Saturday 31 March 2018

Jealous Ex Jailed For Stabbing Girl's New Man In Head

A heavily-tattooed thug, who stabbed his ex-girlfriend's new man in the head – fracturing the victim's skull - during a terrifying midnight attack, has been jailed for eight years.
Nathan Gunes, 38, of Cambus Road, Canning Town, east London followed the couple along Ingal Road, Plaistow on October 20, last year.
There was a brief confrontation at around twenty minutes past midnight resulting in Gunes stabbing the 28 year-old man in the head.
London Ambulance Service arrived at the scene and took the victim to an east London hospital.
His injuries were deemed to be non-life threatening.
Officers arrested and charged Gunes on the same day for inflicting grievous bodily harm.
He was convicted of the offence at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Police Constable Meltem Duymus, of Newham’s Community Support Unit, said: “Justice has most definitely been served for the victim who sustained a brutal head injury for no reason of his own.
“This is a great outcome for the Community Support Unit in Newham who are committed to taking violent thugs, such as Gunes, off the borough's streets.”

Friday 30 March 2018

Council Estate Rapist Who Targeted 16 Year-Old Is Caged

A rapist, who pounced on a lone 16 year-old girl as she walked through a council estate one night, has been locked-up for ten years.
Nael Khaliq, 36, struck up a conversation with the vulnerable teenager in Cambridge Estate, Kingston-upon-Thames at around 10.30pm on July 17, last year.
He led her into a car park, where he raped her and then fled in a vehicle.
The victim alerted police and an investigation was immediately launched.
Officers quickly carried out local CCTV enquiries and identified Khaliq's vehicle.
He was arrested the following day, charged that evening and remanded in custody.
Khaliq was on licence from prison at the time for theft offences and was found guilty following a week long trial at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.
Detective Constable Gregg Nicol said: "Khaliq's cowardice in attacking a vulnerable teenager almost beggars belief.
“She on the other hand has displayed incredible bravery and courage throughout the judicial process.
“Khaliq will now have plenty of time to think about what he has done in prison. I hope this will be of some small comfort to the victim as she moves on with her life."
Detective Inspector Simon Cowling said: "This was a terrible crime and a lone and vulnerable woman.
“Her prompt action in alerting police meant we could preserve and gather the evidence that quickly identified, and subsequently convicted, Khaliq.
“This case demonstrates that the Metropolitan Police Service is determined to support victims and bring sexual predators to justice.
"I must also thank both the response officers who attended that day and my team for their professionalism, both contributed greatly to the successful outcome of this case."

Thursday 29 March 2018

Jealous Thug Blinded Girlfriend With Single Blow

A jealous thug, who blinded his girlfriend in one eye with a single savage punch during a row outside her house, has been locked-up for eleven years and four months.
Dee Hunte, 35, of Mary Seacole Close, Hackney pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm at the Croydon address on November 18, 2016.
Croydon Crown Court heard the victim returned home to find Hunte, waiting outside her property.
He asked for her door keys and mobile phone to check on who she had been with.
When the victim refused, Hunte became very aggressive, placing both hands around her throat and squeezing tightly, warning her: ”Don’t scream or I’ll kill you!”
He then punched her in the face causing the injury to her right eye and eye socket.
She fell to the ground and Hunte stamped on her back a number of times before running from the scene with her mobile phone.
Passers-by came to her aid and police and the London Ambulance Service were called.
The victim was taken to the Accident and Emergency Unit at Croydon University Hospital, and later transferred to St Georges’ Hospital where she was treated for her life changing injuries.
An investigation was launched by officers from Croydon Community Safety Unit and Hunte was soon identified, but in the weeks and months following the incident, he managed to evade police.
On July 25, last year he was arrested in the Westminster area, and subsequently charged.
PC Asiri Hamidi, of Croydon Community Safety Unit, said: “Hunte is a dangerous and violent individual with a predisposition for extreme jealousy and controlling behaviour.
The sentence he received reflects the danger he poses to the public.
His victim was left with life-changing injuries, and understandably remains very traumatised by the incident, but I hope this result will give her some comfort.
“We take a zero tolerance approach towards perpetrators who inflict such violence and are determined to provide justice for victims and judicial sanction for those responsible.”

Wednesday 28 March 2018

Bus Garage Supervisor Accused Of Touching Two Women

A bus station supervisor, accused of touching two females while working at the busy garage, has appeared in court.

