Online Sex Predator Trapped By Internet Vigilantes

An online predator, who thought he was grooming a 14 year-old girl, was caught by internet vigilantes when he arrived for sex with the youngster.

Dad-of-two Daniel Mullarkey, 31, of Betchworth Way, New Addington was identified and filmed by members of Internet Interceptors.

He spent eleven weeks locked-up since his arrest and today was sentenced to sixteen months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Mullarkey jumped a fence and fled across tracks at Arena Tramlink stop, South Norwood and was arrested after reporting the group to police.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to attempting to meet a girl under the age of sixteen years-old after grooming her online.

"It was an amateur investigation, which set-up the girl's profile, but instead the defendant met the investigator and his friends," said prosecutor Mr. Tom Nicholson.

Internet Interceptors member Andy Bradstock invented schoolgirl Hayley Stephens and posted the fake profile on an adult online dating site.

Mullarkey initiated contact and was told early on 'Hayley' was only 14 years-old during text exchanges with Mr. Bradstock.

"She said she was a virgin and Mullarkey asked her: 'Can you tell me what you would like to do as you know what I'd like to do.

"'If it hurts we can stop if you want.' He also tells her not to tell anyone and offers to buy her a secret phone."

Mullarkey was confronted by the group, who describe themselves as a "dedicated team of parents hunting pedophiles and sexual predators across the UK," on January 20.

"The defendant pulled his hood over his face to hide his identity and  saidwas not there to meet a girl."

The group posted footage online of their confrontation with Mullarkey, telling him: "Stay here or we will take you down."

Mullarkey tried to lie his way out of trouble as the men say: "Take your hood off so we can identify you.

"What are you going to do to her, rape her?"

Mullarkey told police the men tried to rifle through his pockets, but Internet Interceptors revealed their evidence, mainly explicit text exchanges with the defendant.

The first-time offender's lawyer Mr. James Hasslacher told the court: "He's extremely ashamed and cannot understand how he has gone down this slippery slope.

"He went from a happy married home life and a job to being in custody.

"If he needed to be taught a lesson, he's leaned that lesson and says he's never going to go near the internet again."

The Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon QC told him: "This is an extremely serious matter and it is all the more extraordinary that you are a married man with two children of your own.

"One of the results of this outrageous and disgusting activity is that there has been a breakdown in your marriage.

"You were not to know there was no fourteen year-old girl because the whole thing was set-up by a group of individuals seeking to flush out people of your mindset, who seek sexual activity with underage children."

Mullarkey must also complete 200 hours community service work; sign the sex offenders register for 10 years; obey a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was placed on a barring list preventing him working with children and vulnerable adults.

Husband Jailed For Drug-Dealing After Charges Against Wife Dropped

Adam & Kawinna Hamerton

A drug-dealer is starting a four-and-a-half year prison sentence after admitting charges his wife was cleared of.

Adam Hamerton, 38, and Kawinna Hamerton, 38, of Dalton Street, St. Albans, Hertfordshire were both arrested and charged with drug offences in south-east London.

The Crown Prosecution Service dropped their case against Kawinna, but Adam was jailed after a defence request to enter guilty pleas at Croydon Crown Court.

Police say that in Southlands Road, Bromley on September 8, 2014 they seized 986 ecstacy tablets, plus the fragments of a dozen more tablets and 3.4 kilos of amphetamine split into three packages.

Also recovered were two packages of cannabis, weighing 2.04 grammes and 34.9 grammes respectively and £28,000 in cash, which the prosecution says is the profits of drug-dealing.

Adam pleaded guilty to possessing class A and class B drug, with intent to supply, and possessing criminal property.

Young Labour Politician Facing Three Years For Drug Dealing

A young Labour politician - with ambitions to be a lawyer - is facing a potential three years in prison for dealing cannabis from the roof lining of his car.

Student Firase Morgan, 24, of Rodmarton Street, Marylebone stood as the official Labour Party candidate for Hyde Park Ward in the City of Westminster council elections two years ago.

He was not elected a councillor and currently attends BPP University, where he is studying for an LLB law degree.

Morgan is also a senior ambassador for charity Just for Kids Law and lobbies businesses to employ people with criminal records.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court to possessing 28 wraps of cannabis, with intent to supply, outside the Gloucester Pub, Sloane Street, Knightsbridge on March 5.

