Polish East London Death: Investigation Continues

Police probing the death of a middle-aged Polish man in east London are appealing for witnesses and information.

Janek Brakonecki, 57, who lived in London was found dead on July 7 in a car park off Leytonstone High Road, Leytonstone just before 8am.

A post-mortem examination performed the next day was inconclusive.

A man in his sixties was arrested on suspicion of murder and released on bail, pending further enquiries.

Officers are awaiting the outcome of further tests and detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Holmes said: “We are making urgent enquiries to establish the circumstance that led to Mr. Brakonecki’s death.

“At this time, we must keep an open mind as to the cause of death, and I am appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward and speak with police.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 1570. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Notting Hill Carnival Punch-Up: Two Women In Dock

Laura Sweeney

Two women at last year’s Notting Hill Carnival were part of an aggressive group, who surrounded and repeatedly kicked another female, a court heard.

Trouble began when Laura Sweeney, 33, began filming the complainant’s drunken young friend and laughing at her, Isleworth Crown Court was told.

Both Sweeney, of Daryngton Drive, Greenford and Gemma Freeman, 32, of Lincoln House, Ealing Road, Brentford have pleaded not guilty to assaulting Anne-Sophie Flury, causing her actual bodily harm, on August 27, last year.

Sweeney also denies causing actual bodily harm to Ella Williams and Freeman has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Shanice Steele.

“Ms Flury held her hands up in a defensive gesture and the female we say is Sweeney punched her a number of times in the face and neck, causing her to fall to the floor,” said prosecutor Mr. John Coates.

“She then grabbed her by the hair and kicked her in the face.”

The attack was witnessed by one of the victim’s friend’s, who says Freeman was also involved in the group attack.

“She saw the group surround Ms Flury and the group were all kicking and says the mixed-race girl, who we say is Freeman, was the main one beating her up,” added Mr. Coates.

It was around 6pm when when one of Ms Flury’s group of friends disappeared. “Because she was intoxicated through either drink or drugs she ran off.

“She was found collapsed and being sick and a woman was nearby filming and laughing at her and words were exchanged with Ella Williams.

“We say this woman is Sweeney and others joined in the exchange of words and Ella felt this other group were acting aggressively.”

Police intervened and led Ms Flury’s group across Ladbroke Grove.

Gemma Freeman

However, an hour later there was another clash, the jury were told. “Sweeney approached Ella while shouting aggressively and punched her more than once in the face with her fist.

“This caused her to fall backwards, hitting her head on railings and she momentarily lost consciousness.

“She received a cut and bruising to her left eyebrow, had soreness to her nose and tenderness to the back of her head.”

It was while helping wipe blood away from her friend’s face Ms Flury was attacked, said Mr. Coates.

“She suffered a displaced nose, swelling to her nose, had bruising to her face and neck, an injury to her left eye and a cut lip.

“Her friend Shanice Steele was punched in the face and says that woman was also the main aggressor in the assault on Ms Flury.

“The prosecution say that was Freeman.”

Sweeney was arrested at the scene and both defendants were taken in for questioning on October 12.

The court heard pictures on their phones of them enjoying carnival match the descriptions given by the complainants.

Trial continues………..  

Jail For Kid's Centre Voyeur

The boss of a well-known kid’s soft play centre was jailed for fourteen months today after filming two 14 year-old girls undressing and also recording female toilet users at his family-friendly business. 

Darren Johnson, 51, resigned in disgrace from Eddie Catz after his double life was exposed when caught filming the schoolgirls changing in a swimming pool cubicle.

He was sentenced at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court, where yesterday Judge Andrew Campbell had bailed him for twenty-four hours.

Johnson was also made subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He founded the nationwide play centre, which has a tie-in with Mothercare, with his wife Maria over a decade ago and the couple share a £1.3m home.

Police raided the house and seized nearly 700 clips, mostly made up of recording his Earlsfield centre’s female staff in their changing room and toilets.

