Notorious Tax Cheat Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A notorious tax cheat, who hit the headlines for a £156,000 VAT swindle involving her "ethical" cosmetics company, was convicted today of ten counts of benefit fraud.

Monica Bircham, 47, of Abbott Court, Hartington Road, South Lambeth, was not jailed for scamming the taxman and was free to prey on her local council and illegally pocket hand-outs for two-and-a-half years.

An Inner London Crown Court jury found her guilty this afternoon of ten counts of fraud between December 9, 2010 and July 12, 2013 consisting of telling the London Borough of Lambeth she received no money from self-employment and on three occasions gave untrue information in a Self-Employed Earning Information form.

That she was a single-mother living alone; that she had no income; that she had no more income than tax credits; that she was the only adult living at her address; that she had not received full payment for part-time lecturing work and failed to disclose income.

She was convicted on a further count of dishonestly making a false representation on or about November 11, 2010 in an online application for Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit and one count of possessing an article for use in fraud on or about May 3, 2011, namely a profit and loss account for a business called Scoop SkinCare Ltd.

The new convictions put her in breach of a suspended prison sentence she received in April 2013 for the benefit offences she committed three months after get sentencing.

"The sentence the court will be considering will be custody," announced Recorder Adam Hiddleston. "She has a fifteen year-old son and tells us she is a single-mum.

"The sentence the court is thinking of will more than likely be one of custody," he added, telling Bircham directly. "A custodial sentence in your case is almost inevitable."

She was bailed until June 12 for a probation report.

Pick-N-Mix Crime Blitz

A mugger, joyrider, thief and sex offender has been jailed for thirteen years after committing an impressive range of offences during a four-month crime blitz.

Alan Denny, 25, of Fladbury Road, South Tottenham targeted a mini-cab driver and man outside a pub on Halloween – robbing them both – during his spree.

Wood Green Crown Court heard Denny attacked the mini-cab driver, aged 47, at 6.00am on July 26, last year in his home street, snatching the victim's jacket, which contained cash.

He threatened a 35 year-old man outside the Jolly Angler pub, Brabant Road, Wood Green at 11.40pm on October 31 with a screwdriver, taking the victim's car car and other property.

Denny was also guilty of witness intimidation after threatening a 34 year-old woman at a flat in North Kensington with a knife on November 9

He also stole from rooms at theme park Alton Towers in Staffordshire between June 30 and July 2 and failed to comply with the requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.

Denny was also guilty of dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without third party insurance.

Suspected Burglar Wanted By Police

Police have released this image of a suspected burglar wanted in connection with a north London break-in.

Officers in Haringey borough would like to hear from anyone who knows the whereabouts of 23 year-old Derya Gulsoy.

He is suspected of burgling a property in Seaford Road, South Tottenham on March 29.

Anyone with any information is asked to call local police in on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 



You can also send an anonymous message to Crimestoppers via their website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online

CCTV Images Of Burglary Released

Police have released these CCTV images after a shop was broken into in east London.

The burglary occurred at 4.00am at Fresh Store, Broad Street, Dagenham on March 13.

A quantity of money, drinks as well as a cash till was stolen during the raid, which was captured on the owners security camera.

No arrests have been made and investigating officers hope the images will help identify the burglars.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police non-emergency line on 101. 

Alternatively anybody with information can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 11 quoting crime reference 5104007/15.

Thirsty Gold Burglar Left DNA On Drink Can

A thirsty burglar, who left his DNA on a fizzy drink can he took from his victims' fridge while ransacking their home in the search for gold, has been locked-up for three years.

Nadim Younus, 33, of Gloucester Avenue, Slough suspected the Indian occupants had high-value gold and even cut into their sofas and emptied cupboards before leaving with £15,000 worth of jewellery and passports.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard Younus broke into the house in Heston Road, Hounslow via a back door on September 3, last year.

He went into every room emptying out all the cupboards as well as turning sofas upside down and cutting them up, in a bid to find gold.



