Teammate Headbutted During Boozy Post-Match Rugby Drink-Up

Charged: Henry Peuble

A fly-half with the England deaf rugby team headbutted a teammate during after-match drinks - fracturing his skull and causing brain damage - after the injured player said his “hearing was s***,” a court heard yesterday.

Henry Peuble, 30, was drinking with London Welsh RFC teammates when a row broke out with Imperial College PhD student Alexander Mitchener, 29.

He suffered a fracture to the base of his skull, plus bleeding and bruising to the brain outside The Northcote pub, Clapham Junction in the early hours of August 20, 2023.

Peuble, of Aylward Road, Wimbledon has pleaded not guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court - where he is following the trial with the assistance of a hearing loop - to inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent.

Mr Mitchener, who denies making any offensive remark regarding Peuble’s hearing, told the jury: “My last memory is turning towards the defendant and saying: ‘What the f***? What’s the issue?’

“It then all goes black at that point apart from a snippet of being in the ambulance and covered in blood at the hospital getting staples put into my head.”

Now a Doctor of Philosophy, with a PhD in Aerosol Science and Respiratory Health Mr Mitchener told the jury he has not fully recovered from his injuries nearly three years later and has difficulties with short-term memory.

Both had travelled with London Welsh to Canterbury earlier in the day, with Mr Mitchener playing for the second team and Peuble the first team.

Peuble’s lawyer Michael Newport suggested to Mr Mitchener he made disparaging comments from the sideline, regarding the first teamer’s lack of hearing.

“You referred to his disability and inability to hear things. You said his hearing was s*** and was the reason for moves breaking down on the field was because he could not hear the calls.”

Hospital: Alexander Mitchener

Mr Mitchener denied making a such remarks, repeating he was “frustrated” during the evening drinks about the allegation.

“Nobody told me at the time when I asked them what I was supposed to have said.

“I have a lot of respect for Henry that he plays rugby at the level he does.”

The trial heard the team had a drink after the Canterbury match and more drinks when they returned to their club in Richmond, before setting off for further drinks at two locations.

Mr Mitchener said he had “three or four” beers before arriving at The Northcote.

“I recall being informed that something I was supposed to have said had been taken badly and that’s when things turned south.

“Henry was convinced I had said something offensive and I went over to him with a drink and said sorry.

“He was extremely angry and I asked for clarity, but never got it.

“I wouldn’t want to rub people up the wrong way and kept apologising even though I didn’t know what I was supposed rot have said.”

Mr Mitchener was outside waiting for an Uber when he got into a discussion with Peuble again, resulting in the headbutt.

“Rugby is a competitive environment and there is testy back and forth,” he conceded. “There is a bit of banter with rugby people, who test each other and everybody wants to be a tough guy.”

Mr Mitchener agreed he may have been drunk at the time of the 1.00am incident and also been angry with his teammates.

However, he insisted the defendant was worse. “He was incredibly threatening and aggressive.

“He was so angry with me that inside the pub he threatened to beat my head in.”

Earlier prosecutor Jonathan Gold told the jury: "There is no dispute he caused very serious harm. The issue is did he intend it?"

CCTV footage recorded outside the pub shows Mr Mitchener leaning in towards the defendant and the defence suggest security staff prevented his re-entry to the venue.

Other drinkers attempted to intervene and calm the situation by removing Mr Mitchener from the confrontation.

However, Mr Gold added: "There is not a need for the defendant to defend himself. It was a deliberate head butt to the face, a deliberate action that can lead to serious harm."  

Trial continues…………

Jailed: Pervert Caught By Fellow Train Passenger

A pervert, who was seen by a fellow train passenger viewing sickening images of child abuse on his phone, is starting a prison sentence of two years and three months.

David Johnson, 35, of Francis Chichester Way, Wandsworth, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children, two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

Johnson was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for ten years and must also sign the sex offender register for the same period.

The court heard that at around midday on September 23, last year Johnson was travelling on a train from Stafford to London.

A male passenger sitting behind him could see Johnson's mobile phone screen.

The man could see Johnson exchanging messages with someone before he opened a video showing a young child being abused. 

He then switched to another chat where a person asked him 'what kinds of videos do you like? I have all kinds'. Johnson replied, 'just kids videos'.

Stunned, the man messaged his own partner to say what was happening. 