Johnson, of 26 Rodway Road, Putney Village pleaded guilty to five counts of voyeurism for sexual gratification between January 1, 2005 and June 12, 2017.

Detective Constable Nayeff Al-Wareeth of the Metropolitan Police’s South West Command said afterwards: “I hope this sentencing result brings some measure of comfort for the two young girls who bravely came forward and reported Johnson to us.

“This conviction would not have been possible without their courage. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that criminals like Johnson are off our streets and behind bars.” 

His double-life was exposed when the teenage girls spotted Johnson filming them with his iPhone under the cubicle divider at Putney Leisure Centre on June 5, last year.

A previous court heard was told the girls were “very distressed” and police raided dad-of-two Johnson’s home on June 12.

Officers seized his computers, where they found images of women undressing during years of secret filming at Eddie Catz centre in Earlsfield.

Prosecutor Miss Lauren Sales told the court yesterday: “There is CCTV that shows the defendant stalking children around the leisure centre. He stalks them to the shower area and then stalks them to the cubicle next to him.

“There was a twelve year-old he was following as well. It is all clear on the CCTV.”

Johnson says he rowed with his wife that morning and had consumed a bottle of wine before arriving at the centre.

“On that occasion the two fourteen year-old girls had attended their school swimming class. 

“Mr. Johnson is seen on CCTV walking around the changing facility. He has gone to the swimming pool and walked around the centre with no particular purpose.

“It’s the two fourteen year-old girls he follows and he purposefully enters the cubicle next to them.”

While undressing the girls see Johnson’s iPhone 6 filming them under the cubicle partition. 

They did not see Johnson, but spotted his distinctive rucksack in the cubicle, which was later picked up on the leisure centre’s CCTV.

He did not keep recordings of the girls and still insists he was not stalking youngsters, but was evasive with police when quizzed about the leisure centre.

“He said he attended in order to shower because it was close to his work and then said he had a personal trainer and then said he’d never shower there because they were communal and dirty and then said he could not remember what he was doing and had memory problems,” added Miss Sales.

When police inspected his two password-protected laptops they found naked images of approximately 40 adult woman changing at the leisure centre, spread over 155 computer files.

“Adult females were in various states of undress at Putney Leisure Centre and they were taken under cubicles,” explained Miss Sales. “They were the most indecent, showing female genitalia and naked breasts.”

At his Earlsfield play centre Johnson had strategically hanged bags in three toilets and the female staff changing rooms, having already made a tiny hole in them to allow filming.

He used a motion-sensor camera to capture the images.

“Images using peepholes in different female public lavatories at the children’s soft play centre, showing female genitalia. They show women using the lavatory.”

The centres’ three public toilets, Pink, Green and White all featured in the recordings as well as the female staff changing room.

“Female employees using private changing rooms at the children’s play centre and they are in various states of undress.

“That is around 376 files, though some are duplicates.

“There are a huge number of images and these images have been cherry-picked out of many images because they are the most graphic.” 

Johnson’s lawyer Mr. Tom Williams said his client was married with children aged 18 and 20 years-old and of good character and receiving counselling from a psychosexual therapist.

“When arrested he immediately resigned and has not stepped foot in Eddie Catz since.”

Johnson claims the filming was restricted to a short period in 2007 and between 2016 and last year. 

He now also attends AA, plus Sex Addicts Anonymous, couples counselling and receives cognitive behaviour therapy and been told he has ADHD.

Kid's Playcentre Boss Had Secret Cameras

Camera Fan: Johnson

The wealthy boss of a well-known children’s soft play centre chain face an anxious overnight wait to hear his fate after filming two 14 year-old girls undressing and also recording female toilet users at his family-friendly business. 

Darren Johnson, 51, resigned in disgrace from Eddie Catz after his double life was exposed when caught filming the two 14 schoolgirls changing in a swimming pool cubicle.

