Businessmen Cleared Of Robbing Convicted Fraudster They Say Scammed Them In Dodgy Gold Bullion Scheme

Andrew Hughes-Hallett

Two businessmen, accused of robbing a convicted fraudster at a five-star hotel after feeling ripped off by a gold bullion investment scheme, have been cleared.

Andrew Hughes-Hallett, 52, of Arcadia, Loddon Drive, Wargrave, Berkshire and Richard Powell, 54, of Derby Square, Douglas, Isle of Man were due to stand trial this week.

Both were charged with robbing Christian Fallon, 50, of £2,700 cash at the Jumeriah Carlton Tower, Cadogan Place, Knightsbridge on August 5, last year.

Not guilty verdicts were entered in relation to both defendants at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday.

Edinburgh University graduate Hughes-Hallett is the director of Arcadia Consulting Ltd. and lives in a £1.5m property. Powell describes himself as an entrepreneur.

They are among a group of investors, who feel they were swindled out of £1.5 million in a get-rich-quick bullion scam, according to High Court statements.

Richard Powell

Both men are seeking damages against Mr. Fallon, claiming he promised to invest their cash in gold bullion and foreign currency markets, but just pocketed it.

Hughes-Hallett says he invested £425,000 and Powell £225,000 with Newmarket, Suffolk-based Mr. Fallon, who according to the writ claimed to be an expert in trading gold, particularly in relation to the Bank of England.

He also vowed he could obtain gold below the market price so his scheme, run under the name QFX traders, was risk-free.

The court papers say: “The defendant (Fallon) claimed he was investing £4 million of his own money.

“The claimants could expect profits in relation to such trading to be at least four per cent per month.”

Fallon was convicted in 2002 and 2007 of fraud and since 1994 has been banned from acting in the investment business by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The claimants seek the return of their investments, alleging that he had not traded for them at all and just took the money.

The writ claims Fallon changed his name from Christopher to Christian after fraud convictions.

It says: “Under that name he had been convicted in 2002 and 2007 of committing numerous substantial frauds.”

Not Guilty: Care Worker Cleared Of Raping Resident With Learning Difficulties

A care worker, responsible for looking after the occupants of a residential home, has been cleared of raping a woman with learning difficulties, but will still be punished for having sex with her.

Mohammed Azam, 23, always admitted having sex with the 53 year-old woman, but insisted it was consensual and the rape claim was made after he rejected her further advances.

Croydon Crown Court heard he was the only member of staff at the assisted accommodation in South Way, Coulsdon that evening - staying overnight in case of any emergency.

The woman closed her eyes when Azam showed her pornography on his mobile phone moments before forcing himself on her, the jury were told. 

"She says he undressed her and she did not like it and described it as: 'Very rough and horrible,' and she said it was hurting her," explained prosecutor Miss Dianne Chan.

"He said: 'Women are bastards,' and said he wanted to be her boyfriend and that she was sexy."

The woman took a shower afterwards, but Azam jumped in and joined her, explained Miss Chan. "He said it was their secret and he did not like his job anyway.

"After the shower he made her do it again and she was in a lot of pain and was crying and he laughed.

"She went to her room and did not tell anyone. She was scared stiff.

"On another day he asked her to do it again and she said no and when she told the manager the manager said she was a liar."

The house was run by a company called Direct Care and Support Services and Azam was hired by the manger, who had known him for five years, in November, 2012 and sex occurred within four months.

He was hired despite his poor English skills and needs an Urdu interpreter in court.

On March 25, 2013 the defendant was asked about the complaint. "He said sex had taken place in the staff bedroom and he thought she complained because she asked for sex again and he refused."

The defendant moved into a temporary hostel and one night chatted with a witness about the incident. "Mr. Azam said it was not a real rape because he was already having sex when he was asked to stop and carried on," explained Miss Chan.

Azam was found not guilty by the jury of two counts of rape between February 1 and March 25, 2013.

He pleaded guilty to two alternative counts of sexual activity while employed as a care worker with a person with a mental disorder and will be sentenced on July 30.

Parish Councillor Accused Of Molesting Girl Three Decades Ago After Making Fresh Facebook Contact

A Lincoln parish councillor was arrested after making Facebook contact with a woman he abused as a child three decades ago in a failed attempt to pass himself off as a: “Friendly face from the past,” a jury were told today.

Engineer David Anthony Swinton, 70, of Bath Road, Bracebridge Heath denies sneaking into the girl's room during the night when she was aged between eight and eleven years-old and touching her between her legs over a four-year period.

