Reverse-Baseball Cap Suspect Hunted By Police

Police hunting a London Underground sex pest, who followed a 19 year-old girl on an escalator before molesting her on the platform, have released this image of their suspect.

British Transport Police would like to identify him after the complaint of sexual assault at Bounds Green Underground station, north London.

On October 10 at around 10.30pm, the suspect followed the woman onto the escalator and tried to engage her in conversation.

After moving away onto the platform, the man cornered the woman and sexually assaulted her.

Thankfully, the woman was able to board the next Piccadilly Line train and lose sight of the man.

Officers believe the man in the CCTV images may have information which could help their investigation.

If you recognise him or have any information please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 719 of 10/10/19.

Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

VIP Party Drug Supplier Jailed For Raping Drunken Woman

A former West End socialite, who recorded himself raping an unconscious woman at a £30m mansion, has been caged for eight years.

Alex King, 43, who supplied drugs and hookers to the VIP party scene, was incriminated by the recording he made twelve years ago.

He pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to raping the woman at 32 Portland Place, Marylebone on July 27, 2007.

The victim met King outside a nightclub that evening and accepted his invitation to a party, where they had consensual sex.

One of King’s friend’s filmed him having sex with the drunken woman, who can be heard saying: “Stop it,” on noticing the recording.

A second recording, made by King himself at approximately 6am, clearly showed him having sex with the unconscious woman.

She did not move, open her eyes or make any noises during intercourse.

She was fully clothed, save her underwear and her glasses were perched on her forehead.

The recording was deleted by King, but using specialist software his girlfriend recovered it and handed the evidence over to police.

The victim was “horrified” when shown the footage, suggesting she may have been drugged by the group of well-spoken, friendly men, who claimed to be gay when she met them.

At the time she felt unable to face a court case and called off her wedding, but fortunately her and her fiancé reunited and have been married for a decade. 

A second count of attempted rape at the 24-bedroom Grade II listed Edwardian property near BBC HQ, was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. 

The address, currently registered to offshore company, is the new venue for sex parties hosted by disgraced fraudster ‘Lord’ Eddie Davenport, 53. 

King, currently serving eleven years imprisonment, has been described as Davenport’s former press agent.

Judge Deborah Taylor, the Recorder of Westminster told King: “What is clear from the footage you, yourself filmed on the camera is that you had vaginal sex with her when she was unconscious, she doesn’t move during the sexual intercourse.

“There is no doubt you took advantage of a young woman who drank too much and you didn’t care about what you did, but were callous and filmed that rape.” 

He is already a convicted sex offender, who failed to sign the sex offenders’ register after being convicted fifteen years ago of having child pornography on his phone.

King went on the run after drugs police raided his home and arrested him on June 29, 2016, while sharing a bed with his wife.  

He was sentenced to eleven years for drug dealing last January while on the run, but was finally caught last June in Marylebone.

The drugs included cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine.

He was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs; one charge of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and one count of conspiracy to supply Class C drugs.

During the police raid officers seized a block of 90% pure cocaine, MDMA powder, ecstasy pills bearing the Just East logo, crack cocaine, ketamine and diazepam.

Estimated to have a street value of £60,000, the drugs were stored in safe.

He will begin serving this eight-year sentence once he has completed half of his current one.

King has been involved in several bizarre incidents, including sparking a Salisbury-style major incident similar to the Novichok poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

He had made the false claim in September, last year that he was poisoned in a branch of Prezzo, while dining with wife Anna. 

The month before King and his wife were rescued by the RNLI after running out of fuel in their boat off the Welsh coast.

His friend Davenport was jailed for seven years and eight months for a multi-million pound fraud, but following his early release from prison due to ill-health is back on the party scene.

These events are held at 32 Portland Place, across the road from ‘Fast Eddie’s’ former party HQ at number 33. 

Fraudster Posed As Dead Woman's Daughter In £14,000 Swindle

A fraudster posed as the daughter of a deceased elderly friend and cremated the older lady behind her family’s back during a £14,000 fraud, a court heard yesterday.

Figen Akin, 45, pretended she was Iris Waite’s natural-born daughter at Kensington and Chelsea Registry Office to get her hands on the death certificate.

The divorced mother-of-six, of Dhonau House, Longfield Estate, Bermondsey then used the document to cash out the pensioner’s £10,000 life insurance policies and empty £4,000 from her two bank accounts.

