Night Bus Sex Pest Convicted

A night bus sex pest repeatedly rubbed himself up against a young woman during an early hours service from the West End to east London.

Shah Ahmed, 34, of Ethel Road, Canning Town was convicted by a Snaresbrook Crown Court jury of sexual assault and will be sentenced on December 1.

The incident ocurred at 1.00am on October 27 on a N25 bus travelling along Oxford Street as the 25-year-old victim was travelling home after a Saturday a night out. 



The victim got off the bus and reported the incident to police.



The Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC) Sexual Offences Team led the investigation and obtained CCTV footage from the bus.

This investigation led to Ahmed being identified and he was arrested on November 19.

Acting Superintendent Andrew Johnstone of the RTPC said: "Sexual assaults on the transport network will not be tolerated and anyone who commits such offences will be caught and prosecuted. 



"If someone has made you feel uncomfortable on your bus journey - however minor it may seem to you - reporting it to police can help us target the perpetrator and prevent it happening to another passenger."



Siwan Hayward, Transport for London's Deputy Director of Enforcement and On-Street Operations, said: "We care about our passengers and every journey they make and do not tolerate unwanted sexual behaviour or crime of any kind on our transport network.

“I am pleased this offender has been found guilty for his grossly unpleasant, and completely unacceptable crime.



"Overall our transport network is a safe, low crime environment. Over ten million passengers use our public transport services each day with very few ever experiencing or witnessing crime."



Dangerous Death Crash BMW Driver Locked-Up

A death crash driver – who smashed head-on with a cabbie while overtaking a bus on the wrong side of the road – has been jailed for six years.

Massimo Sassu, 29, of Carlton Avenue, Oakwood, north London ignored two 'keep left' bollards while executing his dangerous manoeuvre at 3.30am.

He pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to causing the death of 54 year-old mini-cab driver Ahmet Vural, by dangerous driving, in Green Lanes, Winchmore Hill last August.

Sassu was also disqualified from driving for five years and ordered to take an extended test if he want his licence back.

He was driving a black three series BMW when he crashed into Mr. Vural's Ford Galaxy and a route 29 bus.

The mini-cab driver, from Edmonton, was pronounced dead at the scene and a post mortem confirmed the cause of death as serious head and chest injuries.

A passenger in the mini-cab, a man in his forties, was taken to a north London hospital for treatment and later discharged.

Nobody else was injured in the collision. 



The investigation led by Chadwell Heath Serious Collision Investigation Unit found Sassu had overtaken a bus adjacent to two 'keep left' bollards and hit the oncoming mini cab head on. 

Heartless Burglars Target Pensioner Brothers During Terrifying Late-Night Break-In

A despicable couple, who broke into the home of two pensioner brothers in the middle of the night, attacking the terrified pair and ransacking the address have been caged.

Rohan Daley, 41, of Yelverton Road, Battersea received five years imprisonment – which includes a seperate break-in – and Nicola Barwell, 38, of nearby Peabody Estate, St. John's Hill received two years and eight months.

At Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court they both pleaded guilty to burgling the Clapham address on May 11 and Daley admitted another burglary and possessing a knife.

The court heard how in the early hours of the morning at 4.30am the two brothers, aged 78 and 67 years-old, were asleep in their home.



The older of the two was woken up by the sound of someone forcing open the front door.

He was confronted by Daley who had entered his bedroom and was demanding money. 


Barwell also entered the room and began a search and Daley punched the elderly victim, causing a bruise to his face.

The pair completed their search and left the room and the victim used this opportunity to call the police.



The younger brother, who was sleeping in a downstairs bedroom, heard the commotion and went to the bottom of the stairs.

Daley picked a stepladder and threw it at him, striking him in the chest and knocking him backwards. 



Daley grappled with the man and tried to grab his walking stick.

He was joined by Barwell and they again demanded money and searched the room.

Daley used a screwdriver to rip open the pensioner’s mattress. 



Both then returned to the first bedroom where Daley threw a torch at the 78-year-old man, causing a two inch gash above his eye.

After this they left the property, but were chased and arrested by police officers who had arrived at the scene.



