Drug Smuggler's Missus Jailed For £150K Benefits Swindle

Alex Odewale & Oluyemisi Ojofeitimi

The wife of a major drug smuggler has been jailed for her own sideline - a £150,000 decade-long benefits swindle, which saw the couple put together a lucrative property portfolio at the expense of taxpayers.

Mother-of-two Oluyemisi Ojofeitimi, 46, of Northampton Road, Addiscombe created false identities to purchase three properties and either rented them on housing benefit for herself or to other claimants.

She was arrested when police raided the five-bedroom home she shared with her husband Alexander Odewale, 45, who last year received 12 years imprisonment for importing £2.1m worth of herbal cannabis hidden within a shipment of oranges.

"If you had not been detected you would have ended up with three properties, maybe more, that would have increased in value," Croydon Crown Court Judge Ruth Downing told Ojofeitimi.

"You have lived for over a decade on the public purse, passing yourself off as a landlord in one identity and a tenant in another identity.

"There are thousands of women in your position and they do not all start long-term sophisticated frauds to purchase properties that would accrue to your credit."

A Proceeds of Crime Act application will seek to claw back the losses, although one of the couple's homes, 224 Holtye Road, East Grinstead has already been destroyed by a mysterious fire after it was made subject to proceedings.

Ojofeitimi also lied in mortgage applications, claiming she was in full-time work earning up to £62,000 a year, to purchase two of the properties for £240,000 and £105,000 respectively.

Between November 2000 and June 2011 she received £118,063 in housing benefit; £27,336 in income support and £6,000 in council tax benefit.

Prosecutor Mr. Julius Capon told the court police raided the couple's £470,000 home to arrest Odewale and stumbled upon the fraud during a drugs search.

"It was clear a substantial fraud had been carried out over a number of years with the defendant renting properties on housing benefit in a different identity to the identities she used to buy the properties.

"This must have been carefully planned and was fraudulent from the outset and she set up tenancy agreements and provided evidence of paying rent."

Ojofeitimi's lawyer Mr. Andrew Walklate said: "The relationship with her husband was not a happy one, it was an abusive relationship. She suffers from depression and has suicidal thoughts.

"She used the housing benefit money over a long period of time in order to fund living and it was used to prop up mortgages that were obtained fraudulently."

The lawyer asked the court to treat Ojofeitimi as someone of "almost good character" in light of her 1997 attempted deception conviction for trying to obtain a £5,000 Halifax loan in a bogus name.

"It is scant consolation to the British public that the mortgage companies got their money," added Judge Downing. "She has been committing offences for over a decade."

Ojofeitimi pleaded guilty to four counts of false accounting relating to housing benefit applications; six counts of fraud by false representation relating to property ownership and one count of money laundering.

She was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment for the benefit offences, plus six months consecutive for money laundering and was told she would be released after serving half the period.

Runaway Mum Dossed In Field With New Born

A teenage runaway mum, who roughed it in a field with her four-and-a-half month-old baby daughter and homeless abusive boyfriend, has been told to grow up by a judge.

The 19 year-old, of Ingram Court, Sumner Road, West Croydon did nothing to report bruises inflicted on the baby's face by the father, who was jailed for eight months earlier this year.

Now a mother-of-two, the young woman, who cannot be named to protect the child's identity, pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to one count of child cruelty between April 1 and May 30,last year.

“You are the mother of a delightful little girl and she looks to you for the support of a mother and she did not get that support,” Judge Ruth Downing told the defendant.

“You have a responsibility as a mother that you are going to have to take very seriously.”

Prosecutor Mr. Peter Clements told the court: “The defendant is emotionally immature and is unable to cope and adapt to the needs of a parent.

“She failed to provide adequate care or accomodation for her daughter and lived for several days in a field in South Croydon.

“Having noted bruising on her daughter's face this defendant did nothing to seek advice or attention for her daughter.

“She would sleep rough despite having a room at her mother's house and she had a history of running away and disappearing.”

Her 20 year-old boyfriend was not welcome at the family home, resulting in the defendant leaving with the baby to be with him.

