An Islington man, accused of spray painting the Wellington Statue in front of the Bank of England during the G20 demonstration in the City of London earlier this year, will be cautioned by police instead of prosecuted.
Francis Medina, 41, of Upper Caldy Walk, had originally been charged with causing criminal damage to the national monument, (pictured) by graffiti, on April 1.
City of London Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday the prosecution would be dropped on medical grounds.
A legal eagle – caught filming up women’s skirts with a specially adapted spy kit for the second time – was forced to quit his job with a top London law firm, a court heard.
Alan Howard Rose, 48, of Avondale Avenue, North Finchley, was a P.A. in the litigation department of the unnamed firm, who gave him the choice of being sacked or to resign with a reference.
Rose, supported by his occupational therapist wife Hilary, 44, is a respected member of the Jewish community, having raised thousands of pounds for the Association of Jewish Ex-Service Men and Women in this year’s London Marathon, his ninth.
The former Territorial Army volunteer pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court to disorderly behaviour, contrary to Section 5 of the Public Order Act, in Sainsbury’s, Fetter Lane, Fleet Street, on August 6.
Prosecutor Mrs. Alexa Morgan told the court it was 2pm when security staff spotted Rose, (pictured) initially suspecting he was a shoplifter.
“He was seen by a store detective approaching a woman and standing very close to her, placing a carrier bag close to her legs. The staff paid very close attention, suspecting he was shoplifting, but he was actually upskirting.
“He was found in possession of a camera and recording equipment,” explained Mrs. Morgan. “The bag had a hole cut in it and the camera was facing upwards.”
Police seized the equipment and found a further 54 similar video files of upskirt images filmed in sandwich shops, canteens, offices and on the train.
Rose told police when arrested. “I can’t believe I have done this. I could lose my job. I can’t believe how stupid I am.”
A search of his home revealed more “upskirting clips” stored on CD discs. Rose was convicted of an identical offence on January 8, 2007.
His lawyer Mrs. Rasool, who refused to give her first name, told the magistrates her client is attending sex addiction classes in a bid to conquer his demons.
“The stakes were high and he and his family have suffered as a result. He has expressed remourse, there is no justification for what he did.
“He was working as a P.A. in the litigation of a large law firm,” added the lawyer. “They gave him the option of being sacked without a reference or resign with one and he elected to resign.”
Rose and his wife have a five year-old son, Adam, and despite attending three job interviews since his resignation the defendant has failed to find employment to support his family.
Hilary is a brain injury specialist, who has empathized with her husband’s behaviour, the court was told. “He has confessed to her and she has some insight as a result of her work and stands by him.
“He can’t explain why he took such a fatal step that day,” added the lawyer.
Rose was fined £350, with £90 costs.
Four late-night thugs, caught on CCTV launching an unprovoked attack on two pals, have been served ASBO’s by police, a court heard.
The victims, aged 20, were left with injuries after being punched and kicked outside Sam’s Chicken Shop, Field End Road, Eastcote, Middlesex, while waiting for a taxi home.
They had earlier enjoyed a peaceful night out at ‘The Manor’ public house across the street when confronted by the group at 1.30am.
The four defendants all pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to causing an affray, contrary to the Public Order Act, on March 7 and will be sentenced on December 4.
They are: Eric Thomson, 19, of Mahlon Avenue, Ruislip; Rikki Floyd, 20, of Wilsmere Drive, Northolt; Jabey Bathurst, 21, of Brook Close, Ruislip and Lee Luke, 24, of Trevor Crescent, Ruislip.
Floyd alone also pleaded guilty to assaulting Thomas Byrne, who was with his friend Leandros Liasides when attacked by the group.
Prosecutor Mr. James O’Connell told the court: “This is an unprovoked attack outside a bar late at night.
“All of these defendants were involved in attacking the two complainants and the prosecution say the instigator was Thomson, who was seen throwing the first punch and starting the incident off.”
Judge Anna Guggenheim QC was shown CCTV footage captured by a Hillingdon Council camera and told police are seeking ASBO’s against all four.
The images revealed Bathurst following-up with a punch, and Floyd walking behind Mr. Byrne and punching him.
Mr. Liasides is then seen to be kicked in the face by Bathurst and punched by Luke, before Bathurst follows up with a second kick to the victim’s face.