She fought the case, but the Inner London Crown Court jury rejected her evidence that the late Mrs Waite saw her as a daughter and had fallen out with her own family.

Akin was convicted of wilfully making a false declaration at the registry office on August 9, 2016 and two counts of fraud by false representation regarding the insurance policies between August 4, 2016 and January 20, 2017.

She was also found guilty of two counts of theft relating to the bank accounts she emptied. No money was recovered and it is unlikely Akin will face confiscation proceedings due to lack of assets.

“Clearly the money that did belong to the deceased is all gone,” said Recorder Timothy Clark QC. “The aggravating feature is the victim was deceased and there was an act of perjury to the registrar.”

He sentenced Akin to two years imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, plus twenty days of a probation-ordered activity requirement.

Akin befriended Mrs Waite in 2015 after receiving a psychic reading from her daughter Kim and became an unofficial carer with access to her PIN and bank cards.

“I’ve always known her as ‘mum’ and I was the named ‘next of kin’ with her GP and hospital,” Akin told the trial. 

“I was getting the same that mum was getting out of it, companionship. We would sit there for hours talking, it was fantastic.

“I did not even know she had life insurance until she passed away and did not know how I’d afford to get her cremated.

“She said she didn’t want any of her family to get anything, nothing. She had no one that cared, only me.

“No one visited or called her, even near the end. I loved her like a mum.”

Mrs Waite lived in sheltered accommodation in Earl’s Court and Akin said she would clean and take her shopping. “I would take night buses across London to look after her.” 

Akin told the jury there was a huge falling out with daughter Kim when Mrs Waite was hospitalised with heart problems. “Kim told me she had an argument with mum and was swearing and shouting at me.

“She was screaming: ‘I’ve had enough. You have to choose. Me or mum’. I said I would not leave a sick woman in hospital and Kim said: ‘I don’t care if she dies. I don’t want to know. Don’t contact me.’

“I was there every day, even if I was ill.”

Recorder Clark told Akin: “You became a friend and then a carer of Mrs Waite, but did not identify her at that time as a victim you intended to defraud upon her death, which you eventually did.

“She had a difficult relationship with her daughters and did have a will that others, other than you, would be the beneficiaries of upon her death.

“I reject that money you withdrew was with her permission and once you started withdrawing money, which you thought of as wages, it just became too attractive to you.

“There was a large amount taken out of her bank the day before she died and that must have been by you.

“When she died you took very little time representing to others you were her daughter and next of kin and the beneficiary of her two life insurance policies.

“You represented to the registrar that you were her natural-born daughter and I have listened to recordings of you talking to the Halifax bank and you confidently represented yourself as her daughter without pause.

“You obtained the death certificate by representing you were her daughter and next-of-kin and you lied through your teeth that you had no way of contacting her children even though you had a number for one of them.”

Close family associate Victor Wood, the executor of Mrs Waite’s will, said in a victim impact statement it was particularly hurtful to the family they were excluded from the funeral and prohibited from paying their last respects.

“Akin just saw her as a way of making money and in a calculated way took advantage of an older woman,” he added.

Akin’s lawyer Ibrahim Hussein said: “She has never been in trouble before and this is an isolated matter. Out of compassion she provided support and regarded her as her own mother.

“The lady did refer to her as her daughter, but the defendant accepts she should not have presented herself as her daughter.” 

Suspect On The Run

Police are hunting this young Greenwich man, wanted for driving and burglary offences.

Police are appealing for the public’s assistance to trace Luke Cheal, 21, of no fixed abode is sought in connection with multiple offences.

They include driving offences on Boxing Day, December 26, last year in Woolwich, south-east London.

Cheal is also wanted for dangerous driving and failing to stop for police on February 1, this year in Woolwich.
He is also a suspect in an aggravated burglary on June 10 at an address in Abbey Wood, south-east London.

Cheal is also wanted on recall to prison for breach of bail conditions.

Members of the public are advised not to approach Cheal, but to call 999 for an immediate sighting, or 101 and quote CAD3172/8Nov with information about his whereabouts.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Flying Squad ID Mayfair Smash-And-Grab Car

Flying Squad detectives are investigating an armed Mayfair smash-and-grab, which saw over £110,000 worth of designer goods snatched from a boutique. 

Police were called to Celine in Mount Street, at around 2.00am on Wednesday, October 30, after a silver S-Type Jaguar rammed the front door to gain access.

