Sea Cadet Leader Locked-Up For Decade Of Sexual Abuse

A Sea Cadet leader, who abused a 13 year-old boy under his care and continued the assaults for a decade, has received eight years imprisonment.

Michael John Dickson, 44, of Orpington, Kent was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which will control his behaviour on release.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to five counts of indecent assault between 1992 and 2003.

The victim, a former sea cadet, told police about the abuse in December, 2014 and an investigation was launched immediately.

When Dickson was arrested on February 25, 2015 he denied abusing the victim and following a lengthy police investigation he was charged on June 13, this year.

Dickson was suspended from the Sea Cadets on the day of his arrest and has since been dismissed from the service.Detective Constable Mark Tarrant of the Metropolitan Police's Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command said: "I would like to acknowledge the courage of the victim in coming forward.

“He is now aged in his thirties and has coped for many years with a great deal of psychological stress due to the abuse that he suffered.

“Dickson abused his position of trust and groomed a vulnerable boy in order to abuse him.

“Anyone who has been affected by non-recent sexual offences can be assured that all allegations are fully investigated and every effort will be made to bring offenders to justice."

Predatory Handyman Who Ripped-Off Widow Jailed

A “commercially aggressive” handyman, who reduced a vulnerable widow’s life saving from over £70,000 to almost nothing has been jailed for four years.

John Abrahams, 73, preyed on 88 year-old Dorothy Arnold’s fear of strangers and going into care to exploit what was described as a “predatory relationship.”

Recorder Nicola Shannon told him: “It was a growing greed, a growing avarice, a growing ruthlessness that you took money from each and every source available to you.

“You became merciless and were intent on taking everything she had until her savings were extinguished and arrangements were made whereby you would benefit from the sale of her house.” 

Married Abrahams, of Stardust, Genista, Copper Hill, Troon, Camborne was convicted of defrauding the now-deceased Mrs Arnold of £25,650 between January 1 and May 31, 2015.

He was also found guilty to acquiring criminal property, namely £14,200 cash found under his bed when police searched his former home at in Hamlet Court, Village Road, Enfield.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard in the period before the charges Abrahams had received an additional £45,000 from the widow, but this could not be proved as fraudulent.

He was exposed when Mrs Arnold’s stepson found a bogus invoice Abrahams had prepared, purporting the widow agreed to pay him £60 per hour to run simple errands.

Prosecutor Mr. Archie Mackay told the court: “When Mr. Arnold passed away he started to help Mrs Arnold because she was an elderly lady struggling with day-to-day tasks.

“He helped traders fit her kitchen and helped getting food and the like and over four years was in a commercially aggressive relationship.

“Before the indictment period he had taken from her tens of thousands of pounds, which we don’t point to as criminality, but don’t say was a genuine service to an elderly woman.

“By January, 2015 it had become a situation where he was systematically emptying her bank account.

“She was essentially housebound and entirely dependent on Mr. Abrahams.

“He created an environment where she had to rely on him. She was fearful of other routes to assist her and he preyed on that. 

“The spectre of social care was a bogeyman as far as Mrs Arnold was concerned.

“It was a systematic attack on her savings. Pretty much every day he had contact with Mrs Arnold maximum withdrawals were made of seven hundred and fifty pounds a time.

“He left behind bogus invoices as a cover for when her money ran out.

“She had healthy savings that she and her late husband had spent a lifetime accruing to very little.

“Even along the way to the hospital to return her bank cards he could not resist withdrawing another seven hundred and fifty pounds.”

In June, 2015 a psychiatrist confirmed Mrs Arnold had signs of early dementia and when police finally explained the fraud to her she said: “Oh my God. I’m just being used.”

“These events and the shattering of her existence hastened her decline and she passed away before the trial began.

“This stopped only because of her hospitalisation,” added Mr. Mackay, describing it as a “predatory relationship.”

Abrahams, now a self-employed delivery driver, claims he was Mrs Arnold’s “beck and call.”

