Doctor Swindled Free NHS Drugs He Mailed To His Indian Mother-In-Law

A hospital doctor received a suspended prison sentence today for obtaining free NHS cancer drugs after writing 145 prescriptions for medication he mailed to his mother-in-law in India.

Dr. Sukhendeo Chattopathyay, 50, who was employed in the intermediate care unit at Orpington Hospital continued the fraud after he was exposed by stealing the name of a patient on his ward and using it on a subsequent prescription.

Croydon Crown Court heard his mother-in-law, who continues to battle breast cancer, registered with her local G.P. as a resident when merely visiting the UK and Dr. Chattopathyay maintained the illusion after she returned home.

Dr. Chattopathyay, of Holywell Close, Orpington pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation between January 7, 2009 and September 5, 2012 by dishonestly representing to Rowlands Pharmacy that Jyotsna Bhadra was an NHS patient.

He also pleaded guilty to another count of fraud by false representation on September 5, 2012 when using the hospital patient's name to obtain an NHS prescription from the same pharmacy.

Indian-born Dr. Chattopathyay told further lies to the pharmacy, including having his mother-in-law's G.P's permission to write the prescriptions even though that doctor had died seven years earlier and also tried to have evidence destroyed.

The £40,000 a year doctor admits he could have easily afforded the buy the medicines privately and the sentencing judge concluded he had been motivated by "greed".

Prosecutor Miss Eleanor Mawrey told the court that as well as the cancer drugs Dr. Chattopathyay also defrauded the NHS out of painkillers, stomach acid pills and an asthma inhaler.

He came under suspicion on July 17, 2012 after writing a prescription for three months supply of the cancer drugs just three weeks after he had received 84 free tablets for Mrs Bhadra.

"He said that she was his mother-in-law and that she was travelling in India. That was a lie, she was living in India and was a resident there.

"He stated that she was a patient and he had cleared it with the surgery, but that doctor had died in 2005 and Mrs Bhadra was not a patient of that surgery anymore," explained Miss Mawrey.

When Dr. Chattopathyay returned to the same pharmacy in September for more cancer and stomach acid drugs staff refused to dispense them.

"He then entered into another series of lies, saying he had cleared it with the G.P. but eventually said he would not do it again and asked the pharmacist to shred the prescription.

"However, the next day Dr. Chattopathyay took things to a whole new level when the pharmacy received a prescription for stomach acid drugs.

"The patient named on the prescription ad never been prescribed those drugs, in fact she was a patient on the ward where Dr. Chattopathyay worked."

Police arrested the father-of-two at his family home on October 17, 2012. "He said he believed his mother-in-law was entitled to prescriptions on the NHS."

The GMC are now re-reviewing Dr. Chattopathyay's fitness to practice and his eight-month suspension without pay from the hospital cost him £27,000 - adding to his growing debts.

"He has paid a heavy price. If he had admitted this fully straight away it would have been dealt with internally," explained Mr. Benjamin Narain, defending.

"He is completely sorry for what he has done and admits he behaved dishonestly.

"He was on a good salary and could have afforded to buy the drugs and send them to his mother-in-law.

"He was motivated by the desire to help."

Judge Jeremy Gold QC sentenced Dr. Chattopathyay to 9 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months and ordered him to complete 150 hours community service work and pay £3,000 costs.

Dr. Chattopathyay must also pay £1,114 compensation to the NHS.

"This country expects the very highest standards of behaviour from doctors practicing throughout the country," Judge Gold told him. "A doctor's actions must be beyond reproach.

"Your actions shake the confidence of the general public. It is shameful behaviour.

"You committed this offence out of greed and took advantage of your position to write prescriptions for drugs that you could have purchased on the open market instead of defrauding the NHS."

Gun Cops Seize Revolver After Armed Swoop

Firearms cops swooped on a van in north London, seizing this gun and arresting two men.

The Armed Response Vehicle officers stopped the white van at 10.25pm in Truro Road, Wood Green on January 9.

