Legendary 60's Fashion Photographer Sentenced For Groping Women

A sixties photographer who carried around his portfolio of work - which included an iconic picture of the model Twiggy - to help him sexually assault women, has been placed on probation.

Legendary fashion and style photographer Barry Lategan, 81, approached his victims mainly on buses, engaged them in conversation about his pictures of the rich and famous and groped them.

He was placed on a two-year supervision order when he was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court.

He claimed to miss "skin on skin" contact and touched them both over and under their clothing, rubbing their breasts. legs, thighs, backs, arms and hair.

He had been ruled unfit to enter a plea to eight counts of sexual assault allegedly committed between February 1, 2013 and June 18, this year.

The jury heard Lategan, of Grosvenor Park, Camberwell has "evolving dementia" and they had to decide if the offences occurred.

Two of his photographic portraits of Twiggy hang in the Victoria & Albert Museum and he has photographed among others HRH Princess Anne, Paul and Linda McCartney, Iman, Germaine Greer, Margaret Thatcher and Salman Rushdie.

Prosecutor Miss Teresa Hay told the jury four of the eight women reported Lategan, whose c.v. includes front pages of fashion magazines Vogue and Harpers Bazaar, after reading press reports of sexual allegations against him.

The first woman was walking to Virgin Active, Fulham Road when she smiled at fellow gym member Lategan. "He grabbed both her arms and gave her a firm kiss on both cheeks."

The second woman, 44, was on a 211 bus in Fulham when Lategan began showing-off his portfolio. "He was touching and stroking her forearm and said: 'It's so lovely to be able to touch someone.

"He asked if he could hug her, but she felt the embrace was too firm and lasted too long and he swiped his hand over her breasts," explained Miss Hay.

Referring to his erect penis Lategan told her: "Look what you've done to me."

The third woman, an artist, was persuaded by Lategan to leave Cafe Nero and go to her flat in Redcliffe Square, West Brompton to take photos for a project.

"He asked her to recline on her sofa and pose and open her legs wider. He sat newt to her and started rubbing her thigh and put his hand on her breasts over her clothing."

The fourth woman was approached on a 211 bus. "He put his hand inside the arm of her coat. He said: 'I do miss skin on skin.'

"He put his hand on her leg under her trousers and also stroked her hair and head."

He gave most of the women his business card, which allowed police to easily trace him, and the fifth woman was also approached on 211 bus and shown his portfolio of work.

"He touched the hem of her dress and moved his hand up her leg to her thigh."

The sixth woman was an a route 68 bus. "He showed her pictures of Twiggy and other photos from his portfolio and ran his hand down her hair.

"He followed her off the bus and put his hand up her back under her clothing and said: 'I'm sorry, my wife died. Can I have a hug?'

"The seventh woman, a former art student he gave an autographed picture of Twiggy to, was on a 211 bus in the evening. 

"He put his hand up the back of her top and stroked her skin," explained Miss Hay. "He asked her if he could kiss her."

The final woman was on a bus travelling towards Camberwell. "He told her about his now legendary portraits of Twiggy and she used her phone to look him up on the internet.

"Mr. Lategan touched her thighs over her jeans and said: 'At the gym they're into tits, but I'm into legs.'

"He slid his hand between her legs, up her thighs and towards her groin."

Civil Servant's £280K Housing Benefit Swindle

A housing benefit officer with the London Borough of Ealing, who reopened thirty-four dormant claims and paid £280,000 of taxpayers money into his own bank accounts, has received an absolute discharge.

Even after civil servant Mark Hypolite, 36, who has mental health issues, was caught and banned from his office he sneaked back in and logged-on to a council computer and continued the fraud.

Hypolite, of 1 Phipps House, Shepherd's Bush will not have to pay any compensation even though over £180,000 is still missing.

An Isleworth Crown Court jury found proved nine sample counts of dishonestly making false representations between April 12, 2010 and November 16, 2011.

Hypolite changed his name by deed poll to open bank accounts under different identities and immediately withdrew the payments in cash.

