Flasher Strikes At West Sutton Station

A female passenger at a south-west London train station was flashed at by a male commuter.

British Transport Police are investigating the incident and have released this CCTV image of their suspect.

They are appealing to the public for assistance in identifying the unknown male.

At 4.08pm on Friday July 9, a man got off a train at West Sutton station and walked along the platform. 

He stood at the bottom of the stairs as the woman walked down and exposed himself to her. 

He then left the station.

If you recognise him, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 400 of 09/07/21.

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

Park Prowler Locked-Up After One Week Of Terror

A sexual predator has been caged for his one-week reign of terror against women in an east London park.

Caise Bidounga, 22, of St Andrew's Road, Ilford, struck four times on his last day roaming Roding Valley Park, Wanstead.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court he was sentenced to five-and-a-half years' imprisonment, three years of extra parole and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

He pleaded guilty to one count of attempted rape; three counts of sexual assault and three counts of exposure.

Between September 11 and 17, last year Bidounga exposed himself to, or sexually assaulted, seven women aged between 18 and 42 years-old.

Police received a report on September 17 of an 18-year-old woman having been sexually assaulted in Roding Valley Park.

An investigation was launched by detectives from East Area Command during which further victims were identified. 

A police appeal for witnesses was issued as part of the investigation and this too identified further victims.

Bidounga was arrested two days later on on September 19.

Detective Sergeant Laura Martin said: “Bidounga’s attacks were clearly escalating. 

“Over the course of one week he went from exposing himself to a woman to actually sexually assaulting four women in one day.

“This case demonstrates perfectly the need for offences such as this to be reported to police. 

“Even if nobody is injured, sexual predators cannot be permitted to roam free posing a threat to women and girls.

“Despite none of the women sustaining physical injuries, the effects of being a victim of a sexual offence can be long lasting and we are very grateful to those women who came forward to support this investigation and hope they feel that justice has been served.

“I have no doubt, that had they not come forward, Bidounga would have continued in his escalating pattern of offending.”

Middle-Aged Man Attacked While Buying Fruit

Police investigating a violent assault in which a middle-aged man was punched and kicked unconscious by a stranger as he tried to buy fruit have released this image of their suspect.

The victim, aged in his fifties, was shopping when he was suddenly approached by a male and after an exchange of words was viciously attacked.

The incident occurred at around 3.30pm on December 15, 2018 in High Street, Ilford, east London.

The assailant simply walked off afterwards, leaving the victim lying on the ground out cold.

He was taken to hospital for treatment to facial injuries.

Detective Constable Louise Parrott from the East Area Command Unit which covers Ilford said: “While over eighteen months have passed since this attack, our resolve remains undiminished to identify the person responsible.

“I would ask anyone who recognises this man to contact police immediately; this was a violent and unprovoked attack, which left the victim with significant injuries.

“While his physical injuries may have healed, the psychological scars remain – this man must be identified and put before the courts to face justice.”

Anyone who recognises the man is asked to call police on 101, quoting CAD 1859/13JUL. 

Alternatively call Crimestoppers, 100 per cent anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

City Dance Floor Groper Sentenced

A dance floor predator, caught on a City nightclub’s CCTV groping an IT account director between her legs for the second time that evening, was sentenced today.

The 31 year-old woman was entertaining clients at her company’s Christmas party in the heart of the Square Mile, even shrugging off the first grope to avoid ruining the evening.

Algerian kitchen porter Nabil Zerdi, 51, was recorded loitering around the dance floor of Cornhill venue Forge and jurors watched CCTV of him targeting the victim and sneaking up on her from behind.

At Inner London Crown Court Zerdi, of Jersey Road, Isleworth was unanimously found guilty of two counts of sexual assault on the evening of December 19 and early hours of December 20, 2019.

Today he was sentenced
at Woolwich Crown Court by Recorder James Dawson, who told him: “You have got to go on the sex offenders register and you have to do thirty days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.”

Zerdi will be subject to a two-year Community Order, which includes completing 150 hours community service and must pay £300 costs and a victim surcharge.

He will remain on the sex offenders register for five years.

At the start of the trial prosecutor Richard Job told the jury: “The complainant went to a bar nightclub, The Forge, in the City of London. She was hosting a works do.

“At 9pm she was walking from the dance floor to the bar when a man reached across and deliberately placed his hand between her legs.

“She was still at then club at 1am and was on the dance floor with colleagues when the same man came up behind her and placed his hand around her hip and deliberately put his hand between her legs, touching her through her dress.

“She confronted the man and attempted to grab his arm and speak to him, but he waved her away and walked off.

“She spoke to club staff, who called the police and the man was detained until officers attended.

“The man who touched her on both occasions was this defendant, Mr Zerdi and he was arrested on suspicion of assault.

