Massage Chair Couple At Ideal Home Show Deny Attacking Business Rival

Anthony & Tingting Barlow Evans

Animosity between rival massage chair dealers at Earls Court Exhibition Centre's Ideal Home Show boiled over when one trader couple attacked a prospective investor on their competitor's stand -reigning down blows on the woman's head and face, a court heard.

Company boss Anthony Barlow Evans, 59, and his wife Tingting Barlow Evans, 33, who run Oakdale Furniture Ltd. were exhibiting at the marquee event where their staff complained about the behaviour of Sasaki International Ltd.

The Barlow Evans', of Willow Street, Ellesmere, Shropshire sell their Japanese-imported chairs and foot massagers all over the UK - attending 50 events a year - and are in direct competition with Milton Keynes-based Sasaki.

City of London Magistrates Court heard yesterday that Mr. Barlow Evans held Chinese businesswoman Yuling Chen's hair in one hand and was beating her with the other and his wife joined in the attack on March 20.

Moments earlier he had approached Sasaki's booth and told the firm's boss, Kelvin Chong: "Ask your dogs to f*** off my stand," the court was told.

Miss Chen, 35, was considering investing in Sasaki, but an eye-witness said she was on the receiving end of an attack launched by Mr. Barlow Evans after shouting: "You bitch. Get off our stand."

Post-brawl: Yuling Chen

"He had her hair wrapped around his hand and was punching her vigourously," said Miss Alexandra Jemarifo, who was demonstrating beauty products on a nearby booth. "I didn't see her fight back.

"There were at least ten punches if not more, it was quite rapid, on her head and face. 

"She had bruises on her face and on her arms. Scratches and rough marks."

Mr Barlow Evans, who denies attacking Miss Chen, told the court: "I had received reports from our massage chair stand that they were getting a degree of intimidation."

He said there was a "history" between the companies from 2010, accusing Sasaki staff as posing as prospective customers, "provoking" his employees and taking photographs of his customers so he decided to approach Mr. Choong.

"I wanted to stop the attacks, stop the verbal abuse that had been going on.

"I said: 'It's time to call the dogs off. We're here to do a job, to make money," explained Mr. Barlow Evans. "He was dismissive and went to point at my face so I knocked his hand away.

"He pushed me forcibly in the chest and I lost balance and fell backwards," added the defendant, denying he grabbed Mr. Choong's shirt collar and pushed him.

"Miss Chen grabbed me and I grabbed her right hand. I was amazed by her aggression," he said, claiming the woman ripped his cashmere jumper.

"Her other hand scratched my neck and arm and she tried to bite me.

"I've never been in trouble previously. I've never been in a fight in my life."

However, prosecutor Miss Catherine Picardo accused Mr. Barlow Evans of a joint attack. "You were both holding Miss Chen and hitting her. Your wife had one hand and you had the other and you were both hitting her."

The couple have each pleaded not guilty to one count of assaulting Miss Chen.

Trial continues………….

Frame-Up Woman Jailed For Sending Death-Threat Emails To Herself

Bogus Emails: Rumbelow

A young mum, who tried to a frame a fellow student she once accused of molesting her by sending herself abusive and threatening emails with his username during a: "sustained, extended campaign," was jailed for eleven months today.

A police helicopter was even scrambled and on two occasions police dog units searched the area around 26 year-old mother-of-four Leighanne Rumbelow's home in the hunt for the non-existent stalker.

The victim, Leonard Smith, 21, - a student at Bromley College - was arrested three times, had his family home searched, electronic equipment seized and spent a total of thirty-five hours in police custody.

Rumbelow, of Foxborough Gardens, Brockley,  who initially blamed her sister for sending the emails, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice between April 4 and June 2, last year.

Woolwich Crown Court heard Rumbelow, using Mr. Smith's gaming username 'Striker', sent herself emails which read: "You'll have to watch your back. I know where your daughters are.

