Chartered Accountant's £90K Phantom Taxi Scam

Suspended Sentence: Kaley

A chartered accountant with City giants Deloitte billed bosses for over £90,000 in phantom Uber taxi journeys during a three-year expenses scam, a court heard today.

Gurgyan Singh Kaley, 29, claims he gambled away £1m online in five years while employed at the company’s HQ in New Street Square, Holborn.

The London School of Economics graduate, of Whinthorpe, Oxford Road, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire received two years imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by abuse of position, namely submitting fraudulent taxi and professional subscription expenses totalling £95,540.

“You started on a good salary as a graduate and began thirty-nine months of fraud by submitting false and fraudulent claims for expenses, mostly taxi rides,” Judge Benedict Kelleher told him.

“I accept you had become addicted to online gambling and like all gamblers you failed to make a profit and ran up considerable debts.

“You were becoming increasingly desperate and this pair of offences will inevitably damage or destroy your prospects of working as an accountant.”

Prosecutor Mr. Peter Lancaster told Inner London Crown Court Kaley - educated at Amersham’s Dr. Challenor’s Grammar School - was employed as a consultant within the Real Estate Tax Team.

He was recruited by Deloitte via their graduate training scheme on a salary of £54,000, plus £5,000 in benefits after leaving a bond trading position.

PerpWalk: Kaley Leaving Court

Kaley’s employment from May 19, 2015 until September 30, last year ended when auditors in India spotted the suspicious expenses claims.

He had made approximately one thousand claims for taxi journeys, including 328, totalling £28,693 in the last seven weeks before his arrest on September 24.

“There was no real checking or authorising,” said Mr. Lancaster, explaining Deloitte rely on the honesty of their employees regarding expenses claims.

“They were paid out, they rely on the trustfulness of their employees and they were paid weekly into his bank account.

“All the claims were fraudulent, the receipts were altered or fraudulent.”

The nine false claims for professional subscriptions totalled £4,404.

Kaley, who lives with his optician parents in their £1.3m home, has vowed to use his £65,000 pension fund to repay the bulk of the money.

His lawyer Evan Cranfield told the court: “I think it is inevitable he is going to be barred from practicing in his profession. He deeply regrets his actions.

“It was essentially and act of desperation. He had a serious addiction to gambling.

“He ceased all gambling on the day of his arrest. His family were oblivious as to what was going on behind the scenes.

“He managed the tax affairs of corporate clients up to one billion pounds. A high degree of pressure.”

Kaley was also ordered to complete 300 hours community service work and ten days of rehab.

He must also pay £75,000 to Deloitte within twelve months or serve 21 months imprisonment.

Vagrant Finds Shelter At Camberwell Green Magistrates Court

A vagrant continues to call a working London courthouse home weeks after moving onto the premises.

The homeless man sleeps within the covered boundary of Camberwell Green Magistrates Court, a few yards from where custody vehicles bring accused criminals in and out every day.

Southwark Council have said they cannot do anything because he is occupying land owned by HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS).

A court security officer said the man had moved into an area at the side of the court building approximately two weeks ago and steps were being taken to have him relocated.

“We could move him, but we cannot move his stuff. Do you want us to use force?” asked the unnamed officer.

“He says he used to be a long-distance lorry driver, but lost his license and his circumstances changed. He’s an intelligent man.”

Camberwell Green Magistrates Court is scheduled to close later this year and a vagrant living on the premises is another symptom of the malaise within the HMCTS.

It seems unthinkable that a busy courthouse with police officers coming and going every day, plus private security staff could be a comfortable home for a vagrant.

Club & Bar Awards Boss Get Suspended Prison Sentence

"Berserk": Armstrong

The founder and CEO of the London Club & Bar Awards has received a suspended prison sentence today for going “berserk” on New Year’s Eve and drunkenly biting police officers.

