Footballer Groped Nightclub Girls, Jury Told

A footballer pulled down a nightclub girls's top and groped her breasts - punching her in the face when she objected - and slapped her friend's bum, a jury were told today.

Ex-Crystal Palace FC pro Nathaniel Pinney, 22, of Leybourne Court, Manor Road, South Norwood had pulled down the 23 year-old woman's top twice earlier in the evening at Sutton's Wonderland nightclub, Croydon Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Miss Shahnaz Ahmed said: "The first complainant was sexually assaulted and hit in the face by this defendant and he also sexually assaulted the second complainant.

"He did not know either of these girls. He denies sexually assaulting them, but accepts during the course of the evening he hit the first complainant around the face."

It was a crowded free-entry night at the Cheam Road club, where the girls were drinking and enjoying themselves.

"He went up to her and pulled down her top and exposed her and she told him to leave her alone," explained Miss Shahnaz. 

"He did it again. He pulled her top down and exposed her bra and then did it a third time and pulled her bra down and placed his hands on her breasts.

"He continued by slapping her friend on the bottom.

"A fight broke out and he hit the first complainant in the face."

Pinney, a product of Palace's celebrated youth system, was released by the club last summer and now plays in Ryman's Premier Division for Carshalton Athletic.

He was followed down the street to a kebab take-away by a bouncer and identified to police.

He was arrested and questioned at Sutton Police Station.

"He denied sexually assaulting these girls," said Miss Ahmed.

The woman, who says Pinney pulled her top down three times, told the jury the first incident occurred as she chatted with a friend in the club.

"I felt a hand grab my top and pull it down the full length of my cleavage," she explained. "It was a passer-by as they were walking past.

'I did say: 'F*** off,' but I don't know if the person heard it."

She complained to the club's bouncers, who promised to "sort it," but shortly afterward the same thing happened again.

"I saw the same guy and he grabbed me in the same manner as the first time.

"It scared me a bit because I was not prepared for it. He just laughed.

"He grabbed me a little bit harder and got the whole breast out and grabbed it and held it. It hurt."

The tearful witness added: "He grabbed from the side and moved the bra down. It was my right breast.

"I pushed his hand away and went back to my friends.

"We went to talk to him and his friends were around and he hit me with an open hand and then I was hit in the head two or three times.

"It really hurt. He hit me for no reason."

Pinney has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting the young women, but has admitted a charge of common assault against the first complainant and will be sentenced at the conclusion of the trial.

Trial continues…………

Screen Villain Faces Red Light Ban

Actor Steven Berkoff will have to appear in court next month if he wants to avoid a driving ban for jumping a red light in the City of London.

The Hollywood and theatre legend's case was adjourned today after the additional penalty points made him liable for disqualification under totting procedures.

Stepney-born Octopussy and Rambo star Berkoff, 75, of Narrow Street, Limehouse was caught jumping the light while driving his VW Beetle in Upper Thames Street at the junction of Queen Street Place on October 25, last year.

The charge was supported by photographic evidence that shows the light was red for 1.5 seconds when Berkoff drove through.

He is due to return to City of London Magistrates' Court on February 18.

Late-Night Muggers On CCTV: Can You ID Them?

Police are hunting these two late-night street muggers, who robbed two women of their mobile phones in East London.

The suspects were caught on CCTV stalking the victims, whose identities have been deliberately obscured.

Officers from Hackney's Robbery Squad have released the image in the hope both men can be identified.

The two women got off a route 243 bus on Kingsland Road, near the junction with Tottenham Road at 11.35pm on November 25, last year.

As they walked towards Bentley Road they were attacked and robbed.

Suspect one is described as a white male, approximately thirty years-old, of medium build, approximately six-feet tall, with short hair and wearing a light-coloured coat and dark woolly hat.

Suspect two is described as a black man, approximately thirty years-old, of slim build, five feet eight inches tall, with dreadlocks.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detctive Constable Alex McCullough on 020 7275 3232, quoting reference number 4631252/11.