Thomson was arrested at the scene of the incident, which had spilled into the middle of the road, and was witnessed by 20-30 people.
He initially lied to police, claiming he acted in self-defence. His three co-defendants said nothing when questioned.
Mr. Byrne suffered bruising to his left eye, cheek and nose, plus swelling to his jaw and a cut lip. He continued suffering headaches for some time afterwards.
Mr. Liasides suffered fractured teeth, which requires ongoing dentistry, plus bruising and a cut lip.
Thomson will also be sentenced on an unrelated charge of converting criminal property and the absent Luke, due to be also sentenced for burglary, had a warrant issued for his arrest.
A Barclays Bank customer account advisor, who defrauded his employers out of over £30,000 to fund his gambling addiction, was jailed for fifteen months in at Southwark Crown Court on Monday.
Jason Philip Hopgood, 24, of Hollingworth Close, West Molesey, Surrey, pleaded guilty that between March 1, 2008 and January 24, this year, within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court, he dishonestly abused his position with intent to gain, by manipulating various personal accounts of customers, falsified messages and carried out other improper acts, contrary to the Fraud Act.
An additional charge of stealing £34,350 from Barclays Bank between January 1 and 24, this year was allowed to lie on the file by the Fraud Prosecution Service.
First-time offender Hopgood, whose grandmother and girlfriend’s accounts were involved in his fraud, handed in a reference from Gambler’s Anonymous.
A racist football thug – thrown off a tube train with his rowdy pals after traveling to London for a Chelsea match – dodged a banning order, but was fined £130 on Monday.
Barman Christopher English, 27, of West Street, Havant, Portsmouth, had earlier spent a weekend behind bars after failing to turn up for his trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He denied, but was convicted in his absence of racially aggravated threatening behaviour at Charing Cross Underground Station (pictured) on August 31, last year.
The court heard English and two pals had traveled to the capital for the Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur match with the defendant downing eight pints of beer and two bottles of Smirnoff Ice.
The trio enjoyed a drinking session in Leicester Square, but caused a disturbance on the Southbound Bakerloo Line when play fighting and wrestling with each other.
Prosecutor Miss Tertia Mackesy told JP’s the group refused a member of staff’s request to leave the station and boarded a tube train.
They were persuaded to leave the carriage after the driver refused to depart, but they followed the staff member, hurling abuse with English – sporting a Chelsea top - the ringleader.
“He was being held back by his two friends,” added Miss Mackesy. “He was shouting ‘you c***. Why are you chucking me off the train?”
English then screamed at the member of staff: “Fuck off. Why are you interfering, you paki?”
The three friends were all arrested and English’s pals were later released without charge.
“My behaviour was not acceptable, due to being drunk, but I don’t admit the racist allegation. I am not a racist,” English told the court.
The Crown Prosecution Service dropped an application to impose a football banning order on English because of the lapse of time and various journeys he made after the match.
He was also ordered to pay £165 costs.
An “attention seeking” nursery assistant – who falsely claimed she had been the victim of a triple rape by two men – was jailed for four months on Friday.
Emma Wallace, 25, of Meadhall Lane, Chertsey, Surrey, pleaded guilty to three counts of perverting the course of justice.
Wallace arrived drunk at the police station with two boyfriends – one married – when she made the bogus triple-rape allegation on June 14, last year.
She even claimed her girl pal Sam had procured her for rape and threatened her with a knife in a bid to stop the attacks being reported to police.
Prosecutor Mr. Anthony Heaton-Armstrong told the court: “She was intoxicated, not thinking straight and hysterical.
“She alleged she had been raped twice by a man she named, a friend of a friend and between those two incidents was raped by a man she could not identify, a ficticious person.
“The police were immediately suspicious and it was not long before she was being investigated,” added the prosecutor.
Wallace’s lawyer Mr. Andrew Turton said: “She was troubled and vulnerable. She was suffering from the breakdown of her parents’ marriage and though they are going through a divorce they are in court today.
“She has had troubled relationships. She has had a suicide attempt,” added Mr. Turton. “She was prescribed medication for depression and continues to be prescribed and there were issues with alcohol.”
Wallace rejected an offer of a police caution for wasting police time. “She had great difficulty going back on what she said.
“She can be gullible, naïve, attention seeking and prone to exaggeration. These are character traits that must have relevance,” said Mr. Turton. “She had fragile physical and mental health.
