Foul-Mothed Bus Passenger: CCTV Image Released

Police have released this CCTV image of a foul-mouthed bus passenger, who abused the driver in east London.

The suspect boarded the 372 bus in Bridge Road, Rainham – which was travelling between Hornchurch and Lakeside - at 2.45pm on May 4.

He quickly became abusive and threatened the 38 year-old male driver.

The suspect is described as a white man, slim and aged about 60 years-old with dark grey short hair, round glasses and wearing workman style clothing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Constable Bevely Clapp, from the Roads and Transport Policing Command, on 07825 386 484 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting ref: 178821.

Chelsea Pensioner Who Took "Sexual Advantage" Of Drunken Woman Four Decades His Junior Jailed

In Scarlet Uniform: Teegan

A Chelsea Pensioner has been jailed for twelve months and kicked out of the prestigious Royal Hospital after sexually assaulting a drunken woman - four decades his junior - in his private berth.

Patrick Noel Teegan, 72, played a key role in last year's closing ceremony of the Chelsea Flower Show and was wearing his trademark ceremonial scarlet uniform when he met the 29 year-old fund-raising executive in the hospital's club.

He flouted the hospital's strict rules concerning female guests in resident's rooms when he took her back and rubbed himself against the naked victim as she lay in his bed.

"He has lost his prestigious position as a Chelsea Pensioner. A position he thought he would benefit from for the rest of his life with all the care provisions that involves," said Mis Emma Goodall, defending.

"To have that security removed at his age has had a considerable punitive impact. He's found himself suffering considerable repetitional damage…..causing him considerable shame."  

The decorated former Warrant Officer, who joined the Army in Belfast in 1962 and served all over the world, was convicted by the Isleworth Crown Court jury of sexually assaulting the woman in the early hours of May 24, last year.

She had already consumed two glasses of champagne that day and says she blacked-out after Teegan bought her a couple of glasses of white wine.

In Nick: Patrick Teegan

The court heard the next thing she remembers is waking up naked in Irishman Teegan's bed with the stripped defendant grinding against her.

"I felt very drunk and being in the club is my last memory," she explained.

"He had his arm around my waist and he was naked as well lying behind me," she told police. "I was shocked I didn't know where I was or who I was with."

She told the court semi-aroused Teegan - known as 'Paddy' - was rubbing his groin against her buttocks and invited her to remain until the morning, describing her as: "Wonderful."

"I just thought: 'What the hell is happening?'"

In return for £175 a week residents at the 320 year-old Sir Christopher Wren-designed hospital, who must be Army veterans over 65 years-old, receive a private berth within the seventeenth century Grade 1 listed building, plus three meals a day and enjoy an active ceremonial and social life.

Recorder Jonathan Davies said: "She was somebody who wilfully drunk and the defendant acted in an opportunistic way rather than setting out to get her to drink to do what he did.

"She had no memory of what happened. She was seen outside not being able to walk straight. The defendant tried to blame her every step of the way.

"You took sexual advantage of her when she was in no position to prevent sexual activity with you. This offence clearly crosses the custody threshold.

"The impact on her was significant. She could not work, lost her confidence, became reclusive and lost contact with her family and friends."

Hours before the assault Teegan, who was a Ministry of Defence civil servant for a decade after his Army service, took part in the traditional bell-ringing ceremony, which closes the annual flower show.

The father-of-two spent the rest of the evening drinking in the Chelsea Pensioners Club, where he met the woman. 

"She was smiling and I said: 'Hello, would you like a drink?' I could see she was getting merry and her voice did get loud.

"She was not straight, you could tell she'd had a drink," he told the court.

"I took her out of the club because the barmaid suggested it and she said she was tired, needed a rest and did not want to go home.

"She said: 'Can I come to your room and have a rest?' I said: 'Yes, you can come to my berth and have a rest.'

"I knew I was doing wrong by letting her into my berth, that was breaking hospital rules, the no female rule.

"She started taking her clothes off and got into bed and she said: 'Come to bed.' I got into bed, wearing just my underpants. I wanted to have a rest.

