Scrap Dealer Accused Of Buying Memorial Plaques Nicked From Cemeteries

A rogue scrap metal dealer, who ran a "no questions asked" business, paid cash for stolen bronze memorial plaques heartless thieves swiped from five cemeteries, a jury were told today.

Over 723 plaques were stolen overnight from Croydon, Beckenham, Tonbridge & Malling, West Norwood and Putney Vale cemeteries and evidence of all of them were discovered during a police operation, which targeted DSM scrap yard.

It's boss, Joseph Collier, 72, of Woodhall Drive, Southwark cut the £75 plaques into tiny unidentifiable pieces and also bought an £1800 bronze sacred heart of Jesus statue stolen from a grave in Putney Vale, Croydon Crown Court was told.

During the police raid, which was the culmination of 'Operation Ferris', officers also seized a Thai bronze dragon statue, stolen from a front garden in Teddington, and Collier is also accused of trying to buy eight reels of copper belonging to UK Power Networks.

"They included memorial plaques from 2010, 2011 and 2012," explained prosecutor Mr. James Lofthouse. "These were not old, unwanted, unvisited memorials.

"Some had been recently visited and could not be said to be scrap metal and Mr. Collier would have known this as well.

"Various memorial plaques were pieced back together and shown to staff at the cemeteries and in all five instances they identified them."

Memorial Plaques

The first cemetery targeted by thieves was Croydon in September, 2011. "Staff reported the theft of a large amount of memorial plaques from their garden.

"They are all four inches by three inches and are secured to the ground by a twelve-inch metal spike and sixty-six were stolen."

Over 200 were then stolen from Beckenham, 148 from Tonbridge & Malling, 300 from West Norwood and 9 from Putney Vale.

DSM, of Bensham Lane, Croydon was searched on March 14, 2012 and Collier arrested on the premises.

"Officers found a number of plaques and fragments of plaques and Mr. Collier ran the business, he decided what to pay and accepted metal on a no questions asked basis," added Mr. Lofthouse.

"In several bags in the yard were found these bronze memorial plaques, with the names of the deceased, details and personal messages on them.

"some had been cut into small pieces rendering them unrecognisable. You would not have known what they were."

A member of Collier's staff was operating a cutting machine in one of the buildings.

"There was a memorial plaque with the corner cut off on the machine and a basket beside it containing plaques already chopped up.

Missing Statue: Bronze Dragon

"The bronze sacred heart of Jesus statue was found nearby along with the ornamental dragon."

Beckenham Cemetery had coated their plaques in identifiable 'Smart Water' and traces of it were found on the cutting machine.

The jury were also shown undercover surveillance footage of Collier buying the stolen items and handing over cash.

He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of possessing criminal property on May 14, 2012, namely the memorial plaques  and sacred heart statue and the ornamental dragon figure.

Collier also denies disguising criminal property, namely a quantity of memorial plaques, on the same date and attempting to receive stolen goods, namely eight reels of copper on March 27, last year.

Trial continues…………..  

Property Fraudster's Dodgy Mortgages With Help Of Girlfriend And Mum

Rachel Gledhill & Wayne Stubbs

A Huddersfield sales assistant posed as an IT consultant and a fine arts dealer during two mortgage frauds with her boyfriend, which illegally netted loans totalling £650,000, the Old Bailey heard today.

Rachel Gledhill, 39, of Armitage Road, Milnsbridge was working for Harvey Nichols, but lied in mortgage applications that she earned substantially more.

Her ex-boyfriend Wayne Stubbs, 44 and his mother Wendy Stubbs, 62, both of Briarwood House, Orpington Road, Chislehurst, Kent also deny the charges.

Prosecutor Mr. Nick Mather told the court Gledhill purchased 52 Hollyfield Avenue, Huddersfield in 2004 with the help of a £225,000 mortgage granted on the basis she was a £67,000 a year IT consultant.

