'Seat Rage' Commuter Loses Assault Appeal

A drunken financial advisor, who punched a fellow train passenger, leaving him permanently scarred after a 'seat rage' row, lost his £50,000 appeal today.

Angry Kevin Fowler, 46, (pic.top) picked-up and threw 39 year-old software account manager Adrian Farthing's laptop bag at him, prompting a confrontation on the late-night commuter service.

"It is always sad when two professional men wind up in an absurd dispute about a bag left on a seat in circumstances where it leads to violence," announced Croydon Crown Court Judge Timothy Stow QC.

"This was a ridiculous dispute. It should never have reached a point where there was physical contact.

"The defendant was positively drunk and was far more aggressive and we are quite satisfied he simply lost his temper when Mr. Farthing laughed at him.

"There is no way laughing mockingly can justify a physical attack.

"He punched him hard on the top of the head, forcing his face forward onto the tray in front of him."

Father-of-two Fowler, of Withdean Avenue, Goring-by-Sea, Worthing, who told the court he had spent £50,000 in legal fees fighting to clear his name, was previously convicted of assaulting Mr. Farthing on the London Bridge to Brighton service on August 4, last year.

When quizzed by police after a night in a cell he complained: "I'm a middle-aged, middle-class bloke standing up for the rights of rail travellers, who have a right to use a seat."

He sold his company after the conviction and is now employed as a management consultant.

"This gentleman came in, picked-up my laptop bag, and threw it at me," Mr. Farthing (pic.bottom) told the appeal. "An arrogant throw in my direction.

"He said he bought a ticket for the train and had every right to sit there.

"I asked him why he was being so vulgar and rude and he said: 'You'd better fucking shut up.'

"He was very slurred in his speech and appeared to be incredibly drunk.

"I had a laugh at him in a mocking way and I believe that inflamed him because the next thing that happened was that I received a blow to the top of my head.

"It was a very violent blow and forced my head down and I suffered a cut to my eye. I assume the cut was caused by the tray in front of me and it split the skin open an inch and a half.

"My coffee spilt all over my lap. At that point I was in a state of shock."

Mr. Farthing denied he was trying to protect his personal space on the crowded train by also pulling down the tray behind the seat next to him and placing his coffee on it.

The pair got off the train at East Croydon station and talked to police. "He was looking rather pleased with himself," said Mr. Farthing.

Fowler told the appeal he had approximately four to five pints after a training day in the City of London, but was not as drunk as witnesses described and claimed Mr. Farthing was the trouble-maker.

"He was condescending, patronising, sarcastic, passive aggressive," said Fowler. "He was playing games and he laughed at me."

Fowler admitted striking out in self-defence when Mr. Farthing made a sudden move towards him.

"I was just instinctively looking to protect myself. I was not looking for trouble, I was with colleagues and a long way from home, the last thing I needed was any hassle."

Fowler's sentence of a twelve month community order, including 200 hours community service work remains, along with an order to pay Mr. Farthing £1500 compensation and £550 magistrates' court costs and £500 appeal costs.

Snapper Caught With Sordid Images

A popular local award-winning wedding photographer confessed he had a fascination with underage girls when police raided his Mitcham home and seized twenty-six indecent videos and images.

Jeff Sham, 33, of New Road, who works all over London and the south-east had laptop downloads, which included adults having sex with girls under sixteen years-old, bondage and a child engaged in sexual activity with a dog.

He pleaded guilty to seven counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and possessing an indecent image of a child on or before May 22.

Sham is Surrey's only member of the professional Guild of Wedding Photographers.

Prosecutor Miss Shekinah Anson told Croydon Crown Court (pictured) twenty-two of the images were at level four; two at level three and and two at level five, the most extreme.

Officers executed a search warrant on May 22, seizing various items of computer equipment and media storage.

“He admitted entering chatrooms and said he had an interest in father daughter sex and engaged in role play,” explained Miss Anson today.

“He said while online in the chatrooms he was invited to visit and view other files and admitted downloading and saving some of them.”

