Queen, PM & Home Secretary Letter Threats Man's Court Date

The prosecution of a man accused of sending threatening letters to The Queen, PM David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May was adjourned yesterday.

Ahmed Elgaber, 35, of no fixed abode, did not appear at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court and his case was fixed for an Actus Reus hearing on March 4, next year.

Elgaber is not fit to plead and the two-hour hearing will determine if he committed the offences he is accused of.

He is charged with three counts of sending a letter conveying a threatening message for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety on March 23 to the three public figures.

Prosecutor Mr. Dominic Hockley told the court: "The charges are maliciously communicating threats to the Queen, David Cameron and Theresa May and the Crown are proceeding."

It is understood the Crown Prosecution Service decided to proceed with the case after a review at the highest level.

Elgaber is currently held in a mental health unit within the South Essex NHS Trust.

"He may well be in hospital for some time," added Mr. Hockley.

It is the third time the troubled case has been listed.

"On the first day he refused to attend and on the second day he did attend, but refused to come up from the cells."

The specific details of the alleged threats were not disclosed.

Dad Sentenced For Groping Princess Fiona At Shrek Attraction

A dad groped Princess Fiona when he took his wife and two kids to a Shrek-themed attraction - grabbing the bum of the young actress playing her and planting a kiss on her neck.

IT engineer Srinivas Boreddy, 36, told police: "She looked very good" and now claims he was trying to break the awkward silence with a UK-style greeting he observed during his short time in the country.

The young actress, aged in her twenties, who was playing the character - Shrek's love-interest in the hit movie franchise - agreed to a friendly hug, but was left in tears and says she was "shocked" and "violated" by Boreddy's grope.

Indian-born Boreddy, of Pleasant Place, Barker Lane, Chesterfield, Derbyshire pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the woman at Shrek's Adventure!, County Hall, Southbank, London on October 25.

Today at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court he was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes 150 hours community service work and was ordered to pay £85 costs, a £60 victim surcharge, a £180 court charge and £50 compensation to the victim.

Prosecutor Mr. Edward Aydin told the court: "This is a sexual assault on a children's character, Princess Fiona. The victim is a female actress playing that role in a family amusement park."

The victim was in charge of a magical bus ride Boreddy wanted to take his wife and two children, aged eight and two-and-a-half years-old on, but he had to wait with the youngest because the child was too small.

"He then came back alone to go on the bus ride and the victim, Princess Fiona, is standing there and she said he had to wait a few minutes.

"Then all of a sudden, without any provocation from the Princess, he's asked for a hug.

"The victim thought it was unusual, but agreed and all of a sudden, during the course of the hug, Boreddy grabs both the victim's bottom cheeks in that encounter then pulls the Princess into his groin area forcefully."

The victim told police: "I felt no erection," and Mr. Aydin added: "He could have had one as the coat is quite thick, the coat she wears as part of the costume.

"He also leant down and tried to kiss the cheeks on her face and as she moved away to avoid the kiss on the cheek he managed to kiss her on the neck, a small bite, she says.

"His thick moustache also brushed her neck and caused a rash and some small irritation, slight scarring, she says, and some pain. 

"She was extremely shocked, she says, extremely violated.

"No one would expect a character in a children's theme park to be sexually assaulted at 2pm on a Sunday. He's come back alone to target the Princess.

"For this type of activity he should be ashamed of what he has done.

"She's just doing her job and and not expecting someone to kiss her and touch her on the bottom."

Boreddy, who speaks Telugu, a tongue common to south-eastern Andhra Pradesh, India and needed an interpreter, arrived in the UK on a work visa in July and has a £2,000-plus a month position.

Probation officer Patrick Acres told the court: "I get a sense of his lack of experience being outside his native India. 

"Before the offence he had made the observation that people on the Underground greeted each other with hugs and a kiss on the cheek."

Boreddy claims he only returned to go on the ride and had not targeted the victim.

"He said the operator told him to wait and she was staring at him, he felt…..Mr. Boreddy felt there was an uncomfortableness of being there with this woman and not communicating," explained Mr. Acres.

"In his words he said: 'I thought I should introduce myself to her', bearing in mind a hug and a kiss is how he believes we introduce ourselves.

"He asked her first, but she was not expecting that. The only person he hugged and kissed before was his wife.

"He was not aware of the touching of the bottom. It was very clumsy.