They have since had a second child and both infants are being raised by their maternal grandmother.

When the grandmother returned home from holiday on May 25 her daughter and the baby were gone and she reported them missing.

A few days later the child was left with a friend of the young couple and had obvious bruising to the face.

The baby was taken to hospital and the police were called.

Eight seperate bruises were identified, caused by “prodding or pinching,” added Mr. Clements and the child had also suffered a scratch to the cheek.

The mother was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes six months supervision, and was ordered to perform 80 hours community service.

Hull City Fan Sentenced For Football Match Firework

A Hull City fan, caught with a firework during last season's away clash with promotion rivals Crystal Palace, was today sentenced for the “despicable” offence.

Corey Burnett, 21, of Campion Avenue, Hessle was ejected from Selhurst Park by police after a flare was spotted by stewards in the away section during the match.

“People who go to football matches such as you, and you have admitted having a firework, cause disruption, a lack of enjoyment of the game and most importantly could have caused real danger to public health,” District Judge Sue Green told Burnett at Croydon Magistrates' Court.

“It is despicable behaviour.”

The police and Crown Prosecution Service insist Burnett was in possession of an unlit flare, but the defendant says it was a smoke bomb.

Burnett pleaded guilty to possessing a firework/flare at a designated sporting event on March 5.

Prosecutor Mr Sylvester Folorunso told the court: “A yellow flare was lit in very close proximity to the defendant and stewards and police removed him from the stadium.

“He had an unlit flare in his possession and there was another individual involved who was dealt with by the police.”

The court heard Burnett had spent £200 in travel costs on an aborted Newton hearing last month which was to determine whether he had a flare or smoke bomb.

However, Mrs Green anounced: “It makes no difference to me whether it was a flare or a smoke bomb.

“That was a very expensive and stupid thing for you to have done, I hope you have learned your lesson.

“You are fortunate that you have not been made subject to an application for a football banning order.”

He was conditionally discharged for three years and ordered to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge.

"Clever" Conman Ordered To Pay £5.6M For Fake Medicine Scam

A "charming, clever and charismatic" businessman, who masterminded Europe's largest-ever fake-medicine scandal, was today ordered to pay £5.6m or spend an extra eight years in prison.

Chartered accountant Peter Gillespie, 67, of Carey Close, Windsor, Berkshire imported fake Chinese-manufactured drugs for life-threatening conditions with 100,000 doses ending up in patients hands.

He is currently serving eight years imprisonment for the scam and will have to serve an identical consecutive sentence if he does not comply with the Proceeds of Crime Act order within six months.

The once-respected twice-married pharmaceutical entrepreneur told Croydon Crown Court his only assets were £12 in a Post Office account - a statement described as “incredible” by the prosecution.

Gillespie was convicted on charges relating to fake 'Casodex', used to treat advanced prostate cancer, 'Plavix', a drug prescribed to prevent blood clots and prevent heart attacks for angina patients and 'Zyprexa' a anti-psychotic drug prescribed to schizophrenic and bipolar patients.

Seventy-three thousand fake packets of medicines were imported into the UK via Belgium and Singapore by Gillespie's company Consolidated Medical Supplies and at least thirty-two thousands packets were prescribed to patients.

Today Judge Stephen Waller, who described Gillespie as a: “charming, clever and charismatic man,” when jailing him in April 2011 rejected his lies.

“Peter Gillespie is one of those defendants, who, if they want to, has the ability to hide assets. He is a trained accontant.”

The prosecution were unable to find a personal bank account or property in the defendant's name and he used his ex and currently estranged wife to channel funds, said the judge.

The proceeds from the sale of his French property ended up in a Swiss bank account and he controlled a “complicated web of companies” which could hide money all over the world.

“I find the defendant to have a criminal lifestyle,” added Judge Waller. “He was the dominant party and may have duped innocent business associates.”

Gillespie escaped prosecution for a €5.7m Royal Bank of Scotland ficticious invoice fraud a decade ago, which resulted in the liquidation of a former company and his bankrupsy.

