Wannabe Pharmacist Stole From Disabled Care Home Resident

A mental health care home assistant manager "lied and lied" when caught stealing from a vulnerable resident - even plundering the victim's savings after he died.

Uganda-born Geoffrey Mutenga, 37, who has ambitions to become a pharmacist, tried to convince bosses the money was for a memorial bench and for a photographer to take portrait pictures of the residents.

The single dad-of-two, of Beaumaris Gardens, Upper Norwood, who entered the UK in 2002 on a student visa, pleaded guilty to stealing £800 from Joseph Donovan between September 9, 2011 and January 18, last year.

The prosecution dropped charges of stealing £600 from another resident.

Croydon Crown Court heard Mutenga was employed at Care Home, 55 Beulah Road, Thornton Heath, (pic.bottom) but was sacked and now receives jobseekers allowance and housing benefit.

The pharmacy graduate, who has permanent leave to remain in the UK, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and ordered to perform 150 hours community service work.

"You literally dipped into someone else's bank account and lied and lied consistently when it was found out," Judge Ruth Downing told Mutenga. 

"I am well aware of the sensitivity concerning fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers signing over their finances to care homes."

Mutenga forged his boss's signature on cheques for £300 and then £500 and was caught on a bank's CCTV cashing the second sum two weeks after Mr. Donovan, who was in his late-sixties, passed away.

The victim was described as a "severely disabled man" by prosecutor Mr. Joel Smith.

Mutenga was quizzed by police and immediately told them a pack of lies.

"He said he had spoken about a memorial bench and had taken the cheque and cashed it, but lost the money." explained Mr. Smith. "He said he had taken the first cheque to make a payment to a photographer to come to the home.

"He even produced a receipt from a photographer , but when police attended the residential address there was no reply and telephone calls and emails were not replied to."

Mutenga will soon be starting a masters in pharmacy at Brighton University, but he has not even got his degree certificate from Kingston University yet because he still owes them £2,000.

The conviction for stealing from a vulnerable victim in breach of trust also casts doubt on whether Mutenga could ever successfully register with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

"The financial pressure he was under at the time was seismic," said Mr. Ignatius Fessall, defending. "That is the reason he dipped his hand into the account of Mr. Donovan.

"He is very, very sorry. His shame and remorse is genuine."

Judge Downing concluded: "Mr. Mutenga lied pretty consistently about where the money went and it took him some time to 'fess up to it.

"He even told the probation officer he did it out of the goodness of his own heart and says he did it to bring Mr. Donovan's capital below the threshold for claiming benefits."  

The care home have compensated Mr. Donovan's beneficiaries, but no order was made against the defendant, who was told by Judge Downing: "You're a man that plainly lives on a financial knife-edge."

Painkiller Addict Stole From Parents To Fund Habit

A painkiller addict stole £30,000 in cash and jewellery from her own parents - including highly sentimental valuables - to support her 32-tablet a day habit.

Telesales worker Estelle Langford, 29, continues to live at the family home, where among other prized possessions she snatched gold watches and bracelets over two years.

"This was theft in rather disreputable circumstances where you stole from the family home in breach of trust," Woolwich Crown Court Judge Stephen Dawson told the first-time offender.

"This was bad criminal behaviour that you acknowledge should not have occurred and it must have been a tough decision by your parents to report it to the police.

"Nothing short of intervention would have stopped you damaging yourself with this drug-taking."

Langford, of Hawthorn Road, Bexleyheath pleaded guilty to stealing the property from her parents Peter and Janice Langford between April 1, 2010 and October 27, last year.

She was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

Prosecutor Mr. John Venes told the court: "Her father Peter suspected that his daughter had drug problems because she had several jobs and could not hold one down.

"He had found tablets in a waste bin and under her pillow and noticed gold watches, rings and bracelets had gone missing."

Langford's haul included a £1,000 bracelet; 22 carat gold bracelet, worth £900; a £500 gold watch and a £500 Omega watch.