The occupants, four men, threatened two security workers with a knife and a shotgun before they went in and stole the designer goods before fleeing.

ANPR work has identified the vehicle travelling towards the scene from Finchley Road, while it was activated afterwards at around 2.09am, travelling north towards St. John's Wood Road and Park Road.

Detectives are releasing an image of the suspect vehicle as part of their investigation. 

It was displaying the number plate AP57 AVO and will have sustained damage to the front of the vehicle.

Officers ask anyone who may have seen the suspect vehicle before, or after the incident, to contact them. 

They also keen to hear from anyone who may have since seen it.

Detective Constable Kevin Parley, of the Flying Squad, said: “This was an abhorrent crime that involved a group of men, armed with weapons, threatening serious violence to two unarmed security staff before stealing goods that they had no right at all to take. 

“If you have any information about the vehicle in this image, no matter how insignificant it may seem, I urge you to contact us.

“Additionally, I am asking for anyone who works in the fashion industry who may have been offered a number of Celine designer goods for sale, but is unable to account properly for where they have come from, to also contact police.”

If you have information that could assist police, please call the Flying Squad on 020 8785 8655, or call 101/ tweet @MetCC reference Cad 532/30Oct19.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestopperson 0800 555 111.

Uber Driver Denies Ripping-Off Vulnerable Blind Passenger

An Uber driver took advantage of a blind female passenger by using her phone to give himself a £20 tip and a five-star rating, a court heard yesterday.

Romanian-born Cornel Mihai, 31, allegedly tricked the vulnerable woman into handing over the phone by claiming his own device was not working.

Mihai, of Thorpe Road, Barking denies giving himself the unauthorised tip and rating, claiming he only handled the phone briefly to plug it into a charger.

Prosecutor Julie Idowu told Wimbledon Magistrates Court: “The Crown put this case as deliberate targeting of a vulnerable victim.

“The defendant had been an Uber driver on that day and the complainant, who is registered blind, uses Uber to get around London.

“The defendant collected her and he asked her about her blindness, which has been from birth, throughout the journey and she said she did not want to talk about it anymore.

“He said he could not use his device and asked to use her phone to complete the journey.

“In that forty-five seconds he paid himself the fare, a twenty pounds tip she did not authorise and a five-star rating.”

Mihai pleaded not guilty to fraud by false representation, intending to make a gain, on June 26 in Glenthorne Avenue, Addiscombe, Croydon.

He was bailed to return to the same court for trial on February 21, next year.

Award-Winning Gardener Guilty Of Flicking Chair At Housing Official

An award-winning gardener, embroiled in a bitter feud with his downstairs neighbour, has been convicted of assaulting a housing association official, who was struck by an outside chair.

Retired employment agency boss Michael Oram, 74, fought the charge at yet another appearance before Wimbledon Magistrates Court.

He contested the case, but was found guilty of assaulting Jenna Gould in the garden of his home in The Barons, St. Margaret's, Twickenham on June 12 after an all-day trial.

Twice-married Oram, whose gardening skills at the property has secured him Richmond-upon-Thames's 'Borough In Bloom' silver prize is currently subject to a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order prohibiting contact with his neighbours.

The trial viewed CCTV footage taken at the property, which showed Oram flicking the garden chair towards Ms Gould, an official of Richmond Housing.

A nearby garden table only remained upright during the row because an umbrella held it in place.

Oram was fined £60, with £60 costs and was ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge. 

Premier League Star Accused Of Fleeing Cafe Crash

Ibe: Bee Back For Trial Next Year

Premier League star Jordon Ibe demolished the front of a coffee shop after crashing into it in the early hours of the morning, a court heard yesterday.

The 24 year-old AFC Bournemouth winger pleaded not guilty to failing to stop after his £133,000 Bentley 4x4 crashed into The Pantry coffee shop in south-east London.

Ibe, who lives in a £1.1m six-bedroom detached house in Haven Road, Poole, Dorset, appeared at Bromley Magistrates Court. 

He pleaded not guilty to failing failing to stop after an accident in Plaistow Lane, Bromley on July 30, which also involved a parked black Mercedes-Benz.

Prosecutor Mr. George Crivelli told the court Ibe waited at the 4.50am scene of destruction only four minutes before reversing his white 4-litre Bentley Bentayga luxury SUV and driving away.

“He caused such damage that the front had to be razed (corr) from the foundations and was rendered unsafe. He left part of his car inside the shop.”