When he looked back up, Johnson was watching another video showing an even younger child being abused.

The man was so shaken by what he had seen he got up to move to another part of the carriage before reporting Johnson using British Transport Police's (BTP) 61016 text service.

BTP officers rushed to meet the train at London Euston railway station, where Johnson was arrested on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children.

He was searched and officers seized his mobile phone – its screen wallpaper was an indecent image of a child.

When he was taken into custody, Johnson asked officers if he could have his property back as he “needed to delete some stuff”. 

He offered no comment to all questions put to him in interview.

Officers began searching two addresses linked to Johnson and seized a number of devices for examination. 

The phone seized at his arrest was found to contain nearly 200 indecent images of children, including 105 in category A – the most severe images.

As part of their enquiries detectives also recovered two chat transcripts, one of which showed he had been speaking to a girl he believed was 13 years old and had arranged to meet her for sex.

The other chat transcript was with an older woman and appeared to reference the same 13-year-old girl, but the woman had told Johnson that he could not see her as she was unwell. 

Johnson stated that he was on the train back to London – the journey in which the passenger saw his phone that ultimately led to his arrest.

Officers later established that the 13-year-old girl did not exist.

BTP Detective Constable Victoria Lowth said: "The quick thinking and courage of the man who saw Johnson's phone meant that we were able to quickly arrest him and uncover the scale of his offending. 

“I’d like to offer our sincerest thanks to that man, whose actions have directly led to Johnson's imprisonment.

“Behind every image and video Johnson owned is a vulnerable child that has been exploited and abused. 

“He is clearly a danger to children and has rightly been handed a substantial jail sentence and stringent conditions have been put in place to prevent him from offending further.

“We will always do everything we can to make the railway a hostile place for criminals, and especially those whose offending targets children.”

Look At The Camera: Thug Hunted For Tube Station Punch

A tube train passenger was punched unconscious at Newbury Park Underground station in east London by a mystery assailant now wanted by police.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this image of their suspect.

At approximately 7.45pm on Sunday, March 22 a stranger walking alongside the victim suddenly punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground.

The blow and fall caused the passenger to lose consciousness. 

The unknown male then ran out of the east London Central Line station.

Officers would like to speak to the man pictured, as they believe he may have information that can help their investigation.

Anyone who recognises him or witnessed the incident is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 592 of 22 March.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Tajikistan Predator Convicted Of Trying To Rape 13 Year-Old Girl On Train

A sexual predator, who targeted a 13 year-old girl onboard a train, has been convicted of what investigating police describe as an “abhorrent” series of offences.

Tajikistan national Abdulmanon Aliev,50, of Rye Lane, Peckham was convicted after a week-long trial at Inner London Crown Court.

The jury found him guilty of two counts of assault by penetration; three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted rape.

He will be sentenced at the same court on 17 June. 

On the afternoon of June 16, last year the young girl was travelling from Southend to London's Fenchurch Street station.

During the journey she was approached by Aliev, who deliberately sat opposite her and attempted to use a translator app on his phone to communicate with her.

She moved away from him to sit in a window seat, but he followed the teenager and sat next to her in an aisle seat, blocking her.

Aliev forced himself upon the victim and subjected her to a prolonged sexual assault until the service arrived at its destination. 

She left the train and boarded another heading back out of London, leaving Aliev behind at the station.

She reported what she endured to members of the public, who encountered her in a distressed state, and the police were informed shortly after.

British Transport Police (BTP) detectives launched an urgent investigation to identify Aliev, trawling hours of CCTV footage to track his movements before and after the attack.

The manhunt ended on June 27 when plain clothes officers spotted him in Peckham, South London, and he was immediately arrested.

His home address was searched and officers located and seized the clothes he was wearing on the day of the attack.

BTP Detective Constable Elizabeth Cahill said: “Aliev singled out a vulnerable child and subjected her to one of the most abhorrent sexual assaults I’ve ever investigated.

“While the focus of attention will rightly be on him as the despicable sexual predator that he is, I want to pay tribute to the brave victim who reported him to police.

“This verdict would not have been possible without her account of what happened and her willingness to support our investigation.

“We take every sexual offence report extremely seriously and we’ll stop at nothing to put offenders like Aliev before the courts.”

