City Property Executive's Birthday Booze Crash

Champers & Wine: Gemma Hewes

A City property executive wrote-off a parked car while driving children in her powerful 4x4 at twice the drinks limit after her husband’s birthday party.

Gemma Hewes, 40, a director with BNP Paribas Real Estate, begged locals not to call police after colliding with a total of five cars following the wine and champagne celebration. 

She told witnesses she was distracted by her phone moments before the collision, which left a Renault Espace written-off and the other vehicles with visible damage.

However, residents of the quiet residential street dialled 999 and a tearful Hewes was arrested at the £1.15m home she shares with husband Ross, 40, in Elborough Street, Southfields.

Yesterday she pleaded guilty to driving her black 3.0 litre Land Rover Discovery with excess alcohol on her breath and driving without due care and attention in Kenilworth Avenue, Wimbledon on May 7.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard Hewes, who attended £35,000-a year Woldingham School, Surrey had 74 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

The steering column of the mother-of-two’s Land Rover snapped on impact and the wrecked vehicle had to be towed from the scene. 

She was fined a total of £1350, with £85 costs, ordered to pay a £90 victim surcharge and was disqualified from driving for seventeen months.

Neighbours say there were two or three children in Hewes’ Land Rover, but it is not known if they were the couple’s.

Prosecutor Mr. Paul Poulter told the court it was 8.15pm when company director Stephen Holsgrove, 57, heard a loud bang outside his home.

“He says his vehicle and four other cars were damaged and he saw a woman wearing jeans trying to get two children out of the Land Rover.

   

“She said: ‘Please don’t call the police. I’ve had a few glasses of wine.’

Crash: Kenilworth Avenue

“Police officers traced her to her home, where she was crying and upset.

“She told the officers: ‘I was driving and using my hands free and hit a car.’

“She had been in Wimbledon, where she said she had a glass of champagne and two glasses of wine.”

Hewes’ lawyer Mr. Tom Dunn said: “This is a very dark day for Gemma Hewes and her family.

The court heard Hewes had been out with her husband and family and friends to celebrate the fortieth birthday of Ross, a director with Capita Real Estate.

“She is not a drinker, she rarely drinks, but on this occasion consumed some alcohol and did not realise she was impaired by alcohol at the time she drove.”

Hewes says she has not been able to eat solid food after recent surgery and remains on medication.  

“She received a telephone call via bluetooth and answered and spoke for several minutes,” explained Mr. Dunn. 

“She recalls a parked car protruding and obviously overcompensated and the steering column then broke and she was unable to avoid contact with other cars.

“Damage is being met by the family out of their own pockets and they both work extremely hard.”

Magistrate Isabel Vass told Hewes: “By good luck no one was stepping out and you were distracted and that is related to your alcohol consumption.

“Anything more than one small glass of wine will put you over the limit.”

Not Guilty: CPS Drop Stalking Case Against Blogger

The prosecution of a blogger accused of stalking social commentator Sonia Poulton, plus a second woman who says she was sexually abused by establishment figures as a child, has been dropped.

Darren Laverty, 49, of Maes Hyfryd, Beaumaris, Anglesey, who was said to have tweeted to Ms Poulton or about her over 300 times was due to stand trial in September.

However, at Kingston-upon-Thames Court last week the Crown Prosecution Service announced there was no realistic chance of securing a conviction.

The second woman is 34 year-old Esther Baker, who in 2015 waived her right to anonymity to claim she was abused by a former MP as well as a judge and a peer.

She said abuse occurred at an apartment in Dolphin Square, Westminster and Staffordshire woods when she was aged between six and eleven years-old.

Father-of-three Laverty blogs about Wrexham’s Bryn Estyn children’s home, which is at the centre of an abuse enquiry.

He has always fought the charges and now not guilty verdicts have been entered in relation to both women.

He had been charged with one count of stalking, involving serious harm or distress, between January 30, 2015 and May 12, last year,  causing Sonia Poulton serious alarm or distress, which had an adverse effect on her day-to-day activities.

