Men Linked To Church And Undertakers Firm Deny Sexually Abusing Choirboys

Phillip Tuffill

A group of six paedophiles, linked to a notorious church organist and choirmaster, were involved in sexually abusing four young boys who were "groomed" with alcohol, pornography and other treats, a jury were told today.

The families of the boys were unaware the youngsters, all aged from six to fourteen years-old, were being preyed upon, Croydon Crown Court heard, until decades later and one by one they reported the abuse of the defendants.

They are: IT company director and former funeral director Phillip Tuffill, 55, of Mill Lane, Merstham, Redhill.

Gerald Heather, 65, of Nolan Close, Swindon.

Timothy Fuller, 53, of Herd Street, Stoke-on-Trent.

Robert Lawty, 55, of Adams Croft, Brookwood, Woking.

Ian Coulthart, 62, of Kingswood Flats, Kingswood Street, Brighton.

Mark Jales, 51, of High Beech Farmhouse, Lower Godney, Wells.

"This concerns serious allegations of sexual abuse by these adult men on teenage and young boys in the seventies and eighties," prosecutor Miss Rosina Cottage QC told the jury.

Gerald Heather

The boys attended St. Bartholemew's Primary School, Sydenham and sang in the St. Bartholemew's Church choir, which was run by convicted pedophile Tony Brockhurst, a funeral director who killed himself approximately five years ago, aged 80.

Tuffill, who shared a house with Fuller in Gowland Place, Beckenham, was an employee of the same undertakers - H Copeland & Sons - and Jales was one of the drivers.

Tuffill, Heather and Coulthart were all members of the choir.

One former choirboy was abused by all of the defendants, the jury were told, having been initially groomed by Brockhurst when aged only eleven years-old.

"He was a lonely little boy looking for warmth and attention and was groomed, including being given alcohol, and abused for three years," explained Miss Cottage.

"Tuffill began to abuse him a year after he joined the choir," she added, informing the jury the defendant had sex with the boy after inviting him to his home where he was given alcohol and treated to a chinese meal.

"The boy thought it was his purpose and the way of his relationships with these men.

Timothy Fuller

"They were men trusted by the parents, they were connected to the church and the choir and there was no question about their integrity.

"They learned how to choose their victims and groom them so they would not say: 'no'."

Heather picked up and hugged the same boy - who felt the defendant was aroused - during the choir's camping trip to Wales and he also took the youngster bowling before eventually taking him to the bedroom of his Streatham home and having sex.

"The abuse became such a way of life he thought nothing of it and did not tell anyone."

Fuller was convicted in 1987 of gross indecency with a boy and in 1985 of indecently assaulting brothers, aged eleven and twelve years-old, the jury were told.

"He is a man sexually attracted to children," said Miss Cottage. "He has a history of abusing boys and sexually assaulted the first complainant in this case as well."

The jury were told Tuffill asked Fuller: "Why don't you try him out?" and soon afterwards the boy was plied with alcohol by the defendant, who then had sex with him.

"It happened several times over the next few months."

Robert Lawty

The same boy was introduced at a party to married cook Lawty, a friend of Tuffill's. "He was plied with alcohol, red wine, and Lawty also drank."

The court heard Lawty had sex with the youngster and told him: "Once you're in the ring, we've got you."

Miss Cottage added: "Lawty also asked him if he would have sex with his wife."

Coulthart also had sex with the boy, who complained it "hurt" and recalled one occasion when the defendant and Brockhurst had their way with him at a cottage near Royal Tunbridge Wells.

"He knew what was going to happen, but did not complain because he was use'd to it by this time. Each man took it in turns with the boy on the carpet in front of the fire."

The boy was also taken by Jales to his then flat opposite the funeral directors, where he had sex with him and stayed the night. "He describes him as smelling of b.o.

"He felt numb and used. There had been no treats and he did not return to Jales and thought him weird and dirty."

Ian Coulthart

The second victim, another chorister, was groomed by Tuffill, who showed him pornography from Amsterdam and abused him in his own home when he was just eleven years-old, the court heard.

The boy remembers Heather as the driver of a mini-bus when the choristers were taken swimming or ten-pin bowling and as someone who would treat them to a chinese meal.

"He remembers Heather as profoundly religious with the church," said the prosecutor, adding the defendant put his hand under the boy's duvet and abused him while he was lying in his own bed.