The vehicle was searched and the revolver and ammunition found.

The men, aged 21 and 29 years-old, were arrested for possessing a firearm, with intent to endanger life, and taken into custody.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said: "Day in and day out detectives and firearms officers continue to combat gun crime to protect Londoners.

“I am proud of what they do and their resilience and focus to continue even in the midst of this week’s news.

“Armed criminals have killed more than 50 people in this city - from all communities -- in the past 3 and half years.

“We send out well-trained, professional armed officers nearly every day to protect the public from this threat.”

Fake-Job Rapist Locked-Up

A knife-wielding rapist, who lured a woman to his bed-sit after placing a bogus job ad, has been caged for seventeen years.

Bulgarian national Atanas Miryanov, 38, (pictured) even tried to push the terrified half-naked woman out of a second-floor window as she attempted to escape.

The victim, 26, responded to the online advert Miryanov placed on Bulgarian-language site novoto.co.uk, seeking women to work at a car wash.

She arrived at his address in Sutton Common Road, Sutton on July 1, 2013, where the heavy-drinking defendant asked her to wait for the manager 'Georgi' as he became increasingly drunk.

The woman, also Bulgarian, eventually asked to leave, but Miryanov grabber her, threw her onto the bed and raped her.

She feigned an asthma attack in a desperate bid to end her ordeal, but this prompted the defendant to try and rape her again while threatening her with a knife.

The victim tried to flee via the upstairs window and clambered onto the ledge, where Miryanov tried to push her out of it and fortunately her screams were heard by several passers-by, who called the police.

Miryanov, who has been in the UK eleven months, was arrested and when quizzed by police claimed he did have sex with the victim, but she had consented.

He was convicted of rape by a Croydon Crown Court jury.

Detective Sergeant Janet Archibald, of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "Miryanov subjected the victim in this case to a terrifying sexual assault.

“The victim said she was prepared to risk her own life in order to escape from him and she did this by climbing semi-naked and precariously onto a high window ledge, and fortunately her cries were heard by members of the public.

"I would like to thank those witnesses who assisted this case.

“The victim of this awful crime has shown incredible bravery throughout this investigation and I wish to thank her for helping the Metropolitan Police Service to bring this dangerous and predatory criminal to justice.

“I also wish to appeal to any other women who may have been attacked by this individual and not yet come forward to do so."

Stockbroker's Teenage Son Caught Drink-Driving In Early Hours

The teenage son of a wealthy stockbroker was caught drink-driving in the early hours of the morning after leaving his family's multi-million pound home in his new BMW to collect a stranded group of girls.

Henry Hoare, 18, a finance student at Bristol University, lives at the Grade II-listed Hollycombe House, Liphook, Hampshire, but was at his family's Belgravia property when he received the early hours call.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to driving the black Series 1 vehicle, with excess alcohol in his breath, in Eaton Square on December 15, last year.

He was supported in court by his father, Tim Hoare, 63, who founded the hugely successful T Hoare & Co in 1993, in partnership with Canada's Canaccord.

The court heard Henry was nearly double the drink-drive limit when stopped at 2.20am and he was fined £400, with £80 costs, ordered to pay a £40 victim surcharge and disqualified for a year.

Prosecutor Miss Amanda McCabe said the vehicle caught police's attention because they believed it was travelling at 45mph in a 30mph zone.

"The defendant was pulled over by the police with four passengers in his car and slipped as he got out of the driver's-side door and was unsteady on his feet and said he had four pints that evening."

After failing a road-side breath test Henry was arrested and later blew an alcohol reading of 68 microgrammes - the legal limit is 35.

His lawyer Mr. Robin Falvey told the court: "He is of good character, he has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and he does not ask me to make any excuses.

"He never intended to drive, he was staying at the family home in Gerald Road, off Eaton Square when he was telephoned by some female friends asking for a lift.

"At that time of night he should have told them to get a taxi.