The 52 year-old writer and broadcaster is a regular guest on ITV’s ‘This Morning’, often commenting on issues involving children.

She has written many articles, most notably for the Daily Mail and Daily Express.

Prosecutor Miss Amanda McCabe told Wimbledon Magistrates Court during Laverty’s first appearance: “The complainant is a journalist and after the Jimmy Savile enquiry she began reporting on it and receiving abuse from people, and the police say one of them is the defendant.

“She feels this is a sustained campaign against her and she’s harassed by the defendant. Most of this has taken part via twitter.

“The defendant tweeted either about or to the complainant on approximately three-hundred occasions, causing her to suffer alarm and distress.

“If convicted the defendant is likely to receive a custodial sentence.”

Laverty was separately charged with stalking Ms Baker, involving serious harm or distress, on April 14, last year by speaking about her on social media.

After the case was dropped Ms Poulton said: “It’s a very serious error and unfortunately for those responsible I have it in black and white.

“The CPS are blaming the Met Police and vice versa. I have filed a complaint and taken legal advice.

“For four years I have been stalked. I have been threatened with murder, accused of being a paedophile, my employers have been contacted and told I was responsible for the murder of child abuse survivors.

Screenshots of my home were put on social media as the gang encouraged people to come and finish me off.

“I have a panic alarm in my home and a personal alarm. Four hundred pages of evidence resulted in the CPS charging a man last year.

“Today it is all over twitter that the charges have been dropped and yet the CPS have not informed me of this.

“The Metropolitan Police made it clear to me that something had taken place behind the scenes.

“Another woman, also the victim of this man, has also been let down. We are dealing with connected people with serious sex attacks in their history and influential links.

“I, and this woman have been thrown to the wolves. More information will be revealed.” 

Ms Baker said: “Unfortunately I’m still waiting for the CPS to have the basic courtesy to let me know instead of me finding things out on twitter. I am, however planning to appeal their decision.

“I can’t see any reason why he should get away with what he and his friends have been doing for so long.”

Social Worker Nicked £21,500 To Fund Drink And Drug Binge

A Lambeth social worker drained the bank account of a vulnerable client with mental health problems of £21,500 to finance a drink and drugs binge.

Graduate Aimee James, 36, was a court-appointed deputy responsible for the finances of a man under the care of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

As a care co-ordinator James, of Meadow Close, Catford was granted power by the Court of Protection over the bank account of hostel resident Jesse Williams.

She pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud and received 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years and must complete 150 hours community service ad pay £1,000 costs.

James remained suspended on full-pay during the investigation and used those wages to almost fully compensate Lambeth and has six months to return the remaining £2,800.

Inner London Crown Court heard she withdrew £18,000 cash at ATM’s and used Mr. Williams’ bank card to pay over £3,000 in Uber taxi fares and other expenditures.

She had begun repaying the money before her arrest on February 7 and told police her salary was insufficient to fund her alcohol and cocaine use.

“The account was effectively cleaned out,” said prosecutor Mr. Ronnie Bergenthal. “All the spending had been by her for her own benefit.”

James’ lawyer Miss Beth O’Reilly told the court: “She’s lost everything. Her addiction has destroyed her life.

“She’s so deeply ashamed of her actions and the impact it has had on her family and her marriage.

“This woman would be destroyed by a prison sentence and it is unlikely she will be able to be employed by a social worker again.”

Recorder Sir Geoffrey Nice QC announced: “This is a modern twenty-first century tragedy of a kind society should not be allowing.

“The offence you committed was serious. The person whose money you misused was dependent on you and vulnerable and you find yourself in a position of utter shame due to a vulnerability to drugs.

“You have clearly taken every step you can to deal with the addiction that led to your undoing.”