Langford was eventually confronted and given thirty minutes to leave the house when her father noticed she had stolen items from the garage.

"She said she had stolen to fund a drug habit and the police were called and she was arrested," explained Mr. Venes. 

"She admitted she was dependent on over the counter non-prescription drugs such as codeine and other painkillers.

"She had taken some jewellery of a sentimental value from her mother's bedroom, including her grandmother's heirlooms, and sold it at Cash Convertors and other places, but was rather vague."

Her lawyer Mr. Nicholas Alexander said: "This is an act that Miss Langford has consistently regretted and she acknowledges that what she has done to her family is a gross breach of trust.

"Out of their care and love for their daughter they pressed the matter because they could see her deteriorating and there is now no animosity between them and she remains at the family home.

"Her codeine addiction turned her personality so much and her sister describes her as a transformed person from what she was.

"As a result of a general work injury she took codeine and it progressed to thirty-two tablets a day, which were all bought at chemist shops."

Judge Dawson told Langford: "I hope by the end of the twelve month period the drugs will be behind you and you will be able to get on with your life and recognise your parents love you and want you to end this drug use.

"I am making no order for compensation because the defendant has no income."

Book Keeper Fleeced Picture Agency Employers

A book keeper - employed by an internationally-renouned art and history picture library - who was arrested and charged with diverting ten of thousands of pounds into her bank account, has dodged jail with a suspended sentence.

Natalie Morgan, 36, of Shirley Avenue, Croydon worked for West London-based AKG images, of Melbray Mews, Hurlingham Road, Fulham.

The company has a picture library of over ten million artistic works, photographs and prints and customers all over the globe.

Morgan appeared at Hammersmith Magistrates Court charged with fraud by abuse of position, namely that between January 1, 2010 and November 1, 2011 she dishonestly transferred £44,505 in company funds into her Barlcays bank account.

The case was committed to Isleworth Crown Court (pictured) where she pleaded guilty.

Morgan was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, and ordered to perform 250 hours community service work. 

Taxi Driver Banned After Death Crash

A taxi driver, whose vehicle was involved in a fatal collision, has been banned from the roads for a year after he pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court.

Brandon Leo Smith, 60, (pictured) of Colyton Road, East Dulwich was placed on a twelve-month community order and will have to complete eighty hours community service work as well as receiving the driving disqualification.

Robert Frys died as a result on injuries he received in Long Road, Clapham on January 20, last year.

Smith was also ordered to pay £200 costs.

Smith, the director of BLS Taxis Ltd, was charged with causing the death of Mr. Frys by careless or inconsiderate driving without due care and attention in Long Road at the junction with Rookery Road.

Sixties Movie 'It Boy' Locked-Up Again

Top: Quarrier today. Below (mid) with Farrow & Sellars

Fallen sixties movie star Iain Quarrier, who one tried to to abduct a screaming five year-old girl in a busy supermarket, received four months imprisonment yesterday for calling his neighbour a "bitch" after the woman reported him for approaching youngsters in the street.

The 71 year-old former It Boy - a protege of legendary movie director Roman Polanski - found himself locked-up again after his neighbour tipped-off police and later gave evidence against him, resulting in a six-month prison sentence.

Pensioner Quarrier, of Chesterton Road, North Kensington, West London pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words outside his home, with intent to cause Joanne Reddan harassment, alarm or distress.

Alcohol and illness wrecked his promising career and he went from the glamour of the sixties movie world to being locked-up in Bethlem Mental Hospital in 1972.

Prosecutor Mr. Paul Mitchell told Hammersmith Magistrates' Court the pair had been neighbours for twelve years and Miss Reddan, who was leaving her home with her teenage child at around 3pm, had the confrontation with the defendant outside.

"I saw Iain Quarrier standing in the street and as I walked past with my child he said: 'Bitch'," she told police in a statement. "I was distressed and decided to ignore him."