He has pleaded not guilty at London's Harrow Crown Court to eight sample counts of indecently assaulting the complainant between June 20, 1984 and June 21, 1988.

The court was told the complainant was reluctant to report Swinton, who lived in Harrow at the time, because his family was so well-respected locally, with his civil servant wife Jane sitting on the local council, and his mother-in-law a former mayor of the borough.

Father-of-three Swinton, who lived at Northumberland Road, Harrow, is accused of molesting the girl at the address, often telling her to: “Shhh,” and be quiet and assuring her she was a: “Good girl.”

Prosecutor Mr. Toby Fitzgerald told the jury the girl regularly slept overnight at the defendant's house, occupying the top bunk of bunk-beds while her younger sister slept below.

“While the children were in his house he took the opportunity to indecently assault the elder sister, touching her indecently and between her legs in particular.

“The defendant would bath them both and throughout this period the defendant would come into the bedroom, approach the girl, and touch her, both over and under her knickers.

“Sometimes he would come in and pretend to tuck the girls in.

“This happened very regularly and the defendant showed a lack of boundaries, when at breakfast and in front of his family he said of the girl. 'She is a woman now'.

“She remembers thinking the defendant was trying to legitimise what he was doing and normalise his sexual activity with a child.

“The abuse ended when she stopped staying at the Swinton's home in 1988,” added Mr. Fitzgerald, explaining the girl told her mother what had happened approximately a year later.

“Her mother seemed sympathetic, but no complaint was made and the girl felt worried that she would not be believed.”

Some time later the complainant was walking past Swinton's house and he waved at her. “She stuck her finger up at him and he would have known the abuse was not forgotten and she was still angry.”

Out of the blue she received a Facebook message from Swinton on June 9, 2013, asking how she was.

“She looked at his page and the photographs of his grandchildren and was angry and upset that she had been contacted.

“Why did the defendant contact her? What was the motivation?” added Mr. Fitzgerald.

“The last few years have become increasingly uncomfortable for sex offenders and the Crown say this defendant wanted to head off any complaint against himself by presenting himself as a friendly face from the past and run with this change in history.

“He wanted to allay those fears so he could continue to live his life, but that was a miscalculation and it rekindled her upset and distress and she contacted the police.”

Swinton was arrested on December 11, 2013. “He absolutely denied any sexual conduct.”

The defendant sits on the Bracebridge Heath parish council and is the vice-chairman of Planning, Lighting and Roads and Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

The trial continues..........

Midnight Machete Attack: CCTV Released

Police are hunting this suspect after two men were victims of a midnight machete attack in north-west London.

Officers were called at 0.50am on March 22 to reports of a man armed with the large knife involved in violence in Craven Park Road, Wembley.

On arrival, police discovered two men, aged 34 and 47 years-old, had been attacked and had sustained cuts to their faces.

Both men were taken to hospital where they were treated for their injuries.

The suspect is described as a black male, of skinny build and 6ft tall.

He was also wearing blue, swimming style goggles.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Constable Russ Ellis at Brent Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Army Instructor Rapist Who Preyed On Young Cadets Is Locked-Up

An Army cadet training instructor, who sexually abused three young part-time female soldiers, is starting a seven-year prison sentence.

Jan Nicholas Ross, 27, targeted the victims – aged between seventeen and twenty-three years-old – during Territorial Army training.

Ross, of Bridle Road, Croydon was convicted of one count of rape; one count of sexual assault and one count of inciting a female to engage in sexual activity.

Croydon Crown Court heard he was responsible for the training and development of cadets within his unit in south London.

The offences took place between November 2013 and January last year in Croydon and Guilford.

Detective Inspector Nicola Arrowsmith of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation, and Child Abuse Command, said: "I would like to commend the victims for the courage and patience they have shown throughout this investigation and subsequent trial.

“Jan Ross held a role that enabled him to target young women he believed would be too scared to report him.

"This case highlights the determination of the Met Police to thoroughly investigate allegations of this nature.

“I would encourage any victim of serious sexual assault to report the matter to police; we have trained specialist officers to deal with your allegations.

"If you wish to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Millionaire Sir Harry Djanogly Accused Of Dragging Cop During Jag Hospital Dash

Millionaire philanthropist to the arts Sir Harry Djanogly CBE, appeared in court yesterday after a police officer, who stopped him for speeding in his powerful Jag, was pulled twenty-five metres along a dual carriageway, sustaining a knee injury.