Scott Robert Cairney, 54, of Park Road, Dunoon, Argyll denies the allegations and will return to court for trial on May 21.

Cairney, who attended Dunoon Grammar School, was employed by Transport for London at Cromwell Road bus terminus in Kingston-upon-Thames, south-west London.

He held the post from April, 2012 until September, last year.

Cairney appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court charged with sexually assaulting one woman on July 10 and 14, last year and a second woman on July 10.

The Crown Prosecution Service allege they were both touched inappropriately over their clothing.

Tuesday 27 March 2018

Killer Inflicted 67 Injuries On Sister's Male Friend

Guilty: Marc Croxson
A violent thug, who inflicted 67 seperate injuries on his sister's male friend, has been convicted of murder.
Marc Croxson, 47, killed 51 year-old Rodney Parlour at the victim's east London home.
Police were called to the address in Hood Road, Rainham at 11.30am on October 2, last year by a concerned neighbour.
Inside they found the body of Mr. Parlour, who had been attacked by Croxson - a rough-sleeper in local parks - on September 30.
A post-mortem examination was conducted on October 4 at Queens Hospital in Romford, and gave the cause of death as multiple injuries.
In total 67 injuries were inflicted on the victim.
Croxson was arrested on suspicion of murder on October 5 and was taken to an east London police station, where he was later charged.
67 Injuries: Rodney Parlour
Detective Chief Inspector Gary Holmes, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, who led the investigation, said: "Croxson is an extremely violent individual who has years of violent offending history.
He showed no mercy to his poor victim, who suffered horrific injuries at his hands.
"Having been convicted of murder, Croxson now faces a lifetime in prison where he can no longer pose a threat to the public."
He will be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on April 20.

Monday 26 March 2018

Elevator Sex Pest: CCTV Released

Police have released this image of a sex pest who followed a lone woman into a lift at her apartment block at midnight.
The suspect followed her into the building in Mildmay Avenue, Islington on October 21, last year.
He also followed her into the lift and began making sexual comments.
The suspect also stroked her leg.
The woman exited the lift at her floor and went into her flat.
She did not know where the suspect went at this point.
He is described as black, aged in his early twenties, of slim to medium build and 5ft 5ins in height.
He was wearing a red T-shirt, blue jeans, a green baseball cap, black shoes and a multi-coloured jacket.
If you can identify this man, or can offer any information which could help progress this investigation, please call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC.

Sunday 25 March 2018

Suspended Sentence For Uber Driver Who Groomed 14 Year-Old Fare For Sex

An Uber driver, who groomed a tipsy 14 year-old schoolgirl for sex, has avoided prison with a suspended sentence.

Albanian Spyros Ntounis, 35, of Luminosity Court, Drayton Green Road, West Ealing was later black-listed by the online cab booking company after complaints from three others female passengers.

He received 20 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months and must comply with an electronically-tagged night time curfew between 8pm and 7am for the next four months.

Ntounis must also complete 60 days rehabilitation and 60 days of a group sexual offenders programme. 

“It is troubling, the circumstances of this offence, particularly as I heard about his previous behaviour in an Uber taxi that the jury did not hear about,” said Judge Timothy Lamb QC.

“His services were dispensed with by Uber because of complaints by three females about his conversation in the car.”

The Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury unanimously convicted Ntounis of one count of attempting to meet a child after sexual grooming between April 21 and 25, last year.

The court heard Ntounis has one previous conviction from Harrow Crown Court for dishonestly making a false representation, for which he received twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years on October 13, 2014.

During the trial the girl told the jury: “He was saying that I was hot and I had nice lips. I thought he was being nice, but then I thought it was a bit odd.

“As he got close to my house he started driving slowly because he said he wanted to spend more time with me, which I thought was odd.”

Prosecutor Mr. Allister Walker said: “At the time of the offence the defendant was a mini-cab driver working for Uber who collected the complainant from her friend’s address at 9.30pm.

“During the short journey he made inappropriate comments and obtained her phone number and over the next few days he sent her messages, asking her to meet him.

“The prosecution say this was for some kind of sexual activity.”

GPS tracking proves Ntounis slowed his car to a crawl of 5mph as the journey concluded and he admitted to police this was to extend his time with the teen.

“She had drunk some rum and coke with her fiends and says on a scale of drunkenness she was ‘five or six’ out of ten.”