Despite his apparent money troubles and a company director banning order Gillespie continued to live a lavish lifestyle, driving Bentley's, Ferrari's and top-of-the-range Mercedes owned by his Luxembourg-based company.

“There is a yawning chasm between the prosecution and defence positions, with the defendant saying he has no property anywhere in the world,” said the judge.

“The prosecution ascertion is that he has always hidden his assets and could have easily moved funds abroad.”

During his High Court bankrupsy Gillespie told the judge his laptop hard drive had been wiped when placed on the floor of an underground train.

“He lied on oath,” added Judge Waller. “That hard drive had been professionally wiped.

“I reject he has nothing to show for two substantial crimes. He must have assets.”

When Gillespie was sentenced Judge Waller told him: "They were high-value drugs that were in big demand for serious illnesses.

"They were manufactured at a factory in China and imported via Singapore and Brussels.

"They were very good counterfeits, the packaging looked just like the real thing and you knew they would go through quickly and be consumed with little trace."

Medicine watchdogs ordered a Class One recall of all the suspected drugs - resulting in shelves cleared in pharmacies all over the country and half of the fake packs recalled.

Gillespie was convicted after a four-month trial that between January 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007, he conspired together and with others to defraud pharmaceutical wholesalers, pharmacists, the public and holders of Intellectual Property Rights in pharmaceuticals by dishonestly distributing for gain counterfeit medicines.

He was also convicted on two counts of selling or supplying the three drugs without authorisation and selling or supplying counterfeit goods, namely the three medicines, between January 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007.

Gillespie was additionally found guilty of one count of breaching a company director disqualification order between July, 2005 and June, 2007, following his bankruptcy.

The drugs were manufactured by the notorious Chinese pharmaceutical counterfeiter Lu Xu aka Kevin Xu, currently serving a six-and-a-half year prison sentence for a similar scam in the United States.

Internet Perv Arrested At Work For Child Porn Stash

An internet pervert, who downloaded hardcore child pornography and told police he enjoyed viewing the sick material because it was “taboo”, was ordered today to undergo three years of sex offender treatment.

Christian Walsh, 21, of Cypress Road, Guildford, Surrey was arrested at work when officers arrived at the west London premises of his employers.

“You are a customer at the lower end of the scale, you did not distribute and you have not downloaded the material for a considerable period of time,” Southwark Crown Court Judge Nicholas Lorraine-Smith told Walsh.

“That allows me not to send you to prison, but if I did it would be for a short period and you would not receive any treatment.

“It is for the good of the public and for you to have extensive treatment that will take three years.

"With the public in mind that is the most sensible sentence.”

Walsh had already pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to seven counts of possessing indecent images of children on or before January 16.

The court heard police tracked Walsh down to his place of work and he immediately made full admissions and told officers they would find child pornography on his laptop computer.

When the computer was analysed nine images were found at level one, the lowest grade, two at level two, four at level three, nine at level four and one at level five – the most extreme.

Also discovered were two movies with images at level four and level five.

Prosecutor Mrs Usha Shergill told the court: “All were in a live section of the computer, which means Mr. Walsh had ready access.

“He admitted that he was in possession and that he would chat on websites about watersports and occasionally the abuse of children, which he described as embarking on a journey of pure fantasy.

“He said he was sexually submissive and was playing along with people's fantasies and would adopt the role of the child and would masturbate to images and liked the fact that they were taboo.”

Walsh's lawyer Miss Jennifer Oborne said: “This seems to stem from a desire to take part in offending that seems taboo.

“He started out at a lower level and then things escalated.”

Judge Lorraine-Smith said: “If I were to send him to prison it would be for a few weeks and he would get no treatment and he needs treatment.”

The judge told Walsh: “If people look at child pornography it creates a market and more children are sexually abused to feed that market.”

Walsh was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes a sex offender treatment programme.

He was made subject to a five-year Sex Offenders Prevention Order, which controls his internet use and contact with children, and must sign the sex offenders register for five years.

