Bogus Landlord's Dozen-Plus Victims: CCTV Released

Police hunting a bogus landlord suspected of ripping-off over a dozen wannabe tenants have released this CCTV image.

It was taken at a bank, where the heartless conman accompanied one of his innocent victims as she withdrew £4,200 to pay him a rental advance.


Police are aware of 12 victims so far, but believe there may be more.



The bogus landlord gave his name as Mustafa Bhatt, but police believe this is a false identity.

He is described as an Asian man in his 30's with short black hair, a short beard and dark framed glasses. 



Detective Inspector Rita Tierney from Islington CID said: "We have spoken to a number of concerned young adults, some from overseas who have been defrauded of their savings by this unscrupulous man and we are keen to identify him as soon as possible.


"If you recognise this man or have any information about the fraud please call 101 quoting 2721069/14 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."



"If you are about to secure a deposit on a flat, please carry out some basic checks before you hand over your money and your identity.

Bank Account Emptied Of £3,000: Two Suspects Wanted

Police hunting two suspects, who used a stolen credit card to drain almost £3,000 from the victim's account, have released this CCTV image.

The 29 year-old victim was using his card in the early hours of April 4 in Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall when it was taken from him.

Later that day the large withdrawal was taken from the victim's bank account.

The stolen card was then used to withdraw money at a cash point in Fore Street, Edmonton and to later buy goods at The Westfield Shopping Centre, Shepherd's Bush.

Detectives on Lambeth Borough would like the public’s help to identify the two men in the CCTV image.

Anyone with any information should contact the CID at Lambeth on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting reference 1210585/15.

'Mary Poppins' Nightmare Nanny Nicked Pensioner's iPhone From Church

St. Mark's Church, Wimbledon

A so-called 'Mary Poppins' nanny - serving nine months for stealing from her employers' £4m Belgravia home - has admitted pinching a pensioner churchgoer's iPhone.

Emma Jane Currie, 45, who is currently locked-up in HMP Bronzefield, Surrey still maintains the lie her ex-employer ripped her off and owes her wages.

She was produced from the prison and appeared in the secure dock at Wimbledon Magistrates Court wearing a pink cardigan and pink and blue floral scarf.

She pleaded guilty to stealing the £300 phone, belonging to 82 year-old Pamela Royle, at St. Mark's Church, St. Mark's Place, Wimbledon on February 4, this year.

In June she was jailed at the Old Bailey for withdrawing £900 cash from the bank card of her employer, 41 year-old Zoe Appleyard-Ley and trying to take another £400.

Her lawyer Mr. Michael Sprack told the court: “The reason for the severe sentence was she stole from her employers and there was animosity. She was owed money by her employer.”

Prosecutor Miss Mary Atere said Currie was arrested as a suspected burglar when squatting in a Wimbledon property on March 20.

When searched at Sutton Police Station Mrs Royal's iPhone was found on her, which the victim had last seen at the church, where Currie was a regular.

"This defendant was there helping out," explained Miss Atere. “The complainant was afraid the person who had the phone would find out where she was.

“There were a lot of homeless people at the church.”

Mr. Sprack said: “My client attended the church on a regular basis and found the phone and took it. There was no hint of confrontation.

“There was no attempt to use the phone.

“My client was of no fixed abode and had been for some time. She was arrested for squatting.

“On the sentence she is serving she has two weeks to serve, but there is a possibility of a custodial sentence in this matter.

“She was working for the person who was the complainant as a nanny/housekeeper.

“There was a dispute and she was owed a large amount of money from that person. The conviction is for taking money from that person.

“Her employer had threatened her with bad references.”

Magistrates adjourned the case until September 11 for a pre-sentence report and chairwoman Mrs Catherine Gibson told Currie: “We're looking at a community order, but we are not making any promises.

“It is in your interests to co-operate. We believe you will benefit from some structure to tour life when you are released from prison.”

Investment banker Mrs Appleyard-Ley - who worked for Rothschild Ventures and Durlacher Ventures - was made to regret hiring Currie via internet site 'Gumtree' to live and work at her Chester Row property.