He also pleaded guilty to supplying a quantity of cannabis to a female member of the pub's staff.

Prosecutor Miss Stella Watta told the court yesterday: "Officers were on patrol at 4.30pm and they noticed a female in the Knightsbridge area run to a cashpoint, get money, and run back to the pub.

"She exited the pub and goes to a vehicle in which Mr. Morgan is sat.

"She had two twenty pound notes in her hand and when she came out of the vehicle she no longer had the two twenty pound notes on her, but had two wraps.

"She works and resides at the Gloucester pub in Sloane Street and when officers went to the premises they recovered two wraps. which she said had been supplied by Mr. Morgan.

"They then went to speak to Mr. Morgan and the vehicle smelled of cannabis and the car and Mr. Morgan were searched.

"They found that in the roof lining of the vehicle were twenty-eight white containers that contained herbal cannabis inside a blue carrier bag loosely concealed in the lining.

"Mr. Morgan's premises were searched and a thousand pounds was recovered, which is believed to be the proceeds of crime, but it is not clear if confiscation proceedings are underway."

The drug containers were described as tupperware-like and the wraps were colour-coded, with an approximate street value of £560.

The barmaid told police: "I bought the weed from the bloke in the car", explaining she simple called a number she knew and Morgan turned up.

He claims the £1,000 cash is not drug-related, insisting it is his student finance and he had no other income.

Morgan was convicted of robbery in 2008 and in 2009 received a suspended prison sentence for theft from the person.

District Judge Karim Ezzat said the sentencing range for the offences were twenty-six weeks to three years imprisonment and bailed Morgan to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on April 28.

"He was doing it for money, he was doing it for financial gain," said the judge. "He had one thousand pounds cash."

Morgan's lawyer claimed the defendant was not a key player, but taking orders from suppliers up the chain.

District Judge Ezzat told Morgan that the starting-point for the offences was twelve months imprisonment, exceeding the magistrates courts powers of six months.

Accountant Nicked £245K From Catholic Private Schools

The accounts chief of a catholic educational trust, which runs four private London schools, avoided prison yesterday despite stealing nearly a quarter of a million pounds.

Chartered accountant Melanie Goodwin, 57, of Bath Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire even enjoyed a grace-and-favour apartment in a listed 18th century building overlooking Clapham Common. 

Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon QC told the dramatic arts fan: "There will be no going out to the theatre," when ordering her to wear an electronic tag to impose a six-month night-time curfew.

Deciding to impose a suspended prison sentence he added: "That was a hairline decision that would be seen by many that you have got away with a serious crime."

Mother-of-two Goodwin pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud by abuse of position against PACT (Parents, Children & Teachers) on various dates between February 1, 2010 and August 29, 2014.

The sums in the individual charges are £28,632.21; £61,948.63; £66,843.38; £51,024.92 and £37,274.13.

"It was a substantial sum of money per year and they (PACT) talk of reputational damage," added the judge.

"It's such a sad case. The word 'betrayed' is used in the victim impact statement.

"There is a huge breach of trust here. Where did the money go? It was a huge amount to steal."

PACT runs £8,820 per-year Oakwood School, Purley; £13,800 per-year Oliver House Preparatory School, Clapham and Croydon's Cedars Secondary School and Balham's Laurels Secondary School, which both charge £12,630 per-year.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Hutchings said: "She had full access to PACT's internet bank accounts, the cheque writing and was responsible for the payroll and expenses."

She was exposed by an enquiry into a suspicious £378 expenses claim that was paid to an account called 'Premium' which was her unsuspecting husband's bank account.

Goodwin has repaid £60,000, plus her £15,000 redundancy pay-out and PACT have a £155,000 charge on the family home, which is up for sale.

The investigation by Detective Constable Kerry Wood of the Metropolitan Police's Complex Fraud Squad revealed Goodwin made 129 fraudulent payments to herself in four years.

Her lawyer, Mr. Jake Taylor, told the court: "It was spent on large credit card debts, not on an extravagant lifestyle. It was whittled away.

"She has sought to pay every penny back and has not filed for bankruptcy and has been making amends for her actions.