It has been reported Ibe’s vehicle was identified from a broken wing mirror found in the debris. 

A second charge of driving the 2.4 tonne 187mph vehicle without due care and attention was not put, but Ibe’s lawyer Mr. Jonathon Morrissey indicated his client would plead guilty at a later date.

The Bermondsey-born winger, who in 2016 joined AFC Bournemouth from Liverpool for a then club record of £15m, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth during the short hearing.

The England U-18, U-19, U-20 and U-21 international, who was wearing black jeans, a black v-neck pullover and trainers will stand trial at Bexley Magistrates Court on February 10, next year.

Rebuilt: Crash Scene Cafe

“The Crown say in Plaistow Lane, Bromley Mr. Ibe was the driver of a white Bentley Bentayga. At around 4.50am the defendant was involved in a collision,” explained Mr. Cravelli.

“His vehicle has left the road, collided with a parked car and crashed into the shop front.

“It is said to have remained there a short time and then reversed and left the scene.

“The actions of the defendant have not been to the required standard expected of someone driving on the road. He has not waited at the scene.”  

Ibe says he waited ten minutes at the scene, but there was nobody to exchange details with, a claim disputed by the police, who responded immediately to a 999 call.

“Police were at the location in four minutes and he had already left the scene.”  

Ibe’s lawyer Mr. Morrissey told the court: “Mr. Ibe waited for a considerable time at the scene. At that time nobody made themselves available to exchange details.”

The damage was reportedly approximately £15,000 and cafe owner Sarah Dickson only discovered the destruction the following day.

“In her statement she says she was at the shop at midday the next day and nobody had left a note,” said Mr. Cravelli.

Magistrate Mr. Philip Widdowson released Ibe on unconditional bail and told him to be on time for his morning trial.

The crash occurred eleven days before AFC Bournemouth’s first  Premier League match of the season on August 10, a 1-1 home draw with Sheffield United in which Ibe did not feature.

The £38,000-a-week forward has failed to impress since his big-money transfer, making a total of 89 appearances in all competitions and only scoring 3 goals.

This season Ibe has only made two Premier League and two League Cup appearances for the club and has failed to find the net.

Robbery Lookout Banged Up

A knifepoint robbery lookout has been caged for three years and five month for her role in the terrifying raid.

Sapphire Anderson, 39, pleaded guilty to the robbery, which involved a masked male knife-wielding accomplice. 

Isleworth Crown Court heard on Friday, May 31, Anderson and the unknown accomplice, who was wearing a balaclava, went to a gambling venue in North End Road, Fulham at around 4.30am.

As Anderson kept lookout by the door, her partner-in-crime entered the venue and threatened a staff member, holding a knife to her back and marching her to the cash office.

The terrified staff member handed over £2,000 and the suspects quickly fled after Anderson held the door open to allow their quick escape.

Officers from Central West Priority Crime Team began an investigation and identified Anderson.

She was arrested on Tuesday, October 8, charged, and remanded in custody.

Work to identify Anderson's associate continues.

Police Constable Steven Priestley said: "The staff member in this incident was left distraught by what happened to her. 

“The actions of Anderson and her associate were incredibly callous.

"This conviction is proof that police are committed to tackling robbery and will work to put offenders behind bars. 

“Anderson now has time to consider the consequences of her actions.”

Bus Passenger's Teeth Knocked Out: Do You Know Couple?

Police are hunting this couple after another bus passenger had his teeth knocked out during a late-night row.

At approximately 0.40am on Saturday, June 22, the 46-year-old victim attempted to board a Route 210 bus on Hornsey Road, Islington after a night out with a friend.

An altercation occurred with another male passenger, who was boarding the bus with a woman at the same stop.

The suspect punched the victim in the face, causing him to fall over, before continuing to punch him and grab him by the throat.

The victim sustained facial injuries resulting in the loss of teeth. 

He was treated by the London Ambulance Service and has required extensive dental work.

The suspect is described as 5ft 5ins tall, of stocky build, with short dark coloured hair and a beard. 

He was wearing a blue T-shirt and jeans.

Officers from the Roads and Transport Policing Command would like to speak with anyone who witnessed the assault or recognises the suspect, or the woman he was travelling with. 

The woman was not involved in the assault.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 07795 052 609 or via 101 quoting reference 371/22Jun.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Church Break-Ins: Suspect Wanted By Police

Police are hunting this suspected church burglar after two places of worship were broken into on the same night last summer.

