£1.7m VAT Fraud: Farmer In Court

A Horsham farmer pleaded guilty last Wednesday to fraudulently evading VAT.

Gayne Cooper, 61, who has two company directorships, appeared on bail at Croydon Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecution say £1.7m in VAT was fraudulently evaded.

He says the VAT figure is nearer £1.5m.

Cooper, of Stonehouse Farm, Plummers Plain was sent to Croydon Crown Court for sentencing on a date to be fixed.

He pleaded guilty to one count of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of VAT between April 1, 2013 and December 10, 2019.

“The defendant has pleaded guilty to a serious offence,” announced District Judge Devinder Sandhu. 

“It is a serious matter,” she told Cooper. “You have indicated a guilty plea to this court, which does not have sufficient sentencing powers to deal with you.”

Magistrates courts are limited to maximum sentencing powers of twelve months imprisonment.

Drunken Tailor: Italian Design Expert Sentenced For Mayfair Assault

Cut Up Rough: Benettello

A master tailor, who has worked with the world’s leading designer brands, has been sentenced for repeatedly bashing his ex-girlfriend’s head on the pavement outside a luxury five-star Mayfair hotel.

Richard Benettello, 41, was seen on top of 37 year-old Solankhe Tchikaya, 37, holding her by the hair and banging her head before being dragged away by the hotel’s security staff. 

“It was a serious offence and we have been told there were no injuries, but it was a very nasty attack,” magistrate Dr. Lynne Gailey told him.

Benettello, who has worked with Giorgio Armani; Dolce & Gabbana and Burberry claims they were both drunk after eating and drinking at a landmark Peruvian restaurant and he was guilty of nothing more than “excessive self-defence.”

He pleaded guilty to assaulting the graduate marketing and communications specialist outside The Athenaeum, Piccadilly on May 27, last year.

Benettello, of Fulham Road, West Brompton was placed on a twelve-month Community Order, which includes a ten-day recommended activity requirement, plus attendance at a ‘building better relationships’ course.

He must also pay £775 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

The magistrates scrapped a £100 compensation award to Ms Tchikaya, of Munster Road, Fulham because she did not support the prosecution and they had no details for her.

Benettello says they once dated, but were simply dining as “friends” at the nearby COYA Mayfair restaurant, which they left at half past midnight.

Prosecutor Jennifer Gatland told Westminster Magistrates’ Court Benettello had initially fought the charge and only pleaded guilty on the day of his trial, for which Ms Tchikaya was a defence witness. 

“Police were called to a report of a man hitting a woman in Piccadilly. The complainant was this defendant’s partner and witnesses heard screaming,” she said.

COYA Mayfair manager Filomena Clarizio later told police: “I heard a scream and thought there was a fight by the hotel.

“I noticed a couple and the male was on top. He had hold of her and was smashing her head on the ground.

Kept Schtum: Tchikaya

“Security pulled the male off the female, but he kept returning. The female went into the hotel and then I saw the male with the officers with blood on his hands.”

The blood was not Ms Tchikaya’s and she had no injuries, the court heard.

Ms Tchikaya told the witnesses: “He gets like that when he is upset,” and Benettello said: “I did nothing.” 

“This is clearly a serious and nasty assault that took place,” added the prosecutor. “Serious enough for members of the public to voice their concerns and call the police.”

The court heard Benettello received twenty-six weeks imprisonment last December for boarding an airplane while drunk and assaulting three cabin crew.

“There is a background of police involvement with this couple and there were a number of incidents in 2019 that did not result in a charge,” said Ms Gatland.

“On one occasion the defendant was threatening to harm the complainant, screaming at the top of his voice and kicking dustbins in the street.

“In 2018 there was an argument in the street and another incident when he attended her address, having been discharged from hospital.

“The victim was not willing to support any prosecution, including this one.”

Benettello’s lawyer Milad Shojaei said: “She was a defence witness and did not support the prosecution at the time. They were not in a relationship at the time of the incident and were just friends.

