"Grave Robber" Scrap Metal Dealer Jailed For Memorial Plaques Outrage

A "grave robber" rogue scrap metal dealer, who bought hundreds of bronze memorial plaques stolen by heartless thieves from cemeteries in the dead of night, was jailed for fifteen months 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, Dulwich 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.

Recorder Benedict Khelleher told him at Isleworth Crown Court: "Their value to those who they were a memorial to, loves ones, can't be valued in monetary terms and the theft of these plaques would have caused distress to many.

"Your motivation can only have been to maximise the profits of your business," he told Collier, who has two separate convictions for trading in scrap metal while unregistered and unlicensed.

His lawyer Mr. James Martin told the court: "He fully appreciates the seriousness of the offending and the suffering to the families of loved ones.

"He said when he read it in the newspaper he felt like a grave robber.

"He was running a legitimate business, but in a way that was asking no questions. He's taken people on face value and not asked the proper and appropriate questions."

Collier claims the scrap value of the plaques was only £4,000, but the police say the cost to replace them to bereaved families would be £17,000 to £30,000.

He fought the case and even tried to dodge responsibility when interviewed by the probation service after his conviction. "He was explaining just because they were plaques didn't mean they were stolen," explained Mr. Martin.

During the police raid, which was the culmination of 'Operation Ferris', officers also seized a £3,200 200 kilo Thai bronze dragon statue, "wrenched from its concrete setting", from a front garden in Teddington. 

Collier was also trapped in a police sting of trying to buy eight reels of copper, valued at £800, belonging to UK Power Networks ten months later while he was still on bail.

"He's lost his business now, that's a huge blow to him. He's a man who's literally worked every day of his life. There's no chance anyone is going to give him a scrap licence again and he doesn't know what to do with himself," added Mr. Martin.

Prosecutor Mr. James Lofthouse told the jury the plaques - of which 250 were later identified - were for the recently deceased. "They included memorial plaques from 2010, 2011 and 2012. 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."

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.

"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 was found guilty of two counts of possessing criminal property on May 14, 2012, namely the memorial plaques and sacred heart statue and the ornamental dragon figure.

Collier was also convicted of 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.

Police Art Squad Hunt Painting Pincher

An audacious sneak-thief made off with this painting from the Southbank Centre.

The oil on canvas painting by Kyffin Williams, entitled 'Landscape at Llanaelhaearn,' is dated 1947 and measures 51.1cm by 61cm. 



The painting had been on display in a secure room on level five of the Royal Festival Hall since it was received on loan from the Arts Council Collection in November 2013. 



The painting was reported stolen after a member of staff at the Southbank Centre found its frame, broken, concealed in a toilet cubicle.



It is believed that the painting was stolen at the end of September this year.



Investigating officer Detective Constable Ray Swan of the Metropolitan Police's Art and Antiques Unit said: “Whoever stole this painting is likely to try to sell it.

“I urge anyone who is offered the painting to report the matter to us immediately, or contact us if you know anything about the theft or the painting’s whereabouts.“



Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the painting should call the Art and Antiques Unit on 020 7230 2150. 

Gun Crooks Jailed After Police Seize Pistols

Two gun crooks have been caged after police found a pair of pistols, plus ammo, in a car's glove compartment.

Yaser Kelleher, 26, (pic.top) of Hatch Lane, Harmondsworth, Middlesex received eight years for possession of a firearm and assault. 



Mohamed Amine Darik, 22, (pic.bottom) of Beames Road, Harlesden received five years for possession of a firearm.

Isleworth Crown Court heard how on March 4 at approximately 11:30pm officers were called to an address in Hatch Lane, West Drayton, Middlesex to reports of an assault.

Kelleher initially gave a false name, however following police checks his true identity was established and he was arrested for the assault.

A search of his car was carried out where officers found two handguns and ammunition in the glove compartment. 



Both of the handguns (pictured) were manufactured as replicas but subsequently converted to fire live ammunition.

Forensic examination of the handguns revealed Darik’s DNA present.

On May 2 Darik was arrested at his home address. He denied the offence, but was later charged with possession of a firearm.



Detective Sergeant Beverley Kofi, from Hillingdon CID said: ““Darik truly believed he was innocent and did not have any involvement with the handguns.

“What he failed to understand is that the police will use every tool we have to catch those involved in gun crime.



"I hope that these sentences serve as another reminder to anybody involved in the possession, supply and use of firearms that officers will continue to pursue and place them before the courts.

“These are serious offences and will result in lengthy custodial sentences."