His lawyer, Mr. John Mitchell said: “It got to the point greed got the better of him…..He says on reflection he is ashamed of what he has done.”

A solicitor halted arrangements whereby Abrahams would benefit from the sale of Mrs Arnold’s £660,000 Kentish Town garden flat, which was destined to finance a property in Cornwall.

“You charged exorbitant rates beyond the work undertaken and what would have been charged by a professional carer,” Recorder Shannon told Abrahams.

“You took advantage of her trust. She did not pay much attention because you were a friend.”

When Mrs Arnold was hospitalised after a fall Abrahams had to fetch her bank cards. “It speaks of your callousness that your first action was to make another withdrawal.

“There are payments and withdrawals in previous years that are not explained and powerful evidence this is not an isolated incident.”

Confiscation proceedings will follow.

Party Hook-Up Arrest A Real Blow

Court In Act: Gallagher & Burrows

An amorous couple, who hooked-up at a boozy house party, were caught engaging in a sex act outside a nearby school by shocked passers-by at 8am on a Tuesday morning.

Three witnesses spotted the male standing with his back to a willow tree, with his female companion on her knees in front of him and called the police.

Painter and decorator Thomas Burrows, 44, and hairdresser Lauren Gallagher, 34, both pleaded guilty to outraging public decency outside Graveney School, Welham Road, Tooting on August 8.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard yesterday the couple got together at 7am at the Bank Holiday party and had been drinking heavily all night.

Burrows, of Smallwood Road, Tooting is currently off work with a slipped disc and Gallagher, of Ipswich Road, Tooting has been a local hair stylist for seventeen years.

Where There's A Will 

He was fined £80 and Gallagher £190. Both were each ordered to pay £80 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Their lawyer Mr. Arif, who refused to give his full name, told the court: “Both are extremely ashamed and deeply sorrowful and both have lost their good character.

“That loss of good character in itself is punishment enough for both of them.

“Both are responsible adults, but acted irresponsibly on this occasion.

“They are friends and met in the pub and they had been drinking and went to a house party.

“They met at 7am and were heavily drunk an unaware of their surroundings and the offence and that three members of the public had seen them.

Prosecutor Miss Jessica Gill said: “They were seen by members of the public engaging in oral sex outside Graveney School.”

Magistrate Mrs M Marriott told them: ‘There are aggravating features, firstly the location being near the school, the time and the presence of others.

“This could have been a lot worse if the children had been around.”

Actor Redmayne's Stalker Gets Suspended Prison Sentence

Stalker Stieger

The stalker, who fell in love with Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne, abandoning her life in Germany to spy on the star, received a suspended prison sentence today.

Mother-of-two Gaby Stieger, 49, watched as he undressed at home and hung around a local park, hoping to spot him as well as following him to movie shoots, premiere’s and his local tube station.

The freelance translator and writer, of Hyde Crescent, Colindale pleaded guilty yesterday to stalking the 35 year-old actor between October 7, 2013 and August 23, this year.

Camberwell Green Magistrates Court heard Stieger convinced herself she had been married to the actor in a previous life.

The final straw was when she approached him in Mint Street Park, Borough, Southwark when he was with his 15 month-old daughter and tried to grab his arm.

Eton-educated Redmayne has been aware of Stieger since she approached him at the Donmar Warehouse Theatre, Covent Garden in 2012 and gifted him a book written in German.

He won an Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA for portraying physicist Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.

London-born Redmayne, who married Hannah Bagshawe in 2014, has also starred in The Danish Girl, Less Miserables and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

The court heard Hannah’s victim impact statement in which she said: “She would frequently be sitting on the wall in the park, watching us coming and going, we felt deeply unsettled.”

Stieger received four months imprisonment, suspended for two years and must obey a restraining order prohibiting her contacting Redmayne and his immediate family and coming within 200 metres of them.

Magistrate Novello Noades announced: “This is a very serious offence, which took place over a period of five years.

“There was significant planning involved, you moved from Germany to London to be near the victim.