Jamie O’Neill, 42, from Orpington, Kent is wanted for questioning in connection with the two the burglaries.

Both break-ins took place in two different churches on the evening of Monday, June 10 in the Orpington area.

O'Neill is described as white, 5ft 6ins tall, of medium build, with short brown hair. 

He has a two inch scar on his chin and a tattoo on his right arm.

Detective Constable Ben Briselden, from the South Area Command Unit, said: "We have carried out extensive enquiries to locate O’Neill and these are ongoing. 

“I would like to remind the public that harbouring a wanted offender is an offence.

“I would urge anyone who knows of his whereabouts to contact police so that his attempts to evade justice can be stopped. 

“I would also encourage O’Neill to hand himself in.

“He should not be approached by members of the public. 

“If you have information on his movements or whereabouts, please call police on 999 quoting CAD 3517/28OCT19"

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111 or tweet police via @MetCC.

Drug Dealer Suspect Fled During Police Raid

A suspected drug dealer and robber, who fled police during a swoop on an address, remains on the run.

Zeno Mich-Onyibe, 26, was charged with criminal offences, despite not being in police custody and failed to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates Court.

The Metropolitan Police's South West Command Unit have now released this image of Mich-Onyibe and appeal to the public to identify his whereabouts.

He is charged with being concerned in an offer to supply heroin, the supply of cocaine, and robbery.

Officers executed a search warrant at Mich-Onyibe’s address in Stormont Road, Battersea, south-west London in September. 

During the raid he made off from police and further enquiries have failed to establish his location.

Anyone who knows where Zeno Mich-Onyibe is should call police officers based on the South West Command Unit via 101, Tweet @MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Lady Tatiana Mountbatten Banned For Speeding To Horse Stables In Porsche

Lady Tatiana Mountbatten was banned from driving for six months yesterday after she was caught speeding in her new Porsche three times in ten days. 

The 29 year-old equestrian businesswoman, a cousin of the Queen, will now be forced to “beg, steal or borrow” to get from her multi-million pound Knightsbridge flat to her stables, a court heard.

Lady Tatiana, of Lennox Gardens, Knightsbridge admitted breaking the 60 mph speed limit in her £50,000 2018 grey 3-litre Porsche Macan diesel on the same stretch of the M4.

Lavender Hill Magistrates Court heard she was clocked at 70mph on March 1; 71mph on March 6 and 70mph on March 10 between Heston services and Windmill Lane.

She says she did not realise the motorway limit had been reduced from 70mph to 60mph for essential works. 

Lady Tatiana already had nine penalty points on her driving licence and after receiving three more for each speeding offence it took her over the disqualification threshold of twelve points.

She was also fined £150 for each speeding offence, with £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge and magistrate Bukky Okunade told her: “We have heard what has been said on your behalf and given you credit for pleading guilty in the first instance.

“They are serious matters of speeding, a multiple matter, three. Because of your totting you have to be disqualified for six months.

“If you drive while disqualified it is a serious offence and you can be sent into custody and disqualified again.”

Her father is peer and businessman George Mountbatten, the 4th Marquess of Milford Haven and cousin of the Queen and he is in the line of succession to the throne 

Lady Tatiana herself is a descendent of monarchs including Queen Victoria and Nicholas I of Russia and was educated at elite £12,000-a year Millfield private school in Street, Somerset.

As the only holder of a HGV licence within her business the court heard the ban will cause great inconvenience in transporting horses via a horse box.

Her lawyer Mark Haslam told the court “she was blissfully unaware of her offending,” not realising the motorway limit had been reduced from 70mph to 60mph.

“The defendant is a self-employed personal horse trainer and I ask the court to deal with her, whatever her other connections may or may not be.

“She works very hard and very long hours as a horse trainer. It is not a nine to five occupation.”

Lady Tatiana also competes and performs in the dressage discipline.

“The horses are outside London and it is a one hour drive and she is going to have to make other arrangements,” added the lawyer.

“She is going to have to beg, steal and borrow for lifts.”

The trip would take three-and-a-half hours via public transport.

“She is the only one in the organisation with a HGV licence. You will appreciate a HGV licence is essential for anyone working in the equestrian world,” said Mr Haslam.

“Her greatest worry is that those who wok for her may not keep their jobs if she cannot continue running her stables as she would like to.

