Pro Male Belly Dancer Caged For Sex Attacks On Female Students

A professional male belly dancer and whirling dervish, who raped one student and sexually assaulted two others, has been locked-up for thirteen years.

Shafik Abd El Hamed, 30, (pictured) of Warburton Street, Hackney raped the 23 year-old woman during an audition at his home after asking to see how quickly she could undress.

The second woman, aged 33, was subjected to a sex attack during a private lesson and a 31 year-old was molested while the defendant helped her prepare for a show.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard Abd El Hamed, who ran his own business teaching belly dancing, claim the only sexual activity was with the second woman and it was consensual.

The first victim attended a belly dance audition in May 2007 and was invited by the defendant to visit his studio a second time.

When she arrived she found the venue was actually his home address.

He asked her to undress, saying he needed to check how quickly she could remove her clothes backstage, and then raped her.

The second victim attended Abd El Hamed's address between March and July 2012 for private lessons.

It was during these lessons she alleged she was raped and the defendant was convicted of causing her to engage in sexual activity without consent.

The third victim booked a dance lesson with Abd El Hamed in October 2011 ahead of a show she was taking part in.

He then sexually assaulted her during that lesson.

Detective Constable Jacqueline Burns, the investigating officer from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "Abd El Hamed ran a successful business and was respected in the belly dancing community, both as a performer and teacher.

"He used this to his advantage to rape and sexually assault three different women.

“I praise their courage in coming forward, it has been an incredibly stressful and traumatic time for them, and am pleased that Abd El Hamed has been convicted."

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and is subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order with out time limit.

Local Drug Dealer Caged

A drug dealer, who was found with almost £150,000 in heroin and cocaine stashed in two parked cars during a police raid, has been jailed for five years.

Lester Jacobs, 30, (pictured) of Law Street, Southwark was arrested when a warrant was executed by officers from the Chaucer Safer Neighbourhoods Team.

He was convicted at the Old Bailey of possession of the class A drugs, with intent to supply, on January 24, last year.

Cash totalling £4,420 was also confiscated and he was ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge.



A search of the address revealed £2,200 in cash in one of the bedrooms along with the keys for two vehicles, which were parked on the estate.

These vehicles were searched and found to contain crack cocaine and heroin with a street value of just over £145,000.

The drugs were also found with the equipment necessary for their preparation and distribution at street level. 



Jacobs was arrested and was subsequently charged with the possession of the drugs with intent to supply.



An investigation revealed Jacobs was on bail for a similar offence in late 2012 when he was found in possession of 100 wraps of class A drugs and £2,600 cash when he was stopped and searched by a patrolling officer who had noticed him acting suspiciously in the local area.



Jacobs was also charged with those additional offences. 



Detective Constable James Woods said: “This is a prime example of the type of work that goes on across Southwark on a daily basis.

“If anyone living in Southwark has any suspicion that those living in their community are involved in this kind of activity I would urge them to get in touch with us or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Owner Of Notorious Savage Dogs Convicted After 4 Year-Old Girl Mauled

The owner of two illegal pit bull-type mongrels, one of which clamped its jaws around the head of a four-year girl and dragged her off her scooter, has been convicted.

Hezron Curtis, 35, (pictured) was walking the animals in Kentish Town on December 4, last year when the toddler, who was with her mother and eight year-old brother was attacked near Gospel Oak station.

He was found guilty of possession of a prohibited dog and two counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control in a public place.

Curtis, of Laurier Road, Kentish Town knew one of the dogs was a danger after it chased a cat into a home in Denyer Estate, Camden four months earlier - bit a man - then killed the cat.

The young girl injured in December was taken to hospital with serious facial injuries, including potentially life changing injuries to her eye.

Investigating officers would later view shocking CCTV footage of the incident, which showed the dog jumping up and attacking the child completely unprovoked, biting her face and pulling her off her scooter.

The first dangerous dog has been ordered to be destroyed.

The second dangerous dog awaits a formal Magistrates Court decision order for destruction.

As a result of the incident in December 4, police launched a review of all previous allegations of dog bites in Camden.

This matter was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), who instructed that it should be investigated by the MPS Department of Professional Standards (DPS).

Four officers are currently the subject of an internal investigation relating to the August incident.