Engineer Guilty Of Racist "Terrorist" Outburst At Heathrow's Passport Control

Guilty: Timothy Wynne-Jones 

A chartered engineer told Asian Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport: “Your kind are going to let terrorists into the country,” when held-up during a routine passport check.

Timothy Alban Wynne-Jones, 54, was told his passport would have to pass a forgery check and replied: “So, you’re not going to let me into the country. You’re going to let these terrorists into the country.”

Wynne-Jones, of Beechcroft Avenue, Rickmansworth was convicted of two counts of racially aggravated harassment towards officers Afsheen Raja, 36 and Naheed Yacub, 34 on January 22, last year.

He was bailed until June 15 for sentencing and will be allowed to continue travelling abroad extensively for work.

Isleworth Crown Court heard Wynne-Jones presented his British passport at Terminal Four after a trip to Bulgaria.

The microchip could not be opened and when he heard a supervisor named Harpreet was needed Wynne-Jones responded: “Another Indian? There are far too many Indians protecting the border.”

Prosecutor Mr. Alec Williams told the court: “Rather than wait Mr. Wynne-Jones’ response is to get annoyed and become racially abusive.”

The jury heard that as a bearded Asian male passed through passport control Wynne-Jones added: “Ah look. You’re letting a terrorist through. I’m the only British person here, you’re all terrorists.”

Mr. Williams said Wynne-Jones continued: “Look. A terrorist protecting the border. Brown people should not be protecting the border, you’re all terrorists.”

“He also tried to push through the gate before clearing passport control.”

Naheed Yacub & Afsheen Raja

When questioned by police Wynne-Jones conceded he may have been abrupt, but denied using the racist words.

Officer Raja told the jury: “He seemed a little aggressive, talking quite loudly.

“He said: ‘When are you going to stop letting the Bulgars into the country?’

“He asked me that several times, but I ignored him.”

When his passport was taken for a forgery check Wynne-Jones became more annoyed. “He said it was the British government issuing these Mickey Mouse passports.” added Mr. Williams.

When the forgery officer returned he asked: “Are you checking that I’m British?”

Officer Raja took offence at the ‘your kind’ comment. “I felt because I’m of Asian origin he was referring to my race.”

Officer Yacub told the jury: “He laughed and said to me: ‘Ah look. We have a terrorist protecting the border.’

“He said I wasn’t British and I didn’t have a British passport.”

Afterwards she said: “This is a groundbreaking case for Border Force. This is the first successful prosecution of this kind we’ve had.

“We won’t tolerate abuse and this case is a lesson for officers not to take it. We can’t tolerate this racism.

“He assumed being a respectable businessman would bring him a not guilty verdict. 

“He was arrogant, authoritative, dismissive and said we were not good at our jobs.

“All this stuff about brown people and terrorism has to stop. We are the people who make the system work.”

Steakhouse Glassing: Woman Jailed

Affray: The Meat & Co

A female steakhouse customer, who attacked another woman with a glass and punched her in the head, has been jailed for eighteen weeks.

Latoya Casely-Hayford, 26, of Potterne Close, Wimbledon also smashed the victim's specs and glassware at The Meat and Co in Westfield Shopping Centre, Shepherd's Bush.

She pleaded guilty to assaulting Paula Mejia, causing her actual bodily harm, on February 13 and causing criminal damage to her spectacles.

Casely-Hayford also pleaded guilty to causing an affray at the restaurant and causing £40 worth of criminal damage to glassware.

She was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates Court, which also imposed a £115 victim surcharge.

Charity's IT Tutor Nicked £25,000

Leaving Court: Saeed

An IT tutor at a charity for young jobseekers, who secretly ordered £25,000 worth of computer equipment he then sold off, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Qasim Saeed, 26, needed the cash after being forced from his muslim family’s home when they disapproved of his relationship with a christian girlfriend.

He pleaded guilty to stealing £25,378.99 between November 24, 2016 and January 13, this year from Walworth’s Second Chance charity.