“If you breach that order I will reserve it to myself so you will be back before me,” Judge Lorraine-Smith told Walsh, also ordering him to pay £250 costs.

Bromley CCTV Spy Car Flouts Own Rules

A London Borough of Bromley CCTV car was spotted illegally parked yesterday

- straddling meter bays on a busy road.

The female council employee failed to properly park in the designated bays in Upper Elmers End Road - an offence that carries a £60 fine.

The 'spy' vehicles, which are equipped with high-tech cameras, roam the borough in search of motorists committing a raft of offences including illegal parking and driving in bus lanes.

I wonder if the driver is going to fine herself?

Police Community Support Officer's Child Porn Stash Destroys Career Dreams

A disgraced PCSO's dreams of following the family footsteps and becoming a full-time police officer are in tatters after he was caught with a collection of child porn.

Daniel Stephen Trayling, 24, (pictured) of Elmwood Close, Wallington was arrested during a police raid on his family's suburban home, where 124 indecent images were seized.

They were stored on his desktop computer and on his Blackberry mobile phone, but despite this he fought the charges right up to his jury trial at Croydon Crown Court.

There, the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon told the first-time offender today: "I will give you credit, because the law says I must.

“You are a man of previous good character and these convictions have destroyed your prospective career of choice."

After his arrest Trayling was charged with nine counts, including one of possessing footage of a woman having sex with a dog, and the child porn images went up the Level Four – one short of the most serious.

He eventually pleaded guilty just before his trial to possessing the material on or before February 24, last year and was sentenced to a twelve month community order and must sign the sex offenders register for five years.

He was also ordered to pay £1354 costs.

Trayling was suspended by the Metropolitan Police after his arrest and resigned before a disciplinary hearing could take place.

The judge made an order restricting the defendant's internet use and told him: "You will have a specified activity requirement order which is designed to bring your thinking back to reality from errant ways you have demonstrated.

“If you breach your sentence you will face an immediate custodial sentence."

Employee Dodges Jail For £20K Mobile Phone Fraud

An employee, with a company specialising in selling luxury items all over the world, who was caught ordering over £20,000 worth of mobile phones for himself has escaped jail with a suspended sentence.

James Eggleston, 32, of Tennyson Road, Ashford, Kent claims bankruptcy and outstanding payday loans were behind the serious breach of trust.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to stealing sixty-two phones between May 1, 2011 and February 15, last year from HH Associates Ltd, City House, Sutton Park Road, Sutton.

The court heard Eggleston ordered the phones on the company's account, initially for family and friends, giving some away and then selling each device for around £100.

When confronted by his bosses first-time offender Eggleston immediately confessed to the scam, but was unable to pay any of the money back.

They then reported him to the police and he was arrested.

Eggleston, whose home is in negative equity, obtained advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau concerning his debts and he is now making monthly payments.

Judge Nicholas Ainley told him: “Many people get into terrible financial trouble, but few resort to theft, particularly when there is a breach of trust.

“This was over twenty thousand pounds worth of theft.”

Eggleston was sentenced to sixteen months imprisonment, suspended for two years and was ordered to perform 150 hours community service work.

Film-Maker Who Directed Dame Helen Mirren Is In The Court's Spotlight - Again

Coronado: Doyen of Hammersmith Magistrates' Court 

A flamboyant film-maker, who directed Dame Helen Mirren in 'Hamlet', has been arrested at least five times in the last eighteen months and is barred from his local pub for constantly causing trouble.

Celestino Coronado, 68, of Chelsea Court, Embankment Gardens, Chelsea - the writer/producer/director of the 1976 Shakespeare production - has even been the subject of an ASBO application, but it was dropped.

He has recently been convicted of assaulting a man in Peter Jones department store, Sloane Square and has received further convictions for assault, criminal damage and threatening behaviour.

Coronado, who was also the producer/director of a 1985 television production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, was convicted in a separate case of causing £250 worth of criminal damage to a Seat Leon car in west London.

