Businessman Jailed For Slashing Barman's Throat

A drunken and rowdy 63 year-old businessman, who slashed a young barman’s throat after he and a pal were ejected from a North London pub, has been jailed for eight years.

Electrical contractor John Anthony Tunbridge (pictured) of Amwell Street, Clerkenwell attacked the 22 year-old inside the Junction pub, Corsica Street, Highbury on April 1, last year.

He pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court to wounding the victim, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and was also ordered to pay £3,000 compensation.

Tunbridge and a friend had been drinking at the pub, but staff refused to continue serving the pair due to their drunken behaviour.

They became abusive and were asked to leave but refused.

The victim helped to eject them, but moments later Tunbridge re-entered the pub and lashed out at him with an unknown weapon.

The victim later told police he thought he had been punched, but had actually been slashed with a knife across the throat.

Officers who arrived at the scene gave him first aid until an ambulance arrived and he was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

After an extensive police hunt, detectives identified and arrested Tunbridge on June 3.

He initially denied the allegation, but pleaded guilty just before the trial was due to begin.

Detective Constable Jolene Strangwood said: “This was an appalling crime carried out by an established and well known local businessman.

“The vicious and unprovoked assault has had a devastating effect on a young man who was just doing his job.

“Doctors said the victim was lucky to be alive as the injury caused was only millimetres away from having a dramatically different outcome.

“Tunbridge's sentence should serve as a stark warning to the devastating consequences of alcohol abuse and will impact greatly on both his family and businesses.

“I sincerely hope that this sentencing will give the victim some form of closure and allow him to move on with his life.”

Flying Squad Foil Hammer-Gang's Raid

Flying Squad officers foiled four hammer-wielding robbers as they smashed their way into a stockbroker belt bank last night.

The gang were under surveillance as they made an audacious bid to successfully snatch cash from Santander, Station Road East, Oxted, Surrey (pictured).

They attacked two security guards after smashing the bank’s windows and were caught as they tried to flee with an unspecified quantity of cash at 8:30pm.

The Met’s specialist firearms unit - CO19 - assisted in capturing the gang, whose getaway car, a VW Polo had its tyres shot out and two of the robbers were tasered.

The men, all from Croydon and in their early twenties, are currently in custody.

They are: Mamsaihou Sowe, 22, of Fir Tree Gardens; Carl Mensah, 21, of Thornton Road; Donald Amartey, 21, of Hewitt Close and Saleen Mirza, 22, of Selkirk Road.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Johnson of Tower Bridge Flying Squad, said: “This is an excellent result for the flying squad and is testament to the skill and commitment of our officers in dealing with violent crime.

“I would like to thank colleagues from CO19 and Surrey police for their support during and after this operation.”

Businessman Washed Illegal Vet Med Profits

A respected transport boss who helped launder some of the profits of a £6 million illicit veterinary medicine scam - Europe's largest ever - "was in it up to his neck" a Judge has ruled.

Mark Harvey, 52,(pictured) of Hollyhurst, Wilsley Pound, Sissinghurst, Kent - boss of Paddock Wood-based Trans-Vitesse Ltd. - was bailed to be sentenced on July 6.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to money laundering between September 1 2006 and January 12 2008 in relation to 'Eurovet' profits - a French-based company that illegally sold animal medicines in the UK.

"He must have known it was an underhand business that was best kept as far away from the authorities as possible," announced Judge Nicholas Ainley. "He knew he was dealing with an illegitimate business enterprise and the illegitimate sale of veterinary products in the UK."

Harvey, whose freight company had a lucrative Formula One contract, ran into tax problems in 2006 and owed £41,000 VAT.

He was then introduced to 'Eurovet' boss Ronald Meddes, 73, who was a well-known local personality involved in local hunts and the horse community and agreed to get involved in the business.

Harvey became the company director of BEDRA and his wife Debbie the company secretary, but it was simply a front to funnel illegal UK profits to Meddes.

"We are talking here about millions of pounds," said Judge Ainley. "This business was turning over very substantial amounts of money indeed."

Illegal medicines were seized at Dover and Harvey's forged signature was discovered on paperwork, resulting in him being quizzed on April 3 2007 by the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) at a motorway service station.

Despite this scare Harvey continued laundering criminal cash for Meddes who told him BEDRA would never file accounts and be struck-off the company register.

