Monday, 24 November 2014

Justice Catches Up With Abuser Three Decades On

A sex offender, who as a teen encouraged his younger neighbour to visit him alone to play Scalextric and other games over three decades ago, sexually abusing him by copying a Kama Sutra-style calender, has received three years imprisonment.

Barry Rosamond, 50, of Great Tree Farm, Looe, Cornwall was aged fifteen to sixteen years-old and the young boy between nine and ten during the period he preyed upon the youngster, Croydon Crown Court was told.

Rosamond was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault; one count of attempted buggery and one count of indecency with a child, occurred in Beckenham, Kent between 1978 and 1980.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for an indefinite period and received a lifetime ban from working with children.

“He said: 'Come around on your own to play, don't bring the others,' “ the 44 year-old complainant told the jury.

The defendant initially encouraged the youngster to touch him intimately, promising to give him £5.00 on the first occasion, but afterwards handed over £3.00 in change, the court heard.

“I went round there and and he abused me many times. I use'd to see him as a father-figure. Maybe that's why I never said anything.

“I've managed to keep my head up, but it's been difficult. He did this to me and I crumbled mentally and I do not want to carry it anymore.

“I'm sick and tired of it. It's draining. He abused me many times.

“You bury this in alcohol, in drugs to block these images out of your head,” explained the complainant, denying suggestions he invented the accusations to blame someone for difficulties in his own life.

“That's rubbish, absolute rubbish,” he said, adding it was very difficult to come forward at the time.

“At that age you don't know what is going on. You think you're just mucking around, but later I felt dirty, so dirty and foolish.”

He said Rosamond would produce a wall calendar, which depicted silhouetted figures in various sexual poses, which he would copy with the youngster.

Five years ago the complainant suddenly spotted Rosamond, who was visiting the area, as he walked to his mother's home.

“He smiled at me and when I went into the house I was pacing up and down wondering what to do, but not wanting to do anything crazy.

“I put a note on his camper van windscreen, which said: 'I don't want to see you again.' “

Sunday, 23 November 2014

Police Hunting Betting-Shop Robber Who Wore 'Gunners' Top

Police are hunting this masked raider, who along with an accomplice, robbed a betting-shop when a young female employee was on her own.
Flying Squad detectives are appealing for information after the robbery at Ladbrokes in Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park on October 20.
The pair, who were both concealed, entered the shop at 10.10pm and demanded cash.
Fearing for her life the woman, aged in her twenties, handed over cash from the till and the pair fled in an unknown direction.
Suspect one (pictured) is described as looking about 6ft tall and wearing a red Arsenal football top over a dark hooded top.


Suspect two is described as looking about 5ft 11in tall, and wearing a dark hooded top and dark sports shorts over dark leggings.


It is not known what they had masked their faces with, only that the masking was dark.


Anyone with information is asked to call investigating officer Detective Constable Andy Terry, of the Flying Squad, on 020 8345 4226 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 

Saturday, 22 November 2014

Airplane Drunk Jailed For Mid-Flight Assault

An airplane drunk, who assaulted a stewardess on a Gulf Air flight from Bahrain, was jailed for four months yesterday.

Jobless Keith Edward Hansford, 63, of Knaresborough Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire was arrested after the Airbus A330 landed at Heathrow Airport.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to being drunk on the aircraft during the June 12 seven-and-a-half hour flight and assaulting a member of the airline's staff.

The court heard Hansford, who has a heart condition lives on disability benefits.

He was also ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge.

Friday, 21 November 2014

'Mad Dog' Sister's Boozy Drink-Drive Bus Smash

A female member of a notorious south London crime family, who have clocked-up over eighty-three convictions including murder and wounding, crashed into a bus full of passengers while three times the alcohol limit and without a licence and insurance after an all-day drinking-session.

Louise Sonnex, 40, knocked back rum in the morning and joined more friends in the afternoon, who helped polish off a dozen cans of lager, before jumping behind the wheel of a pal's car and careering into a busy road, where she struck the double-decker and bounced into railings, knocking herself out on impact.

Sonnex, of Etta Street, Deptford pleaded guilty yesterday to driving the blue Peugeot carelessly and with excess alcohol in her breath in nearby Evelyn Street, on June 22 and driving without a full licence and insurance.

She also pleaded guilty to possessing a small quantity of cannabis resin, was bailed until December 11 for a pre-sentence report and given an interim disqualification.