Her 15 year-old boyfriend had seen her off on the cab ride from Barnes to Kingston-upon-Thames and her middle-class parents confiscated her phone because she exceeded her curfew.

“The driver, this defendant, asked her how old she was and how old her boyfriend was and she told him she was fourteen.

“He put the internal light on and looked at her via the rear-view mirror and told her she was ‘hot’ and had ‘nice lips’ and gave her chewing gum.”

This was to mask the smell of alcohol on her breath from her anxious parents.

“He told her to text him her name and during the journey the complainant sent a message to her friend, indicating her discomfort.”

Balding Ntounis knocked nearly a decade off his age, claiming to be only twenty-six, the jury heard and over the next few days sent WhatsApp message to her.

“He said: ‘I can give you lessons in whatever you want’ and: ‘When are you out next time.’

“He asked: ‘Do I pass the age test?’ and: ‘I would love it.’

“The complainant blocked him on WhatsApp and told her mother, but the defendant then began sending ordinary phone texts.

“He wrote: ‘We can be friends and I can help you if you want with a taxi. I can give you a free ride sometime.”

Ntounis handed himself into Islington Police Station a month later and told officers he recalled little of the journey.

“He now admits the texts, saying there were innocent motives and he wanted to support her,” added Mr. Walker.

“However, the prosecution say he took advantage of his position with her and the motive was to have sexual contact.

“His intention was to meet her later for sex.”

The girl added: “The next day I had a text from him and he started asking to meet up with me and I got a bit concerned so I blocked him.

“He was sending me quite a few texts, one after the other and he told me he was twenty-six and I told him I was a bit young.”

Ntounis was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, was placed on the barring list, which prohibits employment with potentially vulnerable people and must sign the sex offenders register for the next ten years.

Saturday 24 March 2018

Dangerous Criminal Back On London's Streets

A notorious killer and double-rapist is back on the streets after magistrates decided not to trigger a suspended prison sentence when he spat at a policeman and struck a care worker with his Zimmer frame.

Leeds-born Stuart Durkin, 56, was conditionally discharged at City of London Magistrates Court, allowing him to disappear into the unsuspecting crowds of workers in the busy Square Mile.


The violent thug has been in and out of prison all his life and was only released from his most recent sentence, two months for racially-aggravated threatening behaviour at a Southend shopping centre, on March 9.

He was conditionally discharged for six months after pleading guilty to assaulting PC Christopher Walker and care worker Ttofis Andreas at the Look Ahead Hostel, Great Peter Street, Westminster on January 25, where he also admitted using threatening behaviour.  

This put him in breach of a 28-day suspended prison sentence for assaulting another police officer, but this was not enforced.

“This is very unfortunate, where you have allowed yourself to lose your temper,” magistrate Sonia Henley told Durkin, who is currently nursing a broken hip after being struck by a bus.

“This is unpleasant, spitting at a police officer and a care worker when they are doing their duty and what you said was sexually offensive to Mr. Andreas.”

Durkin was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to each victim, plus £85 costs, which will come out of his benefits.

He had been rehoused in Southend, but is now banned from the town for two years after shouting “go back to your own country” at a community worker at council-run advisory hub within weeks of arriving.

Durkin, now living at St. Mungo’s hostel, Harrow Road, Paddington was jailed in Sweden for killing his wife, received 12 years for the bedsit rape of a virgin and thirteen years for the rape and attempted murder of a 30 year-old tourist in Rome, who he beat with a rock when she resisted.

He was repatriated to the UK on April 14, 2003, released on June 1, 2007 and given a council flat at 2 Derry House, Church Street Estate, St. John's Wood. 

His lawyer Matthew Humphreys told the court: “He is not a well man as well as the recent hip fracture has gout in the other leg and last week was rushed to hospital with deep vein thrombosis.

“He has made very limited, but some progress in getting his life in order and finding accommodation at St. Mungo’s and is subject to post-sentence supervision and is monitored by the Probation Service.

“He is in the process of signing-on for benefits. He has been bouncing in and out of custody for a few years and spent a lot of time as street homeless.”

Prosecutor Miss Sian Morgan said: “Mr. Andreas is a care worker at the hostel, where Mr. Durkin had resided and at 5.30pm the defendant was seen in the canteen muttering to himself.