"She took my right hand and placed it on her stomach, but I took my hand away. I think she wanted to initiate more, perhaps sex."

Teegan told the court she then threw up over herself. "I told her: 'I think it's time you went.'"

He walked her to the night bus, which she caught after 3am, but was seen by the police six days later.

Describing how it felt to be arrested Teegan said: "I went into shock," adding that it was "horrible" being on trial.

The woman asked her mother to take her to a psychiatric hospital the next day, fearing she would harm herself otherwise.

Teegan will also have to sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

Wanted: Former Stella McCartney Personal Shopper Accused Of Cutting-Up Ex-Boyfriend's £20K Designer Wardrobe

A former personal shopper employed by Stella McCartney is on the run from police on a charge of cutting-up £20,000 worth of her ex-boyfriend's designer clothes at his Chelsea apartment.

Lucia Hajnikova, 28, who worked with the designer's VIP clients, is accused of taking a pair of scissors to Ege Akcasoy's wardrobe, but failed to appear at Hammersmith Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Hajnikova, who gave her address as The Wapping Project - Bankside Limited at 65a Hopton Street, Southwark - where she is employed as a gallery assistant - is also alleged to have smashed a window at her ex's £725,000 property.

She is charged that on July 22 at the flat in Bolton Lodge, Gilston Road, she destroyed clothing and other property, worth £20,000, belonging to Mr. Akcasoy.

Last week Hajnikova appeared in court for the second time on the charge and informally indicated she would be prepared to plead guilty to the offence, based on a valuation of £10,000.

However, at that time Mr. Akcasoy was insisting £30,000 worth of damage was caused and the case was adjourned and the compromise valuation reached.

Yesterday magistrates issued a warrant without bail after hearing no explanation for Hajnikova's non-attendance and a member of staff said at the end of the day: "The warrant will be circulated tonight." 

Hajnikova, who has a Master's Degree in Fine and Studio Arts from Chelsea College of Art and Design, also previously worked as a designer/creative director for fashion label Pandora In Case, as a showroom assistant for designer Gareth Pugh and as a studio assistant for Burberry.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Doolan told the court: "The victim says the broken glass amounts to seven hundred and fifty pounds, plus damage to a wardrobe, a dinner jacket, tuxedo, winter coats, suits and shirts and ties."

Hajnikova's lawyer Miss Temi Johnson said: "She is said to have cut up a number of suits and a dress. They were designer suits, but they were four to six years old."

'Revenge Porn' Accused Denied Posting Pics Of Ex On Facebook

A man accused of publishing sexually explicit images of his ex-girlfriend on facebook six months after they split-up has appeared in court.

Michael Howard-Harrington, 30, of Kingshill Avenue, Hayes, Hillingdon took the pictures on his phone while they were dating.

He was bailed by Uxbridge Magistrates Court to appear at Isleworth Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on September 9.

Howard-Harrington is charged with one count of disclosing private sexual photographs, with intent to cause distress, and without consent on or about April 13.

Prosecutor Miss Jane Ndedi told the court the couple were in a relationship between july and October last year and during that time the complainant allowed the defendant to take intimate images of her in sexually compromising situations.

They separated and she asked him to delete the images from his phone and he assured her he had done so.

Without reason he posted nine images on his facebook account and added a message.

The court heard the images are very intimate and show the complainant's face, breasts, vagina, and in one she is lying naked while smoking a cigarette.


When Howard-Harrington was arrested his computer and phone were seized by police, but he denied offence, claiming his computer had been hacked. 

Pensioner Attacked Two Neighbours With Hosepipe

A pensioner, who attacked two neighbours with the metal end of a hosepipe and dowsed them with water, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Geoffrey Fussey, 84, of Byron Road, Wembley struck out several times, inflicting lacerations.

He pleaded guilty at Harrow Crown Court to assaulting Marcin Ktosowski, inflicting actual bodily harm, and assaulting Waldemar Glazer outside his home address on July 16, last year.

When Fussey first appeared at Hendon Magistrates Court he shook his head as the prosecution outlined the case against him, which they say left an eight year-old witness “traumatised.”

