Secretary Jailed For Expenses Scam

A PA with accountancy giants Price Waterhouse Coopers - obsessed with being the centre of attention - has been jailed for nine months for a £33,000 expenses scam.

The scandal rocked the company's Birmingham HQ after single Angela Jayne Tilling, 44, also claimed she had a five-year affair with her married boss, who later made partial admissions of a sexual relationship.

Tilling, (pic.top) who lived with her parents at Heronway, Rednal, Birmingham conned the company into bankrolling a £50,000 celebrity appearance at their Christmas bash in a bid to boost her popularity.

She was a respected employee at their offices in Cornwall Court, 19 Cornwall Street and for years ripped-off the company behind the back of her boss John Minards (pic.bottom) - a full partner.

"She was a woman approaching middle-age, unmarried, without children and living with her parents and was essentially quite lonely," Tilling's QC Francis Laird told Isleworth Crown Court.

"There is plenty of scope, reading between the lines, that they were having an affair," added the QC. "They shared hotel rooms and he does admit sexual contact with her over a number of years, but denies full sexual intercourse.

"Some of the money was used to provide entertainment for others because what this lady craved was the respect of others.

"She liked to be the centre of attention, providing days and nights out, and the celebrity guest reflects that and it was described as the best party the company had ever known.

"She is a lonely lady who bought the friendship and affection of people with whom she worked. It was not salted away for a rainy day."

The prosecution began as a £167,000 scam involving a trip to Paris for the 2007 rugby world cup, plus a Malaga business conference, but those charges were dropped.

Tilling has not paid any compensation to the company.

She pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud, which often involved Tilling mirroring a genuine expenses claim to generate a second payment to herself supported by forged documents and e-mails.

Tilling falsely claimed £2,183.50 expenses for a 47-head staff lunch at Birmingham's Hotel Du Vin on December 7 2004 and £2,146.23 for a company hotel conference in June 2005.

She blew a strict £25,000 budget when organising the company's Christmas party on December 22 2005, fraudulently transferring two £29,375 payments to cover the celebrity guest's £50,000 appearance fee.

Tilling also falsely claimed a £15,000 payment by lying that she had paid the sum as a deposit to secure the guest - who the prosecution and booking agency refuse to name.

She was also paid a further £5,581.25 in bogus expenses on October 17 2006 and £3,706 in June that year for Solihull College support staff.

In December 2007 she fraudulently claimed £2,225 for 60 theatre tickets at Birmingham's Hippodrome - another company beano she organised.

An internal probe exposed Tilling and she was suspended in March 2008, resigned in May and was arrested during a dawn raid on January 13 2009.

When quizzed she denied acting dishonestly, claiming her behaviour was an attempt to prevent John Minards' wife spotting suspicious payments on his credit card.

Square Mile News, which had the only reporter in court heard Judge Richard McGregor-Thompson tell tearful Tilling, who dabbed away tears throughout the hearing: "It can never give the court any pleasure at all to deal with someone of your age and unblemished character.

"You were trusted to deal with expenses for very senior people in this organisation and submitted a variety of false documentation to get them paid.

"You used the proceeds to buy friendship and affection and knew from the time of your arrest you were guilty, but chose to lie and only pleaded guilty six weeks before your trial."

'Costa Del Crime' Boiler Room Gang Jailed

A flash young gang of ‘boiler room’ fake-shares fraudsters, who swindled millions of pounds out of hundreds of middle-aged and elderly investors while living the high-life on the Costa del Sol, have been jailed.

The gang, which mostly consisted of friends from the North-East, used authentic shareholder lists to convince investors they were associated with companies the victims had already invested in.

They are: Telephone salesman Mark Brannan, 28, of Arlington Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, who received eighteen months imprisonment.

Telephone salesman Sam Hamed, 25, of Byland Court, Washington, Tyne and Wear, who received three years and nine months.

Telephone salesman Dean Hamilton, 26, of Cleeve Court, Washington, Tyne and Wear, who received three years.

Senior manager Scott Henderson, 31, of Morgan Street, Sunderland, who received four years.

Telephone salesman and manager Anton Deach, 25, of Heaton Street, Prestwich, Manchester, who received five years.

Telephone salesman and manager Babatunde Aluko, 29, of Clarence Avenue, New Malden, Surrey, who received three years and nine months.

Ringleader George Abrue, 29, of no fixed abode, who received five years.

Hamed, Henderson, Aluko and Abrue pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to money launder; Brannan and Hamilton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud only and Deach, the only plotter to deny the charges was convicted by a jury of conspiring to defraud.