Daley was seen to discard property that he had stolen from the house and when he was searched, a lock-knife was found in his trouser pocket.

Barwell was arrested whilst trying to climb over a fence.



Detective Constable Tony Davis, of Wandsworth CID, said: “This was a horrendous crime where two vulnerable and elderly men were attacked in their home.

Daley is a dangerous individual who would do anything for his own gain, while Barwell has shown a shocking lack of compassion.

“Thankfully, despite their horrendous ordeal, one of the victims courageously called police and the fast response by officers helped bring this pair to justice.”

 

Performance Artist Actor Continued Claiming Benefit While Working

De La Roche (R) & Inesa (L)

An actor and performance artist, who appears in Johnny Depp's latest film, continued claiming £7,500 in Pension Credit while secretly pocketing fees for roles and projects with his younger wife.

Barrington De La Roche, 70, who describes himself as an 'Independent Fine Art Professional' plays the role of 'Shakespeare' in 2014's 'London Fields', a thriller which also stars Billy Bob Thornton and Jason Isaacs.

He also appears in nineteenth century horror 'Blood Moon' - playing the role of 'Ahiga' - set for release in November and next year will be seen in horror short 'God Will Fall.'

De La Roche performs along with his 32 year-old wife Inesa Vaiciute as 'Dark Theatre' a conceptual art form which has exhibited in London, Vienna, Budapest and Berlin and includes mostly nude poses illustrating such themes as birth and death.

De La Roche, of Alma Road, Wandsworth pleaded guilty yesterday to failing to notify a change of circumstances to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) between April 5, 2009 and August 19, last year, namely that he and his wife were in gainful employment.

Prosecutor Miss Frances Lockhart told Wimbledon Magistrates Court

: "Mr. De La Roche claimed Pension Credit for his partner and himself for which he was not entitled because he failed to declare his circumstances.

"He and his partner were working as actors and extras and he also received housing benefit and council tax benefit during the period he and his wife were working and receiving earnings."

When De La Roche began the claim in February, 2008 he stated he was unemployed, but received work via six acting agencies, including 2020 Casting and Ugly Models Enterprises, which reported him to the DWP.

"Had he informed the DWP of his employers he would have received nil benefit or benefit at a reduced rate would have been payable."

The DWP overpaid De La Roche £7,521.96, which he is currently repaying at £23.50 per week.

He was interviewed in by the DWP in April last year, with a London Borough of Wandsworth investigator also attending.

"He admitted knowing he had to inform the DWP of any change in circumstances and said his earnings were always absorbed and that he wanted to earn enough to come off benefits, but this did not happen," explained Miss Lockhart.

His lawyer Miss Eloise Emanuel told the court: "Mr. De La Roche was not fraudulent from the outset and he is still entitled to Pension Credit at a reduced rate.

"This was not a sophisticated carrying out of the offence or involved sophisticated planning and Mr. and Mrs. De La Roche used their own bank accounts.

"This was a legitimate claim that became false due to his situation. He does not live an extravagant lifestyle and works with art installations and casting agencies.

"He does an awful lot of work for charity and describes himself as a recovering drug addict, even though he has been clean for twenty-nine years, and regularly goes to Narcotics Anonymous meetings to assist those recovering themselves and is due to go tomorrow to speak.

"He set up the LimbPower charity for amputees after his daughter lost a limb," added Miss Emanuel, explaining her client is also involved in an artists charity, which seeks to help those similarly disabled.

District Judge James Henderson conditionally discharged De La Roche for eighteen months and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

"I give you full credit for pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity and for the fact it was an error rather than deliberate dishonesty," he told the first-time offender.

"You have reached the age of seventy without a criminal offence and you are paying back the money at a reasonable rate."

Paedophile Ex-Schoolteacher Who Retired To Thailand Now In English Prison

A former private school teacher, who sexually abused a young boy on official coach trips, has been jailed for two and half years after his victim broke a forty-year vow of silence.

Michael Porteous, 78, was convicted at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court of two counts of indecently assaulting a boy and was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Porteous, who had moved to Thailand, was arrested after his victim – a new father - came forward with allegations of abuse in December 2012.

