Not Guilty: Care Worker Cleared Of Raping Resident With Learning Difficulties

A care worker, responsible for looking after the occupants of a residential home, has been cleared of raping a woman with learning difficulties, but will still be punished for having sex with her.

Mohammed Azam, 23, always admitted having sex with the 53 year-old woman, but insisted it was consensual and the rape claim was made after he rejected her further advances.

Croydon Crown Court heard he was the only member of staff at the assisted accommodation in South Way, Coulsdon that evening - staying overnight in case of any emergency.

The woman closed her eyes when Azam showed her pornography on his mobile phone moments before forcing himself on her, the jury were told. 

"She says he undressed her and she did not like it and described it as: 'Very rough and horrible,' and she said it was hurting her," explained prosecutor Miss Dianne Chan.

"He said: 'Women are bastards,' and said he wanted to be her boyfriend and that she was sexy."

The woman took a shower afterwards, but Azam jumped in and joined her, explained Miss Chan. "He said it was their secret and he did not like his job anyway.

"After the shower he made her do it again and she was in a lot of pain and was crying and he laughed.

"She went to her room and did not tell anyone. She was scared stiff.

"On another day he asked her to do it again and she said no and when she told the manager the manager said she was a liar."

The house was run by a company called Direct Care and Support Services and Azam was hired by the manger, who had known him for five years, in November, 2012 and sex occurred within four months.

He was hired despite his poor English skills and needs an Urdu interpreter in court.

On March 25, 2013 the defendant was asked about the complaint. "He said sex had taken place in the staff bedroom and he thought she complained because she asked for sex again and he refused."

The defendant moved into a temporary hostel and one night chatted with a witness about the incident. "Mr. Azam said it was not a real rape because he was already having sex when he was asked to stop and carried on," explained Miss Chan.

Azam was found not guilty by the jury of two counts of rape between February 1 and March 25, 2013.

He pleaded guilty to two alternative counts of sexual activity while employed as a care worker with a person with a mental disorder and will be sentenced on July 30.

Parish Councillor Accused Of Molesting Girl Three Decades Ago After Making Fresh Facebook Contact

A Lincoln parish councillor was arrested after making Facebook contact with a woman he abused as a child three decades ago in a failed attempt to pass himself off as a: “Friendly face from the past,” a jury were told today.

Engineer David Anthony Swinton, 70, of Bath Road, Bracebridge Heath denies sneaking into the girl's room during the night when she was aged between eight and eleven years-old and touching her between her legs over a four-year period.

He has pleaded not guilty at London's Harrow Crown Court to eight sample counts of indecently assaulting the complainant between June 20, 1984 and June 21, 1988.

The court was told the complainant was reluctant to report Swinton, who lived in Harrow at the time, because his family was so well-respected locally, with his civil servant wife Jane sitting on the local council, and his mother-in-law a former mayor of the borough.

Father-of-three Swinton, who lived at Northumberland Road, Harrow, is accused of molesting the girl at the address, often telling her to: “Shhh,” and be quiet and assuring her she was a: “Good girl.”

Prosecutor Mr. Toby Fitzgerald told the jury the girl regularly slept overnight at the defendant's house, occupying the top bunk of bunk-beds while her younger sister slept below.

“While the children were in his house he took the opportunity to indecently assault the elder sister, touching her indecently and between her legs in particular.

“The defendant would bath them both and throughout this period the defendant would come into the bedroom, approach the girl, and touch her, both over and under her knickers.

“Sometimes he would come in and pretend to tuck the girls in.

“This happened very regularly and the defendant showed a lack of boundaries, when at breakfast and in front of his family he said of the girl. 'She is a woman now'.

“She remembers thinking the defendant was trying to legitimise what he was doing and normalise his sexual activity with a child.

“The abuse ended when she stopped staying at the Swinton's home in 1988,” added Mr. Fitzgerald, explaining the girl told her mother what had happened approximately a year later.

“Her mother seemed sympathetic, but no complaint was made and the girl felt worried that she would not be believed.”

