Not Guilty: Xmas Shopper Cleared Of Killing Fellow-Customer In 'Trolley Rage' Tragedy

A Marks & Spencer Christmas customer, accused of killing a frail fellow-shopper by ramming him with her trolley, has been cleared of manslaughter.

Widower Michael Buckley, 60, suffered a broken wrist and thighbone when knocked to the floor of the store in The Glades shopping centre, Bromley, but never recovered and died three months later.

Melanie Serita Buck, 33, of Chelford Road, Bromley was found not guilty of the charge, plus an alternative count of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

She was with her mother at 1pm and pushing a trolley when she clashed with Mr. Buckley, who was carrying a basket inside the busy store on December 22, 2012.

"Mr. Buckley was browsing the food aisle when he came into contact with the defendant," prosecutor Mr. David Howker QC told Croydon Crown Court.

"There was something of a gridlock in the aisle and the defendant could not get past him. 

"There may have been a clash between his basket and her trolley and a few words exchanged and the upshot was Miss Buck deliberately rammed Mr. Buckley with her trolley and the result was to knock him to the floor."

The first words out of the injured man's mouth as Buck fled toward the exit were: "She rammed me."

Mr. Buckley was only eight stone and 5 foot five inches tall and described as "frail" by Mr. Howker, who added: "A fractured kneecap he had a few years earlier slowed him down.

"Miss Buck assaulted Mr. Buckley. causing him to fall to the floor and injure himself and cause the chain of events that led to his death. She is responsible for that death."

Buck was arrested on Boxing Day. "She said she was being bumped in the legs by Mr. Buckley's basket and was trying to get past him and hit him accidentally with her trolley."

Mr. Buckley, of Whatman Road, Forest Hill died on March 5, 2013 at Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough, Kent after three months in intensive care following complications relating to his injuries.

Mr. Buckley, had lost his wife Irene two years before his death, also had severe hearing problems and had retired from an office job at Camberwell New Green Cemetery.

"He could have had a heart attack at any time and Miss Buck would not have known that when she rammed the trolley into him."

Suspended Sentence For Street Thug Who Attacked Strangers

A engineer, who suddenly attacked two strangers in the street – racially abusing one of them – and battled with police until he was sprayed with CS gas received a suspended prison sentence today.

Neil Saunders, 33, of Richmond Road, Worthing had spent the evening with friends in south-west London and was apparently in good spirits when he left them, but soon afterwards was out of control, getting into one violent confrontation after another.

He pleaded guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates Court to the racially aggravated assault of Luis Ramirez in Putney High Street on September 27, last year.

He also pleaded guilty to assaulting black bus driver Joseph Lewis and resisting a police officer in the execution of his duty and was sentenced to twelve weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months.

Saunders was also ordered to perform 80 hours community service work and pay £200 compensation to Mr. Lewis; £50 to Mr. Ramirez and £85 costs.

Prosecutor Miss Mary Atere told the court Mr. Ramirez had just got off a bus with his son near Putney Bridge after 10pm on the Saturday evening when confronted by the defendant.

“Mr. Saunders swung his arm and hit Mr. Ramirez in the chest and was shouting and swearing. With his right hand he punched Mr. Ramirez in the face, then swung for a third time, connecting with the victim's face.

“He was heard shouting: 'What are you going to do? This is my country. Go back to your own f***ing country.'

“Bus driver Mr. Lewis was on a break and sitting on a bench outside TK Maxx when Mr. Saunders came to his attention because he seemed to be arguing with people in the road.

“The defendant sat next to Mr. Lewis, who was on his mobile phone, and he punched Mr. Lewis in the face, on the nose and the victim thought it may have been broken.

“Police were called and by now Mr. Saunders was standing in the middle of the road waving his arms around and when approached he resisted arrest and struggled violently with the officers.

“He had to be CS sprayed because he was so volatile, pushing and kicking out.”