Today he appeared at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court, where Judge Andrew Campbell bailed him to return tomorrow for sentencing.

He founded the nationwide play centre, which has a tie-in with Mothercare, with his wife Maria over a decade ago and the couple share a £1.3m home.

Police raided the house and seized nearly 700 clips, mostly made up of recording his Earlsfield centre’s female staff in their changing room and toilets.

Johnson, of

Rodway Road, Putney Village pleaded guilty to five counts of voyeurism for sexual gratification between January 1, 2005 and June 12, 2017.

His double-life was exposed when the teenage girls spotted Johnson filming them with his iPhone under the cubicle divider at Putney Leisure Centre on June 5, last year.

A previous court heard was told the girls were “very distressed” and police raided dad-of-two Johnson’s home on June 12.

Officers seized his computers, where they found images of women undressing during years of secret filming at Eddie Catz centre in Earlsfield.

Bad News Looming: Johnson

Prosecutor Miss Lauren Sales told the court today: “There is CCTV that shows the defendant stalking children around the leisure centre. He stalks them to the shower area and then stalks them to the cubicle next to him.

“There was a twelve year-old he was following as well. It is all clear on the CCTV.”

Johnson says he rowed with his wife that morning and had consumed a bottle of wine before arriving at the centre.

“On that occasion the two fourteen year-old girls had attended their school swimming class. 

“Mr. Johnson is seen on CCTV walking around the changing facility. He has gone to the swimming pool and walked around the centre with no particular purpose.

“It’s the two fourteen year-old girls he follows and he purposefully enters the cubicle next to them.”

While undressing the girls see Johnson’s iPhone 6 filming them under the cubicle partition. 

They did not see Johnson, but spotted his distinctive rucksack in the cubicle, which was later picked up on the leisure centre’s CCTV.

He did not keep recordings of the girls and still insists he was not stalking youngsters, but was evasive with police when quizzed about the leisure centre.

“He said he attended in order to shower because it was close to his work and then said he had a personal trainer and then said he’d never shower there because they were communal and dirty and then said he could not remember what he was doing and had memory problems,” added Miss Sales.

When police inspected his two password-protected laptops they found naked images of approximately 40 adult woman changing at the leisure centre, spread over 155 computer files.

“Adult females were in various states of undress at Putney Leisure Centre and they were taken under cubicles,” explained Miss Sales. “They were the most indecent, showing female genitalia and naked breasts.”

At his Earlsfield play centre Johnson had strategically hanged bags in three toilets and the female staff changing rooms, having already made a tiny hole in them to allow filming.

He used a motion-sensor camera to capture the images.

“Images using peepholes in different female public lavatories at the children’s soft play centre, showing female genitalia. They show women using the lavatory.”

The centres’ three public toilets, Pink, Green and White all featured in the recordings as well as the female staff changing room.

“Female employees using private changing rooms at the children’s play centre and they are in various states of undress.

“That is around 376 files, though some are duplicates.

“There are a huge number of images and these images have been cherry-picked out of many images because they are the most graphic.” 

Johnson’s lawyer Mr. Tom Williams said his client was married with children aged 18 and 20 years-old and of good character and receiving counselling from a psychosexual therapist.

“When arrested he immediately resigned and has not stepped foot in Eddie Catz since.”

Johnson claims the filming was restricted to a short period in 2007 and between 2016 and last year. 

He now also attends AA, plus Sex Addicts Anonymous, couples counselling and receives cognitive behaviour therapy and been told he has ADHD.

Sweeney Hunt Moped Cash-Snatch Pair

Police are hunting these two moped bandits after a cashbox was snatched from a security guard at a Sainsbury's supermarket in east London.

The specialist Flying Squad are investigating the cash in transit robbery.

On Thursday, May 3 at approximately 12.00pm, a cash delivery and collection was taking place at the Sainsbury’s in Hall Lane, Chingford.