The textile manufacturer, 76, who is estimated to have a personal fortune of £300m, gave no indication as to plea and was bailed by Hammersmith Magistrates Court to appear at Isleworth Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on July 7.  

He is charged with driving his five-litre silver Jaguar XK dangerously on The Westway A40, Hammersmith on December 27, last year and assaulting Police Sergeant Robert McDonald on the same occasion.

Sir Harry, who was knighted in 1993 for services to charity, claims his wife, Lady Carol Ann Djanogly, who was also in the vehicle, was suffering chest pains and had an urgent hospital appointment.

Prosecutor Mr. Guy Saul told the court it was 8pm when police officers in a marked vehicle estimated Sir Harry was driving at over 70mph in a 50mph zone and put on their lights in an attempt to make him stop.

He slowed sufficiently to allow PS McDonald to approach, the court was told, but then revved his engine and said: "I'm not stopping."

Mr. Saul added: "The vehicle moved forward, causing Police Sergeant McDonald to fall backwards and lose his balance, fearing injury if he fell under the wheels.

"There was a sudden burst of acceleration and the officer grabbed the steering wheel with both hands and the car veered towards oncoming traffic."

Sir Harry was represented by 'Mr. Loophole' Nick Freeman who said the distance covered was twenty-five metres.

He gave his address as a £1m three-bedroom maisonette at 3 Angel Court, St. James', Pall Mall, where the Djanogly Foundation is also registered, a charity, which has donated millions to arts and education.

He fled Nazi Germany with his family in 1936 and started-out as a supplier of stockings and hosiery in Nottingham, his adopted city, which has benefited from charitable donations of £1m to fund the City Technology Centre, which later became the Djanogly City Academy, plus £750,000 towards the University of Nottingham's arts centre at Highfields.

Sir Harry and Lady Carol are members of the Tate International Council and he has made significant financial contributions to the Tate Modern, Tate Britain and the Victoria & Albert Museum and donated £500,000 to the National Gallery extension and also supports the Royal Academy and National Portrait Gallery.

In 2008 The British Museum opened the Sir Harry and Lady Djanogly Gallery for Clocks and Watches and he helped develop the Jewish Museum project and the Royal Ballet School has a 'Djanogly Studio'.

He is believed to own the world's largest collection of work by artist LS Lowry, plus valuable paintings by Picasso and Monet.

Sir Harry's City lawyer son Jonathan Djanogly, 50, is the Conservative MP for Huntingdon.

Care Worker Denies Raping Resident With Learning Difficulties

A care worker, responsible for looking after the occupants of a residential home, twice raped a woman with learning difficulties in the same night and laughed when she started crying, a jury were told today.

Mohammed Azam, 23, admits having sex with the 53 year-old woman, but insists it was consensual and the rape claim was made after he rejected her further advances.

Croydon Crown Court heard he was the only member of staff at the assisted accommodation in South Way, Coulsdon that evening - staying overnight in case of any emergency.

The woman closed her eyes when Azam showed her pornography on his mobile phone moments before forcing himself on her, the jury were told. 

"She says he undressed her and she did not like it and described it as: 'Very rough and horrible,' and she said it was hurting her," explained prosecutor Miss Dianne Chan.

"He said: 'Women are bastards,' and said he wanted to be her boyfriend and that she was sexy."

The woman took a shower afterwards, but Azam jumped in and joined her, explained Miss Chan. "He said it was their secret and he did not like his job anyway.

"After the shower he made her do it again and she was in a lot of pain and was crying and he laughed.

"She went to her room and did not tell anyone. She was scared stiff.

"On another day he asked her to do it again and she said no and when she told the manager the manager said she was a liar."

The house was run by a company called Direct Care and Support Services and Azam was hired by the manger, who had known him for five years, in November, 2012 and sex occurred within four months.

He was hired despite his poor English skills and needs an Urdu interpreter in court.

On March 25, 2013 the defendant was asked about the complaint. "He said sex had taken place in the staff bedroom and he thought she complained because she asked for sex again and he refused."

The defendant moved into a temporary hostel and one night chatted with a witness about the incident. "Mr. Azam said it was not a real rape because he was already having sex when he was asked to stop and carried on," explained Miss Chan.

Azam has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape between February 1 and March 25, 2013.

He has pleaded guilty to two alternative counts of sexual activity while employed as a care worker with a person with a mental disorder. 

Trial continues…………….