When questioned by police Saunders claimed to have no memory of the incident.

His lawyer Miss Sophie Smith told the court there is the possibility a drink he was having with pals may have been spiked. “He left them in a happy mood and cannot remember what happened.”

Saunders claims he suffered a “blackout” - perhaps as a result of his Temazepam prescription for insomnia, which he received during a difficult period when his baby daughter was only twelve-months old and his wife was suffering post-natal stress.

The police officer who questioned him said Saunders was “very remorseful” and “crying and sobbing” throughout the interview.

HIV Pub Landlord Sexually Abused Drunken Male Customer

A HIV positive pub landlord, who sexually preyed on a drunken male customer half his age - repeatedly abusing the victim over a two-and-a-half hour period - was caged for nine years yesterday.

John Michael Coyne, 56, boss of the Prince of Wales pub, Harrow Road, Maida Vale bought the 25 year-old stranger a drink, who was so drunk he passed out in the bar and was helpless to defend himself from the repeated attacks.

Ironically, it was the pub's own CCTV that helped convict Coyne at Blackfriars Crown Court, where the jury viewed images of the early hours abuse.

He was unanimously found guilty of oral rape and engaging in sexual activity without consent at the pub on October 13, last year and will automatically be added to the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.

The heterosexual victim had been enjoying a night out with friends, which he decided to end with a few drinks at the Prince of Wales pub.

Recorder Dafydd Enoch QC told Coyne, who fought the case: "You told us you prided yourself on your responsibility to take care of your clientele, but not so this young man, who had already drunk too much when he came into your pub.

"You spotted him and you had a sexual intention on him from very early on and the CCTV demonstrated this interest. You took complete advantage of him and the situation.

"The evidence was overwhelming, you targeted him and you groomed him and you lured him into a false sense of security.

"You allowed him to get drunk and used alcohol to facilitate your offending.

"You lit his cigarette for him and you encouraged him to lie down and go to sleep and treated him like an object.

"While he was sleeping you abused him, you took advantage of a sleeping individual and you raped him, knowing you were HIV positive.

"You took an interest in his groin area and anus and you gave him oral sex on several occasions.

"This was a gross breach of trust."

The victim was tested afterwards and is fortunately not HIV-positive, but said in a victim impact statement he had been deeply effected by the abuse.

"He was extremely angry with you and you tried to turn the tables that he was consenting and interested in having sex with you.

"You showed no remorse and fought this case to the bitter end," added Recorder Enoch.

"There was a prolonged and sustained nature to the sexual offending, over two-and-a-half hours, a very long drawn out affair and anyone watching the CCTV would feel it went on forever."

The victim eventually awoke at around 3am to find Coyne abusing him and the defendant ran away, but was arrested and charged by police the next day.

Detective Constable Neil Hume said: "Coyne abused his position as a landlord of a pub to take advantage of an unconscious customer and showed no remorse. I would applaud the victim's bravery attending court and hope that the sentence sends out a clear message."

Detective Inspector Neil Smithson said: "Coyne preyed on an unconscious customer whilst in his own pub and I would encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim at the hands of Coyne to come forward."

Architect Denies Raping Blind Date He Told: "Girls Say No, But They Don't Mean It"

Leheup Arriving At Court Today

UPDATE: ADAM LEHEUP WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY OF ALL CHARGES

An architect who romantically arranged to meet his blind date under Waterloo Station's famous clock raped her hours later, telling the young woman: "Girls say no, but they don't mean it," a court heard today.

University of Greenwich graduate Adam Leheup, 34, a technical co-ordinator on the £500m Nine Elms Point Development insisted on having sex with the 25 year-old despite her shouting: "No, no," the Blackfriars Crown Court jury were told.

Leheup, of In View Court, Mayfield Road, Hersham, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey has pleaded not guilty to raping the woman and sexually assaulting her at her flat in Delancey Street, Camden in the early hours of July 10, 2013.