"She has remorse, regret, shame," he said of the first-time offender. "This is a huge betrayal.

"She is doing all she can to ensure harm to the PACT trust is minimised.

"She initially took a small amount and intended to pay it back and it spiralled. She just felt trapped."

Judge McKinnon told Goodwin, who could have been jailed for a maximum of ten years: "This was a systematic course of criminal offending when you were in a senior position at this charity.

"You were essentially he head of finance at that trust, responsible for all financial matters.

"You were trusted to employ those funds for legitimate purposes, instead what you did, week by week, was filter the money away for your own personal benefit."

After reading probation and psychiatric reports, plus references and letters from Goodwin's family the judge added: "I have been persuaded by this material and factors that relate to you and your family and other issues that justify me suspending your sentence."

Goodwin was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years and ordered to perform 300 hours community service work.

She must obey a six-month curfew between 9pm and 6am, pay £500 cost and a £100 victim surcharge.

PACT Chair of Governors Eleanor Leonard said: "There is a real sense of betrayal that remains eighteen months after we discovered she was stealing from the charity."

Teen Caught Dealing Colour-Coded Cocaine Wraps

Bromley Magistrates Court

A teenage first-time offender has admitted cocaine dealing during an emotionally-charged court hearing in which he and his family were in tears.

Harry Edward Collett, 19, of William Foster Lane, Welling, south-east London had colour-coded wraps of the drug to indicate quantity and price.

He appeared at Bromley Magistrates Court (pictured) yesterday, where he pleaded guilty to possessing a quantity of cocaine, with intent to supply, on January 6.

The court heard police on patrol in Bexley stopped a vehicle Collett was travelling in.

He appeared nervous to the officers when questioned and was searched.

Police found a bag stuffed down his trousers, which contained fifty to seventy wraps of the class A drug.

The paper wraps were in two different colours, white indicated £20 and pink £40.

The court decided its maximum power of punishment – six months imprisonment – was insufficient and Collett was bailed to appear for sentencing at Inner London Crown Court.   

Evangelical Pastor Convicted Of Sexually Assaulting Female Followers During "Spiritual Discipline" Spanking Sessions

An evangelical pastor, who administered "spiritual discipline" by spanking female members of his congregation's bare bottoms with his hand, was convicted of sex offences last Friday.

The spankings, which were also dished-out to children, were to satisfy 73 year-old self-styled Reverend Howard Curtis's "desire for power and sexual satisfaction," Croydon Crown Court heard.

"An immediate custodial sentence is inevitable in this case," announced Judge Peter Gower QC. "I'm granting bail as a matter of mercy so he can put his affairs in order."

He told the first-time offender, who is banned from the church as a condition of bail, to return for sentencing on April 22, adding: "You have been convicted of some very serious offences."

The father-of-three, of Bloxworth Close, Wallington ran the Coulsdon Christian Fellowship (CCF) as a cult, prosecutor Mr. Toby Fitzgerald told the jury.

He was convicted of five counts of sexual assault between January 2009 and July 2013 against one female worshipper; one count of sexual assault against another between 2007 and 2009 and two counts of child cruelty against two youngsters. 

The five counts regarded one woman he ordered to strip naked before putting her over his knee to slap, continuing the beating when she collapsed to the floor - with one of the dozen or so sessions in front of her husband.

He introduced the student nurse to his version of "Christian domestic discipline" - following Bible teachings of keeping women in their place.

"She trusted him completely as a man of God," said Mr. Fitzgerald, explaining the first disciplining - for untidiness - occurred in the defendant's office at the church.

"She pulled down her trousers and underwear and lay across his lap. He hit her hard about twelve times until she ended up on the floor.

"She'd become, in effect, a rag doll in the defendant's hands."

Subsequent discipline sessions were for "lacking femininity" and having a "frigid spirit," the jury were told.

"The defendant told her to strip completely naked and she lay across his lap and he slapped her. 

"He also smacked her not  only on her bottom, but between her legs for not recognising her femininity."

Curtis also took naked pictures of her on his mobile phone and fondled her between her legs, once inserting a finger, the jury were told, although he was cleared of that particular charge.

When arrested he did not deny the spankings, insisting they were consensual.