The first-time offender was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, placed on a twelve-month probation order and was ordered to complete a sixty-day internet sex offender programme.

“It is a small number of images and there is no point sending him down for four weeks,” announced the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon. “He has got to sort himself out.”

The judge ordered police to return Sham's laptop, minus the indecent images.

“Even though he has this unfortunate trait it would be disproportionate for me to take away his life's work.”

Sham will have to sign the Sex Offenders Register for a period of seven years and was made subject to a Sexual Offenders Prevention Order restricting his physical and online contect with children.

Museum Expert Installed Secret Toilet Camera

A world-renowned paper conservation expert with the Victoria and Albert Museum installed a secret camera in a first-floor disabled toilet and kept a collection of women's clothes, wigs and make-up under his desk.

Michael Wheeler, 54, the award-winning Senior Paper Conservator at the V & A in Cromwell Road, South Kensington told police when interviewed: "I suffer from a sexual addiction. The recordings were for my own use."

Wheeler, who been at the museum for seventeen years and lectured all over the world, pleaded guilty on his first appearance to voyeurism on August 10 in that he installed equipment with intent to observe others doing a private act for his own sexual gratification.

He admitted a second voyeurism charge that on or before August 10 he recorded another person doing a private act for the purpose of his own sexual gratification.

Prosecutor Mr. Robert Simpson told West London Magistrates' Court yesterday: "On the first floor there is a disabled toilet used by both men and women.

"There was a lady using the facilities when she noticed a strange coat hook opposite the toilet bowl and alerted staff.

"It was a covert camera concealed within the hook."

The camera was examined and Wheeler was easily identified because he recorded himself.

"The defendant was recorded as the person putting it there at the time.

"It was explained to him that there would be a search of his workspace and Mr. Wheeler said: "The jiffy bag under my desk. That's all you need."

Another covert camera was inside the bag along with women's clothing, wigs, make-up and what Mr. Simpson described as "other items for sexual gratification."

The prosecutor added explained the defendant's memory stick were analysed.

"There were images of men and women using the lavatory. The one's of the men standing up are more explicit."

The magistrates bailed Wheeler for a pre sentence report to January 14 and the Chairwoman told him: "This is a very serious matter. It will be a hefty sentence one way or another.

"This is a very serious matter and there will be a substantial sentence for you."

Wheeler, who lives on a boat in South Dock Marina, Rope Street, Rotherhithe graduated from the University of Northumbria and specialises in Indian and Asian art on paper and architectural drawings.

He has lectured in Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Finland, India and Singapore and advised on projects in India and Egypt.

Wheeler was the head paper conservator at the Auckland City Art Gallery from 1987 and in 1990 was awarded the Andrew W Mellon fellowship at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

He is also an accredited member of the Institute of Conservation since 2000 and is a member of the professional accredtation committee.

Knight's Mobility Scooter Nicked

A boozy opportunist thief broke into Sir William Arbuthnot's car outside his exlusive West London home, taking a mobility scooter from the back of the vehicle.

Jobless Zowie Andrews, 37, of Berenger Walk, World's End Estate, West Brompton also snatched £2.00 cash.

He pleaded guilty at West London Magistrates' Court today to theft from Sir William's vehicle in Cathcart Road, West Brompton (pictured) on October 26.

Prosecutor Mr. Robert Simpson told the court the victim noticed the scooter had been taken from his car and it was recovered undamaged a few streets away.

Andrews left a pair of sunglasses inside the car and police matched his DNA, which they had on file, to them.

“He said he was drunk and as he passed the vehicle he saw the scooter and thought it might be worth something,” explained Mr. Simpson. “He said he was drunk and apologised.”

Andrews told the court: “I was having difficulties in my personal life, got drunk, and stupidly entered the vehicle.

“Two days later I saw a sign that it was a mobility scooter and made every effort to put it back.

“I'm sorry. It was stupid.”

Andrews was told by the magistrates: “It is very unfortunate that you were drunk that day and took someone's mobility scooter.

“There is no excuse really.”

