Prolific Bus Sex Pest's One-Way Ticket To Prison

A bus sex pest, who groped eight females – the youngest a twelve year-old girl – in just three days roaming on the network has been locked-up for two years.

Dean Forte, 33, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court after being found guilty of eight sexual assaults.



He was placed on the sex offenders register for ten years and a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was made to prevent him from having contact with children under sixteen years-old.



Forte committed five sexual assaults on buses in Wandsworth on December 11, 2013, all within an hour of one another.

Three days later on December 14 he committed a further three sexual assaults on buses in Waltham Forest. 



Forte travelled on buses, sitting next to the victims before touching their thighs.

The youngest victim targeted by Forte was only twelve years-old. 



The suspect was identified after victims offered identical suspect descriptions following the first assaults - a black male wearing a 'puffa' style jacket, black beanie hat, carrying a white carrier bag, and wearing white earphones.

On December 14 police were called to reports of a sexual assault on a bus in Chingford, where the description given of the suspect matched earlier offences.

Police attended and arrested Forte on suspicion of sexual assault.

The sentence follows successful partnership work involving British Transport Police, Metropolitan Police Service, City of London Police and Transport for London.


Superintendent Rob Revill, from the Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: "This sentence highlights our commitment to tackling sexual offences on London's buses.

“We take all reports of sexual offences on buses seriously and are commited to bringing offenders to justice. 



"If someone has made you feel uncomfortable on your bus journey - however minor it may seem to you - reporting it to police can help us target the perpetrator and prevent it happening to another passenger."



Graham Daly, Head of Community Safety and Policing Partnerships at Transport for London, said: "Unwanted sexual behaviour of this kind will not be tolerated on our transport network and so I'm pleased this repeated sex offender has been jailed and put on the Sex Offenders Register for his predatory and disgusting crimes."



“It is never ok to be threatened or distressed by another persons behaviour. If someone has made you feel uncomfortable, for example touched you in an inappropriate manner, we strongly encourage you to tell the police.

“They can then not only target the perpetrator but also help to prevent it happening to someone else. 



"Over ten million passengers use our public transport services each day with very few ever experiencing or witnessing crime - and we are working hard with London's policing agencies to ensure our transport network remains a safe, low crime environment." 

Choirboys Paedophile Ring Caged For Decades-Old Sex Abuse

Tuffill: 14 Years

A paedophile ring - linked to a notorious church organist and choirmaster - were jailed yesterday for sexually abusing four young boy choristers who were "groomed" with alcohol, pornography and other treats.

The families of the boys were unaware the youngsters, all aged from seven to fourteen years-old, were being preyed upon until decades later when one by one they reported the abuse of the five defendants.

They are: IT company director and former funeral director Phillip Tuffill, 55, of Mill Lane, Merstham, Redhill, who received fourteen years.

Timothy Fuller, 53, of Herd Street, Stoke-on-Trent, who received six years.

Robert Lawty, 55, of Adams Croft, Brookwood, Woking, who received five years in his absence after being rushed to hospital with a suspected overdose when convicted the day before.

Fuller: 6 Years

Ian Coulthart, 62, of Kingswood Flats, Kingswood Street, Brighton, who received three-and-a-half years.

Mark Jales, 51, of The Annex, High Beech Farmhouse, Lower Godney, Wells, who received twelve months.

A sixth defendant, Gerald Heather, 65, of Nolan Close, Swindon was cleared of three counts involving two of the boys.

The boys attended St. Bartholemew's Primary School, Sydenham and sang in the St. Bartholemew's Church choir, which was run by convicted pedophile Tony Brockhurst, a funeral director who killed himself approximately five years ago, aged 80.

Croydon Crown Court Judge Jeremy Gold QC told them: "I don't know if you know or care of the damage you have done, but it's been long-lasting. This was a gross and cynical abuse of power."

Tuffill, who shared a house with Fuller in Gowland Place, Beckenham, was an employee of the same undertakers - H Copeland & Sons - and Jales was one of the drivers.

Tuffill, Heather and Coulthart were all members of the choir.

Lawty: 5 Years

One former choirboy was abused by all of the defendants, the jury were told, having been initially groomed by Brockhurst when aged only eleven years-old.