The council have recovered £97,000, but do not know what has happened to the remainder or what Hypolite spent the money on.

The defendant was employed at Perceval House, Uxbridge Road from 2007 and was identified by colleagues who suspected suspicious activity, resulting in him becoming the target of an investigation by the audit department.

The thirty-four claims were reopened without the original claimants' knowledge and paid into three different bank accounts, one of which was in the name of Hypolite's mother's second husband.

Prosecutor Mr. Mark Tomassi told the jury: "He was employed by the council and was not entitled to the monies paid out. It was pure fraud from first to last.

"The frauds committed by Mr. Hypolite are complicated, sophisticated, persistent and consistent and a very large sum of money has been wrongly diverted.

"This all points to a sophisticated, calculated successful fraud.

"He was suspended and told not to enter the premises and knew he was not welcome within the council offices, but was seen there again a few days later."

NOT GUILTY: Serving Soldier Cleared Of 'Kidnap' That Never Was

100% Not Guilty: Tobias

A soldier accused of kidnapping his ex-girlfriend when she dumped him for a new man during his tour of duty to the Middle East has been cleared.

Alvon Montgomery Tobias, 32, a Royal Engineer, based at Carver Barracks, Wimbish, Essex always maintained he simply gave her a lift to work.

However, single-mum Monika Mikalak told the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury he dragged her to his Mini Clubman car, pinned her to the passenger seat and refused to let her out.

Tobias, from Ealing, was found not guilty to kidnapping her in Valley Mews, Twickenham on April 7, last year.

She denied inventing the kidnap story out of "anger" towards Tobias for revealing himself to her new boyfriend.

Four Months In Shade For Luxury Sunglasses Thief

A persistent thief - with an eye for expensive designer sunglasses - has received four months for stealing 38 pairs of Bvlgari's, worth £11,130, in ten raids on the same Kensington store during a year-long shoplifting spree.

Christopher Blackwood, 28, targeted Sunglasses Hut on Kensington High Street, but also pinched 6 pairs of Prada's, worth £1500, and 7 pairs of Emporio Armani, worth £1,000 from neighbouring David Clulow opticians.

He previously pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court to twelve counts of theft and was remanded in custody for sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court last Tuesday.

The court heard drug-addict Blackwood, currently serving 16 months imprisonment for stealing a mobile phone, committed the thefts between May 16, 2014 and May 15, last year.

All but two of the thefts were caught on CCTV, but Blackwood escaped with the sunglasses every time and none of the pairs were ever recovered.

Deputy District Judge Kevin Gladwell told him: "These were high-value items stolen over a long period of time. You targeted one particular store in question."

Online Perv Admits Sordid Skype Sessions With 13 Year-Old Girl

A young Wiltshire father-to-be, who engaged in online sex acts via Skype with a 13 year-old girl, admitted the offences yesterday.

Grant Boyd, 21, of Kingsbury Square, Melksham played with himself and forced the under-age Scottish teenager to reveal her breasts during face-to-face internet communication.

He also sent offensive, obscene, indecent or menacing texts to a 14 year-old girl.

Boyd, whose girlfriend is due to give birth in one month's time, called the 13 year-old girl a “bitch” when she did not comply to all his sexual demands.

He pleaded guilty at west London's Isleworth Crown Court to engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child; causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual grooming between October 1, 2014 and January 1, last year.

He had already pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court to three counts of causing to be sent by public communication a grossly offensive message on April 22; 23 and 24, last year.

Boyd will return for sentencing on March 21.

Soldier Denies Kidnapping Ex Who Finished With Him

A soldier kidnapped his ex-girlfriend and threatened to kill her and himself when she dumped him for a new man during his tour of duty to the Middle East, a court heard on Monday.

Alvon Montgomery Tobias, 32, a Royal Engineer, based at Carver Barracks, Wimbish, Essex was hiding in bushes when the single-mum left her Twickenham flat.

She told the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury he dragged her to his Mini Clubman car, pinned her to the passenger seat and refused to let her out.