Detective Constable Shu'aib Gafur from Camden CID said: "This was a horrific dog attack on a young girl innocently riding her scooter.

“The brutal attack was witnessed by her eight year old brother and her mother who desperately tried to rescue her daughter.

“It has been a very traumatic time for the family.

“I hope today's verdict brings some form of comfort to the family and helps them to move forward. 

Ugandan Benefits Cheats Must Repay Over £1.6M They Defrauded From Taxpayers

A notorious benefits fraudster, whose eighteen-year scam financed a property empire in her native Uganda, was ordered today to repay £1,512,344 or spend an additional six years in prison.

Ruth Nagubuzi, 50, (pic.top) was the head of the "family business" and is currently serving a six-year sentence after pleading guilty to twenty-eight counts.

Up to 100 fake children's identities were created to cheat even more money from the Department of work and Pensions and Nagubuzi also claimed to have HIV and Aids to obtain free medicine, which she sold in Africa for huge profits.

Those drugs, which were also prescribed to four other fictitious patients, cost the UK taxpayer over £2 million alone and another £154,000 went on education for the scammers.

She controlled fifteen different properties in the UK, sub-letting them to immigrants while receiving housing benefit payments totalling £650,000 and the 'family's' child benefit, disability benefit, council tax and tax credits bill was £900,000.

The rent from the tenants of those overcrowded properties netted her approximately £756,000. 

Nagubuzi, of Manor Park, east London used her illegal profits to finance the construction of two complex's in her home town of Kampala, the 'Bulaga' and 'Zana' which incorporated hotels, restaurants and a shopping centre.

"What she ran was a large scale thriving business and had almost unlimited access to false identification," said Croydon Crown Court Judge Nicholas Ainley today.

Nagubuzi  claimed to have only been motivated to help her fellow-countrymen and women - many of them orphans - to start a new life in the UK, but the judge dismissed this announcing: "She was running a large scale business for gain."

The prosecution have failed to identify her assets in this country, but Judge Ainley added: "She is perfectly capable of hiding money away. How much has gone to Uganda? I don't know.

"There are strong grounds to suggest she has access to very substantial assets in Uganda."

Beside her in the dock was fellow-fraudster Dennis Kyeyune, 30, (pic.bottom) who received thirty months imprisonment in November, 2012 and he was ordered to repay £157,791 or spend an additional two-and-a-half years in prison.

"I do not even know if this is his true identity," said Judge Ainley, describing the defendant as someone who worked closely with Nagubuzi and was involved in the export of luxury vehicles, such as Mercedes and BMW's to Uganda.

Angry Transexual Patient Bombarded Respected Plastic Surgeon With Abuse During Campaign Of Hate

A leading plastic surgeon's career, earning power and reputation were damaged by a transgender patient, who launched a one-person campaign of abusive emails, calls, texts and online postings after claiming the doctor bungled their ear procedure.

Self-employed sales consultant Alexandra Charles, 36, of Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff was a patient of leading surgeon Dr. Brian Mayou, founder of the Cadogan Clinic, Sloane Street, Belgravia.

"This surgeon, who has pressed these charges, has caused me so much pain and distress," Charles told Hammersmith Magistrates' Court. "If you knew the full story and what this man has done to me you would be shocked."

Charles pleaded guilty to harassing Dr. Mayou between December 16, 2010 and May 16, last year by sending numerous unwanted insulting messages and yesterday was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years. 

Charles made unfounded allegations that Dr. Mayou was a peadophile during a two-and-a-half year campaign, resulting in the surgeon's right to work at South Kensington's private Cromwell Hospital being withdrawn.

Dr. Mayou, a former consultant and honorary lecturer at Guys and St. Thomas' Hospital, who was the plastic surgeon who first introduced liposuction to the UK, now has the complaint permanently on his General Medical Council record. 

"There have been multiple forms of threats over a long period of time," magistrate Mrs Nicola Leach told Charles. "The threats have impacted Dr. Mayou's family, career, reputation and earnings. The impact is unimaginable."

Charles was also ordered to pay £2,500 compensation to the surgeon, £150 costs an £80 victim surcharge and was made subject to a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

Earache: Alexandra Charles

Prosecutor Miss Birgitte Hagem told the court Dr. Mayou performed a procedure on Charles in December, 2010 and after complaints from the defendant repeated the surgery in 2011.