Mark Armstrong, 53, who lives in a £3.3m house at 104 Cheyne Walk, West Brompton, had admitted the charges twenty-four hours earlier.

At his first appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court Armstrong secured an adjournment to secure legal representation.

On that occasion prosecutor Mr. Robert Simpson told the court: “The incident started on New Year’s Eve, the defendant was very drunk and there was an incident between him and his partner.

“A member of the public intervened to protect the partner and he assaulted her.

“Police officers arrived and he went completely berserk and a number of them were bitten so blood was drawn.”

Armstrong, who gave his nationality as American pleaded guilty that on December 31, last year he assaulted Lauren Brothers at the junction of Sloane Street and Cadogan Place.

He also pleaded guilty to causing an affray at the same location and assaulting designated emergency workers PC Harvey Moser and PC Mathew Watson.

Armstrong further admitted pleading guilty to assault, causing actual bodily harm, to PC Ben Bancroft.

The court accepted Armstrong’s behaviour was out of character when sentencing him to six weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete 240 hours community service work, pay a £115 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Armstrong must also pay a total of £550 compensation to the victims.

The London Club & Bar Awards, which started in 1994, describes itself as: ‘the first, largest and definitely most important nightlife industry ceremony in the world.’

There is an annual celebrity bash overlooking Hyde Park, where as well as awards for best club and bar there are prizes for best DJ, cocktail maker, event organisers and ‘night time svengalis’ and ‘dandy gentry’. 

Harassment Campaign: Man Sentenced

Convicted: Wimbledon Magistrates Court

A man has received as restraining order for a campaign of harassment against a woman he repeatedly contacted and who's home he turned up at uninvited.

William Ronald Wenzel, 29, of Rotherfield Street, Islington is banned from contacting the victim directly or indirectly for a period of three years.

He was convicted at Wimbledon Magistrates Court of harassment without violence within the London Borough of Wandsworth between March 26 and April 8.

The victim said he followed her to the Soho area in London's West End after posting images of her and male friend on social media.

She claimed he telephoned her eight times on March 26, despite her repeated requests to stop and two days later attended her address and took a bag of tablets from her window.

Wenzel was charged with continuing to repeatedly contact her from March 28 to April 1 and even attending the home of her grandmother and refusing to leave.

It was also said between April 5 and April 8 he sent twenty-three emails to the complainant threatening suicide and called her around fifty times a day from a withheld number.  

On April 8 Wenzel allegedly attended the victim's home address and stood in front of her vehicle, obstructing her path and preventing her from driving away.

Wenzel was placed on a twelve-month community order and ordered to complete 120 hours community service and pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge. 

Archway Methodist Church Treasurer Swindled Thousands

The treasurer of Archway Methodist Church has received a suspended prison sentence after swindling thousands of pounds.

Sandra Awere, 59, of Despard Road, Archway was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court.

She originally appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court charged with fraud by abuse of position.

It was said between April 10, 2011 and July 20, 2016 she dishonestly abused that position to make a gain, namely £60,778.94 for herself and cause loss to the church.

Awere was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years and was ordered to pay 60 hours community service and pay £3,600 compensation to the church.

Horse And Cart Traveller Tragedy: BMW Driver On Death Charge

Hiding: Budd

A BMW driver, accused of causing the death of a traveller, who was riding a horse and cart along a busy south-east London dual carriageway, appeared in court for the first time yesterday.

Billy Budd, 31, is accused of crashing into 32 year-old Mikey Connors, also killing the horse, on July 28, last year in Eastern Way, Thamesmead.

He appeared on bail at Bromley Magistrates Court and was sent to the Old Bailey for a plea and trial preparation hearing on July 1.

Wearing a blue suit, white shirt and blue tie Budd only spoke to give his name and date of birth, but was allowed to not give his address for fear of violent reprisals within the travelling community.

Budd is charged with causing the death of Mr. Connors by careless or inconsiderate driving and a second charge of causing criminal damage to the Connors’ family horse - ‘Big T'. 