The victim, a man now aged 51, was abused as a 12-year-old by Porteous, who was one of his teachers at King's House Prep School, Richmond in 1974.

He said the art and music teacher sexually assaulted him - unbeknown to other teachers and pupils - while they sat next to each other on a coach that travelled to a sports ground.

The abuse happened on numerous occasions and continued during a six to eight week period.

After the allegation was made in 2012, it was investigated by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command.

Porteous was tracked down to Thailand, but he returned to Sussex in September 2013 for a short visit to see family members and was arrested.

The victim had not spoken out at the time of the assaults because his parents worked hard to pay for his education and he didn't want them to feel he had let them down.

Although he had told previous partners and his wife of his ordeal, he had never discussed the intimate details of the abuse until he spoke with officers from the Met.

Detective Constable Nikki Honey, the investigating officer, said: "Porteous preyed on a vulnerable young boy, who didn't really understand what was happening to him at the time.

"He used his position to abuse a child, and thought he had got away with it.

“His victim only came forward as he became a father himself to a much longed for child a few months before he made the allegation.

"He stated that when he looked into his son's eyes and saw such innocence, coupled with the media attention of the Jimmy Savile inquiry, it gave him the strength to make the allegation.

"The victim received the utmost support from officers that enabled him to talk intimately about the events he had to endure.

"He had never told anyone before in such detail.

“This took a lot of courage, especially for something he had wanted to forget about.

“He was able to recall the incidents in so much detail, even after nearly forty years.

“He had lived with his memories for such a long time, and is now so relieved, that he has described it as 'being set free'."

Rapist Who Targeted 11 Year-Old Girl Gets 8 And A Half Years

A paedophile, who raped an 11 year-old girl he befriended the same day, has been locked-up for eight-and-a-half years.

James Albert Bodenham, 26, of St. Luke's Close, South Norwood attacked the young girl in Addiscombe when she was out visiting a relative.

He pleaded guilty to one count of rape when he appeared at the Old Bailey and was also given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Bodenham was identified and arrested after he was recognised in CCTV footage by an officer from Croydon who happened to have stopped him a few weeks prior to the offence taking place.



Police were contacted by the girl’s parents on the afternoon of March 1 when she was late returning home after visiting a relative.

The girl returned home soon after, but was in a distressed state.

Following delicate enquiries carried out by officers, they managed to find out that she had been sexually assaulted by a man she had met and befriended only that day. 



A full investigation was carried out by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command and detectives identified CCTV footage from the area showing a man who matched the description given by the girl.



Images of the man were circulated to local officers in Croydon and a Croydon CID officer recognised him as Bodenham, as he had stopped him riding a push bike in the area a few weeks before.



Further enquiries were made and Bodenham was arrested by police on March 19 at his home address.

Officers also seized clothing that matched the description given to them by the victim. 



Police also compared Bodenham’s DNA with samples taken from the victim’s clothing and he was charged later that day.

Detective Constable David Bendall who investigated the case said: “Bodenham targeted an extremely young and vulnerable girl, who will have to live with the consequences of his actions for the rest of her life.

“The victim and her family have shown tremendous strength and courage throughout the entire investigation.

“I hope that by bringing Bodenham to justice will in some way help them to move on from this terrible ordeal.”

Teen Denies Liposuction Fraud On Cosmetic Surgery Clinic

A teenager, accused of using a bounced cheque to swindle £13,400 worth of liposuction out of a leading Kensington plastic surgery, has appeared at Hammersmith Magistrates Court for the first time. 

Racine Loreece Peters, 18, of Hither Green Lane, Hither Green indicated a not guilty plea and was bailed to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on October 28.

She is charged with obtaining services dishonestly between August 5 and 10 at 29 Kensington Church Street, namely cosmetic surgery worth £13,400 from EF MEDISPA by forging a Metro Bank letter and presenting a cheque in that sum, knowing there were insufficient funds in the account.

EF MEDISPA describes itself as a multi award winning beauty therapy clinic specialising in skin care and has further locations in Chelsea and St. John's Wood.