South African Businesswoman Caught With Stun Gun And CS Gas In Luggage

A South African tourism businesswoman, who was caught travelling to the UK with an electric stun gun and CS spray in her luggage, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Amelia Marcia Georgiades, 61, who runs a shuttle/tour in Knysna was stopped at Heathrow Airport's Terminal Four and arrested.

She pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates Court to two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, namely a stun gun and CS spray, on June 20 and was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

She was also fined £500, with £85 costs and ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge.

Georgiades, who was visiting an address in Bay Tree Close, Iffley, Oxford had just stepped off a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to London when the illegal weapons were found in her luggage.

She claimed she did not know the items were in her luggage when she departed South Africa.

Paedo Caught With Over 85,000 Sick Images Of Kids Admits Guilt

A paedophile, caught with thousands of sick images of children, will be sentenced next month after pleading guilty yesterday.

Kevin John Allen, 56, of Auriol Drive, Uxbridge, who has no previous convictions, was bailed until November 26.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to three counts of making indecent photographs of children on or before May 8, namely 346 Category A; 1,162 Category B and 16,676 at Category C.

Allen also pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent movies of children on or before May 8,namely 58 Category A; 88 Category B and 36 at Category C.

He also admitted possessing 68,823 indecent photographs of children. 

Imam's 'Sham Marriage' Conspiracy Trial Collapses

A Crown Prosecution Service and Home Office bungle has resulted in the collapse of the trial of a north-west London imam, suspected of conducting 580 sham marriages at an Islamic centre between muslim men and EU national brides.

Mohammed Mattar, 63, of Maygrove Road, West Hampstead had also originally been charged with laundering over £1.8m in criminal profits via an Egyptian bank account, but this was also dropped.

His trial was due to begin at Isleworth Crown Court on October 13, but the CPS had failed to disclose all their relevant material to Matter's defence team and their application for an extension of time was refused at a pre-trial hearing on September 18.

Yesterday a CPS spokesperson said: "In early 2014 we identified a large amount of potentially relevant material and we advised the Home Office investigation team to obtain and look into the material for the purpose of disclosure.

"In August it became apparent that this work had not been completed and therefore we would not be able to fully discharge disclosure obligations in the case before the trial.

"We therefore applied for an adjournment. This was refused by the court and we had no option, but to offer no evidence."

Mattar, who was known at the Dar Al Dawa Islamic Centre in Westbourne Grove, was originally charged with conspiring to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law between January 1, 2008 and July 12, 2012 by conducting marriages between EU national females and non EU national males to obtain permanent leave to remain in the UK.

He was also charged with concealing criminal property between the same dates via money transfers to the value of £1,887,262, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act, but this charge had already been dropped in April.

Young Thug Caged For Ammonia Attack

Harrow Crown Court

A young thug, recently released from prison for a strip club rampage, is starting another sentence for dousing a man with ammonia.

Bobby Colin Maloney, 21, of The Derings, Lydd, Romney Marsh, Kent received two years imprisonment at Harrow Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to one count of throwing a corrosive fluid at Christopher Ougham in Birkbeck Avenue, Greenford, west London on July 28.

The prosecution dropped a charge of grievous bodily harm against the same victim.

In November, last year Maloney was caged after he and an accomplice armed themselves with bricks and scaffold poles from a building site to threaten security staff at the 'Sophisticats' club, near Bond Street in the West End.

The pair had been ejected for interfering with the girls and threatened to shoot staff with AK47's.

As well as starting a new sentence Maloney was also ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge and the remaining ammonia was forfeited.

Heavyweight Champ Chisora Jumped Red Light To Flee Cops In Uninsured SUV

Heavyweight boxing champ Dereck Chisora jumped a red light as he fled police in his uninsured high-performance Mercedes SUV after an officer quizzed him about his Zimbabwean driving licence.

The 30 year-old European and WBO Intercontinental title holder was in stationary traffic when the officer, who was travelling in the opposite direction, chatted to him through his open window and ordered him to pull over.

Luckily police recognised the six foot one former British and Commonwealth champion and went to the boxer's mother's home and told her they wanted to speak with him.

Chisora, of Addison Way, Golders Green did not attend Willesden Magistrates Court today, but pleaded guilty to driving the 5.5 litre Mercedes ML V8 in Finchley Road on April 12 without insurance.

He also admitted failing to comply with a red light and failing to stop for a uniformed police officer and was fined a total of £665, with £85 costs and a £66 victim surcharge and was given seven penalty points.

The boxer is currently preparing for his 'Battle of Britain' showdown with fellow heavyweight Tyson Fury at the Docklands' ExCel arena on November 29.