Inner London Crown Court heard Saeed, of Cecil Road, Ilford taught 18-25 year-olds, some of them ex-offenders, IT skills and was responsible for ordering computer equipment.

On the charity’s website he says: “Being at Second Chance gives me the opportunity to combine my love for IT and my enthusiasm to help young people achieve meaningful careers.

“My IT workshops are focused on giving trainees real life IT skills that are needed in a working environment.”

His lawyer Miss Priya Malhotra told the court: “It pains him that he was someone that deprived that charity of funds.

“His muslim family has a very traditional background and when he fell in love with a christian woman he kept if from his family because he knew they’d disapprove.

“He was compelled to run away from home and his family reported him missing and the police found him in Milton Keynes.

Saeed: Walking Free

“He left home after his father threatened to commit suicide.”

Now a £400-a day IT consultant Saeed claims he spent much of the money on hotel rooms and to repay debts.

Recorder Sir Geoffrey Nice QC told Saeed: It’s a serious offence made worse by the nature of the body from whom you took goods.

“You also have the unusual good fortune that the charity you defrauded don’t want you to go to prison and have taken a very understanding attitude.

“This is an agonising experience as a result of your own actions.”

Saeed was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years, ordered to complete 150 hours community service and repay the chair in full within 18 months.

Engineer Denies Angry "Terrorist" Slurs At Passport Control

A chartered engineer told Asian Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport: “Your kind are going to let terrorists into the country,” when held-up during a routine passport check, a court heard.

Timothy Alban Wynne-Jones, 54, was told his passport would have to pass a forgery check and allegedly replied: “So, you’re not going to let me into the country. You’re going to let these terrorists into the country.”

Wynne-Jones, of Beechcroft Avenue, Rickmansworth has pleaded not guilty to two counts of racially aggravated harassment towards officers Afsheen Raja and Naheed Yaqub on January 22, last year.

Isleworth Crown Court heard Wynne-Jones presented his British passport at Terminal Four after a trip to Bulgaria.

The microchip could not be opened and when he heard a supervisor named Harpreet was needed Wynne-Jones allegedly responded: “Another Indian? There are far too many Indians protecting the border.”

Prosecutor Mr. Alec Williams told the court: “Rather than wait Mr. Wynne-Jones’ response is to get annoyed and become racially abusive.”

The jury heard that as a bearded Asian male passed through passport control Wynne-Jones added: “Ah look. You’re letting a terrorist through. I’m the only British person here, you’re all terrorists.”

Mr. Williams said Wynne-Jones continued: “Look. A terrorist protecting the border. Brown people should not be protecting the border, you’re all terrorists.”

“He also tried to push through the gate before clearing passport control.”

When questioned by police Wynne-Jones conceded he may have been abrupt, but denied using the racist words.

Officer Raja told the jury: “He seemed a little aggressive, talking quite loudly.

“He said: ‘When are you going to stop letting the Bulgars into the country?’

“He asked me that several times, but I ignored him.”

When his passport was taken for a forgery check Wynne-Jones became more annoyed, the court heard. “He said it was the British government issuing these Mickey Mouse passports.”

When the forgery officer returned he allegedly asked: “Are you checking that I’m British?”

Officer Raja took offence at the ‘your kind’ comment. “I felt because I’m of Asian origin he was referring to my race.”

Officer Yacub told the jury: “He laughed and said to me: ‘Ah look. We have a terrorist protecting the border.’

“He said I wasn’t British and I didn’t have a British passport.”

Trial continues…………  

Bent Solicitor With Property Empire Raided The Inheritances Of Grieving Relatives

A crooked solicitor, who swindled £160,000 from two grieving relatives when administering the estates of their deceased loved ones, has been jailed for five years.

Tyrone Anthony Walker, 58, of Tower Road, Twickenham simply paid cheques into his personal bank account and tried to cover his tracks, also depriving charities of pay-outs.

He was found guilty by Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court of seven counts of fraud, committed between April, 2008 and July, 2012 at south-west London’s Walker’s Solicitors.