“She is absolutely dreading the prospect of imprisonment. It would be crushing for someone of her disposition to go into custody.”
Judge Anna Guggenheim QC said: “The troubling aspect of this case as in some many cases is the allegation of rape involves the word of one against the other.
“The courts always regard the false allegation of rape as a serious offence.
“No person was arrested, but her accusations not only involved a named man, but a woman who was a friend of hers,” added the Judge.
“Fortunately the harm done was limited and the prospect of a prison sentence was not hanging over their heads.
“There is a possible emotional explanation in that she was attention seeking.”
Two construction companies were fined a total of £105,000 after “failed” equipment used at Heathrow’s Terminal Five project was involved in a Plymouth man falling fifty feet to his death.
Carpenter Matthew Gilbert, 27, suffered fatal multiple injuries on August 3, 2005, after a 6.5 tonne concrete slab he was standing on with Slough engineer’s assistant Parminder Singh, 24, collapsed.
SGB Services Ltd., of Harsco House, Regent Park, 299 Kingston Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, admitted two breaches of Health and Safety regulations at Isleworth Crown Court and were fined £30,000, plus £30,000 costs.
“They manufactured and supplied heavy-duty Threaded Shoring Adapters, (TSA’s) whose failure was one of the principle causes of the collapse,” said Mr. James Ageros, prosecuting.
The TSA’s were used to hold the massive slabs in place on the car park roof until concrete was poured in over reinforced steel to secure the structure.
Also prosecuted were Laing O’Rourke Infrastructure, of Paramount House, Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, who admitted one Health and Safety breach and were fined £75,000, plus £75,000 costs.
“The failures of Laing O’Rourke were causative in the death of Mr. Gilbert and the serious injuries suffered by Mr. Singh,” added Mr. Ageros.
Mr. Singh, 24, who spent nine weeks in hospital, received £270,000 compensation, after suffering serious injuries to his head, leg and back and claims to still suffer side effects four years later.
The court heard by supplying a batch of sub-standard TSA’s in 2003 SGB failed to ensure they were capable of carrying the maximum loads.
Laing O’Rourke failed to have the necessary quality control checks in place to ensure the TSA’s used could carry the heaviest loads and failed to remove sub-standard TSA’s when warned.
“This was a safety critical component and was likely to be used in safety critical circumstances,” explained Mr. Ageros.
Describing the incident as a “tragic accident” Judge Hazett Colgan said: “The TSA was downrated and should not have been used for a slab of that weight and had been marked in red paint to show this.
“SGB knew about the poor quality of some of them and they re-supplied downrated TSA’s to four sites around the country.”
As for Laing O’Rourke the Judge added: “They must have known some of them were defective.”
He gave Laing O’Rourke credit for resolving all civil claims, co-operating with the Health and Safety Executive and instigating new systems of training, control and risk assessment.
He accepted SGC supplied the four other sites in error and that if used correctly the downrated TSA’s were still perfectly adequate.
All such TSA’s have been scrapped and new models are now being used.
A respected businessman – accused of “seat rage” at an internet seminar hosted at a top London hotel – was cleared of pummeling a fellow-participant for sitting in his spot.
Shocked organizers pulled 59 year-old Albert Horace Aldridge and Femi Ogunbanji, 31, apart at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, (pictured), Edgware Road, Bayswater, on June 26.
Aldridge, of Foxhollow Drive, Farnham Common, Slough, was found not guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court of assault despite admitting he was frustrated at seeing his seat occupied after a lunch-break.
Aldridge, CEO of Slough-based A5 Group of Independent Companies, describes himself as a ‘successful and experienced business entrepreneur’ on his web profile.
The father-of-four is the former head of trade associations Consumer Electronics and International Telecom and his sons attended top privates school Merchant Taylors, Middlesex.
“It’s a petty piece of seminar seat rage that got out of hand,” prosecutor Miss Tertia Mackesy told the court. “The victim had taken a seat and the defendant told him he was sitting in his seat. He refused to move and the defendant called him a ‘pompous nigger’.
“The victim threw a cup of water over him and the defendant then threw a cup of coffee over the victim and punched him repeatedly to the back of the head.”
Both men called 999 and both were arrested by police for assault, but when seminar organizers appealed for witnesses none identified Mr. Ogunbanji as the aggressor and three gave evidence against Aldridge.