"He was a lonely little boy looking for warmth and attention and was groomed, including being given alcohol, and abused for three years," explained Miss Rosina Cottage QC.

"Tuffill began to abuse him a year after he joined the choir," she added, informing the jury the defendant had sex with the boy after inviting him to his home where he was given alcohol and treated to a chinese meal.

"The boy thought it was his purpose and the way of his relationships with these men.

"They were men trusted by the parents, they were connected to the church and the choir and there was no question about their integrity.

"They learned how to choose their victims and groom them so they would not say: 'no'."

Fuller was jailed for six months in 1987 of gross indecency with a boy and in 2005 received eighteen months for indecently assaulting a boy aged under fourteen, the jury were told.

"He is a man sexually attracted to children," said Miss Cottage. "He has a history of abusing boys and sexually assaulted the first complainant in this case as well."

Coulthart: 3-amd-a-half years

The jury were told Tuffill asked Fuller: "Why don't you try him out?" and soon afterwards the boy was plied with alcohol by the defendant, who then had sex with him.

"It happened several times over the next few months."

The same boy was introduced at a party to married cook Lawty, a friend of Tuffill's. "He was plied with alcohol, red wine, and Lawty also drank."

The court heard Lawty had sex with the youngster and told him: "Once you're in the ring, we've got you."

Miss Cottage added: "Lawty also asked him if he would have sex with his wife."

Coulthart also had sex with the boy, who complained it "hurt" and recalled one occasion when the defendant and Brockhurst had their way with him at a cottage near Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Jales: 12 Months

"He knew what was going to happen, but did not complain because he was use'd to it by this time. Each man took it in turns with the boy on the carpet in front of the fire."

The second victim, another chorister, claimed he was groomed by Tuffill, saying the defendant showed him pornography from Amsterdam and abused him in his own home when he was just eleven years-old, but the jury did not convict on these counts.

The boy remembers Heather as the driver of a mini-bus when the choristers were taken swimming or ten-pin bowling and as someone who would treat them to a chinese meal.

Churchgoer Jales - described by the boy as a "hanger-on" - had laid out pornography on the bed before undressing the youngster and abusing him. "It was furtive and it was squalid," recalled the complainant.

Heather: Not Guilty

His younger brother fell into the clutches of Tuffill aged just six years-old. "He groomed and abused him," said Miss Cottage.

"Tuffill started touching him before he even joined the choir. He would pull down the child's pyjama bottoms."

The complainant recalls being abused on both days of a trip to Cheddar Gorge when he stayed at a bed and breakfast with Tuffill.

A fourth complainant came forward and reported he had also been abused by Tuffill.

Tuffill was convicted of two sample counts of buggery in relation to the first boy; five counts of indecent assault in relation to the third boy and two counts of indecent assault in relation to the fourth boy.

Fuller and Lawty were each convicted of two counts of buggery in relation to the first victim.

Coulthart was found guilty of one count of buggery in relation to the first victim and Jales of indecently assaulting the second victim.

All the counts span from January 14, 1977 to October 27, 1986.

"Noxious" Fluid Attacker Jailed For Dousing Clubbers

"Tough Guy": Jonathan Lynn

A drunken thug, who splashed a mystery noxious fluid over six strangers during an early hours attack outside a gay nightclub - leaving some of the victims, including a male model, fearing they were blinded and disfigured for life -  was jailed for two years and four months yesterday.

Roofer Jonathan William Lynn, 31, of Dorking Close, Worcester Park emptied the contents of an Evian bottle over a group of young gay friends, who thought their faces were "burning and melting", just after 4am in Vauxhall.

However, Recorder David Etherington QC ruled it was not a hate-crime, but told Lynn: "This takes nothing away from the fact this is a vicious, vile, cowardly and disgraceful attack by you."

He pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to assaulting the four, causing three of them actual bodily harm, outside the Lightbox nightclub on June 7 and possessing an offensive weapon, namely a noxious fluid.

He also admitted assaulting a woman passer-by, twenty-something Melissa Thompson, who was also splashed in the eyes and twenty minutes later, Ashgar Jafi, also in his 20's, who was sprayed with the liquid after the defendant stepped on his foot as he waited in the nightclub queue.