When the family returned they found their house had been completely ransacked, however they were surprised to find that all the electrical items such as televisions and tablets were still there.



Police and forensic officers arrived on scene to carry out their investigation.

A drink can was found in the kitchen sink, which the victim stated that they had not drunk from and was previously in the fridge.



The can was forensically examined and traces of Younus’s DNA were found on the rim of the can. 



Detective Constable Darren Young, from Hounslow borough, said: “This investigation demonstrates that we will do everything in our capability to identify a suspect with every resource available to us.



"Our forensic colleagues will work with us to find anything, be it a drop of blood or saliva that may help us find a suspect and, in this case, leaving behind a drink can has resulted in us putting the suspect before the courts.”

Bangkok Holidaymaker Jailed After Returning With Suitcase Full Of Weapons

A Swansea man, caught with stun guns and martial arts weapons in his luggage after stepping off a flight from Thailand, has been jailed for twenty-seven months.

Karen Pal Singh Roth, 58, of Cefn Coed Crescent, Cockett had just arrived at Heathrow Airport after visiting Bangkok.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to three counts of possessing firearms, namely two stun guns and a stun baton – disguised as a torch - at the airport on January 28, last year, plus one count of unlawfully importing the three weapons.

Roth also pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a flick-knife, plus a separate three counts of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a knuckleduster; throwing star and nunchucks.

He further pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully importing the three flick-knives and a charge of importing the martial arts weapons.

Company Director Illegally Pocketed Benefits

Isleworth Crown Court

A company director, who was running a secret business at the same time he was claiming benefits, has received a suspended prison sentence and will now have to work for free as punishment.

Philip Huntley, 45, of Yew Tree Hollow, Boxhill Road, Tadworth, Surrey was a director of PTH Solutions from May 22, 2009 and the company was registered at his home address.

He was sentenced to twenty-four weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and was ordered to complete 150 hours community service work when he appeared at Isleworth Crown Court.

Huntley was charged with six counts of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances to the Department of Work and Pensions between March 8, 2008 June 23, 2013, namely that he was working.

Failing to declare he was working resulted in Huntley being overpaid Housing Benefit; Income Support and Employment and Support Allowance.

School Caretaker Caught With Child Porn On Work Computer

A school caretaker with twenty-three years service is now banned from working with kids after he was caught with child porn on his computer.

David Freeman, 69, of Lower Richmond Road, Richmond was reported to police after some of the images were spotted on his work tablet, issued by The Queen's Church of England School, Cumberland Road, Kew.

He pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to three counts of making indecent images of children between January 1 and May 30, last year.

The vast majority of the images – 318 – were Category C, the lowest in terms of seriousness, but there were also 14 Category B and one Category A – the most serious.

Prosecutor Mr. Bill McGivern told the court officers executed a search warrant at Freeman's home and seized his home computer, which contained the majority of the images.

“This is a school janitor and he had been issued the tablet by the school and when the images were seen his home computer was examined.

“The images were on his home computer and because of a link they were available on the school computer.

“There will be a prevention order barring him from working with children.”

Today Freeman was sentenced to a twelve month community order, which includes 180 hours community service and was made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Burglar Caught By Watching Police

A house-breaker under police surveillance who was caught committing his second burglary in a week has been locked-up for three years.

Clive Lindsey, 40, of Knights Place, Noke Drive, Redhill, Surrey was only in the second property two minutes when officers saw him leaving with a bright pink carrier bag containing two stolen laptops.

He was arrested on November 25, last year as a result of an intelligence operation by Merton Burglary Squad.

Lindsey broke into a house in Graveney Road, Tooting at 1.20pm then ran to his parked car in nearby Fishponds Road.

Officers followed the vehicle, a green Ford Ka, into Lessingham Avenue, where it was stopped at the junction with Francisan Road.