The second woman was told it was "God's will" she be punished and she agreed to his form of discipline, which took place in another follower's house, next-door to the Chipstead Valley Road church.

"She leaned over a bannister in the hallway and took her trousers and knickers down so he could spank her bare bottom.

"She was told it was important not to tell him when to stop, he would decide when it was time to stop and he continued to beat her forcefully.

"There were twenty to thirty strikes with his bare hand and she felt it was going on forever and was crying. She was black and blue and told all these actions were in God's name."

He was convicted of one count of child cruelty between March 1, 2007 and February 28, 2008 in relation to the woman's nine year-old daughter.

She was put over his knee and beaten "very hard" until she started crying, explained Mr. Fitzgerald.

The second child cruelty conviction relates to a worshipper's baby, whose bottom he is accused of pinching, some time between January 1, 1986 and January 3, 1989.

Curtis was ordained in 1988 under the umbrella of the Elim Pentecostal church.

"He presented himself as an inspirational man of God," said Mr. Fitzgerald. "The Crown say the church was run for this defendant and he cloaked himself in the trappings of a religious leader.

"In reality he was nothing of the sort. He deceived his congregation, including children.

"He said he was going to cast out evil spirits from people and that discipline had to be administered by striking bare flesh with the bare hand."

He was found not guilty of two counts of indecent assault in relation to a third female worshipper; digital penetration; two child cruelty counts regarding a boy and causing actual bodily harm to a young girl.

Christian Holidays Boss Guilty Of Fraudulent Trading

A travel agent who specialises in Christian-themed holidays has been convicted of fraud after customers spent £26,000 on a 'Bible Lands Cruise'.

Bob Fleming, 62, didn't use the booking fees he charged to secure berths on the 'Thomson Spirit', but ploughed the money into a Turkish hotel venture.

He then encouraged his customers to fork out extra cash to extend their holiday to include a stay at the hotel he had leased and repaired, Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard.

Fleming, the boss of Living Sun Holidays, of Selwyn Road, New Malden denied, but was found guilty of two counts of fraudulent trading between January 1 and November 30, 2014.

He will be sentenced on April 13.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Hallam told the jury: "Mr. Fleming was a travel agent and tour operator, who for thirty years arranged holidays in the UK and abroad.

"His specialism was Christian holidays and he was the director of Kyrilios Ltd and Living Sun Ltd., which traded under the name Living Sun Holidays.

"There was improper use of customers funds who had booked the cruise and he carried on the businesses for a fraudulent purpose."

Fleming was investigated by Trading Standards from the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames after receiving a complaint on October 17, 2014.

There was already an existing complaint from tour operator Thomson about Fleming using their name on his brochures.

He advertised the ten-day eastern Mediterranean cruise to his existing customers, which was due to begin in Turkey and conclude in Israel.

It would visit such historical destinations as the site of the Colossus of Rhodes; Byblos, Lebanon and the tour would also visit Jerusalem's Garden of Gethsemane.

The brochure claimed the cruise would include full-board, three meals a day, transfers and be led by Biblical experts Rev. Brian Fishel and Fleming himself.

"Mr. Fleming presses Thomson again and again for a free place for himself and by the time of the cruise his business is on the verge of failing."

Trading Standards traced fifteen customers who paid £26,000 to Fleming. "They thought they were securing a berth on a cruise ship.

"He should have paid for the cruise with that twenty-six thousand, but he didn't.

"It was channeled to his other business, a hotel he had leased in Turkey and he asked his customers to stay in that hotel.

"He used the money to renovate that hotel. It is dishonest, but Mr. Fleming said he did not see it as fraudulent," added Mr. Hallam.

Customers started asking for refunds when the cruise itinerary was changed because of trouble in the Gaza strip.

"Refunds were chased, but there had been no protection in place in the eyes of the law and he had lied that flights were ATOL-covered."

"Mr. Fleming never paid or confirmed the bookings with Thomson.

"He had to invent reasons why there were delays in refunds, including blaming Thomson's trading standards investigation.

"He had no right whatsoever to plough the money into the hotel in Turkey and quite incredibly some customers were invited to loan money to the hotel.

"He misused and lost their money in the business venture and had to fabricate why he had to cancel a cruise he had never booked.