Kensington is home to it's flagship clinic and some of the procedures offered include breast enhancement, liposuction, laser hair reduction and facelifts.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Doolan told the court Peters was challenged at a follow-up visit and produced a forged letter, which indicated she had sufficient funds in her account.

Woman Accused Of Conning Bank President Sir George Mallinckrodt On His Doorstep

A young woman, accused of an audacious fraud on the president of Schroders merchant bank, Sir George Mallinckrodt, who handed over £74,000 worth of jewellery and lost £6,000 in cash, appeared for the first time at Hammersmith Magistrates Court yesterday.

Miranda Trudy Elmakhzangy, 20, of Dunstable Road, Caddington, Luton, is accused of posing as a police officer and conning Sir George, 84 and his wife Charmaine, 79, into handing over the valuables on the doorstep of their Chelsea home.

She is charged that on April 7 at Chelsea Square, Chelsea she stole various items of jewellery and bank cards worth £80,000 belonging to the elderly couple and was bailed to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on October 28 after making no indication as to plea.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Doolan described the couple as "vulnerable" and suffered the loss after receiving a phone call by somebody purporting to be a police officer.

Sir George is the former president of Schroders, an independent merchant bank, which has offices in twenty-seven countries, managing £271.5 billion.

German-born Sir George has an honorary knighthood and his full name is Georg Wilhelm von Mallinckrodt.

He married Charmaine Schroder, sister of Bruno Schroder, the great-great-grandson of the bank's co-founder John Henry Schroder, in 1958, after joining the company four years earlier in New York.

He moved to London in 1960 and became director in 1977, serving as chairman from December 1984 until May 1995 and later as president.

Sir George played a leading role in the Bank of England's attempt to save Barings.

Elmakhzangy is also charged with driving a 1.8 litre silver Mercedes in Sharpenhoe Road, Streatley, Bedforshire on July 8 without insurance and obstructing a PC Cundell at Dunstable Police Station on the same day.

She was bailed on condition she signs-on at Luton Police Station on Monday's and Thursday's, notifies any change of address to police and does not contact Sir George or Charmaine.

Deputy District Judge Caroline Jackson told her: "You clearly know where they live and who they are. If you contact them you will be arrested and your bail taken away."

Zero Hours Worker's £7,500 Bogus Time Sheet Hospital Scam

A zero hours contract worker with Chelsea and Westminster Hospital forged time sheets and collected over £7,500 after ending her employment.

Jamaica Ubaldo, 23, of Talbot Road, Wembley even had the cheek to phone her former bosses at the West Brompton hospital and demand wages when her scam was uncovered and the payments stopped.

She pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court today to forging the time sheets between June 1, 2013 and February 26, this year and was committed to Isleworth Crown Court for sentencing.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Doolan told the court: “The defendant stopped working in May last year, but after this she continued submitting time sheets and was paid up until February.

“When the fraud came to light the defendant rang the office asking where the payments were. You may think this aggravates the offence.”

Ordering probation reports District Judge Caroline Jackson bailed the first-time offender, telling her: “I think it's too serious. It's going to be committed for sentencing.” 

Cemetery Sex Attack: E-Fit Released

Police have released this e-fit of a man they would like to trace following an early-morning sex attack on a woman walking through a church cemetary.



Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command believe the man may have crucial information regarding the incident on June 30.



At 9.00am a 54-year-old woman was grabbed by a man, pulled behind a hedge and assaulted as she walked through All Saints Church cemetery in Old Priory Avenue, Orpington.

The victim suffered scratches during the attack but was not seriously injured.



The man police would like to contact is described as of eastern European or tanned white appearance, in his mid-30s or younger and he speaks with a local accent.

He was scruffy in appearance with greasy brown lank hair just below the ears.

He had pimples on his forehead and teeth with distinctive white patches.

He smelt of alcohol and was wearing an olive-coloured baggy t-shirt and dark baggy jogging bottoms.