Star: Redmayne

“You obtained work in the film industry and near the victim’s home in order to be in proximity to him.

“He told you he was distressed, but you ignored him.”

A court probation officer, Patrick Acres, interviewed the defendant. “Stieger is a sensitive person and she believes in spiritualism.

“She started believing then she had a connection to Eddie Redmayne. She believed in a previous life they were married.

“All she wanted to do was to try and connect with Eddie Redmayne and pass information to him.

“She believed he was going to reject her forcefully. She believed she had a message to give him.” 

It was at the West End premiere of that last film Stieger stalked him again and the actor spotted her behind the crowds.

Prosecutor Miss Sara Ashkboos told the court yesterday their first meeting was at the theatre. “She was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs and gave him a book.”

She was a nuisance on film-sets as she tried to contact the actor again. “She asked for a photo and approached his driver and offered him cake so he would get the actor to sign a birthday card for her daughter.”

Stieger, from Bremen, has two daughters, aged 17 and 19 years-old.

Suspended Sentence: Stieger

She next showed up at an Eton carol service Redmayne was attending with Hannah. “The complainant and his wife felt very uncomfortable and left immediately.”

In a photo taken at the event Stieger is caught staring at Redmayne.

She and her dog became regulars at Mint Street Park, which overlooks the couple’s flat. “The park is opposite the complainant’s home address, the entrance can be seen from the park.”

In May, 2014 she managed to give Redmayne a note, which included her name and number. “She expressed her love and said she was in love with the complainant, but he did not reply.”

The actor also walked off home when Stieger approached him outside his local tube station, asking for a hug and on another occasion approached when he was with a group of friends.

After taking advice form his agent and a solicitor the actor approached Stieger in 2015 with a letter outlining his feelings and asked her to stop following him and this worked for a while.

However, he spotted her at the Leicester Square premiere on November 15, last year.

She was again seen by a local woman, who runs an arts and crafts-style cafe near the star’s home and revealed her deep feelings for the actor.

In his victim impact statement Redmayne says he is happy to share time with fans, but stated: “I regret meeting Gaby Stieger at the Donmar Warehouse.”

“She was spying on my flat, seeing me in a state of undress. 

“The safety of my family means everything to me,” added the star, who said Stieger’s face would “contort with rage” at the mention of his wife.

Actor Eddie Redmayne's Stalker Hell

Stalker Stieger

A stalker, who fell in love with Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne, spied on the star as he undressed at home and hung around a local park, hoping to spot him.

German mum-of-two Gaby Stieger, 49, left her family to pursue the star, following him to movie shoots, premiere’s and his local tube station.

The freelance translator and writer, of Hyde Crescent, Colindale pleaded guilty today to stalking the 35 year-old actor between October 7, 2013 and August 23, this year.

The final straw was when she approached him in Mint Street Park, Borough, Southwark when he was with his 15 month-old daughter and tried to grab his arm.

Eton-educated Redmayne has been aware of Stieger since she approached him at the Donmar Warehouse Theatre, Covent Garden in 2012 and gifted him a book written in German.

He won an Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA for portraying physicist Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.

London-born Redmayne, who married Hannah Bagshawe in 2014, has also starred in The Danish Girl, Les Miserables and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

It was at the West End premiere of that last film Stieger stalked him again and the actor spotted her behind the crowds.

Prosecutor Miss Sara Ashkboos told Camberwell Green Magistrates Court their first meeting was at the theatre. “She was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs and gave him a book.”

She was a nuisance on film-sets as she tried to contact the actor again. “She asked for a photo and approached his driver and offered him cake so he would get the actor to sign a birthday card for her daughter.”

Stieger, from Bremen, has two daughters, aged 17 and 19 years-old.

She next showed up at an Eton carol service Redmayne was attending with Hannah. “The complainant and his wife felt very uncomfortable and left immediately.”

Star: Redmayne

In a photo taken at the event Stieger is caught staring at Redmayne.