“That is simply untrue, she is not an IT consultant and she was not earning that money. She was working as a sale assistant in Harvey Nichols.

“This is a lie on the mortgage application and this is part of a pattern of lies that go throughout this case.”

The jury were told Wayne was the mastermind behind the frauds. “This is not something Rachel Gledhill has decided to do off her own bat.”

The second property Gledhill purchased, 4 The Courtyard, Holwood, Keston, Kent, needed a £424,950 mortgage and she claimed to run her own successful fine arts business to obtain the loan in 2005.

“She say's she's a professional and had been doing this since May 1996 and owned one hundred per cent of the business.”

Gledhill claimed to net over £172,000 a year from the non-existent business, added Mr. Mather. “All of that was untrue because we known how much she was earning.”

The last known income for Gledhill was £12,000 in 2004 and from 2005 to 2011 she has no employment or tax records whatsoever.

“You can be confident these are lies in her documentation.”

Wendy Stubbs

4 The Courtyard was rented for £2,000 per month without the permission of the lender and sold in May, 2008 for £472,000, which the prosecution say is criminal property.

The Stubbs' were involved in further frauds on their own, added Mr. Maher. “It's about mortgage fraud and money laundering.

“These three defendants, individually and together, obtained a number of different mortgages and they did this by lying about their employment and income.

“Wayne is behind each and every one of these transactions. His fingerprints, euphemistically speaking, are all over this case.”

Wendy fronted the purchase of one property by claiming to be a £120,000 financial consultant.

“She has never, prior or since, earned that money. She was unemployed and on benefits.”

On another occasion she claimed to be a £75,000 a year interior designer and Wayne himself posed as a £110,000 a year unit trust dealer to obtain a big mortgage.

Wayne has not employment or tax history between 1995 and 2011. “He's a man who has no income at all as far as Revenue and Customs are concerned.

“He's someone seemingly under the radar with no income.”

Gledhill and Wayne are charged with obtaining a £225,000 mortgage on or before April 23, 2004, by deception, in relation to 52 Hollyfield Avenue, Huddersfield.

Gledhill alone is charged with obtaining a £424,950 mortgage, by deception, in relation to 4 The Courtyard, Holwood Estate, Westerham Road, Keston, Kent.

She is also charged with acquiring criminal property, namely rental income, from the address between June 1, 2006 and May 31, 2008 and Wayne is charged with entering into a money laundering arrangement.

Both Stubbs' are charged with obtaining a mortgage by deception, namely £300,000, on or before April 19, 2002 in relation to 166 Crofton Lane, Orpington.

They are similarly charged with obtaining £237,500 on or before August 29, 2003, plus a count of attempting to obtain that sum in relation to Flat 2, 55 Linden Gardens, Paddington.

Wendy is charged with acquiring criminal property, namely rental income from that address between February 4, 2005 and December 31, 2012 and Wayne with entering into a money laundering arrangement.

Wayne faces one count of fraud against Clydesdale Bank on or about March 12, 2008 in relation to the Linden Gardens property and his mother a count of acquiring criminal property and money laundering between 2008 and 2012.

Wayne alone is charged with obtaining a £237,500 mortage, by deception, in relation to Flat 16, Mount Arlington, 37 Park Hill Road, Bromley on or before July 27, 2004.

Both Stubbs' are charged with obtaining a £1,200,399 mortgage, by deception, on or before April 6, 2006 in relation to Briarwood House, Orpington Road, Chislehurst.

That property was rented out for £8,000 per month and Wendy is charged with acquiring criminal property between November 1, 2008 and November 30, 2010 and Wayne with money laundering.

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

Take-Away Terror: Do You Know This Suspect?

Police have released this CCTV image of a suspect wanted after a man was attacked with a baseball bat and a knife outside a fast-food restaurant in north-west London.

Officers in Brent are investigating a violent incident, which ocurred in Coombe Road, near Neasden Lane at 10.15pm on September 4 and left the victim with a suspected fractured arm and hand and two deep cuts to the back of his head.