He was fined £65, with £30 costs and was ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

Bungling Bank Fraud Blown

A nervous bank fraudster's clumsy attempt to loot an innocent customer's account of £4,800 alerted suspicious staff, who quickly raised the alarm.

Hove's Raymond Clark, 50, (pictured) made an appointment at a Bromley branch of Santander - giving notice that he was the account holder and wished to withdraw funds.

Croydon Crown Court heard Clark seemed nervous as he produced a driving licence and an American Express card as proof of identity.

Suspicious staff called the police and Clark tried to flee when he knew officers were on the way.

The defendant is currently on a community order imposed at Lewes Crown Court for drug-related offences.

He was placed on another twelve-month community order and told he must complete 100 hours of community service work.

Machete Man 'Flipped' And Slashed Houseguest

A machete-wielding New Addington man, high on a cocktail of booze and cocaine, who slashed a houseguest's hand and head during a violent row at his home, was spared prison yesterday.

Tarmacer Joseph March, 28, of Queen Elizabeth Drive “flipped” when a group of friends returned to his house after a drinking-session and started playing loud music.

“This was a completely horrifying incident and it must have been terrifying seeing someone brandishing this weapon with lots of people around,” Recorder Charles George QC told the first-time offender.

“Someone got slashed to the back of the head, which they needed stitiches for, and slashed to the hand, for which they also needed stitches.”

Father-of-two March pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to maliciously wounding Jack Thomas, causing him grievous bodily harm, at the address on September 15.

Prosecutor Miss Sue Obeney told the court: “The victim had gone to the pub and was in the company of the defendant and others and went back to the defendant's house.

“Things seemed to be okay until the victim heard a commotion upstairs, where the defendant was arguing with the victim's cousin.”

March admitted drinking approximately twelve to fourteen pints of lager, three whiskeys and taking half a gramme of cocaine.

The woman March was arguing with, Shelley Travers, was his girlfriend's sister and she slapped him across the face before he reached under his bed and produced the two-foot long machete.

“The defedant was swinging it and Mr. Thomas got in the way to prevent injury to his cousin and the blade struck his hand.

“The defendant started to push him and Shelley out of the house and the blade then also slashed the victim's head.”

Witnesses told police bare-chested March also armed himself with a heavy-duty spanner and held a glass of beer in the other hand, which he smashed in the front garden.

Shelley dialled 999, but also found herself being taken away by police for slapping March across the face again after he had been arrested and was in their custody.

March told the officers: “I admit I cut him up with the machete. I chopped him, I feel no remourse, it was self-defence. I tried to kill the c***.”

After the attack Mr. Thomas suffered sleepless nights and told police: “I feared further reprisals.”

He needed five stitches to his hand and complains of occassional numbness to his thumb and received eight stitches to the back of his head.

“This is a row that has escalated between him and his girlfriend's sister,” said Mr. David Bacup, defending. “There was an issue with money and he was upset about music blaring out of his house.”

Recorder George QC told March: “You flipped and took from under your bed a formidable knife. Your aim was to get everyone out of your house.

“This was a dreadful incident and the court has been remarkably generous to you.”

March received twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years, was ordered to complete 250 hours community service work, an anger management course, pay £500 compensation to Mr. Thomas and £100 costs.

Insurance Fraudster's £7K I Phone Scam

An insurance fraudster, who created ten bogus identities in a £7,000 I Phone scam was spared jail today.

Shufahit Hussain, 23, of Back Chapel Street, Tottington, Bury, Lancashire was arrested despite smashing his laptop's hard drive with a hammer during a police raid.

He pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates' Court (pictured) to ten charges of fraud by false representation between October 13 and 31, last year in relation to home insurance policies he created.

“This an allegation of fraud against Aviva and the creation of fraudulent policies, all in the name of Smith,” said prosecutor Mr. Manjit Mahal.

“The policies were taken out by phone on the first of October last year in the same surname.

“All the policies were opened using the same bank details and they relate back to Mr. Hussain.

Mr. Hussain, posing as a Mr. Smith on each occasion attempted to make claims for the loss of mobile phones, alledging he had lost them on the way to work.

