G20 Spray-Painter's Fiery Message To Bankers

A G20 protestor who spray-painted ‘BURN’ on the Royal Bank of Scotland’s window as a small blaze was started inside during last year’s City of London demonstration has dodged jail.

Jobless Daniel Simmons, 18, of Selwyn Road, Cambridge, claimed he picked-up the can in frustration at police ‘kettling’ tactics during the violent protest.

“You don’t know how to deal with political issues in a mature and sensible way,” Isleworth Crown Court Recorder Nigel Rhodes told Simmons, who faced a maximum of ten years’ imprisonment.

The first-time offender pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the bank’s glass window in Bartholomew Lane on April 1, last year and was conditionally discharged for twelve months.

A more serious charge of violent disorder against Simmons, who the prosecution originally claimed was seen kicking out at police lines, was withdrawn and a not guilty verdict entered.

Prosecutor Mr. Peter Lancaster told the court: “This relates to the demonstration on April 1 last year, the anti-G20 demonstration in the City of London (pictured).

“There were a lot of people demonstrating and in the afternoon it became more violent.

“An officer at the Royal Bank of Scotland saw the defendant trying to break a window of the building by kicking at the window with a spray can in his hand,” added Mr. Lancaster.

“He is seen to spray on the window ‘BURN’ and is seen on CCTV going back into the crowd.”

At the time demonstrators had started a small fire inside the building.

Simmons’ lawyer Mr. Sam Robinson said: “This defendant attended what was originally a peaceful protest.

“There was a kettling position taken by the police in Threadneedle Street as Mr. Simmons was outside the Royal Bank of Scotland.

“He had the spray can he had picked up off the floor and borne of frustration sprayed these letters on the Royal Bank of Scotland,” added the lawyer.

“He was arrested the next day when he was recognised attending a vigil for an unfortunate man who had died during the demonstration.”

The court made no order for costs or compensation against Simmons.

A Night's Kip Fails To Beat Drink-Drive Rap

An air conditioning engineer’s career is in tatters after police caught him over the limit while driving to work at 8 am, following a heavy-drinking session the night before, a court heard.

Danny Ismail, 29, of Chaplin House, Sidcup High Street, Sidcup, Kent, made the mistake of believing a night’s sleep would completely sober him up and was hit with a three-year road ban.

He pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court to driving his Ford Fiesta in King William Street (pictured), Monument, on January 23 with excess alcohol in his breath.

The court heard police stopped Ismail on a Saturday morning and after failing a roadside breath-test he was arrested and gave a reading of 58 microgrammes – the legal limit is 35.

“It is a devastating day for Mr. Ismail, but he is the author of his own misfortune,” said Miss Sian Williams, defending.

“He had been out drinking the night before and it had been a heavy session, but after a night’s sleep he thought that would solve all matters.

“With the equipment he carriers around it is a prerequisite he should drive,” added the lawyer. “He is so devastated by this.”

Ismail, who was convicted of drink-driving in July 2004, shares his part buy, part rent home with his girlfriend and two-year old child.

He was also fined £400, with £90 costs.

Strip-Club Cocaine Man Busted By Police Sniffer Dog

A lovesick Leyton man, who treated himself to a night out at a strip club after splitting with his girlfriend, was caught by a police sniffer dog after buying party-drug cocaine at the venue, a court heard.

Bike courier Edgar Rose, 28, of Ruckholt Close, pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court (pictured) to possessing a small quantity of cocaine and cannabis in Bishopsgate on January 23.

The court heard it was 10.40pm when the specialist police drug sniffer dog indicated to officers Rose was in possession of illegal substances as pedestrians were randomly approached on a busy Saturday night.

When searched a small bag containing cocaine was found on Rose along with a wrap of cannabis.

He told police he was trying to “cheer himself up” after splitting with his girlfriend and had paid £30 for the cocaine in a strip club, where he snorted two lines.

“He is extraordinarily embarrassed to find himself in court. It is his first time,” said Miss Sian Williams, defending.

“The purchase of the class ‘A’ cocaine was a result of a break-up with his girlfriend and an attempt to cheer himself up,” she added.

Rose was fined £300, plus £90 costs.