“He is a fashion stylist and master tailor and had been working in Saudi Arabia and came to the UK on a visit when he was arrested for this and has been in limbo for the last fourteen months.

“His employer is keeping his job open, but he has no financial support or any means of earning for the last fourteen months and has burned through his savings and borrowed from family and friends and can no longer pay his rent.

“He has had some very dark times and has been feeling suicidal during the last fourteen months.

“Mr Benettello has been going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, twice a day, for the last year to address his own offending behaviour and has been sober for the last thirteen months.

“He accepts there was excessive self-defence when they were intoxicated and they had a stumble.

“He accepts he behaved excessively. The paramedics confirm there were no injuries to her head and the blood was the defendant’s.”

Law Graduate Appears At Old Bailey Charged With Murdering Fiancé

Sam Mayo & Blaze Wallace

A law graduate, with ambitions to be a human rights lawyer, appeared at the Old Bailey yesterday charged with murdering her fiancé, who was stabbed to death.

Blaze Wallace, 27, of Mullins Path, Mortlake was not asked to enter a plea and was remanded in custody to HMP Bronzefield until October 11 by Judge Alexia Durran.

Wearing a grey sweatshirt and wiping away tears with a white handkerchief, a visibly distressed Wallace confirmed her age and date of birth at the start of the twenty-minute hearing.

She graduated from St. Mary’s University, Twickenham with a law degree in 2017 and at the time of her arrest was studying her Masters in human Rights & Legal Practice at the University of Roehampton.

Wallace is charged with the murder of Samuel Mayo, 34, who she became engaged to last month, in Lower Richmond Road on Monday, July 18.

A provisional trial date was fixed for June 12, next year.

Today, prosecutor Benjamin Holt confirmed the cause of death as sharp force trauma to the left side of Mr Mayo’s chest, inflicted with a knife.

He was treated by London Ambulance Service paramedics at 10.00pm and rushed to Kingston Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10.10pm.

Police attended the one-bedroom flat Wallace had shared with her fiancé for the previous six months and she was arrested on suspicion of his murder at 2.25am in the early hours of July 19.

One female security officer accompanied Wallace in the secure dock and after the hearing she mouthed words to her family in the public gallery above and shouted: “Love you all,” as she was taken back down to the cells.

Racially Abusive HMO Resident Ordered To Quit Booze

A drunken HMO resident, who repeatedly called her neighbour a “black c***” and shoved her against a hallway wall during an ants infestation row, has been ordered to quit drinking.

Lisa Boni, 51, who now lives and works at the White Horse pub, High Street, Beckenham was recorded assaulting and racially abusing the woman.

At Bromley Magistrates Court she pleaded guilty to the racially aggravated assault of Jazmin Beaton at Brandon House, Beckenham Hill Road on August 3, last year.

However, Boni claims she was victimised by her neighbour and was on the receiving end of racist and homophobic abuse that was not caught on camera.

She was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order, which includes a monitored compulsory Alcohol Abstinence Requirement of sixty days.

Boni must also comply with an Exclusion Requirement, prohibiting her from entering Brandon House for the next six months.

She must also engage with a Probation Service-ordered Rehabilitation Activity Requirement of up to a maximum of fifteen days.

Prosecutor Maureen Edwards told the court Boni returned to the Home of Multiple Occupation at 11pm and according to the victim, appeared drunk.

Earlier that day Ms Beaton had taken photos of the ants infestation around the front door and shared them on the HMO’s WhatsApp social media group.

There was a polite discussion about how to rid the property of the ants and when Boni returned home that evening she asked Ms Beaton for a mop and bucket.

“She became quite rude and aggressive and was heard to say ‘black c***’ on many occasions,” explained the prosecutor.

“Boni was recorded saying: ‘You are the most insulting, disrespectful black c*** I have met in my life.’