"Your life is over and so are your kids. I know you are home. I'll get you, your husband won't mind, you're a slut.

"Your husband is next. We'll get him when he's walking home.

"I can see you shutting your curtains. Goodnight, sleep well."

Prosecutor Mr. Neil Ross told the court: "There was a persistent and deliberate series of false allegations against Mr. Smith that led to his arrest, the seizure of property and considerable use of his time and resources.

Jailed: Woolwich Crown Court

In 2011 Rumbelow accused Mr. Smith of touching her sexually, but the police did not pursue her complaint and early last year he tried to contact her via Facebook to: "clear the air."

"As a result she went to the police and said she was being harassed and Mr. Smith was given a warning," explained Mr. Ross

Rumbelow persisted and began writing herself abusive and threatening emails from 'Striker,' and told police she wanted Mr. Smith arrested.

On April 6 Mr. Smith was arrested in the early hours and later released, but found himself in police custody again on April 7 - this time for twenty hours - when officers again attended his address in the middle of the night.

On April 10, 14 and 22 Rumbelow repeated her lies, telling officers from the Crofton Park Safer Neighbourhoods Team that she spotted Smith in her garden, from where he emailed further threats.

"This time a police helicopter and dog unit were used to search the estate while Mr. Smith was at home with his parents."

On May 31 Rumbelow told police she received another email from Mr. Smith which read: "I see you are cheating on me again. I'm going to slit your throat you dirty little slag."

"Phone the police and I swear you'll get it," read another email, resulting in Mr. White spending another five hours in police custody.

Police eventually became suspicious and the IP address of the 'Striker' emails was traced to the home Rumbelow shared with her mother and sister, who herself has a conviction for sending harassing emails.

"The defendant blamed her sister and that was repeated in her defence case statement to the court."

Rumbelow gave birth to her fourth child three month ago and her three older children are all guardians of her ex-partner's parents.

Mr. Smith said in a statement: "The whole ordeal was very distressing."

Emma Stuart Smith, defending, told the court: "She's vulnerable due to her emotional and mental health condition. She realises she was selfish in her actions."

Judge Alan Saggerson announced: "This is an offence of great severity and gravity. The offence brought with it a high level of harm.

"The public confidence in the entire criminal justice system in undermined when allegations are fabricated against innocent people and resources are wasted making enquiries, using helicopters and dog units and wasting police man hours.

"Not only was an innocent man arrested three times during your extended sequence of lies, spending thirty-five hours in custody, but you also caused suspicion to fall on other innocent people, including his mother and sister and their property was searched.

"Suspicion also fell on your own mother and sister, particularly your sister, who you continued to blame.

"This was not a single, isolated allegation, but a sustained, extended campaign in creating these false emails.

"They were repeated messages that you fabricated to to sustain your fictitious claims and must have involved significant thought and planning on your part."

Fatal Doorstep Shooting: Two Charged With Murder

Shot: Charlie Wright

Two men have appeared in court charged with the 2010 murder of a teenager, who was shot dead as he answered the front door in the early hours of the morning.

Carpentry student Charlie Wright, 17, who attended Lewisham College was blasted in the face on the doorstep of the property in Park Mews, Calvert Road, Greenwich just after 2am on April 23, 2010.

Police had offered a £20,000 reward during their invesigation into the killing.

Hassan Hassan, 32, of Vesta Road, Brockley and Colin Anderson, 48, of no fixed abode appeared in custody at Bromley Magistrates' Court charged with the murder of Mr. Wright.

Overnight Guest Cleared Of Rape

Singh: Not Guilty

An overnight guest has been cleared of raping his host – his pal's girlfriend – in the early hours, after being invited to share her single bed.

Robin Singh, 25, of Station Road, Cromer, Norfolk claims the pair had consensual sex after the woman's boyfriend decided to go back to his own home because he was suffering a headache.

“Never. That is a blatant lie,” she shouted via a videolink at Isleworth Crown Court. “No I didn't, ever.”