Walker defrauded widow Hans Bala Chand of £45,528 she was due from her deceased mother’s estate and £114,000 from Dr. Mark Downham, the beneficiary of his deceased uncle’s estate.

Some repayments have been made, but Walker, who has a property portfolio of five homes, faces compensation proceedings.

Prosecutor Miss Charlotte Newell told the court: “Mrs Chand was plainly distressed when she gave evidence. She had trusted Mr. Walker completely.

“There was personal communication between them and she clearly thought of him as a trusted friend.

“She says it was a terrible mistake that he took advantage of her kind nature and she was incredibly vulnerable at that stage of her life.

“As she says: ‘I was an easy target.’ She thought she’d be retired now, but she’s still working full-time to meet the financial obligations as a result of Mr. walker’s dishonesty.”

Dr. Downham still rues the six-and-half years he says Walker “thwarted” his uncle’s will and says charities “dear to my uncle’s heart” were deprived of money for years.

Walker took ‘loans’ from clients to finance a Bulgarian property investment and used his clients’ money to pay a £10,000 tax bill.

his dishonesty also damaged the legal career of the firm’s partner Trevor Nathan, who he tried to blame while fighting the case throughout.

“He also used money to pay his partner five thousand pounds. He was using it as his private bank account,” explained Miss Newell.

“There was the deliberate targeting of of a vulnerable victim, Mrs Chand, from whom a considerable amount of money was taken.

“There was serious detrimental effects on the victims.”

Recorder Mark Bryant-Heron QC told Walker: “You abused your position to deceive clients of your firm and you removed and kept at your home address the two client files.

“Your offences constitute a gross breach of trust of the highest gravity. You sought to blame Trevor Nathan, saying he was incompetent or worse and the jury did not believe you.

“You are a man of ability now facing a bleak future. You brought this on yourself.”

his lawyer David Burgess said his client takes medication for a heart condition. “His next destination, HMP Wandsworth is not likely to improve his stress levels.” 

Walker was repeatedly disciplined by the Law Society and suspended for two years in 2011.

He tried to hide £29,300 he took from Dr. Downham by describing it as inheritance tax even though the estate was not subject to the charge.

The four Coventry Building Society accounts held by Mrs Chand’s mother were not included in the estate, but used to pay another client’s stamp duty on a £785,000 Weybridge house.

“She should have had over fifty thousand pounds, but it was reduced to a few pence by supposed loans,” explained Miss Newell.

“He never paid that money back. She chased Mr. Walker for the money and he told her he had no funds and earned no money.

“She was fond of Mr. Walker and was apologetically asking for her own money and seemed to want to take him out for a meal before he moved to Dubai.”

MK Dons Fan Cleared Of Threatening Behaviour After Clash Vs AFC Wimbledon

A young Milton Keynes Dons fan, arrested after his team's 2-0 defeat to rivals AFC Wimbledon, has been cleared of threatening behaviour despite telling a policeman to: “F*** off.”

Alex Makel, 20, of Roeburn Crescent, Emerson Valley says the police line were forcing him onto the wrong coach, which was already overcrowded with supporters.

Wimbledon magistrates found him not guilty of using threatening behaviour in a Homebase car park outside AFC Wimbledon's Kingsmeadow stadium, New Malden on March 14.

Police said Makel was part of an aggressive group of away supporters shouting abuse and trying to get at AFC Wimbledon fans, resulting in him being forced to the ground and handcuffed.

“I showed no intention that day to show harm to anyone,” he told the trial. “They were ushering us toward a coach that was full so we held our ground.”

PC Stuart Everton earlier told the court there was a tense atmosphere outside the ground and Makel was “very aggressive” and had to be pushed back as he tried to break the police line.

“He then became more aggressive, his fists were clenched, his eyes were fixed on me and he was repeatedly shouting: 'F*** off.'