He says they enjoyed an night-long date, which included wine and cocktails, with the young woman responding to his physical advances and allowing him to remove her bra in her bedroom so he could massage her back with oil.

"I told him nothing was going to happen, but he started to kiss me and I could tell he was naked," the complainant told police. "He took my clothes off and was on top of me and penetrated me and I was shouting: 'No' a lot, but he was not listening.

"I was saying: 'No', but he thought it was a joke or something. Then maybe he realised I was serious and he calmed down.

"He said: 'Girl's say: 'No', but they don't mean it.' I just wanted him out. My flatmate said she was going to call the police, but he laughed at her and said it would just be a domestic."

Prosecutor Mr. Ish Sheikh told the court the couple met on dating app 'Let's Date' - which connects users who mutually find each other attractive - and had two bottles of wine at Gordons Wine Bar, Embankment after meeting and walking across Waterloo Bridge.

It was so late Leheup had missed his last train and his date agreed to put him up for the night. "She made it clear nothing would happen and they went to a second bar, 'Joe's', in Camden where they had mojito's.

"He started kissing my neck and it made me a bit uncomfortable, but it wasn't vicious or nasty and later I did kiss him back. We were getting on well," the woman told police in a video interview. 

"The kissing had got a bit more aggressive, stuff I did not like, his hand on my throat, which makes me vulnerable.

"I said: 'Nothing is going to happen.' I'm not that kind of girl."

Mr. Sheikh added: "The defendant was also a bit funny towards her when she was talking to other men at the bar."

They returned to the complainant's flat in the early hours. "She shares it with two others and when they got into the bedroom she changed into jogging bottoms and a top and got into bed, where the defendant joined her without any clothes on at all.

"He started kissing her and got on top of her and she was shouting: 'No, no,' and to stop, but he did not take any heed of these cries and touched her with his fingers."

Partial intercourse occurred for a very short time and the young woman managed to get away and told Leheup: "Why did you do that when I said no?"

Mr. Sheikh explained: "One of the flatmates was woken because of the shouting and told Mr. Leheup to leave, but he wouldn't because he said he had work the next day and wanted to wait until the trains started running

The flatmate threatened to call the police and Leheup clambered down scaffolding outside the balcony door, but was arrested on the way to the underground station.

When questioned by police the defendant said his date did not object to being touched intimately by him. "He said he was fondling her breasts and there was no talk of sex one way or the other.

"When they arrived at the bedroom he said she said words to the effect of: 'Welcome to my crack den.'

"He said he took her bra off because she wanted a back massage with some oil and they began kissing.

"He said he got on top of her her and she then freaked out and as soon as she did he got off her," explained Mr. Sheikh. "He said he climbed down the scaffolding to avoid a confrontation.

"When she was shouting: 'No' he should have known she was not consenting. He was not going to take no for an answer that night."

The young woman admits she was under the influence of alcohol. " I was probably more drunk than I should have been. I was feeling a bit giddy, a bit tipsy, but I was not falling over."

Trial continues…………..

Bus Motorcyclist Tragedy: Witnesses Sought

Police are appealing for witnesses after this motorcyclist was killed in a collision with a bus in west London.

Darren Churchill, 21, of Ashford, Middlesex was pronounced dead at the scene on the A30 in Hounslow on February 27.

Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at around 9.20pm on Friday, February 27 to reports of a collision between a route 423 bus and a motorcyclist.

Officers and ambulances attended and the rider of the motorcycle, a 21-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.



A post-mortem examination was held on Tuesday, March 3, at Fulham Mortuary. 



Next of kin are aware. 



The bus stopped at the scene - the driver was not arrested.



Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are carrying out enquiries into the circumstances of the incident.



Detective Constable Nicola Linton, who leads the investigation said: "There would have been many witnesses on the scene at the time of the collision as this was a very busy road.

“I would appeal for members of the public with any information to come forward as soon as possible."