Some time later the complainant was walking past Swinton's house and he waved at her. “She stuck her finger up at him and he would have known the abuse was not forgotten and she was still angry.”

Out of the blue she received a Facebook message from Swinton on June 9, 2013, asking how she was.

“She looked at his page and the photographs of his grandchildren and was angry and upset that she had been contacted.

“Why did the defendant contact her? What was the motivation?” added Mr. Fitzgerald.

“The last few years have become increasingly uncomfortable for sex offenders and the Crown say this defendant wanted to head off any complaint against himself by presenting himself as a friendly face from the past and run with this change in history.

“He wanted to allay those fears so he could continue to live his life, but that was a miscalculation and it rekindled her upset and distress and she contacted the police.”

Swinton was arrested on December 11, 2013. “He absolutely denied any sexual conduct.”

The defendant sits on the Bracebridge Heath parish council and is the vice-chairman of Planning, Lighting and Roads and Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

The trial continues..........

Midnight Machete Attack: CCTV Released

Police are hunting this suspect after two men were victims of a midnight machete attack in north-west London.

Officers were called at 0.50am on March 22 to reports of a man armed with the large knife involved in violence in Craven Park Road, Wembley.

On arrival, police discovered two men, aged 34 and 47 years-old, had been attacked and had sustained cuts to their faces.

Both men were taken to hospital where they were treated for their injuries.

The suspect is described as a black male, of skinny build and 6ft tall.

He was also wearing blue, swimming style goggles.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Constable Russ Ellis at Brent Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Army Instructor Rapist Who Preyed On Young Cadets Is Locked-Up

An Army cadet training instructor, who sexually abused three young part-time female soldiers, is starting a seven-year prison sentence.

Jan Nicholas Ross, 27, targeted the victims – aged between seventeen and twenty-three years-old – during Territorial Army training.

Ross, of Bridle Road, Croydon was convicted of one count of rape; one count of sexual assault and one count of inciting a female to engage in sexual activity.

Croydon Crown Court heard he was responsible for the training and development of cadets within his unit in south London.

The offences took place between November 2013 and January last year in Croydon and Guilford.

Detective Inspector Nicola Arrowsmith of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation, and Child Abuse Command, said: "I would like to commend the victims for the courage and patience they have shown throughout this investigation and subsequent trial.

“Jan Ross held a role that enabled him to target young women he believed would be too scared to report him.

"This case highlights the determination of the Met Police to thoroughly investigate allegations of this nature.

“I would encourage any victim of serious sexual assault to report the matter to police; we have trained specialist officers to deal with your allegations.

"If you wish to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Millionaire Sir Harry Djanogly Accused Of Dragging Cop During Jag Hospital Dash

Millionaire philanthropist to the arts Sir Harry Djanogly CBE, appeared in court yesterday after a police officer, who stopped him for speeding in his powerful Jag, was pulled twenty-five metres along a dual carriageway, sustaining a knee injury.

The textile manufacturer, 76, who is estimated to have a personal fortune of £300m, gave no indication as to plea and was bailed by Hammersmith Magistrates Court to appear at Isleworth Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on July 7.  

He is charged with driving his five-litre silver Jaguar XK dangerously on The Westway A40, Hammersmith on December 27, last year and assaulting Police Sergeant Robert McDonald on the same occasion.

Sir Harry, who was knighted in 1993 for services to charity, claims his wife, Lady Carol Ann Djanogly, who was also in the vehicle, was suffering chest pains and had an urgent hospital appointment.

Prosecutor Mr. Guy Saul told the court it was 8pm when police officers in a marked vehicle estimated Sir Harry was driving at over 70mph in a 50mph zone and put on their lights in an attempt to make him stop.

He slowed sufficiently to allow PS McDonald to approach, the court was told, but then revved his engine and said: "I'm not stopping."

Mr. Saul added: "The vehicle moved forward, causing Police Sergeant McDonald to fall backwards and lose his balance, fearing injury if he fell under the wheels.