A charge of aggravated taking and driving away of the vehicle and causing criminal damage was withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Her brother, Dano 'Mad Dog' Sonnex, 27, is serving life imprisonment, with a forty-year minimum, for the gruesome murders of French students Gabriel Ferez, 23, and Laurent Bonomo, 23, who were stabbed a total of 244 times on June 29, 2008.

Her father, Bernard Sonnex, 60, has at least twenty-six convictions, including firearms and drugs, and has been to prison six times and her brother Bernie Sonnex Jnr., 41, has been to prison at least ten times for a minimum of thirty-four offences, including theft and aggravated burglary.

Prosecutor Miss Thandi Lubimbi told Bexley Magistrates Court: "It was 7pm when the defendant came out of a junction, without paying attention, and drove into the side of the bus and then crashed into railings."

Sonnex was seen hanging out of the car's door, having knocked herself out when her head hit the dashboard.

"There were passengers in the bus and a passenger in the vehicle and an off-duty paramedic attended to the defendant, who then left the vehicle and returned later."

Officers noticed her breath smelled of alcohol and she was arrested, later giving a reading of 105 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

"The defendant did not have a licence and was not insured to drive the vehicle and when she was searched the cannabis was found," added Miss Lubimbi.

Sonnex has a criminal past to match her male relatives and has served time for the pub glassing of another woman and beating another woman with a golf club.

Her lawyer, who refused to give her name, told the court: "On the night before she had been drinking and when she woke up the next morning went to her friend Keith Jones's house and they both had drinks at 10am.

"She had a few rums and and the owner of the vehicle, Lisa Perry, pulled up and was invited into the garden where they all had drinks into the late afternoon.

"Lisa then invited them to her house and Miss Sonnex remembers having a roast dinner and more drinks and Mr. Jones remembers seeing a dozen empty cans on the table.

"She doesn't remember anything after that until the collision and waking up afterwards, but Mr. Jones says Lisa Perry was driving them home, but kept stopping to chat to friends and the third time she left the vehicle with the engine still running.

"Miss Sonnex was shouting at her to get back in the car and had moved across to the driver's seat when she panicked and the car accelerated and that's when the accident happened.

"She doesn't drive, she doesn't know how to drive and has had a provisional licence for years.

"She has a lot of issues in terms of mental health and has been diagnosed and is being looked at for bipolar and borderline personality disorder, depression and for a number of years abused drugs and more recently has misused alcohol."

District Judge Robert Hunter announced: "The public were put at considerable risk by her and of course she was uninsured."

Thursday, 20 November 2014

Stalker Obsessed With Ex-EastEnders Star Brooke Kinsella

Stalker: Paul Mason
An obsessed stalker, fixated with ex-EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, repeatedly sent unwanted messages and gifts and constantly tried to meet the star - even visiting the grave of her murdered brother and penning fantasy love letters.

Paul Mason, 40, of Farley Road, Catford was convicted yesterday after the 31 year-old, who played Kelly Taylor in the BBC soap from 2001 to 2004, gave evidence from behind a screen at Bexley Magistrates Court.

She described Mason's behaviour as: "odd" and: "scary", particularly his references to having already bought her wedding dress for their marriage and vow to show up at the acting school for children she runs.

He denied, but was convicted, of stalking between January 1, 2013 and April 4, this year and was bailed until December 10 for a pre-sentence report.

Mason claims that as a victim of knife crime himself he was simply trying to support the actresses work with the Ben Kinsella Trust, dedicated to the memory of her 16 year-old brother, who was stabbed to death by three young men on June 29, 2008.

He turned up unannounced at a theatre she was performing at, a Trust open day event she was hosting, where he hugged her and the Trust's HQ, the Lions Centre, a leisure facility next to Millwall Football Club.

Brooke Kinsella
Mason left gifts such as CD's, oils, perfume and a ring at the locations and when police searched his home they found a quantity of expressive love letters devoted to the actress.

Islington-born Brooke told the court the first time she ever heard the name Paul Mason was in 2011 when the Home Office - who the Trust work with - contacted the police about troubling letters they had received about her from the defendant.

"I was told to be vigilant and was given his description and told to look out for him.

"I was performing at Bromley Theatre and the box office staff told me my friend had been looking for me and his name was Paul Mason. I was obviously worried because I'd been told to be vigilant about him.

"A couple of days later two actress friends were in the auditorium and he managed to get in and spoke to them, calling me: 'Pumpkin.'

"He contacted me on Facebook and Twitter and I received numerous messages on my phone and he would tell me my wedding dress was ready.