On CCTV: Jonathan Lynn

"You wrecked a number of people's lives," Recorder Etherington told heavily-built shaven-headed Lynn. "You decided to go out armed with a plastic bottle containing an unpleasant and potentially dangerous liquid.

"I think you took it out in case anyone got in your face…….You look quite a touch guy so anyone meeting you in the street and not knowing what you are going to do, then reaching for a bottle and throwing something in their face is going to scar someone mentally for life."

Model Parish Frith, 23, was involved in a verbal exchange with Lynn at 4.27am after the victim approached two girls outside the club and was challenged by the defendant, who said: "This is my bird."

They were, in fact, strangers, who did not know Lynn and Mr. Frith says one girl told him: "We don't really get on with gays. F*** off."

Both young women deny saying anything homophobic and explained to police Lynn said: "I don't care," when Mr. Frith, who they described as: "cocky and displaying an attitude", revealed his sexuality. 

He was splashed with the contents of the bottle along with his friends, Benjamin Moore, 21, and pals Yousef Khan and Ryan Cleary, also aged in their early twenties.

Prosecutor Mr. James Keeley classed the offences as homophobic and explained: "The defendant called Mr. Frith back and as he approached he was at arm's length distance when the defendant produced a bottle and splashed the contents in Mr. Frith's face, which went into his eyes, nose, mouth and throat," explained Mr. Keeley.

Ladies Man: Jonathan Lynn

"He said it tasted disgusting, he was inhaling fumes, couldn't breath and felt his face was burning and melting. He did not know if he was going to die or end up with no face."

Mr. Frith suffered painful ulcers to his tongue and to the back of his throat and a month later had no sense of taste and difficulty eating and continues to take anti-depressants to deal with his loss of self-worth.

His friend Mr. Moore also suffered injuries. "The liquid hit Mr. Moore full in the face, it went into his eyes, he panicked, his eyes were streaming and his face felt like it was on fire.

"He describes it as the worst moment of his life," said Mr. Keeley, adding the young man was left with an ulcer in the cornea of his left eye and continues to receive treatment at Moorfields Eye Hospital for blurred vision and burns in his cornea.

"The liquid went into Mr. Khan's face and eyes. It was burning the right side of his face. Mr. Khan believes this was a homophobic attack on him and his friends."

The asthmatic victim did not seek medical treatment as he tried unsuccessfully to keep his sexuality a secret from his family, who he now feels have "disowned him."

The fourth friend was the subject of the less serious charge of common assault. "A small amount of fluid hit Mr. Cleary's eye. It stung Mr. Cleary's eye.

"The defendant is described as vicious in his actions in that he wanted to hurt both men and then walked away with no remorse."

Passer-by Miss Thompson was leaving the club at the time. "She felt a splash in her right eye and felt pain in the back of her left eye. She was panicking and thought she was going blind."

Mr. Jafi had a verbal exchange with Lynn after the defendant stepped on his foot twenty minutes later. "The defendant sprayed him in the face with the contents of what looked like a Sprite bottle."

Ex-jailbird Lynn, who has served time for robbery and was on licence from prison at the time after receiving seven years in December, 2009 for possessing 1.5 kilos of cocaine and £30,000 in criminal property, was arrested in a pub four days later.

"The act was completely unjustified and unwarranted," Recorder Etherington told Lynn. "It was an unlawful and cowardly act. If this was homophobic the sentence would be doubled.

"You were spoiling for trouble that night with any people that crossed your path in any way you did not like. I've looked at the pictures, I've seen the skin taken off Mr. Frith's tongue.

"He was a model at the time and he didn't know if he was going to end up dead or with no face and he has lost his job."

Remarkably Lynn did not flee the scene, but joined the nightclub queue, where he splashed Mr. Jafi with the fluid. "This is really outrageous in view of what you had already done and you saw the consequences of it."

Lynn's lawyer Mr. Piers Mostyn told the court: "He had previously been a victim of an attack in the area and took it with him for self-defence, a friend having left it at his address. He did not go out intending to use it.

"The defendant vehemently denies having any homophobic views and expressing those views. He was very drunk and remembers very little of what happened."