"He receives an allowance and it would be disingenuous for me to say his family will not pay his financial penalty.

"It may be a little less serious than someone who has the intention to drive.

"I have spoken to his father, who sits at the back of the court, and he says that since obtaining his licence his son has been very responsible in relation to driving and drink-driving."

District Judge Mrs Davinder Lachaar disagreed, announcing: "He intended to drive and he did drive. These terms are used too liberally."

She told Henry: "Your female friends should have gone home on their own volition."

Ex-School Governor Jailed For Inciting Young Girls To Meet For Sex

A former school governor, who tried to persuade two schoolgirls - aged thirteen and fifteen - to meet him for sex during explicit internet conversations, has been jailed for three years and nine months.

Management consultant Malcolm Greenaway, 66, (pictured) of Stanley Park Road, Carshalton Beeches, Surrey pleaded guilty to two counts of causing or inciting the under-age girls to engage in sexual activity between January 1 and October 31, 2010.

Greenaway was a governor at Wallington High School for Girls between 1988 and 1997 and at Stanley Park Infants and Junior schools between 1992 and 1988.

He also pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to thirty-two counts of possessing indecent images of children, which were found on his computer when police executed a search warrant at his home on January 28, 2012.

Prosecutor Mr. Hamish Reid told the court a family friend of the thirteen year-old Cheshire schoolgirl raised the alarm after discovering the youngster was communicating on Facebook with a user who posted an image of a male's bare torso.

The same user encouraged the girl to try on her swimming costume and made repeated contact with her as well as another Cheshire schoolgirl, aged fifteen years-old.

“He had made contact with the girls, pretending to be someone else, and tried to meet them, although no meetings took place,” explained Mr. Reid.

“He invited them to engage in sexual activity, such as intercourse.”

Greenway was traced via his computer's unique IP address on January 19 and his home was raided nine days later.

He told officers he was depressed and the court heard he made attempts at self-harm after he was arrested and bailed.

The Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon announced: “These are two potentially very serious offences.”

Art Expert Who Thumped Wife Given Marriage Counselling Thumbs-Up

A former Christie's art expert, who slapped his wife across the face while driving in busy west London as their two children watched from the rear seat, had a restraining order amended today to allow the couple to seek marriage counselling.

Art dealer Damian Brenninkmeyer, 43, a member of the Dutch dynasty that owns the C & A chain store is the former head of the Old Masters department in Christie's Amsterdam, having been their specialist in New York and also worked at New Bond Street auction house Bonhams and Butterfields.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court last August to assaulting his wife of ten years Fiona Brenninkmeyer, 40, on July 8 and was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and made subject to a six-month restraining order, banning him from their luxury Fulham home and contacting his wife.

He was also ordered to complete a domestic rehabilitation course and pay £120 costs after the court heard violence against his wife stretched back to their honeymoon when she was eight months pregnant.

Today, Brenninkmeyer, who now lives with his father at The Water Gardens, Warren Road, Kingston-upon-Thames appeared at the same court along with Fiona and the order was amended to allow contact between the couple for the purposes of counselling.

"There is a letter from Mrs Brenninkmeyer saying why she wants the order varied," said Miss Stephanie Roe, defending. "The variation is to amend the terms to allow counselling."

The order was due to expire on February 28, but Miss Roe added: "They want to start marriage counselling before then."

Agreeing to amend the order bench chairman Mr. S. Elia told Brenninkmeyer: "We have read the original witness statement from your wife and read her letter and we are satisfied that you have abided by all the conditions of your restraining order and there does seem to be a genuine wish by you and tour wife to have a go at salvaging your marriage.

"We all wish you all the best and hopefully this will be the last time you are here Mr. Brenninkmeyer."

Prosecutor Miss Helen Clutton did not oppose the application, explaining: "Mr. Brenninkmeyer was of previous good character and this is his only conviction.

"There was a caution on July 6, last year when Mr. Brenninkmeyer admitted he threw water on Mrs Brenninkmeyer a few days before this incident and punched her.