Or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Anti-Social Troubleshooter Shouted Gay Slurs During Violent School Outburst

An anti-social behaviour mediator screamed: "You dirty f***ing lesbians," at a same-sex couple during a violent confrontation at her childrens' school - spitting in one of the women's face's and forcing her finger up one of their friends' nose.

Diana Marquis, 51, (pictured) of Songhurst Close, Croydon is a mediator with the Wandle Housing Association and sorts out problems between neighbours, but lost her cool during a row over her and the couple's respective children.

She will now have to attend diversity awareness classes as part of her punishment.

"I will kill everyone. I will go to prison for my children, I will protect my children," she told a teaching assistant at West Thornton Academy School, Rose Court Road, Croydon.

Mother-of-three Marquis, denied, but was convicted of assaulting Isobel Hodson , who is in a civil partnership with Stephanie Richards and assaulting another parent who became involved in the row, Debbie Cooplestone on June 20, last year.

She was also convicted on three counts of threatening behaviour towards the couple and headmistress Jo Simmonds on the same occasion and harassing the couple between June 13 and June 20 at the school by abusing them with homophobic language.

Up to twenty-five children, aged between five and eleven years-old, many in tears, witnessed the row, which also included Marquis shouting at the head in the reception area: "I'm gonna take that smile off your face."

Prosecutor Miss Eka Kalunta-Ike told Croydon Magistrates' Court: "Ms Richards has described four incidents where she has been verbally abused by the defendant, who has used homophobic language in the hearing of other children, including hers.

"When Ms Richards collected her children from the school on June the thirteenth the defendant shouted at one of her children and the child started to cry.

"The defendant then swore at Ms Richards, referring to her as a: 'F***ing lesbian'."

A week later Marquis again arrived at the school in an aggressive mood. "She abused the couple, calling them: 'Dirty f***ing lesbians.'

"Another parent, Debbie Cooplestone, challenged her about her behaviour and was assaulted.

"The assault involved the defendant sticking her right index finger in her right nostril, causing her discomfort."

The parties left, but almost immediately returned at the school's request for clear-the-air talks, which quickly went downhill.

"Marquis shouted and swore at the couple and spat at Ms Hodson's face," explained Miss Kalunta-Ike. "Ms Richards admits she attempted to punch the defendant, but she ducked out of the way.

"The defendant had to be restrained and escorted inside by school staff and was taken to the headmistress's office.

"It is unfortunate the children were present while homophobic remarks were made and the victims in this case feel humiliated and degraded."

Teaching assistant Peter Kerwood told the earlier trial Marquis was annoyed with two other children as she arrived to collect her own son.

"She came over and started shouting at them. It was very aggressive and I jumped in as I felt Mrs Marquis' behaviour was not acceptable.

"I moved her back a safe distance, but she was still aggressive, saying things under her breath, she was clearly not happy with me."

Marquis was unhappy about the way the school handled a fight between her son and the same-sex couple's daughter, suggesting there was an organised conspiracy against her.

She told the court: "Their son has been to my house for tea. We have each others phone numbers and I have no issue with their sexuality.

"I approached her with respect. I was not angry."

Marquis was placed on a twelve month community order, with the diversity course a required activity, ordered to perform 200 hours community service and pay each assault victim £100 compensation.

Nigerian ID Thief's £14K Benefit Fraud

The Two Faces Of Brinsley Holman: Fake (Top) & Genuine (Bottom)

A Nigerian fraudster, who was issued a genuine British passport despite being a different race to the corporate stockbroker whose identity he hijacked, has been jailed for fifteen months.

The genuine Brinsley Holman, 47, (pic.bottom) was held at Madrid's Barajas International Airport for five hours on a European Arrest Warrant when he flew in on a family holiday because of a Polish fraud committed by the impostor.

His true identity is not known, but he continues to claim he is the true Leigh-on-Sea born Holman and used the passport to illegally claim over £14,500 in benefits and secure British citizenship for his daughter.

Bizarrely the defendant, (pic.top) of Wellington House, Rodwell Close, Ruislip was prosecuted at Isleworth Crown Court under his fake Holman name and he will be extradited to Poland on completion of his sentence to serve three-and-a-half years for fraud and forgery.