Lindsey was arrested and officers seized the pink carrier bag, which contained two laptops and a pair of socks from the address.



Lindsey was taken to Wimbledon police station for questioning and linked to a further burglary, which occurred on November 17 at an address in Reigate, Surrey. 



Detective Constable Ian Griffith, from Merton Burglary Squad, said: "The evidence against Lindsey was so overwhelming and strong that he was given no other choice then to plead guilty to both offences.

“In this case we were able to recover the stolen items and return them to their rightful owners within a matter of hours, a real result for the victims in this matter. 



" Lindsey has now been brought to justice for his crimes and the message is clear - we will use all the intelligence and resource available to us to disrupt criminals and gather the most compelling evidence to present before the courts."

Leading Church Music Composer And Respected Private School Teacher Secretly Collected Child Porn

One of the country's leading composer's of church music, who also taught at several top private schools - including one attended by Nigella Lawson and Kate Beckinsale - has received a suspended prison sentence after a police raid seized child pornography at his suburban home.

Cambridge University-educated John Barnard, 66, a fellow of the Royal College of Organists and associate of the Royal School of Church Music led a "tortured" secret double-life, Harrow Crown Court heard.

"It must be a humiliating experience for a man of your background to find himself before the courts," Judge Jeremy Barklem told Barnard, who taught German and French at the £18,000 a year all-girls Godolphin & Latymer school, Hammersmith.

"You are a cultured, educated, highly intelligent man, respected and loved by many and dedicated to church music, but also tortured by a publicly-repressed sexuality and an interest in images of young men that's never been expressed physically."

He was deputy head for fifteen years at £16,000 a year John Lyon boys school, Harrow, where he organised and led trips to Switzerland and went on to also teach at the co-ed £29,000 a year Aldenham boarding school, Elstree.

Barnard, of Queens Walk, Harrow, who has directed music for BBC Radio 2's Sunday Half Hour and in 2006 was a judge for a BBC hymn-writing competition was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, and must attend 60 days 'one to one' counselling.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing indecent photographs, which relate to twenty-nine pictures found in a chest of drawers in his bedroom.

The court heard there were a total of 118 images at category C; 13 at category B and 16 at category A - the most serious, which usually involves children being sexually abused.

The vast majority of the images depicted boys aged between fourteen and sixteen years-old.

Barnard presented two references to the court, one from a retired senior police officer and another from a barrister and member of the Bar Choral Society, who as a boy was a chorister taught by the defendant.

Prosecutor Miss Kate Blumgart told the court Barnard answered his door to police dressed in his pyjamas at 6.30am on May 13, last year and immediately admitted there were images on his computer.

Further printed images were found in the chest of drawers, which he admitted printing from his computer. "He said they were his and he had forgotten them.

"Officers also visited John Keble Church, Edgware, where Mr. Barnard was head of the choir, but nothing was found there. He is currently suspended from his role there."

His lawyer Miss Maria Dineen said: "Mr. Barnard is thoroughly ashamed of the conduct that brings him to court. He was aware that what he was doing was wrong, but was too embarrassed and fearful of the consequences to seek help.

"What has been a pretty solitary life for him up to now has been opened up and he has confided in others and he has sought out professional help.

"He accepts the damage that was done to the children in these images and his risk of reoffending and harm is low.

"There is no evidence he has acted upon his predilection or offers any threat of contact offending and he has dedicated his life to some sort of public service.

"He has always been regarded as a kind, caring individual. The loss of his good character alone is itself a considerable regret."

Barnard was also made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign the sex offenders register for seven years.

He has been a successful composer, arranger, choir director and organist and sits on the council of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland and has been director of music at Emmanuel Church, Northwood; St. Alban's Church, North Harrow and St. John the Evangelist Church, Stanmore.

Barnard has composed and published over fifty original hymns, which are sung all over the world and contributes to and helps assemble publications including 'Hymns for Today's Church', Carols for Today' and Psalms for Today'.