"Audacious" Female Fraudster Gets Suspended Sentence For Conning Banker Sir George Mallinckrodt

Target: Sir George's Home

A young female fraudster, who carried out an "audacious", scam on the president of Schroders merchant bank, Sir George Mallinckrodt, who handed over £74,000 worth of jewellery and lost £6,700 in cash, walked free with a suspended sentence today.

Miranda Trudy Elmakhzangy, 20, of Dunstable Road, Caddington, Luton, posed as a police officer and conned Sir George, 84 and his wife Charmaine, 79, into handing over the valuables on the doorstep of their multi-million pound Chelsea home.

Judge Anne Molyneux told her at Isleworth Crown Court: "This was a planned and carefully executed offence. Your victims were vulnerable, they were exploited. This was a mean and cruel thing to do."

She pleaded guilty that on April 7 in Chelsea Square, Chelsea she stole jewellery, worth £74,000, and £6,700 cash belonging to the elderly couple and received a twelve month prison sentence, suspended for eighteen months.

Sir George is the president of Schroders, an independent merchant bank, which has offices in twenty-seven countries, managing £271.5 billion.

German-born Sir George has an honorary knighthood and his full name is Georg Wilhelm von Mallinckrodt.

He married Charmaine Schroder, sister of Bruno Schroder, the great-great-grandson of the bank's co-founder John Henry Schroder, in 1958, after joining the company four years earlier in New York.

The couple were convinced they needed to hand the items over to police for sake-keeping and when encouraged to call her bank the fraudsters remained on the line and took security details and PINS from Mrs Mallinckrodt.

Prosecutor Mr. Tim Starkey said: "The victim's in this case, Mr and Mrs Mallinckrodt, in the early hours of the seventh of April, having flown back to their home in Chelsea from Germany that night were contacted by somebody pretending to be a PC Harrington.

"It was Mrs Mallinckrodt that took the call and told that she and her husband had been targeted and it was high risk."

The couple were told the gang had already conned a £350,000 Rembrandt etching from other wealthy victims, but that was the: "tip of the iceberg."

They were convinced their bank cards had been compromised and needed to be cancelled and were told to phone the bank number on the back.

"She spoke to a male and went through the cards, giving the numbers and typing in the PIN's and told that they would be cancelled," added Mr. Starkey.

"PC Harrington asked about valuables in the house and she told them about jewellery and he asked if there were firearms.

"They said a police officer would arrive and the password 'Berlin' would prove this was genuine and once that was done they could collect their property from Holborn Police Station." 

The couple were told six plain-clothes police officers were patrolling their exclusive square and Elmakhzangy rang the doorbell at 2am, but had to return because the couple were not ready.

Elmakhzangy's Mercedes car was caught on CCTV circling the square while she waited and this led to her arrest later via number plate recognition.

Her DNA was also taken and matched to the doorbell even though she tried to trick police and pretended to be her sister at Dunstable Police Station. 

After collecting the valuables and cards on the doorstep Elmakhzangy was caught on three different cashpoint cameras withdrawing a total of £1,040.

What's App messages on her phone revealed her involvement in the plan since March, with conversations regarding collecting packages from homes and not getting caught.

Elmakhzangy's lawyer Mr. Tom Buxton said: "The facts of this case are quite extraordinary and it's a great shame to find a young woman of good character involved in something as serious as this."

He told the court an ex-boyfriend and cocaine addiction prompted the offence.

"It seems an audacious offence, but if it is accepted there were others behind the scenes organising this that were far more criminally responsible than her the court may see fit to deal with her in a way that doesn't involve an immediate custodial sentence."

Judge Molyneux added: "Your victims were vulnerable, your victims were deceived, high value items were taken from them and the very high sentimental value can't be quantified."

Elmakhzangy was also ordered to perform 250 hours community service work and pay £2,000 compensation.

Charges of driving a 1.8 litre silver Mercedes in Sharpenhoe Road, Streatley, Bedforshire on July 8 without insurance and obstructing a PC Cundell at Dunstable Police Station on the same day were sent back to Hammersmith Magistrates Court.

Sir George moved to London in 1960 and became director in 1977, serving as chairman from December 1984 until May 1995 and later as president.

Sir George played a leading role in the Bank of England's attempt to save Barings.

Scout Leader Raped Underage Ex With Help Of New Girlfriend, Jury Told

Mark Innes

A scout leader raped his under-age ex-girlfriend - who had already aborted their child - with the help of the new woman in his life two decades ago, a court heard today.