"There is no evidence Mr. Harvey had ever been involved in sharp practise before, but he was invited to enter in an underhand business and he knew it," ruled the Judge.

"He knew he was dealing with a crook prepared to forge his signature and use his company to transfer illicit veterinary products.

"He is in it up to his neck and permitted BEDRA to trade and launder money to the Meddes accounts."

Student Tragically Killed By Hit-And-Run Driver

A 20 year-old student jogger was "catapulted into the air" and tragically killed by a speeding hit-and-run driver who tried to dodge justice by secretly repairing his damaged BMW, a jury were told today.

Bristol University history student Lizzie Beach-MacGeagh,(pic.top) originally from Marlborough, Wiltshire, had only arrived in London two days earlier for work experience with Italian fashion house Moschino.

She was struck crossing Netherlands Road, East Barnet, North London at 8.08pm on June 16, last year - leaving bloodstained debris - and despite an emergency operation that same day at the Royal Free Hospital, died of a brain haemorrhage.

Driver Aryeris Angelis, 26,(pic.bottom) of Tewkesbury Terrace, New Southgate, has pleaded not guilty to causing death by careless driving and also denies doing an act intending and with intent to pervert the course of justice between June 15 and 25, namely taking steps to have damage to his BMW repaired.

Prosecutor Mr. Timothy Devlin told Wood Green Crown Court an eye-witness estimated Angelis's speed at 45mph - the limit in the area was 30mph - and a woman described him as driving "too fast."

Lizzie had been jogging in a nearby park with university pal Joshua Alford, who she was staying with in The Hook, Oakleigh Park, when they split because he was going to a local gym.

"She crossed the road at the logical place to do so, having broke off from him," explained Mr. Devlin. "She was wearing headphones, but whether she was listening to music we do not know."

Motorists are warned by the words 'Slow' painted in the road the the prosecution say local man Angelis must have known there would be pedestrians around due to a parade of shops and a tube station.

"As she crossed the road she was struck on the right side by Mr. Angelis's blue BMW," explained Mr. Devlin. "She was thrown into the air and landed on the pavement, striking her head. Sadly she died.

"The car was seen to slow down further up the road and then drive off."

The witness who told police Angelis was driving at 45mph also told officers: "She seemed to freeze for a second and then there was a massive bang and bits of car in the air."

Despite witness appeals in the area local man Angelis did not come forward and drove his damaged BMW across London to a Auto Prestige, Brockley, who later tipped off police.

A pal of the defendant's also quizzed him about the damage. "He was told by Mr. Angelis that he had the sun in his eyes, he hit something, but did not know what happened."

When quizzed by police the defendant mostly answered "no comment", but offered a short explanation. "He said to police he did not realise he had hit anyone, he thought he clipped a wing mirror."

The trial is expected to last two weeks.

Bogus Vet Up To His Old Tricks

A notorious fake vet has admitted continuing to trade in illegal animal medicines after he was released from prison for a similar scam.

Leonard 'Ginger' French, 73, of Tall Trees, Station Road, Langworth, Lincolnshire - who has changed his name by deed poll to Lee Wilson - was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment in August 2007.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to six charges of unlawfully importing unauthorised veterinary medicines; six counts of supplying them and four counts of possessing them on various dates between July 16 2008 and February 22 this year.

He was bailed until September 9 for sentencing.

French (pictured) was prosecuted by the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) after he was linked to a French-based £6m veterinary medicine scam - Europe's biggest-ever.

Four years ago he was jailed after a BBC undercover reporter proved he was illegally treating pets and administering illegal drugs - pocketing £170,000 from dog owners, companies and hunts.

Plastic Surgeon Cleared Of Double Sex Attack At Clinic

A top plastic surgeon, whose clinic specialises in breast enlargements and liposuction, has been cleared by a jury of fondling a female job applicant and a patient during one-on-one meetings at his private surgery.

Jahangir Taghipour, 61, who founded Doctors Makeover in 2000 and is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England had been accused of repeatedly stroking the women and talking about his sex life.

Taghipour, of Uxbridge Road, Pinner, North-West London had pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault on March 22 and September 21, last year at the clinic in Marsh Road, Pinner.

Prosecutor Mr. Daniel Fugallo told Harrow Crown Court the first victim was a job applicant interviewed by married Dr. Taghipour (pictured).