“The words ‘black c***’ are used about three times and she also said: ‘I pay rent. You don’t, you black c***.’

“This occurred in the hallway of the communal area and the defendant used her hands to push the complainant in the chest against the wall.

“The complainant felt fear and went back to her room and Boni followed, kicking and banging on the door while shouting a barrage of abuse,” added Ms Edwards.

“She shouted: ‘If you have a backbone come out here and I will knock you out. Go back to where you come from, go back to Peck-nam.’

“Boni specifically said ‘Peck-nam’ instead of ‘Peckham’, comparing the area to Vietnam, due to its reputation for violence and black gang culture.”

When she was questioned by police Boni said Ms Beaton had previously subjected her to racial and homophobic abuse outside and had assaulted her.

She denied using the term ‘Peck-ham’ and insisted she said ‘Peckham’ normally.

The court heard Ms Beaton’s attitude towards Boni changed when she discovered she was gay.

Boni says her former neighbour called her a “white c***”; “a fanny licker” and told her she “needs a black man.”

She maintains she only pushed Ms Beaton because she was “in her face” and cannot believe her choice of words during the row.

Boni has not slept at the HMO since the incident.

The court also ordered her to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge. 

Law Graduate Charged With Murdering Fiance

Samuel Mayo & Blaze Wallace

A law graduate and budding human rights lawyer appeared in court yesterday, charged with murdering her fiancé, who was stabbed to death.

Blaze Wallace, 27, of Mullins Path, Mortlake appeared in custody at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

She graduated from St. Mary’s University, Twickenham with a law degree in 2017 and at the time of her arrest was studying her Masters in human Rights & Legal Practice at the University of Roehampton.

Wallace is charged with the murder of Samuel Mayo, 34, in Lower Richmond Road on Monday, July 18.

They became engaged in June.

He was treated by London Ambulance Service paramedics at 10.00pm and rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10.30pm.

Police immediately cordoned off part of the busy road and the entirety of Mortlake Green when launching their investigation.

Wearing a grey sweatshirt and accompanied by two custody officers Wallace only spoke from the secure dock to give her name, date of birth and address.

She asked to remain seated during the short hearing and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, July 26.

Prosecutor Jordan Pratt did not address the court, nor did Wallace’s defence representative.

Magistrate Sara Brown told her: “All we can do is remand you in custody to the Old Bailey to next Tuesday. If you are wondering why you are here it is because all cases start in the magistrates court.

“You will now go downstairs with the custody officers.”

Before leaving the dock Wallace blew a kiss to three supporters in the public gallery, two of whom were visibly emotional and distressed.

Private Schoolteacher Caught Spying On Female Shower Room

A private school teacher’s career is in ruins after he was caught using his mobile phone to secretly spy on a female colleague in the women’s-only shower room, a court heard.

Computer Science teacher Christopher Arnold, 37, was also an assistant head of 5th Year at £22,000 a year Hampton Boys School, in south-west London.

The 500 year-old school’s well-known alumni include Queen guitarist Brian May; former Home Secretary Kenneth Baker and Olympic gold medal rower Jonny Searle.

Arnold, of Hazelwood House, Dyas Road, Sunbury-on-Thames is now receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance and living with him mum, while on a “relationship Break” from his partner, also a teacher at the same school.

He pleaded guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court to observing the female teacher doing a private act, for the purpose of sexual gratification on March 23.

Arnold must now sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years and complete 200 hours community service and pay £85 costs and a 395 victim surcharge.

The court also ordered him to attend thirty sessions of the Horizon sex offenders’ programme and up to thirty days of a Probation Service-ordered recommended activity requirement.

“This incident left me very shaken and shocked,” said the teacher in her victim impact statement. “It is a horrible thing to have happened and to have it carried out by a colleague makes it even more intruding.”

Prosecutor Adam Cooper told the court: “This takes place at Hampton Boys School before the school day started.

“There is a small bathroom area that connects to the gym, leading to a female shower room for staff.

