Murderer Gets Life For Fatal Stabbing

Murderer: Kris Guler

A murderer, who stabbed a man to death in a north London street soon after the victim arrived at an address to meet an associate, has been jailed for life.

Kristofer Guler, 31, (pictured) plunged the blade into the buttock of 44 year-old Rodney Adams in St. Ann's Road, South Tottenham on September 11, 2013.

He was convicted at Southwark Crown Court and must serve a minimum of twenty-three years.

His alleged accomplice, Jamie Nicholson, 32, was found not guilty of murder by the same jury.

Police were called to the North Middlesex Hospital where Mr. Adams was being treated for serious stab injuries, having been driven there in a private vehicle.

He was transferred to the Royal London Hospital where he was pronounced dead later that evening. 



A post-mortem examination held at Haringey Mortuary gave the cause of death as a stab wound.



An investigation was launched by detectives from the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command.



Detectives discovered that Mr. Adams had been driven to the vicinity of St Ann's Road at the junction with Green Lanes in order to meet with an associate. 



CCTV evidence captured Mr. Adams being confronted a short time later by Guler, who stabbed him in the buttock.



Three days later, Guler was traced to Birmingham, where he was arrested on suspicion of murder.



Giving evidence at the trial, Guler claimed that Mr. Adams had threatened Jamie Nicholson with a handgun at the door of his home.

He only followed the deceased, he claimed, out of public spiritedness with the sole intention of alerting the police.

Guler denied responsibility for the stabbing, maintaining that an unknown man had intercepted Mr. Adams as he ran towards the safety of a waiting car. 



No gun was ever recovered, nor was there any forensic trace evidence to suggest Mr. Adams had handled a firearm.



Detective Chief Inspector Tim Duffield, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "It remains unclear why Guler chose to act in the way he did, taking Rodney's life on a busy street in broad daylight.

"Hopefully today's verdict sends out a clear message that the Met Police and law abiding Londoners simply will not tolerate the carrying and use of knives within our communities."



Gunman Blasts Guest At 10 Year-Old Girl's Birthday BBQ

Alfie's Got A Gun: Gannon

A gunman, who returned to blast a fellow-guest at a child's tenth birthday party when a row broke out during an impromptu martial arts demonstration, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years yesterday.

Alfie Gannon, 21, was thrown out of the family barbecue, but over five hours later shot 22 year-old Danny Walker through both legs with one bullet as his seven year-old stepson Frankie stood next to him.

Gannon, of White Willow Close, Ashford, Kent pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, and possessing a firearm, with intent to commit grievous bodily harm.

A charge of attempted murder was dropped against the defendant, who spent six months on the run after the shooting and successfully disposed of the firearm, believed to be a 9mm self-loading handgun.

"I bear in mind this was a children's birthday party, which and will remain very shocking for those children," Judge Stephen Waller told Gannon. "There was a significant degree of pre-meditation."

The Metropolitan Police's Trident Gang Crime Command investigated and Detective Chief Inspector Lee Watling said: "I am pleased that Gannon will be now serving a substantial custodial sentence for what was a shocking incident at a child's birthday party. Understandably both the children and guests at the party were extremely traumatised by the senseless actions of Gannon."

Scene Of Shooting: Ravenscar Road

Gannon had been invited via his girlfriend Zoe to Ravenscar Road, Bromley on May 18, last year for Daisy Walker's tenth birthday party and at around 4.00pm he was chatting with Danny's brother Dean, 21.

"At some point there was a disagreement between the defendant and Dean Walker," said prosecutor Mr. Tom Nicholson. "It appears it was related to some martial arts moves Mr. Walker was showing the defendant.

"It involved pressure points and the defendant reacted badly to that and was asked to leave.

"He returned with a black handgun and there was a commotion outside as he arrived and Danny Walker came out.

"Mr. Walker heard a loud bang and saw blood running down his leg. At the time his son Frankie was beside him.

"He had been shot through both legs, which had entrance and exit wounds just above the knees and began to bleed copiously from the injury."

Gannon escaped and armed police rushed to the scene where they found Mr. Walker sitting on a sofa with his trousers around his ankles, bleeding heavily.