"Two weeks before the cruise Mr. Fleming purported to cancel the cruise on the basis of an unsatisfactory itinerary. The cruise went ahead."

When questioned by Trading Standards Fleming blamed the Gaza re-route for wrecking the cruise, but conceded he: "Screwed up."

"It all started to unravel," he explained. "Money just vanishes."

Despite his financial troubles the prosecution accept Fleming did eventually take care of customers.

"Refunds were made to some people many moths later," said Mr. Hallam.

Fleming told the jury no customer had been left out of pocket.

"There are no debts, no one's owed any money.

"Yes, we made mistakes, but did not intend to mislead, deceive or defraud people.

"I don't believe I am guilty of an offence."

Road Safety Expert Caught In Charge Of His Vehicle While Twice The Alcohol Limit

A road safety expert with the City of Westminster and Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea was caught in charge of his car while double the drink-drive limit.

University of East London graduate Spencer Anienwelu, 40, is a Highways Safety Inspector with a company responsible for reducing risks on the two boroughs' roads.

Anienwelu, of Haskard Road, Dagenham was convicted at Willesden Magistrates Court of being in charge of a Citroen C4 on Aerodrome Road, Hendon on January 23 while above the alcohol limit.

When breath-tested by police he had 71 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

He was not charged with the more serious offence of drink-driving.

Last week Anienwelu was fined £300, with £150 costs and ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge.

His driving licence was endorsed with ten penalty points.

Anienwelu has many years experience in the highways/civil engineering sector  and is responsible for important safety inspections and maintenance of the roads.

The private company he is employed by, Colas VolkerHighways URS (CVU), also works closely with Transport for London maintaining their Red Routes.

Rookie Labour Politician And Wannabe Lawyer Caught Supplying Cannabis From His Car

A young Labour politician - with ambitions to be a lawyer - was caught supplying cannabis he had hidden in the roof lining of his car.

Student Firase Morgan, 24, of Rodmarton Street, Marylebone stood as the official Labour Party candidate for Hyde Park Ward in the City of Westminster council elections two years ago.

He was not elected a councillor and currently attends BPP University, where he is studying for an LLB law degree.

Morgan is also a senior ambassador for charity Just for Kids Law and lobbies businesses to employ people with criminal records.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court this week to possessing 28 wraps of cannabis, with intent to supply, outside the Gloucester Pub, Sloane Street, Knightsbridge on March 5.

He also pleaded guilty to supplying a quantity of cannabis to a female member of the pub's staff.

Prosecutor Miss Jo Arnold told the court it was 4.30pm when police officers on routine patrol noticed a female running down the street.

"They observed her, initially suspecting there may have been a theft, and saw her go to a cashpoint and return to the pub.

"Inside she had the till open then left again and got into the passenger seat of a car parked in Harriet Street.

"They saw she had two twenty pound notes in her hand and there was a strong smell of cannabis coming from inside the vehicle.

"Sitting in the driver's seat was the defendant and the female left the car with two small white containers.

"The officers searched the car and in the roof lining found twenty-eight similar white containers."

She described them as tupperware-like and the police found the two Morgan sold when they searched the female's room - which contained drug paraphernalia - above the pub.

"She said: 'I bought the weed from the bloke in the car'," added Miss Arnold.

Morgan's bedroom was also searched and police seized £1,000 cash, which they suspect is the proceeds of drug-dealing.

However, the defendant complained it was his student finance and he had no other income.

Morgan was convicted of robbery in 2008 and in 2009 received a suspended prison sentence for theft from the person.

He complained about having a pre-booked university society sports trip to Andorra on the same day of his sentencing date.

"I don't understand why I can't go on holiday," he moaned, but District Judge Mike Snow told him: "If you intend going on holiday I will remand you in custody.

"You are not going on holiday. If you commit serious crime that's one of the things you miss out on.

"When I sentence you it could either be a starting point of one year's imprisonment or I could send you to the crown court."

Morgan will return to court on March 31.

Online Pervert Locked-Up For Four-And-A-Half Years

A young Wiltshire father-to-be, who engaged in online sex acts via Skype with a 13 year-old girl, is starting a four-and-half year sentence.

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, 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.