"There followed abusive calls, texts and emails from the defendant, a lengthy course of conduct and prolific," explained Miss Hagem. "After a police warning they stopped, but later began again.

"In November, Twenty-Twelve the Cromwell Hospital received an email from the defendant accusing Dr. Mayou of molesting children."

On April 5, last year he received ten calls from an unknown number, but the voice of Charles was identified leaving threatening messages such as: "I'll be coming to see you. I want to know what you have done to my ears, you are going to pay for this.

"I'm planning what I am going to do, I'm going to strip everything off you, you f***ing bastard, you f***ing shit.

"I'm going to see you dog, f***ing c***. You've deformed me for life."

Charles also mentioned Dr. Mayou's wife and daughters, calling one of his girl's a "pig" and a "slut" and branding the surgeon a "kiddie fiddler."

The doctor was also forced to apply for fifty online posts to be removed from three different websites, which contained content such as: "He's a pedophile and needs to be locked up."

Charles was arrested when arriving in the UK at Bristol Airport on July 22, last year, after a trip to the continent.

In his victim impact statement Dr. Mayou said the abuse gave him sleepless nights and patients had cancelled surgery as a result of Charles' online rants.

"He has carried out a social media campaign against me and the clinic," said the surgeon. "Patients have cancelled as a direct result of the posts."

Charles' lawyer Miss Julie Stanhope told the court: "My client suffers a high-degree of self-hatred and in his early thirties decided to address his gender issues.

"The first step was surgery on his ears by Dr. Mayou and he accepts the behaviour the doctor endured was extreme and unacceptable."

Charles has since had face reconstruction surgery and breast augmentation.

Charles previously jumped bail after telling the court: "I am halfway through a sex-change and sending me to a male penitentiary would be sexual abuse."

Residents Endure Late-Night Car Wrecking Spree

The residents of a comfortable corner of Fulham woke to find a drunken night-time vandal had gone on a nine-car wrecking spree, causing £7,360 worth of damage to their vehicles.

Frank Brackley, 25, of Delorme Street, Hammersmith had been drinking at a local party that night and was seen by a resident who had been woken by a car alarm at 3.20am, throwing a brick at their vehicle, which was parked in it's drive.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court (pictured) today to nine charges of causing criminal damage on November 3, last year to vehicles parked in Stevenage Road, Woodlawn Road and Cloncurry Street on the fashionable side of the River Thames.

He damaged two Honda's; a Range Rover; a VW Tiguan; a Mercedes; a VW Golf; a Mini Cooper; a Citroen and an Audi.

Brackley also pleaded guilty to interfering with six of the vehicles and will be sentenced on April 1 after a probation report has been prepared.

The court was told the same resident heard a second car alarm sound and the defendant hid behind a parked vehicle when he heard the police arriving.

Several residents reported their vehicles had broken windows and had obviously been searched and at daybreak more locals came forward with similar complaints.

District Judge Susan Williams banned Brackley from the three streets as a condition of bail announcing: “At least those that live in those roads can sleep easily in their beds.”

“You were very clearly out of control,” she told father-of-two Brackley.

Crazy Parking Charges Make £1,000 For Enterprising Crooks

This CCTV image shows two opportunistic thieves taking advantage of London's huge car parking charges by ripping off a ticket machine.

The duo were able to snatch an astonishing £1,000 cash from a car park near Canary Wharf.

They entered the NCP car park in Lawn House Close at 9.35pm on October 1, last year and broke into the machines and left on foot.

The first suspect is described as a white male, wearing a grey tracksuit with the hood up and a baseball cap underneath.

The second suspect is a black male wearing a blue top, black trousers and a light-coloured baseball cap.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Constable Darren Guntrip on 020 8345 4248.

DNA Nails Would-Be Rapist Thirteen Years On

Justice has finally caught up with a former burglar and wannabe rapist, who has been locked-up for a crime spree in which he left behind tell-tale DNA years ago.

Romanian Georghita Plesca, 44, (pictured) tried to rape a woman in her late sixties after breaking into her east London home, one of many properties he raided thirteen years ago.

The terrified victim was tied-up with tape and electrical flex by Plesca, who then ransacked the address and subjected her to the sex attack.