"Children had witnessed the shooting and the prolonged period Mr. Walker was bleeding heavily," added Mr. Nicholson. "The Walker family were upset and angry and it took a sustained period to be calmed down by police, who were forced to restrain at least one."

Gannon, who has convictions for violence and possessing a knife, was traced to Ashford, Kent, where he was arrested after being tackled to the ground outside his address by police on November 19.

Mr. Walker discharged himself from Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, against medical advice after just two hours of treatment.

"He says he can't believe someone he was talking to at a family barbecue would come back and shoot him," added the prosecutor.   

Gannon's lawyer Mr. Nicholas Goss said: "He asks me to apologise to the victim and children on his behalf."

Cocaine Courier Caught With Drugs In His Stomach

A convicted drug dealer, who was caught smuggling £23,000 worth of cocaine he swallowed before boarding a flight from Peru, was told today he would be returning to prison.

Lloyd Iain Powell, 36, of  Greenfields, Sellindge, Ashford, Kent pleaded guilty to smuggling 303gms of the drug at Gatwick Airport (pictured) on February 14.

Croydon Crown Court heard the cocaine had a purity of between 62% and 76% and a street value of £23,616.

He had flown in from Peru via Spain and x-rays taken by suspicious Border Force officers revealed suspicious contents within his stomach.

While detained at HMP High Down Powell developed deep vein thrombosis in his leg and is awaiting an operation.

He also remains on the prison's 'danger of self-harm programme'.

Powell's lawyer Mr. Nicholas Hamblin asked the court to pass a more lenient sentence, stating the defendant was not an organiser.

“It is a lesser role. There is an element of pressure involved,” he said.

Recorder John Bate-Williams remanded Powell in custody until May 6 for a medical report, telling him: “This is inevitably going to be a custodial sentence.

“Any time you are serving now will be credited against the eventual sentence.”

Father Fatally Stabbed Son Through Neck

A man has been convicted of murdering his own son, who was stabbed to death when he intervened in a row between his father and mother over rent money.

George Joseph, 77, (pictured) of Kendal House, Collier Street, King's Cross armed himself with a kitchen knife and stabbed his son Paul Joseph, 43, in the neck.

He was convicted by an Old Bailey jury of murdering Paul at the address on October 7, last year and will be sentenced at a later date.

Police had been called at approximately 10.00pm and Paul was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination took place within twelve hours on at Whittington Hospital and the Icause of death was confirmed as an incise wound to the neck.

The defendant was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and subsequently charged.

The court heard Paul Joseph intervened in an argument between his mother and father regarding rent.

His father then argued and a fight escalated and ended with George Joseph stabbing his son in the neck with a kitchen knife.

Benefit Cheat Landlady Sentenced For Pocketing £15K

A notorious benefit cheat, who lied about rents collected from tenants at her seven-bedroom detached suburban home, saw her son's promising rugby career with Bath derailed after the club discovered the fraud, she claims.

Lynne Hampson, 52, whose 14-stone winger son Sam Hampson, 24, has played for London Wasps and London Irish, was eventually sentenced yesterday, over four years after pleading guilty.

The first-time offender admitted failing to notify a change in her personal circumstances between December 27, 2002 and June 19, 2007 in relation to an income support claim, resulting in a loss of £15,843.26p to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

She also pleaded guilty to failing to notify a change in her personal circumstances between May 28 and June 10, 2006 in relation to a council tax benefit claim, resulting in a loss of £48.26p to the London Borough of Sutton.

Hampson told the DWP she only charged tenants £20 per week, but was renting out rooms at the property, which has a swimming pool in its 120-foot back garden, for £480-£540 per month.

During the five-year scam Hampson converted her loft with the illicit profits, adding three bedrooms to the house in Langley Avenue, Worcester Park, almost doubling her rental capacity.

There has been a four-year plus sentencing delay due to Hampson twice unsuccessfully applying to withdraw her guilty pleas, failing to co-operate with the probation service and petitioning the Social Security Tribunal to reduce her unlawful claim from an initial figure of over £45,000.

She achieved local notoriety after the council published her conviction and her lawyer Mr. David Burgess said: "It was picked-up by local newspapers and she has been subjected to a four-year campaign of harassment and criminal damage.