The police were made aware and they discovered the person making all the calls was the same person, Mr. Hussain.

“On each occasion the person claiming to be Mr. Smith claims the phone was lost on the route to work and the loss had been reported to the police.”

West Yorkshire Police had eight crime numbers for the claims, however four of the references were for different items.

“As far as West Yorkshire Police were concerned the numbers came back not as I Phones, but other makes of phones.”

On April 25 Hussain was not at home when police raided his house, but found him at his brother's address in Burnley.

“Officers knocked on the door and there was a ten minute delay,” explained Mr. Mahal. “The officers were aware that a person was peering out of the window at them.

Police eventually gained access and searched a room the defendant used and slept in during visits.

“In his room was a Samsung laptop with the hard drive removed and destroyed.
“Hussain had used a metal hammer to destoy the hard drive.”

If the scam was successful Aviva would have lost £7,200.

“He has done something very similar in the past,” added Mr. Mahal, explaining Hussein was conditionally discharged by Blackburn Magistrates Court for deception in 2010.

He was sentenced to six weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, ordered to perform 100 hours community service and pay £85 costs.

The New Battle Of Britain: Poland V Ireland

A Polish pastry chef, caught on CCTV reigning a dozen violent blows down on a vulnerable woman at the Battle of Britain memorial, has dodged prison.

Jakub Marchewka, 32, of Louis Road, Stratford inflicted an egg-sized swelling above the victim's left eye during the 2am attack.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting Irishwoman Catherine Sultan in Victoria Embankment, Westminster on May 28.

Prosecutor Mr. Manjit Mahal told City of London Magistrates' Court today the alarm was raised by nearby Ministry of Defence police, who reported a group assaulting a woman.

CCTV captured the moment a group surrounded Miss Sultan, who had her back against the memorial (pictured), and Marchewka, who was wearing a distinctive blue t-shirt, repeatedly punched her.

“A security guard told police he saw a group of males punching someone on the ground and he ran across the road with a colleague.

“They pulled two of the males off and saw that the person on the ground was a white female.”

The court viewed the CCTV footage, which showed the victim knocking a lit cigarette out of Marchewka's hand seconds before the assault.

The defendant claims he was striking the victim in an attempt to force her to release her grip on his girlfriend's hair.

“The victim is a lady that suffers mental health issues,” added Mr. Mahal. “She was not able to give evidence due to her mental state.”

Marchewka says he was socialising with friends when Miss Sultan approached them to ask where her brother was and a row erupted.

In a statement he admitted: “I accept that I punched her several times while she was on the ground.

“I accept that my knuckles were reddened and I had a small cut to my knuckle.”

His lawyer told the court: “He realises he acted excessively and went to far in protecting his girlfriend.”

Marchewka, employed by a Mayfair restaurant, was sentenced to eighteen weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, ordered to complete 250 hours community service work, pay £200 compensation to Miss Sultan and £85 costs. 

Rogue Builder's Illegal Profits 'Washed' By Pal

A money launderer, who washed £31,000 through his bank account, which had been scammed from a pensioner by cowboy builders working on his suburban driveway, dodged prison with a suspended sentence yesterday.

Alan Hayton, 63, (pictured) of Portland Avenue, Sittingbourne paid a £17,000 cheque made out 'to cash' into his account and a second £14,000 cheque was blocked by suspicious bank staff.

The victim, John Devereux, of Belmont Road, Chislehurst, also paid another £8,000 cash to the builders, who have never been caught after his partner, who is recovering from a brain tumour, was preyed upon.

"You must have been aware there were vulnerable victims having money extracted from them by your friend," Croydon Crown Court Recorder Niall Quinn QC told Hayton. 

"They have been deprived of their entire life savings and the work was done in a contemptuous manner." 

Hayton was sentenced to eleven months imprisonment, suspended for two years, ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mr. Devereux and obey a night time curfew for three months.

The grandfather, who claims disability living allowance, will not have to contribute to the £7,750 costs requested by the opposition.