She told the Old Bailey of her “earth-shattering pain and sense of betrayal” at the hands of Currie.

She only realised something was amiss when Currie did not bring her a cup of tea in bed and then allegedly found her jewellery, laptop and iPad were missing from her home.

The former City high-flyer found her designer handbag containing her bank cards was gone and her car was missing from the drive.

Currie was accused of using her boss's stolen credit card to rack up bills of around £1,000 at several high street stores, including Oliver Bonas, Boots, Superdrug and Monsoon.

The court heard a total of £89,000 worth of stolen property was recovered, but another £81,000, including a Cartier watch, has never been found.

Mrs Appleyard-Ley is separated from her husband Sven Ley - a self-employed art dealer whose family founded fashion label Escada.

She hired Currie in May, 2013 to assist looking after her two children, aged four and six and assist the running of Life Neurological Research Trust, a charity launched in memory of her aunt Baroness Ziki Wharton, who died from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Currie was still driving around in the Mercedes ML350 - bought by the family nine days earlier - when police pulled her over near Gatwick.

After her arrest, Currie told police she took the car as her employer owed her £1,600 in wages, adding that she had worked for three weeks without a day off.

She told the court the figure included 'overtime, working seven day weeks without a break for three weeks and also holiday pay'.

She went on to claim she had consent to drive the Mercedes to the south coast to look for a mobile home to live in after handing in her notice to Mrs Appleyard-Ley on the agreement she would return.

She described the allegation she had stolen jewellery as “preposterous”, adding: “My personal feeling is that this is in the guise of getting a nice insurance claim for the person involved, the employer.”

She claimed: “This whole thing is a bit of a hoax with the jewellery because I've never seen expensive jewellery.”

Giving evidence, Currie also explained she had clothes from the Appleyard-Ley home in the Mercedes because she had been asked to take them to be dry cleaned.

She said that she had bought goods using her employer's credit card in shops such as Oliver Bonas because she had been asked to buy presents for her children's teachers and friends.

Currie made a series of allegations against her boss during the trial, claiming she took cocaine and even had Nazi memorabilia in her home.

Two days after she was pulled over she made a bogus child abuse complaint to social services, accusing Mrs Appleyard-Ley of slapping her son.

The jury had failed to reach verdicts on counts of attempted theft, three of fraud and one of attempted fraud.

Judge Mark Lucraft said: “Emma-Jane Currie you were employed by Mrs Appleyard-Ley following a posting on Gumtree.

“She met you, interviewed you and took you on as a live-in nanny, for home help and to help run her charity.

“You started working for her on 20 May and worked for her and her family through to mid-June.”

He added: “On Monday, 17 June, you left the Appleyard-Ley home that morning before Mrs Appleyard-Ley was up.

“You took and used a bank card, you checked the balance and you then withdrew £900 cash and attempted to take £200 from the same cashpoint and when that didn't work you tried another cashpoint.

“When Mrs Appleyard-Ley realised her car and belongings were gone she called the phone number for you but you didn't respond.

“You were arrested the following day at about midday near Gatwick Airport.

“It is unclear where you went from the time of leaving London and your arrest.

“In that period of time £500 of the £900 you took had gone, your account as to what you did in that period of time simply doesn't stack up.

“In this trial you sought to distract the jury by making very serious allegations about Mrs Appleyard-Ley, that she drank to excess and was taking drugs.

“You also said she had lied about your actions to make a false insurance claim and made allegations of her abusing her children.

“That last allegation led to the involvement of social services who concluded that it was without foundation and malicious.

“Social services said you failed to assist them in the investigation.

“You also sought to implicate the police by claiming they took the missing £500 cash when you were detained.

“Mrs Appleyard-Ley spoke powerfully about the impact not only of the theft but the trial process and the impact of the false allegations about her personal conduct.

“The impact of this will be long lasting on her, particularly that she had placed a high degree of trust for you to live in her home and care for her children.'