Two males riding a blue/silver scooter - sporting a stolen number plate - rode up to the custodian who was entering the store carrying a cashbox.

The pillion passenger got off the scooter, ran at the guard and grabbed the cashbox.

He then got back onto the rear of the scooter and the pair rode off in the direction of Haringey or Hackney.

Detective Constable Tom Boow, from the Flying Squad, said: "The two suspects were wearing distinctive clothing, including matching dark purple puffer-style jackets, dark purple trousers, black and purple trainers and black helmets.

"This brazen offence took place in broad daylight, and we are hoping that these images may jog the memory of someone who witnessed the robbery.”

Anyone with information is asked to call officers via 101 quoting reference 2877/3May or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Imperial College Professor Denies Harassing Ex-Lover

An Imperial College bioengineering professor has appeared in court accused of sending his ex-lover letters and calling her despite a police warning to stop.

Professor Rob Krams, 63, of North Gate, Prince Albert Road, St. John’s Wood denies his actions amounted to harassment and he will stand trial on October 4.

He appeared on bail at Westminster Magistrates Court, where he pleaded not guilty to harassing Ausra Satiene between June 16 and July 25 in London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.

He accepts sending her four letters and making one unanswered phone call.

Prosecutor Miss Katie Bryan told the court the couple split in January and Professor Krams received a police harassment notice warning on April 19.

He was later arrested and received a police caution.

However, Ms Satiene received a letter from him on June 23 and police intervened on July 2.

The prosecution say further letters were received on July 6; 18 and 25.

“The contents of these letters go to the relationship and their history. There is nothing threatening,” said Miss Bryan.

Krams admits sending the letters and making the call, but claims it does not amount to harassment of his Fulham-resident ex.

Professor Krams holds the Chair in Molecular Bioengineering at Imperial College, London and is a former associate professor in Department of Bioengineering at Rotterdam’s Thoraxcentre in his native Holland.

He is also the former professor/chair in department of Medical Physics, Free University, Amsterdam.

His research and studies specialise in gene expression and stress on cells.   

Son Of Lord Gowrie Denies Throwing Teenage Girlfriend Out Of House

Court Date: Ruthven

The middle-aged aristocratic son of former Tory minister Lord Gowrie picked-up his petite 19 year-old girlfriend and flung her from his Notting Hill flat, a court heard. 

Brer Ruthven, 54, - Viscount Ruthven of Canberra - of Crosfield House, Mary Place, denies assaulting Lola Tyrrell on August 5 and will stand trial on October 4.

Brer is heir to the peerage title Baron Ruthven of Gowrie in the county of Perth and he has one son, Hon. Heathcote Patrick Cornelius Hore-Ruthven, 28.

His father, Lord Gowrie, 78, is the former Chairman of Sotheby’s and the Art Council of England and was a member of Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet as Minister of State for the Arts between 1983 and 1985.

Prosecutor Miss Katie Bryan told Westminster Magistrates Court: “At the time of this incident the complainant and defendant were in a relationship and in the process of separating.”

They met in January, last year at east London’s hip Whitechapel Gallery and, according to Leeds native Ms Tyrrell, hit it off immediately, with shared interests in films, art and fashion.

The couple were at Ruthven’s flat when a row over cooking tongs broke out between 9.30pm and 10.00pm.

“An argument took place over a pair of tongs the the complainant wanted to use while cooking dinner, because Mr. Ruthven said they were new.

“He started shouting and and told her to use a fork and that she would have to do all the washing up.

In Court: Lola 

“He went into the bedroom and started packing some of her clothes into a suitcase and told her to take it to her place because he needed the room.”

They sat down to eat, but Ms Tyrrell says Brer was still shouting at her, accusing her of having a “shitty attitude,” the court heard.

“He continued to shout at her and and she describes him as: ‘flipping out’ and picking her up with one arm under her body and the other around her  and taking her to the door and flinging her into the street,” added Miss Bryan.