The genuine Holman was the victim of a burglary at his home in Waldemar Avenue, Fulham on June 22, 2000 and his old-style passport was taken.

He reported it stolen, but despite this the defendant used it to obtain a replacement passport with his own photograph in it in 2006.

"The old passport was deemed good evidence of legitimacy so extra checks did not take place," explained prosecutor Mr. Mark Himsworth. "The person in the dock is identified as Brinsley Holman, but that is not really his name.

"The photograph in the original passport was very obviously a white man and the defendant is obviously black.

"The Crown say this defendant has replaced the photograph of the white Mr. Holman with a photo of himself."

The Spanish authorities eventually released the genuine Holman after receiving a photograph of the defendant, but he was stopped again on the same warrant when he returned to the UK.

"The Crown say that this was an audacious identity theft and benefit fraud," Mr. Himsworth told the jury. 

"The defendant applied for a replacement passport using his own photograph and the passport office issued a valid British passport with the same date of birth as the genuine Mr. Holman.

"He was applying for a passport he must have known he was not entitled to and it was issued despite the fact the genuine Mr. Holman reported it stolen.

"The defendant then adopted the identity of Brinsley Holman and applied for a Nigerian passport in that name and applied for a British passport for his daughter in the name of Holman."

The defendant successfully claimed jobseekers allowance in January 2010, using the Holman passport as proof of identity and citizenship, and also received child benefit.

He was eventually caught out after moving to the London Borough of Hillingdon and applying for housing benefit and council tax benefit in April, 2011.

When quizzed the defendant insisted he was born Brinsley Holman in Essex to a Nigerian mother and Caribbean father, but was raised in the West African country.

The jury convicted him of possession of an improperly obtained British passport, with intent, and dishonestly making a false representation to obtain  benefit on or about April 27, 2011.

Kosher Restaurant Staff Cleared Of Beating-Up Disgruntled Diner

Cleared: Aziz Hassan & Khalid Hassan

A manager and waiter at the West End's only kosher restaurant, accused of attacking a Jewish customer who complained about a £3.50 surcharge and compulsory tip, were cleared by a jury yesterday.

The customer claimed he was picked up and thrown into the gutter outside – banging his head on the bonnet of a parked car – before being repeatedly stamped on the head and face.

Aziz Hassan, 57, and Khalid Hassan, 28, were found not guilty of assaulting Amiel Menachem Elkus, causing him actual bodily harm, outside Reuben's, Baker Street, on July 11, 2011.

When quizzed by police Aziz insisted he thought the customer was trying to flee the resturant without paying for his meal.

Hendon resident Mr. Elkus told Croydon Crown Court he was careful not to exceed the £30.00 limit his employers give him for meals when he ordered Beef Wellington at the resturant.

“The bill was for £38.95, which I was surprised about. I was expecting it to be around £30 because I have an allowance from work, which is £30.

“I was surprised and asked the waiter to explain the bill and he said it was for extras and said it was on the menu.

“There was a further charge for £3.50 and an extra £5ish for service.

“I had not had any extras and the waiter, who had been surly, became very aggressive and said: 'You are not leaving without paying.'

“I expected to only be paying for what I had eaten.”

The customer demanded to see the manager and the waiter, Khalid Hassan, blocked the entrance.

“I felt very threatened and trapped so I tried to push past him and I was bundled outside,” exlained Mr. Elkus.

“I had my legs lifted off the ground and my head hit a car that was parked outside. I was bundled out of the resturant and pushed down.

“I was pinned down on the road. One person had his foot on my arm and the waiter was kneeling on my ribs.

“I was completely blown away by what happened after simply questioning a bill. They proceeded to beat the hell out of me.”

Explaining Aziz's actions Mr. Elkus added: “He stomped on my eye with his Timberland boots.

“I was in shock and screaming at people: 'Get them off me.' I couldn't breathe, I was seeing stars.”

The prosecution say Khalid was also bending Mr. Elkus's fingers back.

“I told the waiter: 'You're breaking my fingers' and he said: 'I don't care.'

“The other man left a footprint on me. He was stamping on my face.