The judge continued: “This was theft was committed in breach of a high degree of trust, it's difficult to think of a higher degree of trust.

“You were employed by Mrs Appleyard-Ley in trust of her children, home and some finances.

“In light of the nature of the breach of trust, the way suspicion was thrown on others and the way you sought to argue this case it is not appropriate to suspend the sentence.”

Currie was also handed a restraining order not to contact the victim or any of her close family members.

Drug User Misses Mum's Funeral To Answer Court Charge

A drug-user, caught by police in the middle of the night high on 'speed', had to skip his mother's funeral in his native Aberdeenshire yesterday to appear in court, where he admitted the offence.

Jobless Iain Liddle Hay, 51, of Nether Davah Court, Inverurie was seen by police emerging from trees on Wandsworth Common, south-west London at 4.15am and stopped and searched.

He pleaded guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates Court to possessing three small bags of amphetamine on July 30 and was conditionally discharged for eighteen months and ordered to pay a £180 court charge and £15 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Miss Mary Atere told the court: “He was seen rolling a bag and walking out of a wooded area and it was clear he was under the influence of drugs.

“Officers found four plastic snap bags containing white crystals and three of them were confirmed to be amphetamine at a quantity consistent with personal use.

“Because of his condition Mr. Hay could not be interviewed.”

The court was told the defendant has three police cautions for drug offences and one previous fine for possessing amphetamine.

Hay told the court: “My mother died last week and her funeral was today. Unfortunately I could not go because of this court case.

“I've pleaded guilty, I had the drugs on me. I am not an addict although I do use drugs recreationally.

“I have not taken any illegal substances since. I've given them up completely.

“I am in a trough in my personal life, I'm looking for work and have no income and I have had some mental health issues.”

Hay has been out of work for two years. “I've been living on savings, on my redundancy and a friend has been putting me up.

“I have not signed-on and I am relying on the charity of friends.”

Bench Chairwoman Mrs Catherine Gibson told a tearful Hay: “We have heard your remorse and that you are taking steps to redress your problems.”

Rogue Estate Agent Who Ripped-Off Tenants, Staff And Landlords Finally Locked-Up

A rogue estate agent, who fled the country after stealing over £48,000 in tenants' deposits, was jailed for twenty months yesterday.

Manish Manek, 54, who also ripped-off landlords, his own staff and other creditors, only returned when he thought a bankruptcy petition had wiped the slate clean.

“These offences were committed repeatedly and you consciously decided to use other people's money and caused a lot of misery,” Judge Michael Hunter told him at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

One widow, who entrusted Manek with her rental portfolio had to repay tenants £14,000 out of her own pocket and another landlord complained of “anxiety” and “sleepless nights.”

Manek, of Springfield House, Mill Lane, Taplow, Maidenhead pleaded guilty to seventeen counts of theft, totalling £48,716.

He is now claiming Jobseekers Allowance and renting a room in a shared house.

Prosecutor Miss Amanda Bostock told the court three members of his own staff at Kingston’s 'Je Je Barons' reported him to police on October 16, 2012.

“Staff had received calls from tenants that their deposits had not been registered with the Deposit Protection Scheme.

“They had been paid straight into the defendant's personal bank account.”

He told staff he was going into hospital to have a tumour removed form his liver, but in reality sold up his house and fled with his wife and young daughter to India.

He left behind staff and creditors, who were owed £18,500.

Manek was arrested at Heathrow Airport when he returned to the UK on September 24, last year.

None of the stolen money has been recovered and Manek is now subject to a Proceeds of Crime Act investigation.

His lawyer Mr. Russell Fraser told the court the economic downturn of 2008 was the start of Manek's troubles.

“He moved the money around to pay rent and wages and was stealing from Peter to pay Paul.”

Manek's wife, who works for Kingston council, was supporting him in court.

“This is a bad example of breach of trust,” Judge Hunter told the first-time offender. “You were entrusted to hold other people's money in a professional capacity and you stole that money.

“I would be failing in my duty to protect the public by not passing an immediate custodial sentence today.”