She returned home two hours later and saw Quarrier again when she took out her rubbish. "Iain pointed at me and said: 'I'm going to kill her.'

"I went back inside and called the police," explained Miss Reddan. "After I gave evidence against him in January I did not think I would have to see him again."

Quarrier is facing eviction from the council property, which has been home since the 1980's.

He denies threatening to kill Miss Reddan and claims he is the victim of her malicious accusations, but the court made a restraining order, prohibiting him having direct contact with the victim.

In 1996 he was cautioned by police for indecently assaulting two girls and in 2010 pleaded guilty to attempted abduction in Sainsbury's, Ladbroke Grove and was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was made subject to a Prohibitive Activity Order, banning him from unsupervised contact with children under sixteen years-old.

Two weeks before the Sainsbury's offence Quarrier approached a nine year-old girl in the same supermarket and while holding out a twenty pound note said: "I'd like to buy you."

The attempted abduction involved a drunken Quarrier holding the five year-old girl tightly by the shoulder and dragging her towards the exit. 

He was directed by Polanski in 1967's 'Dance of the Vampires' and 'Cul-de-sac' (1968) following his big-screen debut in 1964's 'The Fledglings'.

Quarrier also appeared in the George Harrison-inspired psychedelic fantasy 'Wonderwall' in 1968 as well as Brit-flick 'Separation' in the same year.

Parking Rage Pensioner Punches Ambassador's Chauffeur

A 'parking rage' pensioner attacked the Indonesian ambassador's chauffeur - punching him three times in the face and kicking him between the legs - when he refused to leave a suspended bay.

Malcolm Hammond, 65, shouted: "You are not allowed to park there," at driver Henky Sofjan, who had just driven ambassador Yuri Octavian Thamrin to the nearby London Central Mosque in St. John's Wood - opposite his home.

Hammond, of Park Road pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates' Court to assaulting Mr. Sofjan on December 28, last year.

Today he was placed on a three-month supervision order, which includes an electronically-tagged night time curfew between 6pm and 6am, ordered to pay the victim £200 compensation, £85 costs and a £65 victim surcharge.

A Freedom of Information request earlier this year revealed foreign embassies owe City of Westminster council £1.4m in unpaid parking fines.

Prosecutor Miss Louise Thomas told the court: "The victim parked his Mercedes in Grove Gardens in a suspended parking bay, but felt he was allowed to park there because he says the sign was covered up.

"Mr. Hammond banged on the window of the vehicle with his keys, while telling Mr. Sofjan he was not allowed to park there and the driver got out of the vehicle.

"Mr. Hammond then lunged forward and punched Mr. Sofjan three times to the left side of his face while shouting: 'He's trying to kill me.'

"A woman who witnessed the incident shouted: 'Stop it,' and Mr. Hammond then kicked Mr. Sofjan in the groin with his foot, making contact, but causing no injury.

"The victim was left with reddening and swelling to his left cheek."

The police were called and Hammond was arrested and questioned.  

"There was reddening to his hands, which he disputed," added Miss Thomas.

Hammond's lawyer Mr. James Martin said: "He was upset that this gentleman, who was chauffeuring an ambassador in a diplomatic car, was parked across his access."

Online Paedophile Sentenced For Child Porn Stash

An online pervert, who downloaded thousands of sick sexually explicit images of children, has dodged jail with a suspended sentence.

Michael Mills, 62, of Demesne Road, Wallington was arrested and charged after police seized his Dell desktop computer.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) after he was charged with twelve offences under the Protection of Children Act.

Mills was originally charged with making 4,593 indecent images of children on or before August 7, last year.

These were made up of 3,549 at Level 1; 211 at Level 2; 405 at Level 3; 386 at Level 4 and 42 at Level 5 - the most serious and extreme examples of sexual abuse.

Mills faced an aditional five sample charges of making indecent images of children from Level 1 to 5 and four similar sample charges, reflecting Levels 1 to 4.