"He said at the time of the hug she shied away and said: 'This isn't how you should be hugging'."

The teetotal post-graduate then spent six hours in police custody while his wife and kids travelled home.

"I don't believe there was a sexual intent at making a pass at the woman."

Boreddy's lawyer Mr. Denney Lau said: "He's not had a good night's sleep ever since. This matter was reported in the national press and there have been various unkind comments made by others on the internet."

Boreddy has been hurt by online user comments such as "pervert", "vile" and "go back to your own country.'

"He's ashamed of himself, for what has happened and is worried about his work and it has caused stress in the relationship with his partner and impacted the children.

"He accepts he went over the top."

Sentencing the first-time offender magistrate Mr. Tim Cohen said: "We know you're full of remorse for what happened."

Step-Dad And Step-Daughter Jailed For Brazilian Cocaine Run

Gatwick Airport

A step-father and daughter, caught smuggling over £15,000 worth of cocaine into the UK after a so-called fact-finding coffee trip to Brazil, were both jailed today.

Dainis Grinfelds, 46, and Aiva Skuja, 20, both of The Diamond, Middletown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland both swallowed sealed packets of the 75%-86% pure drug, but were stopped at Gatwick Airport.

They pleaded guilty at west London's Isleworth Crown Court to one count each of importing cocaine on September 9 and Grinfelds received four-and-a-half years and Skuja three-and-a-half years.

The court heard the pair had flown from Sao Paulo via Casablanca and when stopped by customs men Grinfelds claimed he was in South America obtaining coffee samples for his business.

However, a Nike bag in their purple suitcase tested positive for traces of cocaine and when x-rayed Grinfelds had six packets and Skuja seven packets.

Both have been held in custody since their arrest and the obviously-distressed first-time offender Skuja stood beside her step-father in the secure dock.

“He lives in Northern Ireland and has a young family,” explained Mr. Andrew Bullivant, defending. “He is established in Northern Ireland, he has convictions there since 2006.

“He runs a coffee shop and the purpose of the trip to Brazil was to seek out coffee samples and he took his step-daughter with him to source coffee.

“They got into difficulties with money, they were taking in the sights and spending money over what they budgeted for.

“He says they were robbed and their money taken off them and they missed their flight and had to live rough for one to two weeks in Sao Paulo, which was quite a frightening experience.

“He was threatened and felt pressured into agreeing to take the drugs. He agreed to carry the drugs back in exchange for tickets so they could get back safely.

“He has shown me injuries to his legs where he was cut with a knife.

Judge Phillip Matthews told them: “Importation of class A drugs is viewed very seriously and you both played a significant role in importing that cocaine and were motivated by financial gain.

“Neither of you gave any explanation whatsoever in your interviews.”

Caught On CCTV: Cashpoint Robbery

This is the moment two cowardly robbers targeted a woman at a cashpoint in east London – distracting her and snatching £250.

On Sunday, June 21, police were called to reports of a woman being robbed at an ATM on Green Lane, Dagenham, at 4.10pm.

As the 31-year-old went to the cash point, she heard two men behind her arguing.

One of the men told her the cashpoint machine was not working.

After entering her PIN one man reached over and pressed the £250 button.

The woman tried to cancel the transaction and return the card, but the second man pushed her out of the way as the first man tried to cover the cashpoint with his jacket.

The £250 was dispensed and the cash grabbed and both men then ran off.

The woman was not injured in the robbery.

The first man (suspect 1) is a black man of medium build, aged 20 to 30 years-old, wearing a white T-shirt.

The second man (suspect 2) is described of Asian appearance, muscular build and 5ft 7ins tall wearing a dark sports jacket and blue cap.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who may recognise the two men believed responsible or who saw the robbery.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 183846 (suspect 1) or 183847 (suspect 2) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Bald Cheek: Bus Suspect Molested 15 Year-Old Girl

Police hunting a bus pervert, who molested a 15 year-old girl, have released this image of their suspect.

The teenager was travelling on a route 8 bus along Wembley High Road, Wembley, north-west London at 4.05pm on May 11.

She was sexually assaulted and now police have released this CCTV image taken at the time.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Roads and Transport Policing Command are appealing for help in identifying the man.

The suspect is described as a bald white man, possibly eastern European, wearing a t-shirt, black jacket and jeans.

Officers are asking anyone with any information to contact Detective Constable Darren Barlow on 07825 378289 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 180354.

