Cannabis Grower Gets Five Years

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court

A South Wales man, who organised the production of cannabis in London is starting a five-year prison sentence.

Peter Larter, 34, of Cromwell Road, Newport originally appeared on bail at Wimbledon Magistrates Court and stood trial at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

He was originally charged with being concerned in the production of 256 cannabis plants between June 26 and August 19, last year at 97 Gascoyne House, Gascoyne Road, Homerton, east London.

It was alleged Larter had a connection to the property, which was raided by police who arrested the 'gardener' present who later received eight months imprisonment.

Larter was also charged with being concerned in the production 60 cannabis plants between August 11 and 29, last year at 52 Priory Close, High Path, South Wimbledon.

The prosecution say it was a sophisticated operation using hydroponic equipment, lamps, ventilators and fertilizers.

Police confiscated £2,000 from Larter, which he was ordered to pay as a contribution towards court costs.

Chinese Medicine Expert Denies Fondling Female Back Patient's Breasts

Hui Li: Denies Claims

A traditional Chinese medicine expert, treating a woman's backache with massages and reflexology at a South Kensington clinic, groped her breasts, a jury heard today.

Dr. Hui Li, 54, had taken over the £40-an-hour sessions at the Natural Health Centre, Old Brompton Road, where the woman, aged in her thirties, sought help for a protruding disc.

As usual she had stripped down to her knickers and a full-length towel was protecting her modesty when the defendant suggested an abdominal massage to relieve tension.

"I said yes and he snatched the towel off," she told the Isleworth Crown Court jury. "He was staring at me, staring at my breasts.

"I covered my breasts with my hands and he said: 'Relax, I'm a doctor' and held my wrists and moved my hands down.

"Then he grabbed my nipples, they were between his fingers, each hand on each breast and started moving his hands in a circular motion.

"There was some force and he was staring like he wanted to touch me. He then stroked my back as I sat up and then stroked my cheek and said: 'You're beautiful.'

"I was so shocked and covered myself with the towel and he kept staring at me until I left the room. I trusted him as a doctor."

She continued her course of treatment with a female practitioner and only reported Li when she bumped into him at the clinic four months later.

"He was sneering at me and waved in a patronising way as if to say: 'I know what I did and got away with it.'

"I did not have the courage to speak up about it, but when he waved at me I got the anger and the courage."

Li says the woman made up the allegations after receiving an "accupressure" massage between the breasts and a head massage.

The clinic's manager told the jury Li also administers acupuncture and prescribes Chinese remedies.

He said the defendant has little command of english and UK customs and does tell women they are "beautiful" in an attempt to develop "rapport."

Li, of Valiant House, Plevna Street, Docklands, has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault on April 11, 2014.

Trial continues……………

Finance Chief's £215K "Revenge" On Boss

She Striped Her Employer: Carly Hughes 

 A female finance chief, who stole nearly £215,000 from a small plastics firm to spite her boss, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Carly Hughes, 34, fell-out with the owner of Arrow Plastics Ltd., 52 year-old Mark Wombwell and took her "revenge" by creating false invoices and transferring huge sums into her bank account.

"The only real reason she took this course was to get at Mr. Wombwell," her lawyer Nick Goss told Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

"The two of them do not like each other.

"The money is still sitting there and was stolen as an act of vengeance rather than Carly Hughes wishing to enrich her life or to fritter it away."

She believed promised bonuses had not been paid and she had been overworked by the company.

The finance and payroll manager, of Pennyfield, Cobham, Surrey pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position, namely the processing of fake invoices to gain £172,523.99p between October 15, 2013 and May 8, last year.

She also pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position in regard to a £583.33 salary increase on March 31, last year and transferring criminal property, namely £22,898.56 between October 29, 2013 and May 19, last year.

Hughes was employed by the company, based in Hampden Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, in a senior position until her departure last year.

It was only after she left financial irregularities were spotted.

Pocketed Money: Carly Hughes

Prosecutor Mr. Bill McGivern told the court: "She was raising invoices in the names of other companies and then transferring the funds into her own account.

"The total loss is two hundred and fourteen thousand nine hundred pounds.

"For a relatively small company these were considerable sums.

"To keep the company afloat Mr. Wombwell loaned it one hundred and sixty-five thousand pounds and the next day the defendant stole eleven thousand pounds.

"As a result there has been a massive loss to the shareholders and the fifteen staff have had a two-year pay freeze."

When initially questioned by police Hughes made no comment, but during a second interview claimed £100,000 sitting in her bank account was the result of selling her house.

She had also enjoyed a £4,000 holiday to Mexico, another £1,000 vacation and spending sprees in department stores.