“The complainant was getting changed in the shower room at 8.10am and was sitting on a bench facing the door, which has three clear window slots.

“She could see a black smart phone held against the window and shouted out as she was partly-dressed and ran out to the corridor, thinking it was a student, but found this defendant.”

Arnold did not deny he was responsible and when questioned by police the same day, made a full admission.

No recording of his fellow-teacher was found on the phone and police checked his other devices, including computers and found no similar material.

Arnold’s lawyer Sunvir Kaur told the court: “He has expressed deep remorse from the outset and is seeking and trying to get to the bottom for the reason for the offence.

“He has sought help himself through his own expense and his genuine remorse was shown soon afterwards with a witness noting he was ‘down’ and ‘not his usual cheerful self.’

“This was because Mr Arnold was at a point of crisis when he committed the act and felt a sense of shame and had come to his senses as to what he had done.

“He made an immediate admission to the woman and said: ‘That was me,’ and was arrested that day and made a full ad mission to the police.

“Mr Arnold says he was under a lot of stress. It had been a difficult term at the school, where he had been for ten years and he used pornography to relieve his symptoms as a copying strategy.

“He also had a new pastoral role at the school, which placed additional stress on him.

“That led to this momentary spur of the moment act.”

Arnold’s partner and his mother supported him in court and Ms Kaur added: “His main source of income has now been lost and he is living with his mum while on a relationship break until the conclusion of this case.

“He showed exemplary character up to that morning, but now there will also be a hearing before the Teaching Regulation Agency and he is likely to be barred.”

Magistrate Timothy Keay told Arnold: “Custody might be in the sentencing range, but we think the appropriate sentence is a Community Order.

“The offence is so serious a custodial sentence could have been imposed.”

"I Got No Space": Sex Pest Jailed For Pressing Groin Into Woman

A tube train sex pest has been jailed for pressing his groin into the rear of a pregnant passenger – claiming he had nowhere else to stand in the carriage when challenged.

Zane Donovan, 25, also received a court ban from attempting to chat in public with any woman he does not know once he is released.

When confronted on the Victoria Line train he protested: “How do you want me to stand? I Got no space.”

Donovan, of White Gardens, Dagenham pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the woman between Green Park and Victoria stations on Friday, March 25.

At Inner London Crown Court he received 41 weeks imprisonment and must sign the six offenders register for the next ten years.

Donovan was also made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, prohibiting him attempting to engage females he does not know in conversation when in public – including public transport.

The victim boarded the train at Green Park at 6.30pm and immediately felt Donovan pressing his groin against her from behind for around twenty seconds.

After being confronted he departed the train at Victoria station and after CCTV enquiries was arrested several days later.

British Transport Police Detective Constable Brittany Armstrong said: “This incident was particularly alarming and distressing for the victim, and I’m pleased to see Donovan behind bars for such inappropriate behaviour.

“Some people may not consider pressing a sexual offence, or serious enough to report especially in a crowded environment, however in the eyes of the law this is sexual assault and offenders will be caught and punished accordingly.

“If you experience or witness this behaviour on the network, we urge you to alert an officer or report it by texting us on 61016. We will always take you seriously.”

999 Operator Abused By Drunk Caller

Wimbledon Magistrates' Court

An offensive 999 caller verbally insulted the emergency operator with a volley of foul-mouthed abuse, a court heard.

Lisa Sutch, 52, claims she was drunk when she made the call and insists much of the abuse was aimed at herself for failing to stay off alcohol.

She was recorded saying: “Give me your f***ing name, you're f***ing dead. F***ing die.

“Shut up you fat slag,” was also said during the call, along with “black c***.”

Jobless Sutch, of Stuart House, Stuart Road, Richmond-upon-Thames pleaded guilty one count of offensive communication on June 27.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Garcia told Wimbledon Magistrates' Court the female operator took a 999 call from Sutch, who was at her home address.