He has also been arrested and charged with harassment; assaulting a police officer at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and assaulting a barmaid at the Chelsea Potter pub, Kings Road.

In yet another recent court hearing three days ago the pub's supervisor Claire Smith told Hammersmith Magistrates' Court: "He is barred and he has been told this many times.

"He did his usual: 'Who are you? You can't tell me what to do. Who do you think you are?' and he refused to leave.

"He had a bottle of wine on him, which we do not serve, and a member of staff took it off him.

"He said: 'That's mine. How dare you,' and tried to grab the bottle and pushed her back.

"She stumbled back and almost fell down, using her hand to save herself.

"He was up, jumping around, and went into the road dancing around and he stood in front of a car, stopping it getting past."

The pub staff reported Coronado's behaviour to the police and he was arrested, but was cleared of any offence due to evidential difficulties.

It is not known if he has any pending court cases at the moment.

Secret Student's £47K Benefit Swindle

A young mother-of-five, who kept her lucrative student loans and grants secret, has admitted a £47,000 benefit swindle.

Aziza Abouoff, 28, (pictured) of Lewis Road, Sidcup, south-east London was committed to the crown court for sentencing.

Bromley Magistrates' Court heard she illegally obtained £42,988 in housing benefit and £4,678 in council tax benefit.

Abouoff, who is estranged from her husband, pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to notify a change of circumstances to the London Borough of Bexley on dates between September 23, 2007 and October 3, 2010.

The charges relate to University of Greenwich loans amounting to £6,615 and £8,975 and grants amounting to £1,000 and £11,486.

Greenwich School of Management loans of £8,975 and £7,088 and grants of £16,827 and £7,025.

Cannabis Smuggler Caught During Pineapple Tins Run

A cannabis smuggler, who tried to sneak £76,000 worth of the drug through Gatwick Airport in tins of pineapple, has been jailed for twelve months.

Chanelle Walters,30, pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to importing 27.6 kilos of cannabis from Jamaica on December 3, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. Keith Hadrill told the court Walters was stopped by UK Border Agency officers as she tried to catch a connecting flight to Manchester in a mobility carrier.

The traveller's two suitcases were checked and within the tins of pineapple and other assorted tinned foods the cannabis was found.

“She said she had a free holiday and had been provided with the two suitcases,” added Mr. Hadrill, confirming Walters' travelling companion was cleared of drug smuggling.

“She said she has a sugar-daddy that treats her to all sorts of gifts.

“It was thought baggage bound for Manchester would not come under such close inspection at Gatwick and the labels on them showed an address that did not exist.”

Lupus-sufferer Walters' lawyer Mr. George Hepburn said: “She did not have any knowledge of the operation until she was in Jamaica, but she admitted to cannabis and crack cocaine use since she was a teenager.

“She doesn't name the man because he is a family man with two children and she now says, looking back, that she thinks the sugar daddy set them up.

“The day before leaving two men came up to her room and said she had to take a package back to Manchester.

“One of them had a gun and told her if she did not do it she would end up in a bush.

“She knew it wa drugs and was relieved it was not cocaine.”

Recorder Andrew McCooey, sentencing Walters to twelve months imprisonment, told her: “Had you not been under the influence of these sinister people in Jamaica you would not be here today.

“You must learn your lesson now and have nothing to do with drugs.”

Walters, who has been in custody since her arrest, qualified for immediate release.

Princes Party Pal Pelly Denies Drink-Drive Charge

Pelly Arriving At Hammersmith Magistrates' Court

Prince William and Harry's party pal Guy Pelly appeared in court today accused of drink-driving in his £50,000 Audi sports car.

The 31 year-old nightclub boss, who owns the Mexican-themed Tonteria - where the princes partied earlier this month is fighting the charge.

Pelly, 31, (pictured) of Sheffield Terrace, Kensington has pleaded not guilty to driving his Audi R8 in Sloane Street, Belgravia on May 28 while the proportion of alcohol in his breath was 52 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath. 

The legal limit is 35.

Stowe-educated Pelly ran celebrity haunts Mahiki and Park Lane's Whisky Mist before recently opening his new Sloane Square nightclub.

