GP Surgery Manager Jailed For Nicking Over £150K

An NHS manager, who received an MBE for services to the inner city practice, is starting a prison sentence of two years and four months for stealing over £150,000 from the surgery.

Christian Jennings, 63, diverted practice funds into his own bank account during a six-year span of offending and was only discovered when another manager was employed and checked the records.

Jennings, of The Paddock, Stock, Billericay pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between September 29, 2013 and June 13, 2019 while employed at The Practice, Camberwell Green.

He received the MBE in recognition for his work within the NHS and specifically for establishing a community Patient Participation Group.

While on bail for the fraud he also stalked a female Portsmouth accountant, sending her distressing anonymous letters in 2025 and also pleaded guilty to that offence.

At Woolwich Crown Court Judge Philip Shorrock sentenced Jennings to twenty months imprisonment for the fraud, plus eight months added on for the stalking offence.

Prosecutor Michaela Onuchukwu told the court Jennings, who has criminal convictions for a similar fraud in 2006 was employed at the practice in 2009.

A surgery source has revealed he was employed via an agency and they had no knowledge of his criminal history.

The court heard he transferred £151,841.71 into his CO-OP bank account by diverting outgoing third-party payments to suppliers, locums, solicitors and equipment suppliers.

He also similarly diverted incoming funds into his own bank account.

His fraud was exposed when a newly-employed female manager found a discrepancy in a £32,623.22p payment for locum maternity cover.

When questioned at Lewisham Police Station on April 20, 2023 Jennings replied ‘no comment’ but later gave a prepared statement, admitting the fraud and a second statement claiming he was the victim of a fraudster.

While on bail during that investigation he went the anonymous letters to the accountant he had initially contacted online via LinkedIn.

The first handwritten latter, which was sent to her office, described her and a “total tramp” with Jennings also mocking her business and lifestyle.

He sent further letters, describing the victim as a “Pompey bird,” also adding: “You are marked darling. Keep a lower profile.”

He included images of a dartboard and the woman’s new puppy, which she had shared on social media, in the letters.

Jennings sent six letters in all and one also read: “Please be extremely careful when you are out with your pup. Anything can happen.”

He had originally asked her for business help in 2020, but became jealous of her lifestyle, including trips to Dubai, which she chronicled online.

“Her story of success was about glory and glamour,” Jennings told police, who had forensically tracked him down, describing her many posts as “condescending.”

In her victim impact statement the accountant revealed she had spent over £20,000 in office relocation costs and lost business when she stopped using social media, due to Jennings.

“I felt fearful about what else he could do,” said the married mother, who completely altered her professional and family life due to the defendant.

“I am terrified, constantly anxious with racing thoughts and panic,” she said. “I am overwhelmed.”

Jennings’ lawyer Edward Fenner told the court: “His age and health conditions will make prison a harsher environment,” adding Jennings has already repaid £32,623.22p.

“He was paying a large amount of maintenance for two children and in his words ‘maxed out’ his credit card, was commuting a long distance and turned to fraud to accommodate that and it became easy to do so.”

The jobless former Royal Navy servicemen has agreed to take out equity in a property to repay the NHS practice.

“He has high cholesterol and high blood pressure and will find prison a very difficult environment,” aded the lawyer.

“He can afford to pay it and I can see no reason why he shouldn’t,” announced Judge Shorrock, ordering Jennings to pay the remaining £119,221.49p within twelve months.

“You helped yourself to over £150,000 by raising false invoices or directing payments into your account,” the judge told him.

“While you were on bail for fraud the stalking offences were committed and that is a considerably aggravating feature and had a significant impact on the victim, both emotionally and financially.”

Jennings was also made subject to a five-year restraining order, prohibiting contact withy the victim.

Teammate Headbutted During Boozy Post-Match Rugby Drink-Up

Charged: Henry Peuble

A fly-half with the England deaf rugby team headbutted a teammate during after-match drinks - fracturing his skull and causing brain damage - after the injured player said his “hearing was s***,” a court heard yesterday.

Henry Peuble, 30, was drinking with London Welsh RFC teammates when a row broke out with Imperial College PhD student Alexander Mitchener, 29.

He suffered a fracture to the base of his skull, plus bleeding and bruising to the brain outside The Northcote pub, Clapham Junction in the early hours of August 20, 2023.

Peuble, of Aylward Road, Wimbledon has pleaded not guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court - where he is following the trial with the assistance of a hearing loop - to inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent.

Mr Mitchener, who denies making any offensive remark regarding Peuble’s hearing, told the jury: “My last memory is turning towards the defendant and saying: ‘What the f***? What’s the issue?’