“At one point during the call she started becoming rude and aggressive.”

The court was then quoted Sutch's words, which the 999 operator described as leaving her “extremely shocked and distressed.”

The operator confirmed she could hear nobody else on the end of the line who Sutch could have been directing her abuse towards.

The defendant was arrested and questioned by the police.

“She had no recollection of the telephone call and said she was drunk at the time and the 999 operator was offensive to her,” said Ms Garcia.

Sutch's lawyer Jenny Winter told the court her client was sleep-deprived due to a noisy neighbour and after quitting alcohol began drinking again when “under pressure.”

“She has a mirror in her hallway to remind herself how awful she looks in drink and was abusing herself.

“When she said: 'black c***' she was referring to an Asian friend she had issues with.

“A lot of this was drunken babbling while depressed and sleep deprived.”

Sutch, who currently lives on Employment Support Allowance has a previous conviction for harassment.

She is also os breach of a twelve-month conditional discharge for an offence of criminal damage.

Bailing Sutch until August 18 for a pre-sentence report magistrate Lindsey Stuart told her: “There is a previous conviction for harassment and there is a seriousness to this.

“What you did was totally unacceptable, but there may be mitigation by virtue of your mental health.” 

'Juiced' Mobile Hairdresser Nearly Four Times Limit

A mobile hair stylist blamed her
special juice-only diet for being nearly four times the drink-drive limit when she crashed into another car after leaving a pub, a court heard.

Gaynor Godwin, 41, had to hold onto one of the arresting police officers’ to steady herself as she staggered out of her vehicle, Bromley Magistrates’ Court was told.

“She had for some weeks before been blending fruit and vegetables and had not been eating properly,” said Nick Ferrari, defending. “Drinking alcohol on such a limited diet would knock anyone for six.”

The single mum, of Colebrook Rise, Shortlands, Bromley pleaded guilty to driving her white BMW estate, with excess alcohol in her breath, on May 31 in nearby Glassmill Lane.

She had 130 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35.

Godwin told police she only had two wine spritzer’s at a local Wetherspoons during after-work drinks.

She claimed the collision would probably have occurred even if she was sober, blaming the other vehicle for speeding into her path and suddenly stopping in front of her.

“Your conduct on this day was disgraceful,” magistrate Alan Austin told Godwin. “You were very drunk  and you put other people’s lives in danger.

“You are an intelligent woman and you know the dangers of drink-driving. With all your responsibilities you should not be doing this.”

Godwin was disqualified from driving for 30 months and must complete 150 hours community service. She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Denise Clewes told the court police were called just before 11.00pm to a traffic accident on a bend.

“They saw two vehicles, one of which was a white BMW with damage to the front bumper and they saw Ms Godwin get back in the car and was sitting in the driver’s seat.

“She declined assistance and told the officers she was not injured, but as she got out she reaches out to grab the officer’s arm to steady herself.”

The officers noted Godwin was “incomprehensible to understand” 

Godwin’s two female passengers were uninjured and she was arrested after failing a roadside breath-test.

The other driver was injured and taken to hospital after being removed from their Toyota.

“At Bromley Police Station the custody Sergeant noted she was unsteady on her feet and abusive to the arresting officers and there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from her.

“When questioned she said she was driving downhill and did not brake in time and collided with the other car.

“She said: ‘We had a few in the pub with dinner, we shared a bottle and a half of wine between three of us and I felt okay to drive.’

“It is a very high reading and a high-level of impairment,” added Ms Clewes, revealing Godwin was also convicted of drink-driving in Marbella, Spain in 2010.

“It was a minor accident, a prang of the vehicle,” said Mr Ferrari. “There will be hefty consequences and she will not be able to continue as a mobile hairdresser by driving to customers’ homes to cut their hair.

“She is a dedicated parent and realises this sort of behaviour could deprive her eleven year-old son of her if this offence was met with a sentence of imprisonment.”

