prohibiting contact with Mona and visiting her address at Benjamin House, High Street, South Acton.

Mona told the trial from behind a screen it was 7.30pm and she was ill and in her bedroom when she refused Haji’s request to go to the shops for her.

“She muttered: ‘What the f***?’ and I could hear her say: ‘I hope you die from your condition,’ as she shouted in the hallway.

“She barged in, slamming the door against the wall. She pushed me onto the bed and I covered my face and she started banging on my face.

“She was punching. I could feel the fists and I was screaming.”

Mona audio-recorded the foul-mouthed row on her phone, which was played in court, revealing the shouting and swearing between the sisters.

“You’re a whore as well,” shouted Mona on the recording, telling the court: “She was bringing men around the house.

“If you’re going to have sexual intercourse in the morning multiple times with men while I’m in the house you need to have boundaries.”

In her statement the younger sister said: “I’m really scared of her and can’t go back to my home address safely.”

Haji claimed she only punched her sister in self-defence when she was scratched to the arms and kicked to the legs, but the victim denied this.

“In the past she has got physical with me, tapping me on the shoulder and spitting in my face,” said Mona. “It was not self-defence, it was unprovoked.”

Haji showed the court images of injuries she claimed were inflicted by Mona, adding: “We were in each other’s face. She scratched me and was kicking me.

“After a bit I punched her because she was kicking and scratching me and a year later I still have those bruises to my legs.

“I punched her and punched her again and she screamed and I backed off. I’m not trying to beat up my little sister and I am not a spitter, that’s disgusting.

“I did not want to hurt her physically. I don’t blame her, I blame the hostile environment we were in.”

Bench chairwoman Caroline Newell announced: “You admitted punching your sister twice in the face and we don’t believe you were required to use that level of force that resulted in the injuries sustained by your sister.”

The court also heard that as a juvenile in 2016, when she was 15 year-old Haji was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm and received a rehabilitation order, which included an electronically-tagged curfew.

BTP Hunt Mystery Man For Bond Street Station Sex Assault

A female tube train passenger was molested at busy Bond Street Underground station as she walked through the tunnel between the Elizabeth Line and Central Line.

British Transport Police (BTP) detectives are now hunting a mystery male in connection with the incident, which they are treating as sexual assault.

BTP have released these three CCTV images of their suspect.

They are requesting the help and co-operation of the public to assist in their identification of the unknown man.

The victim was walking through the central London station at approximately 5.00pm on Monday, June 15.

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

Anyone who recognises him is asked to text BTP on 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 484 of 15 June.

Information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Robber Jailed For Snatching E-Bike & E-Scooter From Teen

A robber who took a teenager's e-bike and e-scooter is starting a prison sentence of three years and nine months.

Jay Archibald, 23, of Loampit Vale, Lewisham was hunted down after being identified on social media trying to cash-in on his crime.

Southwark Crown Court heard he approached the 17 year-old victim on the platform of busy Stratford station, east London on Friday, June 28, 2024 and threatened the youth.

The boy was in possession of an e-bike, worth £1500 and e-scooter, worth £700

Archibald approached and grabbed the bike’s handlebars, asking how many volts it had and where the victim was from.

He said the bike was his now and demanded the victim hand it over, threatening to hurt him if he failed to release bike or if he got him arrested.

The victim, feeling threatened, handed over the bike and Archibald took it along with the e-scooter before getting on a Jubilee Line train.

A few days later, on Tuesday July 2, a friend of the victim saw his bike posted on social media by an account selling it.

The victim recognised the bike as the one Archibald had taken and on other images on the same social media account the victim recognised Archibald.

After the incident was reported to British Transport Police, officers attempted to locate Archibald and carried out several arrest attempts at different addresses he was linked with.

He was eventually arrested on Friday November 29, 2024 and refused to answer any questions in police interview.

Archibald was charged and eventually pleaded guilty to robbery.

Detective Constable Olesia Berdova said: "I am very pleased with the outcome of this investigation. 

“Archibald preyed on a teenager travelling alone, believing he would be an easy target.

“The incident had a massive impact on the victim and his sense of safety and security when travelling on the railway network. 

“Thanks to his bravery and support, we have been able to bring Archibald to justice, and I hope that the lengthy prison sentence handed down provides some measure of peace and closure for the victim and his family.”

Two Years For Euston Station "Sexual Predator"

A sexual predator, who targeted a lone woman entering Euston station – molesting her twice – has been locked-up.

Obinwa Obichukwu, 45, of Armstrong Close, Hertfordshire, received two years' imprisonment after he was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault.

At Inner London Crown Court he also received a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and will be on the sex offenders register for a decade.

Jurors heard that on the evening of August 20, 2023, Obichukwu approached the woman as she walked towards Euston station.

He first asked what music she was listening to before putting his arm around her shoulder and requesting she came back to his house.

She continued to walk down Euston Road and he grabbed hold of her hand and repeatedly said he loved her.