“It then all goes black at that point apart from a snippet of being in the ambulance and covered in blood at the hospital getting staples put into my head.”

Now a Doctor of Philosophy, with a PhD in Aerosol Science and Respiratory Health Mr Mitchener told the jury he has not fully recovered from his injuries nearly three years later and has difficulties with short-term memory.

Both had travelled with London Welsh to Canterbury earlier in the day, with Mr Mitchener playing for the second team and Peuble the first team.

Peuble’s lawyer Michael Newport suggested to Mr Mitchener he made disparaging comments from the sideline, regarding the first teamer’s lack of hearing.

“You referred to his disability and inability to hear things. You said his hearing was s*** and was the reason for moves breaking down on the field was because he could not hear the calls.”

Hospital: Alexander Mitchener

Mr Mitchener denied making a such remarks, repeating he was “frustrated” during the evening drinks about the allegation.

“Nobody told me at the time when I asked them what I was supposed to have said.

“I have a lot of respect for Henry that he plays rugby at the level he does.”

The trial heard the team had a drink after the Canterbury match and more drinks when they returned to their club in Richmond, before setting off for further drinks at two locations.

Mr Mitchener said he had “three or four” beers before arriving at The Northcote.

“I recall being informed that something I was supposed to have said had been taken badly and that’s when things turned south.

“Henry was convinced I had said something offensive and I went over to him with a drink and said sorry.

“He was extremely angry and I asked for clarity, but never got it.

“I wouldn’t want to rub people up the wrong way and kept apologising even though I didn’t know what I was supposed rot have said.”

Mr Mitchener was outside waiting for an Uber when he got into a discussion with Peuble again, resulting in the headbutt.

“Rugby is a competitive environment and there is testy back and forth,” he conceded. “There is a bit of banter with rugby people, who test each other and everybody wants to be a tough guy.”

Mr Mitchener agreed he may have been drunk at the time of the 1.00am incident and also been angry with his teammates.

However, he insisted the defendant was worse. “He was incredibly threatening and aggressive.

“He was so angry with me that inside the pub he threatened to beat my head in.”

Earlier prosecutor Jonathan Gold told the jury: "There is no dispute he caused very serious harm. The issue is did he intend it?"

CCTV footage recorded outside the pub shows Mr Mitchener leaning in towards the defendant and the defence suggest security staff prevented his re-entry to the venue.

Other drinkers attempted to intervene and calm the situation by removing Mr Mitchener from the confrontation.

However, Mr Gold added: "There is not a need for the defendant to defend himself. It was a deliberate head butt to the face, a deliberate action that can lead to serious harm."  

Trial continues…………

Jailed: Pervert Caught By Fellow Train Passenger

A pervert, who was seen by a fellow train passenger viewing sickening images of child abuse on his phone, is starting a prison sentence of two years and three months.

David Johnson, 35, of Francis Chichester Way, Wandsworth, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children, two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

Johnson was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for ten years and must also sign the sex offender register for the same period.

The court heard that at around midday on September 23, last year Johnson was travelling on a train from Stafford to London.

A male passenger sitting behind him could see Johnson's mobile phone screen.

The man could see Johnson exchanging messages with someone before he opened a video showing a young child being abused. 

He then switched to another chat where a person asked him 'what kinds of videos do you like? I have all kinds'. Johnson replied, 'just kids videos'.

Stunned, the man messaged his own partner to say what was happening. 

When he looked back up, Johnson was watching another video showing an even younger child being abused.

The man was so shaken by what he had seen he got up to move to another part of the carriage before reporting Johnson using British Transport Police's (BTP) 61016 text service.

BTP officers rushed to meet the train at London Euston railway station, where Johnson was arrested on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children.

He was searched and officers seized his mobile phone – its screen wallpaper was an indecent image of a child.

When he was taken into custody, Johnson asked officers if he could have his property back as he “needed to delete some stuff”. 

He offered no comment to all questions put to him in interview.

Officers began searching two addresses linked to Johnson and seized a number of devices for examination. 

The phone seized at his arrest was found to contain nearly 200 indecent images of children, including 105 in category A – the most severe images.

As part of their enquiries detectives also recovered two chat transcripts, one of which showed he had been speaking to a girl he believed was 13 years old and had arranged to meet her for sex.

The other chat transcript was with an older woman and appeared to reference the same 13-year-old girl, but the woman had told Johnson that he could not see her as she was unwell. 

Johnson stated that he was on the train back to London – the journey in which the passenger saw his phone that ultimately led to his arrest.

Officers later established that the 13-year-old girl did not exist.