"For her the criminal record is a very, very serious thing and her son, a professional rugby player's signing with Bath was declined because a Google search revealed this woman's prosecution for fraud on the London Borough of Sutton's website."

Bedsit Land: The Sutton Property

Following a tip-off from a disgruntled ex-tenant in 2007 Sutton Council's fraud investigation team worked with the DWP to gather evidence and prosecute Hampson.

She initially denied the fraud, but on the first day of her trial in December, 2009 she eventually admitted the two charges.

Hampson did not surrender to the glass-panelled secure dock due to agoraphobia, which can instigate panic attacks and Mr. Burgess added: "This lady has had a number of problems throughout her life, not just her physical and mental well-being, but generally surviving."

A doctor described her as someone: "trapped in the hopelessness of her situation, which is taking a toll on her health."

The court heard she has depression, anxiety, arthritis, early dementia and Mr. Burgess said: "Her condition has been aggravated by these proceedings, which has not improved her mental state."

Surf & Turf: Pool and Garden

Another report described her as: "paranoid and vulnerable" and concluded: "people take advantage of her with her willing participation."

Judge Daniel Flahive sentenced Hampson to twenty-eight days imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, telling her: "The sums involved came about because you did not declare properly rental income you received from lodgers.

"When probation officers spoke to you, you did not do yourself any favours. Yesterday was the first time documentation was produced to the court confirming that you do have these medical conditions."

Deaf & Dumb Serial Robber Banged Up

A heartless one-man crimewave, who targeted vulnerable and elderly bus passengers - robbing them and raiding their homes – has been caged for eleven years.

Michael Felicien, 35, (pictured) struck all over London in Brixton, Camden, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Wandsworth and Westminster.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard he was caught by the Metropolitan Police's Safer Transport Command (STC) after a string of violent attacks.

He pleaded guilty to two robberies; one attempted robbery and four residential burglaries.

Felicien came to the attention of the STC - which is funded by Transport for London - after committing three offences where he robbed people on buses or followed them from buses into their homes and attacked them. 



The offences took place between May 4 and August 12, last year and the victims, a mixture of men and women, aged between 56 and 84 years-old were targeted for cash.



On May 4 Felicien followed an 84-year-old man onto a Route 36 bus after leaving a betting shop in Westminster.

The victim got off outside his home, where Felicien attacked him and stole cash.



Then, on August 5 Felicien attacked a 72-year-old man at his home after following him from a betting shop in Wandsworth, onto a Route G1 bus, and attempted to make off with cash.



On August 9 a 56-year-old man was travelling on a Route 29 bus when he felt Felicien take his wallet from his pocket.

He challenged Felicien, who attempted to communicate with the victim in sign language and gave the wallet back.

The victim then got of the bus, however Felicien followed him and attacked him, stealing his mobile phone. 



His offences were identified by the STC intelligence unit and passed on to the Priority Crime Team to investigate. 



Comprehensive checks established that there were further offences.

The description given, coupled with the CCTV images, led officers to identify Felicien, who is deaf and without speech, as a suspect.

They travelled to Islington where Felicien was known to frequent and was he arrested on September 4. 



Chief Superintendent Sultan Taylor, of the Safer Transport Command, said: "This is an excellent result which has seen a prolific offender who targeted the elderly receive a substantial prison sentence. 



"If you commit an offence, you will be caught and if convicted every avenue of punishment will be considered.

“So the message is clear. Crime on London's bus system will not be tolerated."



Steve Burton, TfL's Director of Enforcement and On-Street Operations, said: "Tackling crime on the bus network is a priority for the Mayor and TfL, and we are delighted that the time and effort put in by the TfL funded Safer Transport Command to catch and prosecute this prolific criminal has led to this successful sentencing.

“We care about every journey our passengers make, and will continue to work hard with our policing partners to keep bus crime at its lowest level."

One-Punch Killer Jailed For Polish Street-Drinker's Death

A killer who threw the fatal punch that caused a fatal injury to a Polish street drinker has been locked-up for ninteen months.

Rafal Lewsza, 37, (pictured) of Leaside Road, Clapton felled 50 year-old Miroslaw Glaza with a single blow in Kenmore Street, Hackney on November 1, last year.

He pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court to causing the father-of-two's manslaughter.

Mr. Glaza, who frequented a local soup kitchen, was drinking with a group, which Lewsza joined during the evening.

An argument broke out resulting in him punching Mr. Glaza in the face, causing him to hit the pavement face first.



A number of people lifted Mr. Glaza into a sitting position against a lamppost, but he was bleeding heavily from the head and was unresponsive.

The London Ambulance Service attended and he was taken to hospital where a scan revealed he had suffered a bleed on the brain.

He died in hospital on November 6.



Police officers attended the location and spoke to the group, including Lewsza, who stated Mr. Glaza was drunk and had fallen over.

However, witnesses from a nearby property had seen the assault and pointed him out to officers as the person responsible.



Lewsza was arrested at 10:40pm on suspicion of assault and charged the following day.

Following Mr. Glaza's death he was re-arrested on suspicion of murder.



Detective Inspector Robert Pack of the Homicide and Major Crime Command said: "Miroslaw Glaza came to the UK looking to make a better life for himself.

“Despite his best efforts he never managed to secure the job he had hoped for.

“He was not a violent man and his death has naturally left his family and friends devastated. 



"Lewsza has admitted manslaughter and whilst it is accepted that he had no intention to kill Mr Glaza, the devastating consequences have deprived a mother of her only son and two children of their dad." 

Porn Paedo Used Treats To Abduct Young Boys He Abused

An internet child porn pervert, who used treats such as crisps and chocolate to abduct five young boys - aged between four and ten years-old – abusing two of them in a concrete maintenance room near his flat was locked-up for six years today.

Martyn Thomas Littell, 40, got the children to strip naked while he watched at Grombridge Court, Hogarth Crescent, Croydon then subjected two boys, aged 8 and 10, to sexual assaults in nearby Ringstead Court.

Judge Jeremy Gold QC told the defendant that the Croydon Crown Court jury “saw through” his lies during the trial and and found him guilty of: “a prolonged period of grooming.”

Littell, of Langley Way, West Wickham was convicted of two counts of child abduction on or before October 12, 2012, plus two counts of sexually assaulting each boy and one count of sexual activity with a child in relation to the eight year-old.

He was also found guilty of nine counts of making indecent videos of children from material he downloaded from the internet and one count of possessing indecent still images of children.

The prosecutor told the jury: “This case concerns the grooming and serious sexual assault of young boys and the making of indecent movies and possessing indecent photos of children.

“All five attended his flat uninvited and this was the start of the grooming of the children by Mr. Littell for his sexual gratification.

“He did not have the authority to have these five boys within his flat and he did not have their parents' consent.

“He induced them to remain by offering crisps and chocolate if they accompanied him to another room, where he asked them to strip naked while he watched.

“The prosecution say Mr. Littell asked two of the boys to go to a maintenance room under a block of flats, where there are concrete rooms, and in that room he touched each boy.”

The jury heard the boys were groped intimately and the defendant performed a sex act on the younger one.

Boozy Gunman Jailed For Threatening WPC's With Fake Weapon

A gunman, who pointed his imitation firearm at two young female police officers during a boozy domestic row with his wife, has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Michael Murphy Martin, 27, of Hollickwood Avenue, North Finchley, pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to possession of an imitation firearm in a public place, with intent to cause fear of violence.

The two female officers from Enfield Borough were on patrol in Bowes Road, Friern Barnet on Sunday December 22, last year at approximately 6.00pm.

They were approached by a member of the public, who informed them two men around the corner were assaulting a female outside a church.

One of the officers made her way to the nearby Our Lady of Lourdes Church and saw three individuals, who were Michael Martin, his wife and a male friend.

The officer asked whether everything was OK and saw Martin raise his right hand in which he was carrying a handgun.

The officer, believing the gun to be real, pulled Martin’s wife away to safety and activated her emergency assistance button.

At this point the other officer arrived and not being aware of the firearm, began speaking to the men, both of whom drinking.

The officer then saw that Martin had a gun in his hand.

When asked whether he was okay he became aggressive and pointed it directly at the officer’s face whilst shouting aggressively.

The officer requested immediate assistance and was quickly joined by other police officers in the vicinity.