Hayton was convicted of acquiring criminal property, namely the two cheques between June 28 and July 14, last year, converting criminal property, namely the £17,000 cheque and attempting to convert criminal property, namely the £14,000 cheque.

Prosecutor Miss Rebecca Foulkes told the jury Mr. Devereux returned home to find his driveway being dug up after the builders had a conversation with his partner.

"She told him they had come around and knocked on the door and she had given permission to work on the drive and an Irishman, known as 'John' arrived later.

"The work continued and Mr. Devereux was asked for a cheque for seventeen thousand pounds and even though he was shocked by the amount, after a conversation he wrote a cheque, leaving the payee blank.

"That cheque went into the bank account of Mr. Hayton and Mr. Devereux then paid eight thousand pounds cash for a pipe to be laid under the driveway.

"A few days later Mr. Devereux was asked for more money for a trench and wrote out a cheque for fourteen thousand after first being asked for twenty thousand."

Again the cheque was paid into Hayton's account, but was blocked by the bank and trading standards alerted.

The determined cowboy builders even tried to persuade Mr. Devereux to make an electronic transfer payment, but fortunately this was unsuccessful.

"These sums were criminal property because they were obtained by fraud perpetuated on Mr. Devereux and his partner," added Miss Foulkes.

"They could see she was a vulnerable person and they took advantage and lied to Mr. Devereux about he cost of work to the driveway and the house.

"The work on the driveway was worth a small fraction of what was paid out and Mr. Hayton must have known or suspected these cheques were the proceeds of criminal property and allowed his account to be used."

Hayton claims he cashed the cheques for a man called Joe Joyce in return for a £24 crate of beer.

His lawyer Miss Francesca Levett told the court: "It is not a sophisticated attempt to defraud someone. It was very easily traced back to him.

"He was expecting a good drink in it for him, which he expected to be a few hundred pounds, but all he did get was a drink, that crate of beer.

"He is not a well man and Mr. Joyce preyed on the naivety of Mr. Hayton, who after the trial was admitted to Mayday Hospital after collapsing, which was brought about by stress."

Groper Told Victim He Needed A Girlfriend

A local sex pest groped a woman as she queued at a hot-dog stand, telling her: “You need a boyfriend and I need a girlfriend.”

First-time offender Michael Ardy, 47, (pictured) of Benhill Wood Road, Sutton put his hand between the victim's legs and on her bottom, but denies inviting her back to the flat he shares with his mother.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to sexually assaulting the woman in Sutton High Street on July 22 and yesterday was placed under probation supervision for twelve months.

The court was told the woman was with a small boy when Ardy approached and the defendant insists his hands never went under the victim's clothing.

Paedo Caught After Getting Laptop Fixed

A paedophile's sick images of children and adults having sex with animals were found when he took his laptop into work for repair.

Delivery driver Andrew James Flack, 54, of Longheath Gardens, Croydon has dodged prison with a suspended sentence.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to six sample charges of possessing an indecent photograph of a child on or before February 16.

The first-time offender also pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing extreme pornography, namely people engaged in sexual activity with animals.

Flack was originally charged with possessing 1872 indecent images of children at level one; 103 at level two; 329 at level three and 347 at level four.

He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years and placed on twelve months supervision with a specific activity requirement.

Angry Brother Slashes Sister's Boyfriend With Barber's Blade

A convicted knifeman, who left his sister's boyfriend with "appalling disfiguring scars" after attacking him with a sharp barber's blade, has been jailed for six years.

Julian Branyik, 28, launched his ferocious onslaught when left alone in the kitchen of his Croydon home with the victim, who had been invited over for a friendly drink.

Croydon Crown Court (pictured) heard Branyik, previously jailed for eighteen months for brandishing a kitchen knife at a queue of late-night shoppers, was never happy about his sister's relationship and there had been threats.

He pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, at the flat on July 2.

Branyik invited his sister and her boyfriend over for a drink, but during the evening asked his sibling to go out for some beer.

He head-butted the victim, connecting with the bridge of the victim's nose, tried to punch him in the face and then connected with a blow to the mouth, breaking a tooth.

