A glamorous ex-Harrods sales girl and model has dodged prison yet again - despite threatening her victim with a bogus sex complaint if he called police.
Holly Salter, 23, snatched £750 from the man's wallet during a boozy night out with a pal, but when he caught up with the pair moments later she vowed to lodge a sexual assault claim if he did not back-off.
The theft put the single-mum in breach of a suspended sentence for smuggling a mobile phone to a jailbird ex-boyfriend and she only avoided prison because of her two year-old daughter Poppy and the fact she is eight-months pregnant.
Salter, of Buckingham Road, Hampton, Middlesex pleaded guilty to stealing the cash from Anguel Popov, 35, at his flat at 8a The Green, Ealing, West London on July 1, last year.
She and a 23 year-old friend, had originally been charged with burgling the flat, but the prosecution at Isleworth Crown Court dropped the allegation.
The girls claim Mr. Popov had invited them up to his flat, which he denies, insisting he chased after them when discovering the money missing from his wallet he left in his bedroom.
"There was a pursuit out into the street and he confronted the young women," prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Wright told the court. "There was a threat that if he continued with the complaint they would say he sexually assaulted them in the flat."
The victim then flagged down a passing police car and officers quizzed the young women at the roadside.
"Their stories were contradictory about how they came to be in the flat. One said they met Mr. Popov in a pub and the other said outside the flat.
"The cash was recovered from Miss Salter.
"When he returned home Mr. Popov noticed other items were missing, including his car keys and some jewellery," added Mr. Wright.
"When he returned to the location where he confronted the young women he found his keys in the gutter and the jewellery in a nearby doorway."
Salter admitted she was in breach of a three-and-a-half month suspended sentence imposed for giving ex James Kerr, 22, a mobile phone at Harrow Crown Court, where he was later jailed for five years on robbery and burglary charges.
She also has convictions for driving while disqualified, without insurance and failing to give her name and address to police.
"She told me this was the first time she had been out for some time and drank far too much alcohol," said Mr. Stephen Earnshaw, defending. "It took her some time to sober up."
Recorder Giles Curtis-Raleigh told Salter: "I am troubled by a breach of the suspended sentence that has been ignored and was a chance given by the courts, but I am pursuaded because of the children not to send you to prison today.
"You stole seven hundred and fifty pounds from this man's wallet within his house. It was clear breach of his privacy.
"What makes it more serious is that you were subject to a suspended sentence. You had been given a chance.
"I am just persuaded to take a different view for the sake of your children, but regardless of them there will come a time when the court has no option, but to send you to prison.
"You were caught and your response was to try and intimidate him by telling lies that he had sexually assaulted you and your friend.
"This was a mean offence."
Salter has modelled for Miss Selfridge, was a Miss London finalist and has had roles in film, television, commercials and pop videos.
Finally, some pics of London hotties (however ditzy, or boozie) have hit the Square Mile! :D
ReplyDeleteKeep up the brilliant work, British T!
This is a comment for the friend of the above defendant who complained about her name appearing in the original story.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing untrue in the copy and it is an accurate recording of the facts of the case.
You were arrested and charged, there is nothing inaccurate about that.
You would get absolutely nowhere with a legal action because what happens in our courts can be freely reported, including the identification of people found not guilty.
It is not your threats of legal action that have prompted me to remove your name, but a humanitarian gesture based on the passing of time and the fact no evidence was offered against you.