“My kippah had come off in the restaurant, I had severe bruising to my eyes and a cut lip that was caused by stomping.

“I also received scratches to my head from the road surface.”

The jury were shown CCTV footage of the incident and Mr. Elkus told them: “I am where that animal is stomping on my head near the car.

“It is not quite what you would expect for questioning a £3.50 charge.”

Child Molester Coaxed Teen To Hotel Room

A Huddersfield man groomed a 14 year-old girl and made out with her in a hotel room after lying about his age.

Atif Siddique, 24, of Bulay Road, Thornton Lodge travelled down to Croydon for the illicit rendevous after telling the girl he was only four years older than her.

He denied, but was convicted of sexual assault, and was fined £185, with £400 costs and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

He will also have to sign the sex offenders register for five years.

However, Siddique, who is currently being held by the UK Border Agency, was allowed to serve one day in custody as an alternative.

He was convicted at Croydon Magistrates' Court (pictured) of sexually assaulting the girl on a date between May 5 and June 30, last year.

Denying he was telling the court “a pack of lies” Siddique insisted his intentions towards the girl were honourable and he intended to marry her when she turned eighteen years-old.

He told police after his arrest: “She told me she was fifteen years-old, but I was not confident about that.

“We kissed and cuddled in the hotel. It was a mutual thing.”

Siddique encouraged the victim to skip school and travelled down to Croydon on three previous occassions for dates, including a trip to the cinema.

After meeting him face-to-face the girl did not believe he was telling the truth about his age and Siddique confessed he was twenty-four years-old.

They had previously communicated online on Skype.

“I booked the hotel at her request,” he told the court. “If I knew kissing and cuddling was a crime I wouldn't have done it.”

They spent three hours in the hotel room and the victim told the court she and Sidique “french kissed and cuddled.”

Unhappy Customer Armed Himself For Car Lot Confrontation

Unhappy car buyer Peter Luke

A disgruntled Hayes second-hand car buyer, who armed himself with a metal pole and chain during an angry face-to-face confrontation with the dealer, avoided prison yesterday with a suspended sentence.

Peter Luke, 50, of Elmlea Drive was arrested along with his brother after returning to the Croydon lot to demand a refund.

Merril Luke, 52, of Lady Margaret Road, Southall was cleared along with Peter of assaulting the dealer and his assistant.

However, Peter was convicted by a Croydon Crown Court jury of possessing the offensive weapons in Redhouse Industrial Estate, Redhouse Road on August 22, 2011.

He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, ordered to perform 100 hours community service work and pay £1,000 costs.

After a series of angry text messages exchanged between the dealer and one of the brothers they arrived at his car lot to 'sort him out' the jury were told.

Trouble started after Peter bought a Chrysler Voyager from Mr. Sohil Nasarzadeh – nicknamed 'Sam' – and complained the battery was flat as well as reporting other faults.

“Peter maintains the car was in unroadworthy condition and reported the problems to Sam who tried to sort them out,” prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Edwards told the court.

“Peter became angry and in text messages was threatening to sort Sam out and these ended with Mr. Nasarzadeh telling him to: 'F*** off.'

“The brothers visited the car lot and Peter was worked up and angry and his grievance with Sam was obvious.

“He was shouting in his face, so close he was spitting in Sam's face.”

Peter, the jury were told, shouted at Mr. Nasarzadeh: “Don't talk to me like that you foreign c***.”

Mr. Edwards added: “Sam tried to call the police and Peter tried to grab the phone and then he tried to grab the keys from out of Sam's car.”

As the row escalated Peter produced the iron bar and the heavy-duty chain was found in his pocket when he was searched by police.

When quizzed, Peter Luke complained the car he bought was unroadworthy and the alleged weapons were not to be used, but merely act as a “deterrent.”

Museum Paper Expert's V&A Secret Toilet Camera

A world-renowned paper conservation expert with the Victoria and Albert Museum, who installed a secret camera in a disabled toilet and kept a collection of women's clothes, wigs and make-up under his desk, was placed on 12 months supervision today.

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 last month to voyeurism on August 10 last year 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.

