Scout Leader Raped Underage Ex With Help Of New Girlfriend, Jury Told

Mark Innes

A scout leader raped his under-age ex-girlfriend - who had already aborted their child - with the help of the new woman in his life two decades ago, a court heard today.

Mark Innes, 43, of Park Wood Crescent, Beeston, Leeds and registered child-minder Sharon Stow, 40, of East Drive, Orpington, Kent deny the charges at Croydon Crown Court.

Prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Loades told the jury the girl was fourteen years-old and walking near Innes' flat in Orpington High Street in the early 1990's, having dated him since she was either eleven or twelve years-old.

"By now Mr. Innes had a new girlfriend, Miss Stow, and the complainant was aware she was being followed.

"She was forced into an alleyway by Miss Stow and Mr. Innes was there and they grabbed her and forced her into his flat and the bedroom, where she was subjected to further abuse at his hands.

"She was raped with the assistance of Miss Stow."

The court heard the girl attended Orpington's First Ramsden Scout Group, where Innes initially helped out before becoming a scout leader.

"At the group's Christmas party in nineteen ninety-one the girl and Mr. Innes began to develop a relationship despite her youth, she was eleven or twelve years-old at the time and he was eighteen or nineteen.

"Mr. Innes gave her the keys to his flat, but the beginnings of sexual contact occurred in the scout hut and the complainant enjoyed the contact and enjoyed the fact she was being kissed and touched.

"She was scared of losing him, of the relationship coming to and end."

The jury were told Innes asked the girl's mother if he could date the youngster when she was aged thirteen and she was at that age when she became pregnant.

"Mr. Innes arranged for her to have an abortion and afterwards at his flat Mr. Innes forced her to have sex.

"She was in pain and said no, she was crying, she was scared, but despite her resistance he forced her legs apart and raped her," added Mr. Loades.

Innes has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape; one count of unlawful sexual intercourse and another serious sexual offence.

He also denies four counts of indecent assault.

Stow has pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting rape and aiding and abetting the serious sexual offence.

All the charges relate to the period between January 22, 1990 and January 22, 1994.

Trial continues………….

Lorry Driver Convicted After Pedestrian Run Over And Killed

A Nottinghamshire lorry driver, who killed a 91 year-old man who was crossing a busy west London road after failing to check for pedestrians before pulling away, will be sentenced in January for causing death by careless driving.

Shane Redfearn, 33, of Lawnwood Avenue, Elkesley, Retford was driving along Fulham Palace Road on July 8 when he knocked over John Goulding, who died almost immediately.

Prosecutor Mr. James O'Connell told Islewoth Crown Court: “Last summer this defendant was driving a fully-laden truck with a trailer at 10.30am and Mr. Goulding had just got off a bus and elected, not by the wisest way, to cross the road.

“He walked to the back of the bus and was confronted with the side of this defendant's truck so walked towards the cab of the stationary vehicle and stepped in front of the cab.

“The truck pulled away and the driver drove over Mr. Goulding.

“The truck moved a few yards until a member of the public notified this defendant there was someone under the truck and Mr. Goulding died within a few minutes under the truck.



“This defendant should have seen Mr. Goulding by using his mirrors properly. He has a number of mirrors on that vehicle, including a mirror that looks right down in front of the truck.

“Mr. Goulding was knocked over and killed, but despite him putting himself in that position he should not have been hit and knocked over and killed.

“Mr. Redfearn's driving fell below the standard expected that day.”

Late-Night Encounter Ends In Mugging

A middle-aged man, who picked-up a stranger during a night out in the West End, was attacked in his home and had his laptop snatched by the stranger.

Police have released this CCTV image of the man they are hunting, who is described as black, aged between 20-24 years-old, 5ft 9ins tall.

He is clean shaven, with short black hair, has a muscular build, a thin nose, thick lips and was wearing a dark blue top, dark trousers and black trainers.

On Halloween, October 31, the 51 year-old victim met the suspect in the Marble Arch area at 11.30pm and they both travelled back to an address in Camden.

While at the address the suspect attacked the victim, causing him to lose consciousness.

When the victim came round, he discovered that the suspect had left taking a Samsung 15 inch laptop computer.



If you can help with this enquiry or can identify the man in these images, please call Camden Police on 101.

Alternatively if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police Hunt Cowards Who Snatched Late War Hero's Medals

Heartless burglars raided an 82 year-old pensioner's home and snatched her late father's WW1 and WW2 medals the day before Remembrance Sunday.

The burglary occurred between 1.00pm and 3.00pm on Saturday November 8 at a residential address in Shoreham Way, Bromley.

A quantity of cash was also stolen.



Three medals were stolen, two from World War 1 and one from World War 2.



The two First World War medals were on ribbons, with at least one engraved with the name H. A. SYMS around the edge.



The Second World War medal had a red and blue ribbon, and was in a small box with a letter personally signed by the Queen.



The first two medals were awarded to the victim’s father in the First World War, after he was very badly wounded.