Mr. Ogunbanji told the magistrates 100 seats were free as Aldridge approached his isle seat. “I sensed he was confrontational and aggressive.
“He told me I was sitting in his seat and called me a pompous nigger. I was stunned and surprised and threw half a cup of water at him and he instantly poured his coffee over me, over my face, my suit and started to punch me.
“It did not stop until one of the organizers dragged him off me,” added Mr. Ogunbanji, estimating 10-15 blows were landed. “If they had not he would not have stopped.”
Aldridge claimed witnesses mistook his defensive pushes for punches, insisting the seat-thief was the aggressor.
“I thought ‘typical, of all the chairs in the hall he is sitting in mine’,” explained Aldridge, claiming he needed to resume the afternoon session in an aisle seat to stretch out his recently injured left leg.
“I said ‘you are sitting in my seat’ and he said ‘do you own the fucking seat. Does it have your fucking name on it?”
Coffee went everywhere in an attempt to ward off Mr. Ogunbanji’s attack, insisted the defendant. “I pushed him when I saw the fist come at me.
“I thought ‘my God Aldridge, he is going to knife you,’ and I pushed him again.”
He denied hurling racist abuse, but admitted witnesses were correct who heard him shouting: “He stole my seat! He stole my seat!” as the pair were split up.
Prosecutor Miss Tertia Mackesy told the court Aldridge was unhappy about being arrested. “He made the counter allegation that he was called a ‘fucking chink’ and kicked.”
Aldridge, whose father is Scottish and mother Chinese told cops he was the victim. “He said he was verbally abused and assaulted and said he was not the aggressor.”
Witnesses claimed Aldridge shouted “son of a bitch” “prat” and “fuck” repeatedly during the fraces.
He told the magistrates he has been invited to be listed in ‘Who’s Who In Business’.
“I am certainly well respected,” said Aldridge.
A delivery van driver, charged with manslaughter over the deaths of a Stoke-on-Trent IT worker and German tourist, struck by a runaway vehicle in the City of London, appeared in court for the first time.
The victims, 24 year-old David Smith, from Alsager, employed by Lloyds TSB and 33 year-old Claudia Kauert, suffered fatal multiple injuries when struck by a white Mercedes van in Pudding Lane, Monument, on April 24.
Larkland May 51, of Hawthorn Road, Upper Edmonton, North London, was sent by City of London Magistrates’ Court to appear at the Old Bailey on March 1.
He is charged with unlawfully killing the two victims, within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court, contrary to Common Law.
He was bailed on conditions he remains resident in the U.K. and notifies police of any international travel.
The drunken daughter of a senior police officer attacked an arresting cop during her boozy birthday celebration and punched and spat in the face of a female jailer at the local station.
Business student Leah Colleen Stranix, 19, of Blackwall Way, Poplar, was screaming for her father when locked in a police cell following the late-night bust-up outside a City of London nightclub.
Stranix pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court to assaulting Police Sergeant Santi outside Charlie’s Bar, Crosswall, Tower Hill, on July 18 and using threatening behaviour.
She also pleaded guilty to assaulting Caroline Omelia at Bishopsgate Police Station and was sentenced to 120 hours community service.
“Ironically her father is a fairly high-ranking police officer,” said Miss Beth Rogers, defending. “Her father’s altered opinion of her is something she will have to deal with. This has shaken her and it has shaken her family.”
Prosecutor Mrs. Varinder Hayre told the court it was 3.25am when police spotted drunken Stranix (pictured) amongst a crowd of people outside the club.
“She was screaming and shouting and then collapsed on the floor,” explained Mrs. Hayre. “She was held up by a group of people and was shouting at the top of her voice and thrashing her arms around.
“The group held her arms so she would not lash out and P.S. Santi asked her if she was o.k.” added the prosecutor. “She threw a punch at P.S. Santi and struck him in the chest and also kicked him in the legs.”
“As the officer attempted to handcuff her she continued fighting and struggling, causing the handcuff’s to fall to the floor and continued the assault by kicking and punching.”
Throughout the incident Stranix hurled abuse, shouting ‘fuck’ several times, before more officers arrived to assist P.S. Santi.
The sergeant was left with cuts to his hands and bruising to his legs and elbows.