Hammersmith Magistrates' Court heard Wheeler filmed himself installing the covert camera inside the toilet door's coat hook.

"Clearly you gave some thought to this and there were two devices for recording," District Judge James Henderson told Wheeler, also ordering him to sign the sex offenders register for five years, attend up to twenty-five counselling sessions and pay £85 costs.

Prosecutor Mr. Tom Gill explained: "On August the tenth at the Victoria and Albert museum, where the defendant was working as a conservator for seventeen years as an expert in his field, a female member of staff was using a staff disabled toilet on the fourth floor.

"She noticed a strange hook on the back of the door and it was found to be a covert camera.

"The SD card was viewed and among the images of males and females using the lavatory was this defendant attaching the camera and sitting back and viewing his handiwork."

When his work area was searched Wheeler said: "The jiffy bag under my desk. That's all you need."

Inside was a second cover camera and also recovered was a red cloth shoulder bag and women's clothing, wigs and make-up and what was previously described as "other items for sexual gratification."

His lawyer Mr. Hulus Ali told the court: "The minute he was arrested he went to these counselling sessions and has attended eight already.

"He may have lost his job, but his wife is in employment and he has over twenty thousand pounds in savings and can easily afford these sessions.

"These images were for himself. They were not to be sighted by anyone else."

Mr. Henderson told Wheeler: "You could go to prison for this. In theory for eighteen weeks plus, but that is for the most serious category, which is recording and distributing."

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 accreditation committee.

Torture Charges: Nepalese Colonel In Custody

Colonel Kumar Lama

A serving Colonel in the Nepalese army has appeared in custody at a London court, accused of torturing two detained men at his home barracks over seven years ago.

Kumar Lama, 46, of St. Peter's Road, St. Leonards's-on-Sea, East Sussex allegedly committed the offences at the Gorusinghe Army Barracks, Kapilvastu, Nepal.

His home country has been embroiled in a decade-long Maoist insurgency and the charges relate to two detainees captured by the military.

He is charged that as a public official, or a person acting in an official capacity, he intentionally inflicted pain or suffering on Janak Bahadur Raut and Karam Hussain in the performance or purported performance of his official duties between April 15 and May 1, 2005.

Lama is currently serving as a United Nations peacekeeper in South Sudan and has previously served in a similar capacity in Sierra Leone and twice in the Lebanon.

His wife is a nurse and they have two children, a 21 year-old university student and a 17 year-old studying A-levels.

Lama was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on January 24.

High-Rolling Benefit Cheat With Expensive Tastes Is Jailed

Sussams protesting his innocence to BBC's Panorama

A Bentley-driving benefit cheat, who lived a double life as a gastropub boss serving a wealthy yachting community £125 truffle and champagne burgers, received twelve months imprisonment yesterday for a £32,000 fraud.

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 grub after he was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court.

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 at 2 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.

'It is clear from the verdict of the jury that you knew full well that was money the council mistakenly paid into the account of Keith Dickinson after he died," Judge Peter Gow QC told the defendant.

"I have no doubt you knew that money was for providing a care service to him and you equally knew it was no longer needed for that purpose.

"Instead of returning these precious resources to the council you used them for yourself."

Sussams took over the flat's tenancy after Mr. Dickinson's death and immediately claimed housing and council tax benefit.

"There was no suggestion by you that you were living with a civil partner, who was working. Your claim for these benefits was fraudulent from the outset and you failed to declare the highly successful business you were running at the Royal Dart hotel," added the judge.

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 and the defendant helped himself to £4,000 the very next day.

"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.

"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.

Capital Trip Results In Assault Arrest

A Swansea woman, involved in an ugly incident during a trip to the capital last summer, has been fined and ordered to pay compensation to her victim.

Natasha Dodds, 29, of Westport Avenue, Mayals was arrested after an episode of violence in Victoria.

She was originally charged with racially aggravated common assault by beating against Chirag Patel in Buckingham Palace Road (pictured) on August 21.

Dodds was fined £150, with £85 costs and ordered to pay £75 compensation to Mr. Patel and a £20 victim surcharge.