Mark Innes, 43, of Park Wood Crescent, Beeston, Leeds and registered child-minder Sharon Stow, 40, of East Drive, Orpington, Kent deny the charges at Croydon Crown Court.

Prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Loades told the jury the girl was fourteen years-old and walking near Innes' flat in Orpington High Street in the early 1990's, having dated him since she was either eleven or twelve years-old.

"By now Mr. Innes had a new girlfriend, Miss Stow, and the complainant was aware she was being followed.

"She was forced into an alleyway by Miss Stow and Mr. Innes was there and they grabbed her and forced her into his flat and the bedroom, where she was subjected to further abuse at his hands.

"She was raped with the assistance of Miss Stow."

The court heard the girl attended Orpington's First Ramsden Scout Group, where Innes initially helped out before becoming a scout leader.

"At the group's Christmas party in nineteen ninety-one the girl and Mr. Innes began to develop a relationship despite her youth, she was eleven or twelve years-old at the time and he was eighteen or nineteen.

"Mr. Innes gave her the keys to his flat, but the beginnings of sexual contact occurred in the scout hut and the complainant enjoyed the contact and enjoyed the fact she was being kissed and touched.

"She was scared of losing him, of the relationship coming to and end."

The jury were told Innes asked the girl's mother if he could date the youngster when she was aged thirteen and she was at that age when she became pregnant.

"Mr. Innes arranged for her to have an abortion and afterwards at his flat Mr. Innes forced her to have sex.

"She was in pain and said no, she was crying, she was scared, but despite her resistance he forced her legs apart and raped her," added Mr. Loades.

Innes has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape; one count of unlawful sexual intercourse and another serious sexual offence.

He also denies four counts of indecent assault.

Stow has pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting rape and aiding and abetting the serious sexual offence.

All the charges relate to the period between January 22, 1990 and January 22, 1994.

Trial continues………….

Lorry Driver Convicted After Pedestrian Run Over And Killed

A Nottinghamshire lorry driver, who killed a 91 year-old man who was crossing a busy west London road after failing to check for pedestrians before pulling away, will be sentenced in January for causing death by careless driving.

Shane Redfearn, 33, of Lawnwood Avenue, Elkesley, Retford was driving along Fulham Palace Road on July 8 when he knocked over John Goulding, who died almost immediately.

Prosecutor Mr. James O'Connell told Islewoth Crown Court: “Last summer this defendant was driving a fully-laden truck with a trailer at 10.30am and Mr. Goulding had just got off a bus and elected, not by the wisest way, to cross the road.

“He walked to the back of the bus and was confronted with the side of this defendant's truck so walked towards the cab of the stationary vehicle and stepped in front of the cab.

“The truck pulled away and the driver drove over Mr. Goulding.

“The truck moved a few yards until a member of the public notified this defendant there was someone under the truck and Mr. Goulding died within a few minutes under the truck.



“This defendant should have seen Mr. Goulding by using his mirrors properly. He has a number of mirrors on that vehicle, including a mirror that looks right down in front of the truck.

“Mr. Goulding was knocked over and killed, but despite him putting himself in that position he should not have been hit and knocked over and killed.

“Mr. Redfearn's driving fell below the standard expected that day.”

Late-Night Encounter Ends In Mugging

A middle-aged man, who picked-up a stranger during a night out in the West End, was attacked in his home and had his laptop snatched by the stranger.

Police have released this CCTV image of the man they are hunting, who is described as black, aged between 20-24 years-old, 5ft 9ins tall.

He is clean shaven, with short black hair, has a muscular build, a thin nose, thick lips and was wearing a dark blue top, dark trousers and black trainers.

On Halloween, October 31, the 51 year-old victim met the suspect in the Marble Arch area at 11.30pm and they both travelled back to an address in Camden.

While at the address the suspect attacked the victim, causing him to lose consciousness.

When the victim came round, he discovered that the suspect had left taking a Samsung 15 inch laptop computer.



If you can help with this enquiry or can identify the man in these images, please call Camden Police on 101.

Alternatively if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police Hunt Cowards Who Snatched Late War Hero's Medals

Heartless burglars raided an 82 year-old pensioner's home and snatched her late father's WW1 and WW2 medals the day before Remembrance Sunday.

The burglary occurred between 1.00pm and 3.00pm on Saturday November 8 at a residential address in Shoreham Way, Bromley.

A quantity of cash was also stolen.



Three medals were stolen, two from World War 1 and one from World War 2.



The two First World War medals were on ribbons, with at least one engraved with the name H. A. SYMS around the edge.



The Second World War medal had a red and blue ribbon, and was in a small box with a letter personally signed by the Queen.