“His eyes were bulging and he and he seemed shocked and surprised that I had pushed him in the chest.”

Makel said: “I'd say it as more a push to the throat and I did tell the officer to: 'F*** off.'

“A number of AFC Wimbledon fans came into the car park where their cars were parked and began shouting abuse at the Milton Keynes Dons fans.

“The officer grabbed me and pushed me back towards the coach.”

Makel told the court he goes to all home and away matches with a group of ten friends and has never been in trouble before.

The magistrates found the prosecution failed to prove he intended to use threatening behaviour.

Teen Nicked For Gun-Shaped Mobile Phone Case

Hendon Magistrates Court

A teenager has been nicked and prosecuted after police decided her gun-shaped mobile phone case was an imitation firearm.

Jobless Alice-May Fletcher, 19, of Monks Park, Wembley, north-west London was hauled before Hendon Magistrates Court.

She pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm in a public place, namely Roxeth Hill, Harrow on January 10.

Fletcher was fined £10 and ordered to pay an £85 victim surcharge, which will be deducted from benefits.

She must also comply with a probation service rehabilitation activity requirement up to a maximum of twenty days.

Heathrow Worker Jailed For Burberry Handbag Thefts

A Heathrow Airport employee has started a twelve-month prison sentence for stealing thousands of pounds worth of designer handbags.

Matthew Coker, 46, of Priory Close, Bel Air Chalet Estate, Seawick, Essex fought the case, but was convicted.

He targeted high-value handbags manufactured by leading brand Burberry.

He was found guilty by an Isleworth Crown Court jury.

They found he swiped the highly-prized handbags twice over a two-day period two years ago.

Coker was originally charged with two counts of theft by employee, namely Burberry handbags valued at £6,350 and £3,350 on February 4 and 6, 2015.

Precious Metals Investment Scam: Four Jailed For £7.75m Plot

Sabin & Ridpath Sold "Worthless Barrels Of Junk"

Four precious metals investment scammers, who duped hundreds of customers out of £7.75m in savings and pensions for “worthless barrels of junk”, have been jailed for a total of 29 years.

Using a misleading website and inaccurate glossy brochure they either cold-called customers with scripted patter or placed ads offering the opportunity to purchase supposedly lucrative metals vital to 80% of the world’s industry.

Ringleaders Christopher Sabin, 44, of Eyot House, Church Street, Shoreham, Sevenoaks and Tobias Ridpath, 52, of Wellington Square, Hastings each received nine years.

Prolific salesman Nicholas Start, 35, of Spencer Close, Pamber Heath, Tadley, Hampshire, who pocketed at least £132,000 in commission over a few months received seven years.

William Berkeley, 52, of Barrington Court, Chichester Terrace, Horsham joined the scam near its conclusion, running their Switzerland office and received four years.

All four were convicted by a Blackfriars Crown Court jury of to conspiring to defraud investors by making false representations and a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will follow to confiscate their profits.

Prosecutor Mr. David Durose told jurors Denver Trading - started by Sabin and Ridpath -  was run from a short-term £860 per month office in the City.

Pension Pirate: Ridpath

The court was told Start headed a “prolific” brokerage - London Commodity Markets - and Berkeley took over the Swiss branch of the business after the original director quit, claiming the business “stank horribly.”

One typical investor, Cecil McMurray, invested £243,000. “He lost a vast amount of money.”

Another client bought 100 kilos of rare metals in September, 2012 for £39,000 and two-and-a-half years later that investment was worth £285.

The investors did not know approximately 50% of the money they handed over immediately went to the company as a sales commission - halving the investment, the jury were told.

“Not one of them have made a penny and they have lost pension pots and life savings. The losses are in the millions and millions of pounds.

“They were duped into investing,” explained Mr. Durose, who said the fraud lasted approximately one year from Spring, 2012.

Judge Rajeev Shetty said today: “All the buyers have ended up with worthless barrels of junk, either gathering dust or have long since been disposed of. The loss to them has been total, no one has made one pound back.