"The police assessed the risk at the time as standard. It has not changed and there have been no other incidents.

"They have not seen each other, there has been no other contact."

After Brenninkmeyer pleaded guilty last year prosecutor Mr. Paul Mitchell said the family were planning to drive to Mrs Brenninkmeyer's mother's home in Buckinghamshire on that Sunday afternoon.

"Mrs Brenninkmeyer could sense a bad mood and was afraid the defendant would get angry with her, but he assured her everything was going to be okay.

"They were driving along Fulham Palace Road when the defendant became aggressive and started shouting: 'I want to punish you for what you did to me'."

The court heard Brenninkmeyer was still angry with his wife for calling the police two days earlier and told her: "I'm going to break your phone and tell the accountant not to allow you to have another.

"She said: 'Please calm down for the kids', but he started to bash his fists on the steering wheel while they were still moving," explained Mr. Mitchell.

"He then back-hand hit her across the right side of her face.

"He was driving erratically so she decided to call the police and grabbed her phone, but Mr. Brenninkmeyer grabbed her hand, clawing at her hand.

"He gave up, but grabbed her sunglasses from her lap and threw them out of the window.

"The right side of her face was throbbing and she could see bruising as the journey continued and at Beaconsfield Services she took the two girls into a service area and cried.

"Mr. Brenninkmeyer said: 'Why don't you get back in the car? You're causing a scene'."

There was another row back at the family home that night when Brenninkmeyer discovered his wife had taken money from their joint account to pay a cleaner and he pushed her down onto a sofa.

Brenninkmeyer's lawyer Mr. Mark Haslam told the court: "This is a marriage both parties think can be saved and there is an email from his wife to that effect."

  

The court also heard Brenninkmeyer has been undergoing treatment for anxiety.

On the sentencing date Mrs Clutton revealed there was a long history of domestic violence, explaining: "Mrs Brenninkmeyer says that she has been a victim of domestic violence since she was pregnant with her first child.

"When she was eight months pregnant they were on their honeymoon when he hit her, put his hand around her neck and pushed her onto the bed and hit her."

Law Firm's Bean-Counter Sentenced For £12K Benefit Fraud

A financial controller with a solicitor's firm kept his job a secret from his local council during a £12,000 benefits swindle in which they paid his rent and waived community charge payments.

Lee Graham, 56, (pictured) whose original £10 a-week compensation offer was rejected by Isleworth Crown Court was told to start making arrangements to immediately pay back the money, which would have taken twenty-three years under his plan.

Graham, of Warwick Road, Earl's Court pleaded guilty to dishonestly making a false statement on October 19, 2007 to obtain benefit from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

He received £10,655 in housing benefit and £1,325 in council tax benefit while earning up to £2,000 per month on a self-employed basis with Marylebone solicitors Julian Young & Co.

Graham was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes 150 hours community service work, and a £1,200 compensation order was made.

He admitted the offences months earlier and on that occasion was told to stop feeling sorry for himself, find employment, and start repaying the money.

"He plainly has skills and works in the middle of London and there are a host of people out there looking to employ people with Mr. Graham's skills so he could pay compensation if he wanted to," said Judge Robert Winstanley.

"I am looking for conduct that shows he is willing to make financial reparations," added Judge Winstanley. "I will defer sentence in the expectation that Mr. Graham will find a job and do so in a realistic time."

Prosecutor Mr. Paul Sharkey told the court Graham's jobseekers allowance claim was legitimate when it began in 2004 and the rent and council tax bills on his housing association flat was covered by the local authority.

After learning he was working the council wished to interview the defendant, but he failed to turn up to speak to investigators at the town hall on three separate occasions.

Graham's lawyer Mr. James Dennis said his client returned to work after caring for his now-deceased mother and because his confidence was low did not come off benefits.

"He was not sure how it was going to work out and he decided, very stupidly, not to inform the local authority. It snowballed and he buried his head in the sand.