Mr. Frith told Evening Standard shortly after the attack: "As we walked away I heard a man shout: 'Oi! Come here.' At first I thought it was the doorman saying he'd changed his mind and we could go in.

"Then I saw this white guy with a beard and his hand coming up with a water bottle and he squirted really hard into my face. It went straight into my eyes and it sprayed into my friend's mouth.

"My face was burning so much, I thought it was acid. I thought I would never see again and my face was melting.

"He poured every last drop onto us and then turned around and walked away, like it was mission accomplished.

"The chemical burnt the cornea in my left eye and the vision hasn't cleared since. The doctors said it should hopefully return, but there is no guarantee.

"My friend's tongue was swollen and it looked like someone had scratched part of it away. It was horrible."

Knifeman Locked-Up For Double Murder Attempt

A crazed knifeman, who tried to stab two women to death during seperate horrifying attacks, has been locked up in a top-security mental hospital.

Archibald Reverent Foster, 48, of Tredown Road, Sydenham can only be released from his indefinite hospital order by the Home Secretary.

He was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court of attempting to murder a 26 year-old woman in Bromley Road, Catford on August 22, last year and a 31 year-old in Plumstead Common on September 5.

Police were called at 9:05am on August 22 to reports of a woman stabbed in the street.


She was taken by ambulance to hospital suffering from injuries to her hand, arm and leg.

A knife was recovered from the scene by officers.



The victim was only saved from more serious injuries by her handbag, which she used to shield her stomach as Foster continually stabbed at her, and by the intervention of a 69-year-old passer-by - John Wayre - who grabbed Foster and pulled him off the victim.


Police were called two weeks later at approximately 9:50am on September 5 after the second stabbing.



Foster had approached the victim from behind as she walked across Plumstead Common and slashed her across the throat before stabbing her.

He then continued to attack her as she lay on the ground, before walking off.



She was taken by air ambulance to hospital suffering from five serious stab wounds to her legs.

She also suffered further injuries to her hands, fingers and neck. 



Foster was arrested shortly afterwards on a bus in Plumstead and the knife was found in his bag.



Judge Michael Topolski commended Mr. Wayre's bravery and said it was “breathtaking, helping an innocent person without regard to himself.”

He issued Mr. Wayre with a Judge's commendation for bravery and £750 from the public purse. 



Investigating officer Acting Detective Sergeant Stephanie Chance, said: “I would like to thank the two victims for their courage and the support they’ve given to the investigation throughout.

“This was a horrific, unprovoked attack on them both and I wish them the very best for the future. 



"I would also like to commend the bravery of each of the witnesses who went to the aid of both victims.

“Without their courage and intervention these attacks could well have been fatal. 



"I am very pleased with the sentence, a very dangerous man is now off the streets and is receiving the care and treatment that he requires.”

Gay Pals Doused With 'Noxious' Liquid Outside Nightclub

Mugshot: Jonathan Lynn

A drunken homophobic thug splashed a mystery noxious fluid over six strangers during a horrific attack outside a gay nightclub - leaving some of the victims fearing they were blinded and disfigured for life, a court heard yesterday.

Jonathan William Lynn, 31, of Dorking Close, Worcester Park emptied the contents of an Evian bottle over a group of young gay friends - including a male model - just after 4am in Vauxhall.

He pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to assaulting the four, causing three of them actual bodily harm, outside the Lightbox nightclub on June 7 and possessing an offensive weapon, namely a noxious fluid.

He also admitted assaulting a woman passer-by, twenty-something Melissa Thompson, who was also splashed in the eyes and twenty minutes later, Ashgar Jafi, also in his 20's, who was sprayed with the liquid after the defendant stepped on his foot as he waited in the nightclub queue.

Model Parish Frith, 23, was involved in a verbal exchange with Lynn at 4.27am after the victim approached two girls outside the club and was challenged by the defendant, who said: "This is my bird."

They were, in fact, strangers, who did not know Lynn and one girl told the victim: "We don't really get on with gays. F*** off."

He was splashed with the contents of the bottle along with his friends, Benjamin Moore, 21, and pals Yousef Khan and Ryan Cleary, also aged in their early twenties.