“Mr. Andreas enquired if anything was wrong and Mr. Durkin said he needed more care and was told he would have to do that through his own care worker.

“He replied with abuse, referring to Mr. Andreas’s Greek ethnicity and used a word that meant queer. 

“Later that day he was shouting at other members of staff and further abusive language was used.

“He swung the Zimmer frame he was using, hitting Mr. Andreas on the back and then threw a bottle of milk at a door.”

Staff called the police and Durkin confronted the officers. “He spat into his right hand and threw it at the officer and it landed on his stab-proof vest, shouting: ‘Arrest me.’

“He then threw cigarette butts and bits of chocolate at the officer and slapped his body-worn camera. 

“Mr. Durkin was placed in handcuffs and again spat a the officer.”  

Friday 23 March 2018

Former Sprint Star Linford Christie's Son In Court On Drug Charges........Again

The son of former sprint star Linford Christie has appeared in court, accused of dealing crack cocaine and heroin.

Liam Oliver-Christie, 32, of 62 Lakeside Road, West Kensington appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court.

He is charged with possessing crack cocaine, with intent to supply, in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham on November 9, last year.

Oliver-Christie is also charged with possessing heroin, with intent to supply, at his home address on the same date.

The court declined jurisdiction and he will next appear at Isleworth Crown Court on April 18.

His father won gold for Britan in the 100m at the World, European and Commonwealth championships and his national record of 9.87 secs set over twenty years ago stands to this day.

Liam's mother is former typist Yvonne Oliver, who had a short relationship with the athlete and he has a twin sister Korel.

Thursday 22 March 2018

Fashion Stylist-To-The-Stars Rented Out Council Flat While Working For Prada In Milan

Marvin Maddix & Tom Cassani
A fashion stylist-to-the-stars illegally rented out his council flat for over three times more than he paid while working for style giants Prada in Milan.

Fashion and apparel university graduate Marvin Maddix, 27, says in his online profile he personally styled Victoria Beckham while employed at her New York business.

He was convicted at Ealing Magistrates Court yesterday of sub-letting his one-bedroom flat in nearby Endsleigh Road via Airbnb between January 14 and April 17, last year.

The court heard he rented out the £81 per week top-floor council flat in a converted Victorian for £265 per week, yet claims he was not motivated by profit.

Maddix, who says he’s also styled hot felon Jeremy Meeks, US singer-songwriter Sophie Beam and model twins the Quann Sisters, now edits fashion magazine FGUK.

He has also been employed as a merchandiser for TopShop and as a fashion trend forecaster 

Magistrate Rita Biddulph told him: “You must realise council property is scarce. There are vulnerable families with children and old people desperate for properties.

“Families are stuck in hostels and much smaller accommodation and you, as a young man, were given this property to live in so you should be grateful and aware of how lucky you are.

“You must be one of the luckiest young men to have come before this court to be given a lovely flat by the council and you have made a profit from it.”

Maddix has been housed by Ealing Council since he came out as gay, aged 15 years-old, and was abandoned by his mother.

Despite the heavily subsidised rent he continues to claim housing benefit, yet is concerned he is now disqualified from having the lucrative right to buy with the council seeking his eviction.

Once the sub-let was exposed Maddix played the race card and claimed a neighbour was subjecting him to racist and homophobic abuse.

This would have given him a legitimate defence for leaving the property for three months, but records proved he had not lodged complaints with the police or the council.

Prosecutor Miss Hatoon Zeb told the court Maddix moved in on November 2, 2011 after his previous council flat was demolished.

He was quizzed by council investigator Soraya Bux on September 21, last year after three different online rental ads were discovered.

“He began by denying repeatedly he ever sub-let the property or received four separate payments into his bank account and denied any rental agreement with Hannah Miles,” explained Miss Zeb.

“At the end of the interview he said he secured work for Prada in Milan and did sub-let to Hannah Miles and financially gained from renting the property.”

Maddix had not even returned after three months and Hannah, who also had to pay for gas and electricity on top, returned the keys to his sister.

He told the investigator: “No, I’ve not sub-let it. I was just happy to be off the streets, you know.

“I’d found a job at Prada and it was an amazing time for me. I needed a bit of extra money while I was away.”

Investigator Ms Bux added: “He told me it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to work for Prada and he did not want to miss out.”