“She was hardly dressed and had little in clothing and knocked on the kitchen window.

“She told him she was going to call the police and he told her to: ‘F*** off’.”

When police arrived Ruthven told the officers: “I dragged her out of the house. I did not hurt her. We are in the process of splitting up and she can’t handle it.”

Ms Terrell will give evidence behind a screen at Hendon Magistrates Court. She told police: “I don’t know what he’s capable of because he has such a short fuse. He belittles me a lot.”

Happier Times: Lola & Brer

Ruthven was bailed on condition he does not contact Ms Tyrrell and his lawyer Mr. Rory Laide told the court: “There have been posts on social media in derogatory terms concerning Mr. Ruthven.

“He has reported them to the police.”

Brer was educated at private £39,000-per year Westminster School and is currently employed by City law firm Clyde & Co as a database developer.

He is a musician with the band Melanchodelia and recently opened his local Portobello Music Festival. 

IT Exec Spied On Changing Cubicle Woman During Lunchhour

A globetrotting financial services IT boss fears his career may be over after he was caught spying on a woman changing in a boutique cubicle.

Neil Smyth, 43, used his phone as a periscope to ogle the woman over the changing-rooms divider as she fitted on a t-shirt and two pairs of trousers.

The married dad, who has a Master’s Degree in Multimedia Technology and sits on the Executive Board of Wimbledon-based StatPro, was on his lunch hour when he wandered into the shop.

Smyth, of Howard Road, Dorking pleaded guilty to observing a person doing a private act for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification at Uniqlo, The Broadway on June 11.

He was hoping to avoid signing the sex offenders register, but will have to for five years and must also complete 100 hours community service and 20 days rehabilitation.

Prosecutor Mr. Brinkman May told Wimbledon Magistrates Court: “The complainant removed her dress and was in her underwear as she fitted-on the clothing.

“She saw the top-half of a mobile phone over the cubicle divider and says: ‘I don’t know how long the person holding it there.

‘I was shocked and said loudly: ‘Someone is taking a pictured of me.’

“A security guard was called and waited for whoever was in the changing cubicle to come out,” explained Mr. May. “Eventually a man, Mr. Smyth, came out.”

When confronted in the store Smyth said: “It isn’t me, it’s ridiculous. I have a wife and child.”

Afterwards the victim said: “I am worried he may have sent the footage to someone else or uploaded it somewhere.”

However, Smyth insists he did not record the woman and was simply viewing her via the screen and a police examination of the phone found no recordings.

Smyth’s lawyer Mr. Richard Evans told the court: “He only watched for six to eight seconds and was not recording anything. He was looking at the image on the phone as if it was a mirror.

“He maintains he never saw the complainant in any state of undress at all. 

“He admits looking over the partition was a measure of excitedness, a measure of naughtiness, a thrill. 

“When he was arrested he was mortified, embarrassed, ashamed and did not feel any thrill or pleasure in doing this.

“It was triggered by stress and anxiety. He is an IT and marketing manager and has twenty-nine employees below him and a six million pound budget.

“He travels globally eight to ten times a year to the USA, Canada, South Africa and Europe and he found it difficult to manage his peaks of stress.”

Smyth was scheduled to address 150 people at a conference the day after his arrest. “He felt the pressure build and that led to what happened.

“He has not coped with the stress of job, but buried it even though to some he has an enviable life.”

His employers are aware of his arrest and have funded cognitive behaviour therapy courses and Smyth himself has paid for psychotherapy sessions.

However, Smyth fears being placed on the sex offenders register could be the end of his twenty-one years with the company.  

Deputy District Judge Claire Jackson told Smyth, who was supported in court by wife Chloe: “You used a phone in the hope of seeing a female in a state of undress.

“There is not an excuse for that really. It has done damage to the victim, who is now scared to undress in changing rooms.