He moved to Bedfordshire and would have avoided justice, but was DNA-tested by local police invesigating a theft and linked to the earlier crimes.

Plesca was sentenced at the Old Bailey to thirteen years imprisonment after pleading guilty to attempting to rape the woman and burgling her home in Baxter Road, Canning Town on May 15, 2001.

He also pleaded guilty to two more Canning Town burglaries in Tree Road and Berwick Road on April 14 and May 17, 2001 respectively and a burglary in Rectory Gardens, Northolt, Middlesex on March 23 of the same year.

The court heard Plesca surprised the lone female occupant of the address in Baxter Road during the evening at the victim had been getting ready for bed.

As she tried to enter her bedroom, Plesca - who had broken into the property some time earlier - jumped on her from behind.

He then proceeded to tie her up with tape and electrical flex and then ransacked the property before attempting to rape her.

Plesca then fled the house, leaving his victim bound in the bedroom.

She managed to free herself and raise the alarm.



On all occasions forensic evidence was recovered and stored and this was to prove Plesca's downfall.

In August, last year, Bedfordshire Police arrested Plesca in relation to a theft matter and his DNA sample taken, which linked him to the four scenes and the case being investigated.

Detective Sergeant Michael McInerney of the Complex Case Team within the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command led the investigation.

He said: "Plesca evaded detection for a number of years, but diligent work at each scene meant that, when the opportunity arose, we were able to comprehensively link him to each offence.


"This conviction demonstrates that no matter how much time has passed since a crime, we will continue to investigate it when the evidence is presented to us.



"Sadly the victim of the attack in Baxter Road died before she could see Plesca brought to justice.

“I only hope her family can take some comfort in the fact that he is now behind bars." 

Boozy Businessman Nicked For Airplane Rant

A businessman, who aimed a foul-mouthed drunken rant towards a family on a flight from the Middle-East when an economics discussion got out of hand, received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Justin Peter Cross, 46, of Horsham Road, Cranleigh, Surrey was arrested at Heathrow Airport after stepping off a Qatar Airways flight from Doha.

He pleaded guilty to being drunk on the Boeing 777 aircraft on January 23 and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, ordered to perform 150 hours community service work, pay £650 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Miss Pamela Reiss told Isleworth Crown Court: “He had been very disruptive on the flight and very abusive to one family, a mother and father travelling with their two teenage daughters.

“Mr. Cross was shouting and swearing, using the word 'f***' several times, and shouting at the family, calling them: 'F***ing pigs' which is a particularly abusive word to people from Qatar.

“He was staggering and unsteady on his feet and the pilot radioed through and he was arrested after the landing.”

Cross was questioned by police and eventully apologised for his drunken behaviour.

“He did say he was only having a discussion about economics and did say the argument was heated and he used foul language,” added Miss Reiss. 

“He showed little remource, but at the end of the interview he said he was embarrased and sorry for his actions.”

Cross's lawyer Miss Nina Kaikini told the court: “He is extremely sorry, he travels four to six times a year, is a regular traveller and nothing like this has ever happened before.

“He admits he was rude and obnoxious and consumed alcohol that was provided during the flight.

“He was under considerable stress due to business difficulties and everything built up and he behaved in a way he wouldn't normally.”

Recorder John Hobson QC told Cross: “You were drunk and very abusive to a family, using aggressive language.

“All this happened when the plane was airborne. It's a potentially very dangerous situation.”

Paedophile Primary School Teacher Used Ghostly Tales To Groom Boys For Abuse

A Walking Horror Story: Martin Smith

A former primary school teacher was convicted today of abusing two young boy pupils during sleepovers at his home on the eve of organised trips.

Martin Smith, 64, of Llandybie Road, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, Wales was arrested and charged with the decades-old offences after internet communication between the complainants on 'facebook' and 'friends reunited.'

Woolwich Crown Court heard Smith, who transfixed the boys with elaborate ghost stories, used those tales to instigate some of the abuse, which involved the youngsters pleasuring him.

He was convicted of one count of indecent assault in relation to each boy plus two counts of repeated indecency with each child on multiple occassions between 1979 and 1982 and will be sentenced on April 11.

One count of indecency with a third boy was allowed to lie on the file.