Maddix stayed with the family of his Italian boyfriend, Tom Cassani, while interning at Prada and his partner also gave evidence to the court.

“It was not about profit, but covering my debt and not losing my home,” Maddix told the magistrates, revealing he was also in rent arrears with the council.

He was ordered to pay £1,901 under unlawful profit legislation as well as £1,750 costs.

“We don’t think the racial harassment was made out,” said Mrs Biddulph. “Ealing Council expect their properties go to deserving tenants.

“You’re an intelligent man, you are an editor. You should have known better.”

Maddix’s lawyer Mr. Meredoc McMinn said: “He has gone on to obtain qualifications in fashion after a difficult background.

“He has not profited enormously, it is not a huge amount of money and nobody would do it unless they had to.

“As a result of this verdict he is going to lose his home so the consequences are severe.”

Wednesday 21 March 2018

Stalker Sentenced For Harassing House Of Lords Political Advisor

Khan leaving Westminster Magistrates Court
A herbalist, who stalked a House of Lords advisor at a private gym, where he pestered her with notes and gifts and tried to follow her home, received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Jumshed Khan, 50, first met 38 year-old Cambridge-graduate Roshani Palamakumbura, who has a degree in Political Philosophy and is a policy advisor on EU and foreign affairs, during their yoga classes.

They were both regulars at Millbank Bannatyne Health Club, around the corner from her Westminster office and near Khan’s apartment in Peabody Estate, Old Pye Street.

He was convicted of stalking her between June 1, 2015 and August 22, last year and received sixteen weeks imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months.

Khan must also perform 150 hours community service work, attend up to thirty days of rehab, and pay £500 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

District Judge Tan Ikram told him at Westminster Magistrates Court: “She left the gym, she stopped going to yoga classes. I think this is more than unpleasant and it went on for years and years.”

Also imposing an indefinite restraining order, prohibiting contact with Ms Palamakumbura, the judge added: “For years you showed unwanted attention towards this lady, who wanted nothing to do with you.

“You did not stop, you sent her letters, you sent her mother a letter and on one occasion she had to seek help from passers-by.

“This is a serious offence and is a million miles away from harmless and you seem to have shown little remorse.

“You ignored her saying to you: ‘Go away’ and that is an aggravating feature. If you speak to her again you will go to prison.

“You came very close to being sent to prison today, but the public are better protected by you tackling these issues rather than going to prison.”
Stalked: Roshani Palamakumbura

The trial heard Khan made inappropriate comments to Ms Palamakumbura, followed her to the nearby Underground Station and gave her a “strange” and “disturbing” 26-page handwritten letter.

Khan also muscled his way into drinks with her boss, former director of the Refugee Council Lord Dubs, 85, then complained to the court about having to pay.

“I had to pay for the drinks because he wouldn’t cough up, it was two glasses of wine in the Westminster Arms that cost £19.95. I was hoping he was going to pay, but he never did.” 

The court heard Khan was angered by her choice of new personal trainer at the gym - a notorious ladies man named ‘Paul’ - and he claimed the pair had concocted the case against him.

“When Roshani began sleeping with Paul they began conspiring together to get me kicked out of the gym. Paul hates me and I think he used Roshani,” claimed Khan.

However, Ms Palamakumbura, a wine expert once employed as a sommelier by Gordon Ramsay, said she lied about the romance to get Khan off her back. “He was shaking, upset, emotional, almost close to tears.

“I did lie to him and said: ‘Yes. I’m sleeping with Paul, we’re in a relationship.’ I thought that was the best way to end things. I had to get him out of my space.

“I began avoiding the gym, I stopped going to yoga and was careful about what I was wearing. I had changed.

“I tried to avoid classes I knew Jay (Khan) would go to and noticed if I started going to a new class he would to or sit outside my pilates class.

“I never went to the sauna again and I felt uncomfortable about going to the swimming pool because I knew he’d be there. I was angry and felt I’d lost control of my life.”

She eventually went to the police on August 22, last year after a yoga class row. “Jay walked in and was extremely angry and said: ‘You’re in my place and you know it.’

“He was seething. It was incredibly scary and he deliberately wanted me intimidated and he was enjoying it.”

That led to the gym banning Khan. “When Jay was banned it changed everything, not having him there.”

Khan claimed the only written paper he gave her was a health drink remedy, however Ms Palamakumbura told the court: “He gave me written pieces of paper and little gifts.