She was transported to nearby Bishopsgate Police Station. “At the station she continued with her aggressive behaviour. The defendant was crying and screaming for attention,” explained Mrs. Hayre.
“The defendant asked the jailer to call her father, but when told it was not possible without contact details she called the jailer a ‘fat cunt’ and a ‘fat shit’.”
Later the jailer gave Stranix a pen and paper to forward her father’s details, but the drunken defendant could not recall them.
The jailer later checked on Stranix’s welfare through the cell wicket door. “The defendant rushed the door and punched the jailer to the cheek and nose, causing Miss Omelia shock and alarm.
“She then spat at Miss Omelia through the open wicket. The spit landed on her cheek, leaving the victim appalled and disgusted.”
“She remembers nothing from dancing in the club slightly tipsy to waking up in the police cell,” said Miss Rogers. “She went from tipsy to drunk in a short time.”
Her mother had recently kicked Stranix out of the family home, but their dispute has been resolved, the court was told.
“One of the first things she said was how sorry she was and was shocked by her behaviour,” added the lawyer. “She knows she has a temper and on that night drank too much.
“This is incredibly out of character. In all aspects of her life, save some arguments with her mother, she is going to plan. She wishes to work with children with behaviour problems.
“She is mortified, ashamed and apologizes to the court and to the police."
The magistrates also ordered Stranix to pay £50 compensation to Miss Omelia and £50 costs.
A business student, who clumsily forged a telephone bill in a bid to use it as authentic identity when opening a bank account in the heart of the U.K.’s financial district, has been fined.
Asif Ahmed Chowdhury, 26, of Westmeads Road, Whitstable, Kent, was arrested after suspicious bank staff in the City of London called police to the branch.
Chowdhury, also employed part-time at a Whitstable Indian Restaurant that provides his accommodation, pleaded guilty to possessing a counterfeit B.T. phone bill for use in the course of or in connection with fraud on August 24 at Halifax, Bishopsgate.
Prosecutor Mrs. Alexa Morgan told City of London Magistrates’ Court it was 5pm when Chowdhury offered the bill as proof of identity and residence at the busy branch (pictured).
Staff realized he had simply superimposed his own name and address on a photocopied bill and raised the alarm.
Chowdhury entered the U.K. in 2007 on a student visa to study for a degree in business administration.
The first-time offender was fined £150, with £90 costs.
A lawyer called Mr. SENTENCE, prosecuted a tube-train passenger - caught urinating by transport cops - called Mr. MYCOCK, a court heard.
British Transport Police caught 33 year-old Simon Mycock in the act of spending a penny late last summer at Highbury and Islington Station, North London.
Mycock, of Newton Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, was convicted at City of London Magistrates Court of behaving in a disorderly, indecent or offensive manner, contrary to the Railway Byelaws on August 2.
Prosecutor Mr. Joe Sentence told JP’s it was 10.10pm when officers spotted Mycock urinating in the left corner of the station (pictured) car park near the fire exit.
“He said he was trying to find somewhere subtle,” added Mr. Sentence.
“Well, that wasn’t very subtle,” joked the Bench Chairman, fining the absent Mycock £175, plus £90 costs.
A London commuter has been left counting the extra cost of tube-train travel, after being hit with a £260 bill for SPITTING, when reported by specialist transport cops.
David Burrell, 36, of Ariel Court, Kennington Lane, Kennington, was summonsed after the Crown Prosecution Service gave the thumbs-up to proceed with the case.
Prosecutor Mr. Joe Sentence, shaking his head and branding the decision “pathetic”, proved the allegation to JP’s at City of London Magistrates Court.
“It’s spitting on the platform at Elephant and Castle Station. He did it twice and said it was an accident and he had made a mistake,” explained Mr. Sentence.
The British Transport Police originated the prosecution.
“An expensive spit,” commented the Bench Chairman, fining absent Burrell £175, with £90 costs.
A foreign exchange dealer, accused of a ‘Ponzi’ scheme that left 800 investors £17m out of pocket, was forced to reveal his top-secret address at City of London Magistrates’ Court.
Terence Freeman, 61, of King’s Road, Horsham, West Sussex, formerly of Whitehall Lane, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, is the former boss of City-based GFX Capital Markets Ltd.