'Sugar Daddy' Sentenced For Molesting Internet Date

A fake ’Sugar Daddy’ has been sentenced for molesting his graduate internet date at a four-star hotel after convincing her she needed to be intimately searched after he was drugged and robbed by another woman from the site.

Angelo Fernando, 46, claimed his “highly sensitive” work in the US aerospace defence industry made him a target and he feared his drink being spiked so the pre-date full-body search was necessary.

He has now been placed on the sex offenders register for five years after an Inner London Crown Court jury unanimously convicted him of sexually assaulting the drama student at the Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster Bridge Road on August 28, 2019.

In reality, tax records from that year prove Fernando, of Chifney Court, Bridle Close, Surbiton only earned £2,100 and on Friday the court heard he is £5,000 in debt and must move out of his rented flat.

Via the SeekingArrangement dating website Fernando told the woman, aged in her twenties, and known as ‘YorkshireBlonde’ that he was an economics graduate and had been a City investment banker, working in the world of private equity before establishing his own financial consultancy, specialising in defence, security and aviation.

After meeting for the first time at Waterloo Station, Fernando walked his date to the hotel, where he took her to a secluded area near a fire exit for the search, which she had consented to before meeting him.

“He said there was a search on every date he had with a female and it would be by a professional, a thorough airport-style security search. He said he didn’t have time to find anyone and would do it himself and I thought that was fine,” she told the jury.

“I thought he was some kind of spy that had a job that required you to have some sort of check. He painted a picture really well that excited me and he was someone that I’d like to meet.

“The story of what he was doing, what he did and how he had been spiked and needed this security operation just to go on a date sounded like a different world.

“There was a wet mop and bucket and cleaning sign there and anybody could have walked in, but he said it was a discreet space out of the public eye,” she explained. 

“He started from the ankle up, all the way up and I felt very uncomfortable and told him to stop and he carried on with the other leg and the same thing happened again.”

She said on both occasions Fernando touched her between the legs by running his hands up under her short mini dress. 

“He ran his hands down the side of my breasts and said: ‘Oh. You’re not wearing a bra,’ and then ran his hands down the front. It was a slow cupping motion.

“At the end he insinuated it was not as thorough a search as he would have liked.”

The site promised to match ‘Sugar Daddies’ with ’Sugar Babies’ but the woman denied asking Fernando for £3,000 per month. “I signed-up for the website because it sounded exciting. Maybe I went on it because I was bored.

“It was said of the site that you got taken for drinks and I guess there is a financial side to it, but I never asked for money,” she added, denying Fernando’s claim she sought funding for a vegan television project.

“I think it was a very well worked-out plan,” she told the court. “I was overwhelmed by what was going on, this guy had given me a massive story.”

Fighting back tears she added: “It was a scary situation. I thought I was going to be raped at one point.” 

Prosecutor Liam Gregory told the court: “He seems to be selecting people willing to be searched and this has almost become a fetish for him, according to the pre-sentence report, rather than necessary to preserve his safety and peace of mind.

“For his own sexual pleasure he sought to search gullible women and touch them intimately,” adding there was evidence of up to twenty dates who may have been similarly frisked.

Fernando’s lawyer Paul Webb said: “For someone with almost debilitating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) what may be seen as his high-level planning was a symptom of his OCD.

“He is of good character, is well-educated and with a high-profile within his work. He is a professional man with the potential of having a good income, up to one hundred thousand pounds.”

Judge Freya Newbery sentenced Fernando to an 18-month Community Order, which includes up to 35 days of treatment and up to 30 days of a recommended activity requirement.

He must also pay a £1,000 fine, plus £3,500 costs.

“She thought the search was plausible because she thought you were a wealthy VIP-type person with safety concerns,” the judge told Fernando. “You took her into some sort of large cupboard or stairwell and thoroughly searched her over her clothes.

“You did touch her over her breasts and touched the gusset of her underwear with your hand.