The 35 year-old victim had been in a fast food restaurant in Neasden Lane and was followed by two suspects who assaulted him with the weapons in a nearby street.

The victim ran back towards the restaurant and was assaulted by a further two men.



The suspects have been described as white Eastern European men believed to be Polish. 



Detective Constable Paul Connelly, from Brent CID, said: “I would like to speak with anyone who was in the area or inside the restaurant at the time of the incident who may have witnessed this assault.

“If you are the man in the photo or know who he is please contact the police.”



Enquiries continue and no arrests have been made.



Anyone with information is asked to call Brent CID via 101, alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously.

Police Hunt Violent Muggers: CCTV Released

Police have released these CCTV images as they hunt two violent late-night robbers, who beat their victim and demanded his PIN to empty cash from his bank account.

The mugging ocurred outside the Citizen's Advice Bureau, Rushey Green, Catford at 11:30am on Wednesday, June 25.



Their target, a man in his 30's was walking home when he was approached by the two suspects.

The man had his mobile phone in his hand which was taken by one of the pair before both suspects walked off towards Holbeach Road.



The victim followed and the suspects turned on him, pushing him to the ground and kicking him several times.



One of the suspects then took the victim's wallet, took out a bank card and demanded the PIN.



The victim was told if the PIN was wrong he would be beaten further.

The suspect used the card and withdrew money from a nearby cash machine while his accomplice stayed with the victim. 



He went to a second cashpoint and withdrew more money before returning back to the victim and the other suspect.



The suspects left along Catford Broadway towards Canadian Avenue. 



Detective Constable Andy Trevett, said: “This was a terrifying experience for the victim, who was threatened with serious injury if he did not cooperate with the suspects.

“He was forced to hand over his PIN code in order for them to steal money.

“I am keen to hear from anyone who can help identify the men pictured or has information that can help assist my investigation.” 



Anyone who has information concerning this incident should call Lewisham CID on 020 8284 8413 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

'Oyster Row' Bus Suspect Hunted By Police

Police are hunting this bus passenger, who punched the driver after an early-morning 'Oyster-rage' row in west London.

Officers from the joint Transport for London and Metropolitan Police Service Workplace Violence Unit are appealing for help in identifying a man.

On Saturday July 5 at about 06:30am, the victim, who was driving a route 111 bus in Kingsley Road, Hounslow, was punched by the suspect following an altercation about his Oyster card.

The suspect then made off towards Hounslow East train station.



The driver was taken to West Middlesex hospital and treated for minor facial injuries and discharged the same day. 



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



Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Constable Andy Morland, leading the investigation for the Workplace Violence Unit on 0777 503 0912 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Laptop Teen Crashes Metropolitan Police's Website

A teenager, who crashed the Metropolitan Police Service's website by carrying out a cyber attack from his laptop, will be sentenced next month.

Jobless Jordan Jones, 19, of Windermere Avenue, Billingham, Cleveland slowed down the site over two days, eventually bring it grinding to a halt and inaccessible to the public.

His actions betweenAugust 12 and 14 last year resulted in a Denial of Service (DoS).

DoS attacks involve myriad requests sent to a single computer hosting a website, so that it is overloaded and effectively removed from the web.


Detectives from the Met's Cyber Crime Unit launched an investigation and, working with Cleveland Police, identified Jones as the culprit. 



On March 18 police arrested Jones at his home address, from which they also seized an encrypted laptop computer.

He pleaded guilty at Teeside Magistrates' Court to four unauthorised acts with intent to impair, or with recklessness as to impairing, the operation of a computer, under the Computer Misuse Act 1990, on 13 August 2014.



He is due to be sentenced at the same court on October 1.



Detective Inspector Sanjiv Gohil of the Met's Cyber Crime Unit, said: “Most denial of service attacks are aimed at businesses and the downtime to their websites can and often does cause a huge dip in their revenue.