"I blocked him, but he set up new accounts and sent more messages such as: 'You will be my wife.'
Convicted: Paul Mason

"Sometimes they were complimentary and he would always refer to me as: 'Pumpkin'. It struck me as a bit odd and a bit scary and just seemed to escalate."

She was most concerned about his promise to show up at her True Stars Academy. "He said: 'I'll come down to see you and the kids.'

"I felt threatened from the moment he said he was coming down."

The only time Brooke met Mason face-to-face was at the Trust's open day in August 2013 at Millwall FC. "He came up to me and hugged me and said he had presents for me.

"I didn't look at the presents. I just wanted to get out of there."

Mason's lawyer Mr. Roger Hill told the court: "This is at the bottom end of the scale. His case is that he met the lady when she first auditioned to go on EastEnders at Elstree and was subsequently aware of what happened to her and was supporting her."

The defendant, who has a previous conviction for harassment, will also be the subject of a prosecution application for a restraining order to prohibit contact with Brooke.

District Judge Mr. Robert Hunter announced: "There are matters here that need looking into. In the light of his previous the court are considering custody.


"The defence have described him as eccentric, which is one way of putting it."

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Nobbling Charge In £30,000 Civil Court Case

A Liverpool man, accused of communicating threats of violence to a witness in a £30,000 civil court case, appeared for the first time at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court.

David Hall, 47, of Wellington Street, Waterloo allegedly told Ryan Elliott: “You have no friends in Liverpool, drop the case or it will be more than your car next time,” referring to paint-stripper being thrown on the vehicle and: “Last warning, drop the case.”

He gave no indication as to plea on one charge of intimidating a witness in civil proceedings on January 20 at Waterloo Business Centre, Southwark, namely verbally threatened Mr. Elliott knowing he was a witness in civil debt recovery proceedings, intending to cause the course of justice to be obstructed.

Hall was bailed to appear at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on December 1 for a preliminary hearing.

Tuesday, 18 November 2014

Ex-English Defence League Chief Fined After Controversial Demo

Former English Defence League chief Stephen Lennon - aka Tommy Robinson - has been convicted of flouting strict police conditions when the right-wing group marched on the East London Mosque last year.

The Metropolitan Police's decision to impose conditions "for fear of serious public disorder" was upheld by a High Court judge and the 600-strong EDL group were stopped 600 metres from the mosque.

At Hammersmith Magistrates Court on yesterday Lennon, 31, of Luton, denied, but was convicted of failing to comply with a condition at Old Gate Street, Whitechapel on September 7, namely failing to limit public speaking to thirty minutes.

He was also convicted of inciting a public assembly participant, namely fellow EDL demonstrators, to speak in excess of thirty minutes and inciting others to remain and listen.

Lennon was fined £100 on each count and ordered to pay £80 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

The EDL had challenged the police decision to stop them short of the mosque before a High Court judge, but failed and ended up being held near Aldgate East station, where they were confronted by anti-fascist demonstrators.

They had marched across Tower Bridge, intending to gather in Tower Hamlets, which has a large muslim population chanting and singing: "I'm English 'til I die," and: "England."

Similar nationalist groups from Germany, Poland and Finland joined the march and police made ten arrests, including Lennon and two other suspects for possession of a bladed weapon and a firework.


EDL's motivation for the march, they claimed, was to demonstrate against Tower Hamlets being governed by Sharia Law.

Monday, 17 November 2014

Self-Medicating Drug User Caught Snorting Powder In Van

A Cheltenham man was caught with a cocktail of drugs he claims he needs to alleviate the pain of a decade-old injury after a passer-by saw him snorting an illegal substance while parked in his van.

Angus Duncanson, 45, of Smenham Farm, Icomb, had cocaine, heroin, magic mushrooms and cannabis on him, which police estimated to originally have a street value of £1900.

Duncanson pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court to four counts of possessing the drugs in Linden Gardens, Bayswater, west London on August 17 and was bailed until November 26 for a probation report.

Prosecutor Miss Louise Burnell told the court today: “It was 4pm when police were called to Linden Gardens after reports from a member of the public of a man in a van sniffing something.

The police found the defendant in the van, along with several different drugs.”

Officers seized two packages of cocaine weighing 1.1gms; a 2.22gm package of heroin; 3.89gms of magic mushrooms and 380gms of both herbal and cannabis resin.

Combined the drugs had a street value, according to the police of one thousand nine hundred pounds, but a lot of it was covered in mould so was worthless,” added Miss Burnell.

Duncanson was arrested on suspicion he was a drug-dealer, but an analysis of his mobile phone failed to find any evidence of “criminal activity” and he was charged with simple possession.

