Foreign Criminal Saved By Petition Just Keeps Offending

A Seychelles-born criminal, whose battle to avoid deportation was an online cause célèbre, has added to his lengthy record by spitting in a police officer’s mouth after a curry house bust-up.

Over one hundred people signed a petition to support 38 year-old Samuel Orphe’s Home Office fight six years ago, with many praising his qualities and character.

However, the convicted drug-dealer had already been locked-up by then for peddling cocaine, during a criminal career that racked up nearly twenty offences.

After his release and the subsequent Home Office campaign he continued breaking the law and remains at liberty in the UK.

He lives with his parents, who brought him to the UK as an eight year-old, in Harlequin Close, Hounslow, and in 2013 the UK Border Agency began deportation proceedings.

He pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates Court to assaulting a PC Khurana outside Sipson Tandoori, Harmondsworth Road, West Drayton on January 18.

Orphe also admitted using threatening, abusive, insulting words and behaviour inside the restaurant before police arrived.

In the change.org petition, signed by 121 supporters, Matt Dixon wrote: “Deport the people who insight fear and hate, not the good people,” and Hayley Martin said: “Sam is the last person who should be removed from this country. He is a good man.”

Prosecutor Zara Khan told the court: “Orphe attended the restaurant, but did not order any food or drink and kept going outside and coming back in several times.

“He asked the restaurant staff to order him a Uber taxi and they tried to explain that they would not do that and he then demanded we give him food to takeaway for free.

“They told him he would have to pay first for food and he started shouting abusive words and raised his right arm at the manager, who grabbed his arm to prevent potentially being struck.

“There were customers in the restaurant and the defendant was extremely abusive and the manager feared for his safety.

“He said he could smell alcohol on Orphe’s breath and despite trying to explain things, the defendant refused to listen and continued to swear loudly.”

Staff called the police and PC Khurana took Orphe outside. 

“I began to search him and he turned to me and spat directly in my face and it has gone into my mouth and my right eye,” said the officer.

“I left to clean my face and wash with disinfectant.”

The officer was taken to hospital for blood tests. 

“This left me disgusted. I have had to wait weeks for blood tests to see if I have contracted any diseases.”

Orphe’s lawyer Mr. James Lloyd said: “Spitting is a disgusting way of assaulting anybody.

“He has made it clear to me he is sorry. The contrition spreads across the entire incident.”

Orphe was fined £133 for assaulting the officer, plus a £30 victim surcharge and £100 compensation.

He was fined £180 for threatening behaviour and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the restaurant manager and £100 costs.

“This frankly is a disturbing matter,” announced magistrate Lynn Scrivener. “We are dealing with this very seriously and you need to be very careful of your behaviour in the future.”

Orphe told them: “My sincere apologies to the police officer. I feel very, very sorry for him.

‘You will never see me again.”

He had 23 offences on his record before this incident, starting with three cannabis convictions between 2001 and 2003 and in 2004 he received six months imprisonment for suppling class ‘C’ drugs.

Four years later he was disqualified for drink-driving while uninsured, but was caught by police driving during the ban and was also caught with cocaine and cannabis.

In 2009 he was convicted of possessing cocaine; cannabis and an offensive weapon, later breaching the court community orders he received.

Orphe was sentenced to two years imprisonment in 2010 for possessing cocaine, with intent to supply, and also received twelve weeks for battery.

Since the petition he has been caught producing cannabis and on another occasion possessing cocaine and cannabis at a Cambridgeshire music festival.   

On Orphe’s petition Caroline Ward described him as: “A very good man,” and Chris Rooney said: “Samuel is a genuine person with genuine morals,” with Micko Larkin adding: “Such a wonderful person.”