Then, as she arrived at the station entrance, Obichukwu prevented her from entering and sexually assaulted her.

The victim went down the escalator towards the tube lines, and he followed before again sexually assaulting her near the ticket barriers.

She pushed him off and managed to get away, leaving him at Euston station.

The victim reported what happened to her and British Transport Police (BTP) officers tracked Obichukwu to his home address where he was arrested.

BTP Detective Constable Daniel Burke said: “Obinwa Obichukwu is a sexual predator, who targeted a lone woman and attacked her at a busy London station.

“He claimed his assault was consensual and took his case to trial, but fortunately the jury saw straight through his lies and he’s now behind bars where he belongs.

“Tackling violence and intimidation against women and girls is a priority for us as a force and we’re tireless in our efforts to bring offenders like Obichukwu to justice.”

Partner Of Defeated High Court Litigant Accused Of Stalking And Blackmailing Witness

UPDATE: Darren Cooper was found guilty by the jury on all three charges and was bailed pending sentencing.

The gay husband of a defeated High Court litigant - who lost a share of a £1.2m property - stalked and blackmailed a witness after launching an “abusive and derogatory” online campaign against the 52 year-old businessman, a jury heard.

Darren Cooper, 54, created a newspaper-style blog, which accused the tech industry CEO of drug dealing and sexual abuse, even including the man’s model/singer daughter and threatening to destroy her career, the trial was told.

Eventually he demanded sums of £250,000; £100,000 and £80,000 to close down the blog and delete abusive posts on twitter and LinkedIn, Inner London Crown Court heard.

Cooper, of Brayburne Avenue, Clapham has pleaded not guilty to blackmailing the businessman between January 14 and July 19, 2023.

He also denies stalking the entrepreneur and his daughter between January 1, 2021 and July 19, 2023.

Cooper’s husband, South Africa-born Thain Kleinhentz - an NHS health advisor - lost a High Court claim for a share of his ex’s Baron’s Court house in Margravine Gardens, which sold for £1.2m in 2015.

He claimed he was owed £250,000 after sharing the property for many years as the partner of the property’s owner Mark Harrison, but lost after a two-day trial.

The tech CEO gave evidence on behalf of Mr Harrison, resulting in Cooper creating a blog condemning his character and behaviour in the witness box.

“He repeatedly posted abusive and derogatory material online about them and demanded £80,000 and then larger sums of £100,000 and £250,000 to remove the material,” said prosecutor Jonathan Whitley.

“This is vengeful behaviour that arises from a civil court case in 2020 when Mr Kleinhentz said he was entitled to a share of the property owned by Mr Harrison.

“Mr Kleinhentz lost with an order for costs against him and he declared bankruptcy,” added Mr Whitley. “This defendant is his husband and believes he should have won the case and blames the complainant for losing.

“Cooper admits posting the material and sending emails to the family and company board members and says he was justified in doing that.”

The businessman told the jury the family took the decision to go to the authorities after receiving an email that referred to the “gang bang” of his daughter.

“She was a significant target. The language and implication was unacceptable and we decided it was time to take action about these hundreds of emails and documents and approach the police.”

He also received a phone call, again targeting his daughter’s upcoming show. “I recognised it as Darren. He said he was going to destroy her again and this was a threat to her and her gig.”

The businessman had already received a demand for £100,000 for the blog’s removal from Cooper, one of three separate payment demands for different amounts.

“It was another attempt to solicit payment to see if we were prepared to pay for the content to disappear. We did not respond as we thought he was getting desperate.”

Another email from Cooper threatened to go to the national press with his allegations.

“This was another attempt by the accused to embarrass us by making it a story and threatening to go to the press with a non-story.”

The campaign did result in the CEO leaving a board associated with one large blue chip company and distancing himself from a charity, where he was a mentor.

“It worried me that my reputation would be ruined by these allegations,” he told the trial.

A few weeks after the court’s ruling Cooper created a blog, which described the businessman in the headline as a ‘Paedo’ adding he ‘lies in court about previous sexual abuse allegations.’

Cooper also wrote about ‘lies exposed’ regarding the tech boss, accusing him of drug dealing and addiction; child pornography; cocaine supply and making false accusations. 

“The blog posts were sent to the family and others, including board members of the man’s company to denigrate his reputation and the rest of his family,” explained the prosecutor.

Cooper messaged the businessman’s model daughter: ‘OMG. I saw on twitter your dad raped you, b******.’

He also threatened to damage her career by writing she was involved in child pornography, which was still available on the dark web.

“This campaign has caused serious distress to the family and the daughter says she has lost modelling work and has been unable to post on social media,” said Mr Whitley.

Cooper and Kleinhentz were both arrested, but police charged only the defendant, who admitted in a statement creating the blogs and emailing the family.

Cooper told officers both he and his husband were the victims of “slurs” and he was simply “trying to shine a light on abuse,” complaining his husband didn’t receive justice at the High Court.