"The sums earned were relatively modest, but he should have declared them. He was not living an extravagant lifestyle.

"Mr. Graham is not claiming benefits or working anymore and relies in friends to get by. He is a man of very little means.

"He realises this is money that has to be paid back and he wants to pay the money back, but his financial circumstances are what they are."

Romanian Big Issue Vendor Snatched £50 From Blind Pensioner Customer

A Romanian Big Issue seller, who stole £50 from a kindly blind pensioner, who was buying a copy of the homeless magazine, was jailed for four months today for the "deeply nasty" offence.

Razvan Dumitru, 22, has fifteen aliases and six bogus dates of birth and has been offending since he arrived in the U.K. without a visa as an eleven year-old along with his father and five siblings.

The father-of-two, of Victoria Road, Lower Edmonton was selling the Big Issue outside Morrisons supermarket in High Street, Sutton on November 30.

Under the old EU rules the job gave him self-employed status, a national insurance number and the right to claim benefits.

When 66 year-old Jane Phillips, who recognised his voice, stopped to buy a copy he reached into her purse and snatched five £10 notes.

A mother with her two children saw what was going on and a male witness noticed the pensioner was distressed.

Dumitru denied taking the cash and started packing up, but was detained after a struggle with the man, who was assisted by a member of the store's security staff.

Police were called and the sergeant was assisted by two passing off-duty police officers.

Dumitru had £23 cash in his pocket and the five tenners hidden between copies of the Big Issue in his bag and pleaded guilty to theft when he appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court.

Police revealed the pensioner was "over the moon" with the help she received from members of the public and the police and thanked them for their support although the incident has shattered her faith in human nature.

She told police she would regularly give the vendor £1 while shopping, but never took a copy of the magazine because she cannot read.

Dumitru was remanded in custody to Croydon Crown Court for sentencing, where Judge Barbara Cameron told him: "You have pleaded guilty to a deeply nasty opportunistic theft in the street from a blind woman.

"The offence was committed out of greed when she kindly tendered to you a one pound coin and then felt you touching her purse, exploiting her vulnerability to take fifty pounds.

"This was an appalling and reprehensible crime, committed two days after a suspended prison sentence hanging over you ran out."

Dumitru's lawyer Mr. Graham Lloyd told the court: "Looking at his record it is quite appalling. Between the ages of fifteen and seventeen there are a large number of dishonesty offences and he went into custody for the first time aged seventeen."

The court heard the defendant has never learned English during his eleven years in the UK or held down a steady job, except earning £280-£500 per month selling the Big Issue.

Judge Cameron told Dumitru, who has convictions for burglary, theft and attempted theft: "You exploited your position of trust as a Big Issue seller, wrecking the reputation of those vendors.

"Your income relies on these nasty opportunistic incidents of theft and you have demonstrated little remorse.

"You have failed to understand a blind woman is highly vulnerable in the street and these offences cause enormous distress and effect the confidence of vulnerable people." 

Detective Constable Lee Blunden said:  "At this time of festive cheer and goodwill, it's hard to imagine a less charitable act than stealing from a blind person.

"We would like to thank those members of the public who came forward to help this victim." 

Drug Dealer Jailed After Police Probe Home-Invasion

A drug-dealer, who was attacked during a home-invasion at his address, has been jailed for three years after £90,000 of cannabis was discovered by investigating officers.

Andrew Howell, 52, (pictured) was targeted by two men, who suspected he had large amounts of cash, but the doorstep confrontation was reported by a local witness.

When officers arrived at the address in South Terrace, Surbiton, Surrey on November 13, last year they found the injured Howell who told them two men demanded: “Where's the cash?” and struck him.

Police had been flagged-down at 10.20pm by a concerned member of the public, who reported the assault.

However, oficers found large amounts of cannabis in the address, plus more at a rented storage unit.