Judge Susan Tapping told the first-time offender, who has now moved in with her mother: "It is sad to see someone like you in court.

"You are from a good family, a decent background with a work history and you have thrown it all away.

"You grew to dislike your managing director and systematically took revenge for the wrongs you thought had been done to you.

"Your financial revenge was very personal against the managing director and by bleeding the company every month it was less profitable.

"Three times he had to put loans into the company to keep it afloat, loans you asked for."

Hughes has agreed to repay £172,523.99p. 

Excommunicated Jehovah Witness Jailed For Sex Crimes

A Jehovah's Witness, thrown out of the church for spying on a naked young woman with a secret camera, was jailed for three years and four months yesterday.

Insurance claims handler Andrew Fulker, 43, lost his job and home and was excommunicated from the church even before more historic sex offences came to light.

The father-of-two, of Woodlands Road, Isleworth denied, but was convicted of nine counts of voyeurism for sexual gratification between January 1, 2013 and September 16, 2014.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault committed in the late 1980's and early 1990's against a girl when she was aged nine to twelve years-old.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard the secret camera was set-up at an address in Mill Farm Crescent, Hounslow, where Fulker recorded the 21 year-old woman.

Much of the footage captured her naked when getting in and out of the shower and using the toilet.

Fulker also stored a vast amount of images of the young woman on his computer.

When aged between fifteen and eighteen years-old Fulker groped another female between the legs and encouraged her to touch him intimately.

His lawyer Mr. Gavin Pottinger, referring to the voyeurism offences, said: “He says he may be hiding something from himself.”

Before the police were informed Fulker was reported to church elders, who decided he was no longer welcome.

“He lost his job, he lost his house and moved in with his parents. He is only allowed to communicate with his parents on non-religious matters.”

Prosecutor Miss Georgina Coade told the court the victim of the voyeurism offences was getting ready for work on September 16, 2014 when she discovered the recording equipment.

“As she sat down on the toilet she heard a noise behind her that sounded like a camera focusing and saw a USB-type device on the window ledge behind her.

“Further footage had also been taken from an i-phone positioned on the floor near the bathroom cabinet.

“She plugged the USB device into the home computer and found varying video clips that showed intimate footage of her using the bathroom.

“In some of the footage she is naked, getting in and out of the shower and was horrified at what she had found.”

Fulker was confronted and there were discussions with his Jehovah Witness elders and he admitted setting-up the camera.

“He said he admired her body and curves,” added Miss Coade. “He said when he recorded her in her underwear it sparked his interest.”

The police were informed and found further moving images on his computer, with some transferred from the i-phone.

Fulker was sentenced to two years imprisonment for the indecent assaults, plus sixteen month consecutive for voyeurism.

He must sign the sex offenders register for life and was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

New Student Denies Sexually Assaulting Two Young Women During Drunken Freshers Week

A new student at the UK's oldest catholic university sexually assaulted two young women minutes apart during drunken freshers week introductions, a court heard yesterday.

William Kelsey Harrison, 21, had only been at St. Mary's University, Twickenham a week when he followed a 19 year-old into her room and forced himself on her, the jury heard.

"He said: 'Don't be boring' and kept saying: 'You love it,' again and again," she told the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury.

She said she did not want to go any further than kissing Harrison. "He was alright, a decent-looking lad, but he was forcing his tongue into my mouth and I closed my eyes and was shaking my head.

"He got on top of me and that's when I started to worry. He was kissing me down my neck and it was becoming forceful and he bit me and I flinched.

"He put two fingers into me and he is a lot stronger than me. He continued to the point I was flinching in pain.

"He started undoing his trousers and I unlocked the door and went out."

She admitted drinking five vodkas, five Jagerbomb shots and two alcopops that evening before ending up at the halls of residence in Waldegrave Road at 2.30am.

She was also new to St, Mary's and had spent her first week getting to know her fellow-students and was part of group that had invited Harrison to join them.

Prosecutor Mr. James Dawson told the court: "All the parties in this case had been drinking quite heavily and the first complainant had pre-drinks before going to the Student Union."

When she fled her room she told other students on the landing: "You've got to get rid of him," added the prosecutor. "It was plain she was very upset and very tearful."

Harrison returned to collect his coat and another female student, 20, went into the room to get it.

"He followed her in and put his hand over her mouth and started trying to kiss her and she resisted and said: 'What are you doing?'

"She pushed her way out of the room and now there were two very upset girls."

The police were called and officers arrested Harrison in his room.

When questioned he did not deny there was physical contact, insisting both young women were consensual.

Harrison, of Victoria Street, Littleport, Ely, Cambridgeshire has pleaded not guilty to one count of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault on September 27, 2014.