Freeman, who was investigated by the City of London Police’s Economic Crime Department, unsuccessfully applied for his new address to be kept secret and has abandoned a Judicial Review of the JP’s decision.
The application was made after Freeman (pictured) claimed his tyres were slashed outside his former home and vehicles were daubed with roofing paint by disgruntled investors who have their own civil action group.
Freeman is charged that between June 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007, within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court, he was knowingly a party to the carrying on of a business, namely GFX Ltd., for a fraudulent purpose, namely the inducement of persons to invest in a ‘Safe’ exchange scheme by making false representations and statements as to the protection and profits of investments.
He is also charged that between October 1, 2007 and February 9, 2009, within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court the business of GFX Ltd. was carried on with intent to defraud creditors by similarly making false representations and statements.
He also is also charged that between January 1, 2006 and February 9, this year, being an undischarged bankrupt, acted as a director of GFX Ltd.
Between the same dates he is charged with failing to disclose to business associates his former name, under which he was made bankrupt.
Freeman is further charged with stealing £120,590 between November 7 and 30, 2007, belonging to investors in GFX Ltd and between the same dates acquiring, using or possessing criminal property, namely a diamond bespoke ring and gentleman’s signet ring.
Police began investigating GFX Ltd. on February 4, this year after Freeman himself complained of threats from investors.
Thirty investors are alleged to have lost over £130,000, with one individual said to have lost £1.5m.
Freeman was bailed to return on November 18, on conditions he reside at his address, surrenders his passport, reports weekly to local police and does not handle investments for trading.
A cheque thief, who was arrested in the City of London, after an off-duty policeman spotted him acting suspiciously near a branch of Barclays Bank, was conditionally discharged on Wednesday.
Jobless warehouseman Vitalis Mudzviti, 29, of Windsor Street South, Birmingham, was a passenger in a Mercedes and the stolen cheques were later found during a search of his home.
“We are concerned about these offences. The provenance of these cheques seems rather mysterious,” Bench Chairman Mr. Alex Stewart told the defendant at City of London Magistrates’ Court.
Zimbabwe-born father-of-four Mudzviti pleaded guilty to stealing a £3,169 Royal Sun Alliance Insurance cheque and a £94.00 Macfarlane Labels Ltd. cheque on or before April 22.
Prosecutor Miss Alexa Morgan told the court on a previous occasion the car was stopped in Old Broad Street on April 21 when an off-duty police officer noticed the occupants paying particular attention to the Barclays branch (pictured).
The vehicle was stopped and a search turned up a Barclays Connect card in a different name to the defendants and both were arrested on suspicion of theft.
The driver, Zimbabwe-born Norbert Mapunde, 32, of Powell Street, Wolverhampton, an International Business Management student at Wolverhampton University, was originally charged with possessing Barclays Bank sort codes and the Connect card for use in the course of or in connection with fraud, but charges were dropped on October 28.
“Mudzviti’s home was searched and officers found the two cheques,” added Miss Morgan.
Mudzviti’s lawyer Miss Romana Khan told the court: “The cheques were never cashed and there was no loss to these companies.
“My client says these offences took place when he hired a VW Golf car for a family event and by the handbrake found the two cheques in an envelope.
“It was his fault he did not return them to the owner. He kept the cheques in his property for six months and intended to return them, but never got round to it.”
Mudzviti was conditionally discharged for 18 months and ordered to pay £75 costs.
Consultant Roger Robinson, 39, of Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, had to be pulled off the victim by customers, after beating him to the floor while delivering a tirade of racist abuse.
A second consultancy position in Moscow, starting next month, is in ruins after Magistrates remanded Robinson in custody to appear for sentencing on November 24.
“You were racially abusive to a member of staff and became more intimidating,” Bench Chairman Mr. Terry Rogers told Robinson at City of London Magistrates’ Court.
“You went round the counter for a face to face confrontation and you struck the victim, knocking his glasses to the ground and then threw him to the floor.”
Robinson, who has been staying in King’s Cross Road, Clerkenwell since arriving to work in London on September 2, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault on Viraj Raval, by beating, at St. Pancras International Station (pictured) on Sunday, October 25.
He also pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour towards a total of five people, including the assault victim, at the same time and place.
Prosecutor Mrs. Alexa Morgan told the court Mr. Raval, a part-time worker at the Vodaphone shop in the station, angered the defendant when he began chatting with the sales assistant selling African-American Robinson a mobile phone charger.