"There was a sudden burst of acceleration and the officer grabbed the steering wheel with both hands and the car veered towards oncoming traffic."

Sir Harry was represented by 'Mr. Loophole' Nick Freeman who said the distance covered was twenty-five metres.

He gave his address as a £1m three-bedroom maisonette at 3 Angel Court, St. James', Pall Mall, where the Djanogly Foundation is also registered, a charity, which has donated millions to arts and education.

He fled Nazi Germany with his family in 1936 and started-out as a supplier of stockings and hosiery in Nottingham, his adopted city, which has benefited from charitable donations of £1m to fund the City Technology Centre, which later became the Djanogly City Academy, plus £750,000 towards the University of Nottingham's arts centre at Highfields.

Sir Harry and Lady Carol are members of the Tate International Council and he has made significant financial contributions to the Tate Modern, Tate Britain and the Victoria & Albert Museum and donated £500,000 to the National Gallery extension and also supports the Royal Academy and National Portrait Gallery.

In 2008 The British Museum opened the Sir Harry and Lady Djanogly Gallery for Clocks and Watches and he helped develop the Jewish Museum project and the Royal Ballet School has a 'Djanogly Studio'.

He is believed to own the world's largest collection of work by artist LS Lowry, plus valuable paintings by Picasso and Monet.

Sir Harry's City lawyer son Jonathan Djanogly, 50, is the Conservative MP for Huntingdon.

Care Worker Denies Raping Resident With Learning Difficulties

A care worker, responsible for looking after the occupants of a residential home, twice raped a woman with learning difficulties in the same night and laughed when she started crying, a jury were told today.

Mohammed Azam, 23, admits having sex with the 53 year-old woman, but insists it was consensual and the rape claim was made after he rejected her further advances.

Croydon Crown Court heard he was the only member of staff at the assisted accommodation in South Way, Coulsdon that evening - staying overnight in case of any emergency.

The woman closed her eyes when Azam showed her pornography on his mobile phone moments before forcing himself on her, the jury were told. 

"She says he undressed her and she did not like it and described it as: 'Very rough and horrible,' and she said it was hurting her," explained prosecutor Miss Dianne Chan.

"He said: 'Women are bastards,' and said he wanted to be her boyfriend and that she was sexy."

The woman took a shower afterwards, but Azam jumped in and joined her, explained Miss Chan. "He said it was their secret and he did not like his job anyway.

"After the shower he made her do it again and she was in a lot of pain and was crying and he laughed.

"She went to her room and did not tell anyone. She was scared stiff.

"On another day he asked her to do it again and she said no and when she told the manager the manager said she was a liar."

The house was run by a company called Direct Care and Support Services and Azam was hired by the manger, who had known him for five years, in November, 2012 and sex occurred within four months.

He was hired despite his poor English skills and needs an Urdu interpreter in court.

On March 25, 2013 the defendant was asked about the complaint. "He said sex had taken place in the staff bedroom and he thought she complained because she asked for sex again and he refused."

The defendant moved into a temporary hostel and one night chatted with a witness about the incident. "Mr. Azam said it was not a real rape because he was already having sex when he was asked to stop and carried on," explained Miss Chan.

Azam has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape between February 1 and March 25, 2013.

He has pleaded guilty to two alternative counts of sexual activity while employed as a care worker with a person with a mental disorder. 

Trial continues…………….

Book Keeper Hatched £300K Raid On Ex Employer

Turkan & Tuncel Ibrahim

A disgruntled book keeper masterminded a £300,000 jewellery raid on his ex-employers' large detached home by hiring thugs to terrorise the couple in the middle of the night, a jury heard yesterday.

Zahid Sait, 42, of Michigan Close, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire was sacked from the catering company run by the victims after they suspected him of stealing £20,000 nearly a decade previously.

Croydon Crown Court heard he plotted with three men, including 24 year-old Reece Williams, of Philip House, Denham Road, South Barnet, who drove the two accomplices who entered the house on June 9, last year.