In this case, the loss was to the public. Every day, thousands of people turn to the Met's website for advice about crime and to report offences.

“Being unable to do this and access the advice they are looking for there and then can make a huge difference to how crime impacts those people.



"I would like to reassure the public that there is no evidence of a compromise to anyone’s personal details as a result of this attack.” 

Late-Night Face-Slashing: Suspect Identified

Police have released this photo of a suspect they wish to question after a man's face was slashed during a violent midnight incident.

Anthony John Kenny, 25, is wanted by Islington CID in connection with an attack at 12.20am on August 23 in Green Lanes, Stoke Newington.

Kenny is described as white and one of his distinguishing features is a missing left ear.

He also has two tattoos: 'Stand alone' inked on his neck and 'North London' on his left hand.



He has links with Islington, Chelmsford and St Albans.



The public are advised not to approach him and should call 999 if seen.



Anyone with information is asked to contact Islington CID on 07766 781861. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Bike-Theft Suspects Smashed Off-Duty Cop Over Head With Bolt Croppers

Police are hunting these two attempted bike-theft suspects after an off-duty policeman was struck over the head with a pair of heavy-duty bolt croppers outside Vauxhall railway station.

They are believed to be part of a gang of four fare-dodging youths, who exited the station without paying and headed straight for the commuter bike rack outside.

It was 10.50am on July 17 when the officer, aged 57, noticed the group leave via the station barriers without using a ticket or Oyster card.

He followed them group and noticed they approached bicycles that were chained to a nearby bike rack.

One of the suspects then produced a pair of bolt croppers - at which point the victim phoned 999 and identified himself to the group as a police officer.



The youth hit the officer over the head with the bolt croppers, knicking him to the ground before all four suspects made off towards South Lambeth Road. 



The victim was taken to hospital for his head injury, but was discharged later that day.



A 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the investigation on July 23 and has been bailed to return to a south London police in late September pending further enquiries. 



Detective Constable Sarah Francis, from Lambeth CID, who is investigating the incident said: “If you recognise any of these people, or indeed witnessed this incident then please get in touch. 



“This attack happened in broad daylight and resulted in the victim receiving hospital treatment.

I urge members of the community to come forward if they have any information with regards to the incident to help us catch those responsible.”



Anyone with information about this incident should contact DC Sarah Francis from Lambeth CID on 020 8649 2191, or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Drunken Ex-Air Stewardess Screamed At BA Flight Crew: "I'm Going To Shoot You In The Face."

 A drunken former air stewardess flying to London for her honeymoon screamed at British Airways cabin crew: "I'm going to shoot you in the face," after barricading herself inside a business class toilet.

American Brie Ann Johnson, 35, was joining her musician husband and had been drinking wine in the exclusive Club World upper deck on the 747 plane on top of her anti-anxiety Xanax medication.

She pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to being drunk on an aircraft and assaulting Craig Stoner and David Shaw on August 3 and received a suspended prison sentence.

Prosecutor Miss Pamela Reiss told the court trouble started ninety minutes into the New York to Heathrow flight and Mr. Stoner, a member of the cabin crew, was called to the upper deck.

"Miss Johnson was inside a toilet and there was groaning and banging noises coming from inside and when the staff knocked on the door she would not unlock it.

"Mr. Stoner decided to take the door off its hinges, but Miss Johnson put her back against it to stop him."

Eventually the door was removed and Miss Johnson, whose eyes were glazed, shouted: "F*** off. Get off me," and other passenger were noticeably upset.

"She would not walk and was carried back to the galley and wet herself. The crew detected the smell of alcohol on her breath and urine on her clothes.

"She threatened that she was going to shoot them in the face and put her hand into her jeans pocket and pulled out her passport," explained Miss Reiss.

"She then kicked down on Mr. Stoner's right shin then used her fist and made contact with his right eyebrow and he felt blood trickling down his face. He was cut.