Two Wannabe Burglary Suspects Targeted Off-Licenses: Do You Know Them?

Police are hunting these two suspected wannabe burglars who disabled security alarms at two off-licenses in north London.

On Sunday, June 14 at around 7.50pm the two men approached an off licence on Russell Lane, Whetstone.

Whilst one of the men went inside to distract the shop keeper, the other stood outside on his mobile phone.

He was caught on CCTV pulling the alarm door contact off the top of the door, preventing the alarm activation when the shop shut.

CCTV overlooking the shop identified both men whom police would like to speak to.

The two men are described as black and aged 20 to 30 years-old.

The man outside the shop is seen wearing a black baseball cap, black sports jacket, dark blue jeans and blue trainers with white soles.

The second man who went inside to distract the shop keeper is seen wearing a dark hoodie with 'Nike' across the front and matching tracksuit bottoms with 'Nike' on the left.

On Wednesday, June 17 at around 9.45pm two men of similar description used the same method to break a door alarm strip at an off licence on Queens Parade, Friern Barnet Road.

Anyone who recognises either of these two men should call police on 101 quoting reference numbers 184191 or 184194 respectively.

Alternatively they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

15 Year-old Girl Molested On Bus: CCTV Of Suspect Released

Police are trying to find this suspected sex pervert after a 15 year-old girl was molested on a bus.

The schoolgirl was travelling on a route 235 bus in west London between Feltham High Street and Isleworth at 9.30am.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Roads and Transport Policing Command are appealing for help to identify the man for the Hounslow incident.

The suspect is described as an Asian man, aged about 18 to 20 years-old with short dark hair.

He wore a white and blue checked shirt and jeans.

Police have asked for anyone with information to contact Detective Constable Alastair Middleton on 07909 877121 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 182905.

Bank Worker Drained Retired Irish Couple's Account

A bank worker, who stole £56,000 from an old family friend's retirement pot when they moved back to Ireland, was jailed for two-and-a-half years yesterday.

Maura Kealy, 57, was a co-signatory on the HSBC account opened in 1992 by Christopher and Bridget Behan because the couple trusted her to take care of their retirement fund.

Spinster Kealy, of St. Peter's Place, Arklow, County Wicklow, a former senior customer services officer at the bank's Surbiton branch in south-west London will also have to repay the money.

She pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to stealing £56,101 between June 26, 2001 and September 21, 2010 from Mrs Behan, 83.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Germain told the court Mrs Behan, who now lives in Limerick, and her late husband had known Kealy's parents for forty years so went to see her to arrange their finances.

"The Behan's wanted their pension payments transferred to Ireland and the defendant advised them to open an account on which she would also be a signatory.

"Because she was trusted by them they agreed and £900 was to be transferred to Ireland every month."

Sadly Mr. Behan passed away and when Mrs Behan was hospitalised in 2010 her relatives took responsibility for her finances and discovered the thefts.

"They found a large number of unauthorised transactions had taken place on the account.

"There were a large number of withdrawals for lottery tickets, scratch cards, eBay purchases, Amazon, WH Smith's, Argos and credit cards."

Kealy was arrested at her then home in Brentford, west London on May 9, 2013.

"She denied she had been dishonest and said she mistakenly used the Behan account."

Kealy continued denying the thefts up until day one of her proposed trial, when she eventually pleaded guilty,but had forced Mrs Behan to make the unnecessary journey to Dublin to give evidence via video link.

Mrs Behan also had to travel to London during the investigation to collect her original bank statements from HSBC because Kealy refused to send them to her.

Following her arrest Kealy moved to Ireland to care for her ill mother and bought an ex-council property with her share of the inheritance when she died.

"Mrs Behan feels a great sense of shock at what happened because she regarded Kealy as a friend and feels let down," added Mr. Germain.

"She says she would like compensation, but makes the point time is not on her side."

Kealy's lawyer Mr. Charles Digby told the court his client had survived breast cancer and a stroke without family support.

"She's lived a rather solitary life," he said of the first-time offender. "Even today she has sat outside with her head down trying to hide from the world.

"She had a gambling problem, an addiction to scratch cards and things like that and is deeply ashamed of her behaviour."

Kealy may now lose her home under Proceeds of Crime Act Legislation and a confiscation hearing was fixed for April 1 next year.

Judge Georgina Kent told her: "You are remorseful and regretful, but continued to try to minimise your actions as some sot of mistake.