“The victim was very upset about it and sat with you to try and find out more about you to report you to the police, which she did later with the assistance of the hotel staff.

“There was a significant degree of planning to assault her under the guise of a legitimate search. It was not a genuine drugs search and all of your careful planning was aimed at getting her into that large cupboard.

“I cannot make a decision about whether this was a fetish or a ritual or what was driving you to plan this very carefully. You always viewed what you carried out as normal, but you did not have consent for the contact.

“You were previously a hard-working, professional man successful in your field and there are still women in your social group who you got to know from dating and consenting to the same frisking.”

Fernando told the trial the victim only complained when he refused to give her £3,000 per month and the search  was necessary after he was drugged and robbed of his watch and cash on another date.

They had a drink in the hotel bar after the search his date said she was working on a screenplay she hoped would become a sitcom.

“She said she joined the site in order to meet somebody who could provide her an allowance. Somebody who could help her fund the production of the screenplay and contribute towards her university expenses.

“Because the Masters in Acting was quite expensive she was looking for three thousand pounds a month.

“She would see me on a weekly basis in exchange for three thousand pounds a month and wanted the first instalment after the date.

“After I rebuffed that her body language changed and she became quite belligerent,” Fernando told the jury. “She was disappointed, it was written all over her face.

“She then started complaining about the search and said how uncomfortable it made her feel.

“She started scratching her leg and that made me subconsciously think: ‘Has she got drugs in her underwear?’

“I was not going to transfer three thousand pounds into the account of someone I had just met.

“She said: ‘I’m going home, this is a waste of time. She leaned in and I gave her a kiss on the cheek and she walked off and that was it.

“I thought she was flirtatious when she first sat down in the alcove. I did not think she was somebody who was mercenary.

“I was disappointed, but it is not unusual for women on that site to project one image, but whose motivations are completely different.”

Whisky Galore: £9,500 Bottle Nicked

A rare £9,500 bottle of Scottish single malt whisky has been spirited out of a specialist dealer in the heart of the Square Mile.

City of London Police have released these two CCTV images of the suspected thieves and are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying them.

The valuable bottle of Macallan was stolen at approximately 5.41pm on Monday, March 14 from Tomoka Fine & Rare, Royal Exchange.

CCTV images show a man and woman standing outside the store for around thirty minutes, before entering separately. 

The woman then left the store and was last seen walking towards Throgmorton Street.

After both suspects left the store, it was found that the £9,500 bottle of rare Macallan whisky was missing.

Police Constable Niall Bowes, of City of London Police, said: “Thefts from businesses aren’t victimless crimes, and this incident has caused significant financial loss to an independent retailer in the City.

“We are keen to speak to anybody who recognises the individuals in the CCTV images, or who may know anything about the incident which could assist with the investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the City of London Police by calling 0207 601 2107 and quoting 22000149693. 

Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Young Drug Dealer Caught By Police Visit

Drugs Find: Glencar Court

A young cannabis dealer was caught during a surprise police visit on his home, a court heard.

Malakae McEwan, 20, of Glencar Court, Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood was found with 168 grammes of skunk cannabis and another 60 grammes of the drug.

Officers also discovered £1680 cash and two mobile phones, containing a history of text messages indicating drug-dealing.

Police entered the block of apartments built on the site of the demolished official residence of the De La Salle Brothers who taught at the neighbouring St. Joseph's College secondary school.

McEwan pleaded guilty to possessing the quantities of the Class B drug, with intent to supply, on November 3, last year.

Prosecutor Tharshani Siva told Croydon Magistrates' Court police attended the address regarding another enquiry and found the cannabis, cash and phones.

Texts included conversations about “platinum cookies” and questions like “do you know what strain you gave me earlier?”

McEwan answered “no comment” when questioned by police.

Ms Siva added: “The defendant played a significant role in drug street dealing and the sentencing guidelines indicate a starting point of one year's custody.”

McEwan was bailed until August 2 for a pre-sentence report.