Detective Constable Paul Lawlor, from Kingston CID, said: “Manek stole from the very people who were paying him to manage their properties and keep his business running.

“He blamed his criminal activities on his huge debt, his ill health and the health of family members.

“Regardless what his personal circumstance may have been, it does not justify resorting to criminal activities thinking it is an easy route out.

“Because of his actions, Manek is not only serving a custodial sentence in jail but has also lost the reputation he once had within his community.”

Perverting The Course Of Justice: Man In Court

A St. Neots man, accused of perverting the course of justice by sending two letters, which attempted to persuade the recipient not to co-operate with a prosecution, appeared in court yesterday.

Michael James McAllister, 47, of Lees Lane, Southoe was bailed by Hendon Magistrates Court in north-west London.

He is charged with committing the offence between February 20 and March 6, with intent to dissuade VIW from assisting with a prosecution.

No details of the allegation were revealed and magistrates immediately sent the case to Harrow Crown Court, where McAllister will appear for a preliminary hearing on September 18.

He was bailed on condition he does not contact a Stuart Wells and resides at his recorded address.

Bus Ticket Inspector Attacked: CCTV Released

Police are hunting this bus passenger, who attacked a ticket inspector when asked to prove he had paid his fare.

Officers from the Roads and Transport Policing Command are investigating and have released this CCTV image.

The Revenue Protection Inspector, 32, was checking fares on a 207 bus in Uxbridge Road, Hanwell at 12.20pm on January 7.

The inspector was grabbed by the Somalian suspected fare-dodger and several punches were aimed at him.

He sustained scratches to his arm and soreness to his face and did not require hospital treatment.

The suspect is described as a about 5ft 8ins aged between 35 to 40 years-old, of very slim build and wearing a denim jacket.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Gavin Staplehurst on 020 3054 4457 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting ref: 169298.

Foul-Mothed Bus Passenger: CCTV Image Released

Police have released this CCTV image of a foul-mouthed bus passenger, who abused the driver in east London.

The suspect boarded the 372 bus in Bridge Road, Rainham – which was travelling between Hornchurch and Lakeside - at 2.45pm on May 4.

He quickly became abusive and threatened the 38 year-old male driver.

The suspect is described as a white man, slim and aged about 60 years-old with dark grey short hair, round glasses and wearing workman style clothing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Constable Bevely Clapp, from the Roads and Transport Policing Command, on 07825 386 484 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting ref: 178821.

Chelsea Pensioner Who Took "Sexual Advantage" Of Drunken Woman Four Decades His Junior Jailed

In Scarlet Uniform: Teegan

A Chelsea Pensioner has been jailed for twelve months and kicked out of the prestigious Royal Hospital after sexually assaulting a drunken woman - four decades his junior - in his private berth.

Patrick Noel Teegan, 72, played a key role in last year's closing ceremony of the Chelsea Flower Show and was wearing his trademark ceremonial scarlet uniform when he met the 29 year-old fund-raising executive in the hospital's club.

He flouted the hospital's strict rules concerning female guests in resident's rooms when he took her back and rubbed himself against the naked victim as she lay in his bed.

"He has lost his prestigious position as a Chelsea Pensioner. A position he thought he would benefit from for the rest of his life with all the care provisions that involves," said Mis Emma Goodall, defending.

"To have that security removed at his age has had a considerable punitive impact. He's found himself suffering considerable repetitional damage…..causing him considerable shame."  

The decorated former Warrant Officer, who joined the Army in Belfast in 1962 and served all over the world, was convicted by the Isleworth Crown Court jury of sexually assaulting the woman in the early hours of May 24, last year.

She had already consumed two glasses of champagne that day and says she blacked-out after Teegan bought her a couple of glasses of white wine.

In Nick: Patrick Teegan

The court heard the next thing she remembers is waking up naked in Irishman Teegan's bed with the stripped defendant grinding against her.

"I felt very drunk and being in the club is my last memory," she explained.