Witnesses and anyone with information is asked to called the SCIU on 0208 543 5157 or the police non-emergency line on 101.

Estate Agent Boss Caught Behind Wheel Of Aston Martin Over Three Times Drink Limit

The Aston Martin-driving director of a top firm of London estate agents was caught over three times the drink-drive limit after a midnight prang.

Christopher Simon, 36, boss of the Notting Hill office of Faron Sutaria told police he had been drinking that afternoon and again in the evening when officers stopped to check the incident.

Simon, who lives in a £1.0m apartment in Kensington Gardens Square, Lancaster Gate pleaded guilty to driving his 4.3 litre V8 Vantage in Prince of Wales Drive, Battersea on March 14 with excess alcohol in his breath.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard yesterday he had 124 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35.

Prosecutor Miss Amanda McCabe told the court it was 12.10am when officers spotted the consequences of a slight coming together of two vehicles.

“Police on patrol saw a Mercedes taxi with its hazard lights on and the driver was talking to this defendant and suspected there may have been a collision, but there was no damage and nobody was injured.

“The vehicles were moved and when the defendant was asked for his driver's licence the officer noticed his eyes were glazed and he smelled of alcohol.

“He admitted he had a few beers that evening and some beers that lunchtime and failed he roadside breath-test.”

Simon's Lawyer Mr. Robin Falvey, a drink-drive expert, who has represented the rich and famous and won many notable cases told the court: “The first thing he said to me was: 'This is the most stupid thing I've ever done in my life.'

“He had some alcohol at lunchtime and again in the evening and had been out all night the night before and had not eaten since the day before because of pressure of business.

“He says he did not feel drunk and only moved the car because it was in a residents bay and he would have taken a taxi if he felt he was unable to drive.

“He has learned a powerful lesson and it may have consequences on his career.”

One of the requirements of Simon's contract is that he has a valid driver's licence.

“This could be seen as gross misconduct and he could lose his position as a director,” added Mr. Falvey.

“As for the incident the driver in front pulled up and there was a collision at 5mph.

“He is a person of good character and this is unlikely to ever happen again and he will accept a substantial disqualification for this.

“He is not someone effected by drink and is not a drinker in normal circumstances.

“He has cancelled all of his holidays in preparation that he may have to do community service.”

Simon was sentenced to 120 hours community service, with £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge. He was disqualified from driving for thirty months. 

He was told by the magistrate: "This was a very high reading and there are circumstances where people driving with this quantity of alcohol in their system go to prison."

Carpet Cleaner Was Female Customer's Secret Phone Sex Pest

Phone Pest: Gary Young

A female stalking victim was left "distressed, upset and sick" after discovering her carpet cleaner was the mystery man behind a campaign of sexually-explicit phone calls.

Gary Victor Young, 38, of Larch Close, Hersden, Canterbury visited the woman's landmark building to give her a quote for the job while he was also plaguing her with the repeated calls from an unidentified number.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court to communicating indecent and offensive messages between October 16 and November 9, last year to Veronica Rivera, who lives in the Piper Building, Peterborough Road, Fulham.

Prosecutor Mr. Ramesh Patel told the court today: "Mrs Rivera was contacted in October, last year by a man calling himself 'Gary' who was following-up on a carpet cleaning enquiry she had made two months earlier.

"Following this she began receiving a series of phone calls from an unknown number of a sexually-explicit nature."

The caller told her: "You're gorgeous," and: "I wanna f*** you."

Six days after 'Gary' first called about the carpet cleaning Young arrived at her home to inspect the job.

"After this she again received a series of unknown calls in the early hours," explained Mr. Patel. "The caller repeatedly said: 'I wanna f*** you.'"

She received approximately eight such calls between 7am and 8am, which then followed for two more weeks with the mystery man saying: "Your husband is a psycho. He's f***ing my mate's misses."

