Heathrow Supervisor Nicked Passenger's Laptop

A Heathrow Airport check-in boss, who helped himself to a passenger’s £1,000 laptop, has dodged prison with a suspended sentence.

Suraj Pardeshi, 41, of Eastcote Lane, Harrow, North-West London was trapped by a tracking device within the Apple Mac computer, which led police officers to his address.

He pleaded guilty to stealing the laptop from a female passenger, who had just arrived from Malaysia, on February 15 and was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for a year.

Isleworth Crown Court heard Indian-born Pardeshi, employed in airport customer service for thirteen years, had just finished his shift when he noticed the unattended laptop left on a trolley in Terminal Four.

Prosecutor Mr. Gavin Kirkpatrick said the victim only realised she had left it behind when she reached the airport car park and immediately reported it to police.

With the aid of its built-in tracker, officers visited the defendant’s address ten days later to retrieve the laptop, and found it inside his house.

Pardeshi (pictured) eventually confessed taking it and resigned from Cobalt Ground Solutions, where he was a team leader, responsible for thirteen check-in staff.

Financial and matrimonial pressures, plus the death of his mother in India, had contributed to Pardeshi’s stress levels and he was under probation at work, where he was putting in 50-60 hours overtime per month.

“In a moment of madness he gave into temptation,” Pardeshi’s lawyer Miss Laura Bayley told the court. “He was going to hand in the laptop, but because of all the paperwork involved took it home.”

Since his resignation the defendant has unsuccessfully applied for up to 100 jobs, but refuses to claim benefits for himself and his jobless wife, living on family loans.

“This is an extremely serious offence,” Judge Georgina Kent told Pardeshi. “Airport passengers are vulnerable and this was a high-value computer containing valuable information.”

Pardeshi was also ordered to complete 150 hours community service.

Young Woman Filmed Rape On Her Mobile Phone

Two rapists who carried out "horrendous sexual attacks" were encouraged to humiliate one terrified victim by a young woman who filmed the ordeal on her mobile phone, a court heard today (Tuesday).

Jermaine Kraftner, 27, of Berkley Manor, Poole Road, Branksome, Poole and his cousin Corrie Pinney, 35, of Yardbridge Close, Sutton, South-West London deny multiple counts relating to two separate victims.

Cassie Webb, 20, denies several charges, including aiding and abetting rape, in relation to the second victim.

"Kraftner and Pinney launched a series of horrendous sexual attacks on both victims at Yardbridge Close," prosecutor Miss Hannah Llewellyn-Waters told the Croydon Crown Court jury.

"The attacks were designed to degrade and instil terror in both women for the defendants sense of power and self-gratification."

The second victim - a 21 year-old mini-cab controller - had arrived at the address on April 20, last year for an alcohol and cannabis party and was introduced by the defendants to Webb, who is known as 'Mercy'.

"She was sexually and physically attacked and vaginally and orally raped and Cassie Webb encouraged the male defendants," explained Miss Llewellyn-Waters.

"She was subjected to prolonged violence and sadistic behaviour designed to humiliate, punish and petrify."

The victim was beaten with a belt and repeatedly punched in the face and head after Kraftner had accused her of "disrespect."

"Cassie Webb began to fan the flames by saying the victim was bringing bad vibes into the flat," added the prosecutor.

Webb remained as the defendants demanded the victim strip naked and was beaten when she initially refused.

She also watched as the victim was ordered to insert a broomstick into her vagina.

"Casie Webb was watching and filming the attack at this time on her mobile phone," added the prosecutor.

The female defendant egged on the attack as Pinney raped the victim, the jury were told.

"She was told if she was sick they would kill her and Kraftner was laughing," said Miss Llewellyn-Waters.

Webb then left the room as both Pinney and Kraftner raped the victim, who was left with black eyes and bruising to her chest and arms.

Both men also deny an earlier rape on a 17 year-old girl at the address on July 29, 2009.

"On that occasion Pinney and Kraftner simultaneously engaged in oral and vaginal rape."

Webb has pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting rape; two counts of aiding and abetting sexual activity and aiding and abetting false imprisonment.

Both male defendants have pleaded not guilty to raping both women plus charges of sexual activity and false imprisonment.

Trial continues...........

Sikh Avoids Prison For Violent Religious Protest

A “frenzied” Sikh protestor, who threw bricks and a wooden pole at police during a violent demonstration against a controversial religious speaker, has dodged prison with a suspended sentence.

Debt advisor Jagjeet Dhesi, 25, of Springfield Crescent, West Bromwich travelled to the heart of the Sikh community in Southall, West London intent on peaceful protest.

However, approximately 100 rioters attempted to storm the Gurdwara where banned preacher Darshan Singh was preaching, despite his excommunication from the faith.

First-time offender Dhesi – an ex-Lance Corporal in the Territorial Army – pleaded guilty to affray outside the temple on March 19, last year and was given eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Prosecutor Mr. Lyall Thompson told Isleworth Crown Court (pictured): “Police officers identified this defendant as a main aggressor, he was livid and shouting in a frenzied state.

“He was riling the crowd and encouraging them to throw objects at the Gurdwara and at the police.

“He threw half-bricks at police and a wooden pole at officers like a javelin.”

Police knew the event was a potential flashpoint, but were quickly overcome by the numbers of protestors and requested back-up.

“Officers lost control and have described being swamped by men screaming in their faces: ‘You are supporting criminals. He should not be in there’.”

Some protestors scaled the temple’s seven-foot wall as others tried to lift the gates off their hinges.

Tempers were enflamed as they watched some demonstrators who broke through to the temple grounds beaten with sticks and having their turbans knocked off by the event orgainisers.

Police saw a variety of objects including knives, chairs, sticks and fireworks hurled at the building by the mob.

Eventually the Territorial Support Group were needed to disperse the crowd and some officers were left with injuries to their arms and hands.

The Gurdwara organising committee identified four further suspects, who were arrested by police, but charges were never brought.

When quizzed Dhesi – easily identified by police due to his short stature – insisted only throwing a brick in retaliation after it was aimed at him.

“Mr. Dhesi takes his religion very seriously, but accepts the law is more important,” said Mr. Michael House, defending.

“He travelled down from West Bromwich to peacefully protest against the speech, but suffered a red mist and behaved out of character.”

Judge Andrew McDowall told recently married Dhesi: “I accept this incident was out of character and although you felt strongly about what happened at the temple you did not go there intent on violence.

“You did not start things and you yourself received some injury.”

Dhesi was also ordered to complete 180 hours community service work and pay £250 costs.

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.