"This is a very serious offence in high breach of trust  and was a great shock to Mrs Behan. 

"They were vulnerable people facing retirement and were reliant on you. You were in a position of responsibility and that is why they trusted you.

"Far too many people prey on elderly and vulnerable people, which is what you did in this case."

Secretary's £200K Rape Blackmail Against Married Lover Ex-Boss

A vengeful secretary blackmailed her former boss and married lover by demanding £200,000 to drop a rape claim she made against him.

Dilrushi Mendis, 40, was cheating on her own husband with employer and wealthy businessman Nihal Seneviratne until he sacked and dumped her.

The Sri Lankan mother-of-one, of Manstone Road, Cricklewood received eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, today.

"I pass a sentence on the basis you have used the criminal justice system to attempt to get a large some of money from your ex-lover," Blackfriars Crown Court Judge Peter Clarke QC told the first-time offender.

"There was obviously some bad blood between you and you demanded two hundred thousand pounds and it was linked to a rape allegation that would be withdrawn."

Mr.Seneviratne, who always denied the claim, was arrested and spent three months on police bail until eventually told there would be no charge.

Mendis was also originally charged with perverting the course of justice by making a malicious allegation of sexual assault, but this was dropped by the prosecution.

"There were matters where you were wronged and part of your motive was impure, it was revenge on a man you felt had betrayed you."

Mendis also sent sexually explicit "revenge porn" images to Mr. Seneviratne's friends and family and turned up near his house demanding to be seen when he was at home with his wife and daughter's on Valentine's Day.

Prosecutor Mr. Adam King told the court: "They met in 2008 when she began working for him. They were both married, but an on-off sexual relationship began and he helped her financially."

In September, 2013 Mr. Seneviratne ended her employment and the relationship after learning Mendis's husband was moving to the UK.

"She did not take it well and pestered him with phone calls and he felt she had somehow gained access to his email account because she knew about his restaurant plans one Valentine's.

"Later that evening in February, 2014 she telephoned Mr. Seneviratne, who was at home with his family, saying she was outside and demanded to be seen.

"He met her around the corner and agreed to see her the next day, but broke the date and Mendis phoned him hundreds of times.

"She sent him a text which read: 'If you do not come and see me I'll do something terrible to you.'

"She asked Mr. Seneviratne, knowing he was a wealthy man, for forty to fifty thousand pounds to open a hair salon."

Around this time Mendis reported Mr. Seneviratne to the police, claiming he struck her. "She admitted to him she lied to the police."

On the evening of March 2, 2014 she invited him to stay at her place and Mr. Seneviratne arrived with a friend of his, and still maintains they slept in a separate room.

However, Mendis told police the men arrived with alcohol and she had two or three drinks before Mr. Seneviratne entered her room later and raped her.

He was in his native Sri Lanka when the complaint was made and the same friend acted as a go-between, communicating Mendis would drop the case for £200,000.

He did not pay anything and was arrested on June 16, 2014 when he returned.

"She was not paid during her employment by this wealthy and successful businessman and was on benefits," said Miss Nerida Harford-Bell, defending.

"He did lead her to believe he would leave his wife and then live with her in Sri Lanka. That was a foolish dream.

"It was a demand for money so that she could be free.

"He had made threats to her family that he would make their lives difficult in Sri Lanka  and Mrs Mendis was told she was: 'One of many women in his life' and was a: 'Whore and prostitute'." 

Mendis pleaded guilty to one count of blackmail and the prosecution dropped a charge of perverting the course of justice.

She was also ordered to complete 80 hours community service work.

£2M Cannabis Seizure In Suburban Home

Detectives seized almost three quarters of a ton of cannabis worth around £2million during a raid in south-east London - arresting a middle-aged man in the process.

Officers from the Organised Crime Partnership executed a search warrant during a planned operation at an address in Glenview Road, Bromley, early on Wednesday, September 9.

Inside a garage officers found an estimated three quarters of a ton of cannabis stacked up against the internal wall.

The value of the seizure is likely to be approximately £2million.

A man in his 50's was arrested at the address on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and remains in custody at a south London police station.

Detective Inspector Steven Miles, from the Organised Crime Partnership, said: "The raid this morning was a response to tackle the blight of drug dealing on the streets of south London.

It sends out a strong signal to those involved that we will not tolerate their activities."

Enquiries continue.