Her father continued his work as a Civil Servant during the Second World War and was awarded the second medal.



Detective Constable Claire White from Bromley Police Burglary Squad said “The victim is 82-years-old and has regularly worn her Father’s medals to Remembrance Day parades.

“The victim is understandably very distraught that her father’s medals have been taken as they mean so much to her”. 



Officers from the Burglary Squad based at Bromley Police Station investigate. 



Anyone with information, or who has been offered the medals to buy, is asked to contact police via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Drug Addict Given Three Months To Kick Habit

A self-medicator, caught with a cocktail of drugs after a passer-by spotted him snorting a suspicious substance in his parked van, has been given over three months to try and kick his habit.

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.

He claims he needs the drugs to alleviate the pain of a decade-old injury, but must now prove by March, next year he is on the road to full recovery.

Duncanson appeared at Hammersmith Magistrates Court yesterday after previously pleading guilty to four counts of possessing the drugs in Linden Gardens, Bayswater, west London on August 17.

Sentence was deferred until March 25 and he was ordered to attend all appointments with the North West Drugs Project, stay off drugs, except those prescribed and bring with him his key worker to give evidence of full compliance.

After admitting the offences earlier this month prosecutor Miss Louise Burnell told the court: “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.

Vulnerable Woman Tormented By Teens' Alleged Urine And Curry Powder Prank Tells Jury She Was Also Sexually Abused

Jamie Campin

Two teenage bully boys preyed on a mentally-ill married woman over twice their age, getting her to drink their urine and smoke curry powder in a cannabis joint, before one of them sexually assaulted her on her own bed, a court heard today.

The 43 year-old Hillingdon woman, who is a paranoid schizophrenic who suffers psychotic episodes and has an ongoing alcohol problem let the local lads into her home early one morning while her husband was staying elsewhere after yet another row.

The Isleworth Crown Court jury heard the young men have a history of tormenting the mentally-ill and recorded incidents on their mobile phones of planning and carrying-out such behaviour.

Jamie Rhys Campin, 19, of Whitethorn Avenue, West Drayton and Connor James, 19, of Uxbridge Road, Hampton Hill have both pleaded not guilty to two counts of administering a noxious substance, namely urine and curry powder; stealing a laptop and ring, worth £400 and causing an affray on a day between July 5 and 14, last year.

Campin alone has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault by penetration.

Connor James

“I was not one hundred per cent well at that time because I have a mental health problem and I did not have any control of the situation,” she told the jury. “They just walked in and I didn't want any trouble.

“These people entered my house early, at seven or eight in the morning and I don't understand why I let them in, in the first place. In my head I believed these people were friends of mine.

“I don't understand why I didn't throw them out. I was very vulnerable at the time.”

The court heard a third mystery man was present and the woman remembers two of them disappearing into her bathroom.

“I remember them walking out with a plastic cup and they asked me to drink it and I drunk a bit and realised there was wee in it and spat it out.

“I was lured into my bedroom and I don't remember being forced onto the mattress, but the person who assaulted me was on top of me.

“I was very scared at the time. I was confused and I do not know if it was sheer pure fright or if I was going along with it and not really knowing what was happening.

“I remember my trousers being undone. I don't know if I did it or he did. I don't think it was me, in fact I know it wasn't.”

She told the court she was not sure if a second man was in the bedroom at the time, but had spent his time in her house: “With his hands down the front of his trousers.”

Police later found mobile phone footage of the woman being given a cannabis joint to smoke, which had been laced with curry powder, the jury were told.


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

Lorry Driver In Dock After Pensioner Run Over And Killed

A lorry driver killed a 91 year-old man, who was crossing a busy west London road, after failing to check for pedestrian before pulling away, a jury were told yesterday.

Shane Redfearn, 33, of Lawnwood Avenue, Elkesley, Retford, Nottinghamshire was driving along Fulham Palace Road on July 8 when he knocked over John Goulding, who died almost immediately.

Prosecutor Mr. James O'Connell told Islewoth Crown Court: “Last summer this defendant was driving a fully-laden truck with a trailer at 10.30am and Mr. Goulding had just got off a bus and elected, not by the wisest way, to cross the road.

“He walked to the back of the bus and was confronted with the side of this defendant's truck so walked towards the cab of the stationary vehicle and stepped in front of the cab.

“The truck pulled away and the driver drove over Mr. Goulding.

“The truck moved a few yards until a member of the public notified this defendant there was someone under the truck and Mr. Goulding died within a few minutes under the truck.

“This defendant should have seen Mr. Goulding by using his mirrors properly. He has a number of mirrors on that vehicle, including a mirror that looks right down in front of the truck.

“Mr. Goulding was knocked over and killed, but despite him putting himself in that position he should not have been hit and knocked over and killed.

“Mr. Redfearn's driving fell below the standard expected that day.”

Redfearn has pleaded not guilty to one count of causing death by dangerous driving.

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

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.' “

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. 

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.

'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."

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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."

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.