On that occasion he firmly vowed to fight the case and indicated not guilty pleas.

Recently widowed Fussey was sentenced to fifteen weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge.

'Revenge Porn' Ex's Court Date

A jilted boyfriend published 'revenge porn' photos of his ex on a special Facebook account he created and invited her friends to view.

William Nelson, 52, of Montacute Road, Catford, pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates Court to disclosing private sexual photographs, with intent to cause distress and without the consent of his former girlfriend on June 8.

He was due to be sentenced today, but was in Africa visiting his ill mother and will return to court on September 24.

Prosecutor Miss Jackie Hughes said: "The victim was in a relationship with Nelson for a year and it ended on June the third and on June the eighth she spoke to him on the phone, telling him she did not want to see him anymore and he became angry.

"She received information from friends in her native Hungary that they had received friend requests from a Facebook account that had naked photographs of her.

"The facebook account was under an assumed name and included approximately thirty naked photographs of her that was sexual in nature.

"She identified them as pictures she had taken with the defendant and suspected he was behind the account.

"He created a fake site and uploaded images of them having sex.

"She phoned Nelson the next day and he told her he had taken them off, but her friends said they were still there so she told the defendant she would go to the police."

Nelson sent out approximately sixty friend requests to attract people who knew his ex to the site, with the message: "Anyone know who ***** is? She's been having sex with black and Arab men."

Passage To India: Bus Sex Predator Ordered Back Home

A paedophile, who targeted a 15 year-old schoolgirl on an early-morning bus as she travelled to school, has been locked-up for fifteen months.

Harvinder Singh, 24, of Minterne Avenue, Southall initially groped the girl then forced her to perform sex acts.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for ten years and was ordered to be deported to his native India upon release.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to sexual assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent on the route 120 bus on February 11.

As the bus travelled between Hounslow and Southall Singh sat next to the schoolgirl and began to touch her before forcibly making her commit acts of a sexual nature.

The victim managed to press the 'stop' button and got away from Singh.

She left the bus but Singh also got off and followed her as far as her school where she was able to report the incident.

Police attended the victim and secured vital DNA evidence.

Singh was identified through on-bus CCTV and arrested the following day.

Singh gave a no comment interview, but was charged with sexual assault and remanded in custody where he remained until his trial.

Detective Superintendent Adnan Qureshi of the Metropolitan Police's Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: "This was an excellent result, which has seen the perpetrator of an appalling crime receive a lengthy time in jail and deportation on release.

"If you commit an offence on the transport network, we will pursue and arrest you."

Steve Burton, TfL's Director of Enforcement and On-Street Operations, said: "We take crimes of this nature incredibly seriously.

“Thanks to the bravery of this victim in reporting this terrible offence the MPS were able to track down and subsequently help convict this predatory criminal.

“We will continue to work closely with our policing partners to rid our transport network of this kind of behaviour.

Care Worker Repeatedly Slapped Dementia Resident

A care worker repeatedly slapped a resident who had dementia across the face after he spilt a cup of tea on the floor and was assisted by another member of staff in trying to cover-up the assault by begging a 'shocked' visitor not to call the police.

Afua Donkor, 48, was employed at White Farm Lodge Care Home, Vicarage Road, Whitton, where she was seen striking the elderly male resident - who has since died - three times.

She was sentenced at Wimbledon Magistrates Court today to a twelve-month community order, which includes 110 hours community service work, and must pay £310 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Donkor, of Danesbury Road, Feltham was convicted of assaulting Mr. Patrick Austin at the care home on February 5.

Prosecutor Miss Amanda McCabe told the court: "The victim was particularly vulnerable and this was a sustained assault with three slaps in an aggressive way.

"She said: 'Don't tell anyone. Don't call the police'."

During the trial eye-witness Lynne Collyer, who was visiting her mother, told the court she was "in shock" as a result of the dining-room incident.

"I saw Afua hit Patrick. She slapped him in the face and shook him. I remember he had quite a bright green jumper on and I remember her shaking the jumper.

"It was with a flat hand and not really hard, but controlled softer slaps, definitely slaps to his face.