When questioned by police the first-time offender admitted the drugs were for his own use, claiming he had a fall ten years ago and suffered chronic pain, which was alleviated by the use of cannabis and heroin.

He said he smoked heroin on a daily basis and spends one hundred and twenty pounds a week on drugs, using the money he received from a house sale.”

His lawyer Mr. Mark Haslam told the court: “There is a variety of drugs, but the amounts are small.”

He estimated the cocaine to be merely £37 worth, the heroin £100 and the mushrooms £38.

Sunday, 16 November 2014

Uninsured Mercedes Driver Gets Six Months For Death Crash

Killed: Androula Michael
An uninsured death-crash driver, who killed a grandmother, has been jailed for six months and banned from the road for three years.
Riad Ladjassa, 41, of Brownlow Road, New Southgate was convicted of causing death by careless driving and causing death while uninsured.
Pensioner Androula Michael, 78, of Carnoustie Drive, Islington suffered fatal injuries when struck by Ladjassa's blue Mercedes C250 in Sussex Way, Holloway on May 1, last year.
A Blackfriars Crown Court jury, who cleared Ladjassa of causing death by dangerous driving, heard Mrs Michael was rushed to St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington at 5.00pm, but was pronounced dead two hours later.
The post mortem examination gave the cause of death as multiple injuries consistent with a road traffic collision.

Ladjassa will also have to pass an extended driving test before he can receive a full driver's licence.

Saturday, 15 November 2014

Company Boss And Medicine Man Cleared Of £1.1M Nicked Pills Charges

'Not Guilty': Vincent Quigley
A company director and a pharmaceutical dealer, accused of handling £1.1 million worth of medicinal drugs stolen from a lorry nine years ago, have been dramatically cleared after the prosecution was dropped nearly three weeks before their Old Bailey trial.

Vincent Quigley, 67, of 27 Daleside, Thornhill, Dewsbury and Kenyan-born Mahmoud Azizi, 56, of Princess Court, Bryanston Place, Mayfair, who was extradited in custody from Canada, were due to stand trial on November 24.

Quigley pleaded not guilty to one count of handling and one count of receiving stolen goods on or before October 16, 2007, namely 1,620,000 Comtan tablets; 510,000 Lopressor tablets and 480,000 Femara tablets.

The tablets, which had been stolen in 2005, were traced to a warehouse in Yorkshire on October 16, 2007 by a private detective hired by the loser, Swiss-based Norvartis International.

Comtan is prescribed to patients with Parkinson's Disease; Lopressor is for the treatment of high blood pressure and Femara is for breast cancer patients.

Canadian citizen Azizi, who was extradited from Vancouver, pleaded not guilty to one count of receiving stolen goods on October 16, 2007, namely medicinal products belonging to Norvartis International.

After the prosecution announced on November 6 they would not be offering any evidence not guilty verdicts were entered on all counts.

Friday, 14 November 2014

TV Money Man Jailed For Stealing £1/4M

An executive with the television company behind The X Factor and American Idol was jailed for three years and four months today for defrauding his former bosses of over £224,000 to pay off two holiday homes in Portugal.

Ian Ousey, 51, who lives in a £1.9m detached six-bedroom house at in Prince Consort Drive, Ascot, Berkshire was the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of FreemantleMedia Group (FMG) - which also produces Take Me Out and Grand Designs.

Father-of-two Ousey, a qualified chartered accountant, who now faces being struck-off, left the company in March and paid back the money as part of a £1.4m legal settlement, which included his former employers expenses.

It is said large amounts were paid to a holiday home developer in Portugal and to cover credit cards, vehicles, mobile phones, courier payments and all-expenses luxury trips to Brazil and Australia.

Judge Peter Clarke QC told him: "I have to sentence a chartered accountant of no previous convictions, who has pleaded guilty to the misappropriation of over two hundred and twenty thousand pounds by way of wholly bogus invoices to the company of which he was the chief financial officer.

"He's done, quite probably, irreparable damage to his career and he's likely to lose his position as a Chartered Accountant.

"There is also the destruction of his family life and self-respect and the respect he's held in by his spouse and children."

Ousey's privately-educated children are aged twenty and eighteen years-old.

Ousey pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between October 30, 2008 and November 30,2012 in that while occupying the position of CFO in which he was expected to safeguard or not act against the financial interests of FMG he abused that position to make a gain, namely £224,754.

Ousey used his pension to repay the company, plus a £140,000 bonus due to him and there is no equity in the Portuguese properties.