Smith taught at a school in Camberwell, Southwark and all the offences took place at his former two-bedroom flat in St. Julian's Farm Road, West Norwood.

The jury were told the boys were aged approximately eight to ten years-old at the time and were “absorbed” by Smith's imaginative ghost tales, which usually involved World War One soldiers.

They stayed at Smith's address to get an early start on various school trips and one of the victim's claimed he thought he felt the presence of a ghost during a visit to an old music hall, such was the influence of the defendant's stories.

The same victim told police in a video-recorded interview that on occassions he was caned and spanked by Smith, who ordered the youngster to 'punish the ghost' by touching him intimately.

The man also told the jury that on one occassion “confirmed batchelor” Smith put him in a nappy and the truth only started coming out when he confided in his wife that a schoolteacher had abused him.

He approached police with his complaint in November, 2011 and officers then contacted the second victim, who confirmed similar abuse occurred when he stayed at Smith's flat.

Smith insisted he never touched the boys and recalled the second victim warning: “I'll get you for that,” after a caning.

He also claimed to have overheard the same boy making plans to get money as a result of sexual activity.

The third complainant told the court that during a sleepover Smith entered the room he and another boy were in, lied between them, and encouraged them to touch him intimately.

M&S 'Trolley Rage' Death: Woman In Court Charged With Manslaughter

A woman accused of the 'trolley rage' killing of a fellow Christmas shopper at a busy Marks & Spencer's store appeared in court for the first time today.

Melanie Serita Buck, 32, of Chelford Road, Bromley is charged with the manslaughter of Michael Buckley, 60, at the town's major shopping mall, The Glades, on December 22, 2012.

She spoke only to confirm her name, age and address during the short hearing at Bromley Magistrates' Court and was sent to Croydon Crown Court on unconditional bail to appear for a preliminary hearing on March 20.

She is also charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on retired widower Mr. Buckley, of Whatman Road, Forest Hill, who died on March 5, last year after sustaining injuries including a broken hip and wrist, plus further complications.

He was injured shortly before 1pm as Christmas shoppers packed the popular store.

Mr. Buckley, who lost wife Irene two years before his death, died at Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough, Kent.

He weighed just eight stone and had severe hearing problems and had retired from an office job at Camberwell New Green Cemetery.

After the hearing Buck covered her face with a silk scarf as she left the courthouse.

Millwall Yobs Banned From Matches After Brawling With Burnley Fans

Millwall Ban: Dennis Woodham

Two Millwall FC fans, who fought with away supporters after a home match, have been banned from all designated games for three years.

The pair were caught on CCTV aggressively squaring up to Burnley FC fans after the away team rallied from behind to draw 2-2 in the Championship fixture.

They are: Jobless Dennis Woodham, 18, of High Brooms Road, Tunbridge Wells and David Watkins, 46, of Holder House, Cannons Wharf, Tonbridge.

They both pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates' Court to affray outside the New Den stadium on November 2, last year.

Prosecutor Miss Lee Verner told the court yesterday that both defendants were with a third man when they had an ugly confrontation with the Burnley FC fans in the street.

“Watkins stepped into the road, rose his arms and shouted and the Burnley group shouted back.

“Watkins and Woodham approached a Burnley fan and Watkins squared up and punched him and walks away, leaving Woodham.

“Watkins then walks back and a Burnely fan throws a punch and is then pulled away by his group.

“The third man they are with pushes a Burnley fan and Woodham then joins in, throwing punches at the Burnley fan.

“Woodham continues the confrontation and Watkins walks back into the fight with determination.”

Eventually the two groups split, but the CCTV follows the defendants and their pal.

“They all walk away with smile on their faces and they pat each other on the back and cuddle each other,” added Miss Verner.

They are stopped by police and arrested and Watkins, who admitted consuming four to five pints, said: “There was a bit of banter and I put a burger in his face.

“I don't remember much. The incident was all a blur.”

The court heard Woodham was “very remourseful” and claims the Burnley fans started the abuse.

Watkins claims he is not a regular fan, but was attending “in remembrance” of a friend he found dead after hanging himself.