Branyik grabbed a sharp knife, which his hairdresser sister used for work, and slashed the victim's face, inflicting a five to six inch wound.

The victim later told police the defendant was "jabbing" him all over the face with the blade, inflicting several more cuts.

When the boyfriend kicked-out in self-defence he was stabbed to the rear of his right thigh.

Branyik told him: "You got off lightly. I was going to cut your hands off."

The court heard the victim has a long criminal record, including assaults on police, and had been violent towards Branyik's sister for a year and assaulted her a few weeks before.

"These are quite appalling disfiguring scars," said the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon, looking at photos of the victim's injuries.

In relation to Branyik he added: "He is an educated man. It is a tragedy what has happened."

Gunman Gets 30 Years For Shooting Rival

A gunman, who tried to kill a bitter drugs rival by chasing and blasting him in the chest on a St. Alban's housing estate, was caged for thirty years yesterday.

Andre Ryan, 22, (pic.top) of Belmont Court, Belmont Hill missed 24 year-old Jahan Malik with his first shot, but was captured on CCTV firing his shotgun a second time in front of witnesses.

His accomplice, Anthony Ajayi, 22, (pic.mid.) of Coningsby Bank received six years for his role in the shooting.

A series of disputes over cannabis, money, damage to a vehicle and a nightclub confrontation resulted in the June 5 confrontation in Praetorian Court.

Ryan was found guilty by a Croydon Crown Court jury of attempted murder; possession of a firearm, with intent to endanger life and possession of a police baton and meat cleaver as offensive weapons. He admitted unlawful possession of a .410 calibre shotgun.

Ajayi was cleared of attempted murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm, but found guilty of possession of a firearm, with intent to endanger life and possession of the police baton as an offensive weapon. He had admitted possessing the cleaver.

“We are dealing here with a feud between rivals in the drugs trade in St. Alban's, that is obvious,” said Judge Nicholas Ainley.

“A debt as little as five hundred pounds seems to have been at least one of the causes of what happened, plus a simmering background.”

Prosecutor Miss Isabel Delamere told the court: “Two to three months before there had been some altercation in a St. Alban's nightclub, with one looking at another and talk of a fight.

“It is also said Mr. Malik (pic.bottom) angered Ryan by making him wait over the supply of some cannabis.”

Ryan previously attacked a van Mr. Malik was travelling in with a hammer while Ajayi held the door closed to prevent him escaping, but never paid for the damage he caused, the jury were told.

On the morning of the shooting Ajayi was “extremly angry and aggressive” while making an 8am visit to the home of a friend of Mr. Malik.

This resulted in Mr. Malik and that friend visiting Ajayi's address and banging on the front door while only the defendant's girlfriend was inside.

“There was also a heated argument with shouting and swearing between Mr. Malik and whoever was down the end of the phone, either Ryan or Ajayi,” added Miss Delamere.

“You decided to go out for a fight with your enemy Malik and decided to do it armed with a loaded and cocked gun,” Judge Ainley told Ryan.

“You, Ajayi had armed yourself with a meat cleaver, a weapon that could easily have caused death and could have maimed anyone it was used against.

“You pulled out a police baton and Malik was there with a dog and baseball bat, but when the CCTV was pointed out to you, you realised it was madness to carry on.

“You tried to stop Ryan, you failed, and you Ryan shot at Malik once.

“I do not accept you thought he had a gun and then you chased him and tried to murder him and you fired that gun a second time.

“It is great fortune that he survived, but he was seriously injured and these injuries will last a very long time.

“These are offences of the gravest seriousness,”

In the momernts before the shooting, which took place at 10.30am, Mr. Malik had a baseball bat in one hand and a dog on a lead in the other.

“When he was shot he had neither and was seen to run across the car park, chased by Ryan, and seen raising his hand in obvious surrender, posing no threat to this defendant,” said Miss Delamere.

“That is when he was shot at a seond time.”

Mr. Malik was rushed to hospital by air ambulance and recovered from his injury.