“The defendant asked why he was talking to his colleague and when Mr. Raval began chatting again the defendant said:’ Why don’t you fuck him in the ass then’.”
Robinson stood and stared at Mr. Raval in an intimidating manner then rounded the counter shouting: “Make me leave the store.”
The victim admits he told Robinson to “fuck off” twice before the attack began.
“He swung a punch at me, striking me on the right cheek, causing my glasses to fly off,” Mr. Raval told police.
A flurry of punches followed, explained Mrs. Morgan, with Robinson throwing the victim to the floor while hurling abuse.
Witnesses heard Robinson shout: “You sand nigger,” at Mr. Raval, adding: “I would stamp on you if these people were not here. I would kill you.”
He also called the victim a “Middle-Eastern fuck” and repeatedly screamed “Nigger” also shouting: “Go back to your own country.”
Security staff eventually escorted Robinson out of the shop and British Transport Police arrested him.
Robinson, who graduated in Southern California has a diploma and MBA in finance and owns his own consultancy firm.
He was due to begin a 6-9 month Moscow contract in November.
“Mr. Robinson took great concern at Mr. Raval’s intervention and accepts he overreacted. He felt threatened and paranoid when making the abusive comments,” explained Mr. Shivalkar Sanjeev, defending.
“This is not behaviour that will be repeated here or anywhere else in the world,” added the lawyer.
Robinson, who has been in custody since his arrest, was denied bail by the JP’s because of his lack of community ties.
They agreed their powers of punishment – limited to twelve months imprisonment – were insufficient to deal with the case and committed Robinson to the Central Criminal Court.
“Due to the sustained violent nature of the offence we cannot deal with the case,” Mr. Rogers told Robinson.
A French and Latin schoolteacher, accused of a two-year fondling campaign involving an eleven year-old and twelve year-old boy pupils pleaded not guilty to fourteen charges at Southwark Crown Court today (Tuesday).
Bearded and bespectacled Michael Anthony Gordon, 55, of Thrush Green, Harrow, a member of Pinner and Northwood Liberal Synagogue was bailed to January 25 when the seven-day trial is due to start.
Gordon faces fourteen specimen charges of sexually touching the boys, contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 on various dates between September 1, 2007 and April 9, 2009.
A brutal knife-wielding mugger, whose late-night reign of terror claimed the life of a Knightsbridge store boss – stabbed through the heart yards from his front door – was caged for a minimum of thirty years today (Monday).
Andrew Pratt, 43, of Southwell Road, Camberwell, South-East London, appointed permanent manager of Sloane Street’s Emilio Pucci boutique – part of the Louis Vitton group - the day before, was walking home carrying a Gucci bag when targeted in nearby Northlands Street, on August 2, last year.
Jobless crack and heroin addict Errol Clarke, 44, of Rutford Road, Streatham, had recently been freed from a five-year sentence for a mugging a 64 year-old woman, and killed Mr. Pratt when he resisted.
Gay Mr. Pratt (pictured) was the youngest of five sons and his 75 year-old widowed mother Yvonne was informed of his death at her Norwich home.
“Andrew Pratt was 43 years-old when he met his untimely death,” Judge Roger Chapple told Clarke at Inner London Crown Court, sentencing him to life with a thirty year minimum recommendation.
“I have been deeply moved by the statements I have read from those that knew him, talking of his easy charm, great sense of humour, style. A kind, funny man with a zest for life who enriched the lives of those that knew him.
“He was very successful in life, in his chosen career and was appointed store manger on August 1, the day before he was murdered. His death is a terrible tragedy.”
Dreadlocked Clarke, trapped by mobile phone records and a positive id, pleaded guilty to murdering Mr. Pratt on August 2 and robbing two other men on June 8 and July 28, and attempting to rob another on August 4.
“He collapsed virtually outside his front door, fatally wounded, still holding his wallet and phone,” prosecutor Mr. Aftab Jaferjee QC told the court.
“His courageous refusal to submit to this attack cost him his life,” added the QC. “He was yet another blameless human being preyed upon by Errol Clarke. He did not stand a chance. He was stabbed in the heart and above the groin.”
Witnesses reported seeing the hooded attacker rifle through Mr. Pratt’s pockets as he lay bleeding to death from a single stab wound at 10.45pm. He was pronounced dead an hour and a half later at Kings College Hospital.