Michael Martin was subsequently arrested for possession of an imitation firearm in a public place and taken to Colindale Police station.

Detective Constable Jon Nagle of Trident North Reactive said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for two young PCs who should be safe to go about their role protecting the public without fear of being attacked by the people they serve.

“I am pleased that Martin has been put behind bars so that he will not be able to cause alarm and distress to the public for a significant period of time.”

Slammed Door Row Ends In Housemate's Murder

Murderer: Paul Marshall

A man who murdered his housemate after a slammed door at the property they shared started a fatal row has been caged for life.

Paul Floyd Marshall, 51, (pic.top) of Elmhurst Road, Enfield Wash plunged a knife into the neck of 47 year-old Orville Brown (pic.bottom) during the early hours argument.

He was convicted at the Old Bailey and ordered to serve a minimum of twenty-four years.

The court heard the disturbance began at around 2am on July 12, last year over the noise made by the slammed door and during a tussle Marshall stabbed his housemate.

A neighbour witnessed Marshall leaving the property heading in the direction of Albany Leisure Centre carrying a large bag.



Police received a number of calls, one from another housemate who had returned home to find Orville lying in a pool of blood in the hallway.

Marshall himself called, admitting he was involved in the incident.

Housemate: Orville Brown

Officers and the London Ambulance Service arrived at the property at around 2.15am and found Orville lying face down in the hallway in a large pool of blood.

He was treated at the scene, but was pronounced dead at 2.55am.

A post mortem examination at Haringey Mortuary that same day gave the cause of death as a stab wound to the neck and hypovolemic shock.



Marshall was arrested shortly after the incident in connection with the murder.



During his arrest Marshall told police the knife he had used could be found in the front garden at his address.

A search of the front garden resulted in officers locating the murder weapon. 



Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams from the Homicide and Major Crime Command said: Marshall callously stabbed Orville Brown over what appears to be a trivial argument about a slammed door.

“A man has needlessly lost his life and Marshall will now spend a significant amount of time in prison.

“I hope that today’s conviction will bring a small amount of solace to Orville's family.”

Double Killer Jailed After 100mph Police Chase Death Crash

Killer On The Road: Karl Maddix

An unlicenced and uninsured L-driver, who crashed into a bridge during a police chase, killing his two passengers, has been locked-up for ten years.

Ex-jailbird Karl Maddix, 31, (pictured) was still on parole from his last sentence when he sped away from police – jumping three red lights – during the late-night 100mph pursuit.

Islington men Shaka Kirnon-Henry, 33, and Gregory Jones, 38, perished after the Audi A3 clipped a van and crashed near the junction of Seven Sisters Road and St. Ann's Road, South Tottenham
at 2am on March 29, last year.

He pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and was also disqualified from driving for twelve years.

The court heard that Islington officers, on a routine patrol in a marked police vehicle, became suspicious of an Audi A3.

The vehicle appeared to make off at speed when they passed it going in the opposite direction – prompting the pursuit, which ended tragically.

Officers gave CPR prior to the arrival of ambulances, but both injured men were pronounced dead at the scene. 



Post-mortems at Haringey Mortuary gave the cause of death for Mr. Kirnon-Henry as multiple head and chest trauma and for Mr. Jones multiple chest trauma. 



The driver of the white van was taken to hospital suffering minor injuries. 



Maddix did not have permission to drive the car, holding only an expired provisional driving licence, had no insurance, was on licence from prison and had previously been banned from driving.

He was in possession of class A drugs and there was stolen property in the vehicle.

Maddix drove the Audi at high speeds in areas where there were pedestrians and other vehicles on the road.

He went through a speed camera at 57 mph on a 30 mph road, having braked heavily beforehand.



Officers estimated that prior to the collision, the Audi was being driven by Maddix at over 100 mph.



Detective Sergeant Cheryl Frost from the MPS Road Death Investigation Unit said:
"Maddix had no licence, he was uninsured and did not have permission to drive the car.

“He drove dangerously at extremely high speeds in urban areas endangering other road users.

“Ultimately his reckless actions caused the death of two young men." 