"There was absolutely no indication of any aggression from Patrick."

The witness said another care home worker, who she knew as Julia, also begged her not to report the offence. "The nurses were pleading with me not to say anything to anyone.

"Afua, who was sat in the corner of an office, was crying and saying: 'Not the police, not the police'."

The court heard Mr. Austin had earlier become agitated and threw a cup of tea onto the floor, which Donkor had to clean up.

She later told police the resident had punched her first and she only held his wrists to prevent him hitting her again.

Donkor told the court: "Once he punched me I knew he was going to punch again. I know Patrick is very aggressive so I held him and shouted: 'Help, help'

"Even when I held him he tried to kick me and then I heard: 'Afua, I have seen you hitting Patrick' and that was Lynne Collyer."

The first-time offender, who had been employed for sixteen months, was sacked.

Care UK, which runs the home, said: "Following these allegations being made against a member of our team we immediately suspended the carer in question and notified the relevant external authorities, who we have fully co-operated with during their investigations."

NOT GUILTY: Solicitor Wrongly Accused Of Breaking Restraining Order

A solicitor, accused of flouting a restraining order by phoning his ex-wife's house on his twelve year-old son's birthday, has been cleared.

Jonathan Frederick Woodroffe, 49, of Great Austins, Farnham, Surrey, who is employed by Fulham's Excelsior Solicitors, was found not guilty after the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence.

He appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court after pleading not guilty earlier this year to one count of harassment by leaving a voicemail on his ex's landline on November 17, last year, breaching a restraining order imposed at Richmond Magistrates Court on June 17, 2011.

The order was made after he was convicted of assaulting his ex-wife.

It is believed she failed to appear in court last week to give evidence in the trial.

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal also took their own steps and reprimanded Woodroffe for being convicted of assault in non-professional domestic setting and ordered him to pay them £2,226 costs.

GUILTY: Blackmailer Who Threatened Female Bank Worker

A sinister blackmailer, who tried to intimidate a female bank cashier into paying him £15,000 by threatening to report her to the police for stealing from her employer, has been convicted.

Initially posing as a detective and then a bank supervisor 23 year-old Iqbal Miah, of Hamlet Road, Southend-on-Sea called the woman's personal mobile phone while she was working at a branch of Santander.

He was found guilty at Harrow Crown Court of blackmailing Melinna Yanni at the Kilburn High Road, Kilburn branch on September 24, last year and will be sentenced on September 11.

Prosecutor Mr. David Ryan told the jury the blackmail calls were traced by police to Miah's phone and had been made near his address at the time in nearby Mortimer Crescent.

“Two days before the demand for money Miss Yanni received a call from an unknown number and the caller spoke with an Asian or African accent saying he was a police officer from Holborn Police Station.

“He asked her if she worked in the Kilburn branch of Santander and still lived in Elephant and Castle.

“Two days later, just before 9am, she received another call from this unknown number claiming to be from the bank's regional manager, accusing her and a colleague of stealing fifteen thousand pounds.

“The caller said this is how they were able to buy two new Audi cars,” explained Mr. Ryan. “He was aware Miss Yanni did not have money, but was now in credit.

“She said her mother had transferred twenty thousand pounds into her account in August.”

The mystery caller became angry and the call ended, but later in the day the employee received another call.

“There was a demand that Miss Yanni give him fifteen thousand pounds within forty-eight hours or he would report her to the police and she could go to jail for a couple of years.

“She handed the phone to her manager, who told the caller to contact the fraud team and stop harassing Miss Yanni.”

Miah was arrested in November and replied “no comment” to all police questions.

NOT GUILTY: Three Men Cleared Of Sex Abuse Charges

L to R: McNally, Stone & Titcomb

Three men accused of preying on a schoolgirl over three decades ago were cleared by a jury of all charges yesterday.

They are: Michael McNally, 72, of Hughenden Road, Hastings.

George Stone, 68, of Halton Terrace, Hastings.

Gary Titcomb, 61, of Woodland Road, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.