Sait and Williams have both pleaded not guilty to conspiring to rob Mr. Tuncel Ibrahim, 69 and 67 years-old Mrs Turkan Ibrahim.

Their two co-defendants, Junior Millar, 36, and Kyio Scarlett-Hudson, 20, who have admitted their role, will be sentenced at the conclusion of the trial.

Prosecutor Mr. Gino Connor told the jury Sait told police a "pack of lies" when arrested at an Edmonton funeral attended by Mr. Ibrahim
on October 14.

He denied knowing the robbers, but now claims he was "terrified for his life" and fed the information to the gang under duress.

A gambling addiction left him in debt to one of the robbers and he says he reluctantly gave the couple's home address, fearing he would be harmed.

Williams says he was hired for £300 to drive to the couple's home in Chislehurst Road, Petts Wood, Orpington so his two co-defendants could do nothing more than collect a debt.

It was shortly before 5am when the husband was attacked at his front door, repeatedly punched in the face and tied up.

His wife was bound with her own dressing gown belt and told: "Shut up or I will kill you, I'll kill your husband," by the larger of the two robbers.

"They threatened to rape her if the husband did not co-operate," explained Mr. Connor. 

A scarf was also tied around her neck and her husband sustained bruising and a dislocated shoulder during their ordeal.

After the robbers left Mrs Ibrahim managed to free herself and used a pair of scissors to cut her husband free.

She called the police and the couple were taken to hospital to be treated for number of injuries and shock.

Expensive jewellery, plus £4,000 cash and €650 were taken, and the gang fled to an address in Enfield, where Sait was staying with a friend.

That friend later told police he saw Sait chatting with two black men in the house's conservatory early on June 9 and he had a pile of jewellery and cash by his feet.

Police discovered Sait's cousin is married to the couple's son and he was employed for five years as a book keeper at their Tottenham business until his sacking in 2005 after the theft allegation.

Trial continues…………

Tipper Truck Driver Who Jumped Light And Killed Cyclist Is Jailed

Barry Eric Meyer

A tipper truck driver, who jumped a red light and killed a cyclist during the morning rush-hour, is starting a three-and-a-half year sentence.

Barry Eric Meyer, 53, of Aubrey Road, Walthamstow was unlicensed and uninsured when he crushed 54 year-old Alan Neve to death.

The Poplar father-of-one was cycling to his job in Soho where he was an auditor for the Performing Arts Society when run over in Holborn at 9.25am on July 15, 2013.

Meyer has five previous driving disqualifications, which include two drink-drive convictions.

He pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court to causing death by careless driving and was also disqualified from driving for ten years.

Alan Neve

Detective Sergeant Cheryl Frost, from the Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: "I would like to express my gratitude to the family of Alan Neve.

“They have carried themselves with the utmost dignity throughout this process which has lasted almost two years.

“It has been an extremely difficult time for them but their desire to assist us and support this investigation is testament to their strength."

The Neve family released their own statement, which Read: “Alan was a kind, loving, optimistic, law-abiding man who had many years of life ahead of him.

“It was his great misfortune to travel the same route as Mr Meyer on Monday 15th July 2013.

“Many people have been deeply affected by Alan's death. We are relieved that there has finally been an end to this process and that there is some sense of justice for Alan.

“Alan will never ever be forgotten.”

Young Woman Attacked On Way To Work: Police Release CCTV

Police are hunting this early-morning sexual predator, who followed a young woman on her way to work and subjected her to a “shocking attack.”

The 20 year-old woman was on her way to Bedford Place, Bloomsbury at 7.15am on March 29 when she was assaulted at the bottom of steps that lead to her workplace.

The suspect began following her after she passed him in nearby Bloomsbury Square.

He left the scene immediately after the assault.

Detective Constable Arif Sheikh from Camden CID, who is leading the investigation, said: "I am appealing for anyone who recognises this person to come forward and speak to police.

“The victim was followed to her place of work and was subjected to a shocking attack."