Churchgoer Jales - described by the boy as a "hanger-on" - had laid out pornography on the bed before undressing the youngster and abusing him. "It was furtive and it was squalid," recalled the complainant.

Mark Jales

His younger brother fell into the clutches of Tuffill aged just six years-old. "He groomed and abused him," said Miss Cottage.

"Tuffill started touching him before he even joined the choir. He would pull down the child's pyjama bottoms."

The complainant recalls being abused on both days of a trip to Cheddar Gorge when he stayed at a bed and breakfast with Tuffill.

A fourth complainant came forward and reported he had also been abused by Tuffill.

Tuffill has pleaded not guilty to two sample counts of buggery in relation to the first boy; three counts of indecent assault in relation to the second boy; six counts of indecent assault in relation to the third boy and two counts of indecent assault in relation to the fourth boy.

Heather denies one count of buggery in relation to the first boy and two counts of indecent assault in relation to the second boy.

Fuller, Lawty, Coulthart and Jales deny two counts of buggery in relation to the first boy and Jales alone denies an additional charge of indecently assaulting the second boy.

All the counts span from January 14, 1977 to October 27, 1986.

Trial continues…………… 

Radical Muslim Sent Terror Literature To Prisoner

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court

A supporter of convicted terrorists all over the world helped radicalise a serving prisoner by sending extreme jihadi literature - which encouraged global violence - to a muslim-convert, a jury has heard.

Usman Choudhary, 33, of Terry Street, Dudley and Christopher Weston, 26, of Bretton, Peterborough communicated while the latter was serving a sentence at HMP Swaleside, Kent.

Choudhary has pleaded not guilty to two counts of distributing terrorist literature, with intent to encourage acts of terrorism, and Weston has pleaded not guilty to one count of encouraging or assisting the offence.

Prosecutor Miss Alison Morgan told Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court: "From at least 2011 to the time of his arrest Choudhary appears to have taken a keen interest in providing support, both in words and deeds, to many individuals convicted of terrorist offences in this country and abroad.

"He has engaged in prolific correspondence with numerous prisoners who fall into that category. He has sent them money and has offered to and sent them books, CD's, DVD's and literature."

The jury were told Weston told the prison authorities on November 18, 2011 that he was changing his religion from Roman Catholic and on August 19, last year applied for Choudhary's telephone number to be added to his allocated account.

On October 1, last year a parcel containing the book 'Join the Caravan' plus 9 DVD's arrived via recorded delivery at HMP Swaleside addressed to Weston - showing Choudhary as the sender.

Staff had concerns about the book's content and it was collected by the Police Prison Liaison Officer who handed it over to the West Midlands Police Counter-Terrorism Unit.

Police raided Chaudhary's home at 7am on December 12 and he was arrested.

"A search was then carried out and a number of books, other literature and correspondence with prisoners were recovered," explained Miss Morgan. "A computer and mobile telephone were also recovered during the course of the search."

The jury were told "extreme ideology" was found on the desktop computer, in particular a text called: 'Thirty-nine Ways to Serve and Participate in Jihad' which gives instructions about physical training with a view to fighting.

Chaudhary's mobile phone also contained an image of a man holding up a decapitated head and he routinely scribbled out the image of the Queen on stamped correspondence he received.

Police also seized a DVD, which included footage of a suicide bomber preparing to carry out an attack, added Miss Morgan. "There is a section encouraging martyrdom in Palestine.

"In short, it glorifies suicide bombing, contains anti-Western sentiment and seeks to encourage people to become martyrs."

Weston's cell was searched on the same day and it was discovered another prisoner passed his details to a group supporting jailed terrorists and suspects in Germany.

In a seized letter the defendant supported the views of notorious radical muslims Abu Hamza and Anjem Choudhary and regarding the killing of soldier Lee Rigby, wrote: "I ask you to consider how much innocent blood did he have on his hands?

"Does it make me an extremist to call the people who killed Lee Rigby my brothers?"

Weston was arrested on January 16 and like his co-defendant answered: "no comment" to all questions.

Regarding 'Join the Caravan' Miss Morgan said: "The prosecution allege that it can be described as a terrorist publication."

It was written by Sheikh Abdullah Azzam and the prosecution say was used to recruit fighters for the Afghan conflict of the late seventies and early eighties.