Singh was found not guilty by the jury of raping the woman, aged in her thirties, at her Hayes, Middlesex flat on July 4, 2011.

However, the court did impose a twelve-month restraining order on Singh.

They heard the woman's boyfriend invited himself over to her flat and brought Singh along as well.

She later told police: “This guy really creeped me out. He made me feel really uncomfortable.”

Her boyfriend left the flat to buy a pizza for all of them, but called to say he would continue on his way home because he had a headache.

This left the complainant and defendant alone in the flat watching a dvd until the woman invited Singh to sleep in her room.

She told the court her sofa bed was too messy and too difficult to pull out and it was more convenient for Singh to sleep back to back with her.

“All I remember is hitting his hand away,” she told the court, denying she instigated or encouraged any “kissing” or “hugging” between the pair.

The woman insisted Singh then raped her and kissed her goodbye at 8am in the morning, leaving her: “Disgusted and frightened for my life.”

The defendant also gave her his phone number, which she said left her: “Terrified, sick and paranoid.”

She said her boyfriend then bombarded her with threats over the next couple of days. “He was threatening my life basically.

“I was so upset, I was in tears and going through a nervous breakdown and feared for my life.

“I have changed my number and moved since then. I was terrified of even sleeping in that flat.”

She confided with her neighbours and they called the police two days later in the early hours of July 6.

Friend Stabbed Pal To Death In Row Over £10

Stabbed: Aghabra

A quarrel between two friends over borrowing another tenner ended in bloodshed when one was stabbed to death by his needy pal.

Yusef Al-Jaaf, 19, of Churchill Gardens, Pimlico repeatedly plunged a knife into 19 year-old Basel Aghabra and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a twelve-and-a-half year minimum.

He pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering Basel on February 3 at an address in Lilestone Street, St. John's Wood.

The defendant had been lent £20 earlier that day for breakfast, but when he asked to borrow another £10 a row developed between the pair, ending with Al-Jaaf stabbing his friend six times.

Knife: Al-Jaaf

The victim, of Blandford Street, Marylebone suffered fatal wounds to his torso and was pronounced dead at the scene after 1.00pm.

Al-Jaaf later confessed to officers he was at the address during the murder which occurred after a heated argument with Basel over money.

Detective Inspector Jamie Stevenson said: “This was a brutal murder with multiple stab wounds inflicted following what was a trivial dispute over a small amount of money.

“A heated argument has quickly escalated with tragic consequences.

“The only consolation to the family is that Al-Jaaf has done the decent thing and pleaded guilty, sparing the family the ordeal of a long and painful court case.”

Nigerian Lied To Get UK Citizenship For Two Mystery Babies

A Nigerian woman, who lied in an attempt to bring two mystery babies into the UK by pretending she was their biological mother, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Ijeoma Udechukwu, 51, of Dante Road, Elephant and Castle, is resident in this country and tried to trick the British High Commission in Lagos into granting two passports for the infants.

She received six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was ordered to peform 180 hours community service work.

Udechukwa was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court of facilitating unlawful immigration.

She applied in Nigeria for passports for the babies – falsely claiming they were hers – and was unable to produce any genuine ante natal or delivery notes.

A DNA test revealed she was not the biological mother of either infant and the applications were refused.

Udechukwu returned to the UK leaving the babies in the care of family and friends. 



On September 4, 2012 officers from Operation Paladin attended Udechukwa's address where false Nigerian adoption papers were discovered stating the children had been found abandoned in the street.



She refused to answer any questions about her lies to staff at the British High Commission and also refused to confirm how she came into possession of the babies or where their biological mother was. 



Detective Constable Tony Foran, from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Exploitation Team, said: "This is just one example of the commitment of officers to investigate offences involving children and the risk facing them from people willing to deceive authorities and break the law. 



"Adoption laws and procedures are in place in every country to protect the welfare and lives of vulnerable children and young people.