Airplane Drunk's Whiskey & Vodka Race Rant

An airplane drunk, who racially abused fellow-pasengers on a long-haul flight after a heavy-drinking session in the airport, received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Michael Trevor Harding, 53, of Moreteyne Road, Marston Moretaine, Bedford drank heavily at the bar before leaving Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Kenya and consumed almost two one litre bottles of vodka and whiskey he bought in duty free.

He pleaded guilty to being drunk on board the Kenya Airways Boeing 777 as it travelled to Heathrow Airport on December 14, last year and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended two years, fined £1,000 with £200 costs and ordered to complete 200 hours community service work.

Isleworth Crown Court heard Harding spent two weeks in Africa, meeting a lady he befriended on the internet, but was obviously already drunk when he boarded the aircraft and was moved twice due to his disruptive behaviour before take-off.

Security staff had to speak to him and when escorted to a third seat he fell into a woman sitting next to the window and she soon asked to be moved elsewhere.

Prosecutor Mr. Orlando Gibbons told the court Harding began abusing a black woman sitting in front of him when she reclined her seat.

He shouted: “You black b*******, go home. You've only come to get free money, you've ruined this country.”

Harding repeatedly pounded the seat, demanding the woman put it upright, but she replied: “I have paid for this seat. I want to relax and sleep.”

A UK national returning home, who was sitting across the isle, urged the defendant to calm down, but Harding called him a: “F***ing northerner.”

The defendant then turned his attention to the passenger sitting next to him, saying: “Go back to your own country, you black b*******. Go home to your own country.

“Don't touch me. You smell. You have illnesses and you are dirty.”

Another passenger of Asian appearance stood up and Harding shouted: “Go home Pakistanis. Muslims are bad and you only come to destroy my country.”

He was arrested after the plane landed and admitted having a drink problem, regularly consuming over twn cans of lager a day.

Harding claimed he was a nervous flyer and had run out of all of his regular medication during the holiday and took sleeping pills before boarding the plane.

He did not recall the flight or abusing any passengers, insisting he was not a racist and had a black girlfriend and black work colleagues.

Harding apologised for his behaviour, agreeing alcohol was to blame.

Not Guilty: Swim Coach Cleared Of Decades-Old Sex Abuse Of Teen

Smith: Cleared In Minutes

The former award-winning national director of the Scottish Amateur Swimming Association was cleared today of repeatedly sexually abusing an infatuated 14 year-old girl four decades ago.

Hugh Hamilton Smith, 76, of Southbank Court, Easter Park Drive, Cramond, Edinburgh showed no emotion behind the glass-panelled secure dock as the jury announced their unanimous decision after just twenty-five minutes of deliberation, although his 71 year-old wife burst into tears.

He was found not guilty of five counts of indecently assaulting the teenager between August 1, 1973 and May 31, 1975 while the head coach of Beckenham Ladies Swimming Club in south-east London.

Two counts of indecent assault were dropped halfway through the trial.

Judge Peter Gower QC even extended his thanks to the defendant for his conduct during the week-long Croydon Crown Court trial, announcing: "This must have been a particularly painful ordeal."

Smith, - known as 'Hammie' - who was an assistant coach on the Great Britain 1964 Olympic team and went on to coach ten Olympians and thirty internationals described the complaint as "fantasy."

He told the court he was "shocked" at being arrested, swabbed, finger printed, photographed and questioned by police, adding: "If you don't think that's a stressful situation for a seventy-six year-old to be in then I don't know what is."

Smith struggled to find a reason for the allegations and told police that perhaps the loss of the complainant's father a few months before she claimed the abuse began was a trigger.

As a coach and authority figure maybe there was a transfer of affections and when her teenage crush was not reciprocated her feeling "festered" for many years before emerging.

The complainant, now aged 55 years-old,  said she was a keen competitive swimmer and trained daily at the now-demolished Beckenham Grove Baths and at the National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, south-east London under the tutelage of Smith.

However, when questioned at Bromley Police Station on January 28, last year by the borough's Child Abuse Investigation Team the Paisley-native said: "I can't understand why anyone would make these allegations."

The complainant says Smith, who was denied a place on Scotland's 1958 Commonwealth Games swim team after breaking his leg skiing, progressed to groping her in his white Volvo car then engaging in oral sex with her at his home when his wife and two young sons were not around.