She and her dog became regulars at Mint Street Park, which overlooks the couple’s flat. “The park is opposite the complainant’s home address, the entrance can be seen from the park.”

In May, 2014 she managed to give Redmayne a note, which included her name and number. “She expressed her love and said she was in love with the complainant, but he did not reply.”

The actor also walked off home when Stieger approached him outside his local tube station, asking for a hug and on another occasion approached when he was with a group of friends.

After taking advice form his agent and a solicitor the actor approached Stieger in 2015 with a letter outlining his feelings and asked her to stop following him and this worked for a while.

However, he spotted her at the Leicester Square premiere on November 15, last year.

She was again seen by a local woman, who runs an arts and crafts-style cafe near the star’s home and revealed her deep feelings for the actor.

In his victim impact statement Redmayne says he is happy to share time with fans, but stated: “I regret meeting Gaby Stieger at the Donmar Warehouse.”

“She was spying on my flat, seeing me in a state of undress. 

“The safety of my family means everything to me,” added the star, who said Stieger’s face would “contort with rage” at the mention of his wife.

Stieger will be sentenced tomorrow.

Sledgehammer Used In Washing Machine Row

A sledgehammer thug, who battered his neighbour unconscious after accusing him of damaging his washing machine, has been locked-up for eight years.

Paul Hugh Johnson, 54, of Clarence Road, Canning Town, Newham struck the victim – another resident in their shared accommodation – three times across his head and shoulders.

He was found guilty by a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court of grievous bodily harm.

The jury heard that at approximately 10.30pm on Sunday, January 22 the 39-year-old victim was approached by Johnson, who accused him of damaging his washing machine.

Johnson went into his room and used a sledgehammer to hit the man.

As the victim tried to wrestle with Johnson, he grabbed the hammer and fell down the stairs with the weapon.

The victim fell unconscious as he saw Johnson chase after him with a plank of wood.

As the victim lay bleeding at the base of the stairs Johnson returned to his room and played cards with his partner.

Only when the victim regained consciousness was he able to call police.

London Ambulance Service attended and took the victim to an east London hospital where he received six stitches to his forehead.

Johnson was arrested that evening and throughout the interview denied the allegation.

He was charged the following day and remanded in custody at Thames Magistrates Court.

Detective Constable Raf Patel said: "This is a horrible and sustained attack on a fellow resident in the house.

“The victim is still recovering from his ordeal and is grateful to see justice served."

Academic Filmed Up Commuters' Skirts And Down Breasts On Tube

Dr. Strangelove: Richard George Leaves Court

A PhD-qualified researcher prowled London’s Underground taking pictures up female commuters’ skirts and down their tops with his mobile until he was confronted by two outraged women.

Dr. Richard Anthony George, 49, was a regular on four different lines and police found multiple creepy images he had taken when his phone was forensically examined.

The majority of pictures taken were of between women’s legs seated opposite him on the tube, but sometimes he would stand over them and take snaps of their busts.

George, of Westbury Lane, Buckhurst Hill, Essex will return to Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on September 20 for sentencing.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of outraging public decency, namely taking a picture up a woman’s skirt at Leytonstone Underground Station on August 25, last year and taking multiple such pictures between August 4 and August 24.

Prosecutor Miss Olivia Bull told the court: “These offences took place in August, last year. On August twenty-five a woman was travelling on a westbound Central Line Underground train.

“Mr. George was taking taking photos up her skirt, using his mobile phone.”

A second woman saw him and they both challenged George at Leytonstone, where he got off the train.

When police traced his movements via CCTV they identified George via his Oyster card when he tapped in and out, because it was registered to his address.

He was questioned by British Transport Police. “He said he was on the phone and did not take any photos and got off the train because he felt he should not be there with two women and was embarrassed.”

However, police examined his phone and George’s lies were exposed. “It was found to have a number of images of upskirting.”

George continued to try and deceive police, claiming the images were taken of women he dated, who gave their permission.

Upskirt Pics: Dodgy Dr.

