Wife Helps Bully-Boy Mortgage Broker Husband Fake Surveys

A loyal wife who used her IT skills to help her “overbearing” mortgage broker ex-husband secure £2.4 million worth of fraudulent loans by forging valuation reports dodged jail with a suspended sentence today (Monday).

Nicola Hardy, 27, of Water Lane, Pontefract, Yorkshire photoshopped the reports on her laptop, resulting in nine properties being re-mortgaged in excess of their market value.

“You were in a difficult position of saying ‘no’ to this overbearing bully of a husband,” Judge Michael Gledhill QC told her at London’s Southwark Crown Court (pictured).

At the time Hardy shared a home at Highams Park, Chingford, East London with her husband and worked for West End-based commercial property consultants Lambert Smith Hampton.

Typically Hardy altered the number of bedrooms in a property to falsely inflate its value or increased its potential rental yield on independent valuers’ reports.

Negative findings such as rising damp were removed and in one case a property deemed unfit for the open market was described by Hardy as in a “modernized condition.”

She was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, ordered to perform 100 hours community service work and pay £500 costs.

Her ex-husband Neil Edward Durbidge, 30, of Peel Road, Wembley, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is due to stand trial early next year.

Hardy pleaded guilty to four charges relating to City-based Basinghall Finance plc in that she dishonestly made false representations regarding the mortgage valuation on 62 Brownlow Road, 55b Bruce Road, 17a Essex Road, Willesden and 5 Villiers Road, Cricklewood, North-West London on various dates between November 20, 2007 and January 31, 2008.

She also admitted five similar charges relating to Capital Home Loans Ltd., of Admiral House, Harlington Way, Fleet, Hampshire, regarding Flat 14, Norfolk Court, Harrow, Flat 12, Nicoll Court, Willesden and 23, Woodford Place, 21 Flamstead Avenue, and 21a Flamstead Avenue, Wembley, on various dates between January 11 and February 26, 2008.

Prosecutor Mr. Matthew Banham told the court: “She is not the prime mover. She only became involved as a result of her husband, but she did provide essential assistance and this fraud could not have been completed without her technical assistance.”

No financial loss has occurred because all the clients have kept up with their mortgage repayments, but all the lending companies agree they would never have advanced the loan amounts if they knew the true valuations.

A total of £2,418,850 was loaned on the properties and another £862,000 worth of remortgages applied for were refused.

Although no loss has yet occurred all the lenders consider the loans “at risk”.

“No bonuses were received for securing the mortgages and there was no financial incentive apart from Mr. Durbidge’s employers believing he was busy and successful,” said Mr. Banham.

In May 2008 Basinghall Finance spotted the forgeries and a month later Hardy’s husband was sacked for gross misconduct.

City of London Police raided the matrimonial home on June 13, 2008 and in Hardy’s laptop, recovered from the boot of a car parked outside, officers found evidence of her forgeries.

“When questioned Hardy answered all questions and admitted using photoshop on her laptop so her husband could fill his quota,” said Mr. Banham. “She said she felt she was pressured into it by her husband.”

Hardy’s lawyer Mrs. Isabelle Forshaw described her client’s former marriage as “unequal”, “exploitative” and “flawed”.

“This defendant had nothing to gain whatsoever apart from trying to keep a difficult relationship together.

“Mr. Durbidge had been her whole life. She was with him for ten years from the age of sixteen. It was her first relationship and he was all she had ever known.”

After the arrests Hardy returned to her native Yorkshire.

Hardy even paid for the couple’s “lavish” 2007 wedding as Mr. Durbidge struggled to keep a failing mortgage business afloat before getting a job as a broker.

“I am dealing with a young lady of good character acting under some pressure from her husband,” announced Judge Gledhill. “Over a pretty long period of time this lady has altered reports in order for her husband to assist clients.

“There is no direct benefit, but it was thoroughly dishonest,” added the Judge.

He told Hardy: “I know you have suffered since you were arrested, but you have continued working and tried to pay off your debts and rebuild your life and have a new boyfriend who is in court along with your father today.”

Welcome To The Olympics. East End Style!

Two 18 year-old students were left with near-fatal stab wounds near the 2012 Olympic Stadium for simply exchanging looks with a teenage knifeman locked-up for thirteen years last week.

Aaron Wembo, 17, of Manor Park, East London, caught the eye of the pair – sitting on a bench - as he rode a bike through nearby Stratford Park on June 19, last year.

Wembo (pictured) called a twenty-strong gang to the park and launched a frenzied knife attack on Adnan Ali, who was stabbed six times – suffering a punctured lung - and Mehtab Kamal who he stabbed twice in the buttocks.

They were left with life threatening injuries and Adnan struggled to breathe as Wembo – who used a kitchen knife he previously hid in bushes – fled the park, warning others not to identify him to police.