"He had his arm around my waist and he was naked as well lying behind me," she told police. "I was shocked I didn't know where I was or who I was with."

She told the court semi-aroused Teegan - known as 'Paddy' - was rubbing his groin against her buttocks and invited her to remain until the morning, describing her as: "Wonderful."

"I just thought: 'What the hell is happening?'"

In return for £175 a week residents at the 320 year-old Sir Christopher Wren-designed hospital, who must be Army veterans over 65 years-old, receive a private berth within the seventeenth century Grade 1 listed building, plus three meals a day and enjoy an active ceremonial and social life.

Recorder Jonathan Davies said: "She was somebody who wilfully drunk and the defendant acted in an opportunistic way rather than setting out to get her to drink to do what he did.

"She had no memory of what happened. She was seen outside not being able to walk straight. The defendant tried to blame her every step of the way.

"You took sexual advantage of her when she was in no position to prevent sexual activity with you. This offence clearly crosses the custody threshold.

"The impact on her was significant. She could not work, lost her confidence, became reclusive and lost contact with her family and friends."

Hours before the assault Teegan, who was a Ministry of Defence civil servant for a decade after his Army service, took part in the traditional bell-ringing ceremony, which closes the annual flower show.

The father-of-two spent the rest of the evening drinking in the Chelsea Pensioners Club, where he met the woman. 

"She was smiling and I said: 'Hello, would you like a drink?' I could see she was getting merry and her voice did get loud.

"She was not straight, you could tell she'd had a drink," he told the court.

"I took her out of the club because the barmaid suggested it and she said she was tired, needed a rest and did not want to go home.

"She said: 'Can I come to your room and have a rest?' I said: 'Yes, you can come to my berth and have a rest.'

"I knew I was doing wrong by letting her into my berth, that was breaking hospital rules, the no female rule.

"She started taking her clothes off and got into bed and she said: 'Come to bed.' I got into bed, wearing just my underpants. I wanted to have a rest.

"She took my right hand and placed it on her stomach, but I took my hand away. I think she wanted to initiate more, perhaps sex."

Teegan told the court she then threw up over herself. "I told her: 'I think it's time you went.'"

He walked her to the night bus, which she caught after 3am, but was seen by the police six days later.

Describing how it felt to be arrested Teegan said: "I went into shock," adding that it was "horrible" being on trial.

The woman asked her mother to take her to a psychiatric hospital the next day, fearing she would harm herself otherwise.

Teegan will also have to sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

Wanted: Former Stella McCartney Personal Shopper Accused Of Cutting-Up Ex-Boyfriend's £20K Designer Wardrobe

A former personal shopper employed by Stella McCartney is on the run from police on a charge of cutting-up £20,000 worth of her ex-boyfriend's designer clothes at his Chelsea apartment.

Lucia Hajnikova, 28, who worked with the designer's VIP clients, is accused of taking a pair of scissors to Ege Akcasoy's wardrobe, but failed to appear at Hammersmith Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Hajnikova, who gave her address as The Wapping Project - Bankside Limited at 65a Hopton Street, Southwark - where she is employed as a gallery assistant - is also alleged to have smashed a window at her ex's £725,000 property.

She is charged that on July 22 at the flat in Bolton Lodge, Gilston Road, she destroyed clothing and other property, worth £20,000, belonging to Mr. Akcasoy.

Last week Hajnikova appeared in court for the second time on the charge and informally indicated she would be prepared to plead guilty to the offence, based on a valuation of £10,000.

However, at that time Mr. Akcasoy was insisting £30,000 worth of damage was caused and the case was adjourned and the compromise valuation reached.

Yesterday magistrates issued a warrant without bail after hearing no explanation for Hajnikova's non-attendance and a member of staff said at the end of the day: "The warrant will be circulated tonight." 

Hajnikova, who has a Master's Degree in Fine and Studio Arts from Chelsea College of Art and Design, also previously worked as a designer/creative director for fashion label Pandora In Case, as a showroom assistant for designer Gareth Pugh and as a studio assistant for Burberry.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Doolan told the court: "The victim says the broken glass amounts to seven hundred and fifty pounds, plus damage to a wardrobe, a dinner jacket, tuxedo, winter coats, suits and shirts and ties."