He is rumoured to have organised the future king's stag party and was joint best man with Prince William at last weekend's society wedding of the year of Lady Melissa Percy and Thomas van Straubenzee in Alnwick, Northumberland.

He has his own distinguished family tree - grandmother Monica was a member of the Tate & Lyle sugar dynasty and his friendship with Harry stems from their participation with the Beaufort Hunt.

Pelly pleaded not guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court and his solicitor Barry Warburton will argue the calibration of  the alcohol intoximeter at Belgravia Police Station was deficient.

The defence claim a "long blow" resulted in an incorrect high reading and Pelly should have been given the option of a blood or urine sample.

They have also asked for CCTV evidence of the breath-test to be released by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Pelly was released on unconditional bail until July 24 when a trial date will be set.

Nigella Lawson's Former PA's Deny Fraud

Grillo Sisters: Elisabetta (L) & Francesca (R)

Two Italian sisters, accused of defrauding celebrity chef Nigella Lawson and her husband Charles Saatchi while employed as personal assistants, will stand trial later this year.

Elisabetta Grillo, 40, and Francesca Grillo, 34, both of Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater will fight the allegations before an Isleworth Crown Court jury.

Both were committed from Hammersmith Magistrates' Court last month on a charge of fraud by abuse of position between January 1, 2008 and December 31, last year in that while occupying the positions of personal assistants for the Conarco Partnership dishonestly abused that position by using the company credit card for personal gain.

Elisabetta is charged with defrauding £58,744 and Francesca £266,827.

Both are on bail on condition they surrender their passports to the police and do not apply for any travel documents that would allow them to leave the United Kingdom.

It is alleged the company credit card was abused when funding a £3,616 Virgin Atlantic flight to New York and purchasing designer goods from Prada, Miu Miu and Chanel.

The sisters were first employed by Nigella when she was married to her late first husband John Diamond, who died of cancer in 2001, aged forty-seven.

They continued working for the chef when she married Charles Saatchi in September, 2003, but were sacked last year.

It was an ugly end to their long-term relationship with Nigella, who wrote of them in her 2011 cookery book 'Recipes From The Heart Of The Home': "I give heartfelt thanks to…my kitchen confidantes: Lisa and Francesca Grillo."

Sickie Mechanic's Double Insurance Scam Ruined By Honest Son

An insurance fraudster, who was exposed claiming nearly £17,000 in unemployment mortgage and salary cover, when his son told investigators: “My dad's at work,” has been sentenced.

Mechanic Anwar Dadabhoy, 47, of Lakeside Avenue, Ilford, was recorded by an undercover surveillance team running a local car repair business while pocketing compensation from two insurance companies.

He was even watched driving away from his home early in the morning in a car adorned with his firm's livery.

The first-time offender appeared at the Old Bailey after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation between August 16, 2011 and March 2, last year in relation to £8,885 in mortgage protection insurance paid by Aviva.

He also pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation between August 14, 2011 and June 10, last year in relation to £6,110 in employment insurance paid by AGEAS.

Dadabhoy was sentenced at a twelve month community order, which includes 120 hours community service work.

He put in claims on both policies, declaring he had become unemployed on August 13, 2011.

From time to time checks were made and on January the eighth, last year a call was made to the defendant's home and the person who answered said they were Mr. Dadabhoy's son and that he was at work.

The next day the defendant tried to dig himself out of trouble by contacting his insurers.

He said his son was not well and that he had been out at the Jobcentre the previous day.

A surveillance operation was mounted, which recorded Dadabhoy regularly leaving for work at 8am in a Smart car adorned with a AD Motors advertising.

He was seen working on vehicles and wearing latex gloves and gave an undercover investigator his business car and a quote to inspect a vehicle.

He was seen dealing hands-on with inspections and repairs even though he declared he was still unemployed and had not taken on work.

He later said he was suffering with depression and was doing voluntary work at his son's garage.