Chisora's lawyer Mr. Barry Warburton told the court: "The police officer's attention was drawn because they were sitting in a traffic queue and he wound his window down and asked: 'Do you have a driving licence?'

"My client said it was an international driver's licence and the officer said there was no such thing."

Chisora then ignored the police request to stop and jumped the red light he was waiting at.

"It was in fact a full Zimbabwean driving licence and all he has to do is send it to DVLA and they will send back a full UK driving licence," explained Mr. Warburton.

When asked how long his client had been living in the country the lawyer replied: "I have no idea and it doesn't matter anyway. He's not doing anything unlawful driving on a Zimbabwean licence.

"He's pleaded guilty to the red traffic light, he says it was marginal, but accepts he should have stopped.

"The vehicle was fully insured for named drivers over thirty years-old."

Unfortunately for Chisora he was not a named driver on the policy.

When quizzed about his client's earning Mr. Warburton said: "He's a famous professional boxer. I don't know how much they make, but probably a lot.

"I think two thousand pounds a week would be conservative."

The lawyer said the penalty would be paid in full within seven days. "I'll be in touch with his management team."

North London Jewish Murder: Killer Caged

A young Romanian – high on a cocktail of drink and drugs – who butchered a popular middle-aged Israeli woman in her own home is starting a life sentence.

Nicolae Patraucean, 21, of Stanmore will serve a minimum of twenty-five years after pleading guilty to murdering 55 year-old Rivka Holden at her home in Falcon Way, Colindale.

He slashed her throat with a knife and inflicted further serious wounds with a Stanley knife at the address on March 16.

Police were flagged down at 12.20pm and officers were alerted to a seriously injured woman at her home address.

London Ambulance Service attended the address and Rivka was pronounced dead at the scene.

She had suffered stab injuries. 



A murder investigation was launched under Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall of the Homicide and Major Crime Command.



The victim's Red Hyundai i20, which had been stolen by Patraucean and driven away from the scene, was later found abandoned in the Kingsbury area.

Robbery was not, however, believed to be the motive for the murder.



Detective Inspector Simon Ashwin, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "I hope this sentence gives Ms Holden's family some solace in knowing that her killer has been brought to justice and will spend many years in prison." 

Fraudsters Jailed For Convincing 77 Year-Old Man To Hand Over Thousands Of Pounds

Three Years: Hussein

Two heartless fraudsters, who convinced a vulnerable pensioner to hand over thousands of pounds, have been jailed after bank staff realised their customer was being scammed.

Mohammed Hussein, 23, of Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell received three years and Yasen Ahmed, 21, of Durham Road, Luton received two years.

They were convicted at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court of conspiring to defraud the 77 year-old man who made two large withdrawls from his account and then £10,000 cash on the same day.

The court had heard how on March 26 the pensioner entered his bank in Richmond town centre and asked to withdraw £10,000 from his account.

The bank-staff became concerned when they noticed that the elderly gentlemen had made two earlier large withdrawals from his bank that same day.

The staff at the bank called police, as they were afraid he might be the victim of a crime.

When police arrived the elderly man told them that the day before he had received a phone call purporting to be from a well known department store.

The store told him they were checking as his credit card had been used to buy a large quantity of goods, but in reality he was talking to the defendants.

Two Years: Ahmed

When he put the phone down the pensioner phoned his bank and was surprised to get through straight away.

In fact he was talking to an accomplice of the original man who had simply not hung up the phone to keep the phone line open.

The bogus bank staff told him to withdraw his money and not to mention the reason to any staff working at his bank.

Police explained that this was an attempt to defraud him and accompanied the victim back to his home.

While police were at his home he received another call from the fraudsters, who asked if he had withdrawn the money and suggested that he place his cash in a box for a courier to collect.

However, he turned the tables by pretending to go along with the fraud and send the money.

When a taxi driver arrived to collect the cash police spoke to the driver and told him he was being used to commit a fraud.

The driver gave the address he had been told take the box and a police officer went in the cab; followed by officers in an unmarked car.

When the taxi arrived in Warner Street, Clerkenwell it was met by two men.

Kamal Hussein leaned into the front passenger window and asked for the package.

He was quickly arrested while his accomplice Yasen Ahmed ran and was chased and caught by officers.

Detective Constable Becky Springford of Kingston CID said. “This sort of offence is all too common and the victims are usually the elderly or vulnerable.

“It was only by the bank staff being alert that this man did not loose his savings.

“Thankfully, with the cooperation of their potential victim, police were able to turn the tables on these men.

“This was a despicable crime that tried to steal money from a man who had saved for his old age.

“In these circumstances the prison sentence is totally justified.” 

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.