Anyone with information about the man or anything that could assist officers should call Lewisham Police Station on 020 8721 4607 or, to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

Pensioner Viciously Punched By Stranger While Sitting In Car

Detectives in Westminster are appealing for information after a 64-year-old motorist was left facing blindness after he was brutally attacked in his own car.



The unprovoked assault occurred at 3.10am on Wednesday July 2 in in Fermoy Road, Maida Vale as the pensioner made his way to morning prayers at Regent Park Mosque during Ramadan. 



The victim was driving along Fermoy Road and had stopped at a 'Give Way' line at the junction with Harrow Road when he noticed a man and a woman arguing in the street.



At that point the man who was arguing with the woman shouted to the victim "What are you looking at?"



The victim replied he was looking at the road.

The suspect suddenly rushed towards his car, before leaning in and punching the victim repeatedly in the face. 



The woman with the suspect then shouted for him to stop punching the victim.

They both headed off east down Harrow Road soon after.

The entire attack has been captured on CCTV footage.



London Ambulance Service were called and took the victim to a north London hospital.



The victim has suffered a fractured eye socket, severe bruising and blurred vision.

He is due an operation on his eye shortly and doctors have told him he could lose his eyesight.

As the risk is so high, the man arranged to meet his family abroad before the operation in case he loses his sight as a result of the procedure.



The suspect is described as of Middle Eastern origin, with short dark hair and approximately 25-years-old.

The woman he was with is described as white and of slim build. 



Police are particularly keen to trace a witness who saw the attack and is shown on his mobile phone in the footage.

The woman seen with the man carrying out the attack is also sought by investigators. 



Detective Constable Nikki Hubbard from Westminster Major Crime Unit said: "This was a brutal and unprovoked attack on a defenceless man going about his business.

“As well as the terrifying assault, the victim is now facing the real prospect of losing his eyesight.

“He arranged to meet his family before his eye procedure as this may be the last opportunity he ever gets to see them.

“This is a horrible crime and we need to identify and catch the culprit.

“I would urge anyone with information to contact Westminster Major Crime Unit on 0207-321-7620 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111. 

Lady Tatiana Howard Ran Over Pedestrian Driving Porsche On Wrong Side Of Road

Furniture designer Lady Tatiana Howard was fined £500 today for running over and hospitalising a pedestrian with her Porsche as she drove along the wrong side of the road on the way to her boutique Fulham store.

Lady Tatiana, 49, impatiently overtook a row of stationary cars on her way to Tatiana Tafur in fashionable King's Road when she struck David Laing in nearby North End Road, West Kensington.

The mother-of-two, who studied the History of Art at Sotheby's and lives in a £1 million house in

Little Barrington, Burford, Oxfordshire admitted driving her black Porsche Boxter without due care and attention on January 14.

"We have heard that you drove in a dangerous manner," bench chairwoman Cathy Jago told Lady Tatiana at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court. 

"You were driving on the wrong side of the road and that resulted in a pedestrian being hit by your vehicle and him being taken to hospital by ambulance."

She was also ordered to pay £85 costs, a £50 victim surcharge and received five penalty points.

Prosecutor Miss Melanie Hardwick told the court it was 10am when Mr. Laing was crossing the road outside North End Medical Centre.

"He says that as he approached the middle of the road he looked to his left and to his right and as he stepped out he was hit by the Porsche.

"The driver said she was rushing to get to work.

"Mr. Laing received injuries to his shoulder, leg, neck and head as a result of being struck by the defendant.

"She got out of her car to ask if he was okay and an ambulance was called."

The court heard Lady Tatiana already has six penalty points on her driver's licence for using a mobile phone and speeding.

Her lawyer Mr. Mark Haslam told the court: "The impact speed was in the region of 10mph and the injuries were not described as serious.

"The traffic was solid in two lanes and she wished to turn right into Star Road and pulled out of her lane, having checked there was no traffic coming towards her.

"The pedestrian came from between vehicles, from behind a stationary white van and did not choose to use a pedestrian crossing.

"By being on the wrong side of the road she accepts that it was driving without due care and attention."

All insurance issues have been settled. "There was no significant personal injury claim," added Mr. Haslam.