Dadabhoy was questioned at home on July 4, last year and admitted he was the sole owner of AD Motors, but had ceased trading on April 27 due to lack of custom.

He agreed to repay his insurers at the rate of £50 per month and has paid £200 so far.

The insurers also incurred additional costs of £2,941 in surveillance and investigation charges and a confiscation order was sought.

Dadabhoy was also ordered to pay compensation within seven days.

Veteran Actor Steve Berkoff Denies Careless Driving

Going Underground: Actor Berkoff

Actor Steven Berkoff has denied driving his VW Beetle without due care and attention when he struck a female pedestrian crossing the road in the busy West End.

The 75 year-old veteran of stage, screen and television appeared at City of London Magistrates' Court, where the case was adjourned for a trial on August 27.

Berkoff, of Narrow Street, Canary Wharf, who recently appeared in lavish  television costume drama 'The Borgias' and hit movie 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' told the court the pedestrian was to blame.

However, he did plead guilty to driving in Oxford Street last New Year's Eve without a valid licence because he was using a United States licence, which is only valid for one year and will be sentenced for the offence at the conclusion of his trial.

He was not represented in court and pleaded not guilty to driving without due care and attention, in Oxford Street at 6pm on December 31, last year by stopping and signalling for a pedestrian to cross, but then overtaking a small car and hitting the pedestrian's leg.

Berkoff told the court: "I was driving along Oxford Street, it is a very, very slow journey, a very busy shopping area and the car in front of me slowed down and stopped.

"I signalled and slowly overtook the car and as I was overtaking at five to seven miles per hour two women dashed across the road at enormous speed.

"I braked, but accidentally just nipped one of the ladies on the leg.

"Where they crossed the road, there was no zebra, no lights in busy Oxford Street.

"They thought they would make a quick dash. I think that they were totally responsible.

"My driving is reasonable and competent and in thirty years of driving I haven't had one accident, just maybe gone through traffic lights once or twice.

"My driving was competent and always is."

After initially denying the licence charge Berkoff admitted ignorance was no defence, adding: "I have an american licence as I have been living in LA, coming back and forth for many years and i was told that it was valid, but now I have been told it is valid for only one year.

"I am flying back and forth between La and London, a lot of my work takes place in America, where I was last week."

The prosecution will call one police officer and two civilian witnesses and Berkoff told the court he had no witnesses.

'Commuter Rage' Case: Charges Dropped

A Milton Keynes commuter, who denied aggressively calling a ticket inspector a “fucking dickhead” while grabbing his jacket, looked pleased after accepting a bindover yesterday.

Father-of-three Stephen Archer, 41, of Church Road, Brickhill was accused of queue-jumping at busy Euston station during the evening rush-hour.

A ticket inspector who challenged him told police the defendant was verbally abusive and grabbed him, but the charges were dropped after Archer conceded his behaviour was out of line.

He was found not guilty at City of London Magistrates' Court of assaulting Benjamin Johnson and using threatening behaviour on November 16, last year and was boundover in the sum of £200 for twelve months.

“The defendant was walking down the ramp to platform six, where there was a queue forming and the defendant was seen walking to the side by a ticket inspector,” explained prosecutor Mr. Satya Chotalia.

“When he asked to see his ticket Mr. Archer aggressively called him a: 'Fucking dickhead,' ansd grabbed the ticket inspector's jacket.

“It turned out Mr. Archer did have a valid ticket for travel and it was a minor assault, a grabbing of the jacket.

“He was not trying to fare evade, but just get to his train quicker.”

Archer's lawyer Mr. James Lester said: “He is a professional man with a young family and had never been arrested before.

“He wished to apologise at the time for his conduct, his behaviour fell well short of the standards he sets himself in his life that evening.

“He wishes to apologise in open court for his behaviour.

“There was no intent to fare evade and there was no obligation to queue because there were other entrances to that concourse.

“He has caused embarrasment to himself, his family and his employers as a result of this incident.

“He did have a couple of alcoholic drinks that evening and that may have had an effect.”

Archer, who maintains his good character, was ordered to pay £500 costs.