“This was a serial robber who preyed on four targets in two months during summer, 2008,” explained Mr. Jaferjee.
“He was always armed with a knife with a substantial blade and his victims were either cut or stabbed and one was stabbed yards from his front door.
“This defendant is a vicious predator.”
An eyewitness heard a “loud pained scream” the night Mr. Pratt was stabbed, added the prosecutor.
Outside Clarke was seen standing over the bleeding victim who was crying, “help me, help me,” as his attacker then jogged away.
The court heard a victim impact statement from Mr. Pratt’s brother Christopher, who ironically recalled a prophetic family alert.
“Mum had warned him to be careful after a spate of knife crimes,” adding,” We know Andy had a full life, but he should have had more.”
Clarke was living with drug-addict pals in Longman Grove, Camberwell, at the time of his mugging spree and routinely armed himself with a kitchen knife before hunting for victims late at night.
He boasted of his crimes – he was charged with eight further similar robberies – and the fear he put victims in, picking on lone pedestrians and drunks.
His June 8 victim, returning to his home in Newark House, Camberwell, tried to fight knife-wielding Clarke off with his suitcase, before his wallet and phone was snatched.
On July 28 a lone Chinese man in nearby Rush Green was stabbed in the stomach by Clarke for only having a little over £3.00 in loose change.
On August 4 a late-night shopper was left with wounds to his chest and hands after Clarke attacked him on his doorstep in Shakespeare Road, Herne Hill, again demanding cash.
He has three convictions for carrying knives, receiving community penalties twice and a fourteen-day jail term.
Clarke, who had a £60 per day drug habit, only pleaded guilty on day one of his trail after learning an employee at the ex-offenders hostel he was living at after the crime spree would give evidence of his telephone confession to relatives.
Clarke’s QC Helena Kennedy, who read an open letter from her client to Mr. Pratt’s relatives in court said: “He says he thought Mr. Pratt was going to put up some kind of struggle and thrust the knife at him.
“He just wanted what cash people had to get his next fix. He is full of genuine remorse and self-loathing.”
Sentencing Clarke to three concurrent terms – not exceeding six years - for protection of the public on the two robberies and attempted robbery Judge Chapple told him: “You were a very dangerous man.
“One who would stop at nothing, even death, to get what you wanted.
“Your victims were random. Whoever had the misfortune to be alone and looked vulnerable would be a victim when you thought the time was right.
“It is plain you are a danger to the public.”
Two rapists, who subjected a 21 year-old New Zealand woman to a two-and-a-half hour rape ordeal in the shadow of Buckingham Palace, have been locked-up for the shocking attack.
The Kiwi – who had chosen London as the destination for a working holiday - had missed the last tube train after enjoying an evening drinking with pals and in the early hours was taken to historic St. James’ Park by three men she met on the night bus.
She was raped and robbed by Ismail Acar, 21, (pictured l.) and Callem Fearnehough, 21, (pictured r.) both of Millfield, Six Acres Estate, Finsbury Park.
Acar was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to raping the victim three times, assault by penetration and robbing her of jewellery and a handbag containing cash, bank cards and an ipod on August 25, last year.
Fearnehough was jailed for 10 years after a jury convicted him of raping her twice and robbing her of the same items.
The third man, jobless Dimitri McKenzie-Saunders, 21, of Holloway Road, Upper Holloway was acquitted of three rape counts and robbery.
She attempted to escape her assailants in famous St. James’ Park, but was recaptured and the ordeal continued.
The attackers demanded her PIN number so they could empty her bank accounts, but Acar was foiled at a Charing Cross cashpoint, after the victim gave a bogus number.
A park security guard detained McKenzie-Saunders just before 5am and Acar and Fearnehough were arrested two hours later on Horse Guards Road after two PCSO’s identified them from a circulated description.
The victim was taken to a Haven centre where she received medical care and counselling from specially trained staff who guide victims of sexual assaults through the immediate aftermath of the trauma.
Afterwards DS Ivon Beer (Westminster Sapphire) said: "We are very pleased with today's sentencing, which reflects the seriousness of the attack.
“We hope this acts as a deterrent to prevent such horrific attacks in future. I would like to convey my appreciation for the courage and dignity displayed by the victim throughout."
