Media Man's G20 TV Rant

A freelance photographer who dramatically interrupted a live Channel 4 broadcast during last year’s City of London G20 demonstration has been convicted of smashing a television camera knocked over during the melee.

Reporter Alex Thompson was near the Bank of England reporting the day’s events when 50 year-old Michael Wells jumped off his bike to deliver a rant against the news organization.

Wells of Rutland Gardens, Finsbury Park, denied, but was convicted of causing £1,200 worth of criminal damage to the camera in Poultry on April 1.

City of London Magistrates viewed the short incident supplied by Channel 4, which showed Mr. Thompson, 49, suddenly barged out of the way by angry Wells who then knocks the camera to the ground.

The camera lens was smashed and the incident was also witnessed by two police officers who told the court they saw Wells shove the newsman out of the way before pushing the camera over.

Wells, a part-time Amnesty International fundraiser who photographs news events all over the U.K. and abroad claimed he was pushed into the camera or tripped over his bike.

“It is not a situation I am particularly proud of or relish,” he told the court. “I am a photographer and journalist and I had been at the G20 (pictured) all day and had seen quite a lot of violence.

“My intention was not to damage the camera or manhandle the anchorman, but I did stupidly get in front of the camera.

“I said something and the next thing I knew I was flying through the air and then lying on the ground with people on my back.

“I believe I was pushed or tripped by a third person or Mr. Thompson which caused me to move into the camera,” added Wells.

“It is also likely I tripped over my bicycle and the camera falls over.”

The magistrates ruled Wells was guilty of at least “reckless behaviour” and fined him £100, with £215 costs and ordered him to pay £1,200 compensation to Channel 4.

Brutal Brothers Batter Grandad To Death

Two violent brothers who mercilessly beat their frail 76 year-old grandfather to death – using fists, feet, bottles and bits of furniture – have been caged for life.

Tragic pensioner Paul Peters, of Kennard House, Francis Chichester Way, Battersea, died at home on May 2, last year from multiple injuries, including 33 fractures to his ribs.

Known affectionately to locals as “granddad” Mr. Peters had reported the brothers’ violence to social services who changed the locks on his front door in a bid to keep the duo out.

Jobless Wayne Edwards, 34, of Kennard House and jobless Anton Sanderson, 25, of Latymer Way, Holloway, were convicted at the Old Bailey’s famous Court Number One of murder and ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years.

Bizarrely, Edwards (pic. top) and Sanderson (pic. below) visited a nearby Indian takeaway restaurant on the night of the murder and in a fit of violence caused £17,000 worth of damage to the Noor Tandoori.

When police quizzed Edwards he claimed to have been sleeping off a drinking session at the time of the murder, but CCTV evidence proved him wrong plus evidence given by neighbours who saw and heard him.

The brothers were known to police and social services as troublemakers and their grandfather had reported a history of a violent relationship to the authorities.

At one stage social services assisted Peters in changing his locks to keep his grandsons out of the flat, after he had stated he did not want them living with him, claiming, “this could escalate and God knows what could happen to me.”

Sadly, Mr. Peters did let his grandsons have access to his flat again, even though Edwards was once arrested on suspicion of assault and later released.

The victim gave him a new set of keys telling his social worker that he ‘could not live alone.’

Neighbours at Kennard House heard smashing glass and fighting from Mr. Peters’s flat on the night of the fatal attack

By 10 pm the noise had stopped and Edwards and Johnson were seen at various stages in the evening on CCTV leaving the property, having changed their clothes to hide the fact they had just beaten Mr. Peters to death.

CCTV showed Edwards entering the crime scene in an attempt to clear up the blood and neighbours were woken by the sound of footsteps and furniture being dragged around as they tried to clear up the evidence of the brutal attack, disposing of the weapons, bedding and tissues down the communal rubbish chute.

The victim’s son found the body of his father in the kitchen, half naked and covered in bruises.

Detective Inspector Gary Arthur, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said:

“The evidence against these brothers was overwhelming.

“Through forensics and CCTV we have successfully been able to bring these violent brothers to justice.”

“It is far from our understanding how anyone could brutally beat a frail old man to death. It is tragic that he had to die in such a way.”

Boozy Bubbly Binger Bashes VW

A rowdy champagne-loving student, celebrating successfully completing his four-year degree with pals at a trendy City of London restaurant-bar, vandalised a VW Golf parked outside when he was ejected.