He was also charged with making 14 indecent movies of children, namely one at Level 2; four at Level 3 and nine at Level 4.

Mills was charged with one count of distributing an indecent Level 4 movie of a child to another. 

Paedophile Pensioner Locked-Up

A paedophile, originally charged with sex attacks on two teenage girls spanning nearly forty years, has been locked up for four years and two months.

Robin Rogers, 68, of Tredown Road, Sydenham was accused of performing oral sex on the second girl and tying her to a chair and fondling her breasts as well as pleasuring himself in front of her.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured).

Rogers was charged with five counts of indecent assault by digital penetration on the first girl when she was aged under fourteen years-old on dates between December 12, 1965 and December 11, 1967.

He was also charged with three counts of indecent assault against the second girl when she was aged under fourteen and sixteen years-old between August 15, 2001 and April 30, 2004.

Rogers was also charged with gross indeceny against the girl on two occassions between August 15, 2001 and April 30, 2004.

He was further charged with inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity between May 1 and August 14, 2004 and assaulting her between the same dates. 

Part-Time DJ Caged For Online Grooming And Abusing Of Teen Girls

An online “predatory” paedophile who groomed teenage girls on social networking sites – abusing one 14 year-old at her home and a 15 year-old via a webcam – has been caged for nine years.

Part-time DJ Benjamin Spratt, 28, of Evelyn Place, Chelmsford, Essex chatted to the victims on teen website MYLOL – impressing them with his experiences in the music entertainment industry.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and engaging in sexual activity himself, via a web-cam, on October 27, 2011.

He also admitted meeting the girl after online grooming on October 28, with intent to have sexual intercourse, and two charges of engaging in sexual activity with her.

Spratt also pleaded guilty to inciting a second girl to engage in sexual activity via a web-cam on October 24, 2011 and two counts of attempting to meet her after sexual grooming.

The licensed taxi driver travelled to the 14 year-old victim's home to sexually abuse her.

He then turned up at her school three days later and she told her teachers that he was outside.

The school called police, but he had left before they arrived.

Spratt was arrested and questioned by officers from Operation Sapphire, which investigates sexual offences.

On further examination of his computer, officers discovered he had been in contact with numerous young girls.

Officers tracked down a 15-year-old girl who told them that Spratt convinced her to engage in sexual activity online while he performed a sex act on himself.

Spratt was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years.

He was also banned from using the internet to talk with children, communicate with any female under 16 without supervision and to allow the police to examine any device with either internet or digital image storage.

Detective Constable John Daly, of Sapphire Command, said: "Benjamin Spratt is a predatory paedophile who has targeted a vulnerable young girl to satisfy his own sexual needs.

"The Metropolitan Police Service is dedicated to protecting the public from sexual predators and encouraging victims to come forward. They will be fully supported by specially trained officers."

Detective Inspector Keith Ward, of Sapphire Command, said: "The victim was targeted, groomed and exploited by Spratt.

"This crime again shows how the internet and social media can be used by paedophiles to snare their victims.

“This conviction will provide reassurance that we will relentlessly pursue those who commit these dreadful crimes against children."

New Child Sex Charges Against Disgraced Ex-Labour Councillor Dropped

A disgraced ex-Labour councillor - jailed for online grooming - has had fresh charges of possessing child pornography dropped.

John Joseph Friary, 53, who returned to his native Scotland following his release from prison found himself arrested again by police from the South London borough, where he served on the council.

Friary, of West Pilton Green, Edinburgh appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court and was on bail awaiting committal to Woolwich Crown Court when the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case.

In November, 2011 the former councillor for Brunswick Ward and a cabinet member for community safety with the London Borough of Southwark was jailed for fifteen months for attempting to meet a 15 year-old girl after sexual grooming.

In reality the 'girl' was a Hertfordshire blackmailer trying to extort money from peadophiles.