Ousey's world came to an end after abusing his expense account and suspicious transactions, which also involved the company credit card as well as bogus invoices, were discovered in April, 2012 by Freemantle's Group Financial Director (GFD) Mr. Mark Riddlestone.

The criminal investigation revolved around eleven invoices Ousey created and a company he formed, Broadcast Research Consultants, which FMG paid, believing it was money owed to the legitimate Broadcast Research Ltd.

Ousey's lawyer Mr. Samuel Parish told Blackfriars Crown Court: "This man has kicked himself well and truly in the teeth, he's ruined his reputation in the profession, ruined his family life and himself financially.

"One can't imagine how a man can fall from such as height to where he is now. His house will have to be sold and we don't know if his marriage will survive."

The false invoice offence began after a holiday Ousey enjoyed with his wife when they decided to buy two holiday homes and missed a repayment.

"He had to pay for the development in instalments. There was a hiccup and they could not pay and everything had to be paid up or it would have been forfeited," added Mr. Parish

Ousey joined music company Audio Network - which specialises in music for film, television and video - in April and he has previously worked for Price Waterhouse Coopers, the RTL group, Pearson Television and was based in Monaco with Grundy Worldwide.

He has since left Audio Network "by mutual consent."

Thursday, 13 November 2014

Housekeeper's £13,000 Grab At Employers' Apartment

A housekeeper, who worked for a couple at their exclusive mansion block, pinched £13,000 in cash, jewellery and other valuables - forcing her victims to buy back their own property from a local pawnbroker.

Raquel Villanueva, 47, of Leslie Road, Leytonstone pleaded guilty to theft from her employer, Nicholas True, between April 1and October 16 at Bryanston Court, George Street, Bayswater.

Prosecutor Mr. Oliver Schneider-Sikorsky told Hammersmith Magistrates Court yesterday: "Mr. True's wife noticed a large amount of jewellery was missing from the bedroom and other items were missing and there were no signs of a break-in.

"Their Transport For London Oyster card was also being used by somebody and had been topped-up in Leytonstone, where the defendant lives."

The couple's Harrods card also had a mystery £9,500 spent on it, but Villanueva denied knowing anything about this.

However, she did admit taking cash and jewellery, including Mr. True's expensive lighter, which he did not even know was missing.

"She admitted taking cash and taking a holdall and using both their Oyster cards and said she was broke and stressed.

"She said she had sold the property at a pawn shop and had receipts at home.

In her purse Mr. True found £1,000 cash and a £500 Selfridges gift card, along with his business card and a Harrods rewards points card.

Villanueva was taken by mini-cab to her home, where she tried to hide one of the receipts, but handed over the lighter she had stolen.

At an Earl's Court pawn shop Mr. True had to pay £2,850 to recover his own items and then called the police, who arrested first-time offender Villanueva.

Her lawyer told the court: "She's pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and this is clearly a serious breach of trust. She's deeply remorseful and it is difficult to ascertain the reason she did what she did."


The magistrates bailed Villanueva to appear at Southwark Crown Court for sentencing, announcing: "This was a breach of a high degree of trust and the thefts took place over a sustained period."

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

Handyman Caught On CCTV Snatching Cash In West End Mews House

Devonshire Mews West
A maintenance worker was caught on CCTV helping himself to the contents of a customer's purse when called out to repair the ceiling of a mews house.

Ashley Gallant, 32, of Eagle Way, Hampton Centre, Peterborough picked on a family who had previously suffered a theft at their central London home and had installed cameras.


He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court to stealing £60 cash from Sohana Jisooh at an address in Devonshire Mews West, Marylebone on October 27.


He is a maintenance worker and was given keys to the property and had permission to be there to work on the bedroom ceiling,” explained prosecutor Mr. Oliver Schneider-Sikorsky. “There had been a previous theft of one thousand pounds so CCTV had been installed.


When it was observed Mr. Gallant was seen removing cash from the purse and the management company he works for and the police were called.


At Paddington Police Station he admitted everything and the money was recovered.”


Gallant's lawyer Mr. George Otchere told the court: “This is a very unfortunate case and he had been working for this company for fifteen years.


He regrets what happened, he just didn't think and in that moment took the money.


He has lost his job and feels sorry for what happened and has shown remorse.


He's unemployed now, he's not working and has a large family and wife a wife expecting.


It was not a sophisticated offence. It was in the heat of the moment and he did not think.”


Gallant was bailed until November 24 for pre-sentence reports.