The animal, worth £6,000, had to be destroyed as a result of injuries it sustained.

Mum Mary Connors With Mikey Portrait

Despite press objections magistrates granted a defence application - supported by the police and Crown Prosecution Service - for Budd’s address not to be disclosed.

Prosecutor Mr. Kavi Chooln told the court Mr. Connors was travelling in a horse and cart at 8.45am in the 50mph dual carriageway when in a collision with Budd’s white Series 1, 1.6 litre diesel BMW.

Mr. Connors was pronounced dead at the scene at 9.20am.

The deceased’s mother Mary Connors attended the hearing with a large picture portrait of her late son.

After the hearing Budd left court with his jacket covering his face and was whisked away in a car by family members.

Charity's Money Chief Jailed For £171K Fraud

The finance manager of a struggling charity that helps vulnerable people has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for taking £171,933 during an elaborate swindle.

Rushna Choudhury, 46, was a trusted employee of the Social Interest Group at their HQ at 1 Waterloo Gardens, Milner Square, Islington.

She claims she will kill herself in prison, but Judge Alexander Milne QC dismissed this, telling her: “You are somebody who seeks to manipulate the system.”

Choudhury, of Singlewell Road, Gravesend, Kent initially fought the charge and jumped bail, but eventually pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between June 24, 2016 and August 17, 2017.

When police forced their way into her home, where she stashed designer label clothing and expensive accessories Choudhury was cowering in her garden shed, claiming she had taken an overdose of pills.

The judge told her at Blackfriars Crown Court: “You were employed in a position of responsibility and the fraud was sophisticated, involved substitution of invoices, transfers to your bank account and once to your son’s bank in a way that left a trail that covered yourself.

“You also used the log-ins of your colleagues to protect yourself. You did it to enrich yourself.

“By your actions you poisoned the atmosphere in the organisation and are responsible for the deputy chief executive ending his employment because he felt responsible that under his watch you had been stealing from a charity that helped those in need.”

Including investigation costs and hiring staff to cover those suspended during the internal probe the charity says they have lost £303,741 due to her actions.

Choudhury received three years for the fraud, plus eighteen months for breaching a suspended prison sentence she got for taking £77,750 from a housing organisation she worked for in 2013.

“You should not have been trusted ever again with other people’s money. You defrauded a previous employer and the sentence you received was lenient and you went out very rapidly and began doing the same thing again,” the judge told her.

Prosecutor Alex Krikler said Choudhury made 24 transfers from the charity, which is an umbrella organisation for other groups assisting those with mental health problems, substance abuse issues, plus ex-offenders, the homeless, poor, aged and disabled.

A colleague suspected the swindle, which involved doctored invoices from regular suppliers, with money even paid into an account Choudhury was using to repay a court order for the earlier fraud.

“She reset other staff members’ passwords and used them to access the system so it would look like others had entered the details on the system,” added Mr. Krikler.

The suspicious colleague quit and later told police: “The incident made me feel physically ill and uncomfortable in my place of work. Rushna had no problem ripping-off an organisation clearly there to help other people.”

The charity had a £700,000 trading loss during the tax year Choudhury worked there, but managed to recoup £189,000 via insurance.

Her lawyer Susan Wright said the pressure of having to repay the first fraud overwhelmed Choudhury. 

“The reality of having to pay that money back and no means even though given a second chance meant she became increasingly panicked and saw the only way out was to do what she did before.”

No Angel: Hip Hop Star Fined For Canabis

Hip Hop star ‘Angel’ has been fined for possessing cannabis.

The singer-songwriter and producer - real name Sirach Charles - was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates Court.

The 31 year-old, of 20 Strode Road, Fulham is best-known for hit ‘Wonderful’ which topped the UK R&B chart.

He pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis at 49a Devonport Road, Shepherd’s Bush on March 5.