After his release Friary was charged with making twenty level one indecent photographs of a child between June 11 and November 21, 2010 at his former address in Camberwell New Road, Camberwell, plus a second charge of making seven level three photographs.

The prosecution claimed incriminating evidence was found by police after they seized Friary's laptop and found sexual conversation between the defendant and underage boys and girls.

Student Burglar Failed Fingerprint Test

L - Lewis-Hill & R - Vista Finance

A Walsall student, who left his fingerprints on glass he smashed during an office burglary, has escaped prison with a suspended sentence after police tracked him down.

Tyrel Lewis-Hill, 21, of Sandwell House, Sandwell Street, Coldmore snatched a £1,000 Apple laptop computer, which has never been found.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to burgling Vista Finance, 15-17 Church Road, Crystal Palace on August 23, last year.

The court heard maths student Lewis-Hill, who has previous convictions for possessing drugs and theft from a dwelling was arrested on December 15.

“He has never served a custodial sentence, but he is getting very, very near it,” announced the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon.

“This is quite a serious burglary, quite a valuable computer was taken and never recovered.

“Put this behind you,” the judge told Lewis-Hill. “You draw a line under it and get on with your studies and lead an industrious law-abiding life.

“One slip and you will be inside a custodial institution doing time.”

Lewis-Hill was sentenced to two months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, and ordered to comply with an electronically monitored night time curfew from 9pm to 6am.

Texan Cocaine Courier's 'Millionaire' Lies Exposed

A Texan cocaine smuggler, caught with £100,000 worth of the drug at Gatwick Airport, will have an extra nine months slashed from her sentence and be given £1,500 and a free flight home because she is an American citizen.

Andrea Dee Crossen, 46, told the UK Border Agency (UKBA) she was in London to receive a £25m gift from her millionaire husband, but her "fantastical account" was exposed as an elaborate lie concocted to try and convince officers she was not a cocaine courier.

The ex-hospital worker was sentenced to four-and-a-half years imprisonment, but will be flying home next summer under a UKBA initiative for non-EU citizens who receive over three years.

There is no reciprocal arrangement for United Kingdom citizens imprisoned in the United States.

"Being a US national she will be offered the early release scheme," prosecutor Miss Barbara Down told Croydon Crown Court. "Nine months will be taken off her sentence, she will have a paid flight home and be given fifteen hundred pounds so that when she gets home it helps her to settle down."

The nine months will be an additional discount to the 50%, which is automatically deducted from all prison sentences.

Single-mum Crossen, of Waterside Court, Addison, Dallas pleaded guilty to importing two kilos of 19% pure cocaine from Trinidad on December 30, last year.

The court heard she has an addiction to powerful prescription painkillers and receives £900 per month in disability income.

"She was intercepted in the immigration area after stepping off a British Airways flight and during a search of her baggage a quantity of white powder was found in the lining of her rucksack," explained Miss Down. "It tested positive for cocaine.

"During a lengthy interview she said she had come to met her husband and had no idea there were any drugs in the bag.

"She said her husband was a multi-millionaire who owned gold mines and she had come to the UK to sign bank papers for a twenty-five million dollar cheque, which her husband had given to her as a present, and she did not need to smuggle drugs."

Crossen suggested the cocaine must have been planted by either her bodyguard or personal assistant in Trinidad, who had been hired by her husband to take care of her during a short vacation to the Caribbean island.

"It is a fantastical account that she gives," said Miss Down, explaining CCTV footage showed Crossen's final destination, a Birmingham hotel room, had been paid for in cash by a mystery black male.

"She said she married in Dallas three years ago and had not seen her husband, who was living in a Malaysian hotel, for over a year, but they planned to meet in Birmingham and he had also bought her a London house."

However, she could not recall her husband's date of birth and estimated his age at thirty-seven years old.

"The entire account is fanciful, there is no husband," said Miss Down of the first-time offender. "She also had an exceptionally large quantity of painkillers that she said she had taken for many years and said were prescribed to her."

