NOT GUILTY: So Solid Crew's Lisa Maffia Cleared Of Attacking Hairdresser

Not Guilty: Lisa Maffia

So Solid Crew star Lisa Maffia has been cleared today of attacking her petite hair stylist with the help of a mystery female accomplice during a violent row over hot comb straighteners.

The ’21 Seconds’ hitmaker was accused of bursting into the south London salon, demanding the return of the hair straighteners, which she had supplied on a sale-or-return basis.  

Croydon Magistrates court heard Maffia, 41, of Kent House Road, Beckenham was involved in an aggressive “joint enterprise” assault on four-foot eleven inches tall, five and a half stone Rebekah Groves.

Following an all-day trial she was found not guilty of assault.

She turned up at Bekah Aurora in Tulse Hill at 6.45pm on May 9, looking for the return of the stock, which was worth no more than £90.

Prosecutor Mr James Tucker told the trial Ms Groves - a wig and weave specialist - was with client and friend Melissa Greaves in the locked salon when Maffia’s accomplice gained entry.

“Rebekah Groves says the two effectively burst in and the two of them were becoming aggressive about the return of these hot combs.

“Rebekah Groves got on the phone and said she was going to call the police and was alarmed that the defendant was becoming aggressive, saying she wanted the hot combs or the money for them.

“She says she was backed into the corner of the shop,” added Mr Tucker, explaining the hair stylist announced she was calling the police.

“It seems the phone was grabbed and taken off Rebekah Groves in that procedure and she received scratches to her arms and says she was hit a number of times.

“She pulled her ponytails and punched or kicked her twice in the face and as a result she suffered a cut to the nose.”

The stylist was able to record two short clips on her phone, which the prosecution plan to play to the court.

“Lisa Maffia is responsible not only for the injuries she inflicted on Rebekah Groves, but those by the other woman in a joint enterprise.” 

Police Escort: Rebekah Groves

Maffia was alter questioned by police and after giving a prepared statement gave a “no comment” interview. “She denied the assault,” said Mr Tucker.

Ms Groves, giving evidence from behind a screen, told the trial Maffia was a client she agreed to sell stock for, taking £5 for every hot comb sale.

Maffia sent several texts messages, demanding their return, writing in one: “I’m ready to launch.”

She told the magistrates the accomplice, described as a tall black woman in her forties, posed as a potential customer, asking questions about wigs and was allowed in. 

“If Lisa had come I wouldn’t have answered the door, but a couple of seconds later Lisa’s barged in through the door too.”

Describing Maffia as “frustrated” and “angry” she said the musician demanded: “Where’s my stuff?”

“They were not taking no for an answer and they were both asking for the stuff.”

The stylist was in the middle of sowing hair extensions to her friend’s head. “They started to get closer and closer to me and the needle was taken  out of my hand.

“I was very scared. I felt like I was being grabbed.”

However, the singer gave a conflicting account to the court, claiming the hairdresser immediately became irate and "verbally aggressive" towards her when she entered.

"She was acting like something I'd never seen. I could see she was angry and there was a lot going on. I just wanted to get out.

"She was throwing things.....she had a hot comb that she was doing the lady's hair with and charged at me."

Maffia had five top twenty hits and a platinum-selling album with So Solid Crew and released two top ten singles as a solo artist and an award-winning album.

She starred in Channel 4 reality show The Games in 2004 and set up her own record label - Maffia Recordz.

Maffia rejoined So Solid Crew in January, 2010 with the single Since You Went Away.

Teen Caught With Knife After Police Foot Chase

A teenager has been arrested after an early hours police foot chase in east London for having this knife.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Violent Crime Task force apprehended the 17 year-old youth.

They were on patrol in Vicarage Lane East Ham at around 1.00am on Wednesday, January 13 when they noticed a male acting suspiciously in the street.

When officers approached the male made off.

He was pursued by officers and detained in nearby Becket Avenue.

A search was conducted and the knife seized.

The youth was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and was taken into custody. 

Sergeant Ben Mullender, of the Violent Crime Taskforce, said: "There can be no excuse for someone to be carrying a knife like this on our streets.

"My officers in the Violent Crime Taskforce are relentless in their efforts to tackle knife crime and thanks to them another weapon has been removed from the streets that may otherwise have been used to harm someone."

Police Hunt Wanted Man

A suspected thug, charged with assault, is wanted by police after breaching his bail.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Central East Command Unit are appealing for the public’s help in locating the wanted man.

Mahmoud Mustafe Ali, 44, whose last known address is Kingsland Road, Dalston, east London is wanted by police after breaching his bail conditions in November 2020. 

Ali has been charged in relation to an alleged assault in Kingsland Road, Hackney on Sunday, August 9, last year.

Ali has links to Hackney and Barnet and is described as being of medium build and around 5feet 10 inches in height.