Scooter Death: Van Driver In Dock

The driver of a VW mini-van who fatally collided with a scooter rider at a notorious accident blackspot on a rainy night was not using his windscreen wipers, a court heard.

Carl Phillip Lander, 39, of The Moat, Toot Hill, Ongar, Essex, has pleaded not guilty to causing the death, by dangerous driving, of 33 year-old father-of-two Shane Stanfield at the junction of Epping New Road and Woodford Green High Road on October 20, 2008.

Ex-DJ Mr. Stanfield (pictured), of Rounton Road, Waltham Abbey, suffered multiple rib fractures and fatal internal injuries after colliding with a VW Caravelle which turned across his path.

He was rushed to Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

“The defendant did tell police he had not had his windscreen wipers on. It is the sort of thing that may have contributed to him not seeing this scooter coming towards him which he should have done,” prosecutor Mr. David Tomlinson told the Snaresbrook Crown Court jury.

“We are talking here about a case where somebody lost his life,” Mr. Tomlinson told the court, explaining there is no reasonable excuse for Lander not spotting the Yamaha scooter rider as he turned right.

It was 6.25pm when the tragedy occurred, the jury heard. “There is no doubt these two vehicles were driving towards each other as the defendant wished to make a right turn putting him in the path of the oncoming traffic. He had a clear duty to wait.

“Unhappily here he executed the right turn at the same time Mr. Stanfield’s little scooter got too close to him,” explained Mr. Tomlinson. “He drove across the path of the scooter and it was not possible for Mr. Stanfield to stop in time.

“Mr. Stanfield braked, locking his front wheel, and the scooter went down on its side and started to slide.

“Mr. Stanfield got separated from the scooter and they were carried into the near-side of the defendant’s vehicle.

“He suffered multiple fractures to his ribs and died a short time afterwards of internal injuries.

“The death of this man was caused, of course, by this man’s driving,” added Mr. Tomlinson.

“What happened here was over in a split-second or a second or two at the most, but of course it was a life-changing event.”

Investigating officers later quizzed Lander. “He told the police he did not see Mr. Stanfield’s scooter coming towards him.

“The scooter was available to be seen,” said Mr. Tomlinson. “It is the prosecution case it could not have been missed by a competent and careful driver at the time.”

Mr. Stanfield had just overtaken a white Ford Transit van driven by eyewitness Alan Gibson who told police the rider may have been exceeding the 30 mph speed limit.

“The rider may have been doing more than 30 mph, but nothing like enough to explain the misjudgement of this defendant,” added Mr. Tomlinson.

At the time of his death Mr. Stanfield left behind partner Kelly and sons Connor, 7 and Ronnie aged 11 months.

The trial is expected to last four to five days.

Boozy Computer Boffin Banned From The Roads

A high-earning computer programmer was caught drink-driving by police after failing to compute the amount of alcohol he was consuming during a night out with friends, a court heard.

Lewis Percival Evans, 38, of Fitzroy Road, Primrose Hill, pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court to driving with excess alcohol in his breath in Norton Folgate (pictured), Spitalfields, on January 24.

The court heard it was 11.15pm when officers stopped Evans in his Toyota Avensis and he failed a roadside breath-test after they smelled alcohol on his breath.

The first-time offender was arrested and later gave a breath reading of 63 microgrammes – the legal limit is 35.

“It is with great regret and embarrassment that he finds himself here today,” said Evans’ lawyer Miss Sian Williams. “He has never been in court before and is shocked that he has let himself down.

“He had been out with friends that evening and a friend was topping up Mr. Evans’ pint making it difficult to monitor the amount he was drinking.”

Evans was fined £750, plus £90 costs and was disqualified from driving for eighteen months.

Barbican Boss Receives 18 Months For Ticket Scam

The ticket boss of the world-famous Barbican Centre, who blew over £30,000 gambling online after crediting his own bank accounts in a year-long refund scam, was jailed for 18 months today (Monday).

Ex-ticket sales manager Christopher John Todd, 35, of Cavalier Court, 14 St. Mark’s Road, Teddington, Middlesex, was arrested after a member of his team anonymously tipped-off bosses.