Harrow Crown Court (pictured) Judge Graham Arran made a contempt of court order restricting reporting of the case to only identifying the defendants and the charges they have been convicted of due to a pending trial.

£1m Torture Gang Jailed For Jewellery Shop Raid

Three members of a vicious home-invasion gang, who handcuffed and tortured a middle-aged jewellery shop couple before looting their business of £1m worth of gems and watches, have been caged.

The husband, 56, was bashed over the head with a brick, dragged naked from his bath, threatened with an axe and handcuffed along with his terrified 50 year-old wife at their Moray Road, Finsbury Park home in North London.

He was threatened with having his fingers chopped off if he did not co-operate with the masked gang and give them keys and security codes to his shop, ‘Blingers’ (pictured) in Fore Street, Upper Edmonton.

They are: Gary Williams, 38, (pic 2^nd top) of Whittle Close, Walthamstow, who received 10-and-a-half years for conspiracy to burgle and concealing £800,000 worth of stolen jewellery.

Leon Williams, 37, (pic. 3^rd top) of Cranley Gardens, Muswell Hill, who received ten years for conspiracy to burgle.

Turker Mustafa, 28, (pic. 4^th top) of Foundry Gate, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, who received eight-and-a-half years for conspiracy to burgle.

Kady Wilson, 24, (pic bottom) of Tuscany House, Medici Close, Ilford, dodged prison with twelve month suspended sentence for concealing £800,000 of stolen jewellery.

Gary Williams was also ordered to pay £20,000 court costs and will be subject to a confiscation order after being found wearing two watches together worth £100,000 when he was arrested.

Detective Inspector Mark Raymond, of Operation Trident, said: “This violent and audacious crime was well-planned and co-ordinated with every effort made to avoid detection and arrest.

“Their purpose was to steal one million pounds worth of jewellery with no regard for the victims.

“Trident is committed to prosecuting those who cause harm, intimidate others and threaten the lives of decent people going about their legitimate business.

“We will do all in our power to bring violent offenders to justice, dismantle organised criminal networks and provide reassurance to the community.”

Just before midnight two masked men suddenly burst into the bathroom and attacked the husband after smashing their way into the property via patio doors.

The wife was awoken by a number of masked men who grabbed her.

The couple were handcuffed behind their backs and threatened with an axe, which was held against the male victim's neck and face.

He was told his fingers would be cut off unless he co-operated.

The suspects demanded keys and safe combinations to the jewellery shop and two of them left with the husband’s mobile phone and a set of keys.

Shortly after a call was made from the mobile to the flat and the victims quizzed at length about the shop's alarm and security systems and how to find various other keys.

The remaining suspects then left the flat, leaving the victims on the bed and handcuffed.

The husband managed to open the front door with his teeth and shouted to the neighbours for help.

The neighbour called police and the couple needed the help of the fire service to remove the handcuffs and received treatment at the Whittington Hospital for minor injuries.

The shop was ransacked with £1million worth of jewellery and watches stolen.

Witnesses saw two men wearing yellow high-visibility jackets with security written on enter the premises.

After stealing the goods they left via the back of the shop.

Acting on a tip-off armed police stopped a Toyota Avensis car three days later on May 11 containing Kady Wilson and Gary Williams in Andrews Road, Hackney.

In the boot was a holdall containing a large amount of jewellery and more jewellery was found at Kady Wilson's home.

Later the same day, Mustafa was arrested in his Mitsubishi Colt car in West Green Road, Archway.

Leon Williams was later arrested on July 13.

To date about £200,000 of jewellery has not been recovered.

Mum's Acid Attack Horror: Three Men Arrested

Police are appealing for witnesses to a horrific acid attack on a 40 year-old East London woman, who had just collected her young children from school.

She suffered serious burns to her head, shoulder and back after being approached by a black man at 3:20pm in Harold Road, Plaistow (pictured) on March 24 and had to be rushed to hospital.

The suspect jumped into a mauve-coloured BMW containing two men of Pakistani/Bangladeshi appearance and they escaped in the direction of nearby Terrace Road.

The liquid was tested and discovered to be an acid-based substance.

The first suspect is described as aged between 25-35 years-old, 5’ 10” tall, with short hair and wearing a black top and dark jeans.

Detective Constable Phil Fox of Newham’s Violent Crime Unit, said: “This was a very serious incident against a woman picking up her young children from school.

“I urge anyone with any information to contact police to help bring those responsible for this terrible crime to justice.”