Anyone who has information concerning his whereabouts should contact police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 01GD/4748/20.

For an immediate sighting, please do not approach Ali, but call 999 immediately.

To remain 100% anonymous, please visit crimestoppers_uk.org or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police Seize Guns After Online Threats

Police seized these three firearms after swooping on a suspect, accused of making online threats.

A 25 year-old was arrested after the raid on a south-east London hotel.

Officers were called earlier at 9.10pm on Sunday, January 10 to an address in Plumstead, south east London.

The occupiers had been contacted by the suspect, who was known to them.

They told police the man had made threats over a social media app and shown them a firearm.

An immediate operation began to trace the man, who was suspected to be staying in a hotel somewhere in south east London.

Through extensive enquiries, a possible location of the man was found and a operation put in place involving Metropolitan Police firearms officers.

Officers forced entry to a hotel room in Deptford at around 5.00am and arrested the suspect for threats to kill and firearms offences.

No one was injured in the arrest and no firearm was discharged

Two suspected handguns and a suspected shotgun were seized and have been sent for forensic examination.

The man was taken into custody at a south east London police station.

Detective Constable Chris Barrett of the South East Basic Command Unit, said:”This was some excellent work by all those involved. 

“As a result of the prompt and courageous action by officers, three suspected firearms have been seized, no one was injured and the suspect arrested.

“This case demonstrates the dangerous and unexpected challenges that can be faced by police at any time, and the professionalism of the officers who deal with them.”

City Insurance Executive Throttled His "Absolutely Petrified" Partner

Howard Burnell

A City insurance executive’s career is in tatters after being convicted of throttling his “absolutely petrified” partner on the doorstep of his £1.6m apartment, a court heard today.

Former Head of Marine & Energy Liability Howard James Burnell, 62, was ousted from his lucrative directorship when news of the ugly late-night attack broke.

The divorced father-of-two, of Little Green, Richmond was convicted of assaulting girlfriend of nine years, hat-maker Mary Phillips on March 14, last year.

Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard Burnell, who was a company officer with Bishopsgate-based insurance giants Apollo, inflicted bruising to her throat and thigh when they rowed after a dinner-date.

“Parliament intends to make strangulation a separate offence because it is so scary and frightening and Mary was frightened by this,” magistrate Timothy Nathan told him.

Burnell was placed on a twelve-month community order, which includes a three-month electronically-tagged curfew between 7pm and 7am.

He must also attend fifteen days of Probation Service-approved rehabilitation; pay Ms Phillips £400 compensation; £620 in court costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

Burnell was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order prohibiting him contacting his ex or visiting her new address in Kent.

“He lost his employment. He fell foul of the regulatory body and was dismissed and lost a substantial amount of equity in that partnership when this case was reported,” said Neville Gray, defending.

“He does not envisage ever being able to work again after working in the industry for many, many years and is deeply ashamed and apologetic for what happened.”

Ms Phillips told the trial the pair enjoyed a restaurant meal earlier that evening. “We shared one bottle of wine, but Mr. Burnell likes his alcohol so it could have been two.”

While travelling home the couple rowed, with Burnell telling his partner of nine years: “You have crossed the line”.

He stormed off ahead, shutting Ms Phillips out of the home they shared, which he owns. “He positioned himself in the doorway,” she told the court from behind a screen.

Mary Phillips

“He said: ‘You insulted my parents,’ and was very aggressive, more than usual.

“He was red, his eyes were evil-looking. The hatred.

“His hand came up and grabbed my throat and I was lifted up on to my tiptoes and was in sheer fear.

“I thought he was going to headbutt me. I was absolutely petrified.

“He also used the door to bar my way and that bruised all of my leg and the bruise was under my jaw for a week and my neck was painful.”

Burnell denied throttling his ex-partner, suggesting she may have sustained injuries as she tried to barge her way into the flat against his wishes.

Ms Phillips was forced out that night with just a travel bag, leaving behind, to this day, her collection of mink coats and tens of thousands of pounds worth of jewellery, silver and crystal.

“The victim states the defendant’s verbal abuse had been escalating and was worse when he was in alcohol and this was the first example of physical abuse,” said prosecutor Suleman Hussain.

“She says his mood swings are erratic and states: ‘I feel my future safety is at risk if Howard’s in one of his moods. If he loses control he becomes abusive and bullying.

‘My health has deteriorated both mentally and physically since the assault, with stress and anxiety attacks and periods of uncontrollable shaking’.”

Cops Seize Drugs After Traffic Stop

Police have seized a large amount of drugs after stopping a car, which was driving erratically, in east London.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Violent Crime Taskforce made the arrest after the vehicle stop in Newham.

Shortly before 9.00pm on Monday, January 11, officers witnessed a vehicle driving erratically, at speed, south along High Street, Plaistow.

The vehicle, which was known to police for making off on previous occasions, was stopped in Northern Road.