Information Systems graduate Gurindar Singh Jheeta, 23, of Lowbrook Drive, Maidenhead, Berkshire, upset staff by loudly popping a champagne cork as he downed bubbly and vodkas during the late-night celebration

He was forced to leave ‘Tiffinbites’ (pictured), Russia Row, run by celebrity chef Andy Varma, and outside angrily punched the vehicle’s wing mirror, smashing it and causing £270.93 worth of damage.

Jheeta, who attended Brunel University, Uxbridge, pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court to causing criminal damage to the car on June 27, last year.

Prosecutor Mrs. Alexa Morgan told the court it was 2am when the boyfriend of the VW Golf’s owner spotted Jheeta punching the wing mirror and breaking it.

Police were called and the defendant was identified, but he initially denied everything, claiming an unknown vandal had smashed the mirror.

Jheeta’s lawyer Mr. James Hardy said his client was reluctant to own up because he feared a criminal record.

“He was finding it very hard to find employment and was concerned what the effects of a criminal conviction would have on the prospects of future employment.

“He was out socialising with six friends after graduating with a 2:1 Honours Degree and was drinking vodka and champagne.

“He had been ejected for opening a bottle of champagne in a forceful manner, popping the cork, after his group had been warned previously for it and took his frustrations out on the car’s wing mirror.”

The court was told that after failing to find employment Jheeta is now set to begin an electrician’s course at Uxbridge College.

He was fined £50, plus £90 costs and ordered to pay £270.93 compensation to the vehicle’s owner.

Alleged £17m 'Ponzi' Fraudster Committed To Crown Court

A foreign exchange dealer accused of a ‘Ponzi’ scheme that left 800 investors £17m out of pocket has been committed to Southwark Crown Court.

Terence Freeman, 61, of King’s Place, King’s Road, Horsham, West Sussex, formerly of Whitehall Lane, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, is the former boss of City-based GFX Capital Markets Ltd.

Freeman (pictured) was investigated by the City of London Police’s Economic Crime Department, after initially reporting threats from investors to police.

He appeared at City of London Magistrates’ Court charged that between June 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007, within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court, he was knowingly a party to the carrying on of a business, namely GFX Ltd., for a fraudulent purpose, namely the inducement of persons to invest in a ‘Safe’ exchange scheme by making false representations and statements as to the protection and profits of investments.

He is also charged that between October 1, 2007 and February 9, 2009, within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court the business of GFX Ltd. was carried on with intent to defraud creditors by similarly making false representations and statements.

He also is also charged that between January 1, 2006 and February 9, last year, being an undischarged bankrupt, acted as a director of GFX Ltd.

Between the same dates he is charged with failing to disclose to business associates his former name, under which he was made bankrupt.

Freeman is further charged with stealing £120,590 between November 7 and 30, 2007, belonging to investors in GFX Ltd and between the same dates acquiring, using or possessing criminal property, namely a diamond bespoke ring and gentleman’s signet ring.

Police began investigating GFX Ltd. on February 4, last year after Freeman himself complained of threats from investors.

Thirty investors are alleged to have lost over £130,000, with one individual said to have lost £1.5m.

He was bailed to appear for a plea and case management hearing on February 16.

Boozy Train Thug Attacks Fellow-Passenger

A railway yob – preoccupied on his mobile phone – viciously punched a fellow-passenger twice in the face for simply brushing past him, causing a lip wound needing seven stitches.

An enjoyable Sunday night out with his fiancé was ruined for 30 year-old Caterham retail manager Steve Coombs, who now suffers flashbacks every time he passes through Balham Railway Station.

Part-time scaffolder Terry Sevier, 27, of Bedford Hill, Balham, pleaded guilty to assault, causing actual bodily harm, at the station on August 30, last year and was jailed for eight months at Southwark Crown Court.

“Your behaviour was deplorable and deeply anti-social,” Judge David Higgins told Sevier, who fled the attack, but was identified by CCTV.

Prosecutor Mr. Gavin Ludlow-Thompson told the court it was 11pm when the victim noticed a drunken Sevier (pictured) descending the platform exit ramp towards him.

“He was not looking where he was going, but was instead looking at the screen of his mobile phone and the victim tried to move out of the way and they brushed.

“The victim thought nothing of it, but was followed by the defendant who was shouting and swearing. He was beside himself with rage.

“They attempted to calm the defendant down and the victim even said:’ Look, it’s all my fault. I’m sorry,’ even though he knew it wasn’t,” explained Mr. Ludlow-Thompson.

“The defendant gets close, into his face, swearing incoherently, and the fiancé is pushed out of the way.

“The victim is punched twice in the face, causing a laceration to the mouth, and is treated at St. George’s Hospital where he receives seven stitches.”

The couple were chased by Sevier and sought sanctuary in a platform office, where staff managed to usher him away, but he continued banging angrily on the door before fleeing.