Trial continues……………

Ex-Spurs Vice-Chairman Denies Harrods Assault

The former Vice-Chairman of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club appeared in court yesterday, accused of a violent attack on another man at world-famous Harrods department store.

Businessman David Julian Buchler, 64, of Brook's Mews, Mayfair pleaded not guilty at Isleworth Crown Court.

He was bailed to return for a trial on November 7.

He is charged with assaulting James Birrane, causing him actual bodily harm, at the Knightsbridge store on December 31, last year. 

Road-Rage Van Driver Used Vehicle As Weapon Against Cyclist

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court

A road-rage driver, who reversed at speed towards a cyclist he had clipped with his wing mirror after colliding with the bike, received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

John Graham, 39, was behind the wheel of his van, which came into contact with the cyclist, who thumped the vehicle's bonnet in temper as a result during an ugly confrontation three years ago.

Recorder Ann Mulligan told the father-of-two at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court: "You accelerated and drove over the bike and your wing mirror clipped his head.

"The cyclist says if he had not moved your van would have hit him.

"You drove off a considerable distance then reversed at speed and deliberately used your van as a weapon and it is a miracle this was not more serious."

Graham had used cocaine the day before the incident and now claims he no longer uses the drug.

He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, and was ordered to pay 200 hours community service.

He must also pay £200 costs and a £100 victim surcharge.

Axe Charges Dropped Against Sisters Accused Of Targeting Family

L to R: Josephine & Barbara McFadyen

Two young sisters, accused of going to a rival family's home to attack them with an axe, had the charges against them dropped today.

Barbara McFadyen, 20, and Josephine McFadyen, 23, of Hounslow Road, Hanworth, Feltham, Middlesex appeared at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

They were accompanied by a large group of relatives.

The Crown Prosecution Service had no option but to offer no evidence when their witnesses failed to appear.

The sisters were both charged with aggravated burglary at an address in Starling Walk, Hampton on November 4, last year when after entering the property as trespassers they attempted to inflict grievous bodily harm upon multiple members of the Pender family while armed with an axe.

They each faced an alternative charge of attempted aggravated burglary.

Both sisters pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Punter Wanted For Bookies Wrecking Spree

An angry punter caused £6,000 worth of damage to a pair of gambling machines at an east London bookies.

Detectives investigating the criminal damage caused have issued CCTV footage of a man they wish to identify and speak to in connection with the incident.

On Wednesday, October 14, last year police were called at around 1.00pm to a report of criminal damage at Betfred Bookmakers in High Road, Chadwell Heath, Romford.

As the suspect was playing a fixed odds terminal he became angry that he was not able to recover his losses and started to rock the machine.

When the machine did not dispense his money the suspect picked up a nearby stool from the shop floor and, using the base, smashed both the machine he was playing and the one adjacent.

The suspect then walked out of the shop and along the high street.

CCTV has captured the moment the machines were damaged.

The suspect is described as a white man in his late thirties, 5ft 6ins in height and wearing a grey blazer with black patches on the elbow and blue jeans.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who may recognise the man shown on CCTV.

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

"Vicious" New Year Attack: Teenage Girl Hospitalised

Police are hunting a “vicious” New Year's thug, who left a young woman in critical condition hours into 2016.

Detectives have released this CCTV image of the man they want to speak with following the serious assault in Deptford, south-east London.

Police were called to a south London hospital at around 6.20am on Friday, January 1 after a woman had been brought to the hospital by family members.

The victim, in her late teens, had been subjected to a vicious assault that left her in a critical condition.

Following treatment she is now in a stable condition.

Detectives are appealing for help to identify and trace a man seen on CCTV.

They are also appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time of the offence to contact them with what they saw or heard.

In particular, they would like to speak to two potential witnesses who would have been in the immediate vicinity of Creekside, at the junction with Deptford Church Street, between 4.50am and 4.55am.

At this stage officers retain an open mind as to any motive and enquiries continue to establish the circumstances.

Detective Sergeant Donna Caesar, of the Met's Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "This was a vicious attack on a lone woman and we urgently want to find the man responsible.

"Were you in the area of Creekside and Deptford Church Street between 03:00hrs and 06:00hrs on Friday, 1 January? Did you see anyone acting suspiciously or running in the street?

"Do you know the man in these images? If you are this man in the images we would like to speak with you.

"Are you one of two witnesses who would have been in the immediate vicinity of Creekside junction with Deptford Church Street between 04:50hrs and 04:55hrs?

"If you can assist our investigation please contact us."

Any witnesses, anyone who can identify the man in the CCTV, or anyone with any information or who saw anything suspicious, are urged to contact the incident room on 020 8721 4617 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.