Bentley-Driving Benefits Cheat With Expensive Tastes Behind Bars

A Bentley-driving benefits cheat, who lived a double life as a gastropub boss serving a wealthy yachting community £125 truffle and champagne burgers, was convicted of a £30,000 fraud today.

Businessman Stephen John Sussams, 59, the ex-boss of the landmark Royal Dart, The Square, Kingswear, Devon treated the council flat he received housing benefit for as his London "pied-à-terre" during the scam.

He will now swap his old gourmet menu, which included crocodile, impala and ostrich, for prison food after being remanded in custody until his sentencing on January 11 at Croydon Crown Court.

"I am not in the business of unrealistically raising expectations, " Judge Peter Gow QC told Sussams, who bitterly fought the case. "I am prepared to adjourn for a pre-sentence report, but realistically it can only go to the length of the sentence of imprisonment, which I believe is inevitable in this case."

Sussams was featured in a BBC Panorama investigation screened last year called 'Britain on the Fiddle' and when confronted while sitting in his Bentley said he refused to engage in "trial by television."

He deliberately kept his business interests and three companies secret from Croydon Council, who continued paying £14,625 to cover the rent and council tax on the one-bedroom flat he shared with his younger civil partner in Marston Way, Upper Norwood.

Sussams also drained the account of the flat's deceased former tenant, Keith Dickinson, who  once worked for nightclub boss Peter Stringfellow, stealing £17,600 in carer's allowance payments.

The jury took just ninety minutes to unanimously convict Sussams of stealing the allowance payments from the London Borough of Croydon between August 28, 2008 and January 13, 2009 and dishonestly making a false statement on or about September 19, 2008 in relation to a housing and council tax benefit claim by failing to declare he was living with his civil partner Evengy Vasin.

He was also convicted of fraud between June 1, 2009 and March 31, this year by dishonestly failing to disclose to Croydon he was the company director of Jireh Investments and Assets and similarly that he was the company director of Kingwear Inns between October 29, 2010 and March 31, this year and Kingswear Inns (Assets) between December 2, 2010 and March 31, this year. 

"This defendant was living in Devon as the landlord of that pub, he was not living in Croydon," prosecutor Miss Nancy Udom told the jury. "The flat he was claiming housing and council tax benefit on was a pied-à-terre in the south-east for Mr. Sussams."

"He had a responsibility to tell the council he was linked to a business in Devon ," added Miss Udom. "This was dishonesty, this was fraudulent.

"He knew that if he told the truth the payments would stop and he chose to be dishonest rather than lose the flat in Croydon."

The jury were told Sussams was the primary carer for Keith Dickinson, the former tenant of the flat in Marston Way, Upper Norwood.

When he died on August 28, 2008 the direct carer's payment continued being made into his bank account.

"Mr Sussams, as the primary carer, had access to this bank account and would have been aware that very large sums were coming into the bank account.

"This defendant made large withdrawals from the account, some coincided with the payments going in or within a couple of days," explained Miss Udom.

Sussams withdrew £3,500 just three days after a direct payment went in and on another occasion withdrew funds on the same day the account was credited.

"This was simply stealing. That money should have been left where it was or returned to the council, not withdrawn by Mr. Sussams."

Croydon council invoiced Sussams for the overpayment, but he simply told them all the money had been dispersed in accordance with Mr. Dickinson's will.

Sussams, who was in receipt of incapacity benefit, successfully claimed housing and council tax benefit as a sole occupier, but deliberately failed to tell the council he was sharing the property with his civil partner Evengy Vasin.

"He did not declare his true personal circumstances and failed to declare that he was living with his partner, Mr. Vasin, his civil partner," said Miss Udom. "In fact he went further and told outright lies and claimed he was the sole occupier."

The couple had a civil ceremony on August 8, 2006.

Sussams told a pack of lies to the jury, insisting he thought the allowance payments to Mr. Dickinson were his Stringfellow's pension and that he honestly believed Croydon Council knew he had his own business.

Sussams received a suspended prison sentence in 1978 for deception and theft and three years imprisonment in 1986 for cannabis production.

Croydon will pursue compensation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.