Tobias, from Ealing, has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping Monika Mikalak in Valley Mews on April 7, last year.

"There were some text messages from him that day. He said he wanted to talk to me, but I realised he was not the right person."

"I was leaving for work at 9.15pm to get the bus to West Middlesex Hospital and when I opened my front door I realised he was hiding by the bushes.

"I told him I had to go to work and I did not want to see him or have anything to do with him.

"He dragged me to his car, he was holding my arms, and said he wanted me to be a part of his life and stuff like that.

"I was shouting and screaming at him to let me go.

"He forced me to get into the car and pushed me into the passenger side and sat on me so I could not move. 

"Then closed the door and moved to the driver's seat and started driving like crazy.

"He said he would kill me and kill himself. I was scared.

"When he stopped at the traffic lights I tried to get out, but he shut the door on my leg, causing bruising."

After driving around west London for forty minutes six-foot three Tobias dropped her off at work.

The couple met on website Badoo and exchanged intimate naked images of themselves before meeting-up.

She agreed they had a "passionate and intense" sexual relationship and they had kissed the day before the incident, despite her having a new man. 

They had known each other for nearly a year when Ms Mikalak told Tobias she'd met someone else while he was serving in Jordan for five weeks.

Her new boyfriend phoned her while she was in the car prompting the defendant to snatch her mobile and shout: "She's with me!"

She denied inventing the kidnap story out of "anger" towards Tobias for revealing himself to her new boyfriend.

Prosecutor Mr. David Brock told the jury Tobias was questioned by police on May 11.

"He accepted the relationship had broken down and that he did meet her that day, but said she got into the car without force and he dropped her off at work."

Trial continues………………… 

Wealthy Investor's Online War With Luxury Property Developer Love-Rival

'You've Been Smudged': Thomas Badian

A wealthy investor's "bruised ego" prompted him to wage an online war with a high society property developer after discovering his fashion designer girlfriend was seeing his older rival behind his back.

Thomas Badian, 46, the Austrian-born director of Fitzrovia's Cadence Capital Ltd, who lives in a £3.2m St. John's Wood house in Marlborough Hill, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment by sending repeated electronic messages between August 30 and November 11, last year.

The Facebook, instagram, email and telephone campaign began after Badian discovered couture designer Michaela Frankova, a London College of Fashion graduate, was enjoying dinner dates with the other man. 

The target of Badian's anger was 62 year-old Andrew de Candole - founder of de Candole Residential - and his girlfriend, Nateploy Thamsaroch.

The luxury property developer has worked in central London for thirty years - has a ten year-old son with Lady Lara Compton, 47, daughter of Marquess of Northampton - and has completed projects in New York, Dubai and Spain.

At Hammersmith Magistrates Court last Friday Badian was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes 100 hours community service work, plus £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

He was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order prohibiting any contact with the two victims.

"Andrew de Candole met Michaela five or six times for dinner and his girlfriend Ms Thamsaroch believed they were just friends with nothing romantic going on," explained prosecutor Mr. Robert Simpson. 

However, both Mr. de Candole and Ms Thamsaroch became increasingly disturbed by Badian's Facebook and instagram communication with them and in September, last year instructed solicitors to ward off the defendant's behaviour.

Instead of replying to the law firm's business email Badian found the solicitor's personal account and replied to that.

"Ms Thamsaroch believes it was sent to intimidate the lawyer," explained Mr. Simpson. 

Badian & Michaela Frankova

"Ms Thamsaroch then received an email from what appeared to be Mr. de Candole's account, however he did not send the email and was sitting next to her when she received it.

"It contained flight confirmation for Mr. Candole and Ms Frankova."

An investigation of the email account revealed it had been set up by a phone number ending in 36, which matched a number that had sent threatening text messages to Mr. de Candole.

At 5am one morning he received a text which read: "Today is full of surprises."

The couple began receiving emails from an address called 'Project ADC.' "The name of this account scared both of them because it suggested there was some sort of project against them.