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Camden Police on 101, quoting ref: 2308112/15.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

"Dangerous Criminal" Gets Eight Years For Gun Stash

A “dangerous criminal” stopped in a mini-cab by armed police who found a sub machine gun and ammo is starting an eight-year sentence.

Nathan Marshall, 25, also had another machine gun and revolver stashed in the back garden of an address in north-west London, which had been found three weeks earlier.

A converted blank-firing Mac10 machine gun (pictured) and a Harrington & Richardson revolver were recovered on August 9, 2013 in Tubbs Road, Brent.

Marshall was stopped in St. John's Wood Road, St. John's Wood on September 2 with a Czech Vz26 sub machine gun in a carrier bag and ammo in the back of the vehicle.

Marshall, of Lammermoor Road, Balham pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to possessing the three firearms

Detective Inspector Keely Smith of the Serious Organised Crime Command said: "The Special Projects Team is committed to removing lethal weapons from the hands of dangerous criminals in order to keep London safe."

Serial Rapist Locked-Up Again After Early Release

Daniel Elliot 2014

A "predatory and dangerous" rapist released less than halfway through his sentence claimed three more victims while on parole - including two schoolgirls - who were raped in front of their boy companions.

Daniel Elliot, 24, of Rosewell Close, Penge was sentenced to life imprisonment - with an eight-year minimum - at Croydon Crown Court yesterday.

"These were attacks on strangers in public places at night, within six weeks of each other, during which you claimed to have a weapon," Judge Daniel Flahive told the serial rapist.

"There was a degree of targeting. They were all terrified and have been psychologically effected by what happened, the effects are great."

Elliot denied all the charges, but was convicted of raping a 16 year-old girl in Beddington Park, Carshalton on September 5, last year then a 15 year-old in nearby Grove Park on November 15.

He was also convicted of attempting to rape and digitally penetrating the 15 year-old and sexually assaulting a 28 year-old woman in Mellowes Park, Stafford Road, Wallington on August 3.

Daniel Elliot 2010

Elliot received five years and three months in the Summer of 2010 for raping a 19 year-old Japanese exchange student, who asked him for directions near Clock House Road, Beckenham.

He was released from custody on October 5, 2012.

His police custody photos reveal how Elliot has matured from skinny teen to a powerfully-built sexual predator.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Keith Ward said: "Elliot is a predatory and dangerous man, who despite just being released from jail carried out three brutal attacks in a matter of months."

The 16 year-old victim was walking with her boyfriend, also aged 16, near a graveyard at 2am when approached by Elliot, who usually wore a hood during the attacks.

"You said you were armed with pepper spray and the male started crying and screaming.

"You raped the victim and asked her if she liked it and had your hand over her mouth."

Elliot held a tin can to the girl's eyes while he raped her.

The 15 year-old was in a fenced-off playground with a 17 year-old boy when Elliot pounced at 8.30pm, scaring them into believing he had a knife.

"You punched the boy to the ground and held him down, saying you would hurt him and had a knife," said Judge Flahive. 

Fearing her friend would be stabbed the girl submitted to Elliot's demands and was raped.

The 28 year-old woman was followed off a bus by Elliot as she made her way home from work. "You grabbed her from behind and said you were going to stab her.

"You forced her to the ground while threatening to stab her and you had your hand around her neck and were choking her. and forced your hand into her knickers."

The 16 year-old now always carries a personal alarm and has undergone a series of health checks for sexually transmitted diseases.

The court heard she has lost her independence and her father feels he has failed in his responsibilities to protect her.

"The fifteen year-old girl was a bright student whose character has now changed and is now angry and aggressive," added the judge.
"She has changed her appearance and lost weight.

"The parents feel their daughter has been taken away from them.

"You have to be regarded as a dangerous offender and you will only be released when the parole board think it is safe."

Falkland Veteran's Expensive Dancefloor Grope

A Falklands War veteran, who travelled to London for a rugby-themed reunion, groped a woman who was dancing in front of him three times and flew into a rage when confronted.