Asking the court not to impose six or more penalty points, which would result in an automatic ban, he said: "She is a married lady and her husband works in London, where he lives during the week.

"She has twin children, aged seven, and they go to school eighteen miles away and there is no public transport.

"She works for her manufacturing company that designs furniture and employs four people, but it is not in the best financial health and the last account showed losses of eight thousand pounds.

"She works from home, but also drives to her work three times a week."

Businessman Claims He Didn't Know His Amphetamine Stash Was Illegal

A businessman, who cliams he did not know the class B drug 'speed' was illegal, has been fined after police found a small amount of it in his Fulham home.

Anthony Michael Fox, 38, of North End Road, who earns £7,500 a month, also had a quantity hidden in his sock, which was discovered when officers strip-searched him.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court to possessing a quantity of amphetamine on July 27 and was fined £1,000, with £85 costs and was ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge.

“I could had washed that down the toilet, I paid five hundred pounds for that,” Fox told the court, and complaining about the amout of the fine he added: “I'm paying for school fees, my outgoings are higher than my income.”

The court was told police visited Fox's address on an undisclosed matter that was not proceeded with and discovered white powder on a bedroom table, plus more amphetamine when the defendant was searched in custody.

He also gave a positive test for cocaineat the police station.

His lawyer, who refused to give his name, said: “He uses this drug because he suffers from hair loss and did not realise the drugs were illegal.”

However, the magistrate dismissed this claim, telling Fox: “I don't believe what you said about why you had the drugs. I believe you knew they were illegal.”

Teen Admits Sexually Abusing Three Children In Same Family

A teenager, who sexually abused three young members of the same family, was warned he may go into custody after finally admitting his crimes.

Jake Brookfield, 18, of York Avenue, Hayes, Middlesex was himself aged between ten and fourteen years-old when he subjected the boy and two girls, who are younger than him, to the abuse.

“These are serious matters against young children,” Isleworth Crown Court Judge Robin Johnson told Brookfield yesterday. “I appreciate you were young at the time, but the fact I am bailing you does not rules out a custodial sentence.”

Brookfield was bailed until December 5 for probation and psychiatric reports and Judge Johnson, who ordered the defendant to sign the Sex Offenders Register within 72 hours, added: “The probation service should consider all options.

“This will be a troubling case for the sentencing judge.”

Brookfield pleaded guilty to four counts of inciting the boy to engage in sexual activity on various dates between November 7, 2005 and June 12, 2010.

He also admitted two counts of inciting one of the girl's to engage in sexual activity between August 5, 2006 and Jauary 1, 2011 and one count of inciting the other girl to engage in sexual activity between September 5, 2009 and January 1, 2011, when she was aged seven to nine years-old.

Brookfield denied five further counts, including a charge of rape, and they will not be proceeded with.

Prosecutor Mr. Tom Nicholson told the court: “Some of the incidents started when the defendant was ten years-old and probably would not have been charged if it was not for the escalation. The oldest was when he was fourteen years-old.

“The high watermark of the prosecution case is quite more serious than that to what the defendant has pleaded guilty to an there were discussions with the family.

“All three children were dreading giving evidence against the defendant and re-live what happened to them.”

Brookfield faces a maximum sentence of five years custody.

Civil Servant Paid £280K In Housing Benefit To Himself

A housing benefit officer with the London Borough of Ealing reopened thirty-four dormant claims and paid £280,000 of taxpayers money into his own bank accounts.

Even after civil servant Mark Hypolite, 36, was caught and banned from his office he sneaked back in and logged-on to a council computer and continued the fraud.

Hypolite, of Phipps House, Shepherd's Bush was bailed to return to Isleworth Crown Court for sentencing on December 3 on condition he does not enter any London Borough of Ealing premises except on legitimate business.

Today the jury found proved nine sample counts of dishonestly making false representations between April 12, 2010 and November 16, 2011.

Hypolite changed his name by deed poll to open bank accounts under different identities and immediately withdrew the payments in cash.

The council have recovered £97,000, but do not know what has happened to the remainder or what Hypolite spent the money on.