BTP Detective Constable Victoria Lowth said: "The quick thinking and courage of the man who saw Johnson's phone meant that we were able to quickly arrest him and uncover the scale of his offending. 

“I’d like to offer our sincerest thanks to that man, whose actions have directly led to Johnson's imprisonment.

“Behind every image and video Johnson owned is a vulnerable child that has been exploited and abused. 

“He is clearly a danger to children and has rightly been handed a substantial jail sentence and stringent conditions have been put in place to prevent him from offending further.

“We will always do everything we can to make the railway a hostile place for criminals, and especially those whose offending targets children.”

Look At The Camera: Thug Hunted For Tube Station Punch

A tube train passenger was punched unconscious at Newbury Park Underground station in east London by a mystery assailant now wanted by police.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this image of their suspect.

At approximately 7.45pm on Sunday, March 22 a stranger walking alongside the victim suddenly punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground.

The blow and fall caused the passenger to lose consciousness. 

The unknown male then ran out of the east London Central Line station.

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

Anyone who recognises him or witnessed the incident is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 592 of 22 March.

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

Tajikistan Predator Convicted Of Trying To Rape 13 Year-Old Girl On Train

A sexual predator, who targeted a 13 year-old girl onboard a train, has been convicted of what investigating police describe as an “abhorrent” series of offences.

Tajikistan national Abdulmanon Aliev,50, of Rye Lane, Peckham was convicted after a week-long trial at Inner London Crown Court.

The jury found him guilty of two counts of assault by penetration; three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted rape.

He will be sentenced at the same court on 17 June. 

On the afternoon of June 16, last year the young girl was travelling from Southend to London's Fenchurch Street station.

During the journey she was approached by Aliev, who deliberately sat opposite her and attempted to use a translator app on his phone to communicate with her.

She moved away from him to sit in a window seat, but he followed the teenager and sat next to her in an aisle seat, blocking her.

Aliev forced himself upon the victim and subjected her to a prolonged sexual assault until the service arrived at its destination. 

She left the train and boarded another heading back out of London, leaving Aliev behind at the station.

She reported what she endured to members of the public, who encountered her in a distressed state, and the police were informed shortly after.

British Transport Police (BTP) detectives launched an urgent investigation to identify Aliev, trawling hours of CCTV footage to track his movements before and after the attack.

The manhunt ended on June 27 when plain clothes officers spotted him in Peckham, South London, and he was immediately arrested.

His home address was searched and officers located and seized the clothes he was wearing on the day of the attack.

BTP Detective Constable Elizabeth Cahill said: “Aliev singled out a vulnerable child and subjected her to one of the most abhorrent sexual assaults I’ve ever investigated.

“While the focus of attention will rightly be on him as the despicable sexual predator that he is, I want to pay tribute to the brave victim who reported him to police.

“This verdict would not have been possible without her account of what happened and her willingness to support our investigation.

“We take every sexual offence report extremely seriously and we’ll stop at nothing to put offenders like Aliev before the courts.”

April Fool: Station Suspect Wanted For Inflicting Broken Jaw

A repair man suffered a fractured jaw when he was twice punched to the face at Farringdon Underground Station.

The victim will require surgery for the serious injury inflicted by a mystery man British Transport Police (BTP) are now hunting.

Between 9.45am and 10.00am on Wednesday, April 1 the contractor was at the station, repairing a broken entry gate.

An unknown male punched the victim to the face, knocking him to the station floor.

The victim got up only to be punched in the face and knocked to the floor for a second time.

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

Anyone who recognises him or witnessed the incident is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 219 of 1 April.

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

Thief Jailed For Stealing Family's Holiday Suitcase

A heartless thief, who ruined a family's holiday when stealing one of their suitcases as they travelled by train to Gatwick airport, has been locked-up.

Ayoub Alshirredi, 31, of Alexandra Road in Hounslow also boarded the train at London Bridge at approximately 2.00pm on October 27, last year.

The suitcase was stored on an overhead shelf and Alshirredi deliberately sat under it.

When the train stopped at East Croydon he simply carried it from the carriage without the family noticing.

At Willesden Magistrates' Court Alshirredi was sentenced to sixteen weeks' imprisonment, having pleaded guilty to theft at an earlier hearing.

Once the train arrived at Gatwick, the family realised the bag was missing and reported the incident to British Transport Police (BTP). 

Officers launched an investigation and identified Alshirredi as the man responsible for the offence. 

He was arrested four months later on February 27 and taken into police custody for questioning.

In spite of the CCTV footage clearly showing Alshirredi making off with the suitcase, he replied 'no comment' in interview to all questions put to him.