Tuesday, 11 November 2014

Online Paedophile's Child Abuse Plan Exposed By Undercover Police Sting

Isleworth Crown Court
A Barclay bank employee, caught in an online police sting, has been convicted of child sex offences involving two girls, aged ten and twelve years-old, he wanted to abuse.

Michael Ray King, 38, of Victoria Road, Poole, was working in a branch of the bank located in the town before going home to his flat and spending the evening drinking heavily and cruising the net to chat with fellow paedophiles.

He was remanded in custody at Isleworth Crown Court and will be sentenced on December 19 for arranging the commission of a child sex offence between November 10, 2013 and March 12, this year and attempting to engage in sexual activity in front of a child on March 5.

The jury heard King, a first-time offender, indulged in sick online conversations with an undercover officer, known as 'Jez', on internet forums entitled 'Incest' and 'Jailbait.'

The defendant discussed meeting 'Jez' and his two young daughters and having sex with them and encouraged 'Jez' to abuse the girls while chatting online.

King also sent 'Jez' pictures of “scantily-clad” young girls and gave his phone number to the officer.

The jury also found the defendant pleasured himself in front of his computer's webcam, believing 'Jez' was forcing the girl to watch.

King told the jury he was acting out fantasies for sexual kicks and never believed there were any young girls watching him via his webcam or in danger of being abused.

He claimed to be depressed and stressed and spent long evenings alone, often drinking five cans of lager a night and smoking cannabis.

Sunday, 9 November 2014

Ex-Barnardo's Principal Jailed For Child Cruelty

The former principal of a Barnardo's children's home, who made a young girl's life a misery, taunting her that her mother didn't want her, making her the subject of cruel insults and washing her mouth out with soap is starting a three and a half year prison sentence.

Peter Hickman, 78, of Quarry Road, Chadlington, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire told the suicidal girl she was: "ugly, disgusting, a thief, a liar," while running Llanfair, Park Road, Beckenham in the 1960's.

The girl's ordeal, which also included being stripped naked to be roughly scrubbed by the defendant and having her face pushed into urine lasted between the ages of six and eight years-old when her parents sent her to the charitable home because they could not cope.

She tried to take her life, aged ten, but eventually came forward at the age of fifty-three to give evidence to a Croydon Crown Court jury, which convicted Hickman of one count of child cruelty between February 27 1968 and July 1969.

"This is a complete and utter breach of the position you were in and how anyone can behave like that to a little girl is inconceivable," Judge Warwick McKinnon told Hickman, who still maintains his innocence.

"You have shown absolutely no remorse, you are still in denial and your conduct has ruined this woman's life. She's attempted suicide on more than one occasion."

Llanfair was opened as a girl's home in April 1946, then became mixed and closed in 1969 and demolished soon afterwards.

Llanfair: House of Horrors
The victim, who later returned to the care of her family, told the court: "He told me time and time again that my mum didn't want me," adding Hickman deliberately cut off all her hair on her final day to add to her humiliation.

She overdosed on her mother's arthritis tablets and made more suicide attempts later in life.

Jailing Hickman, who in 1975 received four years for twelve counts of indecently assaulting Barnardo's boys, judge McKinnon added: "You were cruel to a six year-old girl routinely, month after month.

"You began verbally abusing her on the very first day she set foot in the home and were angry and aggressive.

"You ordered her to strip in the washroom and roughly scrubbed her body and washed out her mouth with soap, telling her you were going to wash the filth and lies out of her.

"You told her she was ugly and left her naked in the washroom, you pushed her face in urine after she wet the bed and when you force fed her and she brought it up you made her stand in the corner with her hands above her head.

"You hit her with a belt on her naked thighs and told her that her mum was coming to visit on her seventh birthday when you knew she was not coming, that was particularly psychologically cruel.


"On the very last day at the home you cropped her hair short, cut all her hair off."

Saturday, 8 November 2014

Violent Midnight Rapist Jailed

A rapist, who put his victim through a four-hour ordeal in her own home, putting her in fear of her life with threats of retribution, has been caged for eight-and-a-half years.
Mustafa Osman, 36, of Lebus Street, Tottenham arrived uninvited at the 23 year-old victim's home in east London at just before midnight on Monday November 11, last year. 


Osman slapped her face and pulled her hair before forcing her to remove her clothes.
She was then subjected to a variety of assaults spanning a four hour period. 


During her ordeal the victim was threatened by Osman, who said he would find her and 'ruin her life' if she told anyone. 


Wanting to get away from Osman, the victim explained she had to leave for work.
Osman, now asking her to forgive him, left at the same time. 


