Fraudster Who Preys On Elderly Jailed

A heartless fraudster, who deliberately targeted the elderly for their banks cards, has been jailed.

Mohammed Koita, 22, of Clandon Road, Ilford received six months imprisonment.

At Bromley Magistrates' Court he pleaded guilty to two offences of fraud by false representation.

On December 18, last year a 70 year-old man was contacted by phone from someone claiming to be from Barclays Bank. 

The caller said there were issues with the victim’s bank card and that he needed to return it to them by post.

The caller then added that one of their collection teams would be in the area the next day and they would pick it up.

The following day Koita called at the victims address in Bromley, claiming to be from the 'collection team'. 

The victim was holding his debit card in his hand, but becoming wary of the caller, told the male that he had changed his mind and would deliver the card to the bank in person. 

At this, Koita snatched the card from the victim’s hand and fled in a black coloured Volkswagen.

Around twenty minutes later £20 was debited from the victim’s bank account at a petrol station. 

Further payments to a clothing company for £1,965 and a £500 cash withdrawal were declined by the bank.

On viewing the footage of the petrol station where the £20 had been used to purchase fuel, officers saw Koita on the CCTV, wearing a distinctive red puff jacket that was later found at his home during a search of his address.

On Friday, February 22, last year an 84-year-old female victim was at her home in Dorset when she received a call from a man calling himself ‘David Stirling' and claiming to be from Natwest Bank. 

He told the victim there was a problem with her account and that someone would be sent to her address to give her a new bank card. 

He said that the courier would be called Simon and he would quote the security code CMO12.

She then received a second call from a man calling himself ‘William Wallace’ who claimed to be the delivery/collection coordinator and told the victim that her card would be delivered soon.

Shortly after, the suspect arrived saying only "I'm Simon and the code is CM012”. 

The victim was given a plain envelope with a card inside. 

When she opened the envelope she found not a bank card, but a Google Play gift card.

When she asked for an explanation she was told that it was a thank you for her years as a loyal customer.

During their conversation, the victim was tricked into handing over her bank card and pin number and was told that her new card would arrive on Monday.

Half an hour later £100 was taken from the account via an ATM in Westbourne.

The victim handed the envelope that had contained the Google Play card to police and a fingerprint match was found identifying Mohammed Koita.

Detective Scott Pounder of the Metropolitan Police's North East Economic Crime Unit said: “These were cowardly crimes committed against vulnerable elderly victims.

“Crimes of this type can go unreported due to victim’s feeling embarrassed that they had been duped by the fraudsters, but this should not be the case. 

“Koita had fed layers of calls and information to the victims in these two incidents, each call or detail further reinforcing the impression that he was genuine.

“Given the overwhelming evidence gathered against him, it was only right that Koita entered guilty pleas. 

“This, at least, prevented the victims from going through a trial process.

“Although no physical injuries were inflicted, the effects of becoming a victim of crime, particularly within your own home, run far deeper than a loss of cash or property.

“I hope that the sentence handed down affords the victims some closure to what were clearly deeply upsetting incidents.”

Casanova Conman Swindled Online Dates During £440K Scam

A serial ‘romance fraudster’, who convinced online dates he was a successful Forex trader to swindle cash out of them has been jailed.

Vimal Popat, 41, of Salt Hill Drive, Slough, who also conned a male relative at a wedding with a similar ruse, received four years and four months imprisonment.

The relative lost £300,000 of a total of £440,824.50 conned out of the eight victims, which included a former work colleague and former neighbour.

Six of the victims were women, with four of them involved romantically with Popat.

He pleaded guilty at Harrow Crown Court of fraud by false representation.

Detective Constable Chris Collins, said: “This was a selfish and callous crime that parted trusting decent people from their savings.

“So often victims of this type of offence don’t come forward, embarrassed by their own naivety, but fraudsters such as Popat work hard on their back story and are incredibly convincing in the telling of their tales.

“I commend the victims in this case for coming forward. 

“Their actions have put a stop to Popat’s crimes and have no doubt spared others from falling victim to his schemes. 

“I hope that the sentence handed down brings them some satisfaction.”

Popat’s victims were mainly women, most of whom he met using online dating sites such as Bumble.