Hajnikova's lawyer Miss Temi Johnson said: "She is said to have cut up a number of suits and a dress. They were designer suits, but they were four to six years old."

'Revenge Porn' Accused Denied Posting Pics Of Ex On Facebook

A man accused of publishing sexually explicit images of his ex-girlfriend on facebook six months after they split-up has appeared in court.

Michael Howard-Harrington, 30, of Kingshill Avenue, Hayes, Hillingdon took the pictures on his phone while they were dating.

He was bailed by Uxbridge Magistrates Court to appear at Isleworth Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on September 9.

Howard-Harrington is charged with one count of disclosing private sexual photographs, with intent to cause distress, and without consent on or about April 13.

Prosecutor Miss Jane Ndedi told the court the couple were in a relationship between july and October last year and during that time the complainant allowed the defendant to take intimate images of her in sexually compromising situations.

They separated and she asked him to delete the images from his phone and he assured her he had done so.

Without reason he posted nine images on his facebook account and added a message.

The court heard the images are very intimate and show the complainant's face, breasts, vagina, and in one she is lying naked while smoking a cigarette.


When Howard-Harrington was arrested his computer and phone were seized by police, but he denied offence, claiming his computer had been hacked. 

Pensioner Attacked Two Neighbours With Hosepipe

A pensioner, who attacked two neighbours with the metal end of a hosepipe and dowsed them with water, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Geoffrey Fussey, 84, of Byron Road, Wembley struck out several times, inflicting lacerations.

He pleaded guilty at Harrow Crown Court to assaulting Marcin Ktosowski, inflicting actual bodily harm, and assaulting Waldemar Glazer outside his home address on July 16, last year.

When Fussey first appeared at Hendon Magistrates Court he shook his head as the prosecution outlined the case against him, which they say left an eight year-old witness “traumatised.”

On that occasion he firmly vowed to fight the case and indicated not guilty pleas.

Recently widowed Fussey was sentenced to fifteen weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge.

'Revenge Porn' Ex's Court Date

A jilted boyfriend published 'revenge porn' photos of his ex on a special Facebook account he created and invited her friends to view.

William Nelson, 52, of Montacute Road, Catford, pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates Court to disclosing private sexual photographs, with intent to cause distress and without the consent of his former girlfriend on June 8.

He was due to be sentenced today, but was in Africa visiting his ill mother and will return to court on September 24.

Prosecutor Miss Jackie Hughes said: "The victim was in a relationship with Nelson for a year and it ended on June the third and on June the eighth she spoke to him on the phone, telling him she did not want to see him anymore and he became angry.

"She received information from friends in her native Hungary that they had received friend requests from a Facebook account that had naked photographs of her.

"The facebook account was under an assumed name and included approximately thirty naked photographs of her that was sexual in nature.

"She identified them as pictures she had taken with the defendant and suspected he was behind the account.

"He created a fake site and uploaded images of them having sex.

"She phoned Nelson the next day and he told her he had taken them off, but her friends said they were still there so she told the defendant she would go to the police."

Nelson sent out approximately sixty friend requests to attract people who knew his ex to the site, with the message: "Anyone know who ***** is? She's been having sex with black and Arab men."

Passage To India: Bus Sex Predator Ordered Back Home

A paedophile, who targeted a 15 year-old schoolgirl on an early-morning bus as she travelled to school, has been locked-up for fifteen months.

Harvinder Singh, 24, of Minterne Avenue, Southall initially groped the girl then forced her to perform sex acts.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for ten years and was ordered to be deported to his native India upon release.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to sexual assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent on the route 120 bus on February 11.

As the bus travelled between Hounslow and Southall Singh sat next to the schoolgirl and began to touch her before forcibly making her commit acts of a sexual nature.

The victim managed to press the 'stop' button and got away from Singh.