Crossen's lawyer Miss Mariska Van Leeuwen told the court: "She was certainly vulnerable and gullible and cannot easily distinguish between fantasy and reality. She does live in a fantasy land."

Her son had flown in from the USA and visited her in prison four days before she was sentenced.

"She is very vulnerable and she just seemed to have gone along with this and not given it much thought.

"She is registered disabled since an accident at work ten years ago and has become addicted to painkillers and is in long-term pain."

Judge Jeremy Gold QC told Crossen: "I am prepared to accept you are a vulnerable woman and you put forward a completely eccentric account of your life in interview."

UKIP Leader's City-Boy Son Fights Drunk And Disorderly Charge

The trainee City broker son of UKIP leader Nigel Farage has been arrested and charged with being drunk and disorderly in the square mile.

Thomas Harry Farage, 21, of Wall Close, Hoo, Rochester, Kent did not appear for his first hearing at City of London Magistrates' Court (pictured)

last Friday and hopes the charge can be settled without having to make an appearance.

He is employed by Bishopgate-based Marex Spectron and is charged with being drunk and disorderly in nearby St. Martin's Le Grande on April 12, contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 1967.

Farage was arrested at 3am.

His solicitors, Mayfair-based RMPI, are continuing to make representations to the Crown Prosecution Service to deal with the case outside of a court hearing, based on medical evidence.

His unconditional bail was enlarged until May 10 to give the CPS time to consider the medical evidence.

"There are discussions between the parties as to a more appropriate outcome," prosecutor Miss Catherine Baccas told the magistrates.

Secret Camera Perv Recorded Female Flatmate For Sex Thrills

A perverted voyeur has pleaded guilty to secretly recording a female housemate he once shared a property with.

First-time offender Jason Shotton, 23, of Hall Hill Road, Holbeach, Spalding, Lincolnshire was exposed when a friend of the victim went through his belongings and found the images.

He pleaded guilty to voyeurism, for the purpose of sexual gratification, on or about September 1, 2011 at 6 Underwood, New Addington, Croydon.

Croydon Magistrates' Court heard the victim is distressed by the offence and Shotton's friendship with his ex-housemates has completely broken down.

The defendant (pictured) emphasises that he did not circulate the images and was only caught when the woman was shown his recordings by a friend.

Shotton was bailed until May 14 for a pre sentence report and was told by District Judge Sue Green: “It is too serious to deal with without the assistance of probation.

“All options are open, including committal to the crown court for sentence, and no promises are being made.”

Fish 'N Chip Shop Boss Netted Thousands From The Till

A fish and chip shop manager, who stole £141,000 from the successful business to clear his troubled son's drug debt, has been jailed for fourteen months.

Gary Chapman, 52, of Fairway Avenue, West Drayton helped found the business with his friend of thirty years and was trusted to record the income and bank the takings.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to stealing the sum from 'Jack's' in Hillingdon Road, Uxbridge (pictured) between June, 2010 and July, last year.

As a 20% shareholder in the company Chapman's actual benefit was calculated as £116,000 and his matrimonial home has been made subject to a court-ordered restraint as confiscation is pursued.

The first-time offender, who opened the shop in 1999 with business pal David King, was so successful the £250,000 start-up loan was repaid in five years.

“The guilty plea is a genuine indication of his remourse and shame,” said Mr. Alastair Smith, defending. “The burden has weighed heavily on him.

“When the police showed up at his premises he did not seem agitated, as if he accepted the day was coming, and he kept meticulous details of the money he had taken.

“He was aware that what he was doing was wrong and was concerned about that fact.

“He did suffer from a constant moral nagging and had a vain hope that one day he would be able to put things right.”

The father-of-two, who also has two step-sons, is now divorcing his wife and his half of the matrimonial home has been valued at £51,000 for compensation purposes.

He immediately signed-over his 20% stake in the business when Mr. King discovered the thefts, which has been valued at £24,000, but Chapman claims his share is worth nearer £100,000.