After striking up an online friendship, Popat would typically go on to form romantic relationships with his victims in person. 

After wooing them over a period of months and gaining their trust, he would persuade them to invest their money in a non-existent business.

In all cases, he duped his victims into believing he was a successful Forex trader and they were investing in his business with the promise of healthy profits gained through the purchase and sale of currencies.

In reality, when the victim’s money was transferred into one of Popat’s bank accounts, he would use it to finance his lifestyle or gamble it away in casinos.

When chasing their money, Popat would string along his romantic victims for months using a number of excuses for being unavailable to see them, such as being in a car accident, being hospitalised, being robbed and even attending a funeral.

He also created false banking documents to persuade victims that his accounts had a healthy balance and that their money was being invested.

His offending, which began in 2013, stopped during 2015-2016, but escalated to an extreme during 2019 where he duped four victims in a single year.

Romanian Double-Rapist Strikes For Third Time

A twice-convicted rapist from Romania struck again a week after arriving in the UK – pouncing on a lone woman as she walked home in the early hours.

Mihai Roban, 47, took the terrified 28 year-old victim behind public toilets at 2.40am after she left a local bar.

At Harrow Crown Court he was sentenced to seven years and eight months imprisonment and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Roban pleaded guilty to raping the woman in Regents Park Road, Finchley on January 20.

He ignored her repeated pleas for him to stop and the alarm was raised by a member of the public who heard the distressed victim calling for help.

Police attended and found Roban with the victim. 

He was arrested and taken into custody, where he refused to make any comment about the incident during an interview with officers. 

He was charged with rape the same day by Public Protection Detectives from the North West Command Unit.

Detective Sergeant Michael Daly, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: “Roban had only been in the country for a week when he carried out this attack. 

“When we conducted enquiries with police in his home country of Romania we discovered that he had two previous convictions for rape and prison is the right place for him. 

“He maintained his innocence until the week before the trial was due to start, which brought further anguish to his victim.

"The victim has been incredibly strong throughout the investigation and I hope that knowing Roban will be in prison for some time will help her to move on from her horrible ordeal.

"I also wish to thank the member of the public for doing the right thing and calling the police when they heard the victim’s calls for help, as well as the investigation team for their excellent work and their continued dedication supporting victims of rape and bringing the offenders to justice.”

Living The Thai Life: Far East Dream Funded By Benefit Fraud

A Thai expat’s lifestyle was funded by taxpayers during an audacious decade-long £66,000 benefit fraud, a court heard today.

Joseph Peter Marcel Fougere, 74, rented out his council house, which he was also claiming housing benefit for as well as Pension Credit and council tax benefit.

“He built a life out there, with friends and a girlfriend and the like and he has now held his hands up at the first opportunity,” his lawyer Joe O’Leary told Croydon Magistrates Court.

Fougere pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances to the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) between January 25, 2010 and February 10, last year, namely that he was living in Thailand and sub-letting his home.

He also similarly pleaded guilty to failing to notify the DWP between August 22, 2011 and March 31, 2013 relating to council tax benefit and between April 1, 2011 and February 3, last year relating to housing benefit.

Prosecutor Roz Wardell told the court Fougere was caught after a tip-off, applying for him to be sent to the Crown Court, where sentencing powers are greater.

“The defendant failed to declare that he was living abroad, while sub-letting his property, which he was also receiving benefits for.

“The benefits system was funding his lifestyle abroad,” she added, confirming the loss as £66,252.

“It is a large sum of money, the defendant was living abroad and using the benefit system to pay for it.”

The court heard Fougere has medical issues, including osteoarthritis to his knees and shoulders.

“He is of good character and when he first claimed benefits he was entitled to them,” said Mr. O’Leary. 

“This is not a man constantly breaking the law, flouting everything and he has made a mistake and he regrets his actions.

“He is already losing his house over this and has nowhere else to go and there is a punishment in that.”

The magistrates said their sentencing powers were insufficient and  sent Fougere to Croydon Crown Court for sentencing. 

They commented the frauds involved three separate offences and a large amount of money over a long period of time.

On The Run: Alleged Money Launderer Jumped Bail

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Economic Crime Unit are appealing for information to locate a man charged with money laundering offences.