“I made it clear I thought he was a bit of a quack that didn’t know what he was talking about regarding yoga or health.

“He misinterprets slight interest. He has an incapacity to read signals from women and was very interested in giving advice on how I should diet and look.”

Regarding the 26-page letter she added: “It disgusted me at the time. It’s a pathetic unrequited crush.

“The yoga teacher did tell Jay off for staring. How can he tell me I’m wearing too much make-up or my posture is wrong if he’s not staring?

“There was another letter after that, something to my mother and he was begging me to go to dinner or for a drink with him.”

Her gym pal Emma Mackintosh saw the long letter, describing it as “creepy, strange and disturbing,” telling the court: “It was like he was psychoanalysing her, I think he was a bit obsessed with her.”

Khan claimed to be a “devoted friend and confidante” to Ms Palamakumbura. “She would tell me intimate details of her private life and confide in me about other men she was seeing.

“I became more of an advisor and could see she was making a lot of mistakes. She had multiple relationships with men.

“I helped her lose weight and get rid of her spots.”

Prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Bryan said: “He is a classic stalker. He is absolutely obsessed with this young woman, even when she makes it obvious she doesn’t want his attention.”

Tuesday 20 March 2018

Cabaret Club Bouncer Molested Female Customer

Midnight Grope: Proud Cabaret
A bouncer at a landmark cabaret club in the heart of the City sneaked up behind a female customer, held her hips and kissed her on the neck.

Desmond Augustus Young, 51, was convicted yesterday of sexually assaulting the woman, who attended the 1920's-themed Proud Cabaret with a group of friends, on January 27.

It is located in Mark Lane, off Fenchurch Street, in the centre of the busy Square Mile.

He claims he was merely trying to usher her away from an area of the club she should not have been standing in.

However, City of London Magistrates Court rejected his claim and bailed Young, of Flat 1, 7 Aberdeen Road, Edmonton to return for sentencing on April 16.

He was warned all sentencing options, including custody, were open.

Prosecutor Miss Carly Loftus told the trial it was half an hour after midnight when the complainant arrived at the nightspot, which boasts burlesque and jazz amongst its live entertainment.

The defendant was working as security staff and checked the woman and her friends' ID as they entered the club.

Once inside he approached her from behind, held her hips, pressed himself against her and kissed her neck.”

The woman reported the incident to the club and the police were called.

CCTV was seized, which captured the incident.

Monday 19 March 2018

Death Plunge Tragedy: Woman's Ex To Be Sentenced For Assault And Sex Pics

A masters degree student shared a sexually-explicit clip of his girlfriend performing oral sex on him in a phone box a week before she plunged to her death.

Alessio Bianchi, 26, also admits throttling her on the balcony of their eighth-floor flat - claiming he was trying to stop her jumping.

Last week he was sent by Westminster Magistrates Court to Southwark Crown Court for sentencing on a date to be fixed.

The Italian pleaded guilty to assaulting Miss Damilya Jossipaliyena on June 2, last year at his home at Apartment 802, Sunken Beck Building, 5 Hermitage Street, Central London.

He says he was trying to save the life of Damilya, who was threatening to jump, but she sadly apparently took her life shortly afterwards.

Bianchi, who studies at Regent’s College, also admitted disclosing private sexual images of her without consent, with intent to cause her distress on May 25.

He sent a clip to a friend of Damilya performing the sex act on him, which made its way back to her. 

Prosecutor Mr. Edward Cohen told the court on a previous occasion: “In terms of the assault the Crown’s case is the assault started upstairs in the flat between the defendant and the complainant.

“He grabbed hold of her throat and hit her on top of the head and punched her several times.

“He says he was trying to stop her jumping out of the window.”

The struggle continued in a downstairs courtyard. “It is alleged by the Crown he grabbed hold of the complainant and pulled her into a fountain in the building and shoved her head onto a chair.

“He accepts there was a struggle downstairs and she ended up in the water.

“The complainant in this case sadly committed suicide not long after this assault allegation.”

Bianchi’s lawyer Mr. Steven Powles said: “The defendant’s position is inside the flat the complainant was attempting to jump off the eighth floor of the balcony.

“This was not the first time time she attempted to take her life. Outside she was attempting to re-enter and in the course of that is how she ended up in the water.

“In her own statement she says there was pushing into the water. She did not mention slamming into the chair.”