When she arrived at work the victim told colleagues of the incident and police were called. 


Osman was arrested by the Metropolitan Police's Child Abuse and Sexual Exploitation Command ten days later and was charged with two counts of rape and one count of digital penetration.


He was founguilty by a Snaresbrook Crown Court jury on all three counts by a unanimous verdict. 


Detective Constable Richard Wren said: "This young woman was subjected to a torturous ordeal that spanned four hours and put her in fear for her life. 


"She was then compelled to give evidence in court by Osman entering a not guilty plea.

“I hope that the sentence handed down provides her with a measure of comfort and goes someway to restoring her sense of personal safety." 

Friday, 7 November 2014

Prolific Jewellery Thief's £1/4M Crime Blitz Ends With Incriminating 'Selfie'

A prolific jewellery thief, who snatched nearly a quarter of a million pounds worth of valuables from shops all over London was caught after leaving behind his mobile phone following one raid, which had a 'selfie' screensaver image of himself.

Mechanic Germain Ibrahim Fofana, 27, who blew the lot gambling in casinos, received five-and-a-half years imprisonment today for a total of forty-five offences.

Police identified the New York-native, whose father is American and his mother from the Ivory Coast, from the 'selfie' pic on the screensaver of the phone he left behind at the scene of an £18,000 jewellery theft from Ernest Jones in Kingston-upon-Thames on May 18.

Posing as a customer he entered the shop with female accomplice, who had a young child in a buggy, at 1.45pm, claiming to be looking for an engagement ring.

He returned alone thirty minutes later and asked to see the two original engagement rings he viewed and a wedding ring to compare styles, running out of the shop when the assistant handed them over.

When police announced the manhunt Detective Sergeant Damion Cumming said: "In his hurry to get out of the shop, the suspect left his mobile phone on the table alongside his bag.

"While police were on the scene the phone lit up, having received a text message, and a picture of the suspect was saved as the background.

"It was the shop assistant, who served him, who was able to identify the person in the picture."

Police used the information to tie Fofana, who lived in modest digs at the Marbella Hotel,

Queens Road, Peckham, to a string of similar offences committed all over the capital.

He pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court to nine counts of theft and one count of attempted theft, which included the Ernest Jones offence, plus theft of jewellery, worth £29,770, from Kabiri, 37 Marylebone High Street, Marylebone on June 23.

Theft of two gold chains and two gold bracelets, worth £3,675, from Albone Pawnbrokers, Walworth Road, Walworth on September 25, last year.

Theft of a necklace, worth £5,000, from Sinclair Jewellers, 6-7 The Pavement, Wimbledon, on February 25.

Theft of jewellery, worth £21,520, from Pandora, 1 New Change, Cheapside, on June 29.

Theft of a ring, worth £4,500, from Jonathan Greeves, Liverpool Street, on Jun 6.

Theft of jewellery, worth £7,600, from Links of London, Royal Exchange on June 20.

Attempting to steal one Omega watch, worth £12,950, from Suttons & Robertson, Fleet Street, on June 5.

Theft from Links of London, King's Road, Chelsea of jewellery, worth £30,000, on May 28 and theft of a gold bracelet and necklace, worth £1,770 from McCarthy's on april 7.

Fofana, asked for another twenty-six similar theft offences to be taken into consideration, plus five burglaries from London hostels and one burglary of a hotel.

He also pleaded guilty to burgling another hostel, Baden Powell House, Queensgate, South Kensington on January 7; February 20 and April 10; stealing luggage, cameras, an iPod, and an Apple Mac worth at least £1,580.

The total haul was worth £237,663, but when arrested Fofana only had £250 cash and a fake Omega watch on him and the court made no order regarding costs and compensation.

"You have showed yourself to be a prolific thief," Recorder Lionel Persey QC told him. 

"The modus operandi was that you went into a shop and asked to see items of jewellery and would snatch the jewellery and run off.

"Your conduct was aggressive and items were of high value and a significant degree of pre-planning went into these thefts and were distressing to staff members.

"I have seen a statement from Links where staff were traumatised and additional security training had to be put in place and it is a severely aggravating feature that seven of the thefts were committed while you were on bail."

Regarding the burglaries Recorder Persey added: "You were targeting those holidaying in London, young people staying at hostels, a particularly nasty crime distressing to the victims."

Fofana's lawyer Mr. Oliver Weetch told the court: "He's co-operated fully with the police in going through a large number of offences and providing information on them.

"The offending is a result of a heavy gambling addiction and a problem with alcohol. Like most gamblers he's lost all his money."