Banned: Piper Building

It was only when carpet-cleaner 'Gary' ended a phone call to her with the words: "Thank-you darling," Mrs Rivera realised he was her stalker.

"She felt distressed, upset and sick," added Mr. Patel. "She went into her toilet cubicle at work to cry."

Mrs Rivera contacted police, who persuaded her to make one more call to Young to help identify him as the mystery caller.

They also used RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act) to identify Young.

When arrested he denied having anything to do with the calls.

"I'm totally embarrassed by the situation," Young told the court. "I have not done it before and I won't do it again."

Deputy District Judge Malcolm Dodds told him: "This was disgraceful behaviour, very upsetting, unprovoked and the last thing a woman needs is an offensive man making these phone calls.

"Woman, in fact everybody, needs protection from that."

The court heard Young is currently undergoing counselling for an alcohol problem and is his father's carer.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, placed on probation for eighteen months and ordered to pay £100 compensation to Mrs Rivera and £85 costs.

Young will also have to obey an eighteen  month exclusion requirement, prohibiting him contacting Mrs Rivera and visiting the Piper Building.

Engineer Claims "Blackout" Caused Violent Street Attacks

Guilty: Neil Saunders

A engineer, who suddenly attacked two strangers in the street – racially abusing one of them – battled with police and had to be sprayed with CS gas as they struggled to handcuff him.

Neil Saunders, 33, of Richmond Road, Worthing had spent the evening with friends in south-west London and was apparently in good spirits when he left them, but soon afterwards was out of control, getting into one violent confrontation after another.

He pleaded guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates Court today to the racially aggravated assault of Luis Ramirez in Putney High Street on September 27, last year.

He also pleaded guilty to assaulting black bus driver Joseph Lewis and resisting a police officer in the execution of his duty and was bailed until April 15 for a probation report.

Prosecutor Miss Mary Atere told the court Mr. Ramirez had just got off a bus with his son near Putney Bridge after 10pm on the Saturday evening when confronted by the defendant.

“Mr. Saunders swung his arm and hit Mr. Ramirez in the chest and was shouting and swearing. With his right hand he punched Mr. Ramirez in the face, then swung for a third time, connecting with the victim's face.

“He was heard shouting: 'What are you going to do? This is my country. Go back to your own f***ing country.'

“Bus driver Mr. Lewis was on a break and sitting on a bench outside TK Maxx when Mr. Saunders came to his attention because he seemed to be arguing with people in the road.

“The defendant sat next to Mr. Lewis, who was on his mobile phone, and he punched Mr. Lewis in the face, on the nose and the victim thought it may have been broken.

“Police were called and by now Mr. Saunders was standing in the middle of the road waving his arms around and when approached he resisted arrest and struggled violently with the officers.

“He had to be CS sprayed because he was so volatile, pushing and kicking out.”

When questioned by police Saunders claimed to have no memory of the incident.

His lawyer Miss Sophie Smith told the court there is the possibility a drink he was having with pals may have been spiked. “He left them in a happy mood and cannot remember what happened.”

Saunders claims he suffered a “blackout” - perhaps as a result of his Temazepam prescription for insomnia, which he received during a difficult period when his baby daughter was only twelve-months old and his wife was suffering post-natal stress.

The police officer who questioned him said Saunders was “very remorseful” and “crying and sobbing” throughout the interview.

Doctor Who Ran Over Zebra Crossing Pedestrian Guilty Of Careless Driving

A doctor, who mowed down a veteran 80 year-old journalist – inflicting life-changing injuries - as she used a zebra crossing outside the hospital he was employed at, was convicted of careless driving yesterday.

Consultant obstetrician Dr. Andrew Breeze, 40, of Prince Henry's Court, Otley, West Yorkshire helps run the multiple pregnancy unit at Leeds General Infirmary and has a general antenatal clinic near his home at Wharfedale Hospital.