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Newham Violent Crime Unit on 020 7275 5711 or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police arrested a 26 year-old man on April 14; a 32 year-old man on April 15 and a 23 year-old man on April 18 in connection with the investigation.

They have been bailed to return to an East London police station in June pending further enquiries.

Ladbrokes Employee Loses £2.5m Theft Gamble

A finance expert, who funded a lavish lifestyle with over £2.5m he stole from bookmaker giants Ladbrokes while working at the company’s HQ, has been jailed for five years.

Financial advisor Aren De Vos, 43, (pictured) of Howards Wood Drive, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire created a bogus company and made multiple electronic transfers to its account.

De Vos pleaded guilty at Harrow Crown Court to ten theft counts at his employer’s head office in Rayners Lane, Harrow, North-West London between 2000 and 2010.

An internal probe revealed the defendant made 64 electronic cheque requisitions into Impact Sports Ltd. totalling £2,546,223.16 and was arrested at home on November 11 last year, two days after Ladbrokes reported him to police.

Acting Detective Sergeant Andy Simpson of Harrow CID said: “This investigation was conducted with the assistance of Ladbrokes.

“Research over the previous ten years revealed that De Vos had successfully stolen money totalling over two-and-a-half million, which enabled him to live a lavish lifestyle.



“This was a serious crime conducted in a calculating way and the judge indicated that the sentence of five years would have been longer if De Vos had not been of previous good character.”

Whitey Bashing Popular In E14

Three young men are being hunted for a suspected race attack on a white teenager – struck over the head with a bottle – inside an East London budget supermarket.

The suspects – aged around twenty and of Pakistani/Bangladeshi origin – launched their vicious late-night assault in Costcutter, East India Dock Road, Poplar on January 22.

Police have released this image from the store’s CCTV captured at 1:40am identifying the trio.

The 17 year-old victim needed two stitches after being struck over the head with a glass bottle and receiving a wound to his hand.

Detective Constable Scott Pounder of the Tower Hamlets Violent Crime Unit, said: “These are clearly men who are fully prepared to use violence and we would urge anyone with information to please contact us as soon as possible.”



Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 7275 4546, or if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Environmental Entrepreneur Loses Vuvuzela Battle

A local Green Party environmental activist, caught illegally selling vuvuzela horns outside Wembley Stadium before an England friendly, has lost her appeal against the conviction.

Naomi Aptowitzer, 41, of Juniper Crescent, Camden Town, who finished third in the Kentish Town ward council by-election on October 31, last year, claimed her official peddler’s licence allowed her to sell by the roadside.

Aptowitzer – the CEO of electric bike company ZiPee – is also a musician who performs under the name MC Ni and has recorded a track entitled ‘Vuvuzela’.

Harrow Crown Court heard she was spotted with a trolley bag fully of the South African instruments outside the stadium on August 11, last year before the England friendly with Hungary.

The plastic horns, which emit a whine that became the sound of last year’s World Cup, are currently banned from all football grounds.

The horns were seized because Aptowitzer was not in possession of a street traders licence and magistrates conditionally discharged her with an order to pay £300 costs.

The prosecution revealed the defendant had been given numerous warnings in the area on previous occasions for illegal street trading.

Aptowitzer told the court her twelve-month Peddler’s Certificate, issued at Holborn Police Station, allowed her to sell to the public under the 1871 Act.

However, she was prosecuted under the 2004 London Local Authorities Act, which the court ruled took precedence and her appeal against the conviction and sentence was dismissed.

Street Scum Binned For Targeting Indian Couple's Gold

Sky-high gold prices are making Indian women a target for violent street robbers, who target their jewellery, often snatching chains from necks and rings from fingers.

One mugger, 19 year-old Dario Critchlow, (pictured) of Ilex Road, Willesden is starting a five-year sentence after he and his masked accomplices preyed on one middle-aged couple.

He was convicted along with a 17 year-old accomplice - who received three years – of robbing the married couple as they walked to a bus stop in Wealdstone High Street, Harrow on December 5, 2009.

The two defendants and an unidentified third mugger all wore dark hooded tops with scarves covering their faces.

They struck the 63 year-old husband over the head, knocking him to the ground, then forced his 59 year-old wife to the ground, snatching a gold chain from her neck and unsuccessfully trying to rip the rings off her fingers.

The couple were taken to Northwick Park Hospital, with the husband suffering head injuries and back pain and his wife needing a cast fitted for severe bruising to her arms.

The man later died of natural causes early this year.

After the convictions at Harrow Crown Court Police Constable Ali Khan said: “This was a planned and violent attack on a couple who were targeted for the gold jewellery worn by the woman. 