April Fool: Station Suspect Wanted For Inflicting Broken Jaw

A repair man suffered a fractured jaw when he was twice punched to the face at Farringdon Underground Station.

The victim will require surgery for the serious injury inflicted by a mystery man British Transport Police (BTP) are now hunting.

Between 9.45am and 10.00am on Wednesday, April 1 the contractor was at the station, repairing a broken entry gate.

An unknown male punched the victim to the face, knocking him to the station floor.

The victim got up only to be punched in the face and knocked to the floor for a second time.

Investigating officers would like to speak to the man pictured, as they believe he may have information that can help their investigation.

Anyone who recognises him or witnessed the incident is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 219 of 1 April.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thief Jailed For Stealing Family's Holiday Suitcase

A heartless thief, who ruined a family's holiday when stealing one of their suitcases as they travelled by train to Gatwick airport, has been locked-up.

Ayoub Alshirredi, 31, of Alexandra Road in Hounslow also boarded the train at London Bridge at approximately 2.00pm on October 27, last year.

The suitcase was stored on an overhead shelf and Alshirredi deliberately sat under it.

When the train stopped at East Croydon he simply carried it from the carriage without the family noticing.

At Willesden Magistrates' Court Alshirredi was sentenced to sixteen weeks' imprisonment, having pleaded guilty to theft at an earlier hearing.

Once the train arrived at Gatwick, the family realised the bag was missing and reported the incident to British Transport Police (BTP). 

Officers launched an investigation and identified Alshirredi as the man responsible for the offence. 

He was arrested four months later on February 27 and taken into police custody for questioning.

In spite of the CCTV footage clearly showing Alshirredi making off with the suitcase, he replied 'no comment' in interview to all questions put to him.

BTP Police Constable Imogen Gates said: "I'm pleased that the court have taken Alshirredi’s offending seriously and imposed a custodial sentence. 

“His actions were self-serving and opportunistic, as he targeted a young family going on holiday.

“In thinking only about himself, he put the family through considerable anxiety and stress, so I hope that they can feel a sense of closure now justice has been served.

"We take every report seriously, and anyone who witnesses or is the victim of a crime on the railway is encouraged to report it by texting us on 61016."

Train Drug Dealer's Short Trip To Prison

County Lines police caught a drug dealer at his local train station when he suspiciously returned from a rail journey after half an hour.

Plain clothes British Transport Police (BTP) officers were staking out Milton Keynes station on Thursday, December 4 last year when they spotted their suspect.

Sokol Hazizi, 34, of Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes was stopped by officers, who found £2,000 cash on him, plus £35,000 in cannabis when they searched his home.

He pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property and possession with intent to supply Class B drugs.

At Aylesbury Crown Court he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment.

The court heard officers from BTP’s County Lines Taskforce spotted Hazizi behaving suspiciously at the station.

He was seen passing through the station before boarding a train from Milton Keynes, returning within half an hour.

Due to his short turnaround journey officers stopped him after he passed through the ticket barriers and headed for the station exit.

He claimed to have been visiting a friend, but changed his story and said he was travelling to deposit cash in his bank, but realised he didn’t have his card.

Hazizi confessed to officers he had ‘a bit of cash’ on him and officers discovered he was carrying £2,000.

A further £1,000 as well as £35,000 of herbal cannabis was found when a search was carried out at his home.

BTP Sergeant Julian Mason said: “Hazizi tried – and failed – to bluff officers into believing his motives were entirely innocent.

“Sadly for him, our officers are highly skilled and experts at recognising the behaviour of anyone involved in criminal activity. 

“Hazizi’s next trip was to custody and subsequently a jail cell.

“Our officers patrol the rail network 24/7. If you’re using the railway for nefarious means we will find you, seize your drugs and proceeds of crime and bring you before the courts.”

Exposed: Police Release Images Of Bare-Chested Suspect

Police are hunting this bare-chested suspect after a female tube train passenger was subjected to abuse and a male who intervened was assaulted.

The ugly incident occurred just after midnight onboard a Piccadilly Line train travelling through west London on Thursday, February 26.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released these images and are requesting members of the assist in identifying him.

As the late-night service travelled between Acton Town and Osterley a passenger began acting aggressively and made homophobic and racist remarks towards the young woman.