All three had pleaded not guilty at Harrow Crown Court to two counts each of indecently assaulting the girl on dates between August 7, 1976 and August 7, 1983.

When they were arrested all three denied abusing the girl, with Stone saying the furthest anything got was the youngster flashing her breasts at him in return for money.

Prosecutor Mr. George Heimler told the jury Titcomb was responsible for the initial abuse of the girl, who lived at two different addresses in Harrow during the period of the charges.

"He called her into the bedroom and he was in bed naked and instructed her to get into bed. Fearing she would be punished again, she got in."

The jury were told Titcomb thrust himself between her thighs and ordered her to rock back and forwards, saying: "That's nice. Faster, faster."

The complainant, now aged 44 years-old, first reported the allegations to police late last year and gave a video interview to officers, recalling the incidents with Titcomb.

"I must have been five or six years-old and I can remember it happened twice. If it happened more I don't know, I have blacked it out.

"When I was twenty years-old I had a panic attack and thought I was having a heart attack.

"The last few years the feelings have come back, I hate myself. That's why I have to report it, I hate the feeling, it cost me my childhood."

She added that Titcomb was also physically abusive. "He use'd to hit me with a belt."

Mr. Heimler told the court McNally started abusing the girl a few years later. "He started to touch her when she was ten or eleven years-old.

"He would go into her room and put his hand under the duvet and under her knickers and touch her and she pretended to be asleep.

"It happened on countless occasions and when eventually confronted his response was to savagely beat her."

The complainant said of McNally. "He touched my boob while play fighting and I always thought it was an accident, but then he started a week later coming into my bedroom.

"He put his hand under the covers and under my knickers."

She said McNally's friend Stone also groped her. "He would buy alcohol and sweets and things and grab my boobs and put his fingers inside me and give me money."

Mr. Heimler added: "Stone got use'd to putting his hand under her clothes and fondling her. This happened two or three times.

"According to the complainant he apologised to her for what he had done."

Stella McCartney Personal Shopper Accused Of Cutting-Up Ex-Boyfriend's Designer Wardrobe

A former personal shopper employed by Stella McCartney appeared in court today, accused of cutting-up thousands of pounds worth of her ex-boyfriend's designer clothes at his Chelsea apartment.

Lucia Hajnikova, 28, who worked with the designer's VIP clients, is accused of taking a pair of scissors to Ege Akcasoy's wardrobe after the couple fell out.

Hajnikova, who gave her address as The Wapping Project - Bankside Limited in Hopton Street, Southwark - where she is employed as a gallery assistant - is also alleged to have smashed a window at her ex's £725,000 property.

She is charged that on July 22 at the flat in Bolton Lodge, Gilston Road, she destroyed clothing and other property belonging to Mr. Akcasoy.

The case was adjourned after the prosecution applied to amend the charge from £10,000 worth of damage to £30,000 and the court demanded evidence of the clothing's value.

Hajnikova, who has a Master's Degree in Fine and Studio Arts from Chelsea College of Art and Design, also previously worked as a designer/creative director for fashion label Pandora In Case, as a showroom assistant for designer Gareth Pugh and as a studio assistant for Burberry.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Doolan told the court: "The victim says the broken glass amounts to seven hundred and fifty pounds, plus damage to a wardrobe, a dinner jacket, tuxedo, winter coats, suits and shirts and ties."

Hajnikova's lawyer Miss Temi Johnson said: "She is said to have cut up a number of suits and a dress. They were designer suits, but they were four to six years old."

She was bailed to return in a week's time.

Hit-And-Run Driver Jailed For Late-Night Motorcyclist Death Crash

A hit-and-run driver, who left a young motorcyclist lying dying in the road, has been jailed for fifty-one weeks.

Mohammed Asim, 25, of Field End Road, Croydon drove off after colliding with 23 year-old Kamrul Hasan.

He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident in the early hours of December 29, last year in London Road, Croydon.

Croydon Crown Court heard Asim was driving a black Lexus car at approximately 1.00am when he crashed into Barnet man Mr. Hasan.

He was treated by paramedics but was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 1:45am.