“He said he took the photos with their consent and was seeing several girlfriends at the time and took them as a prank, a fetish.”

However, when officers questioned one of George’s supposed girlfriends she discredited his fabricated account.

“She said it was not her and she had met Mr. George, but it was not a date.”

She had met him on August 26, but the upstart image was dated August 12.

Miss Bull said police identified pictures taken on the Central, Metropolitan, District and Circle Lines.

“The photos are taken when females are sitting opposite and their legs are open and there are pictures from above, down low-cut tops.

“He did specifically target women. He’s aimed for up their skirts between their legs.”

Miss Bull successfully argued George must surrender any digital device, capable of taking pictures, to police on request and must have a valid fare on all trains as conditions of bail.

“My job as a prosecutor is to protect members of the public from serious sexual harm,” she told the court.

“The police have made these applications because they have concerns.”

George’s lawyer Miss Emma Stuart-Smith told the court: “The last photo was on October the fifth and most were deleted soon afterwards.

“He stopped that behaviour on his own accord.

“He is a professional man. He took his own course and realised what he was doing was wrong and now he takes a book whenever he travels.

“He is receiving therapy. He is extremely humiliated and remorseful for the position he finds himself in and his behaviour.

“He is extremely sorry and humiliated to be here. The court should not be concerned that he is going to commit any more offences.”

George will return for pre-sentence and psychiatric reports.

Jail For Nitrous Oxide Dealer

A supplier hoping to cash-in on the nitrous oxide craze is starting a two year and four-month prison sentence after police seized thousands of canisters of the gas.

Sonny Chapman, 27, of Warren Street, Holborn fought the case, but was convicted by a Wood Green Crown Court jury after a five-day trial.

He was found guilty of two counts of possession of a psychoactive substance, with intent to supply.

On September 6, last year officers seized 14,000 canisters of nitrous oxide from an address in Islington and Chapman's car when he was stopped driving along Gray's Inn Road.

Kids Nanny Admits Downloading Child Porn

A children’s nanny has admitted downloading child porn images.

Elliana Ede-Borrett, 22, of Sumner Road, Croydon appeared for the first time this week at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court.

She pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children between September 23, 2015 and May 3, last year.

These relate to 12 Category A images - the most serious - 18 Category B images and 17 Category C images.

The first-time offender has lived in a hostel for vulnerable adults since her arrest in May, last year.

None of the images relate to the children she was looking after.

Ede-Borrett was bailed to appear for sentencing at Inner London Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

The Probation Service have been asked to prepare a pre-sentence report.

Crooked Bookkeeper Helped Destroy Selfridges Beauty Salon

Gittens: Nicked £116K

The boss of a bankrupt luxury Selfridges beauty salon broke down in tears as she revealed how her crooked bookkeeper lied to her face while stealing £116,000 from the company.

Susan Baddeley, 47, was forced to place Groom London Ltd. - which charged customers up to £175 an hour - into liquidation earlier this year.

She was unaware Thelma Gittens, 54, of Montgomery House, Harrow Road, Paddington was forging invoices and accounts during the four-year swindle.

Unusually, Ms Baddeley delivered her victim impact statement in person at Blackfriars Crown Court, which heard she fought to keep her business afloat throughout the fraud.

“My trust was shattered by Thelma Gittens’s awful betrayal,” she told the court, describing the demise of the company she ran for fourteen years as “incredibly painful” and “horrific.”

She hired Gittens as a self-employed bookkeeper in 2008. “I trusted her just like everyone else in my team.”

"Trust Shattered": Susan Baddeley

The company relied on a bank overdraft to survive and Ms Baddeley was forced to borrow £10,000 from her parents to keep Groom afloat.

Gittens knew about the family loan, but still took money from the company’s account the following day.

It was revealed during liquidation proceedings Gittens had transferred £60,715 into her account, plus another £55,757 to a relative’s account.

“These were regular on a monthly basis,” said prosecutor Mr. Obi Mgbokwere.”

Gittens, who claims she took the money to pay her mother’s medical bills in the Philippines, desperately tried to cover her tracks.