Following an intelligence-led operation, James Case, 31, was charged on November 15, last year with two money laundering offences occurring in 2017.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on December 17, 2019 where he was committed to Isleworth Crown Court.

Case failed to attend the Isleworth Crown Court hearing on Thursday, January 16 and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He is described as 6ft 2ins tall, of medium build, with brown eyes and lightly tanned skin.

Case has links to Walton-on-Thames in Surrey, as well as Margate, Canterbury, Sturry in Kent, Bexley, Lewisham and Eltham in London.

The investigating team wish to speak to anyone who has information about his current whereabouts.

Anyone who has any information on the whereabouts of Case is asked to contact police by phoning 101 or via Twitter @MetCC.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Porn-Obsessed City Man Sentenced For 'Upskirting' On Public Transport

A City accounts manager claims the pressure to make sales and “wine and dine clients” contributed to him randomly filming up women's skirts and dresses on trains and public transport.

James Dyson, 42, of Albany Court, St. Albans Road, Sutton also had a collection of child pornography, which was seized during a pre-planned police raid on the home he shared with his partner and two children.

He was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court yesterday to ten months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Dyson must also complete 120 hours community service work, plus a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a 35-day accredited programme.

He was made subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order; must sign the sex offenders register for ten years and pay £500 costs.

Dyson pleaded guilty to five counts of outraging public decency, namely recording 'upskirt' images of women, on or before March 11, last year and two counts of making indecent images of children.

Police executed a warrant at his home on March 11, 2019 and during their search seized a Galaxy Samsung phone on which they found six Category B still images and twenty-one Category C images of children aged five to ten years-old.

On an iPhone police found five two to three minutes clips of 'upskirting'.

“He had filmed unsuspecting women up their skirts and they seemed to be in toilets and on trains and public transport,” said prosecutor Mr. Bill McGivern.

“He can be seen in the clips and the women have not been identified. They are often on stairwells and the camera may have been concealed in some sort of bag.”

When quizzed by police first-time offender Dyson expressed “deep regret and remorse and shame.”

Dyson's lawyer Michael Philips told the court: “Pornography became his drug of choice throughout his adult life.”

The father-of-two had toured the globe as a musician before a change of career in the City as an Account Manager responsible for sales.

“The pressure to make sales and wine and dine clients in the City of London was immense, doing seventy to eighty hours a week.”

Dyson has split with his wife and now lives with his father.

Judge Elizabeth Lowe told Dyson: “You took the upskirting images and all seem to be at railway and tube stations, behaviour that makes women be concerned about how they travel around.

“These are not victimless crimes. These women were entitled to go about their business without being subject to this behaviour.”

Regarding the child pornography the judge told Dyson: “You are a father of a young boy and girl. It is abhorrent you looked at those images.” 

Movie Producer To The Stars Accused Of Drunkenly 'Swinging Punches' At Boyfriend

Outside Court: Randall

An actress turned film producer, who has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, appeared in court today, accused of drunkenly “swinging punches” at her boyfriend at his £1.3m apartment.

Nice-born Adriana Randall, 34, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Jean Francois Mondin, 37, claiming self-defence.

She appeared at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court, which bailed her to stand trial at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on January 8, next year.

Randall is charged with assaulting Mr. Mondin on December 17, last year at Apartment 98, Cascade Court, 1 Sopwith Way, Battersea.

Prosecutor Norleen Iba told the court: “The incident was at the home address of the complainant and the defendant was drunk and there had been an argument.

“The complainant went into the kitchen and she followed and started swinging punches and slaps, cutting the cheek and eyebrow of Mr. Mondin.”

Randall, now living at a £2.7m flat at 10a West Halkin Street, Belgravia claims her boyfriend is mentally-ill and suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as well as abusing drugs.

The court heard Mr. Mondin has also made a withdrawal statement regarding the charge and is not expected to give evidence against Randall.

In 2016 she was a producer on ‘Triple 9’ an action crime thriller starring Kate Winslet; Chiwetel Ejiofor; Casey Affleck and Woody Harrelson.