Paul White, 55, of Cornwall House, Borough Road, Combe Martin, Ilfracombe, Devon is now counting the cost of that trip after he was sentenced at Wimbledon Magistrates Court.

He pleaded guilty today to sexually assaulting a female at The Railway Tavern, The Quadrant, Richmond-upon-Thames on May 9 and using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour on the same occasion.

White was conditionally discharged for twelve months and ordered to pay £250 compensation to the victim; £85 costs; a £180 court charge and a £15 victim surcharge.

The court heard the victim was enjoying a celebratory evening at the pub with friends and was on the dancefloor with White, who did not know her, standing behind.

He groped her rear with his hand on three separate occasions and she turned and told him: “Twice may be an accident, but three times is deliberate.”

She alerted security and White turned aggressive when challenged about his behaviour and a minor scuffle broke out.

The court was told White was in London to watch rugby and celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of Goose Green, which took place in May, 1982, mainly involving 2 Para of the Parachute Regiment.

NOT GUILTY: Policeman Cleared Of Harassing WPC Ex

Cleared: Stuart House

A police officer convicted of harassing his WPC ex with drunken early hours abusive phone calls and texts during an ongoing money row cleared his name yesterday, having already beaten a fraud charge she brought.

PC Stuart House, 34, of International Way, Sunbury-on-Thames admits he called 26 year-old Nickala Halse a: 'P****' in a 2.45am text and followed-up with: 'I wonder if I will f*** with someone more intelligent than me, my family, haha' and: 'Dry your eyes angel.'

This was after two calls, the second of which she amplified on speakerphone for the benefit of her new boyfriend, Police Sergeant Steve Behan, 37, who backed-up her account in court.

PC House, who is based at Hounslow Police Station, was found guilty at Ealing Magistrates Court of harassing Nickala on September 21, 2013 and received a conditional discharge, but that conviction was overturned yesterday after an Isleworth Crown Court appeal.

Nickala, who with PS Behan is based at Uxbridge Police Station, told the court from behind a curtain: "He rang me to speak about car insurance and we spoke about other financial things.

"He started shouting at me so I put the phone down. He called me a: 'Little b****' and a: 'C***' and he had been texting my dad with abuse before this.

"I previously changed my number and my email so he could not contact me."

Nickala Halse & Steve Behan

The couple had lived together, but split after two or three years in September, 2012 and because PC House was still on her insurance Nickala was billed for his car cover and wanted to be reimbursed.

That prompted an angry exchange of texts with PC House writing: "Sounds like you're trying to work out an offence probie. You won't find one."

Nickala says the word 'probie' was used as a reference to her still being a probationary police officer, after previously being a PCSO. "It was used in a patronising tone."

However, the insurance dispute did result in PC House, the son of a retired police chief-inspector and whose brother is also a serving officer, being charged with fraud, but he was acquitted of the allegation at the Ealing trial.

Nickala added: "Stuart had been drinking that evening. He was drunk on the phone earlier when he called at 10.30pm." She claimed he called her a: "C***" at least half a dozen times during the early hours phone call.

"It was quite upsetting, I felt really stressed out. It took a lot for me to go to the police and report it, I couldn't cope with the stress anymore.

"I felt it was constantly threats all the time, not physical, but he would do stuff financially. He always made me feel stupid all the time."

PC House feels Nickala did not pay her fair share of domestic bills when they lived together and it was his case the couple often exchanged abusive texts, with his ex giving as good as she got.

Judge Phillip Matthews ruled the two phone calls and three texts did not amount to harassment.

"Those words in the phone call did upset the complainant and those texts were certainly not polite and added to the complainant's feeling of being upset.

"The behaviour was improper, but falls far short of amounting to a course of conduct causing alarm and distress."

PC House faces internal police disciplinary proceedings next week.

Department Store Worker Accused Of Pocketing Over £90,000 From The Till

An employee, accused of stealing over £90,000 from the landmark south-west London department store where he worked, appeared in court for the first time today yesterday.