BTP Police Constable Imogen Gates said: "I'm pleased that the court have taken Alshirredi’s offending seriously and imposed a custodial sentence. 

“His actions were self-serving and opportunistic, as he targeted a young family going on holiday.

“In thinking only about himself, he put the family through considerable anxiety and stress, so I hope that they can feel a sense of closure now justice has been served.

"We take every report seriously, and anyone who witnesses or is the victim of a crime on the railway is encouraged to report it by texting us on 61016."

Train Drug Dealer's Short Trip To Prison

County Lines police caught a drug dealer at his local train station when he suspiciously returned from a rail journey after half an hour.

Plain clothes British Transport Police (BTP) officers were staking out Milton Keynes station on Thursday, December 4 last year when they spotted their suspect.

Sokol Hazizi, 34, of Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes was stopped by officers, who found £2,000 cash on him, plus £35,000 in cannabis when they searched his home.

He pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property and possession with intent to supply Class B drugs.

At Aylesbury Crown Court he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment.

The court heard officers from BTP’s County Lines Taskforce spotted Hazizi behaving suspiciously at the station.

He was seen passing through the station before boarding a train from Milton Keynes, returning within half an hour.

Due to his short turnaround journey officers stopped him after he passed through the ticket barriers and headed for the station exit.

He claimed to have been visiting a friend, but changed his story and said he was travelling to deposit cash in his bank, but realised he didn’t have his card.

Hazizi confessed to officers he had ‘a bit of cash’ on him and officers discovered he was carrying £2,000.

A further £1,000 as well as £35,000 of herbal cannabis was found when a search was carried out at his home.

BTP Sergeant Julian Mason said: “Hazizi tried – and failed – to bluff officers into believing his motives were entirely innocent.

“Sadly for him, our officers are highly skilled and experts at recognising the behaviour of anyone involved in criminal activity. 

“Hazizi’s next trip was to custody and subsequently a jail cell.

“Our officers patrol the rail network 24/7. If you’re using the railway for nefarious means we will find you, seize your drugs and proceeds of crime and bring you before the courts.”

Exposed: Police Release Images Of Bare-Chested Suspect

Police are hunting this bare-chested suspect after a female tube train passenger was subjected to abuse and a male who intervened was assaulted.

The ugly incident occurred just after midnight onboard a Piccadilly Line train travelling through west London on Thursday, February 26.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released these images and are requesting members of the assist in identifying him.

As the late-night service travelled between Acton Town and Osterley a passenger began acting aggressively and made homophobic and racist remarks towards the young woman.

The male passenger stepped in to help the young woman, and a fight broke out between the men, with the passenger who intervened sustaining minor injuries.

The bare-chested male then left the train at Osterley Underground station.

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

Anyone who recognises him or witnessed the incident is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference number 10 of 26 February.

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

Stylist Charged With Gucci Handbag Fraud

An ‘internationally-renowned personal stylist’ has been charged with a £277,000 Gucci designer handbag fraud.

Milda Chellingsworth, 43, was due to appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court yesterday, not far from her smart £940,000 four-bedroom semi in nearby Alexandra Crescent, Sundridge.

The Lithuanian stylist and personal shopper reportedly charges £150 per hour to consult holidaymakers on appropriate suitcase packing and  £680 per day to be a personal gift shopper.

She did not appear in court and her case was adjourned.

Chellingsworth is charged with a £52,000 fraud between June 10, 2019 and May 31, 2021.

She is accused of dishonestly making false representations to Trevor Coop that she would invest his money into expensive Gucci handbags and return thousands of pounds in profits.

Chellingsworth is also charged with a similar £78,400 fraud between April 1 and May 31, 2021.

It is said she dishonestly made false representation to Patricia Navarro that she would invest his money into expensive Gucci handbags and return thousands of pounds in profits.

Chellingsworth also faces a third charge of fraud totalling £146,861.63 between May 1 and August 31, 2023 by abusing her position as the retained agent of Mandy Gray.

She is accused of dishonestly making false representations when retaining money in two bank accounts of Styling For You, spending that money for her personal use instead of benefiting her client’s business.

Chellingsworth is the company director of SFY Styling Concierge Ltd and SFY Styling Ltd.

Yester
day, her lawyer Frazer Bradshaw told the magistrates: “She has a substantive matter at Bromley County Court this morning. It is a substantive hearing at the County Court all morning.

“Her daughter is unwell as well and she needs to go home to assist her.”

Bench Chairman Richard Hay questioned which court should have taken priority, regarding Chellingsworth’s attendance and reluctantly adjourned the case.