Judge Higgins told Sevier, who has been locked-up since December 8, last year and has convictions for theft and robbery: “The victim was left with a small permanent scar on his lip plus a feeling of apprehension when travelling on the railway.

“Your personal circumstances do not excuse actions of this deplorable kind.”

Police Smash £2 Million Drug Gang

Four men - caught by police during an undercover operation transferring £2 million worth of cannabis in an underground garage – have been caged for plotting to supply the drug.

Surveillance officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Command watched the handover in Kilburn Park Road, Kilburn, on May 7, last year and seized 600 kg. of cannabis stuffed into 61 boxes.

The four are: Shopkeeper Hamid Charkaoui, 31, of Colville Terrace, Notting Hill, (pic. l.) Delivery driver Fouad Raihani, 34, of Galsworth Court, Bollo Bridge Road, Acton, (pic. 2^nd l.) Jobless Paul Mottley, 26, of Salutation Street, Manchester, (pic. 3^rd l.) and jobless Dawood Ahmad, 25, of Park Mews, Park Drive, Manchester, (pic. 4^th l.).

Charkaoui, sentenced to seven-and-a-half years and Raihani, sentenced to five years, were watched unloading the boxes from their van for collection by Mottley, who received five years and Ahmad, sentenced to three-and-a-half years.

Officers moved in as the Londoners loaded up the Manchester duo’s van and arrested all four men, seizing the cannabis (pic. r.) stored in heat-sealed clear plastic bags.

Police searched six address, including Charkaoui’s uncle’s property in Ebbsfleet Road, Cricklewood, where they found 6 kg of amphetamine, 29 cellophane wrapped packages of cannabis and a money counting machine.

The other searches uncovered £11,000 cash, a heat-sealing machine, a roll of heat-seal plastic and 19 rounds of ammunition.

On May 19 mini-cab driver El-Hosain Charkaoui, 49, was arrested on his return from Spain and initially denied knowing anything about the drugs at his home in Ebbsfleet Road, but received eighteen months after admitting his role in the plot.

Detective Inspector Marion Ryan of the Serious and Organised Crime Command said: "This was a significant haul of cannabis that we have successfully removed from circulation.

“Today's sentencing is testament to how seriously the criminal justice system takes this class B drug."

Double-Rapist Trapped By DNA 20 Years On

A double rapist trapped by DNA twenty years after two copycat rapes in the stairwells of different blocks of flats has been jailed for 11 years.

Tragically his second victim – traumatised for years after the attack – did not see justice done, having killed herself before the predator was captured.

Andrew Thompson, 43, of Othello Court, Old Hospital Close, Balham, was eventually hunted down after giving a DNA sample to police for a minor drug offence in 2001.

Thompson (pictured) pleaded guilty to raping a 36 year-old woman in Clapham on June 23, 1989 and 35 year-old in Battersea on November 24, later that year.

The Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire Cold Case team used upgraded DNA samples recovered from the victims immediately after the attacks and identified Thompson when the case files were reopened.

In the first attack, at a block of flats where the victim lived with her young daughter, Thompson approached her in the stairwell at 11.45pm, and backed off when she resisted, but pursued her up several flights of steps and raped her.

The second victim was raped in the stairwell of her friend’s block during a nightime visit.

Like the first rape victim she suffered emotional breakdowns and committed suicide eleven years later.

He was arrested on May 18, last year and denied both offences, but admitted the crimes four days before his trial was scheduled to begin at Southwark Crown Court.

Detective Constable Alyson Suddick, who led the cold case investigation, said: “Thompson preyed on two complete strangers, both of whom suffered severe psychological trauma as a result of their experiences.

“Thanks to technological advances since 1989 we have been able to bring him to justice, and it is only right that this vicious predator should face the consequences of his actions.”

Heroin Smuggling Ring Receives 81 1/2 Years Inside

The remaining three members of a gang of heroin traffickers began prison sentences today after a Channel Tunnel ‘suicide run’ when £30m worth of the drug stuffed into the back of a BMW was simply driven past Customs men.

The 356 kilos of heroin – packed into 13 cardboard boxes – was placed in the rear and piled on the back seats of the car, belonging to the smuggler’s elderly mother, and is believed to be the largest ever UK police seizure of its kind.

Unfortunately for the gang they were being monitored by officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Central Task force and were arrested during a handover at a motorway service station.

They are: (l. to r.) Dutchman Patrick Kuster, 37, already serving to 26 years; Harminder Chana, 32, of Upton Lane, East Ham, who received 17 years; Atif Khan, 35, of Brixham Gardens, Ilford, Essex, 15 1/2 years and businessman Abdul Matalib Shammin Rob, 30, of Cavendish Gardens, Ilford, 23 years.