Charles failed to appear on time for his initial court appearance and a warrant was issued for his arrest, but this was later withdrawn.

He was fined £200, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge.

The cannabis resin was ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.

His other hits include ‘Go In, Go Hard’; ’Time After Time’ and ‘The World’.

He has released two albums with Island Records, ‘About Time’ and ‘Woman’ and collaborated with artists including Tinchy Stryder and Fuse ODG.

Angel was part of ‘Artists For Grenfell’ who had a UK Number One with charity single ‘Bridge over Troubled Water.’

Attempted Kidnapping Of 9 Year-Old Schoolgirl: Suspect Image Released

Police are hunting this suspected wannabe kidnapper, who chased a 9 year-old girl and grabbed her hair after offering sweets at a bus stop.

At around 4.45pm on Friday, November 2, last year the girl left school and boarded a bus on Putney High Street.

Approximately 15 minutes later, she got off the bus at Dover Park Drive where she noticed a man sitting at the stop.

He started a conversation and tried to convince her to come home with him, promising her sweets if she did so.

She refused and ran away but was chased down the road by the man until she reached her address.

As she neared the building, the suspect grabbed her by the hair but she managed to get inside and close the door behind her, stopping him from entering.

He is described as a tall black male, wearing dark clothing at the time of the incident.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's South West CID are investigating and have released an image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.

Detective Constable Matt Morse, leading the investigation, said: “While incidents like this are rare we are very keen to trace this man and would urge anyone who can identify him to come forward.

“Anyone with information should call 101 with CAD reference 5937/02NOV.”

Convent-Educated Accountant Published Love-Rival's Naked Shower Pic Online

Video: Dobla

A jealous convent-educated accountant posed as a male model admirer to trick her love-rival in sending a naked shower video, which she then published on Instagram, court heard yesterday.

Blerina Dobla, 26, of Melliss Avenue, Richmond-upon-Thames published the video, plus more semi-nude pics of the young woman, tagging in friends and family of the victim.

She pleaded guilty at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court to sending a communication of an indecent or offensive nature on January 30, 2017, namely an Instagram video of the victim naked in the shower.

Dobla also admitted a similar charge of sending the same shower video to victims’ friends and family via Instagram on November 1, 2017, plus additional images of the young woman in various states of undress.

The court heard Dobla’s ex-boyfriend began dating the victim, who she contacted online under a false identity, and persuaded her to send the images.

The victim believed because she used Snapchat the material would be only visible for a few seconds and could not be saved by the recipient.

Prosecutor Mr Chidi Ikwuakolam told the court: “Twice in 2017 Ms Dobla tagged the complainant in a series of posts.

“Ms Dobla had been in a relationship with a male that ceased and he then entered into a relationship with the complainant.

“Ms Dobla formulated several social media accounts and contacted the complainant under the alias of a male.

“The contact between them continued and Ms Dobla persuaded the complainant to send videos and photos of a sexual nature of herself on a number of occasions.

“This was via Snapchat and the complainant thought they would be deleted automatically, but they were retained.

Dobla: Guilty Plea

“At 11.30am on January 30 a video was posted on Instagram that tagged the complainant. It was the victim naked in the shower.”

On November 1 the complainant received a call from a friend that an Instagram account tagging her family and friends contained photos of her undressed.

“However, by the time she was alerted to the second post she was unable to view the material,” added Mr. Ikwuakolam.

Dobla, who lives in a £1.2m house, was traced by police and arrested at work in February, last year and her phone was seized by officers who were also able to investigate her online history.

“She was questioned and denied the offences.”  

Magistrate Pamela Donovan told the first-time offender: “We are not excluding committal for sentence to the Crown Court or any sentencing options, including custody.”  

Dobla, who attended the Catholic Gumley House Convent School - moto ‘Vive Ut Vivas’ (live that you may live) - founded in 1841 was bailed to return for sentencing on June 28.