An Old Bailey jury convicted him of attempting to murder Adnan, inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mehtab and violent disorder.

Detective Superintendent Jeannie Haggerty of Newham Borough said: "Incidents of serious youth violence in Newham, whilst uncommon, will always be a matter of concern to the community.

"In this instance the hard work and persistence of the investigating officers and the co-operation of the public, enabled the police and courts to get a successful prosecution, reassuring the public that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated and individuals involved will be brought to justice.

"Police in Newham are committed to fully supporting victims and witnesses of all crime and would like to thank all those involved."

Judge Peter Thornton told Wembo:"This was knife crime at its worst. The victims had done nothing to you, but you stabbed them both in the back, intending to wound one and kill the other.

"This looks very much like gratuitous violence, for the sheer pleasure of it. Both victims will never forget their terrible experience.”

Kidnap Gunmen Jailed

Two gun-toting kidnappers who bundled their 50 year-old victim into the back of a stolen van at a drug meeting – robbing and pistol-whipping him – were locked up for a total of eighteen years.

They were part of a five-man gang who snatched Jamaican Alston Robertson off the street in Connaught Road, Harlesden, on November 13, 2008, but were stopped by uniformed police for driving without lights.

Gunman Shaul Toney, 25, of Donnington Court, Donnington Road, Harlesden, was sentenced to a total of ten years imprisonment at Inner London Crown Court (pictured).

His accomplice, 21 year-old Ezekiel Burton, of Pippin Close, Neasden, received a total of eight years imprisonment.

“An organized kidnap, as this was, at gunpoint in relation to drugs is an act of gangsterism,” Judge Austin Issard-Davies told the duo.

Both men denied, but were convicted following a ten-day trial of kidnapping Mr. Robertson and robbing him of cash, keys and his mobile phone.

They were also both convicted of possessing a fully loaded 9mm automatic pistol, with intent to commit an indictable offence and possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate.

The trial heard Mr. Robertson confess to agreeing to meet Toney to buy a modest amount of cannabis, but found himself forced into the rear of the Mercedes van at gunpoint.

Inside he was pistol-whipped by Toney and robbed of an estimated £200 cash, plus other items and £5,000 was demanded.

Uniformed police on routine patrol pulled the van over for driving without lights in nearby Acton Lane and five men fled the scene in different directions.

Officers caught and arrested Toney, who tried to hide the gun in a front garden, and Burton was later identified via forensics from clothing he removed while making his escape.

The other three members of the gang have never been identified.

“The rendezvous was in relation to drug business. That is what you were sorting out when you met that night,” said Judge Issard-Davies.

“This is a very grave series of offences, the kidnap was on the face of it only intended to be for a short period of time for the immediate extraction of money.

“You were in possession of a fully-loaded 9mm automatic firearm and you, Toney, were the prime mover in this case.”

The court heard Toney has previously served eighteen months for robbery and has convictions for drug offences, assault and having a dangerous fighting dog.

Burton had only been freed from custody eleven days before the offence and has convictions for burglary, possessing an imitation firearm, shoplifting, assault and drug possession.

During the trial Toney claimed he was the victim of a kidnap plot hatched by Mr. Robertson and his lawyer Mr. David Jones said: “The firearm was not discharged and it was over shortly due to incompetence and the police being on the scene in a short time.”

Burton maintained he was never involved and his lawyer Mr. Shaun Wallace said: “Hanging around with a negative peer group has led to more and more trouble.”

The Judge refused to deem the defendants “dangerous” and therefore not subject to greater punishment.

“Toney may have chosen to solve a problem, probably a commercial one in relation to drugs, in this way, but I do not see that he does this on a regular basis.”

Both defendants were sentenced to the minimum five-year term for possessing a firearm, with intent, and Toney was given two years for kidnapping plus three years for robbery to run consecutively.

Burton was given one year for kidnapping and two years for robbery to run consecutively and both received concurrent twelve-month terms for possessing ammunition.

Afterwards Detective Constable Tanya Fyffe, of Brent’s Violent Crime Unit said: “The sentences are fair. It sends out a clear message that people involved in drugs and these types of violent offences will be dealt with robustly.

“We will always support the victims of violent crime.”

Cherie Blair Allows "Religious" Thug To Walk Free

A devout Muslim who broke a fellow bank customer’s jaw in a violent ‘queue rage’ incident shortly after leaving his local mosque dodged jail because ex-PM’s wife Cherie Blair deemed him a “religious person.”

Birmingham-born Shamso Miah, 25, of Empress Avenue, Redbridge, punched the victim inside Lloyds TSB, High Street North, East Ham and delivered another blow when followed outside.

Sitting as Recorder Cherie Booth QC at Inner London Crown Court she told first-time offender Miah: “I am going to suspend this sentence for the period of two years based on the fact you are a religious person and have not been in trouble before.”