Woodham was sentenced to a four-month 7pm to 7am electronically tagged curfew and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Watkins was ordered to perform 160 hours community service work and pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Both defendants were made subject to a three-year football banning order, which includes not entering the London Borough's of Southwark and Lewisham during Millwall home games or watching games abroad.

Bolton Wanderers Fan From West Country Caught Throwing Coins At Championship Match

A Swindon man, who says he acted out of “frustration” when twice throwing a coin at a Championship football match was fined today.

Adam Corcoran, 22, of Cranborne Chase is a Bolton Wanderers supporter and was caught on CCTV at his team's away fixture with Millwall FC, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

He pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates' Court to throwing a missile at The New Den stadium on February 15 and was fined £255, with £85 costs and was ordered to pay a £26 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Miss Lee Verna told the court: “Staff on the CCTV noticed the defendant throwing small objects he obtained from his pocket towards the pitch and was observed doing this a second time.”

Corcoran was removed and taken to the reception area where he confessed: “I did throw the coins, but not at anyone. It was just out of frustration.”

Miss Verna added: “He made a full admission to throwing coins twice onto the pitch and said he was sorry for his actions.”

Corcoran told the magistrates: “I'm sorry for what I did, I held my hands up straight away.

“I did not aim at anyone, it was just out of frustration.

“I was passionate about the team I support, Bolton, I'm sorry.

“I know it was stupid, but I was not aiming at anyone or intending to hurt anyone.”

The bench chairwoman told him: “Throwing coins is very dangerous and you know if you had hit someone you may be facing a different charge.”

Boozy Race-Rant At Notting Hill Carnival

Car Trouble: Joshua Wiggins

A drunken yob launched into a late-night race-hate n-word rant against three black women during a violent bust up at last summer's Notting Hill Carnival.

Jobless Joshua Wiggins, 25, of Bullsland Lane, Chorleywood had been drinking heavily and turned his attention to the women, whose car had broken down, after his pal had been thumped by an unknown black man he had also abused.


He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to racially aggravated harassment against the women and causing £223.00 worth of criminal damage to their Vauxhall Astra in Bassett Road, North Kensington on August 25.


Prosecutor Mr. Tom Gill told the court it was 10.00pm and the three woman were on the roadside waiting for breakdown assistance when they heard Wiggins violently arguing with a black man.


“Mr. Wiggins was walking backwards and shouting: 'You can't touch me you f***ing n*****. You n****** can't touch me',” explained Mr. Gill.


“The women then saw him lash out at the wing mirror, kicking it off.”


The black man then took off his shirt while saying: “He's not going to call me a n*****,” and punched the defendant's friend, causing a cut to his head.


The three women were concerned, but Wiggins told them: “Some n***** has just hit my friend. I don't need help from you n******.


“You n****** don't touch him. I don't want you n****** touching him.”


The police and an ambulance were called and the abuse continued, explained Mr. Gill. “He was hurling abuse at the three women as the officers arrived.”


Wiggins told police. “I was drunk. I kicked the wing mirror off.”


The court heard Wiggins, who has a long-term drink problem, and also abuses cocaine and cannabis admits he was angry at his friend being punched and insists he is not a racist.


Bench chairwoman Mrs Joanne Baron told Wiggins: “These are very unpleasant offences and if you were not so incredibly drunk it probably would not have happened.


“This is a really serious offence, aggravated by the fact you were drinking and these were vulnerable victims with a broken-down car late at night and they must have been extremely frightened.”


Wiggins was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes 150 hours community service work, 18 sessions of alcohol treatment and 19 sessions of the thinking skills programme.


He was also ordered to pay £223 compensation to the owner of the vehicle and a £60 victim surcharge.

HGV Driver Fronted International Money Laundering Ring

"Trusted Courier": Hayden Walker

A Northern Ireland lorry driver, whose regular continental route was a front for laundering over £200,000 in criminal cash, was jailed for eighteen months on Friday.

Anthony Robert McDermott, 50, of Knockadore, Newtownbutler, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh and his two co-conspirators were under police observation as they laundered money, which came from various criminal sources.

He pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to conspiring to transfer criminal property, namely £17,490 and €116,000, between August 31 and October 28, 2012.

Convicted ecstasy dealer Sean Michael Tossell, 46, of Elm House, Holmesdale Road, Teddington, Middlesex and Hayden John Walker, 42, of Queenswood Avenue, Wallington, Croydon also admitted the same count.