All either pleaded guilty or were convicted at Kingston Crown Court of conspiracy to supply heroin as a result of the Met’s Operation Frant.

Kuster was the courier who drove the uncut heroin from Holland – gambling he would not be stopped at checkpoints – even parking the car (pic. far r.) unattended outside a Calais B&B overnight.

On April 3, last year, Kuster met Chana off the M20 in Kent and police watched as three of the boxes – containing 50 kilos of heroin - were loaded into his Seat Leon.

Officers swooped and Kuster said: “My life is over,” when cautioned, with Chana claiming: “"Look officer I'm going to be honest with you, I've never done anything like this before but I'm trying to get back into work and I was getting paid to do it."

Later that day, detectives arrested Khan outside his home and he was found in possession of a set of keys for a 'safe house' in York Close, Beckton.

A search of this address uncovered a blue Ikea bag containing 20 kilos of cocaine bulking agent Mannitol.

A set of electronic scales, a metal press, a counterfeit money discriminator, numerous mobile phones, latex gloves and written correspondence were also found at the address.

He confessed he was expecting to receive the 50 kilos of heroin collected by Chana.

Rob was arrested at his home on November 11. He was responsible for arranging and financing three boxes of the imported heroin.

In April 2000, a Belgian court convicted Rob in his absence of a multi-million pound drugs supply and sentenced him to six years imprisonment.



On October 3, 2007, at Utrecht District Court, Holland, Kuster was acquitted of transporting heroin from Holland to the UK.

Detective Inspector Marion Ryan said; "This is the biggest heroin seizure we know of, by any UK police force.

“Today's result is testimony to how the Met has prevented the serious consequences this conspiracy could have had on people's lives.

“An average addict consumes 0.438 kilos of heroin in 12 months, so this seizure would be enough to keep more than 8,000 addicts in habit for a year.

"This gang had a flagrant disregard for law, blatantly transporting these dangerous drugs in the back of their cars.

“The Met will not tolerate the use and supply of class A drugs and we continue to tackle any organised criminal networks involved in this highly illegal activity."

Muggers Fatally Knife Hero

A have-a-go hero who chased two bag-snatchers moments after they mugged a defenceless woman from behind was fatally stabbed when he caught up with the robbers.

Indian-born Sukhwinder Singh, 31, was knifed twice in the chest in Uphall Road, Barking, Essex, on January 8 and pronounced dead at the Royal London Hospital later that day.

The Homicide and Serious Crime Command are appealing for witnesses and information about the suspects, two black males aged in their 20’s or 30’s.

At about 6.40 pm a 28-year-old woman was a walking home from Barking Railway Station and was pounced upon in Loxford Road by two males, robbing her of her bag.

Sukhwinder (pictured) chased the suspects along Victoria Road into Uphall Road, where he caught up with one of them and was stabbed.

Detective Inspector John Sandlin, from the HSCC said: "This is a tragic death of a man who was killed for attempting to stop others committing crime, and our thoughts are with Sukhwinder's family.

“I would also like to reassure the wider community that tragic events such as these are very rare.

"I am appealing for anyone that knows who committed this crime, or who has any information about those who committed this crime, to do the right thing and come forward and contact police.

"My officers are also keen to hear from anybody who witnessed the initial robbery, the actual altercation that lead the stabbing and additionally anyone who may have seen any persons matching the suspects description fleeing the Uphall Road area.

"It is also possible that the suspects may have abandoned the bag stolen and I appeal to anyone who may find a brown leather shoulder bag, to contact police.

“It may be that it has signification clues that could help solve this awful crime."

New Year's Eve Killing: Man Charged

A man has appeared in court accused of murdering New Year’s Eve peacemaker Frazer Bradshaw who was beaten to death when a pub fight spilled into the street.

The 33 year-old victim (pictured) suffered fatal injuries outside the St. James public house, High Road, Cowley, Uxbridge, in the early hours of January 1.

An ambulance rushed him to Charing Cross Hospital where he was treated for serious head injuries, but after three days on a life-support machine he tragically passed away on January 4.

Witnesses say Mr. Bradshaw was trying to break up a fight between two groups at the private party

Homeless Nathan Doherty, 20, appeared in custody at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court charged with murder and was remanded in custody to the Old Bailey for a plea and case management hearing on April 15.

Two other suspects, aged 26 and 21, were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and have been bailed pending further police enquiries.

Another suspect, aged 23, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is also currently on police bail.