Jobless Miah pleaded guilty to assaulting Mohammed Furcan, causing him actual bodily harm, on August 7, last year.

The court heard a row erupted between the pair over who was next in line to see the cashier and Miah grabbed the victim and struck him with a clenched fist.

He ran outside, but was pursued by the victim who demanded to know why he was hit and Mr. Furcan was punched to the right side of the face, causing him to collapse to the ground.

His car’s registration number was reported to police and when arrested Miah claimed self-defence, but the bank’s CCTV footage showed he was the aggressor.

When the victim sought medical attention the doctor confirmed he had suffered a slight fracture to his jaw.

“You caused a mild fracture to the jaw of a member of the public standing in a queue at Lloyds Bank,” Cherie Blair (pictured) told Miah. “You are a religious man and you know this is not acceptable behaviour.

“Violence on our streets has to be taken seriously,” she added, sentencing Miah to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete 200 hours community service work and pay £200 costs.

Women Rob 84 Year-Old Bank Customer

Two Eastern European women pinned an 84 year-old disabled man against a bus shelter and robbed him of £500 cash after trailing him from a bank.

The suspects (pic. r.) followed the pensioner from the Halifax building society in Liverpool Road, Islington, on November 12, last year and on to a number 30 bus.

They pretended to help him on to the bus and into a seat and made an unsuccessful bid to steal the money from the victim's coat pocket.

The pensioner got off the bus in St Paul's Road, Islington, and when he stopped to rest at a nearby bus stop, the suspects grabbed him and pinned him up against the shelter before stealing the cash.

Both women are described as being of Eastern European appearance.

The first is described as aged about 35, approximately 5'6" tall, well built, with short black hair with a short fringe and the second is described as aged about 55, approximately 5'3" tall, of slim build with long black hair.

The victim, who is from Islington, was very shaken up as a result of the incident.

His daughter, 53, said: "I think it's terrible that they pick on vulnerable people and have resorted to this.

“They seem to be pickpockets who have upped their game. Fortunately, my dad was not physically hurt - the next victim might not be so lucky."

The investigation is being carried out by PC Jo Miller from the Islington Robbery Squad with support from the Visual Images and Identification Office (VIIDO), which specialises in the investigation of CCTV images.

PC Jo Miller said: "I am doing everything I can to ensure that these offenders are brought to justice however so much relies on the CCTV images. If you know who these people are, then please contact us immediately."

Home Raider Caught By CCTV

A career criminal who smashed his way into two flats – helping himself to I-Phones, foreign currency and other valuables – was eventually tracked down after police viewed hundreds of hours of CCTV.

Jobless Aubrey Appiah, 33, of Shrubbery Road, Streatham, pleaded guilty at Kingston Crown Court to burgling the properties in Shuttleworth Road, Battersea, on October 23, last year and was caged for three years.

Wandsworth CID captured Appiah (pic. r.) after CCTV showed him entering the communal entrance, leaving thirty minutes later and removing a pair of gloves he put into a distinctive black and white carrier bag.

Images from other CCTV locations all over Battersea helped track Appiah’s movements that day and when arrested at home four days later officers seized the distinctive bag and clothing he was wearing during the raids.

Detective Inspector Matt Phelps of the Priority Crime Unit said the evidence from CCTV facilities in the borough produced a roadmap of the suspect's movements that formed the main Prosecution case.

"We want to thank the business community and our partners at Wandsworth Council for their co-operation in providing the CCTV footage that was to prove so crucial to this case,” he announced.

“I also want to point out that residents of Shuttleworth Road where the burglaries took place paid for their own CCTV cameras.

"Appiah had no choice other than to plead guilty when he saw the visual case against him.

“It clearly shows that when used correctly, CCTV can play an integral part in police investigations.

"It enabled Appiah, a prolific offender, to be identified, apprehended and convicted."

Museum Rapist Caught On CCTV

Police are hunting a rapist (pic r.) who attacked 19 year-old woman in the shadow of the British Museum minutes after she got off a night bus.

The black suspect, aged in his 20’s or 30’s, who speaks with an African accent, was caught on CCTV.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s specialist Sapphire Team are appealing for witnesses or anybody who recognises the suspect who struck at 2.15am in Museum Street, Holborn, on January 9.

The terrified victim was grabbed from behind as she walked home alone, carried into a doorway and raped.

Afterwards the suspect is seen on CCTV buckling his belt as he walks towards New Oxford Street.

Detective Chief Inspector Mehta said: "We have a an extremely traumatised victim now being supported by specially trained officers and workers from Haven, and we want to catch the dangerous suspect in this case as soon as possible.

"We would very much like to hear from anyone who recognises, or who believes they recognise, the person in the CCTV images.

"We are also keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident. It may be that they witnessed the incident itself, or the suspect in the area before the attack, or the suspect leaving the area after the attack.

"Any information these potential witnesses may have may be crucial."

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.