Adam James Harris, 46, of Redwood Place, Morewood Close did not indicate a plea when he appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court.

Jurisdiction was declined due to the seriousness of the charge and Harris was bailed to appear at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on June 29.

He is charged with stealing £94,627.96 from Elys, Wimbledon between January 1, 2009 and January 13, this year.

It is alleged Harris refunded himself money from the till over a a six-year period.

High Court Victor Stalked Debtor By Secretly Placing Trackers On His Car

Jimmy Vigh

A man who placed trackers on a car owned by his late mother's partner in a bid to enforce a High Court debt after a two-year battle over her flat, has been convicted of stalking.

Jimmy Vigh, 47, of Saxby's Lane, Lingfield is pursuing a £70,000 debt, according to Subhash Patel, who says he was forced out of the home he shared with Celsa Vigh in Mosslea Road, Whyteleafe until her death on December 4, 2008.

Vigh was convicted at Croydon Magistrates Court of stalking Mr. Patel on or before November 19, last year and was conditionally discharged for two years, ordered to pay £350 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

The pair endured an acrimonious court case, which Vigh eventually won in November, 2013, with Mr. Patel ordered to leave the address and pay his opponent's costs.

Mr. Patel told the court he found five trackers hidden on his Vauxhall Zafira, which Vigh fully accepts he placed in an attempt to discover where his late mother's ex was living.

Vigh claims Mr.Patel uses aliases and has defrauded his late mother's estate by writing cheques on her account, cashing in her share certificates and stripped her flat clean before he was forced out.

“The first tracker was fitted in 2010 during the dispute over the property,” Mr. Patel told the court. “The second tracker was found on the rear frame by a mechanic in August, 2014 and when I found the third on October 1 I reported it to the police.”

Subhash Patel

He said he found the fourth on November 16 and the fifth at the end of the same month. “It was a very small flat one and very difficult to see. So many tracking devices have been fitted to my car.”

Mr. Patel insists he does not owe Vigh a penny. “It has been settled. He's been paid a large amount in cash. He wanted seventy thousand by the way.”

He is still bitter about losing the flat he shared with Mrs Vigh. “I was evicted forcefully. The house was repossessed.

“He (Vigh) started extorting more and more money from me. I don't want to pay him any more.”

The legal bill which Vigh continues to pursue totals £33,723.

Mr. Patel refused to give his current address when he was in the witness box, explaining: “I don't want to say where I live in case he breaks in. 

"When someone has threatened to kill you three times you don't give your address.

“He has made threats to me and the first threat was after I reported his money laundering and tax evasion.

“The second was when he was trying to evict me from the property.”

Globe-Trotting Fraudster's In-Flight Spending-Spree

A globe-trotting Heathrow Airport taxi tout, who bought thousands of pounds worth of branded goods on international flights with dodgy bank cards, has been jailed for nine months.

Chanania Cohen, 59, of Albatross, Belvedere Strand, Colindale swindled British Airways out of watches, headphones, perfume and aftershave and other items during return flights to Moscow and Istanbul.

At Isleworth Crown Court he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment after being convicted of seven counts of fraud by false representation, namely using a payment card the was either counterfeit or had insufficient funds to purchase goods.

The charges relate to five round-trips to Moscow on November 26, 27; December 1 and 5, 2013 and on January 15, last year when he bought £5,543 worth of goods.

Additionally there were two more counts relating to a return trip to Istanbul on December 8, 2013, totalling £1143.

Cohen was also convicted of possessing articles in relation to fraud, namely six counterfeit bank cards at Heathrow Airport on January 15, last year.

He was also found guilty of possessing criminal property at the airport, namely fifteen boxes containing perfume and aftershave, plus two watches and Beats Headphones at his home address.

While on bail for the fraud Cohen was arrested for illegal taxi-touting at the airport on September 17, last year and having no insurance for his Mercedes Viano.