"He stroked her arm, stroked her face, told her he was still sexually active and rubbed his crotch," said the prosecutor.

He also kissed the woman on the cheek leaving her "feeling shaken and very confused."

The victim drove home and called the police, but officers took no further action.

The second victim, a regular patient, was receiving a chemical facial peel from the doctor.

"In the course of administering that treatment the defendant's behaviour was inappropriate," Mr. Fugallo told the jury.

"He stroked her arm and held her hand, rubbed her neck and told her she was beautiful and asked if she had a boyfriend."

The doctor then ordered the woman to remove her jumper.

"He moved his hand under the T-shirt to touch the area of her chest under her right arm.

"When the defendant started to stroke her inner thigh she protested and he claimed she misunderstood him and he was married."

She returned the following day because her face was discoloured. "The defendant gave her little reassurance.

"It culminated in the defendant losing his temper and telling her to get out."

The victim later received a threatening letter from Dr. Taghipour.

"He was critical of her conduct in the surgery and threatened to call the police if she returned."

But defence barrister Isabella Forghall suggested the patient, who cannot be named for legal reasons, may have been unhappy with the procedure and “so furious about her treatment that she embroidered what happened into an allegation of sexual assault”.

The defendant told jurors the woman came back the following day and confronted him angrily, saying: “Just touch me, see what I can do. Just touch me. I have sent my husband to prison, I'll send you to prison.”

The woman is pursuing separate action in relationship to the treatment and Miss Forghall claimed the sexual assault allegation was made up to supplement it.

Miss Forghall claimed the jobseeker’s evidence was unreliable but did not accuse her of malice and said it was not unexpected that Mr Taghipour would face two separate false allegations.

The lawyer told jurors: “Mr Taghipour is a doctor, 85 per cent of his patients are women.

“He's dealing with his clients in relation to intimate, personal concerns in which their self esteem is deeply involved, you may think.

“Probably some of these clients are normal members of the public with a lump that they may want sorted out. Many of his clients have issues with confidence.

“You may think that at least some of the women who come back and back for surgical operations to their appearances are bound to be people who with the greatest respect to them are a bit unhappy with life, neurotic maybe.”

Dr. Taghipour is a former employee of North West London Hospitals NHS Trust and is also a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh and a member of the Panel of Intercollegiate Examiners at the Royal College of Surgeons.

Solicitor Admits £1M Olympic Property Fraud

A disgraced criminal defence solicitor pleaded guilty yesterday to a £1 million-plus mortgage scam involving six East London properties located near the Olympic Stadium.

Solicitor Elena Quinlivan, 34,(pictured) who does not currently hold an official practicing certificate worked for Ilford-based St. Law after qualifying on May 15 2008.

She pleaded guilty to seven counts of conspiring with others to obtain money transfers in sums of £166,000; £198,249; £171,000; £142,000; £228,000; £204,000 and £223,250 on various dates between January 1 2003 and March 27 2005.

The charges relate to 47 Louise Road; 54 Glenavon Road; 26 Simmons Walk and 108 Geere Road, Stratford; 180 Sherrard Road, Forest Gate and an address in Plaistow.

She was represented at Southwark Crown Court by leading human rights solicitor Imran Khan who successfully argued she should remain on unconditional bail despite now residing with her husband and one year-old child in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

"The defendant came back voluntarily to face these charges and she has been back to America since," the lawyer told the court.

Bailing Quinlivan until a sentencing date to be fixed Judge Stephen Robbins said: "If she was unwise enough not to return there is an extradition treaty between this country and America and she would find herself languishing in prison in America.

"She would be deported here and languish in a prison here."

Mini-Cab Murder: Police Offer £20K Reward And Release CCTV

Police have offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer of a South-East London mini-cab driver - found dying next to his car with serious head injuries a year ago.

Plumstead father-of-two Michael Okonko-Nwoso, 49, was attacked in Cookhill Road, Abbey Wood just before 5:00am on June 19, last year.

The doors of his silver Ford Galaxy mini-cab were open, but valuable items such as the Sat-Nav were still in the car.



Michael was rushed to hospital suffering from head injuries, but died later that day.



Detective Chief Inspector Dave Manning who is leading the investigation for the Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC), said: “Almost a year on from Michael’s death we are no closer to establishing a motive for his murder.