"The defendant has carried out a serious unprovoked homophobic assault on gay men," explained prosecutor Mr. James Keeley yesterday. "Mr. Frith replied that he was not interested in women and that he was gay."

Lynn: On CCTV

Lynn replied: "We don't like gays," and as Mr. Frith walked away shouted: "Oi! Come here."

"The defendant called Mr. Frith back and as he approached he was at arm's length distance when the defendant produced a bottle and splashed the contents in Mr. Frith's face, which went into his eyes, nose, mouth and throat," explained Mr. Keeley.

"He said it tasted disgusting, he was inhaling fumes, couldn't breath and felt his face was burning and melting. He did not know if he was going to die or end up with no face."

Mr. Frith suffered painful ulcers to his tongue and to the back of his throat and a month later had no sense of taste and difficulty eating and continues to take anti-depressants to deal with his loss of seal-worth.

His friend Mr. Moore also suffered injuries. "The liquid hit Mr. Moore full in the face, it went into his eyes, he panicked, his eyes were streaming and his face felt like it was on fire.

"He describes it as the worst moment of his life," said Mr. Keeley, adding the young man was left with an ulcer in the cornea of his left eye and continues to receive treatment at Moorfields Eye Hospital for blurred vision and burns in his cornea.

"The liquid went into Mr. Khan's face and eyes. It was burning the right side of his face. Mr. Khan believes this was a homophobic attack on him and his friends."

The asthmatic victim did not seek medical treatment as he tried unsuccessfully to keep his sexuality a secret from his family, who he now feels have "disowned him."

The fourth friend was the subject of the less serious charge of common assault. "A small amount of fluid hit Mr. Cleary's eye. It stung Mr. Cleary's eye.

Hanging With The Girls: Lynn

"The defendant is described as vicious in his actions in that he wanted to hurt both men and then walked away with no remorse."

Passer-by Miss Thompson was leaving the club at the time. "She felt a splash in her right eye and felt pain in the back of her left eye. She was panicking and thought she was going blind."

Mr. Jafi had a verbal exchange with Lynn after the defendant stepped on his foot twenty minutes later. "The defendant sprayed him in the face with the contents of what looked like a Sprite bottle."

Ex-jailbird Lynn, who has served time for robbery and was on licence from prison at the time after receiving seven years in December, 2009 for possessing 1.5 kilos of cocaine and £30,000 in criminal property, was arrested in  pub four days later.

Lightbox entrance

His lawyer Mr. Piers Mostyn told the court: "He had previously been a victim of an attack in the area and took it with him for self-defence, a friend having left it at his address. He did not go out intending to use it.

"The defendant vehemently denies having any homophobic views and expressing those views. He was very drunk and remembers very little of what happened."

Lynn was remanded in custody until Thursday when he will be sentenced.

Mr. Frith told Evening Standard shortly after the attack: "As we walked away I heard a man shout: 'Oi! Come here.' At first I thought it was the doorman saying he'd changed his mind and we could go in.

"Then I saw this white guy with a beard and his hand coming up with a water bottle and he squirted really hard into my face. It went straight into my eyes and it sprayed into my friend's mouth.

"My face was burning so much, I thought it was acid. I thought I would never see again and my face was melting.

"He poured every last drop onto us and then turned around and walked away, like it was mission accomplished.

"The chemical burnt the cornea in my left eye and the vision hasn't cleared since. The doctors said it should hopefully return, but there is no guarantee.

"My friend's tongue was swollen and it looked like someone had scratched part of it away. It was horrible."

Christening Party Guest Cleared Of Broken Bottle Attack

Not Guilty: Steven Beckford

A christening party guest, accused of slashing his former best man's neck with a broken lager bottle – inflicting a wound requiring 42 stitches – has today been cleared of all charges by a jury.

Steven Beckford, 24, of Skipper Close, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire was said to have pursued one-time friend Neil Thompson from The Palace community centre in south London and attacked him from behind with a broken Heineken bottle.

However, Beckford claimed Mr. Thompson was the aggressor and threw the bottle through the window of his car and fell on the shattered glass as the pair wrestled on the ground.