“To cause such distress to someone for a few seconds of your own sexual gratification is worrying.

“No regard was taken for her or how she would feel or for your wife who’s been extremely supportive.’

Smyth was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to the victim, plus £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Woman Sentenced For HMP Wandsworth Cannabis Charge

A young woman who took drugs into a top-security London mens' prison has received a suspended sentence.

Lillian Baker, 22, of 25 Clifford Drive, Heathfield, Newton Abbot, Devon was originally charged with possessing cannabis resin at HMP Wandsworth on May 26.

She was also charged with one count of giving a prisoner, Nicholas little, a prohibited article, namely herbal cannabis.

At Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Baker was sentenced to two months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

She was also ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge and an order was made to destroy the drugs. 

Sex-Starved Hair Stylist's Secret Party Toilet Camera

A love-starved hair stylist with industry giants ASOS planted a secret camera in the gents’ toilet of their huge 2,000-guest summer party.

Dominic Henbow Hendy, 28, a graduate of styling and hair design from Truro and Penwith College, Cornwall claims a twelve-month dating drought and lack of intimacy led to him hiding the device behind toilet rolls to film the cubicle’s users.

Hendy, who attended The Roseland Academy, Tregony pleaded guilty to voyeurism, namely installing equipment to observe others for his sexual gratification, at Hawker House, a food and drink mega-market in Canary Wharf on July 12.

“He was without sexual contact for a year and felt stressed and was not thinking straight,” Hendy’s lawyer Mr. Alexander Goscimski told London’s Camberwell Green Magistrates Court.

Prosecutor Mr. Chidi Ikwuakolam said: “A cleaner at the event was routinely cleaning the men’s toilet and came across a small black box on the floor and handed it into a security guard, assuming it was lost property.

“By 2am the manager realised it was a camera that’d been put carefully on the floor of one of the one-person cubicles and purposefully obstructed with toilet rolls.

“It showed full-frontal views of people using the toilet and the defendant was identified as the person who placed the camera in the location.”

Probation Officer Patrick Acres told the court: “Prior to this offence he had been in a relationship and when that ended it sent him into a spiral of anxiety.

“He did look around for casual relationships, but did not find that satisfactory and for the last twelve months has been celibate.

“One way of coping was to self-medicate with drugs, including ketamine and crystal meth.

“These drugs lower inhibitions quite drastically and there was some use of pornography and with the drugs that led him down this route of setting-up the camera.

“He says he now feels quite sick about it and it is something he would never do again, but came about due to his isolation and taking these drugs.”

Mr. Goscimski added: “It is a shame he is here today. He has been struggling with anxiety and depression and is on medication.

“He purchased the camera because things were going missing from his room. He lives in shared accommodation and there were no locks on the doors.”

ASOS placed Hendy, of Bow Road, Bow, east London on suspension while awaiting the outcome of the case.

He was placed on a twelve-month community order, which includes 150 hours community service work and must pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Hendy must also sign the sex offenders register for five years.

Brutal Early-Hours Robbery: Suspect Hunted

Police are seeking this suspect after a middle-aged man was violently attacked in the early-hours and had his wallet snatched.

The victim, aged in his fifties, suffered serious head and facial injuries in Saffron Hill, Clerkenwell just after 3.00am on May 19.

Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 3.45am as they treated the victim.

Officers are working to establish how the man came to sustain his injuries.

He was taken to an east London hospital with serious injuries and has since been discharged.

Officers would like to speak with anyone who recognises the man who was captured on CCTV.

He is described as an Asian man, aged in his late teens to early 20s and of medium build.

He was wearing a distinctive Gucci hat, a dark jacket, blue jeans and Nike Air Max trainers.

Detective Constable Saima Pervez, from the Central-North Command Unit, said: “We are seeking the public’s help to trace the man who was captured on CCTV shortly after the unprovoked assault which left the victim with serious head and facial injuries.