“He has always worked in fish and chip shops and up until now has never stolen a single penny,” added Mr. Smith.

“Mr. Chapman dismissed his son just before these offences and his son disappeared from the local area.

“A group of drug users then approached him and said his son's thirty-eight thousand pound debt, plus interest, has transferred to him as far as they were concerned.

“They made it clear paying-off the debt was linked to the long-term welfare of the defendant and his son and he agreed to pay five thousand pounds a week.

“His first mistake was not to go to the police and his second was to take a twenty thousand pound loan from a loan shark and in this context the defendant started taking money.

“He noted it all down and hoped one day he would be able to pay it all back.

“He stole from the company in which he had dedicated over a decade of his life and now he has lost his good name and the assets he has built up.

“He has lost his marriage, his mental equilibrium and risks losing his liberty and has gained nothing for himself.”

Judge Paul Dugdale told Chapman: “You did it to benefit your son who had got himself into a lot of difficulties.

“The trouble I have is that this was an awful lot of money and a high breach of trust.

“This is a very serious offence of dishonesty that has to be met by a custodial sentence.

“You took cash out of that business and you kept in the safe at work a full record of all the money you had taken.

'In my view that shows a degree of understanding that the money was not yours and had to go back.

“I can reduce the sentence because of the unusual circumstances of you taking the money not for your benefit, but the benefit of your son and you kept a record of every penny.”

Chapman must also pay a £100 victim surcharge.

French Teacher Cleared Of All Schoolboy Sex Charges

A french language schoolteacher, accused of touching and slapping a 14 year-old pupil's bottom, while calling the boy "sexy" and "honey" during Facebook chats has been cleared of sex activity charges.

A Croydon Crown Court jury found teacher Arnaud Barge, 38, not guilty on all counts after hearing evidence from the schoolboy.

Barge answered "no comment" during his first police interview on December 12, 2011, but when questioned a second time on March 23, last year claimed his attention was motivated by the boy being a "underachiever" and a "target student."

It was alleged he repeatedly spanked the teen in a "jokey fashion" in front of classmates and would tuck the boy's school shirt into the front of his trousers.

"He said Mr. Barge made sexually suggestive comments towards him and paid him more attention than others in the class," prosecutor Mr. James Dawes told the court.

"He said for the last couple of years he would touch him on the bottom in a jokey fashion and this touching and these comments made the boy very uncomfortable."

Barge, of St. Paul Street, Islington was acquitted of three counts of sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust between June 19, 2009 and December 2, 2011.

The court heard Barge was a respected teacher at the Orpington secondary school, but was suspended in December, 2011 after the pupil, born in 1996, reported him to another member of staff.

The boy shared Facebook messages Barge sent him during the 2010 summer holiday which read: "Oh darling. I'm loving our little game," and "Night, night. Kiss, kiss."

Other messages included: "How's my favourite little poker?" and "I know you're not that bad sexy."

Mr. Dawes explained: "The staff were alarmed by such messages between a boy of that age and a teacher in his late thirties."

Barge was questioned by the head teacher. "He said he may have touched him, but did not intend the boy to feel uncomfortable and said he had not spanked his bottom."

One of the boy's classmates was also spoken to. "He said Mr. Barge would stand a little closer to the boy and sometimes pull up his trousers and tuck his shirt in, putting his hand down the front of his trousers, not too far, but enough to tuck his shirt in.

"The same classmate said Mr. Barge once approached a group of boy's and asked if they were talking about the complainant's balls," explained Mr. Dawes.

"He also slapped the complainant's bottom ten to fifteen times as if it was a joke to the class."

"He denied that he slapped the boy's bottom in class or tucked in his shirt, but accepted the Facebook comments were a mistake and said he should have used a more formal way to contact a pupil," said Mr. Dawes.

"He said he meant nothing sexual, but it was just the way he is and described himself as a lively person."