The defendant was employed at Perceval House, Uxbridge Road from 2007 and was identified by colleagues who suspected suspicious activity, resulting in him becoming the target of an investigation by the audit department.

The thirty-four claims were reopened without the original claimants' knowledge and paid into three different bank accounts, one of which was in the name of Hypolite's mother's second husband.

Prosecutor Mr. Mark Tomassi told the jury: "He was employed by the council and was not entitled to the monies paid out. It was pure fraud from first to last.

"The frauds committed by Mr. Hypolite are complicated, sophisticated, persistent and consistent and a very large sum of money has been wrongly diverted.

"This all points to a sophisticated, calculated successful fraud.

"He was suspended and told not to enter the premises and knew he was not welcome within the council offices, but was seen there again a few days later."

Violent Double Rapist Gets 18 Years

A violent thug, who intimidated a woman he knew and raped her twice in the space of a few months – once at knifepoint - has been caged for eighteen years.

Jimmy Prospere, 47, of Bishopsthorpe Road, Sydenham was convicted by a Woolwich Crown Court jury of two counts of rape.

The court heard how Prospere, who knew his victim, had used violence and intimidation over a period of time against the woman, aged in her forties.

On two occasions, in January and May 2013, Prospere raped the woman, using a knife to threaten her during the January attack.



The victim managed to gather the courage to report the abuse to police in September 2013.



Detective Constable Claire Rutherford, who led the investigation for the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "The victim has shown immense courage and resilience throughout the investigation and the court process, and I hope that this conviction helps her find closure in due course.



"I also hope that this conviction acts as a means of encouragement for those women who suffer from sexual abuse to feel reassured that the police take these matters very seriously and will pursue such allegations thoroughly."

Cig Butt DNA Nails Knife-Wielding Bank Bandit

A knifeman, who threatened bank staff with a blade during a £2,000 raid, has been jailed for three years.

Zhoa Wan, 29, of Sigrist Square, Kingston-upon-Thames brandished the large kitchen knife as he fled, telling a member of staff: “Get out of my way.”

He pleaded guilty to robbing the bank in High Street, Hounslow on February 12.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard it was 11am when Wan entered the branch

He initially told staff he was waiting for someone, but he then approached two cashiers, produced the knife and told staff to give him the money.



The staff handed over nearly £2,000, which Wan placed in a black bag he had been carrying.



As he left, the cashiers told a member of staff in the bank’s public area what had happened.

This member of staff began to approach Wan, but he held the knife out in front of him, shouted the order, and escaped.

Police were called and officers from the Flying Squad began an investigation.

A review of CCTV was made and an image recovered of the suspect smoking a cigarette.

The cigarette stub was found by police and the DNA on it was matched to Wan.



Other CCTV enabled police to find the guest house where Wan had been staying prior to the robbery.

All this information enabled detectives to identify Wan as the suspect.



Wan became aware that he was sought by police and on Saturday, February 22 he surrendered himself at Hounslow police station, where he was arrested and later charged.



Detective Constable Alex George, of the Flying Squad, said: “This was a frightening ordeal for the members of staff who were threatened with a knife for Wan’s financial gain.

Our investigation quickly identified Wan as the person responsible.

His prison sentence should be a warning; if you commit violent crime the consequences are severe." 

Male On Male Nightclub Rape: CCTV Image Released

Police investigating the rape of a young man in the toilets of a popular Kingston-upon-Thames nightclub have released this CCTV image of a suspect.

The 19 year-old victim reported the attack ocurred in the early hours of April 3 in the male toilets of 'Pryzm' in Clarence Street.

The suspect is believed to be aged in his early to mid 20's and around 5ft 8 ins in height.

He is described as of Mediterranean appearance, or possibly a light-skinned black man.



Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation, and Child Abuse Command are investigating.



Detective Sergeant Janet Archibald said: "I am asking the man shown in the image to come forward and speak with me, since he may have information that would assist the investigation. 



"I also wish to hear from anyone who knows this man's identity, or who has information relating to the incident at Pryzm nightclub on the third of April."



Anyone with information should call police on 020 8649 0422. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.