“If you know who this man is, I would urge you to contact us.”

Anyone with information or any witnesses are asked to call police on 07441 686086 or via 101 quoting reference 1145/19May.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Burglar Wanted: Raider Caught On CCTV

Police are hunting this burglar, who was captured on CCTV snatching jewellery during a residential break-in in south-east London.

At approximately 3.25pm on Monday, June 18, officers were called to a burglary at a residential address in Copers Cope Road, Bromley.

Whilst the homeowners were out, a man broke into the property via the downstairs window.

Following a search of the property, the suspect left the scene on foot having stolen some jewellery.

He is described as a white man, wearing a distinctive blue and white Armani top.

No arrests have been made.

Detectives from Bromley CID are investigating.

Detective Constable Chris Taylor, who is leading the investigation, said: "We have today released an image of a man I wish to speak to in connection with this incident and I am appealing for the public's help to identify his whereabouts.

"This ordeal has understandably left the residents shaken and I would urge anyone with information to get in touch."

Stabbing: Suspect Identified

Police investigating a stabbing in north-west London have released this picture of their main suspect.

Detectives on Brent borough are trying to locate Amari Reed, 29, in relation to an attack on a 20 year-old male.

The victim was stabbed in the arm in Hirst Crescent, Wembley at around 7.40pm on June 20.

Police and the London Ambulance Service were called to the scene.

The male was suffering a stab injury to his left forearm.

He was taken to a central London hospital for treatment and his condition is not believed to be life threatening or life changing.

Anyone with information on Reed's whereabouts is asked to call 07747476161 quoting CRIS 1915449/18.

Russian Mobile Phone Tycoon Cleared Of Punching Uber Cab

A Russian mobile phone tycoon - once reportedly worth £1.2 billion - arrested for allegedly denting an Uber driver’s bonnet with a drunken angry punch during an evening out with friends in Soho, walked free today.

Evgeny Chichvarkin, 43, who sold retail chain Yevroset for approximately £280m in September, 2008 always denied punching the white BMW, which he had booked.

He appeared at City of London Magistrates Court, where prosecutor Mr. Edward Cohen announced no evidence would be offered because the driver had failed to turn up.

The driver’s evidence was required to establish what damage, if any, had been caused.

Chichvarkin lives in exile at a £6.6m apartment in The Little Boltons, West Brompton and in August, 2012 he launched new venture, award-winning Hedonism Wines in Davies Street, Mayfair. 

He pleaded not guilty to causing criminal damage to the three-litre vehicle, belonging to Lefter Petronel-Sebastian in Rupert Street on December 9, last year.

At an earlier hearing prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Bryan said: “The complainant is an Uber driver booked to take the defendant. The defendant didn’t arrive on time so the Uber driver drove off and stopped at the lights.

“The defendant tried to stop him and when he was told the booking had been cancelled in anger and frustration he bangs his fist down on the bonnet causing the dent.

“Two police officers did not see the incident, but one of them says he did hear a bang. The officers give evidence that he is drunk at the time.

“The complainant can say there is a dent there that was not there before.”

There are no pictures of the alleged damage and Chichvarkin can be heard on the officers’ body-worn cameras asking: “Where is the damage? I haven’t damaged the vehicle. Where’s the damage?”

He was arrested that evening and held in police custody overnight and questioned by police the next day.

The court heard Chichvarkin runs businesses and “invests heavily” in the UK and a criminal conviction would be “very damaging.”

He is the founder of Russia’s largest mobile phone retailer Yevroset and at one time was the richest man under thirty-five years-old in his country.

He was the winner of Ernst & Young’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year 2005 and also received Russian awards including the ‘Order of Glory of Russia’ and ‘Order of glory of the Fatherland.’

Chichvarkin has lived in exile in London for the past decade, campaigning against Russian corruption and Vladimir Putin as a member of the Right Cause political party.