A total of 8.17 kilos of cannabis resin; 4.05 kilos of skunk cannabis and 1.71 kilos of herbal cannabis were seized.

Howell pleaded guilty to counts of possessing cannabis, with intent to supply, and Detective Constable Alan Mears said: “This is a significant amount of drugs taken off the streets of Kingston involving someone who had not previously come to police notice.

“The case was successful thanks to the diligence of the member of public and the initial reactions of the attending officers.

“The thoroughness of the subsequent investigation conducted by Kingston CID led to the discovery of another location controlled by Howell where a further substantial amount of cannabis had been stored.

“The sentence reflects how the borough will deal robustly with anyone seeking to gain financial reward from drug dealing and supply.”

Drugs Gunman Wanted By Police

Police are hunting this alleged south London gunman and drug-dealer, but have warned members of the public to not approach him.

Officers from the Specialist Crime and Operations Command have released this image of 30 year-old Andre Chambers in a bid to aid their continuing hunt for the suspect.

He is described as black, approximately 6'0” tall, well built, with a scar on his face and a crucifix tatoo on his left arm.

He has links to the neighbourhoods of Camberwell and Peckham.



Anyone who sees Chambers should not approach him, but call police on 999.



Anyone with information as to his whereabouts should call officers from the Specialist Crime and Operations Command on 020 8721 4054.

To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

Smooth-Talking Ticket-Tout Conman With String Of Lovers Must Pay Over £300K

A bogus ticket agent, who accumulated a small fortune while living illegally in the UK, has been ordered to pay back £308,380 or go to prison for an additional three years.

Haiti-born U.S. citizen Samuel Ernest, 47, (pictured) posed as a high-end agent, even targeting children's charity 'Childline' during a complex scam.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard Ernest accumulated the sum between 2006 and 2012 and must pay it within six months.

He originally admitted a £48,000 fraud involving 17 counts following an extensive investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service's Central Criminal Finances Team and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years.

He had pretended to run his own high profile corporate hospitality business and claimed to be associated to Prestige Ticketing Limited, the official provider of Olympic Hospitality Packages for the London 2012 Games, in order to convince people to buy non-existent tickets from him. 



The first of his victims to come forward was a 46-year-old woman who he dated with a view to defrauding her and her family.

The victim met Ernest at a Christmas party in 2011 and he persuaded her that he was credible by taking her to the British Independent Film Awards before convincing her to give him £3,900 for London 2012 Olympic tickets for herself and her family.

The tickets never materialized and Ernest disappeared after he got her money.



Other events that he convinced his victims he could get them tickets for included the MOBO Awards, Formula 1 Grand Prix, Champions League, the BAFTA Awards, the Wimbledon Championships, Cannes Film Festival, Cheltenham Festival Races, Les Misérables, a Harry Potter Film premiere, a Take That concert, a meet-and-greet with Bruce Springsteen and an Olympics charity dinner supposedly hosted by David Beckham, but which was completely fabricated by Ernest.



On one occasion, Ernest bid for London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony tickets, dinner with a celebrity chef and a night in a top London hotel, at a Childline silent auction.

He won the bid and claimed the tickets, which he then sold on for £4,000, however the money has never been paid to the charity.



The greatest sum of money he defrauded a single victim of was £9,250 - paid by a financial services firm for a combined total of 38 tickets for Take That concerts and Champions League matches. 



He also conned a dentist in Halifax, West Yorkshire, into paying £1,500 for tickets to a Harry Potter film premiere in London.

The dentist offered the tickets as a prize in a competition for his patients and when a 15-year-old girl won she and her family travelled to London for the premiere, only to find no tickets had been purchased. 



The vast majority of Ernest's victims were instructed to transfer money to a woman who he claimed was his accountant.

Ernest had the woman's bank card and PIN which he used to withdraw an average of £1,600 per month from cashpoints.

He also used the card to buy meals at luxury restaurants in London and Brighton.



In August 2012, police began investigating Ernest, who was of no fixed address and had been staying with women at various addresses across the UK.