A post-mortem examination took place the next day and gave the cause of death as a chest injury.

Asim's car was found abandoned nearby in St James's Road near the junction of Windmill Road.

On December 30 Asim handed himself in to police and was charged with the offence.

Teenage Girl Groped On Bus: CCTV Of Suspect Released

Police investigating a bus sex attack on a young teenage girl in central London have released this CCTV image of a suspect.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Roads and Transport Policing Command have launched the appeal after the Westminster incident.

On Tuesday, 24 February at about 4.00pm, the 14-year-old girl was travelling on a route 436 bus along Park Lane when she was sexually touched by a man.

The suspect is described as a middle-aged Asian man, with short dark hair, balding at the top.

He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a black rucksack.

Police officers are releasing a CCTV image and ask anyone with information to contact Detective Constable Clare Beauchamp, who is leading the investigation, on 07920 590195 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 173251.

Convicted High-Risk Sex Offender: Where Is He?

Police in Southwark are urgently seeking to trace a high-risk sex offender, who has failed to register with police after his release from prison.

Christopher Trinnaman, 37, is a registered sex offender who is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order that restricts his access to females under the age of 18 and restricts his internet usage.

He has failed to comply with the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

On May 29, Trinnaman was released from HMP Littlehey and driven to Kings Lynn in Norfolk.

He is believed to have caught a train from there, possibly towards Merseyside or Nottingham.

He may be using another name and may be planning to travel overseas.

Trinnaman is described as 5ft '9ins in height and of medium build with cropped brown hair, although he may be shaven headed now.

He usually wears glasses.

Anyone who may have seen him or who knows his whereabouts should call officers from the Southwark Jigsaw Unit on 020 7232 6204.

West London Break-Ins: Suspected Burglar Wanted

Police are hunting this suspected burglar, wanted for a series of break-ins around west London.

Jaime Matthews, 23, is being sought for questioning in relation to burglaries in Isleworth, Syon Park and Teddington.

Detectives based at Hounslow Police Station have released this image in the hope he can be identified and arrested.

The offences occurred within the last twelve months.

It is possible that Matthews may also be using the names Jaime 'Goodrich' or 'Raider' and he is known to frequent the Feltham area.

Anyone with information regarding Matthews' whereabouts is urged to make contact with the offender management unit at Hounslow Police Station on 020 8247 6650.

If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Gay Sex Predator Pounced On Sleeping Married Neighbour

A gay sex pest took advantage of his drunken married neighbour by performing oral sex on the man after he passed out on the couch during an all-night drinking-session.

Andrej Korda, 35, of Butterfield Close, Twickenham had invited the 30 year-old neighbour and his wife to the flat he shared with his boyfriend then pounced when they were left alone.

The Slovakian-born technical operator, who is employed by a company that provides services to the deaf, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at his home address on March 18.

He was sentenced to twelve weeks imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, and ordered to complete a thirty-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He must also sign the sex offenders register for seven years, pay £85 costs, a £180 court charge and an £80 victim surcharge.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard he received a police caution the same month for the sexual touching of another male and lied about the latest offence until DNA evidence proved he performed the act.

Prosecutor Miss Katrina Rennalls said the victim and his wife watched a film at the address and the man remained chatting with Korda until 5am.

“He woke up to find Korda giving him oral sex and reacted by pushing him off and punching him in the face and pushing him over a coffee table.”

Korda also falsely claimed to have taken photographs of the act in an attempt to intimidate the victim, who told police: “I was angry, shocked and disgusted.

“I was asleep and he took advantage of me.”

Korda's lawyer Miss Annette Dobson said the defendant: “Had a considerable amount to drink and could not recall the act itself.”

The court was told the defendant was at a: “Low point,” and was: “Extremely remorseful,” and blamed alcohol, money troubles, long work shifts and difficulties with his partner for his state of mind.

Korda's five-year relationship has broken down and he says he would like to write an apology to the victim if allowed.

“He didn't think he was capable of doing something like this,” added Miss Dobson.

“He was drinking as a stress reliever and has not consumed alcohol since this offence.