First-time offender Todd pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court that between August 21, 2008 and September 29, last year, he dishonestly abused his position intending to make a gain, namely £33,183, by refunding tickets to his account.

He was committed to the Old Bailey for sentencing after the magistrates deemed their maximum sentencing powers of 6 months imprisonment were insufficient.

The court heard Todd (pictured) was employed as the ticket sales manager at the Barbican Centre and on September 29 last year the head of finance received information from an anonymous member of staff that he had made multiple refunds to a switch card.

It was discovered he made several refunds to two of his Nat West Bank cards totaling £33,183.

The refunds took place after the events and each refund had a different customer’s name.

Todd was investigated by the City of London Police’s Economic Crime Department.

When interviewed he said his father was severely ill and he had succumbed to a gambling addiction as a coping mechanism and was a registered member of Paddy Power.

The stolen money was only used to gamble with and was not used to purchase any items, the defendant told police.

First-time offender Todd had never been arrested in his life before and apologised to the court.

He made full admissions and admitted the amounts and gave police all the details of how the offence came about.

The court was told Todd had suffered severe depression throughout his life and had made two suicide attempts at the age of seventeen and in his mid-twenties.

His lawyer said Todd's father was dying of cancer and, in fact, died some months ago and the defendant had got into difficulties coping with that and developed an online gambling addiction, where all the proceeds of the offence went.

Barber Shop 'Meth Lab' Bust

An “evil” drug dealer who manufactured ‘crystal meth ‘and ‘2-CB’ in a hidden ‘factory’ behind a local barber’s shop has been caged for four years.

Freddie King, 49, of Yonge Park, Finsbury Park, produced the highly addictive class ‘A’ drugs and sold other narcotics from ‘Firm Cuts’ in nearby Seven Sisters Road.

On November 19, 2008 the Territorial Support Group, Finsbury Park’s Safer Neighbourhoods Team, Islington Police’s Financial Investigation Unit and the Dog Unit carried out a huge raid under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Police were acting on a tip-off that cannabis was sold from the shop and inside a quantity of the drug was recovered packed inside multiple plastic bags.

However, behind a partition wall officers found crystal meth – plus chemicals used to manufacture the drug – and evidence of ‘2-CB’ production and the possession of ‘angel dust.’

King pleaded guilty to the production of 19.9g of ‘crystal meth,’ production of 16.2 g of ‘2C-B,’ possession of 0.524g of ‘angel dust’ and possession of 4.06g of methoxyamphetamine.

Fearing the potential harm from hazardous substances – including the risk of fires and explosions – officers called in the Metropolitan Police’s Dedicated Decontamination Unit.

Two days later Islington Police removed all the chemicals from the premises with specialist help from the Met's Chemical Biological Radiation and Nuclear Team (pictured), the Forensic Science Service and Islington Council's Emergency Planning Department.

The premises were boarded up after Finsbury Park Safer Neighbourhoods team sought a Closure Order. The property will remain closed until 26 February 2010 when it will be reviewed. A lettings agency is in the process of re-possessing the property.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Laurence from Islington Police said: "It should be pointed out that there is not a specific problem with crystal meth in Islington and this is an isolated case.

“King's sentence sends out a clear message that it will not be tolerated here and we will robustly pursue anyone involved in the production and distribution of this highly addictive drug.

"The production of crystal meth poses a real danger and without the technical know-how, there is a high possibility of fire or explosion.

“The gases produced may be poisonous, causing death or injury if inhaled. For every pound of crystal meth produced, five pounds of toxic waste is made."

Investigating officer Gethin Roberts from Islington CID said: "The court recognised the seriousness of King's offence.

“Crystal Meth is a lethal drug and its impact cannot be underestimated. Anyone caught producing or distributing a Class A drug can expect a substantial prison sentence."

Judge John Hillen told King: "Given the effects of crystal meth and its highly addictive nature, I find the production of that drug for distribution exceptionally evil."

G20 Charges Dropped Against 'Armoured Car 11.'

Eleven G20 protestors arrested during last year’s demonstration in the City of London for impersonating police after driving a blue armoured car to the Royal Bank of Scotland had charges against them dropped this week.