"She also kicked Mr. Shaw, he was kicked on the shin and she did attempt to bite him and told him: 'I'm going to shoot you in the face.'

"At that point Mr. Shaw said: 'Get the handcuffs.' "Throughout the incident Miss Johnson was swearing all the time and upsetting her fellow passengers.

"When police officers arrived at Terminal Five to meet Miss Jonson she was clearly drunk."

Johnson's lawyer Miss Laura Hucknell said: "This was meant to be her honeymoon with her husband. She is in the country with him, he's a musician performing in a London concert and they have rented a flat.

"She is devastated and horrified at her behaviour, particularly as she is a former cabin staff employee herself.

"She has little, if any, memory of the incident, but was nervous and stressed when boarding and did not have anything to eat.

"She is terrified of the prospect of going into custody and has not slept since."

Judge Robin Johnson said: "This was alarming and violent behaviour and violence in an airplane inevitably carries immediate imprisonment.

"By the skin of your teeth I have decided not to send you to prison."

Johnson was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to Mr. Stoner, £1,000 to Mr. Shaw, £650 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Massage Chair Couple Guilty Of Violent Ideal Home Show Attack On Business Rival

Guilty: Anthony & Tingting Barlow Evans

Animosity between rival massage chair dealers at the Ideal Home Show erupted into violence when one trader couple attacked a prospective investor on their competitor's stand -reigning down blows on the businesswoman's head and face.

Company boss Anthony Barlow Evans, 59, and his wife Tingting Barlow Evans, 33, who run Oakdale Furniture Ltd. were exhibiting at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre event and claim their staff were abused by rivals Sasaki International Ltd.

The Barlow Evans', of Willow Street, Ellesmere, Shropshire sell their Japanese-imported chairs and foot massagers all over the UK - attending 50 events a year - and are in direct competition with Milton Keynes- based Sasaki, of Waterside Park, Old Wolverton Road.

They were convicted at City of London Magistrates Court of assaulting 35 year-old Yuling Chen on March 20 and Mr. Barlow Evans was fined £750 and his wife £500. Each were ordered to pay £620 costs and £150 compensation to the victim.

District Judge Margaret Coleman announced: "You, Mr. Barlow Evans, perpetrated a serious assault on Miss Chen and you, Mrs. Barlow Evans, helped in that assault. Your arms were moving and flailing about.

Yuling Chen and injuries to her right arm

"Whatever the hostility between you and Miss Chen certainly spilled over that day and the force used by you, Mr. Barlow Evans, was not reasonable, there was repeated punching to her head.

"Miss Chen was not retaliating in any way, both of her arms were being held, and her head was down to protect herself. You were both perpetrators of this assault. Emotions overflowed that day."

Mr. Barlow Evans had approached Sasaki's booth and told the firm's boss, Kelvin Choong, 48, who was standing by a 'FLABeLOS' machine,: "Ask your dogs to f*** off my stand," the court heard.

Mr Barlow Evans, whose main booth rent for the nineteen-day event was estimated to be £70,000,  told the court: "I had received reports from our massage chair stand that they were getting a degree of intimidation."

He said there was a "history" between the companies from 2010, accusing Sasaki staff as posing as prospective customers, "provoking" his employees and taking photographs of his customers so he decided to approach Mr. Choong.

"I wanted to stop the attacks, stop the verbal abuse that had been going on," added the defendant, whose claims are denied by Mr. Choong. 

"I said: 'It's time to call the dogs off. We're here to do a job, to make money," explained Mr. Barlow Evans. "He was dismissive and went to point at my face so I knocked his hand away."

Fifty Trade Shows a Year: The Barlow Evans'

A member of the Oakdale team was video recording the early stages of the confrontation and District Judge Coleman said: "You can see there was mutual pushing, but the first push came from you Mr. Barlow Evans.