“The conviction of Udechukwu underpins the value of joint working and the commitment of all those agencies involved to safeguard children." 

Drug Offender: Police Hunt Teen

Police in north-west London have released this image of a local teen they are seeking in connection with serious drug offences.

Raheem Bourne, 19, is being hunted by Brent's Wanted Offenders Unit.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may know of his whereabouts.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Wanted Offenders Unit on 020 8733 3082.

Alternatively callers can contact the police anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Prostitute Strangled And Raped: CCTV Of Suspect Released

CCTV: Rape Suspect

Police investigating the rape of a prostitute two years ago have released this CCTV image of the suspect, who strangled his victim until she passed out.

The woman – aged in her 40's – approached the man between 2am and 3am in Green Lanes, Hornsey on September 9, 2012.

He suggested a more secluded spot and they walked to Chestnuts Park, off St Ann’s Road, South Tottenham, where he forced her to the floor and strangled her until she passed out.

When she regained consciousness, he threatened to stab her and she set off her rape alarm.

The suspect dragged her along by her hair for a short distance, then took the rape alarm from her, either burying or disabling it.

He sexually assaulted and raped her then walked off in an unknown direction.

The man is described as black, about 5ft 9in tall, of medium build, with short afro hair and a London accent.

He is also described as having hamster-like cheeks, with a round face, prominent cheek bones and elongated front teeth, and looking aged in his 20s.

It is believed that he was wearing jeans at the time of the incident.

CCTV from outside a shop on Green Lanes, which shows a man with the victim moments before she was attacked, has been released by detectives from the Metropolitan Police Sservice's Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

Anyone with information is urged to call the MPS Homicide and Serious Crime Command on 020 8345 3819 or email them at mit23.mir@met.pnn.police.uk.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Karl Dines said: “The victim was utterly traumatised by this nasty attack and continues to receive support from specialists.

“We want to speak to this man in connection with the incident, so I urge anyone who recognises him or thinks they may know who he is to contact us or Crimestoppers now.”

Production Boss At Universal Music Stole Over £600K From Company

A former head of production at record label giant Universal Music had admitted stealing over £600,000 from the company.

Duncan Schwier, 52, of Clifden Road, Twickenham left behind a paper trail when promoted, which revealed multiple invoice payments to non-existent companies.

The American-based French-owned multinational is the largest music corporation in the world and its artists include Eminem, 50 Cent and Jennifer Lopez.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court yesterday to one count of stealing £643,697.35 between December 31, 2001 and December 31, last year from his Kensington-based employers.

The court heard Schwier had been employed by the company since 1984 and the member of staff who took over his role noticed something strange about his predecessor's transactions.

He was bailed to appear at Isleworth Crown Court for sentencing on September 30 and a probation report was ordered by the magistrates.

Woman Appears In Court On £73K Bogus Accountant Charges

A Somerset woman, accused of posing as a qualified accountant during a four-year £73,000 fraud on a corporate consultancy firm, appeared for the first time at Hammersmith Magistrates Court today.

Vicky Payne, 41, of Station Road, Charlton Mackrell, Somerton gave no indication as to her pleas and was bailed until September 16 for a preliminary hearing at Isleworth Crown Court.

The charges relate to Hammersmith-based M-PR Consulting of Oxford Gate, Brook Green and its managing director Marc Prema-Ratner and account director Michael Mervyn-Jones.

She is charged with two counts of fraud by false representation between January 1, 2010 and May 6, this year in that she presented herself as a qualified accountant, intending to make a gain, namely £28,124.90 and £5,096.

Payne is also charged with fraud by abuse of position between January 1, 2010 and May 6, this year, namely that while occupying the position of accountant and expected to not act against the financial interests of Mr. Prema-Ratner she dishonestly abused that position to make a gain, namely £33,898.91.

She is similarly charged that between September 1, 2011 and May 6, this year she dishonestly abused her position in relation to Mr. Mervyn-Jones to make a gain, namely £6,083.12.