“The risk of re-conviction and harm is said by the probation service to be low.”

Not Guilty: Transexual Police Worker's "Sleepwalking" Defence Beats Murder Bid Charge

A transexual police worker, who battered her sleeping brother over the head with an iron bar, was cleared of attempted murder yesterday after the jury accepted her 'sleepwalking' defence.

Helen Doe, 53, of Montgomery Close, Mitcham, told police she woke up in the early hours of the home they shared with an "overwhelming hatred" for 64 year-old Kenneth Doe.

He received three wounds to his skull from the one and a half foot long metal bar as he lay in bed, plus received a broken finger as he tried to defend himself.

Doe, who is employed by the Metropolitan Police Uniform Services and is a vocal transphobia campaigner was found not guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to the attempted murder of Kenneth on July 5, last year.

Doe's case was that she was suffering 'non-insane automatism' - involuntary movements she was not responsible for and medical experts backed her up.

"The defence will point to the conclusion Miss Doe was sleepwalking when she attacked her brother and that sleepwalking and violence was due to the drugs she was taking," said prosecutor Mr. Paul Cavin.  

Doe was taking hormone tablets, plus prescribed pills for anxiety and depression.

"Fortunately he did not die or suffer long-term injury at all, brain injury, however it is the prosecution case that in striking him several times with an iron bar she intended to kill him.

"It may be that she is not strong enough, maybe he blocked or parried the blows, he sustained a fractured finger.

"The prosecution say the evidence shows she intended that death would result, that she wished to kill him."

Miss Doe dialled 999 and told the operator at around 2.50am: "I've had an accident. I think I've killed my brother. I've hit him with an iron bar. Just now, I've been building up to it."

When officers entered the house the defendant was in the kitchen and told them: "It's me. I did it, he's upstairs."

Mr. Cavin added: "On the kitchen table was a metal pole about a foot and a half long with blood on it."

Police went upstairs to check on the brother. "His head and hair was covered in blood."

Mr. Doe told them: "I had an argument with her earlier and I woke up and she was hitting me with an iron bar……..I don't like her friends."

He was rushed to St. George's Hospital to be treated for the three wounds, plus a fractured middle finger on his left hand.

"Amazingly, fortunately, the wounds were stapled."

When Miss Doe was arrested she asked the WPC: "Can I have a cuddle?"

Mr Cavin told the jury Doe spoke freely in the van on the way to Sutton Police Station, confessing: "I wanted to do it. I wanted to kill him."

"She said her friendship with her brother was not a good one and woke in the early hours with an overwhelming hatred of her brother and she makes reference to muffled voices in her head.

"She describes a history of depression for which she was taking prescribed medication. She also said she was in the process of changing gender to that of a female and was having hormone therapy."

Doe has organised lectures for Croydon LGBT and has led the Croydon Trans Group and has been living as a woman since 2012.

Blackmailer Guilty Of £15,000 Bank Cashier Threat

A sinister blackmailer, who tried to intimidate a female bank cashier into paying him £15,000 by threatening to report her to the police for stealing from her employer, has been convicted.

Initially posing as a detective and then a bank supervisor 23 year-old Iqbal Miah, of Hamlet Road, Southend-on-Sea called the woman's personal mobile phone while she was working at a branch of Santander.

He was found guilty at Harrow Crown Court of blackmailing Melinna Yanni at the Kilburn High Road, Kilburn branch on September 24, last year and will be sentenced on September 11.

Prosecutor Mr. David Ryan told the jury the blackmail calls were traced by police to Miah's phone and had been made near his address at the time in nearby Mortimer Crescent.

“Two days before the demand for money Miss Yanni received a call from an unknown number and the caller spoke with an Asian or African accent saying he was a police officer from Holborn Police Station.

“He asked her if she worked in the Kilburn branch of Santander and still lived in Elephant and Castle.

“Two days later, just before 9am, she received another call from this unknown number claiming to be from the bank's regional manager, accusing her and a colleague of stealing fifteen thousand pounds.

“The caller said this is how they were able to buy two new Audi cars,” explained Mr. Ryan. “He was aware Miss Yanni did not have money, but was now in credit.