“She deleted files on two separate occasions and a total of twenty-five thousand payroll files were deleted,” added Mr. Mgbokwere.

“Once she realised the net was really closing in she said she was sorry and sent a letter to Ms Baddeley, but this was just a cut-and-paste letter she found on google.”

Ms Baddeley told the court Gittens had full access to the company bank account and even tried to buy it for a knock-down price from the official receiver to cover her tracks.

“I could not understand why the business got into such a bad financial state. I was shocked and numbed by the discovery Thelma Gittens was double invoicing her pay and paying someone else.

“She had been falsifying invoices and accounts and took advantage even though she knew the company was struggling financially.

“It was calculated and self-motivated and showed a complete disregard for me and the staff. 

“She even tried to buy the company for a nominal fee to cover-up what she had done in a hard-hearted and cynical way.”

Ms Baddeley described the cut-and-paste ‘apology’ letter in which Gittens expressed her Christian values as “abhorrent.”

Gittens pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by abuse of position between January 1, 2013 and February 28, this year and was bailed until October 19 for sentencing.

Judge Michael Simon told her not to assume she would avoid custody because he was requesting a pre-sentence report.

“This offence carries a high likelihood of a prison sentence,” he told her, ordering her to surrender her passport to police as a condition of bail.

Keira Knightley's Stalker Finally Admits Flouting Court Order With Chilling Tweets About The Star

Headcase: Revill

Film star Keira Knightley’s stalker has pleaded guilty to breaching a court order by writing threatening tweets about the star and her family.

Mark Edmund Revill, 50, flouted a restraining order in a series of chilling tweets that suggested the actress, husband James Righton, 33 and two year-old daughter Edie would be targeted at their £3.9m Islington home.

He tweeted: “My campaign of disobedience continues in Canonbury tonight,” and: “Keira Knightley and James Righton are not going to get much help from the police.”

The couple informed the police and on April 1 Revill was arrested at 4.15pm and police found a collection of 324 child pornography images he had downloaded form the internet.

Revill, of Glebe Road, Hackney had also tweeted an indecent picture of a child to the actress, which horrified the mum-of-one. 

“Ms Knightley sets out in her statement it was something that gave her particular anxiety since they have a young child,” prosecutor Miss Jennifer Knight told Blackfriars Crown Court.

Appearing in custody shaven-headed Revill, wearing a light grey roll-neck top and dark blue hooded jacket, pleaded guilty to breaching the restraining order between January 1 and April 1 by composing a series of tweets to Keira.

He shouted from the dock: “They were directed towards James Righton,” but the plea was accepted.

Tweeter: Revill

The order, made at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on December 1, last year prohibits Revill contacting the 32 year-old star and going within 100 metres of the home she shares with ex-Klaxons musician James and their daughter.

He also pleaded guilty to making indecent photographs of children on or before April 1 and distributing an indecent photograph of a child via twitter on March 9.

Revill further admitted an additional, lesser charge, brought under the Crime and Disorder Act of sending menacing messages via a public online forum.

He claims he only made 88 indecent images of children, but the dispute will no effect sentence.

“These charges arise from the fact Mr. Revill was convicted of stalking, having attended Keira Knightley’s house over a period of eight weeks and posted postcards and other items through her front door,” explained Miss Knight.

“The crown will be applying for another restraining order in more stringent terms than before.

“We will ask for a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to prevent any further publishing of indecent images.”

Revill was remanded in custody until September 22 for sentencing and Judge Rajeev Shetty told him: “The psychiatric material requires some going into.

“You pleaded guilty to these matters and you will get some credit for pleading guilty. A second psychiatric report has been requested and it is not complete.

“There is no indication from me as to what the sentence will be. It will be either a hospital order or it could be imprisonment.”

Revill’s lawyer Miss Lisa Wilson revealed psychiatrists have not recommended her client be locked-up.

“They are recommending a hospital order, not requiring it to be a restrictive one.”