“When he was questioned the defendant denied the first incident, but said the second incident was just his attempt to squeeze past and there was no sexual intention.”

The prosecutor told the jury they would view CCTV footage of the second incident.

“You will see her berating Mr Zerdi and him waving away her complaints.”

Giving evidence from behind a screen the victim told the jury: “I got brushed past by some man who decided to touch me where he should not have.

“He reached under and cupped his hand and grabbed me.

“He stared at me and I stared at him and pointed at him and said: ’No’ and he casually walked off.”

Because she was entertaining important company clients the woman kept her composure and did not report the man.

“I had a duty to my clients to try and continue the night,” she told the court, but said the same man repeated his behaviour in the early hours.

The jury were shown CCTV of the second incident and the woman, wearing a sequinned dress, was approached by Zerdi, who had been loitering around the edge of the crowded dance floor.

“I felt the same hand again, more forceful, more pressured and there he was again,” she explained.

“I felt someone come towards me and cup me again over my dress. The same guy who did it the first time was standing there.

“I am one hundred per cent sure it was the same man.

“The look that he gave me, I’ll never forget and I did not want him to get away with it again or worse, do it to someone else.

“I grabbed his arm and said: ‘Don’t touch me like that again,’ and I went for help.”

She denied her judgement was effected by alcohol.

“Yes, I had some drinks, but I had high-profile clients so I could not be drunk. I was aware of my surroundings.”

Train Passenger Attacked For Phone: Do You Know This Pair?

Police are hunting this duo after a female train passenger had her mobile phone snatched and was dragged off the carriage onto the platform.

She was targeted when the south-east London train service pulled into a station and the doors she was standing next to opened.

A female held her down as a male grabbed the phone and the robbers were chased from the station by fellow-passengers, who retrieved the phone.

British Transport Police (BTP) are investigating and have released these CCTV images as they continue trying to identify their suspects.

At just after 6.30pm on Friday, June 4 the victim was standing near the carriage doors when a man and a woman got on at Lewisham and stood close to her.

When the train arrived at Crofton Park station the man attempted to grab her phone before pulling her off the train onto the station’s platform.

The man then grabbed the victim’s phone while the woman held the victim to allow him to get away. 

The pair then ran out of the station but were chased by members of the public who recovered the victim’s phone.

If you recognise them or have any information please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 2100040116.

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

Train Play-Fight Complaint Prompts Racial Abuse

Police are hunting this young woman after a train passenger was racially abused in west London.

At Ealing Broadway station at 5.30pm on Thursday, June 6 the victim was seated on the service when the suspect boarded.

The suspect is believed to have been play-fighting with a friend and the victim spoke up as they came closer and closer.

The victim said: 'Do you mind?', which resulted in an argument and racial abuse being hurled. 

British Transport Police are investigating and treating the incident as a hate crime.

If you recognise her or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 250 of 14/06/21.

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

Uber Driver Sentenced For Spitting At NHS Blood Courier

Spit: Folorunso

An Uber driver, who twice spat in the face of an NHS blood delivery motorcyclist when called out for making an illegal U-turn, was sentenced yesterday.

The blood was being delivered for a vital transfusion at King’s College Hospital when mini-cab driver Joseph Folorunso, 53, cut across the emergency worker’s path, forcing him to brake.

TfL-registered Folorunso, of Morant Court, Munton Road, Walworth was convicted after a trial of assaulting Samuel Veloso on April 9, last year in New Kent Road, Elephant & Castle.

At Croydon Magistrates’ Court he was sentenced to a Community Order, which includes 80 hours community service work.

He was also ordered to pay £375 costs, plus a £95 victim surcharge, but no compensation to the victim, due to lack of means.

Mr Veloso was travelling from St Thomas’s Hospital at 3.25 and told the trial: “Suddenly a driver in heavy traffic did a U-turn in front of me.

“I had to brake hard, put my life at risk and I shouted in a high voice: ‘Please what are you doing?’

“I told him: ‘You shouldn’t do a U-turn here,’ and he responded aggressively and came out of the car and went to punch me.

Blood: Veloso

“I told him there were loads of witnesses and he would be arrested.

“He looked around and then spat twice in my face, all over me. There was spit all over my jacket as well.

“It was a strong spit. He probably thought: ‘I’ll give a big spit.’

“It was very intentional and provocative.”

Mr Veloso, who reported Folorunso to passing police, denied shouting: “Is that the way you drive where you come from in your country.”

He told the trial: “I’m foreign. I was not born in this country and I would not tell someone to go back to their own country.”

When questioned by police Folorunso denied deliberately spitting at the motorcyclist, but accepted some spittle may have accidentally landed on the victim.