Book Keeper Hatched £300K Raid On Ex Employer

Turkan & Tuncel Ibrahim

A disgruntled book keeper masterminded a £300,000 jewellery raid on his ex-employers' large detached home by hiring thugs to terrorise the couple in the middle of the night, a jury heard yesterday.

Zahid Sait, 42, of Michigan Close, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire was sacked from the catering company run by the victims after they suspected him of stealing £20,000 nearly a decade previously.

Croydon Crown Court heard he plotted with three men, including 24 year-old Reece Williams, of Philip House, Denham Road, South Barnet, who drove the two accomplices who entered the house on June 9, last year.

Sait and Williams have both pleaded not guilty to conspiring to rob Mr. Tuncel Ibrahim, 69 and 67 years-old Mrs Turkan Ibrahim.

Their two co-defendants, Junior Millar, 36, and Kyio Scarlett-Hudson, 20, who have admitted their role, will be sentenced at the conclusion of the trial.

Prosecutor Mr. Gino Connor told the jury Sait told police a "pack of lies" when arrested at an Edmonton funeral attended by Mr. Ibrahim
on October 14.

He denied knowing the robbers, but now claims he was "terrified for his life" and fed the information to the gang under duress.

A gambling addiction left him in debt to one of the robbers and he says he reluctantly gave the couple's home address, fearing he would be harmed.

Williams says he was hired for £300 to drive to the couple's home in Chislehurst Road, Petts Wood, Orpington so his two co-defendants could do nothing more than collect a debt.

It was shortly before 5am when the husband was attacked at his front door, repeatedly punched in the face and tied up.

His wife was bound with her own dressing gown belt and told: "Shut up or I will kill you, I'll kill your husband," by the larger of the two robbers.

"They threatened to rape her if the husband did not co-operate," explained Mr. Connor. 

A scarf was also tied around her neck and her husband sustained bruising and a dislocated shoulder during their ordeal.

After the robbers left Mrs Ibrahim managed to free herself and used a pair of scissors to cut her husband free.

She called the police and the couple were taken to hospital to be treated for number of injuries and shock.

Expensive jewellery, plus £4,000 cash and €650 were taken, and the gang fled to an address in Enfield, where Sait was staying with a friend.

That friend later told police he saw Sait chatting with two black men in the house's conservatory early on June 9 and he had a pile of jewellery and cash by his feet.

Police discovered Sait's cousin is married to the couple's son and he was employed for five years as a book keeper at their Tottenham business until his sacking in 2005 after the theft allegation.

Trial continues…………

Tipper Truck Driver Who Jumped Light And Killed Cyclist Is Jailed

Barry Eric Meyer

A tipper truck driver, who jumped a red light and killed a cyclist during the morning rush-hour, is starting a three-and-a-half year sentence.

Barry Eric Meyer, 53, of Aubrey Road, Walthamstow was unlicensed and uninsured when he crushed 54 year-old Alan Neve to death.

The Poplar father-of-one was cycling to his job in Soho where he was an auditor for the Performing Arts Society when run over in Holborn at 9.25am on July 15, 2013.

Meyer has five previous driving disqualifications, which include two drink-drive convictions.

He pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court to causing death by careless driving and was also disqualified from driving for ten years.

Alan Neve

Detective Sergeant Cheryl Frost, from the Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: "I would like to express my gratitude to the family of Alan Neve.

“They have carried themselves with the utmost dignity throughout this process which has lasted almost two years.

“It has been an extremely difficult time for them but their desire to assist us and support this investigation is testament to their strength."

The Neve family released their own statement, which Read: “Alan was a kind, loving, optimistic, law-abiding man who had many years of life ahead of him.

“It was his great misfortune to travel the same route as Mr Meyer on Monday 15th July 2013.

“Many people have been deeply affected by Alan's death. We are relieved that there has finally been an end to this process and that there is some sense of justice for Alan.

“Alan will never ever be forgotten.”

Young Woman Attacked On Way To Work: Police Release CCTV

Police are hunting this early-morning sexual predator, who followed a young woman on her way to work and subjected her to a “shocking attack.”

The 20 year-old woman was on her way to Bedford Place, Bloomsbury at 7.15am on March 29 when she was assaulted at the bottom of steps that lead to her workplace.

The suspect began following her after she passed him in nearby Bloomsbury Square.

He left the scene immediately after the assault.

Detective Constable Arif Sheikh from Camden CID, who is leading the investigation, said: "I am appealing for anyone who recognises this person to come forward and speak to police.

“The victim was followed to her place of work and was subjected to a shocking attack."

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Camden Police on 101, quoting ref: 2308112/15.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.