McDermott alone also pleaded guilty to possessing criminal property, namely £100,100, on October 27, 2012 at Colchester Services on the A12, Essex.

Tossell received twenty-one months imprisonment and Walker was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months.

Prosecutor Mr. Bill McGivern told the court: “McDermott was to take all the criminal property out of the country.

“It was sterling and euros and came from three different criminal sources.”

The court heard that once a week McDermott drove his HGV to Dublin and then crossed on the ferry to Holyhead before driving across the UK to Harwich port.

Police launched a surveillance operation and quickly established a link between McDermott and Tossell, who had just been released from a ten-year prison sentence.

They watched as the driver met Walker on September 1, 2012.

“Walker was seen to pass McDermott an object he took to his truck,” explained Mr. McGivern, telling the court officers moved in during a second such rendezvous on October 27.

“Walker arrived in a car and McDermott was in his truck and he took possession of a green Marks and Spencer carrier bag, which he placed behind his seat and was then arrested.”

Inside the bag, which had Walker's fingerprint on it, officers found £17,490 cash and €116,000, which McDermott claimed was to buy cigarettes in Holland.

Inside his cab was a Budweiser box containing another £100,100 cash in heat-sealed bags similar to those seen in other money laundering seizures.

Walker was also arrested and tried to hide his mobile phone inside his half-eaten sandwich.

When quizzed McDermott claimed he was contacted by a man known as 'Chelsea' and had taken “five or six” packages to the continent.

CCTV confirmed he collected the Budweiser box package earlier in the day at services in the Birmingham area.

His pay-as-you-go mobile phone had been purchased by Tossell and topped-up by him and officers realised the arrested men were being directed via two different phones.

“He was directing their movements at arms length,” added Mr. McGivern. “Tosell was the organiser, McDermott played a significant role and was the key man in moving money to the continent and Walker was a trusted courier involved in the delivery of money.”

However, Walker claims his involvement was limited to those two occasions and he was paid £200 each time, only knowing it was cash during the second trip.

“I was not aware of what was in the first package, but I could see the second packet contained cash, which I thought was suspicious,” Walker stated in his basis of plea.

“I have no knowledge of where the money came from or where it was going.”

McDermott's lawyer Mr. John Livingston told the court: “He has flagged up his guilt from the earliest stage and he made full admissions in interview.

“Essentially he is a courier transporting money. He did not know what it was for or how much it was.”

Ex-Guildhall School Music Teacher Accused Of Raping Two Women And Indecently Assaulting Others

A former tutor at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, accused of rape and indecent assault offences against seven women and a girl in the 70's and 80's, appeared for the first time at City of London Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Musician Philip John Elwyn Pickett, 63, of Lyneham Farm Cottages, Lyneham, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, was described in court as a part-time professor of music at the £10,000 a year school and since leaving has toured all over the world.

Most of the complainants are students and many of the offences are said to have occurred in a darkened sound-proofed basement music room, although one allegedly happened in a deserted country lane in the woman's car. 

Graduates of the school include Orlando Bloom, Daniel Craig and Ewan McGregor. 

Pickett plays the recorder and has directed early music ensembles, including the New London Consort and Musicians of the Globe and has collaborated with members of the folk rock group Fairport Convention. 

He is charged with raping one woman twice between October 1, 1977 and April 30, 1978, raping another between September 1 and September 30, 1978 and attempting to rape a third between January 1 and 30, 1988 and falsely imprisoning her on that occasion.

He is additionally charged that on a day between October 1 and November 30, 1977 he falsely imprisoned the woman he is charged with raping twice.

Pickett is also charged with indecently assaulting six different women on various dates between January 1, 1974 and December 31, 1988.

He is additionally charged with indecently assaulting a girl, aged under 14 years-old, between January 1, 1974 and December 31, 1975.

Pickett is also charged with assaulting his wife Claire Russell, causing her actual bodily harm, between January 1 and 31, 1971 by punching her in the face and cracking her jaw.

The Crown Prosecution Service revealed there are at least 102 potential witnesses.

Pickett, who has been on bail since August, last year was released on conditional bail to appear at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing on March 17, including an order not to contact any prosecution witnesses or leave the UK without permission.