"Miss Chen came to try and separate you both and what is clear to me is her arm going out to try and separate you."

The victim shouted: "Stop fighting. Go away," and: "You bitch. Get off our stand," seconds before she was attacked, initially by Mr. Barlow Evans, who was then joined by his wife.   

"He had her hair wrapped around his hand and was punching her vigourously," said Miss Alexandra Jemarifo, who was demonstrating beauty products on a nearby booth. "I didn't see her fight back.

"There were at least ten punches if not more, it was quite rapid, on her head and face. 

Minutes after beating: Yuling Chan

"She had bruises on her face and on her arms. Scratches and rough marks."

Prosecutor Miss Catherine Picardo told the court: "This was a set-up, this was not acting in self-defence. This was two on one and rather than walk away they've held this woman down so she couldn't defend herself."

Mr. Barlow Evans maintained his innocence, claiming: "Miss Chen grabbed me and I grabbed her right hand. I was amazed by her aggression," claiming the woman ripped his cashmere jumper.

"Her other hand scratched my neck and arm and she tried to bite me.

"I've never been in trouble previously. I've never been in a fight in my life."

Mrs Barlow Evans told the court: "She was grabbing him and trying to bite him. I was in shock.

"My hair was pulled and I was kicked in my left shin by Miss Chen and reacted by pulling her hair as I lost my balance and fell down."

The Barlow Evans', who told the court they each earn only £300 per week, were also ordered to pay victim surcharges totalling £125.

False Rape-Claim Ex-Girlfriend Receives Suspended Prison Sentence

A woman who lied that her ex-boyfriend raped her - resulting in an innocent man being locked-up in top-security HMP Belmarsh and facing a crown court trial for an offence he did not commit - has received a suspended prison sentence. 

April Bailey, 34, of Zealand House, Maryon Road, Woolwich pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice at Plumstead Police Station on January 25, last year when making the false allegation against Andrew Frith, 36, who has since forgiven her.

"This must have made this man's life absolute hell," said Isleworth Crown Court Judge Douglas Marks Moore. "This is a bad offence and what must not be forgotten is the victim and his suffering.

"It's important to remember he was in custody and looking down the barrel of a long custodial sentence," added the judge, who told Bailey: "What you did was an appalling thing and someone suffered very badly."

Bailey was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, was placed on an eighteen month supervision order and must obey an electronically-tagged six-month night time curfew from 8pm to 8am.

Prosecutor Mr. Ben Temple said: "She had a long-standing relationship with Mr. Frith, on and off and in January, last year, made a complaint to the police and her allegation was that she had been raped by her partner.

"They had been in a relationship for twelve years, but had broken up over New Year and she alleged it had been an abusive relationship with domestic violence, but had never reported anything like that.

"She said she had been raped and gave a lot of detail about being at a friend's house and receiving a number of texts and calls from Mr. Frith, resulting in them meeting-up."

The pair had a few drinks and Bailey told police: "He kept touching me and I kept telling him to stop."

"She said he tried to kiss her and she declined and he later threw her to the floor and punched her in the back, likening herself to a punchbag," added Mr. Temple.

"They went to sleep, she alleged, but as she woke he forced himself on her and made her have sex with him."

Bailey claimed: "I was crying and telling him: 'No, I don't want to have sex with you."

She was taken to a specialist Haven suite for victim of sex crime, where bruising was noted, intimate swabs taken and she gave a video-taped interview.

Mr. Frith was arrested on January 27 and immediately told the officers: "I think I know who this girl is. Was it April? That girl is crazy."

The next day he was remanded in custody by Bromley Magistrates Court and remained lock-up for twelve days until he was granted conditional bail.

On February 6 Bailey again spoke to police and persisted with the fictitious rape-claim, despite details of her account proving false.

"She admitted to the officer that she lied about the manner in which she left the house and where she had gone," explained the prosecutor.

"She apologised for that lie, but stressed the rest of her account was true and accurate.