Knowing that detectives were looking for him, Ernest rang one of the investigating officers to taunt him that he was not going to hand himself in, however detectives worked doggedly to track him down and just 19 days later they traced Ernest - who does have links to addresses in New York, San Francisco, California and Cannes - to a bed and breakfast in Birmingham. 



Police stopped him as he was leaving the bed and breakfast.

Ernest attempted to pass himself off as his twin brother by presenting his passport before unsuccessfully trying to run away. 



During the course of their investigation, specialist financial investigators gathered 67 witness statements in five weeks; scrutinized six years-worth of bank statements - an arduous task given that money was frequently being moved on an hourly basis - and analysed over 46,000 text messages exchanged between Ernest and his victims.

They also seized a number of genuine events tickets from him, including for Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebrations and a Heston Blumenthal supper night, which he had used as examples to convince people of his credentials.

Sometimes he gave these tickets to people by way of consolation or to placate them when he did not deliver the goods that they had actually paid for.



Detective Superintendent Nick Downing said: "Ernest convinced his victims that he was a high-flying corporate hospitality organiser with a network of high-profile contacts that included celebrities.

“In fact, he is an audacious confidence trickster with no feeling for his victims, including those women whose emotions he exploited to get to their money. 



"Such was the extent of Ernest's self-belief that he tried to pass himself off as his twin brother.

“It was only when he eventually came to court that he admitted who he was.

“Ernest didn't believe that we would find him but he underestimated my detectives' sheer determination and dogged pursuit.



"This confiscation order is an example to others that if you're making money from crime, we won't stop at convicting you - we'll also come after your cash."



The prosecution of Barbara Howell, 57, of Ilkeston Drive, Aspull, Wigan - who was originally arrested and charged in connection with this case was discontinued.

Rapist Created Fake 'Text Girl' To Aid Teen Sex Attack

A rapist, who tricked a teenage girl into befriending him and inventing a non-existent third girl to assist his sordid plan, has been jailed for seven years.

Opeoluwa David, 26, (pictured) of Durham Rise, Plumstead approached the 17 year-old at a bus stop, claiming he was a recent Nigerian immigrant hoping to meet new friends.

He was convicted at Inner London Crown Court of raping her at his bedsit on July 24, last year.

She had swapped numbers with him at a Thamesmead bus stop earlier in the month and exchanged text messages – also posing as 'Becky' to gain the victim's trust.

The teenager believed she was meeting the defendant and 'Becky' on July 24 and when she questioned the girl's wherabouts David reassured the victim the girl would be joining them later.

David took the teen back to his bedsit where he locked them both inside and raped her.

He then let the victim go and she immediately contacted a friend and reported the incident to police.



David was arrested the following day and charged with rape and false imprisonment.



The investigation was carried out by officers from Sapphire, part of the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command.

Detective Constable Jivan Saib, who led the investigation, said: "The successful conviction of David is largely down to the bravery of the victim in this case.

“David took advantage of this girl but she has shown immense bravery and resolve in supporting our investigation.



"I hope this conviction and custodial sentence encourages other victims to come forward and tell us what has happened to them."



Detective Inspector James Pryde said: "I would encourage all victims of rape to report what has happened to them to the police - together with our partners we will assist and support you.

“Our officers are specially trained to support victims of rape. 



"In this case the victim has seen David convicted - he will now go to prison and, on his release, will be monitored as a registered sex offender."

Flying Club Veteran Jailed For Historic Sex Abuse Of Schoolboys

Biggin Hill Airport

The ex-member of a Biggin Hill Airport flying club is starting a two-and-a-half year prison sentence for taking advantage of his acccess to youngsters by sexually abusing two boys.

Benjamin Gavin Dix, 76, molested the children when they were aged either nine or ten years-old – often after inviting them for rides in his car and allowing them to steer the vehicle.