He formerly worked at Kingston Hospital, south-west London and had just driven his silver VW Passat out of the staff car park and turned onto Galsworthy Road when he ran over Surrey Comet features editor June Sampson on November 26, 2013.

He fought the charge, but was convicted at Wimbledon Magistrates Court of driving without due care and attention and received a twelve-month conditional discharge, with £850 cost and a £15 victim surcharge.

His licence was also endorsed with three penalty points.

It was dark and approximately 7pm when June – whose married name is Mrs Tims – was struck at approximately 20mph, suffering pelvic injuries, broken bones in her legs and a severe head injury with bleeding on the brain.

She was placed in a medically-induced coma and is now dependant on her family to care for her.

Her injuries were initially life-threatening and she spent six months recovering in St. George's Hospital and suffers lasting effects, which prevent her working, writing, driving and cooking.

Prosecutor Mr. William Russell told the court: “Mrs Tims was crossing the zebra crossing when she was hit by the vehicle driven by the defendant.

“The defendant had come from Kingston Hospital, where he was working, and was driving along Galsworthy Road. The collision was on the front left side of the vehicle on the bonnet area.

“The defendant stopped after hearing what he described as a loud bang and saw the victim lying on the road and being a doctor he offered assistance and Mrs Tims was taken off to emergency.

“The prosecution case is that there was adequate lighting and he must have seen her and if he did not it therefore amounts to carelessness, misjudgment or error.

“When he spoke to the police Dr. Breeze said that he did not see Mrs Tims and just heard a bang. He said that he was not distracted by anything and the vehicle was not defective in any way.”

Breeze's defence team pointed out a second driver claimed the crossing was “very poorly lit” and he had not seen June either.

A local resident complained to the council that the crossing was poorly lit and the defence said there was evidence spotlights at the crossing had been removed shortly before the incident then re-installed afterwards.

'Trolley Rage' Marks And Spencer Xmas Shopper Killed After Aisle Clash

Melanie Buck

A 'trolley rage' killer rammed a frail Marks and Spencer shopper in a busy food aisle, which became "gridlocked" with Christmas customers, a court heard today.

Widower Michael Buckley, 60, suffered a broken wrist and thighbone when knocked to the floor of the store in The Glades shopping centre, Bromley, but never recovered and died three months later.

Melanie Serita Buck, 33, of Chelford Road, Bromley has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Mr. Buckley, who was injured on December 22, 2012, plus an alternative charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

She was with her mother at 1pm and pushing a trolley when she clashed with Mr. Buckley, who was carrying a basket.

"Mr. Buckley was browsing the food aisle when he came into contact with the defendant," prosecutor Mr. David Howker QC told Croydon Crown Court.

"There was something of a gridlock in the aisle and the defendant could not get past him. 

"There may have been a clash between his basket and her trolley and a few words exchanged and the upshot was Miss Buck deliberately rammed Mr. Buckley with her trolley and the result was to knock him to the floor."

Michael Buckley

The first words out of the injured man's mouth as Buck fled toward the exit were: "She rammed me."

Mr. Buckley was only eight stone and 5 foot five inches tall and described as "frail" by Mr. Howker, who added: "A fractured kneecap he had a few years earlier slowed him down.

"Miss Buck assaulted Mr. Buckley. causing him to fall to the floor and injure himself and cause the chain of events that led to his death. She is responsible for that death."

Buck was arrested on Boxing Day. "She said she was being bumped in the legs by Mr. Buckley's basket and was trying to get past him and hit him accidentally with her trolley."

Mr. Buckley, of Whatman Road, Forest Hill died on March 5, 2013 at Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough, Kent after three months in intensive care following complications relating to his injuries.

Mr. Buckley, had lost his wife Irene two years before his death, also had severe hearing problems and had retired from an office job at Camberwell New Green Cemetery.

"He could have had a heart attack at any time and Miss Buck would not have known that when she rammed the trolley into him."