They were all charged with impersonating a special constable or member of a police force on April 1, with intent to deceive, contrary to Section 90 (1) of the Police Act 1996.

They were each also charged with wearing an article of police uniform so nearing that of a member of a police force as to be calculated to deceive contrary to Section 90 (2) of the Police Act 1996.

The six-wheel Alvis Saracen, (pictured) a model once used by the British Army in Northern Ireland, was emblazoned with the word 'Riot' and police-style black and white chequered livery.

The vehicle contained protesters wearing blue clothes and helmets when stopped in Bishopsgate.

The Crown Prosecution Service, who had originally charged the ‘Armoured Car 11’ when they refused to accept police cautions, announced all criminal proceedings had been withdrawn.

The eleven – who all pleaded not guilty - were due to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on February 8 for a trial expected to last all week.

They are: Jessica Barter, 19, of St. Andrew’s Road, Plaistow.

Leah Borromeo, 30, of Sprules Road, Brockley.

Stephen Gibbens, 21, of Allington Circle, Kingsmead, Milton Keynes.

Paul Hardcastle, 23, of Bellenden Road, Peckham.

Mohammed Hayder, 25, of Hooke House, Gernon Road, Bow.

Stephen Jewkes, 28, of Bellenden Road, Peckham.

Suzan Keen, 41, of Parkside Estate, Homerton.

David Parkhouse, 22, of Homerton High Street, Homerton.

Robin Priestley, 32, of Morrison Buildings North, 35a Commercial Road, Stepney.

Rebecca Walpole, 21, of Seaforth Road, Aberdeen.

David Vannen, 38, of Upper Highway, Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire.

'Danger-Woman' Damji Jailed For Housing Fraud

The notorious socialite daughter of a multi-millionaire property tycoon – once dubbed: ‘London’s Most Dangerous Woman’ – was locked-up for fifteen months today (Friday) for a £17,500 housing benefit fraud.

Novelist and designer Farah Damji, 43, whose recently published autobiography details her life as an international media and art entrepreneur created a web of deceit involving forgery, false identity and bogus claims to landlords and the local council.

“The level of dishonesty at every conceivable juncture is so persistent it’s the type of case I have never come across before,” said Judge Aiden Marron QC at Blackfriars Crown Court.

“This was a scheme dripping with dishonesty at every conceivable corner,” he added. “She was not entitled to a penny on the information provided.”

Ugandan-born mother-of-two Damji, (pictured) of Cardinal Mansions, Carlisle Place, Westminster, claimed her infamous criminal exploits were behind her in book ‘Try Me’ launched last year less than 24 hours before yet another appearance in the dock.

Daughter of South-African-based property magnate Amir Damji, she edited lifestyle magazine Another Generation, wrote for the Observer and New Statesman, was a Birmingham Post columnist and previously ran art galleries in Manhattan and East Hampton, New York.

She earned her notorious description as ‘London’s Most Dangerous Woman’ in an Evening Standard feature.

“Your dishonesty was manifest. You forged documents, signatures, provided false documents, pretended to be someone else, claimed you were penniless, claimed your children lived with you, but claimed great wealth when applying for tenancies and you sought to sub-let one property for profit,” Judge Marron told Damji.

“You manipulated bank accounts so money came to you instead of your landlord and when your dishonesty was exposed you responded with more dishonesty and threats,” he added.

“The prosecution’s case is this defendant orchestrated a planned fraud on landlords and then had the audacity to claim public benefits,” said Judge Marron at an earlier hearing. “She is a relatively sophisticated dishonest woman.”

The court heard Damji told landlords she was the £96,000 a year creative director of fashion company Moksa and owned a £3m Chelsea home with a non-existent husband who was a £100,000 per week property developer.

In fact the ‘husband’ was MySpace pal, American Francesco Miccolupo, who Damji had a fling with then used his bank account behind his back, claim the prosecution.

She pleaded guilty to dishonestly making false representations to landlords Alex and Alix Lentjes in relation to 73c Loftus Road, Shepherd’s Bush and to landlord Benjamin Hutton, owner of 2b Kilmaine Road, Hammersmith on or before October 3, last year.