"The author encouraged unrestricted jihad in the book…..It is an instruction to 'Join the Caravan' of mujahideen and martyrs.

"It introduces the theme of total commitment to violent struggle and the eschewing of peaceful resistance, negotiation or protest.

"It is alleged that it emphatically encourages, from the outset, out and out violence with no scope for peaceful resolution.

"Our law defines terrorism as serious violence, or the threat of violence, pursued for a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.

"Violence used to perpetuate a global jihad would fall into this description."

Trial continues…………

Ex-Public Schoolboy Harry Lineker Banned For Drink-Driving

Drink-Driver: Harry Lineker

The son of BBC presenter and former England footballer Gary Lineker has been fined and banned for drink-driving after being arrested while looking for an early-morning McDonald's after three pints the night before.

Jobless Harry Lineker, 20, of Titlarks Hill, Ascot, Berkshire, told Hammersmith Magistrates Court he has been out of work for two years, but hopes to pursue a sports or football journalism career within the BBC.

He was arrested three months ago after being stopped in Smugglers Way, Wandsworth - an industrial area just south of the river Thames at 5am on a saturday due to his "erratic" driving.

He pleaded guilty to driving his 2010 silver VW Polo with excess alcohol in his blood - namely 86 milligrammes - and was fined £500, with £85 costs, was ordered to pay a £50 victim surcharge and was disqualified for twelve months.

The legal limit is 80.

Prosecutor Mr. Darren Watts told the court: "At approximately five am a silver VW Polo was seen by officers driving in an erratic manner.

"The vehicle was seen sideways across the road half-way down. The vehicle performed a multiple turn manoeuvre and the officers followed it a distance.

"The driver cut the corner of a roundabout and continued driving with the wheels over the lane dividers."

Police then stopped the car. "The driver of the vehicle had a strong smell of alcohol coming from him and he admitted he had had a drink."

Lineker failed the roadside breath-test and was arrested at 5.20am and taken to Hammersmith Police Station, where he was given the blood option.

Michelle Cockayne & Harry Lineker Arrive

Wearing a blue suit, white shirt and yellow tie Lineker, who arrived with his mother Michelle Cockayne, 48, told the court: "I had three pints with some friends the night before and went back to their house.

"I drove three hours later to get some food at McDonald's at the roundabout. I thought I was fine.

"I was obviously driving fairly erratically, but I thought I was fine. I was surprised when I was pulled over."

Lineker described himself as a student despite finishing his A levels two years ago and not going to university. He did not give details of any employment or experience in journalism despite his high ambitions of landing a job at the beeb.

"I'm trying to get a job in sport, this year. Looking for work.

"Anything in sport. I'm looking for different experiences. Trying to get a job at the BBC and journalism, any sport, preferably with football.

"I live with my mum," he told the court. "I don't get an allowance, I live at home and if I go out I get some money.

"I'm sorry, I apologise, i thought I was fine."

McDonald's, Smugglers Way

Deputy District Judge Devinder Sandhu told the first-time offender: "You have been incredibly foolish. The court takes drink-driving offences incredibly seriously.

"The consequences of people like you that drink and drive can be that people lose their lives and it is fortunate that there was not an accident or that you or anyone else were injured through your driving.

"Thankfully it was saturday morning and five am and there would not have been many people about at the time." 

Harry is a former-pupil of £34,000-a-year Charterhouse school, where he played up front for the football team and scored in a 2-0 win over Eton in 2011's Boodles Independent Schools Football Association Cup.

He is the second-eldest of the four son's Gary has with ex-wife Michelle, the other siblings are George, 22, Tobias, 18 and Angus, 16.

Ironically, Gary, 53, said earlier this year he keeps tabs on his two oldest son's driving with electronic 'black box' recorders he had fitted to their vehicles.

"Every now and again I will suddenly see something where they are driving too fast or they are braking too sharply," he explained.

Harry had a twitter dig at his famous father's ITV rival, presenter Adrian Chiles, during the World Cup, tweeting on June 16: "Adrian Chiles just doesn't have a clue. A presenter that hasn't played the sport is not a ting (sic)."

Drink-Driver Who Killed Motorcyclist Jailed

A boozy driver, who killed a motorcyclist while driving his company pick-up truck without permission, has been jailed for seven years and four months.