“However, what we do know is that Michael was a law-abiding hardworking family man who died whilst going about his every day business.

“He has left behind his wife Catherine and two young daughters who are devastated without him.



“We know that he was in the Sewell Road area shortly after 04:30hrs on the day he died.



“We are still very keen to speak to anybody who was in Sewell Road or Cookhill Road anytime between 04:00hrs and 05:00hrs.



“I am now particularly keen to speak to a man captured on CCTV (pic.bottom) running along the parade of shops between 4:42hrs and 4:44hrs in Eynsham Drive, Abbey Wood, around the time Michael was injured as they may have vital information.

“I would urge anyone who recognizes the man to contact the police.”



The suspect is light-skinned and wore a red t-shirt, blue jeans and white trainers.

Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact the incident room on 020 8721 4054 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.



On June 19, 2010 a 27-year-old man and a 28-year-old man were arrested in connection with the investigation, and subsequently bailed to return pending further investigation.

They were later eliminated from the murder inquiry.



On August 18 2010 a 34-year-old man was arrested in connection with the investigation, and subsequently bailed to return pending further investigation.

He was later released with no further action at this time. 



On January 19 a 19-year old man who was arrested on suspicion of the murder was re-bailed to a later date pending further enquiries.

Ripped-Off Drug Dealers Jailed For Deadly Late-Night Revenge Attack

Two men defending a cannabis-growing operation have been jailed for attacking a popular local club promoter – killed by a frenzied gang described as “like a pack of wolves.”

Daniel Herbert, 27,(pic.top) was beaten and shot in the head execution-style while screaming: “Help me, help me,” in Clements Road, Bermondsey, South-East London on August 17, 2009.

Bobby Winser, 22,(pic.middle) of Eldridge Court, Rouel Road, Rotherhithe and Michael Campbell, 25,(pic.bottom) of Jago Walk, Camberwell, were both sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for grievous bodily harm.

They were both cleared of murdering Daniel by an Old Bailey jury.

The pair’s cannabis factory based in a room at Winser’s flat had been burgled on several occasions by Daniel’s associates with plants, money and electrical equipment stolen.

Just before 2am Daniel walked past Winser's home unaware his ‘friends’ had broken in again earlier that evening.

The defendants and two other men chased Daniel through the back streets of Bermondsey, eventually catching up with him in a quiet residential road.

The chasing pack repeatedly and ferociously punched, kicked and stamped on his head as he lay on the ground defenceless and overwhelmed by his attackers; described by an eye witness as “like a pack of wolves.”

Daniel’s semi conscious body was pulled up from the ground by the scruff of his neck, a gun placed at the side of his head and he was shot at close range.

A passer-by in a car witnessed the beating Daniel suffered and tried to intervene, but fled in fear for her life after being threatened with a gun.

Daniel was rushed to the Royal London Hospital, where he died on August 18.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head.

It was recorded that Daniel’s head and brain injuries sustained in the attack could equally have resulted in his death.

The weapon was not found, but detectives believe it was originally a non-lethal weapon that had been converted to fire live ammunition.

Winser and Campbell were captured on CCTV leaving the scene of the crime and driving down the A21 via Hastings to Eastbourne to hide-out with relatives who gave police a bogus alibi.

Daniel's mother Androula Herbert, 48, said: “The death of my son has left me and my family devastated. I have lost a wonderful son and I will miss having him around everyday for the rest of my life.

“I miss our chats and our laughter. I miss our hugs. I miss him saying I love you mum. I miss the sound of his voice, which I worry that I am going to forget in time.

“My family and I will never get over this, but we will try to move on and cherish the time Daniel spent with us.

“The Herbert family cannot express enough our gratitude towards the police investigation team for all the hours of relentless work and dedication they have put in over the last twenty-one months. We are truly grateful.”

Legal Aid Fund Raided By Lawyer And Associates' Bogus Claims

A criminal defence solicitor and two legal associates plotted together to cheat the Legal Aid fund out of over £300,000 by ruthlessly inflating and forging every possible expense, a jury were told.

"These three defendants all had a financial incentive to maximise the claims and in a clearly fraudulent scheme they massaged and amended every category of expense claimable in their financial favour," prosecutor Mrs Janet Weeks told Croydon Crown Court.