“She said her mother had transferred twenty thousand pounds into her account in August.”

The mystery caller became angry and the call ended, but later in the day the employee received another call.

“There was a demand that Miss Yanni give him fifteen thousand pounds within forty-eight hours or he would report her to the police and she could go to jail for a couple of years.

“She handed the phone to her manager, who told the caller to contact the fraud team and stop harassing Miss Yanni.”

Miah was arrested in November and replied “no comment” to all police questions.

Head Teacher Awarded MBE Charged With Sexually Abusing Young Boy

A former headteacher – awarded the MBE for services to youth work – has appeared in court accused of a sex act on an underage boy four decades ago.

John Coatman, 74, of 8 Leyburn Gardens, Croydon was the head of St. Andrew's School in the town's Warrington Road and became a Member of the British Empire in 2012.

He appeared on bail at Croydon Magistrates Court yesterday charged with committing buggery on a boy aged under sixteen years of age between January 1 and December 31, 1973 at the Leyburn Gardens address.

He joined youth group the Croydon Cusaders – now named Urban Saints – in 1949 and rose to represent the club at national and international level.

Since retiring he has dedicated his time to the youth club and has worked with more than 100,000 young people leading expeditions to Austria, a project which has secured European Union funding, and on countless Duke of Edinburgh Award trips.

He will next appear at Croydon Crown court for a preliminary hearing on August 25.

Head Teacher Awarded MBE Charged With Sexually Abusing Young Boy

A former headteacher – awarded the MBE for services to youth work – has appeared in court accused of a sex act on an underage boy four decades ago.

John Coatman, 74, of Leyburn Gardens, Croydon was the head of St. Andrew's School in the town's Warrington Road and became a Member of the British Empire in 2012.

He appeared on bail at Croydon Magistrates Court yesterday charged with committing buggery on a boy aged under sixteen years of age between January 1 and December 31, 1973 at the Leyburn Gardens address.

He joined youth group the Croydon Cusaders – now named Urban Saints – in 1949 and rose to represent the club at national and international level.

Since retiring he has dedicated his time to the youth club and has worked with more than 100,000 young people leading expeditions to Austria, a project which has secured European Union funding, and on countless Duke of Edinburgh Award trips.

He will next appear at Croydon Crown court for a preliminary hearing on August 25.

Blackmailer's £15,000 Bogus Police Threat To Bank Worker

A sinister blackmailer tried to intimidate a female bank cashier into paying him £15,000 by threatening to report her to the police for stealing from her employers, a jury were told yesterday.

Initially posing as a detective and then a bank supervisor 23 year-old Iqbal Miah, of 26 Hamlet Road, Southend-on-Sea called the woman's personal mobile phone while she was working at a branch of Santander, the court heard.

He has pleaded not guilty at Harrow Crown Court to blackmailing Melinna Yanni at the Kilburn High Road, Kilburn branch on September 24, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. David Ryan told the jury the blackmail calls were traced by police to Miah's phone and had been made near his address at the time in nearby Mortimer Crescent.

“Two days before the demand for money Miss Yanni received a call from an unknown number and the caller spoke with an Asian or African accent saying he was a police officer from Holborn Police Station.

“He asked her if she worked in the Kilburn branch of Santander and still lived in Elephant and Castle.

“Two days later, just before 9am, she received another call from this unknown number claiming to be from the bank's regional manager, accusing her and a colleague of stealing fifteen thousand pounds.

“The caller said this is how they were able to buy two new Audi cars,” explained Mr. Ryan. “He was aware Miss Yanni did not have money, but was now in credit.

“She said her mother had transferred twenty thousand pounds into her account in August.”

The mystery caller became angry and the call ended, but later in the day the employee received another call.

“There was a demand that Miss Yanni give him fifteen thousand pounds within forty-eight hours or he would report her to the police and she could go to jail for a couple of years.

“She handed the phone to her manager, who told the caller to contact the fraud team and stop harassing Miss Yanni.”

Miah was arrested in November and replied “no comment” to all police questions.

Trial continues............