The male passenger stepped in to help the young woman, and a fight broke out between the men, with the passenger who intervened sustaining minor injuries.

The bare-chested male then left the train at Osterley Underground station.

Officers would like to speak to the man pictured, as they believe he may have information that can help their investigation.

Anyone who recognises him or witnessed the incident is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference number 10 of 26 February.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Stylist Charged With Gucci Handbag Fraud

An ‘internationally-renowned personal stylist’ has been charged with a £277,000 Gucci designer handbag fraud.

Milda Chellingsworth, 43, was due to appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court yesterday, not far from her smart £940,000 four-bedroom semi in nearby Alexandra Crescent, Sundridge.

The Lithuanian stylist and personal shopper reportedly charges £150 per hour to consult holidaymakers on appropriate suitcase packing and  £680 per day to be a personal gift shopper.

She did not appear in court and her case was adjourned.

Chellingsworth is charged with a £52,000 fraud between June 10, 2019 and May 31, 2021.

She is accused of dishonestly making false representations to Trevor Coop that she would invest his money into expensive Gucci handbags and return thousands of pounds in profits.

Chellingsworth is also charged with a similar £78,400 fraud between April 1 and May 31, 2021.

It is said she dishonestly made false representation to Patricia Navarro that she would invest his money into expensive Gucci handbags and return thousands of pounds in profits.

Chellingsworth also faces a third charge of fraud totalling £146,861.63 between May 1 and August 31, 2023 by abusing her position as the retained agent of Mandy Gray.

She is accused of dishonestly making false representations when retaining money in two bank accounts of Styling For You, spending that money for her personal use instead of benefiting her client’s business.

Chellingsworth is the company director of SFY Styling Concierge Ltd and SFY Styling Ltd.

Yester
day, her lawyer Frazer Bradshaw told the magistrates: “She has a substantive matter at Bromley County Court this morning. It is a substantive hearing at the County Court all morning.

“Her daughter is unwell as well and she needs to go home to assist her.”

Bench Chairman Richard Hay questioned which court should have taken priority, regarding Chellingsworth’s attendance and reluctantly adjourned the case.

Smile For The Camera: Laughing Sex Pest Jailed

A laughing train creep, who targeted multiple lone women across the railway network, has been locked-up.

Craig Anthony Anderson, 38, received one year and ten months when he was sentenced at the Old Bailey for one count of stalking and four of sexual assault.

He also received a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which prohibits him from being able to approach, sit or stand near lone women. He also received a two restraining orders.

The court heard how Anderson embarked on a spree of sexual offending between June and October 2025, targeting lone women travelling across London and surrounding regions.

On June 14, last year just before 4.00pm at Bank Underground Station, Anderson followed a young woman up the stairs and engaged her in unwanted conversation. 

He asked for her name and phone number before telling her she looked "sexy".

The victim asked him to leave her alone before he then sexually assaulted her. 

As he walked away from her, he stuck his tongue out at her and laughed as he headed through the station.

Just over a week later, on June 26, Anderson attempted to strike up a conversation with another young woman on board a train at Guildford, asking her for her social media account details. 

The pair exchanged phone numbers, though he soon began to harass her over text for the next few weeks.

Declining his invitation to meet up, on July 15 he followed her from Epsom railway station onto the train to Victoria, verbally abusing her before he attempted to snatch her belongings. 

Anderson followed her for the next part of her journey, forcing her to hide in the toilets at Canary Wharf until Anderson left. 

He proceeded to regularly send her sexual messages and images to her mobile phone until his arrest in early October, 2025.

Then on the morning of August 2, Anderson approached a young woman exiting Liverpool Street station, tapping her on the arm to ask where she was going. 

He attempted to ask her for her social media accounts, which she refused to give. 

He then exclaimed that she was being difficult and requested to touch her. 

She again refused, and Anderson proceeded to sexually assault her before walking off and leaving the station.

Just weeks later on August 29 at Westminster Underground station, Anderson approached a woman asking for directions to Finchley and followed her up the escalator before sexually assaulting her, laughing before turning to head back down the escalator.

On the evening of October 6 Anderson approached a woman on the platform at Purley railway station. 

He asked her for directions to Gatwick Airport and continued to engage her in conversation, asking a slew of personal questions. 

They both boarded the same train and he chose to sit next to her.