“The jury found this was all a scam, a ruthless vehicle designed to rip-off people of their savings and pension pots to make you all wealthy.

“Making as much money as possible was the name of the game and that game is now up.” 

Investors were wooed with promises of returns on investments in Rare Earth Metals and Rare Earth Elements, which were vital in engineering and manufacturing.

Jailed Again: Fraudster Start

The court heard dad-of-three Sabin and father-of-two Ridpath founded the company in the Seychelles on February 23, 2013 and quickly gave it the trappings of a successful business.

They had previously been disqualified as company directors, with Sabin running a suspicious fine art investment company and Ridpath a discredited champagne investment firm.

Judge Shetty told Start, who had only been out of prison for six months for a £100,000-plus fraud. “You knew what was going on. You were a skilled manipulator with a skilful sales patter and approachable facade.

“Your greed was so great that you asked customers, who had already invested large sums, to cash in Premium Bonds and ISA’s and you got the details of their family and friends to rip them off as well.”

The judge described their sales practices as “threatening and intimidating” with over 600 investors deceived. “Many were retired, some of advancing years and likely to be vulnerable and were targeted without remorse.”

He told Sabin and Ridpath: “You are driven by greed and a thirst for money and both of you have been funding your family lives on the losses of others and their family lives.” 

Mr. Durose told the jury: “The huge commissions are utterly inconsistent with any legitimate investments. Purchasers were not told about the size of the commissions and some were lied to.”

Swiss Miss: Berkeley

Only around 15%-20% of investors money ever went towards buying the rare metals.

“There is no resale market for these metals. They were almost useless as an investment.”

The price of such metals has been falling since 2011, added Mr. Durose. “The investors were blatantly lied to.”

Sabin and Ridpath hid behind a nominee director and nominee shareholder and when later quizzed by police claimed they were no more than business development managers and did not run the company.

Their website developer also quit his involvement in November, 2012, unimpressed by Sabin and Ridpath.

By then their were 1900 customer contracts on the system and dozens of sales staff selling rare metals to investors.

Customer were told their investment would double or triple over three to five years, with Denver Trading’s commission a modest 5%.

One investor was even promised a 1000% return in five years, but he and other customers were paying a five-fold mark-up.

The jury heard £5.6m ended up in a Cypriot bank account controlled by Sabin and Ridpath.

Sabin and Ridpath have been disqualified from running a company for 15 years; Start ten years and Berkeley six years.

Paediatric Doctor Had Sick Child Porn Stash

A specialist childrens doctor, who was caught with over 50,000 sick images of youngsters he had collected online for years, has been locked-up for sixteen months.

Dr. Ediz Ekrem, 31, of Lordship Lane, Dulwich, was employed within the paediatric unit of an unnamed south London Hospital.

He was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court where he was also handed a ten-year Sexual Harm Protection Order.

Dr. Ekrem pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children.

On the October 28, last year police from Operation Bellona, part of the Met's Paedophile Unit, raided Ekrem's home and seized his laptop and a hard drive.

When questioned Ekrem confirmed he had downloaded indecent images of children, but then deleted them.

He was found to be in possession of 187 category A images (the most serious rating), 92 category B images and 51,641 category C images - a total of 51,851 images.

None of the images were accessed whilst Ekrem was at work, nor were they of any of his patients.

The General Medical Council was informed and immediately withdrew Ekrem's licence to practice medicine pending the outcome of the police investigation.

Detective Constable John Daly, the investigating officer from the Met's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "An appropriate sentence has been handed down today.

“Ekrem is a person who was supposed to be trusted and responsible for looking after the most ill and vulnerable in society.

“He has abused that trust by committing this offence. Ekrem was feeding a market for the most appalling and perverted images for a number of years.

"The sharing and making of indecent images of children is an abhorrent crime and one that the Metropolitan Police Service will continue to pursue and bring the perpetrators before the courts."