She left the bus but Singh also got off and followed her as far as her school where she was able to report the incident.

Police attended the victim and secured vital DNA evidence.

Singh was identified through on-bus CCTV and arrested the following day.

Singh gave a no comment interview, but was charged with sexual assault and remanded in custody where he remained until his trial.

Detective Superintendent Adnan Qureshi of the Metropolitan Police's Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: "This was an excellent result, which has seen the perpetrator of an appalling crime receive a lengthy time in jail and deportation on release.

"If you commit an offence on the transport network, we will pursue and arrest you."

Steve Burton, TfL's Director of Enforcement and On-Street Operations, said: "We take crimes of this nature incredibly seriously.

“Thanks to the bravery of this victim in reporting this terrible offence the MPS were able to track down and subsequently help convict this predatory criminal.

“We will continue to work closely with our policing partners to rid our transport network of this kind of behaviour.

Care Worker Repeatedly Slapped Dementia Resident

A care worker repeatedly slapped a resident who had dementia across the face after he spilt a cup of tea on the floor and was assisted by another member of staff in trying to cover-up the assault by begging a 'shocked' visitor not to call the police.

Afua Donkor, 48, was employed at White Farm Lodge Care Home, Vicarage Road, Whitton, where she was seen striking the elderly male resident - who has since died - three times.

She was sentenced at Wimbledon Magistrates Court today to a twelve-month community order, which includes 110 hours community service work, and must pay £310 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Donkor, of Danesbury Road, Feltham was convicted of assaulting Mr. Patrick Austin at the care home on February 5.

Prosecutor Miss Amanda McCabe told the court: "The victim was particularly vulnerable and this was a sustained assault with three slaps in an aggressive way.

"She said: 'Don't tell anyone. Don't call the police'."

During the trial eye-witness Lynne Collyer, who was visiting her mother, told the court she was "in shock" as a result of the dining-room incident.

"I saw Afua hit Patrick. She slapped him in the face and shook him. I remember he had quite a bright green jumper on and I remember her shaking the jumper.

"It was with a flat hand and not really hard, but controlled softer slaps, definitely slaps to his face.

"There was absolutely no indication of any aggression from Patrick."

The witness said another care home worker, who she knew as Julia, also begged her not to report the offence. "The nurses were pleading with me not to say anything to anyone.

"Afua, who was sat in the corner of an office, was crying and saying: 'Not the police, not the police'."

The court heard Mr. Austin had earlier become agitated and threw a cup of tea onto the floor, which Donkor had to clean up.

She later told police the resident had punched her first and she only held his wrists to prevent him hitting her again.

Donkor told the court: "Once he punched me I knew he was going to punch again. I know Patrick is very aggressive so I held him and shouted: 'Help, help'

"Even when I held him he tried to kick me and then I heard: 'Afua, I have seen you hitting Patrick' and that was Lynne Collyer."

The first-time offender, who had been employed for sixteen months, was sacked.

Care UK, which runs the home, said: "Following these allegations being made against a member of our team we immediately suspended the carer in question and notified the relevant external authorities, who we have fully co-operated with during their investigations."

NOT GUILTY: Solicitor Wrongly Accused Of Breaking Restraining Order

A solicitor, accused of flouting a restraining order by phoning his ex-wife's house on his twelve year-old son's birthday, has been cleared.

Jonathan Frederick Woodroffe, 49, of Great Austins, Farnham, Surrey, who is employed by Fulham's Excelsior Solicitors, was found not guilty after the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence.

He appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court after pleading not guilty earlier this year to one count of harassment by leaving a voicemail on his ex's landline on November 17, last year, breaching a restraining order imposed at Richmond Magistrates Court on June 17, 2011.

The order was made after he was convicted of assaulting his ex-wife.

It is believed she failed to appear in court last week to give evidence in the trial.

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal also took their own steps and reprimanded Woodroffe for being convicted of assault in non-professional domestic setting and ordered him to pay them £2,226 costs.