He was found not guilty at Southwark Crown Court of inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, and possessing an offensive weapon in Coburg Crescent, Tulse Hill on July 28, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. John Evison told the court the happy occasion, which began on a warm Sunday afternoon, turned sour when an argument erupted between Beckford's wife Keisha and Mr. Thompson's girlfriend Monique Hutchinson.

“Neil and Monique decided to leave, they had their young son with them, and thereafter the assault took place.

“This defendant and Keisha ran after them and the defendant grabbed an expensive gold chain Mr. Thompson was wearing around his neck and wouldn't hand it back.

“The defendant, who had a Heineken bottle, smashed it on the ground and ran after Neil and stabbed him in the neck and back as Neil was running away.”

As well as the neck wound Mr. Thompson also received six separate injuries to his back, which also required stitches.

Fellow party-goers pulled the defendant off and he left with Keisha and their child and an ambulance rushed Mr. Thompson to Kings College Hospital, where he remained for twenty-four hours.

Police traced Beckford to his Aylesbury home and he was quizzed at Peckham Police Station the next day, where he claimed Mr. Thompson and Monique were the aggressors.

“He said Neil punched him in the mouth, causing bleeding and said Neil picked up the Heineken bottle and flung it at his red Fiesta car, smashing the driver's side window.

“The defendant said Neil kicked him in the head and there was a tussle between them on the ground for the bottle, which had fallen to the floor.”

Designer Bag Raider Jailed For £100,000-Plus Snatch

A masked raider, who snatched over £100,000 worth of designer handbags from a Chelsea boutique, has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Christopher Gibbs, 31, and two others struck at the Designer Exchange, Egerton Terrace on May 24 taking luxury brands including Hermes Birkin, Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton.

They even helped themselves to a customer's £1,600 handbag, which was snatched from the woman as she shopped with her twelve year-old son, during the surprise raid.

He pleaded guilty to burgling the store, taking twenty-five handbags, when he appeared at Isleworth Crown Court.

Staff managed to activate an alarm which filled the shop with thick smoke forcing the suspects to flee the premises.



Although Gibbs had his face covered with a mask during the raid it slipped as he fled the shop and he was captured on CCTV.

Officers were able to identify him and he was arrested on July 17.

Detective Constable Neil Webb from Kensington and Chelsea police, said: "The suspects, one of which was Gibbs, put the female staff, the customer and her twelve-year-old son in fear of attack.

“They were shouting to everyone to 'shut up' causing immense distress. 



"Gibbs has refused to name his accomplices and we have not recovered the stolen bags which are valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.



"If you have any information which could help us identify the other suspects or recover the bags then please contact police."



Any witnesses should call Kensington and Chelsea CID on 020 8246 0173 or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Drug Dealer Locked-Up

A drug dealer is starting a twenty-seven month prison sentence after his arrest during a police raid on his home.

Paul Luke, 43, of Holloway Road, Upper Holloway, north London was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court.

He was arrested when police searched his home on May 31, last year.

Luke was bailed until October 2 while the drugs were analysed and charged and remanded in custody when he surrendered himself.

He pleaded guilty to possessing a quantity of class A and B drugs, with intent to supply.

Bus Driver Spat On And Beaten: Four Thugs Wanted

Police are hunting these four suspects, wanted for punching and kicking a bus driver in east London.

Officers from the joint Transport for London and Metropolitan Police Service Workplace Violence Unit are appealing for help in identifying them.

At 1.50pm on Sunday, April 27 an altercation broke out on board the Route 25 bus in Stratford Bus station between the suspects and the driver.

All four passengers got off the bus before one of them spat at the driver through his open cab window.



The driver was then attacked by all four suspects - who punched and kicked him - before leaving the scene.



The driver was taken to hospital with concussion.



The suspects are described as:



Suspect 1 - A black woman aged approximatly 18-20 years old and of slim build.

Suspect 2 - A black man aged approximate 20-25 years old of medium build.

Suspect 3 - A black man aged approximatly 20-25 years old of medium build and wearing glasses.


Suspect 4 - A man of mixed race and slim build.



Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Constable Annie Garrard, who is leading the investigation for the Workplace Violence Unit on 07766 248505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.