Portuguese national Eleuterio Da Silva-Dias, 36, of Ashmead Road, Feltham cut across 34 year-old Krzysztof Dyagasiewicz in Bath Road, Hayes on June 6.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to causing death by careless driving while over the drink-drive limit and aggravated taking and driving away of the white VW vehicle.

He was also disqualified from driving for ten years.

Police were called at 9.09pm to reports of collision between a black Suzuki motorcycle and the pickup driven by the defendant.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.



It was established the vehicle Da Silva-Dias was driving turned right at speed in front of Mr. Dyagasiewicz's motorbike causing the collision.

Da Silva-Dias was arrested at the scene.



Detective Sergeant Jane Mallet of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said:

"The careless actions of Da Silva-Dias while behind the wheel of a vehicle has resulted in the death of an innocent man.



"While nothing can replace the loss of Krzysztof, I hope this sentencing goes some way to providing closure to his friends and family."



Early-Morning Sex Predator Raped And Robbed Woman Walking To Work

An early-morning sexual predator, who targeted a woman walking to work – forcing her to perform a sex act on him and robbing her – has been locked-up for seven years.

Steven Dunne, 24, of Copleston Mews, Peckham pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court to one count of oral rape and one count of robbery.

The court heard the 27 year-old victim was walking along Surrey Quays Road, Canada Water at 6.45am on November 10,last year when Dunne suddenly began following her.

The defendant, who was wearing a hooded top, suddenly rushed at the woman, grabbed her, and forced her from the street into bushes.

He orally raped her, robbed her of cash, and also threatened to kill her during the ordeal.

Dunne made off from the scene, threatening the victim that she should remain in the bushes until for five minutes after he had gone.

Once she was sure Dunne had left the scene, the victim reported the incident to police.

The victim was supported after her ordeal by trained officers from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command and staff at Haven.

Officers obtained DNA evidence which matched that of Steven Dunne.

Dunne was arrested on November 15 and charged the same day.

PC Carol Day said: "Steven Dunne committed a violent and terrifying rape on a woman walking to her workplace in the early hours of the morning.

“The victim in this case was traumatised by the attack, but with support has found the determination to see her attacker sent to prison for a long time."

Detective Inspector Faye Churchyard said: "The victim was subjected to the terrifying ordeal that all women fear, being attacked alone on a deserted street.

“She has seen justice today in the conviction of the man who attacked her.

“We hope this sends a strong message to all victims that they will be supported and that justice will prevail.

There may be others Steven Dunne has attacked and I urge them to come forward and tell us what has happened to them." 

Night Bus Sex Beast Caged

A wannabe rapist, who pounced on a lone woman who fell asleep on a night bus and missed her stop, has been locked-up for ten years.

Delroy Bryan, 48, used his mobile phone to take images up the 22 year-old victim's skirt as she snoozed on the N47 bus as it travelled through south-east London in the early hours.

She had enjoyed an evening out in London with friends on June 8, last year and after missing her stop was befriended by Bryan, who promised to help get her home safely.

They both got of the bus at St. Mary Cray railway station at approximately 6:00am and the defendant offered to walk her to the correct stop. 



In a secluded park off Sevenoaks Way he punched the victim to the ground, ripped her tights and placed his weight on top of her. 



He smothered the victim so that she couldn't breath, but the victim mustered the strength to fight him off and shouted for help. 



A passing dog walker came to her aid and Bryan ran off and police called. 



Several days later a PCSO from St Mary Cray recognised Bryan from images circulated from bus CCTV and he was arrested on June 13.

He was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court of attempted rape, sexual assault and outraging public decency.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

Facebook Paedo Who 'Groomed' 13 Year-Old Girl Is Jailed

An online sexual predator, who groomed a 13 year-old girl on Facebook after meeting her socially, has been jailed for eighteen months.

Georgi Ivanov, 19, of Welford Road, Creaton, Northamptonshire befriended the under-age teen on the social network and turned their conversations to sex.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to two counts of sexual activity with a child.

Detective Constable Sue McKenzie, from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "The victim is a vulnerable child who was sexually abused by Ivanov, an older man.

“She has suffered considerable harm as a result of what happened to her and it will take time to recover fully.