“The couple were out shopping when the robbers attacked, knocking a sixty-three year-old man to ground and then stealing his wife’s jewellery as she too was lying helpless on the ground.

“The robbery left the couple traumatized with both victims suffering physical injuries, while afterwards finding it difficult to sleep and being afraid to go out.

“This also had a severe affect on their family.” 



Statistics show there was a rise in Indian robbery victims last year, who accounted for approximately 30% of all street robbery victims.

A key factor in these robberies has been the lure of gold jewellery.



Commander Simon Pountain said: “The Met takes street robbery very seriously - being robbed is a traumatic experience.

“However, the public can minimise the chance of it happening by taking some basic measures.

“When you are out, where possible try to keep any valuables hidden. If you are wearing jewellery we would urge you to cover it, perhaps with a scarf. 



“Robbers simply see your gold jewellery and other precious items such as MP3 players as hard cash.

“We’re not asking the public not to wear jewellery, or to use their phones or media players in public - we’re just advising them to be vigilant about where and when they use them.”


Young Woman Stabbed To Death: Man Charged

A man accused of murdering a 24 year-old woman – stabbed to death in a North London street – has been remanded in custody at the Old Bailey.

Zandra Maxwell-Nelson (pictured) of Nicoll Road, Willesden was attacked in Durban Road, Tottenham just after 6:00pm on April 20.

Nathaniel Brown, 26, of no fixed abode, is charged with her murder and after initially appearing at Brent Magistrates’ Court on April 23 has been remanded to a date to be fixed by the Central Criminal Court.

The victim had tried to flee her attacker by jumping into a parked car, but she continued to be stabbed in the vehicle.

She was rushed by ambulance to the Royal London Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 8:30pm.

A post-mortem was held at Haringey mortuary and an incident room under Acting Detective Chief Inspector Sheila Stewart of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command was opened.

Sawn-Off Shotgun Kid Behind Bars

A teen caught by police with a lethal loaded sawn-off shotgun when surveillance officers pulled over a car containing him and three others, has been locked-up for five years.

The 17 year-old schoolboy of Butler Road, Dagenham, East London was caught red-handed with the fearsome weapon (pictured) when stopped near his home on December 10, last year.

He pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court to possessing the illegal firearm following his capture by armed CO19 officers assisting an operation by the Central Task Force.

Police had followed a black Vauxhall Astra containing the youth – aged 16 at the time and too young to be identified - and others as it visited various addresses

He later returned home and re-emerged with the sawn-off shotgun in a black holdall and rejoined his associates.

Armed police forced the car to stop and in the front passenger foot-well they found the shotgun, plus one live cartridge in the holdall.

When searched officers also found two more live shotgun cartridges in the youth’s jacket pocket and six more, plus one spent cartridge were discovered at his home.

His three associates were released without charge.

Detective Inspector Rob Murray of the Central Task Force said: “This operation has successfully removed another illegally-held lethal-firing weapon and its owner from the streets of London. 



“Possession of a gun carries a minimum term of five years.

“We take all intelligence concerning firearms extremely seriously and where appropriate will act on it to make sure that guns, and those responsible for storing, owning and distributing them, are taken off the streets.”

Human Fireball Horror: Jealous Boyfriend Caged

An evil boyfriend – who horrifically murdered a mum-of-two by setting her on fire because she enjoyed a night out without him – has been jailed for life with a twenty-two year minimum.

After using 36 year-old Amanda Beresford (pic.top) as a punchbag during their seventeen-month relationship sadistic Jeffrey Clarke, 42, (pic.bottom) deliberately doused her in highly flammable white spirits and turned her into a human fireball.

He killed her in the bedroom of the house she had lived in for fifteen years and shared with her 18 year-old autistic daughter and 12 year-old son from a previous relationship.

Bus driver Clarke, of Haymill Close, Perivale, West London was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court of murdering Amanda, who died on August 26, last year over a month after the July 22 incident in the home she allowed him to move into.

Family and friends had urged the victim to dump the defendant and report him to the police for domestic abuse for the regular beating he dished out, but she refused to co-operate.

On July 22 Clarke tracked her down to Ealing where he found her enjoying a night out with another man and forced her to come home.

As she sat on her bed he poured the accelerant over her clothing and deliberately set her alight – causing 60% full deep burns over her body.

She died in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital over a month later on August 26.

Clarke was arrested twice in March last year when friends and family reported his violence to the police, but on both occasions Amanda declined to press charges and the abuse continued.