He then asked her for her mobile number and email address, to which she declined and said she wasn't interested. 

He then asked what would she do if he tried to kiss her, and she said she would report him to the police. 

Anderson then sexually assaulted her, and while she attempted to get out of her seat he blocked her path. 

She was eventually able to escape and left the train at Redhill station.

British Transport Police (BTP) officers were able to identify Anderson from CCTV stills and he was pointed out by the victims in an identification parade as the man responsible for the series of offences. 

He was arrested during an in person interview at the Passport Office, where he claimed he would be leaving the UK in a matter of weeks.

In the police car on the way to custody, and while under caution, Anderson proceeded to make derogatory comments about the women he targeted before claiming he had not been at the locations of the alleged assaults, despite the CCTV footage proving otherwise.

Detective Constable Libby Wildego said: “Anderson is a dangerous predator who preyed on women for his own sexual gratification. 

“Just as he did throughout the assaults themselves, when we questioned him under caution he smirked throughout and offered no comment, highlighting the sheer lack of remorse for his actions.

"It is thanks to the brave victims who came forward and supported our investigation that we have seen Anderson sentenced for his horrific crimes. 

“Despite his own behaviour in court where he voluntarily left before he received his sentence, I hope this result provides some sense of comfort for the victims.”

Two-Time Sex Assault At Elephant & Castle Underground

A woman was molested in a lift and then again on a tube train carriage during the busy early evening rush hour.

British Transport Police (BTP) have launched an investigation and have released this image of their suspect.

Investigating officers are appealing to members of the public to assist them identify the mystery man.

At approximately 5.20pm on Friday, March 6 a female passenger was standing in a lift at Elephant & Castle Underground Station when she was sexually assaulted.

The same unknown male followed her onto a Northern Line train travelling towards Stockwell and sexually assaulted her again.

Officers would like to speak to the man pictured, as they believe he may have information that could help their investigation.

Anyone who recognises him is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 568 of 6 March.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

What A Plank: Robber Starting Prison Term For Brutal Robbery

A robber, who repeatedly struck his middle-aged victim over the head with a plank of wood – inflicting a broken nose and cuts to the head – has been locked-up.

Jody Cole, 44, struck in the dark near Earl's Court Underground Station at 11.10pm on Tuesday, December 2, 2022, leaving his victim – aged in his fifties – bloodied and unconscious.

At Inner London Crown Court Cole, of Nunhead Lane, Nunhead, south-east London received three years and four months imprisonment.

He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and two counts of assaulting police officers who intervened.

As the victim approached the station from Warwick Road, Cole was approaching on a bicycle. 

He dismounted, ran towards the victim from behind and struck him over the head with a plank of wood.

The victim fell to the floor, and Cole continued to strike him repeatedly across the head and body until the victim fell unconscious.

Cole began to rummage through the victim’s pockets while he was laying on the ground, taking his wallet which contained his bank cards and driving licence.

Cole attempted to flee but two Metropolitan Police officers, who had been alerted to the incident by members of the public, had rushed to the scene to help.

He punched and kicked at both of the officers in the middle of the road and managed to escape the scene after a car run over one of the officer's feet.

The officers immediately administered first aid to the victim, who was bleeding profusely from his head. 

He was taken to hospital with a broken nose and several cuts and wounds across his head.

Later in the evening, at around 11.40pm, Cole attempted to use the stolen cards in a nearby supermarket on the same road.

An urgent investigation was launched and an image of Cole was distributed to multiple police forces in an attempt to identify him. 

A British Transport Police officer recognised Cole having previously interacted with him, and Cole was then arrested.

Detective Constable Richard Rowe said: "I'm very pleased with the outcome in this case. 

“Cole is a depraved individual who brutally assaulted his victim in an unprovoked attack, in full view of other commuters and the public.

"I also want to commend the actions of the two officers from the Metropolitan Police, who put themselves in harm's way while attempting to protect the victim and detain Cole.

"I hope that this sentence provides the victims with a sense of closure, and underscores our commitment to the travelling public that there is absolutely no place for behaviour like this on the railway network."

Accused Fraudster Son Left Mum Suicide Note

UPDATE: FOLLOWING A DEFENCE APPLICATION THE JURY WERE DISCHARGED MID-TRIAL. THE CASE WILL BE BACK IN COURT ON MAY 15 FOR JUDGE'S RULING.