"I commend her courage for seeing this investigation through to the end and I hope this outcome will encourage other children who are being groomed and exploited to tell someone what is happening so we can protect them and other children."



The victim met Ivanov in 2013 while out with a friend.



They became Facebook friends and Ivanov's conversation with her quickly became sexual even though it was clear from her profile she was just thirteen.


He invited her to his flat and, with little or no preamble, had sex with her.



Afterwards he expressed concerns, via their discussions on Facebook, that the police could come after him due to her being underage.



However, this did not deter him from meeting her on several more occasions to have sex with her.



On Monday, 9 December 2013 the victim was reported missing.

Officers attended Ivanov's address and he denied the victim was there, but when officers searched his then flat, at High Street, Penge, they found her along with evidence they had just had sex.



Ivanov initially denied knowing the victim was under age, only pleading guilty when faced with the overwhelming evidence gathered from the social networking site.



Detective Inspector Jim Pryde added: "It is not acceptable for older men to pray on children for their own sexual gratification.

“The defendant knew the victim's age yet continued to abuse her believing he would get away with it.



"I believe there may be other children who have been abused by Georgi Ivanov.

“I urge them to come forward and, for that matter, any victim of sexual abuse.

“We have specially trained officers who work closely with our partner agencies and will provide support."



Anyone with information about Ivanov can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Justice Catches Up With Paedophile Rapist

A Merseyside rapist was sentenced to eight years imprisonment today for the historic sexual abuse of a girl he groomed from the 1970's.

Bar worker William Ashton, 54, of Breccia Gardens, St. Helens initially preyed on the girl when she was aged just six or seven years-old then resumed the abuse when she was sixteen or seventeen.

She was one of three women who came forward and made complaints about sex attacks between 1972 and 1985 and Ashton was acquitted of abusing the other two.

“This rape took place at the end of a lengthy period of grooming which started when she was six or seven years-old,” prosecutor Miss Caroline Carberry told Croydon Crown Court.

Ashton, denied, but was convicted by a jury of two sample counts of indecently assaulting the victim in Cantrill Farm, Liverpool between 1972 and 1974 then two counts of indecently assaulting her again and raping her at an address in Brunswick Road, Sutton, south-west London between 1982 and 1985.

Recorder Stuart Trimmer QC told Ashton, who was acquitted at Liverpool Crown Court last year of sexually assaulting a 17 year-old girl: “When she was aged six or seven for two years you regularly used her to masturbate you and gave her money and sweets as a reward.

“You used her for sexual gratification and you took advantage of her trust.”

Regarding the later abuse the recorder added: “You invited her masturbate you and she was a young teenager and because the same thing happened when she was a child you felt that entitled you to start again.

“You came into the bathroom and shut the door behind you which frightened her and you made her touch you. You took her to the bedroom and raped her.

“She was sixteen years-old, but you couldn't care less and you were angry with her because she had not had sex before.”

Ashton was found not guilty of indecently assaulting another girl, who said her breasts were repeatedly groped by the defendant, and she also claimed he forced his hands between her legs as they rode in a lift at a block of flats.

He was also cleared by the jury of four counts of indecent assault relating to the third complainant.

The rape victim told the trial Ashton was “angry” about the fact she had never had sex before, but proceeded anyway, leaving blood on the bed he took her to.

“He told me to lay down, to shut my eyes and it was over,” she told the court. “That was the last time.”

Before the rape she said Ashton “built up to it” by molesting her in a bathroom and putting his fingers inside her.

The defendant claimed the complaints were an “invention” and “false allegation” but each woman denied telling lies, stating it was very dificult to come forward after so many years.

Ashton was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Pub Customer Smashed Window And Slapped Barmaid After Brother Punched Cold

A pub customer working on a funeral eulogy for his best friend ended the evening smashing a window with a metal bucket and slapping a barmaid across the face after his brother was decked outside.

Haulage and waste disposal operator Nigel Sullivan, 45, of Orchard House, Fulmer Lane, Fulmer, Slough began the evening in reflective mood, but went berserk when his sibling was punched unconscious and had to be rushed to hospital.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court to causing £200 worth of criminal damage to the window of the Conningham Arms, Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush on April 26 and assaulting Bridgette Lacey.

Prosecutor Miss Izolda Switala-Gribbin told the court police were called to the pub at 11pm after a fight outside involving the defendant's brother, who suffered injuries.