Trial continues……..

Train Pervert Strikes Again

A bespectacled and bearded serial sex offender, who again exposed himself to three women on trains in Surrey and East Sussex has been jailed.

Oliver Shoesmith, 44 was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment at Northampton Crown Court having pleaded guilty to two counts of exposure. 

He was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The court heard how on Tuesday August 20, 2024 Shoesmith boarded a train at Guildford railway station bound for Farnham. 

He walked down the train before spotting a lone woman, opting to sit across the aisle from her despite there being many other empty seats.

The woman, who was reading her book, didn't initially notice as Shoesmith unzipped his jacket and trousers before exposing himself. 

As soon as she noticed, the woman stood up and moved down the train away from him. 

Shoesmith also got up, moving further down the train until he spotted another woman. 

He sat diagonally opposite the woman, who was seated across from her husband, before exposing himself again and masturbating. 

Only two days later, on Thursday, August 22, Shoesmith boarded a train at Brighton railway station bound for Bedford and again sat across the aisle from a woman.

She noticed Shoesmith masturbating and exposing himself while looking directly at her and screamed. 

A member of railway staff came to the victim’s aid and Shoesmith moved down the carriage before getting off the train at Burgess Hill.

Shoesmith, who had previously been jailed in 2018 for three years for exposure and sexual assault and again for two years and four months in 2024 for breaching his SHPO and exposure, was linked to these two offences while he was in prison.

Shoesmith was arrested at HMP Five Wells on Thursday, November 6 last year and taken to custody for questioning. 

British Transport Police (BTP) Detective Constable Ewen Roberts said: "Shoesmith has repeatedly targeted lone women on the railway in deliberate and horrific acts. 

“His behaviour, repeated time and again, is completely unacceptable and I'm pleased he’s back behind bars.

"There is absolutely no place for sexual offending on the rail network, and we're committed to securing justice for anyone who is targeted by the likes of Shoesmith.”

Knife Frenzy Sentence Increased To 18 Years

A violent knifeman, who entered a tube station and repeatedly stabbed two passengers waiting for a train, has had his prison sentence increased.

Nicholas Orlando Green, 36, did not know the male victims, who were part of a larger group that had just departed a local Kennington dance class at approximately 10.30pm.

He was originally sentenced to eleven years imprisonment at Inner London Crown Court, but now an eighteen-year term has been imposed.

The case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

The original trial jury jury cleared him of the attempted murder of the victims.

British Transport Police Detective Chief Inspector Paul Attwell said: "We wholeheartedly welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase Green’s sentence to eighteen-years custodial imprisonment, with a further five to be served on licence.

“His victims – who were complete strangers to him – continue to live with the physical and psychological impact of the shocking and unprovoked attack at Kennington Underground station in March, 2024.

“I hope this outcome provides some additional comfort knowing that Green will now serve an even longer sentence.”

The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP said: "This was a shocking and horrific attack.Green targeted three people with extreme merciless violence. The bravery shown by the victim who stepped in to help was remarkable, and my thoughts are with all those affected.

“I welcome the Court of Appeal's decision to increase Green's sentence and remain committed to ensuring those who carry out serious knife attacks face the full force of the law."

Green, of Kennington Park Road was convicted of two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, possession of a bladed article and assaulting a female as he exited the station.

The first victim, 44, was already in Kennington Underground Station when Green tapped in using a bank card, which later identified him.

On the platform he launched a ferocious and unprovoked attack on the man, attacking and stabbing him for around 20 seconds with a knife clenched in his right hand.

He continued the attack even after the victim fell to the floor.

Hearing the commotion, the second victim, 42, rushed over to intervene.

Green then began attacking him in the same way, knocking him to the ground before other horrified members of the public intervened.

Green then got up and made his way to a lift, where he assaulted the 31-year-old woman before leaving the station.

Both of the first two victims were rushed to hospital.

The first victim suffered multiple stab injuries to his chest and a fractured humerus bone in his left arm.

The second victim also suffered 13 stab injuries in total.

Detectives launched an urgent investigation and quickly established Green's identity from the bank card he had tapped into the station with.

He was arrested the following day by BTP officers and taken into custody.

During a search of his address officers located the card he had used to tap in and the trainers he had worn during the attack.

They also found the jacket that he had been wearing, which had been freshly washed.

DCI Attwell said at the time of Green's sentencing: "This was a truly horrific and unprovoked attack that left two innocent men with life-altering physical and psychological injuries that they continue to recover from.

“Green has never provided an explanation for his torrent of violence.

“During police interviews he repeatedly laughed, lied, argued and tried to frustrate our investigation as much as he could, but our officers worked tirelessly to gather crucial evidence that helped the jury see through his lies and bring him to justice.

“I hope this outcome brings some measure of justice and reassurance to the victims and their loved ones.

“We will stop at nothing to ensure violent offenders like Green are held to account and removed from the streets.”