The pensioner, of Frith Hill Road, Godalming, Surrey pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court to five counts of indecent assault between 1969 and 1992.

Police were contacted by one of the victim's in September, 2011, who complained of abuse in 1969 or 1970 and the second man revealed Dix molested him in 1992.

Detective Constable Paul Hill said: "The two victims in this case were children when Dix assaulted them.

“They showed courage to come forward after so many years to tell us what happened to them.

“These were very disturbing assaults on very young children at the time and although these assaults took place many years ago, it shows that we will pursue sex offenders and bring them to justice.



"Dix thought he had got away with it, but the victims in this case were determined to see him brought to justice."



Detective Chief Inspector Pete Thomas, said: "Dix sexually abused two young boys who were vulnerable.

“This case may have happened many years ago, but in this case he was brought to justice because his victims came forward and they should be commended for overcoming their fears and disclosing these terrible crimes.



"With appropriate support from police and our partners, I urge other victims of sexual crimes to come forward and tell us what has happened to them. You will be supported."

Dix must also sign the sex offenders egister for life.

'Audacious Predator' Caged For Terrifying Late-Night Rape Bid

A wannabe rapist, who kicked a woman's front door off it's hinges after following her home from a night bus, has been locked-up for ten years.

Shane Lynch, 25, (pictured) of Aviary Close, Canning Town, is described by police as a: “predatory, audacious sexual offender.”

He demanded to know where the 26 year-old victim was during a terrifying face-to-face confrontation with her mother, then after finding her tried to pull off the young woman's tights and dress.

She was only saved when her mother tried to pull him off as their landlady screamed that she was calling the police.

In the early hours of Friday June 14, last year the victim was travelling home after a night out with friends.

Lynch approached her as she waited for a night bus to travel from Romford to Canning Town, east London and began chatting to her during the journey.

He asked to walk her home several times but she declined his offer, leaving him in Hayday Road.

She carried on walking to her house and was preparing a snack when she heard the front door being kicked open.

Terrified, she hid in the kitchen while Lynch hunted for her upstairs.

He confronted the victim's mother, demanding to know where she was.

He then came back downstairs and found the victim cowering in fear.

Lynch immediately attacked her, pulling her to the floor and trying to tear off her dress and tights.

He told her he wanted to have sex with her and ignored her pleas for help.

The victim's mother came downstairs and attempted to drag Lynch off her daughter, but was assaulted in the process, suffering minor injuries.

However, on being told the police were being called by the victim's landlady, Lynch finally made off after throwing a suitcase at the women.

He was arrested on the next day and claimed in a police interview that the victim had stolen his phone and he was trying to retrieve it.

He admitted assaulting the victim's mother, but claimed it was self-defence.

He was found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court of attempted rape, having already admitted an unrelated charge of wounding, with intent, on another victim on January 25 in Newham Way, Canning Town.

He received seven years for the attempted rape, plus three years for the GBH charge.

Detective Constable Yvonne Rhoden, MBE, of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the victim and the other female occupants of her home.

“I hope this conviction goes some way to restoring her peace of mind in the future.

"Lynch is a predatory, audacious sexual offender who, but for the brave actions of the victim's mother, would have carried out a violent rape.

"He has posed a real danger to lone females using the public transport system and we would appeal for members of the public to come forward with any information on similar offences."

Police can be contacted on 101. In an emergency always dial 999.

Witnesses Sought For Tower Bridge Motorbike Tragedy

Police are continuing to appeal for information concerning the tragic Tower Bridge fatality of a pedestrian who was struck by a motorbike.

Benjamin Sale, 32, (pictured) from Manchester was struck near the junction with Tooley Street, Southwark at 2:48pm on December 10.

Officers, the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance attended.

Mr. Sale was rushed to the London Hospital, Whitechapel with head injuries, but was pronounced dead approximately 24 hours later.

The motorcyclist stopped at the scene and was not arrested.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact officers at Catford Traffic Garage via the Witness Appeal Line on 020 8285 1574.