The first two medals were awarded to the victim’s father in the First World War, after he was very badly wounded.

Her father continued his work as a Civil Servant during the Second World War and was awarded the second medal.



Detective Constable Claire White from Bromley Police Burglary Squad said “The victim is 82-years-old and has regularly worn her Father’s medals to Remembrance Day parades.

“The victim is understandably very distraught that her father’s medals have been taken as they mean so much to her”. 



Officers from the Burglary Squad based at Bromley Police Station investigate. 



Anyone with information, or who has been offered the medals to buy, is asked to contact police via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Drug Addict Given Three Months To Kick Habit

A self-medicator, caught with a cocktail of drugs after a passer-by spotted him snorting a suspicious substance in his parked van, has been given over three months to try and kick his habit.

Angus Duncanson, 45, of Smenham Farm, Icomb, had cocaine, heroin, magic mushrooms and cannabis on him, which police estimated to originally have a street value of £1900.

He claims he needs the drugs to alleviate the pain of a decade-old injury, but must now prove by March, next year he is on the road to full recovery.

Duncanson appeared at Hammersmith Magistrates Court yesterday after previously pleading guilty to four counts of possessing the drugs in Linden Gardens, Bayswater, west London on August 17.

Sentence was deferred until March 25 and he was ordered to attend all appointments with the North West Drugs Project, stay off drugs, except those prescribed and bring with him his key worker to give evidence of full compliance.

After admitting the offences earlier this month prosecutor Miss Louise Burnell told the court: “It was 4pm when police were called to Linden Gardens after reports from a member of the public of a man in a van sniffing something.

“The police found the defendant in the van, along with several different drugs.”

Officers seized two packages of cocaine weighing 1.1gms; a 2.22gm package of heroin; 3.89gms of magic mushrooms and 380gms of both herbal and cannabis resin.

“Combined the drugs had a street value, according to the police of one thousand nine hundred pounds, but a lot of it was covered in mould so was worthless,” added Miss Burnell.

Duncanson was arrested on suspicion he was a drug-dealer, but an analysis of his mobile phone failed to find any evidence of “criminal activity” and he was charged with simple possession.

When questioned by police the first-time offender admitted the drugs were for his own use, claiming he had a fall ten years ago and suffered chronic pain, which was alleviated by the use of cannabis and heroin.

“He said he smoked heroin on a daily basis and spends one hundred and twenty pounds a week on drugs, using the money he received from a house sale.”

His lawyer Mr. Mark Haslam told the court: “There is a variety of drugs, but the amounts are small.”

He estimated the cocaine to be merely £37 worth, the heroin £100 and the mushrooms £38.

Vulnerable Woman Tormented By Teens' Alleged Urine And Curry Powder Prank Tells Jury She Was Also Sexually Abused

Jamie Campin

Two teenage bully boys preyed on a mentally-ill married woman over twice their age, getting her to drink their urine and smoke curry powder in a cannabis joint, before one of them sexually assaulted her on her own bed, a court heard today.

The 43 year-old Hillingdon woman, who is a paranoid schizophrenic who suffers psychotic episodes and has an ongoing alcohol problem let the local lads into her home early one morning while her husband was staying elsewhere after yet another row.

The Isleworth Crown Court jury heard the young men have a history of tormenting the mentally-ill and recorded incidents on their mobile phones of planning and carrying-out such behaviour.

Jamie Rhys Campin, 19, of Whitethorn Avenue, West Drayton and Connor James, 19, of Uxbridge Road, Hampton Hill have both pleaded not guilty to two counts of administering a noxious substance, namely urine and curry powder; stealing a laptop and ring, worth £400 and causing an affray on a day between July 5 and 14, last year.

Campin alone has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault by penetration.

Connor James

“I was not one hundred per cent well at that time because I have a mental health problem and I did not have any control of the situation,” she told the jury. “They just walked in and I didn't want any trouble.

“These people entered my house early, at seven or eight in the morning and I don't understand why I let them in, in the first place. In my head I believed these people were friends of mine.

“I don't understand why I didn't throw them out. I was very vulnerable at the time.”

The court heard a third mystery man was present and the woman remembers two of them disappearing into her bathroom.

“I remember them walking out with a plastic cup and they asked me to drink it and I drunk a bit and realised there was wee in it and spat it out.

“I was lured into my bedroom and I don't remember being forced onto the mattress, but the person who assaulted me was on top of me.

“I was very scared at the time. I was confused and I do not know if it was sheer pure fright or if I was going along with it and not really knowing what was happening.

“I remember my trousers being undone. I don't know if I did it or he did. I don't think it was me, in fact I know it wasn't.”