He told the court: “He started telling me: ‘Is that how you drive where you come from? You Uber don’t know how to drive.’

“It was kind of a racist comment and he also said: ‘I’ll get you banned. I’ll report you,’ and I was really-really angry.

“I did not spit on him at all. I would not do that, definitely not.”

Magistrate Terry Carpenter told him: “The act of spitting at someone in this day and age is a very nasty and obnoxious act.

“It is deliberately designed to instil fear into the person on the receiving end of it.”

Dance Floor Predator Who Groped Woman Twice Told By Court: "It Is A Fairly Low-Level Offence"

A dance floor predator, caught on a City nightclub’s CCTV groping an IT account director between her legs for the second time has been told by a court he was guilty of “a fairly low-level offence.”

The 31 year-old woman was entertaining clients at her company’s Christmas party in the heart of the Square Mile, even shrugging off the first grope to avoid ruining the evening.

Algerian kitchen porter Nabil Zerdi, 51, was recorded loitering around the dance floor of Cornhill venue Forge and jurors watched CCTV of him targeting the victim and sneaking up on her from behind.

At Croydon Crown Court last Friday he was due to be sentenced, but this was adjourned because more information is required from the Probation Service.

At Inner London Crown Court Zerdi, of Jersey Road, Isleworth was unanimously found guilty of two counts of sexual assault on the evening of December 19 and early hours of December 20, 2019.

Recorder James Dawson, who had ordered a pre-sentence report at the conclusion of the trial, announced last Friday: “I do not have the support of any report to suggest how he is sentenced.

“I need an addendum to deal with it.”

He told Zerdi: “We cannot deal with you today because we don’t have a full report, but I will see you next week and in the meantime you can have bail.

“Be there in good time.”

After hearing from Zerdi’s lawyer that the defendant is “suitable for a sexual programme” Recorder Dawson added: “It is a fairly low-level offence.

“It was touching over clothing and not on the skin.”

At the trial the victim, giving evidence from behind a screen, told the jury: “I got brushed past by some man who decided to touch me where he should not have.

“He reached under and cupped his hand and grabbed me.

“He stared at me and I stared at him and pointed at him and said: ’No’ and he casually walked off.”

Because she was entertaining important company clients the woman kept her composure and did not report the man.

“I had a duty to my clients to try and continue the night,” she told the court, but said the same man repeated his behaviour in the early hours.

The jury were shown CCTV of the second incident and the woman, wearing a sequinned dress, was approached by Zerdi, who had been loitering around the edge of the crowded dance floor.

“I felt the same hand again, more forceful, more pressured and there he was again,” she explained.

“I felt someone come towards me and cup me again over my dress. The same guy who did it the first time was standing there.

“I am one hundred per cent sure it was the same man.

“The look that he gave me, I’ll never forget and I did not want him to get away with it again or worse, do it to someone else.

“I grabbed his arm and said: ‘Don’t touch me like that again,’ and I went for help.”

Zerdi will return to court on September 10.

Jail For Homeless Yob Who Tried To Spit On Tube Staff

A fare-dodging thug, who fought with tube staff and tried to spit on them after forcing his way through the station barriers, has been locked-up.

Homeless Richard Macken, 27, flashed his middle finger at Embankment station staff when challenged at 5pm on March 7 and tried to fight them while shouting violent threats.

He spat at staff twice, missing both times, spat at the control room window then lobbed tube maps around the station before leaving.

Staff used specialist kit to collect Macken’s spit from the window. 

It was analysed and Macken was identified and arrested.

He pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court to one count of common assault and was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment.

PC Steve Russell of the London Underground Staff Assaults team said: “Macken’s behaviour was intimidating and chaotic. 

“He tried hard to spit at staff in the middle of a pandemic, threatened them and caused a mess in the station.

“They were just trying to do their jobs in what was and still is a difficult time.

“Thankfully, their quick thinking ensured they used a spit kit to collect key evidence which helped identify Macken. 

“These kits are excellent in tracking offenders who try wielding their spit as a weapon to create fear and concern.”

Elderly Tube Train Passenger Punched

An elderly tube train passenger has been punched in the face by a vicious thug, who asked: “What are you looking at?”

The victim was travelling onboard a Central Line train through east London when he was struck by a male suspect, who was with two females.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this CCTV image of three people they think can assist their investigation and are asking the public for assistance in identifying them.

BTP investigators are treating the incident as an unprovoked assault.

At just before 9pm on Sunday, July 4, the victim was travelling on a train between Bethnal Green and Redbridge.

During the journey, a man who was sitting with two women looked at him and asked: “what are you looking at?' 

The victim looked away and the man punched him on the side of his face.

The man and the two women then ran away into Stratford station.

If you recognise them, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 587 of 04/07/21.

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