The driver of the vehicle repeatedly refused to get out of the car, prompting officers to remove the keys from the ignition to prevent him driving off.

When the driver eventually got out of the car he was unsteady on his feet and a strong smell of cannabis emanated from the vehicle.

The suspect was detained for the purpose of a search, but attempted to flee the scene on foot. 

He was quickly detained by officers and handcuffed.

Inside the vehicle a large bag of cannabis was found under the driver’s seat.

The 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possession, with intent to supply a Class B drug, (cannabis).

He was further arrested on suspicion of driving, whilst over the prescribed limit for drugs and alcohol. 

He was taken in custody to an east London police station.

A subsequent search of the suspect’s home address yielded further quantities of cannabis and Class A drugs, approximately £28,000 in cash and a variety of paraphernalia relating to drug supply. 

The man was further arrested for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

Inspector Tony McGovern, of the Violent Crime Taskforce, said: “The use and supply of drugs brings misery to local communities, while the danger posed to the public and police by those driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol quite simply cannot, and will not, be tolerated.

“Due to this arrest, a significant amount of Class A and B drugs will now not be sold on the streets of east London and a dangerous driver has been taken off the road.”

Woman Breached Non-Mol

A woman who flouted a Family Court's non-molestation order by attending a school and a cafe as well as stalking a man has been sentenced.

Anastasia Olshanskaya, 38, was made subject to the order by Central London Family Court early last year.

It prohibited her from attending Bousfield Primary School, South Bolton Gardens, Earl's Court and a tapas bar in Portobello Road, Notting Hill.

Olshanskaya, of Nell Gwynn House, Sloane Avenue, Chelsea was charged with breaching the order by attending both locations on various ocassions between March 9 and 17, last year.

The order was made a few weeks before on February 19.

She was also charged with stalking Thomas Labeyrie between the same two dates.

At Westminster Magistrates' Court Olshanskaya was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to thirty days.

She was also ordered to complete eighty hours community service work.

The court made Olshanskaya subject to an indefinite restraining order, prohibiting contact with Mr Labeyrie, named children and attending Bousfield Primary School, Holland Park School and the surrounding areas. 

Assault At Mayfair Restaurant

A young woman, who was charged with assaulting another female at a luxury Mayfair Italian restaurant, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Lily Mitchell, 23, of Green Lane, Chislehurst, south-east London was sentenced to one hundred and eighty days imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months.

She was originally accused of assaulting Elena Tatsi, causing her actual bodily harm, at Novikov in Berkley Street on November 28, 2019.

Mitchell was also placed on a twelve-month community order, which includes 200 hours community service.

She was also ordered to pay the victim £500 compensation.

Husband Stalked Ex With Secret Bedroom Bug

A husband planted a bug behind the headboard of his estranged wife's bed disguised as an electric extension lead, a court heard.

Shaun Holland, 44, said: “It's my house, I can do what I like,” when the listening device was found by his wife's father.

Holland, of Freelands Road, Bromley initially fought the case, but finally confessed on the day of his trial.

He pleaded guilty to one count of stalking his estranged wife Vicky Holland at the former matrimonial home in nearby Cedar Close between October 19 and November 19, 2019.

Bexley Magistrates' Court heard Holland always accepted the extension lead belonged to him.

His wife, who says Holland has knowledge of conversations she had in her home, did not want to give evidence in court against him.

The extension lead was not plugged in and had a SIM card inside.

Holland claims he placed it there when the couple were still living together.

He was fined £400, with £500 costs and ordered to pay a £40 victim surcharge.

Holland was also made subject to a two-year court-ordered restraining order prohibiting him attending any address Vicky Holland resides in without her prior agreement.

Violent Mugger Half-Blinded Victim

Police hunting a violent mugger, who left his teenage victim partially blind, have released this e-fit of the suspect.

The 19 year-old victim was robbed of his bag in Canonbury Road, Islington at 6.50pm on December 29.

Police and an ambulance crew rushed to the scene, where they found the victim with facial injuries.

He was taken to hospital for treatment.

The victim says he was walking along Canonbury Road when he was approached by two men. 

One of the men stole his bag and hit him repeatedly around the face with a baton-style weapon.

He is described as black, aged in his late teens with spikey hair and of a skinny build. 

He is thought to be around 5ft 7inches tall and was wearing a black top and black and white tracksuit bottoms.

Detective Constable Faisal Issaoui, of the Central North Basic Command Unit, said: "I’m appealing to the public to take a good look at this e-fit and if they recognise him to get in touch with police.

“The victim has been left with injuries that will affect him for the rest of his life. 

“It is incredibly important that we track down the person responsible for this horrific attack. 

“I would ask anyone who has any information, no matter how insignificant you may think it to be, to get in touch with us as soon as possible."

There have been no arrests.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 5318/29Dec.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.