She told the court she was not sure if a second man was in the bedroom at the time, but had spent his time in her house: “With his hands down the front of his trousers.”

Police later found mobile phone footage of the woman being given a cannabis joint to smoke, which had been laced with curry powder, the jury were told.


Trial continues...............

Lorry Driver In Dock After Pensioner Run Over And Killed

A lorry driver killed a 91 year-old man, who was crossing a busy west London road, after failing to check for pedestrian before pulling away, a jury were told yesterday.

Shane Redfearn, 33, of Lawnwood Avenue, Elkesley, Retford, Nottinghamshire was driving along Fulham Palace Road on July 8 when he knocked over John Goulding, who died almost immediately.

Prosecutor Mr. James O'Connell told Islewoth Crown Court: “Last summer this defendant was driving a fully-laden truck with a trailer at 10.30am and Mr. Goulding had just got off a bus and elected, not by the wisest way, to cross the road.

“He walked to the back of the bus and was confronted with the side of this defendant's truck so walked towards the cab of the stationary vehicle and stepped in front of the cab.

“The truck pulled away and the driver drove over Mr. Goulding.

“The truck moved a few yards until a member of the public notified this defendant there was someone under the truck and Mr. Goulding died within a few minutes under the truck.

“This defendant should have seen Mr. Goulding by using his mirrors properly. He has a number of mirrors on that vehicle, including a mirror that looks right down in front of the truck.

“Mr. Goulding was knocked over and killed, but despite him putting himself in that position he should not have been hit and knocked over and killed.

“Mr. Redfearn's driving fell below the standard expected that day.”

Redfearn has pleaded not guilty to one count of causing death by dangerous driving.

Trial continues...............

Justice Catches Up With Abuser Three Decades On

A sex offender, who as a teen encouraged his younger neighbour to visit him alone to play Scalextric and other games over three decades ago, sexually abusing him by copying a Kama Sutra-style calender, has received three years imprisonment.

Barry Rosamond, 50, of Great Tree Farm, Looe, Cornwall was aged fifteen to sixteen years-old and the young boy between nine and ten during the period he preyed upon the youngster, Croydon Crown Court was told.

Rosamond was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault; one count of attempted buggery and one count of indecency with a child, occurred in Beckenham, Kent between 1978 and 1980.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for an indefinite period and received a lifetime ban from working with children.

“He said: 'Come around on your own to play, don't bring the others,' “ the 44 year-old complainant told the jury.

The defendant initially encouraged the youngster to touch him intimately, promising to give him £5.00 on the first occasion, but afterwards handed over £3.00 in change, the court heard.

“I went round there and and he abused me many times. I use'd to see him as a father-figure. Maybe that's why I never said anything.

“I've managed to keep my head up, but it's been difficult. He did this to me and I crumbled mentally and I do not want to carry it anymore.

“I'm sick and tired of it. It's draining. He abused me many times.

“You bury this in alcohol, in drugs to block these images out of your head,” explained the complainant, denying suggestions he invented the accusations to blame someone for difficulties in his own life.

“That's rubbish, absolute rubbish,” he said, adding it was very difficult to come forward at the time.

“At that age you don't know what is going on. You think you're just mucking around, but later I felt dirty, so dirty and foolish.”

He said Rosamond would produce a wall calendar, which depicted silhouetted figures in various sexual poses, which he would copy with the youngster.

Five years ago the complainant suddenly spotted Rosamond, who was visiting the area, as he walked to his mother's home.

“He smiled at me and when I went into the house I was pacing up and down wondering what to do, but not wanting to do anything crazy.

“I put a note on his camper van windscreen, which said: 'I don't want to see you again.' “

Police Hunting Betting-Shop Robber Who Wore 'Gunners' Top

Police are hunting this masked raider, who along with an accomplice, robbed a betting-shop when a young female employee was on her own.

Flying Squad detectives are appealing for information after the robbery at Ladbrokes in Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park on October 20.

The pair, who were both concealed, entered the shop at 10.10pm and demanded cash.

Fearing for her life the woman, aged in her twenties, handed over cash from the till and the pair fled in an unknown direction.

Suspect one (pictured) is described as looking about 6ft tall and wearing a red Arsenal football top over a dark hooded top.



Suspect two is described as looking about 5ft 11in tall, and wearing a dark hooded top and dark sports shorts over dark leggings.



It is not known what they had masked their faces with, only that the masking was dark.



Anyone with information is asked to call investigating officer Detective Constable Andy Terry, of the Flying Squad, on 020 8345 4226 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.