"It became clear that Badian had become fixated with Mr. de Candole and Ms Frankova meeting," said Mr. Simpson. 

"Ms Thamsaroch said someone also hacked into her Uber account and a fake Facebook account in Mr. de Candole's name was set-up with 169 of his friends invited.

"He believes this was set-up by the defendant."

Badian's lawyer Mr. Guy Ladenburg told the court: "It's very unpleasant behaviour and he is deeply remorseful. 

"He discovered Michaela was seeing an older gentleman and thought she was seeing him behind his back.

"He was very unhappy and distressed by this and wanted to demonstrate to Ms Thamsaroch: 'Your boyfriend and my girlfriend went to Paris on such a date.'

"He says he wanted to put salt into Mr. de Candole's tea and it is obvious from the facts they were seeing each other on half a dozen occasions.

"However, he accepts it was very hurtful, insulting and puerile behaviour.

Andrew de Candole

"There were no direct threats against their safety. He just wanted to put Mr. de Candole on notice that he knew what was going on."

Badian accepts sending approximately ten emails to Ms Thamsaroch, plus sending up to five texts and making five prank phone calls to Mr. de Candole, who he also sent instagram messages.

"It was all mischievous behaviour and not intended to cause harm and he is thoroughly ashamed by the way he allowed himself to behave."

Badian split with his wife in 2005 and has sole custody of their daughters, aged 13 and 17 years-old.

He was arrested by police at the family home and the younger girl was hospitalised with anxiety. "Mr. Badian owes them both an apology," said Mr. Ladenburg.

"His is of good character, has lived in London for ten years and is a pillar of the community known for his philanthropic giving.

"His feelings of jealousy and his bruised ego that Ms Frankova was seeing a man behind his back caused him to behave the way he did."

When questioned by police Badian said: "I feel terrible despite my view of the man's activities."

Magistrate Mr. Robert Westlake told Badian: "This was a very unpleasant incident causing a great deal of hurt and concern to the victims. There were many messages over a period of time."

Bald Bus Pervert Hunted: Do You Know Him?

Police investigating a midnight sex attack on a young female bus passenger in east London have released this CCTV image of their suspect.

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

On Saturday, August 1 last year, at about half-past-midnight, the 20-year-old woman was sexually assaulted by a man as she travelled on a route 257 bus travelling along The Grove, Stratford.

The suspect is described as a bald white man aged about 50-years-old.

He wore a blue zip-up jacket with a white t-shirt underneath.

Officers are releasing a CCTV image from the bus and are asking anyone with any information to contact Police Constable Andrew Morland on 07775 030912.

Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 187644.

Brixton Rape: Images Of Two Suspects Released

Police are still hunting suspected rapists who attacked a young woman in south London fifteen months ago.

Detectives investigating the allegation of rape in 2014 have released images of two men they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.

During the early hours of Saturday November 1, a 22-year-old woman left a nightclub in the Brixton area.

She was alone at the time and got into a silver Audi which stopped on Brixton Road to give her a lift.

She was then driven to an unknown address where she was raped.

A 37-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident in 2014, however no further action has been taken against him at this stage.

Detective Constable Rob Way of the Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command said: "If anyone recognises the two men pictured, or was in Brixton on the night in question and remembers seeing a white female being picked up in the early hours in a silver Audi, then please call 020 8721 4106 with any information."

To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Bus Passenger Punched Two Drivers During Search For Lost Phone

An early-morning bus passenger, who believed he lost his phone on a double-decker, punched two drivers when his search became violent.

Police investigating the assaults at north-west London's Willesden Bus Garage have released this CCTV image of the suspect.

He approached the first victim, a male bus driver, at 6.15am on August 14, last year.

During a heated discussion about his lost phone the suspect became aggressive and punched the driver.

A female bus driver intervened and was also punched.

The suspect is described as a black man approximately 30 years old, 6ft 2ins of slim build, with short black hair with a trimmed beard.

Anyone who recognises this man is asked to contact Detective Constable Caroline Else, who is leading the investigation on 07825 256524.

Alternatively Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting ref: 189157.