GUILTY: Blackmailer Who Threatened Female Bank Worker

A sinister blackmailer, who tried to intimidate a female bank cashier into paying him £15,000 by threatening to report her to the police for stealing from her employer, has been convicted.

Initially posing as a detective and then a bank supervisor 23 year-old Iqbal Miah, of Hamlet Road, Southend-on-Sea called the woman's personal mobile phone while she was working at a branch of Santander.

He was found guilty at Harrow Crown Court of blackmailing Melinna Yanni at the Kilburn High Road, Kilburn branch on September 24, last year and will be sentenced on September 11.

Prosecutor Mr. David Ryan told the jury the blackmail calls were traced by police to Miah's phone and had been made near his address at the time in nearby Mortimer Crescent.

“Two days before the demand for money Miss Yanni received a call from an unknown number and the caller spoke with an Asian or African accent saying he was a police officer from Holborn Police Station.

“He asked her if she worked in the Kilburn branch of Santander and still lived in Elephant and Castle.

“Two days later, just before 9am, she received another call from this unknown number claiming to be from the bank's regional manager, accusing her and a colleague of stealing fifteen thousand pounds.

“The caller said this is how they were able to buy two new Audi cars,” explained Mr. Ryan. “He was aware Miss Yanni did not have money, but was now in credit.

“She said her mother had transferred twenty thousand pounds into her account in August.”

The mystery caller became angry and the call ended, but later in the day the employee received another call.

“There was a demand that Miss Yanni give him fifteen thousand pounds within forty-eight hours or he would report her to the police and she could go to jail for a couple of years.

“She handed the phone to her manager, who told the caller to contact the fraud team and stop harassing Miss Yanni.”

Miah was arrested in November and replied “no comment” to all police questions.

NOT GUILTY: Three Men Cleared Of Sex Abuse Charges

L to R: McNally, Stone & Titcomb

Three men accused of preying on a schoolgirl over three decades ago were cleared by a jury of all charges yesterday.

They are: Michael McNally, 72, of Hughenden Road, Hastings.

George Stone, 68, of Halton Terrace, Hastings.

Gary Titcomb, 61, of Woodland Road, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.

All three had pleaded not guilty at Harrow Crown Court to two counts each of indecently assaulting the girl on dates between August 7, 1976 and August 7, 1983.

When they were arrested all three denied abusing the girl, with Stone saying the furthest anything got was the youngster flashing her breasts at him in return for money.

Prosecutor Mr. George Heimler told the jury Titcomb was responsible for the initial abuse of the girl, who lived at two different addresses in Harrow during the period of the charges.

"He called her into the bedroom and he was in bed naked and instructed her to get into bed. Fearing she would be punished again, she got in."

The jury were told Titcomb thrust himself between her thighs and ordered her to rock back and forwards, saying: "That's nice. Faster, faster."

The complainant, now aged 44 years-old, first reported the allegations to police late last year and gave a video interview to officers, recalling the incidents with Titcomb.

"I must have been five or six years-old and I can remember it happened twice. If it happened more I don't know, I have blacked it out.

"When I was twenty years-old I had a panic attack and thought I was having a heart attack.

"The last few years the feelings have come back, I hate myself. That's why I have to report it, I hate the feeling, it cost me my childhood."

She added that Titcomb was also physically abusive. "He use'd to hit me with a belt."

Mr. Heimler told the court McNally started abusing the girl a few years later. "He started to touch her when she was ten or eleven years-old.

"He would go into her room and put his hand under the duvet and under her knickers and touch her and she pretended to be asleep.

"It happened on countless occasions and when eventually confronted his response was to savagely beat her."

The complainant said of McNally. "He touched my boob while play fighting and I always thought it was an accident, but then he started a week later coming into my bedroom.

"He put his hand under the covers and under my knickers."

She said McNally's friend Stone also groped her. "He would buy alcohol and sweets and things and grab my boobs and put his fingers inside me and give me money."

Mr. Heimler added: "Stone got use'd to putting his hand under her clothes and fondling her. This happened two or three times.

"According to the complainant he apologised to her for what he had done."