“The defendant was seen throwing a bucket that was used as an outside ashtray and smashing the window and he slapped Miss Lacey across the face before he was moved away by other members of the public.

“He initially denied assaulting Miss Lacey, saying he would never hit a woman.

“She did complain of pain, but there were no visible injuries.”

The court was told Sullivan had agreed to meet his brother at the pub to reflect on the recent passing of his best friend and talk about the eulogy he was to deliver at the funeral two days later.

Sullivan claims his brother was “viciously assaulted” outside and he became “very upset and angry” that his sibling was lying helpless on the ground out cold and there was no effort to call the emergency services.

He took his anger out on the pub and threw the metal bucket through the window and lashed out at Miss Lacey, believing staff were not co-operating with assisting his brother.

The court also heard father-of-two Sullivan was under personal and professional pressure with his bank recently calling in a £50,000 loan and starting repossession proceedings on the family home.

Bench chairwoman Miss S Dale announced: “You did cause a considerable amount of damage to the window and this was clearly a shocking incident for Miss Lacey.”

Sullivan was conditionally discharged for eighteen months, ordered to pay £200 compensation to the pub, £100 compensation to Miss Lacey, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.  

NOT GUILTY: Retired Journalist Cleared Of Historic Child Abuse

A retired journalist, accused of sexually abusing a “troubled” young boy, who only made his complaint to the police thirty-five years later when prompted by publicity surrounding the Jimmy Savile scandal, has been cleared.

Pensioner Malcolm Stuart, 76, of High Street, Banwell, Avon was found not guilty of molesting the youngster between the ages of twelve and fourteen years-old and on one occasion taking him to a hotel for sex.

Prosecutor Mr. Walton Hornsby told Croydon Crown Court: “The defendant took him to Arsenal football matches and this developed into discussions about sexuality and development and this led to this defendant providing him with a 'wank book' and asked him to write down occasions when he masturbated.

“The boy was given low-level pornographic literature and masturbated himself in front of the defendant and was given monetary presents for writing in the book every time he had masturbated.”

The jury were told this abuse escalated into the boy providing Stuart with oral sex and the complainant – now aged 49 years-old and living in Torquay – told police the defendant once took him to a hotel.

“He was taken to the hotel, told to take his clothes off and bent over a chair,” Mr. Hornsby told the jury, explaining Stuart then attempted to have sex with the boy, who found the experience “excruciatingly painful.”

“The allegations were not disclosed officially until 2012 when the amount of publicity in the Jimmy Savile case chimed with him and provoked him to contact the police and make a statement.

“Before this, on two occasions, he made a brief disclosure to his first wife and to his current wife that he had been sexually abused.

“None of it took place in the presence of anybody else.

“He had been a troubled boy and a troubled man, saying what happened in adolescence has carried on through his life.

“He says that as soon as he expressed a sexual interest in girls the defendant stopped and there appears to have been no contact after that.”

Stuart was traced and arrested by police, who put the complaint to him. “He made a complete denial of any sexual activity.

“He accepted most of the factual background, in that he had taken him to Arsenal football matches and that they had discussed masturbation as a normal avuncular discussion.

“He did accept suggesting a book be kept, but said there was no sexual contact, no payments made or any sexual activity with the complainant.”

Stuart pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecency with a child between November 7, 1976 and November 9, 1978.

He also denied four counts of indecently assaulting the boy between the same dates and committing a further sex act within that period.

Aristocrat Appears In Court Accused Of Knife Row

The great-great-grandson of the Eighth Earl of Scarborough appeared at Hammersmith Magistrates Court yesterday accused of wielding two kitchen knives above his head during a row with his girlfriend.

Hon. James Lumley-Savile, 39, of Stevenage Road, Fulham, indicated not guilty pleas and will appear at Isleworth Crown Court on July 15 for a preliminary hearing after magistrates declined jurisdiction because their sentencing powers are insufficient.

Lumley-Savile - heir to the title Baron Savile - faces two charges of possessing an offensive weapon, at the £800,000 home on May 19 and possession of a small snap bag of cannabis.

The row allegedly began with the girlfriend making a joke about poisoning her father.

The Edinburgh University graduate, who makes his living as an internet marketing entrepreneur, only spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

He was bailed unconditionally.