“She is the author of her own misfortune and there is a knock-on as far as her employees are concerned.

“She has recently taken up training as a therapist. That is something she will have to put aside.

“For some time she has on a voluntary basis for the disabled, a charity. She has given up her own time to help children, handicapped and others with riding and that brings a great joy to their lives.

“She will do her very best to continue, but will have to concentrate on her business.

“It is going to have a significant effect so the defendant will learn a salutary lesson and she has found the process of dealing with this quite stressful.

“It has been a long and salutary journey for her and today is the end of the journey.” 

Her mother is Sarah Georgina Walker, the Marchioness of Milford Haven and Lady Tatiana is an ambassador for luxury fashion retailer Crofton & Hall.

Mr Haslam also told the court: “There is going to be significant hardship both to her and third parties, but in the overall picture I’ve advised her, even though there is that hardship, it doesn’t in my professional opinion about to exceptional hardship.

“I don’t want to use the court’s time for something that is worthless.

“The disqualification is or itself a considerable punishment for this defendant and for others.”

Regarding the speeding offences themselves the lawyer added: “They are not at the top end of the scale, but the lower end of the scale.”

He conceded the totting disqualification is there “to teach a lesson to those who behave in this way.”

“In each case the defendant indicated a plea of guilty at the first opportunity.

“I don’t want this court to sentence this person for driving around ignoring the speed limit. They were in a short pace of time in an identical location.

“It is, as you appreciate, a motorway. There had been a reduction from 70mph to 60mph for repairs to the motorway and I accept it is her responsibility to take this on board.

“She has a speed limiter on her vehicle and kept it at 70mph.”

Armed Drug Dealer's Police Chase Through Gardens

An armed drug dealer, who leapt from a high window when police raided his home,is starting a 14-and-half year prison sentence.

Heavily-tattooed Jamie Allen, 29, was chased over garden fences and into a field, where police caught him and took him to hospital for treatment on injuries caused by the jump.

Allen, of Hyde Road, Croydon was found guilty of possession, with intent, to sell Class A drugs, possession of criminal property and possession of firearms.

Detective Constable Hannah Worsley, said: “The long sentence handed down by the judge clearly demonstrates how seriously the courts take violent drug dealers and the danger they pose to communities.

“Anyone who thinks it is okay to deal drugs and carry guns would be wise to consider this.”

Allen’s home was raided by police at 6.30am on Thursday, April 25, after a warrant was issued by Uxbridge Crown Court. 

As officers entered the address, he jumped out of a window while attempting to evade capture.

He was eventually caught at 7.45am after a lengthy chase. 

An abundance of drugs was found in his bedroom during the search of the address, including cocaine and heroin, along with £40,000 in cash.

A sawn-off shotgun, a revolver, a handgun, a stun gun and ammunition were also found in various bags throughout his bedroom.

Allen, who had injured himself during his jump from the window, was taken to hospital where he remained for five days before being discharged and taken into custody at a Croydon police station.

On The Run: Sexual Assault Suspect In Hiding

A suspected sex offender, accused of molesting a 16 year-old girl, has gone on the run.

The Metropolitan Police's East Area Command Unit has released this custody image of the wanted man – 43 year-old Joao Francisco.

He is currently at large, having failed to surrender himself to bail at Barkingside Magistrates Court, east London on July 15.

On that occasion the court issued a warrant, without bail, for his arrest.

Francisco was due to appear on one charge of sexually assaulting the teenage girl.

He is known to frequent the Barking area.

If you have any information as to his whereabouts please call officers in the CID at the East Area Command Unit via 101.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

In the case of an immediate sighting of Francisco, please dial 999.

Everton FC Fan Denies Race Charge

An Everton FC fan, accused of hurling racist abuse during his team’s first Premier League game of the season away to Crystal Palace FC, denied the charge yesterday.

Darran Chadwick, 39, of Wallace Avenue, Knowsley, Liverpool appeared for the first time at Wimbledon Magistrates Court.

He pleaded not guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress.

Chadwick was attending the 0-0 draw between the teams at Selhurst Park, south London on August 10.

A charge of specifically causing the racially aggravated harassment of Eagles’ winger Andros Townsend was withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service.

“My dispute is that I used no racial language,” Chadwick told the court. “I admit that I called him a diving c***, but there were no racial words used.”

Chadwick was bailed to stand trial at Croydon Magistrates Court on March 3, next year.