She also admitted three counts of dishonestly making false representations to Hammersmith and Fulham Council in relation to both addresses, forging a Halifax Bank statement she gave letting agents ‘Lets’s Do Business’ and falsely representing Alex Lentjes was the holder of a specific account benefits were deposited in.

Confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act are scheduled for June 14.

Prosecutor Miss Karen Robinson told the court £17,500 in housing and council tax benefit was paid to Damji, who left landlord Mr Lentjes £7,685 out of pocket and with a damaged flat following the defendant’s eviction on October 3, last year.

When Damji rented £350 per week 73c she claimed to be married Farah Miccolupo and was very edgy about providing reference details, explained Miss Robinson, even threatening a libel action against the letting agents she described as “liars”.

Eventually she was given the keys. “The landlord was left with the impression a couple were moving in and were in a position to pay for the flat.”

Rent was paid in a variety of ways and from a variety of sources, including Mr Miccolupo’s account, said Miss Robinson, adding an associate of Damji, Michael Hill, had his signature forged on one document he purported to witness.

Cheques bounced, one came from Moksa and another from an unknown source in relation to 73c which Damji even advertised for £400 per week on website Gumtree, behind her landlord’s back.

A similar fraud was hatched for the flat at 2b, but police arrested Damji on October 27, 2008 before the landlord suffered any loss.

In both cases Damji’s wealthy father funded the deposit payments.

Damji is currently involved in Family Court proceedings for custody of her son, 12, and daughter, 8, who have been brought up by their grandparents in South Africa and are heirs to a huge trust fund.

Her lawyer Mr. Giles Newell told the court: “She was trying to get something better than she was entitled to.

“She accepts what she did was wrong and takes full responsibility for her offending and does intend to pay this money back. This was not a sophisticated, well-planned fraud.

“The aim was to provide for her family,” added the lawyer. “It was a heartfelt attempt to find a suitable home for her two young children.”

Damji once absconded from Surrey’s Downsview Prison – where she was serving a 3 ½ year sentence for a £50,000 credit card fraud – and became Britain’s first on-the-run blogger.

After failing to return to prison when released to attend an Open University tutorial for a sociology degree she kept the world up to date with her exploits on her MySpace page until arrested five days later.

In a breathtaking display of self-promotion Damji even nominated herself for a New Statesman Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 Award - describing herself as an individual who has changed through her own diverse talents and created an enduring beauty “spreading light” as she goes.

The controversial socialite first came to public attention over her dalliance with travel writer William Dalrymple plus a fling with a Guardian executive and in a revealing Daily Mail interview detailed the ups and downs of the affair.

In October 2002 she stole her nanny Milla Salminen’s credit card and ran up a £3,903 bill with 61 purchases, including a stay at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Birmingham.

In October 2004, while on bail, she did the same with marketing assistant Darshika Mahavir who visited her house for a sales pitch, and her credit card was stolen by Damji to buy clothing worth £1,030 from Harvey Nichols.

The following month she stole a credit card from Rakhee Gokani, who was organising a magazine photo shoot for Another Generation’s front cover and her card was used 34 times for purchases amounting to £2,630.

She audaciously telephoned top-peoples jewellers Boodle and Dunthorne, posing as Daily Mail showbiz correspondent Kiki King’s assistant, and conned them out of two diamond and platinum rings worth £10,550.

Freelance journalist Ambarina Hasan’s credit card was stolen by Damji and used to open a savings account in the reporter’s name and obtain a £18,000 Sainsbury’s loan.

She also stole two credit cards and a driving licence from a friend, Nazia Soonsara, in a bid to steal her identity.

She pleaded guilty to twenty-five theft and deception charges plus two counts of perverting the course of justice when she told a witness not to appear in court, asked a prosecution barrister to drop the case and posed as then Home Secretary David Blunkett’s assistant in a bid to convince the Crown Prosecution Service pursuing the case was not in the public interest.

Her New York art career ended in disgrace with a six-month stint in tough Rikers Island prison for padding a certified cheque with extra zeroes and forging a court document ordering the seizure of her property.

She was accused in New York of an extensive and pathological crime spree, employing several aliases to rip-off artists, associates and was said to terrorize ex-boyfriends and continued her criminal behaviour in posh East Hampton following her release.