An Interpol check revealed confusion as to Fofana's conduct in France before coming to the UK, initially suggesting he had convictions for armed robbery, burglary and handling stolen goods then a second enquiry stating he was of good character.

Thursday, 6 November 2014

Racist Engineer's Drunken Strip-Club Bust-Up

A highly-qualified engineer, who was refused entry to a strip club, punched one of the doormen and launched into a race-hate rant when police took him to hospital for treatment to injuries he sustained during the confrontation.

Senior Process Safety Engineer Anthony Swindells, 44, of South Court, Wexford Road, Prenton, Birkenhead, who designs safety platform in the oil and gas industry, was enjoying a day out in London's West End when he was arrested.

Swindells, currently working in Reading, Berkshire, pleaded guilty to assaulting Alexander Sinitskiy outside the Sophisticats strip club, Marylebone Lane, Mayfair on September 6 and racially-aggravated threatening behaviour at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington.

He received a twelve-month community order, which includes an alcohol treatment requirement, and was ordered to pay £50 compensation to the victim and £85 costs.

Prosecutor Miss Kate Shilton told Hammersmith Magistrates Court: “The defendant got into an altercation with security staff when refused entry and he became angry and aggressive and threatened to kill the staff.

He was seen on CCTV swinging his arm three times and connected on the third occasion with Mr. Sinitskiy, who reported feeling numbness in his upper right teeth.”

Police were called and took Swindells to hospital at 1.30am, where he made a reference to islamic terror group ISIS.

He said: 'You should be chasing the muslims not me. They're trying to bomb us.'

In the CT room Swindells shouted: 'You f***ing paki c***,' and became aggressive and got in the police officer's face,” added Miss Shilton. “He was so aggressive the CT scan was cancelled.”

It was the latest in a series of alcohol-related incidents involving the defendant, who last year was arrested on three occasions for being drunk and disorderly and once for disorderly behaviour.

He's turned to drink as a result of things going wrong and he's ashamed and embarrassed,” said Mr. Norman Cho, defending. “You're very unlikely to see him in court ever again.”

Wednesday, 5 November 2014

Stylist To The Stars' Double Drink-Drive Crash And Dash

A stylist to the stars, who twice crashed her car while nearly four times and then quadruple the drinks limit in the same week, was told she risks going to prison today after admitting the offences.

Chelsea School of Art graduate Clare Harries, 50, of Huddleston Road, Tufnell Park, has a celebrity clientele which includes stars Bruce Willis; Daniel Radcliffe; Jude Law; Angelina Jolie; Robert Downey Jnr and Emma Watson.

She pleaded guilty to driving her blue Mercedes in Oxford Street on October 15 with 133 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35 - and driving in Malvern Road, Wood Green on October 20 with 141 microgrammes.

Described as "one of the most respected and experienced stylists working in the industry today" Harries specialises in film and TV shoots; photo shoots and award ceremonies and is also a style consultant and interior designer.

Hammersmith Magistrates Court heard it was 9.15pm when Harries was involved in a collision in Orchard Street in the West End, with the other driver calling the police because he believed Harries was drunk.

She drove off, but was followed by officers who confirmed the smell of alcohol on her breath and she failed a roadside test and was arrested.

While on bail she was arrested again after colliding with another vehicle in Whiteman Road, Hornsey at 6.50pm and driving off.

When police caught up with her the car was stationary with the engine running and Harries gripping the steering wheel and staring blankly ahead.

She was bailed until December 3 for probation reports and the bench chairman announced: "This is a very serious matter. She's at risk of custody, it's a very high reading."




Tuesday, 4 November 2014

Holidaymaker Had Electric Stun Gun In Luggage

Heathrow Airport
A High Wycombe man, caught with an illegal stun gun disguised as a torch after stepping off an international flight at Heathrow Airport, has admitted the offence.

Alan Aldous, 42, of Normans Court, Micklefield Road, will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on December 12.

He pleaded guilty yesterday to possessing a prohibited weapon, namely a stun gun, at the airport's Terminal Three on May 4.

The prosecution dropped a more serious charge of possessing a disguised weapon, which carries a minimum five-year prison sentence.

He had a stun gun that had the appearance of a torch that had 'Stun Gun' written on the side,” said prosecutor Mr. Julius Capon.

Judge Paul Dugdale refused a defence application to sentence immediately and ordered a probation report, announcing: “I think it's important the court knows a little bit more about you and why you had a stun gun in your possession.”

Aldous was granted unconditional bail.