"They built a case against Mr. Frith, a prosecution case took shape, there were consultations with the Crown Prosecution Service and a trial date set.

"Five months later she came into the police station saying she was unwilling to go to court, saying the defendant hadn't raped her and she had lied.

"She said the bruising and injuries were nothing more than the result of heavy drinking and being restrained by Mr. Frith."

Bailey's lawyer Miss Frances Ridout told the court: "Mr. Frith 'tried it on' to use her words and she was resisting and after numerous attempts she gave in and that's when consensual sex happened.

"Her friend convinced her it was rape and was wrong. She's a vulnerable young woman and her friend saw her emotional, upset and with bruises.

"She brought things to a conclusion and retracted the allegation. This was not a pre-planned or malicious allegation, but things getting out of control."

Judge Moore added: "She had sufficient time to say: 'No, what I've done is wrong.' She has made an allegation against an innocent man, fine-tuned the case and he spent twelve days detained and five months charged."

Massage Chair Couple At Ideal Home Show Deny Attacking Business Rival

Anthony & Tingting Barlow Evans

Animosity between rival massage chair dealers at Earls Court Exhibition Centre's Ideal Home Show boiled over when one trader couple attacked a prospective investor on their competitor's stand -reigning down blows on the woman's head and face, a court heard.

Company boss Anthony Barlow Evans, 59, and his wife Tingting Barlow Evans, 33, who run Oakdale Furniture Ltd. were exhibiting at the marquee event where their staff complained about the behaviour of Sasaki International Ltd.

The Barlow Evans', of Willow Street, Ellesmere, Shropshire sell their Japanese-imported chairs and foot massagers all over the UK - attending 50 events a year - and are in direct competition with Milton Keynes-based Sasaki.

City of London Magistrates Court heard yesterday that Mr. Barlow Evans held Chinese businesswoman Yuling Chen's hair in one hand and was beating her with the other and his wife joined in the attack on March 20.

Moments earlier he had approached Sasaki's booth and told the firm's boss, Kelvin Chong: "Ask your dogs to f*** off my stand," the court was told.

Miss Chen, 35, was considering investing in Sasaki, but an eye-witness said she was on the receiving end of an attack launched by Mr. Barlow Evans after shouting: "You bitch. Get off our stand."

Post-brawl: Yuling Chen

"He had her hair wrapped around his hand and was punching her vigourously," said Miss Alexandra Jemarifo, who was demonstrating beauty products on a nearby booth. "I didn't see her fight back.

"There were at least ten punches if not more, it was quite rapid, on her head and face. 

"She had bruises on her face and on her arms. Scratches and rough marks."

Mr Barlow Evans, who denies attacking Miss Chen, told the court: "I had received reports from our massage chair stand that they were getting a degree of intimidation."

He said there was a "history" between the companies from 2010, accusing Sasaki staff as posing as prospective customers, "provoking" his employees and taking photographs of his customers so he decided to approach Mr. Choong.

"I wanted to stop the attacks, stop the verbal abuse that had been going on.

"I said: 'It's time to call the dogs off. We're here to do a job, to make money," explained Mr. Barlow Evans. "He was dismissive and went to point at my face so I knocked his hand away.

"He pushed me forcibly in the chest and I lost balance and fell backwards," added the defendant, denying he grabbed Mr. Choong's shirt collar and pushed him.

"Miss Chen grabbed me and I grabbed her right hand. I was amazed by her aggression," he said, claiming the woman ripped his cashmere jumper.

"Her other hand scratched my neck and arm and she tried to bite me.

"I've never been in trouble previously. I've never been in a fight in my life."

However, prosecutor Miss Catherine Picardo accused Mr. Barlow Evans of a joint attack. "You were both holding Miss Chen and hitting her. Your wife had one hand and you had the other and you were both hitting her."

The couple have each pleaded not guilty to one count of assaulting Miss Chen.

Trial continues………….