Solicitor Reuben Ewujowoh, 44, of Blythe Vale, Catford,South-East London, boss of Rae and Co.(pictured) of Trinity Street, Southwark even claimed for 26 hours work in a single day and also forged travel expenses and other costs.

His two co-defendants are: legal executive Lloyd McDonald, 68, of Collins Avenue, Sutton In Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, and costs draughtsman Robert Odong, 33, of Bevin Court, Cruickshank Street, Gray's Inn, Islington, North London.

All three have pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation in relation to two criminal trials and Ewujowoh alone denies one alternative count of fraud in relation to the second trial.

It is alleged the three defendants plotted together between August 2 2007 and August 26 2008 to defraud Legal Aid in the case of Tsafack, which was heard at Leicester Crown Court and between July 30 2007 and August 26 2008 in the case of Rutayisere at Luton Crown Court.

The plot was exposed, the jury were told, by chance when the same Legal Aid determining officer happened to be working on claims for both trials.

"She immediately noticed in the case of Tsafack it was far in excess of claims by others solicitors who represented other defendants in the same case," said Mrs Weeks.

In fact, Ewujowoh claimed 111 hours more preparation time than any other solicitor instructed.

"There was, in her opinion, clear evidence of fraudulent claims. Much of which were false and forged."

McDonald brought the two cases with him when joining Rae and Co. and stood to receive 40%-50% of all fees paid by Legal Aid.

"He attended Leicester Crown court from his home in the Midlands, but they claimed as if he had commuted each day from London and submitted forged taxi receipts," explained Mrs Weeks.

Odong is a freelance costs draughtsman who stood to receive 5% of the Legal Aid payment, the court was told.

"He appears to be responsible for hand-written alterations to attendance notes and taxi receipts."

A total of £163,769 was claimed for the Tsafack case - more than double any other solicitor - even though Ewujowoh had been instructed for up to nine months less than the other lawyers.

All preparation work was charged at the Category A rate of £167.25 per hour and a 200% uplift was successfully claimed on further expenses due to the complexity of the work.

"Mr. Ewujowoh is claiming to work more than twenty-four hours in a twenty-four hour period, claiming twenty-six hours day after day after day," said Mrs Weeks.

"The Crown say they sought to get as much as they could, the maximum out of these cases, but what caught them out is that they have done it for two cases side by side and there are not enough hours in the day.

"This was systematic fraudulent claiming."

The trial continues.............

Plastic Surgeon Groped Jobseeker and Patient

A top plastic surgeon, whose clinic specialises in breast enlargements and liposuction, fondled a female job applicant and a patient during one-on-one meetings at his private surgery, a jury were told today.

Jahangir Taghipour, 61,(pictured) who founded Doctors Makeover in 2000 and is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England repeatedly stroked the women and talked about his sex life.

Taghipour, of Uxbridge Road, Pinner, North-West London has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault on March 22 and September 21, last year at the clinic (pictured) in Marsh Road, Pinner.

Prosecutor Mr. Daniel Fugallo told Harrow Crown Court the first victim was a job applicant interviewed by married Dr. Taghipour.

"He stroked her arm, stroked her face, told her he was still sexually active and rubbed his crotch," said the prosecutor.

He also kissed the woman on the cheek leaving her "feeling shaken and very confused."

The victim drove home and called the police, but no further action was taken by officers.

The second victim, a regular patient, was receiving a chemical facial peel from the doctor.

"In the course of administering that treatment the defendant's behaviour was inappropriate," Mr. Fugallo told the jury.

"He stroked her arm and held her hand, rubbed her neck and told her she was beautiful and asked if she had a boyfriend."

The doctor then ordered the woman to remove her jumper.

"He moved his hand under the T-shirt to touch the area of her chest under her right arm.

"When the defendant started to stroke her inner thigh she protested and he claimed she misunderstood him and he was married."

She returned the following day because her face was discoloured. "The defendant gave her little reassurance.

"It culminated in the defendant losing his temper and telling her to get out."

The victim later received a threatening letter from Dr. Taghipour.

"He was critical of her conduct in the surgery and threatened to call the police if she returned."

Dr. Taghipour is a former employee of North West London Hospitals NHS Trust and is also a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh and a member of the Panel of Intercollegiate Examiners at the Royal College of Surgeons.

Trial continues.......