She appeared in 2015’s ‘Experimenter’ alongside Hollywood stars Winona Ryder and Peter Sarsgaard; ‘The Price of Desire’ a biography starring Orla Brady and 2016’s ‘The Call Up’ a Sci-Fi thriller.

As a producer she made 2017’s ’Tulip Fever’ starring Judi Dench, Christoph Waltz and Tom Hollander.

She is the executive producer of 2015’s mystery thriller ’Strangerland’, starring Nicole Kidman, Joseph Fiennes and Hugo Weaving.

Randall debuted as a producer on 2014’s ‘Wish I Was Here’, a comedy drama, starring Zach Braff and Kate Hudson.

The Guns Of Penge

A Penge gun enthusiast – who was caught with an illegal stash of weapons – has been jailed for five years.

Ross Knox, 30, of High Street, Penge, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of possession of a prohibited firearm and five counts of possession of ammunition, without a firearm certificate.

The offences related to two shotguns; two revolvers a handgun and numerous types of ammunition.

They were found by officers on Friday, May 15 when they executed a warrant under Section 46 of the Firearms Act at Knox’s home address as part of a proactive operation.

Detective Constable Jamie Kirby from the Met’s South Area Command Unit, said: “Officers across London are working around the clock to locate and remove weapons from the streets of London.

“There is no good reason to have deadly weapons like those found in Knox’s address, other than to cause serious harm.

“Tackling violent crime is a priority for the Met and we remain committed to bringing anyone who carries or holds firearms and other lethal weapons to justice.”

New 'Raffles' Of Maida Vale Locked-Up

A prolific offender who police describe as a “one man crime wave” has been jailed for preying on the residents of Maida Vale.

Phillip Oyelade, 40, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court to three-and-a-half years imprisonment.

The sentencing took into account offences of burglary, assault, possession of offensive weapons, and drug and public order charges.

Oyelade pleaded guilty to a residential burglary at Edbrooke Road, Maida Vale on August 10, last year.

He and an unidentified accomplice were captured on CCTV stealing £20,000 worth of property, including laptops, handbags and a driver’s licence. 

During the break-in, £5,000 worth of damage was caused.

Oyelade also pleaded guilty to burgling a private garage in Barnwood Close, Maida Vale on November 19, last year.

He was confronted by the owner and arrested at the scene by Territorial Support Group officers.

They were proactively searching for him in connection with three other residential burglaries and another non-residential burglary. 

These had all been committed in the Maida Vale area within two months of his eventual arrest.

Oyelade also entered a guilty plea for possession of a Class B drug, which was found on him during his arrest and a Section 5 Public Order Act offence in connection with homophobic abuse he subjected the arresting officers to.

Oyelade also admitted assault, causing actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon during an incident on July 19, last year. 

He was captured on CCTV at a youth centre in Clearwell Drive, Maida Vale, headbutting a youth worker and brandishing a samurai sword.

Detective Constable Sam Ekeocha, from Central West BCU’s CID team, said: “It would not be an exaggeration to describe Phillip Oyelade as a one man crime wave in the W9 postcode.

"He is a violent man who did not think twice about breaking into people’s homes in broad daylight. 

“It was the bravery of the residents, workers and police officers of the W9 area which lead to his arrest and subsequent conviction.”

Housing Benefit Claimant Accused Of Secret €22K-Plus Bank Account

A housing benefit claimant, accused of dishonestly keeping private savings of over €22,000 in a secret Portuguese bank account, has appeared in court.

Maria Albuquerque, 49, enjoyed a council flat in a Thameside Victorian conversion in Mall Road, Hammersmith, where her rent was paid via benefits.

She appeared at Bromley Magistrates Court, where she was sent to Woolwich Crown Court after denying any dishonest intention.

Albuquerque is charged with one count of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances to the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham between November 21, 2005 and October 8, 2018.

She is accused of promptly failing to notify her savings of over €22,000 in the overseas bank account.

Prosecutor Mr. Waheed Chaudhrey told the court: “This defendant was in receipt of Housing Benefit and the local council executed a search warrant at the address and found bank statements.”

Albuquerque was bailed to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on November 4, where the case is expected to be transferred to Isleworth Crown Court, which usually deals with west London prosecutions.