A supermarket worker left his widowed OAP mother a Beachy Head suicide note after she discovered her bank accounts had been emptied of £595,000 in life savings, a court heard.

However, even though officers found his car near the infamous south coast suicide spot Simon Grimes, 44, walked into a police station a few days later.

He confessed to transferring the money from the bank accounts of his mother Linda Grimes, 73, telling police he spent the cash on cocaine, alcohol and gambling, plus the payment of a loan shark debt.

The former Tesco employee, of Kenilworth Road, Petts Wood, Orpington, is now fighting the charges at Croydon Crown Court.

He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud by abuse of position in relation to a Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) account and Nationwide account between May 20, 2016 and June 16, 2022.

Linda investigated with the assistance of her other son, Mark, 48, and the pair visited her local branch.

“I was devastated. I just broke down in Nationwide and cried, not thinking my son could do that to me,” she told the jury today (Monday). 

“I did not give him any permission to do that. He just did it himself and there was never a straight answer.

“I confronted him and he became angry because I think he knew what he did was wrong.

“He said he put the money in an offshore account in Amsterdam to make more money, but it was a lie.”

Grimes had moved into his mother’s Andover Road, Orpington bungalow on the condition he contribute to the utility bills after his marriage collapsed, but the trial heard he took advantage of this to intercept his mother’s post.

“We did find all the letters he kept from me,” said Linda. “In his bedroom there were lots of letters in my name, new bank card and PIN’s.”

A few days after he was exposed Simon left his mother a note on the coffee table.

She told the court it read: ‘I’m sorry for what I’ve done. By the time you read this I will be at Beachy Head and I will be dead.’

“I had to call the police and they did a search of Beach Head. That was not a very good day either,” she added.

“They did a search and a couple of days later he walked into a police station. I then heard he was in a psychiatric hospital and that is the last time I have heard of or seen Simon.”

Earlier, prosecutor Robin Griffiths told the jury: “Over several years Simon Grimes abused the trust of his mother Linda by transferring funds from her RBS and Nationwide accounts into his own bank account.

“Before he plundered her bank accounts she considered herself comfortably well-off, following the death of her husband Malcolm in 2015.

“He was a successful chartered accountant with his own business and owned four other properties and the entire estate passed to his widow.

“Those properties and the accountancy business were sold for substantial sums and the proceeds paid into Linda’s RBS account.”

Eventually Linda also sold the bungalow she had shared with her late husband, banking the proceeds with Nationwide, and moved into a Croydon rental property with Simon, which he claimed was owned by a friend of his.

“By June, 2022 it was all gone and the account was in overdraft,” explained Mr Griffiths. “The RBS account was also in a £6,000 overdraft.

“These accounts were to provide a comfortable existence in her golden years, but now she has a bleak financial outlook with only her pension.”

On July 4, 2022 Linda and older son Mark finally discovered the truth at a West Wickham branch of Nationwide.

“When asked what had happened to the money Simon was angry and defensive, claiming the funds were offshore gaining interest.”

On August 8, 2022 Mark reported his brother to the police and he was finally questioned on June 9, 2023.

“He said since his father had passed away he had a really bad time and was drinking, taking drugs and gambling, going to sleep at 7am and 8am.

“He said his mother allowed him access to her accounts and he fell into a cycle and lost £40,000 of his own money from the sale of his own matrimonial home.”

Grimes also told police a loan shark debt increased from £15,000 to £40,000 and aggressive collectors had been banging on the bungalow’s front door.

“I went to Beachy Head to do myself in, but I didn’t,” said Grimes. “I was doing drugs, cocaine, everyday.”

Linda continued giving evidence from behind a screen “Most of the money had been taken out of the bank without my knowledge. Certain things happened and there was northing in the bank.

“The way to pay the mortgage off was to sell the bungalow and move. I liked it, but there were too many sad memories there.

“The idea was to buy another property, but that did not happen as most of the money had been taken from the bank without my knowledge.

“It was supposed to be hidden away and not touched.”

Via his defence lawyer Grimes has suggested his brother Mark is an “intimidating” individual, describing him as a “money-orientated successful businessman.”

His defence team also produced bank records, which they suggest proves Linda was capable of making online and international money transfers, which she denies.

Trial continues……………