Neighbours heard her screams and flames were seen though the upstairs windows.

Amanda’s mother Miriam Royale said:
”As long as I live I will never be able to forget the image of Amanda lying in her hospital bed with such horrific injuries, her stunning good looks so cruelly taken from her.

“Clarke always thought he was so clever and would get away with this, just as he got away with beating Amanda for so long.

“Now he's got the next twenty-two years to come to terms with the truth, he's not very clever at all, just a horrible, sickening bully.”

Who's The A-Hole?

Police are hunting this aggressive youth who forced his way on to a bus with a gang on males and attacked the driver when he was ordered off.

The route 453 bus was stationary at traffic lights in Old Kent Road, South East London at 5:20am on December 5, last year.

The suspect was one of a number of young men who pressed the emergency exit button from the outside and boarded through the rear doors without paying.

The driver immediately pulled over and demanded they get off, but was punched several times by the suspect who then fled.

The victim did not require medical attention.

Officers from the joint Metropolitan Police Service and Transport for London Safer Transport Command Workplace Violence Unit are appealing for information, which will identify the assailant.

The suspect is a young black man of slim build, wearing dark clothing.



Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Dan Kelly, leading the investigation for the Workplace Violence Unit, on 020 3054 5402 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Who's Baldy?

Police are hunting this angry bus passenger who attacked the driver after missing his stop.

Officers from the joint Metropolitan Police Service and Transport for London Safer Transport Command Workplace Violence Unit are appealing for information, which will identify the suspect.

He was on board a 119 bus in Park Street, Croydon at 8:00pm on January 13 and launched a violent attack on the driver after missing his stop.

The suspect punched through the driver’s protective screen and assaulted him before making off.

The victim did not require medical attention.



The suspect is described as a white man, bald, of stocky build and wearing shorts with a flower pattern. 



Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Dan Kelly, of the Workplace Violence Unit, on 020 3054 5402 or to speak to Crimestoppers anonymously call 0800 555 111.

Teen Convicted Of East London Shotgun Killing

A teenage gunman has been convicted of killing another young man – who suffered a fatal shotgun wound to the chest – when two rival groups clashed in East London just after midnight.

Mahamoud Jama, 21, (pic.top) was shot dead on the first floor landing of Whyteville House, Studley Road, Forest Gate on January 6, last year.

Mohammed Ali, 19, (pic.2^nd top) of Romford Road, Forest Gate was convicted of manslaughter and possessing a firearm and will be sentenced on a date to be fixed.

Maurece Lewis, 19, (pic.bottom) of Haslemere Road, Ilford, was convicted of assisting an offender.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Dunne of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “Our thoughts are with Mahamoud's family and friends.

“His death and today’s convictions underscore the essential nature of the outreach work being carried out by the Metropolitan Police and its partners to dissuade vulnerable young people from becoming involved in violent crime.

“Sadly it is now too late for Mahamoud whose young life was cut short in a most violent manner.”

Jama was found at 1:10am critically injured from a serious shotgun wound to the chest and was rushed to the Royal London Hospital, where he died at 3:44am.

Detectives believe an altercation took place between two groups on a former garage forecourt in Studley Road at the junction with Upton Lane and continued into Whyteville House where the victim was shot.

Hammer Gang Locked-Up After Cops Foil Raid

A hammer-wielding gang of robbers – who targeted two female Boot’s employees during an early morning raid on a branch of the high street chemist’s – have been caged.

Undercover officers from the Met’s elite Flying Squad were watching as two of the gang bundled the terrified victim’s into the Eltham High Road, Eltham, South-East London branch as they opened at 7:00am on December 13, last year.

They snatched a large amount of cash, but were arrested by police before they could leave.

They are: Michael McCluskey, 25, (pic.top) of Wolvercote Road, Thamesmead and James Springer, 20, (pic.2^nd top) of Portmeadow Walk, Abbey Wood who both received three years and four months.

Nearby, police arrested the getaway driver and two accomplices sitting in a car parked in North Park.

They are: Adrian Tynan, 20, (pic.3^rd top) of Northwood Place, Thamesmead, who received two years and Darren Laver, 27, (pic.4^th top) of Manor Road, Erith, Kent and Daniel Cooper, 27, (pic.bottom) of Aperfield Road, Erith, Kent, who both received two years and eight months.

Detective Inspector Neil Williams of the Flying Squad, said: “The men were out to rob that day, it's as simple as that.

“They were determined and were happy to threaten innocent employees in order to steal cash.

This was a well planned robbery by men determined to rob, with no thought for the trauma suffered by the victims.”