He consistently denied the allegations, telling police: "I've never been involved in a sexual context with any young girl or boy in my swimming career.

"She could be disturbed, it's the only logical explanation. I am utterly appalled by these allegations coming at this time."

The complainant told the court during a video interview: "I was so naive, I was in love with him and I thought he was in love with me. I wanted to do what he wanted, I wanted to please him I suppose.

"He was an attractive man, quite charming, with a twinkle in his eye and a nice smile. He was fun.

"He was quite tanned, he had been an international swimmer, I think, and was quite fit and looked strong."

Smith taught PE in Paisley and coached the school's swimmers after graduating and went onto teach in Canada and was invited to become England's first national swimming coach with the English Swimming Association.

He also lectured physical education at what is now the University of Edinburgh, was Scotland's swimming director for ten years and won GB's 'Coach of the Year' in 1975 and in 2002 received a lifetime achievement award from the British Swimming Coaches Association.

Iguana Couriers Jailed For Smuggling 'Critically Endangered' Species

Top: Bita & Bottom: Bucsa

Two "highly-intelligent, well-travelled young women" caught smuggling thirteen critically-endangered iguanas, with a potential black market value of £260,000, were each jailed for twelve months today.

The Romanian degree students were caught at Heathrow Airport after stepping off a BA fight from the Bahamas with the San Salvador Iguanas, one of which had died, stuffed inside socks and wrapped in a blue towel in their suitcase. 

Mechanical engineering student Angela-Alina Bita, 26, (pic.top) who was working as an au pair in Switzerland and finance student Victoria Olivia Bucsa, 24, (pic.bottom) both pleaded guilty to the unlawful importation of the animals on February 3 at Terminal Five.

They were caught after their nine-day trip, which had been financed by a wealthy Swiss gentleman identified only as 'Thomas', before they could catch their onward flight to Dusseldorf, Germany, where the animals were to be collected.

The animals are unique to the Bahamas, where laws have been passed to prevent their export and it is believed the species now only amounts to a few hundred.

Prosecutor Miss Pamela Reiss told Isleworth Crown Court the women arrived in the early hours from Nassau, claiming they had spent an innocent holiday in the Caribbean, which they had financed themselves.

All their clothes had been stuffed into one suitcase and Border Agency officers checked the second one they had.

"In the other suitcase the thirteen Iguanas, one of which was dead, were found. Each had been wrapped inside a sock and then wrapped in a blue towel.

Iguanas: Stuffed In Socks

"They had been in the hold in the suitcase during the eight-hour flight.

"They come from a hot country and were in the cold hold all that time and must have suffered.

"Brita said she did not know what they were and was given them by a man called 'Robert' in a beach bar and was not paid."

It is unknown what the final destination was for the reptiles, but Miss Reiss added: "They are valued at ten thousand pounds each and that's a minimum, they could be sold illegally for up to twenty thousand pounds each."

It is difficult to place an accurate figure on the value because the trade is cloaked in secrecy, but the prosecutor added: "Maybe wealthy people keep them as status symbols because they are endangered."

Bita told a tissue of lies when quizzed and Bucsa said nothing, but now both women claim 'Thomas' financed the whole trip and arranged for them to carry the Iguanas.

Their lawyer Miss Brinder Soora said: "They recognise the particularly devastating effect their actions have had and it is fortunate only one Iguana passed away.

"These two defendants were naive in their actions and they did not know the iguanas were of such value and rarity."

Judge Phillip Matthews told the first-time offenders, who have been locked-up in HMP Holloway since their arrest: "You are two highly-intelligent, well travelled young women who chose to act in the way you did free of pressure.

Iguanas: Seized Suitcase

"There is a market for such creatures and for as long as people such as yourselves perpetrate the facility for them to be smuggled out of the Bahamas that trade will continue."

Grant Miller from the Border Force's endangered species team said: "This particular species of iguana in incredibly rare - only a few hundred are believed to be left in existence - so this was remarkable and very important seizure.

"Given the circumstances we found them  in it seems incredible that all but one survived such a long flight."

The animals were dehydrated and placed into the care of a specialist vet where they remain.