Cheeky Thief Nicks Laptop From Courtroom

An audacious opportunist thief swiped a prosecuting lawyer's laptop when she momentarily stepped out of a courtroom last week.

Security staff at north-west London's Brent Magistrates Court have analysed CCTV within  the building in an attempt to identify a suspect.

A lawyer hired by the Crown Prosecution Service was dealing with traffic offences in Court 6 when she discovered her personal laptop was missing after returning to the courtroom.

On Thursday CPS lawyer Mr. Ranesh Patel said: "She suspects a defendant who had a case on, but did not come back in the afternoon, was responsible.

"It has been reported to the police and the CCTV images have been viewed.

"She reported it to the court's security. Poor lady, it was a private laptop.

"She was dealing with road traffic cases and the suspect was not in the dock, they were at the back of the court and must have just come in and taken it."

No arrest has been made.

Business Lecturer's Benefits Fraud While On Suspended Sentence For VAT Swindle

A tax and benefit cheat business lecturer, devoted to financing her only child's private education, dodged prison yesterday despite swindling over £5,000 in benefits while under a suspended sentence for a £156,000 VAT scam. 

Single-mum Monica Bircham, 47, claimed she did not have to tell her council about extra money she illegally earned because it was in a business account and not a personal account - an excuse described by the court as: "bizarre."

The £140 per day tutor, of Abbott Court, Hartington Road, South Lambeth, whose son is 15 years-old, was exposed after the taxman investigated her "ethical" cosmetics company and also discovered she was preying on her local authority for hand-outs for two-and-a-half years.

She is listed as a lecturer on Bromley College's website and her field of knowledge includes business and cultural affairs.

On April 8, 2013 she received 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, for the VAT fraud, but continued her ongoing benefit swindle and was found guilty on a dozen counts.

"Your claim for benefits was dishonest from the start, " Recorder Adam Hiddleston told Bircham at Croydon Crown Court. "You lied about your income, who you were sharing your home with, how many bank accounts you had and left out information you knew you needed to declare.

"It seemed to me an entirely proper verdict on every single count and the case you put forward was bizarre. 

"After you were found out to the extent you went to and your motives were obvious. You sought to hide the money so you could fund your son's education.

"All of this was done with careful thought. You are an intelligent woman, you have qualifications and are employed as a lecturer.

"You deprived Lambeth of funds, which they could have used to pay benefits to people in need who were not able to consider a private education for their children.

"Even today you maintain your innocence despite your obvious dishonesty.

"What chimes through this is your utter devotion to your son. You going to prison would have a profound effect on him and he would be another victim in this case.

"I don't see why he should suffer from your dishonesty.

"You have come very close indeed to effecting the course of his life. Your actions have nearly undone everything you have set out to do, namely give him a stable environment to be brought up in.

"Lambeth have been put to an enormous loss by your actions, not only the five thousand-odd in benefits, but prosecution costs of eight thousand pounds, which will be yet another loss."

The total loss in housing and council tax benefit was £5,337.60p.

The probation service recommended a sentence that did not result in immediate imprisonment, despite concluding in their report Bircham: "Has a propensity towards deceptive conduct." 

Her lawyer Miss Karen Walton said: "She has aspirations to stand on her own two feet, but is incapable of doing so.

"Sending her to prison will punish her, but will not solve that conundrum and she will not have any support in prison and will be released back to where she is now, heavily in debt."

She fought the case, but a jury convicted her of ten counts of fraud between December 9, 2010 and July 12, 2013 consisting of telling the London Borough of Lambeth she received no money from self-employment and on three occasions gave untrue information in a Self-Employed Earning Information form.

That she was a single-mother living alone; that she had no income; that she had no more income than tax credits; that she was the only adult living at her address; that she had not received full payment for part-time lecturing work and failed to disclose income.

She was convicted on a further count of dishonestly making a false representation on or about November 11, 2010 in an online application for Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit and one count of possessing an article for use in fraud on or about May 3, 2011, namely a profit and loss account for a business called Scoop SkinCare Ltd.

Bircham was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 200 hours community service work.