Light-Fingered Maintenance Man Snatched Cash From London Mews House

Devonshire Mews West

A maintenance worker, who was caught on CCTV helping himself to the contents of a customer's purse when called out to repair the ceiling of a bijou London mews house, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Ashley Gallant, 32, of Eagle Way, Hampton Centre, Peterborough picked on a family who had previously suffered a theft at their Marylebone 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.

Gallant received eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 200 hours community service.

“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 remourse.

“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 also ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Teen Sex Predator Began Abuse In Cupboard On Boat Trip

A teenager, who sexually abused three younger children, beginning his grooming by taking the eldest into a cupboard during a boat trip before the assaults escalated during sleepovers, will discover his fate on January 30.

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

“Sexual experimentation was unchecked and unfortunately continued and at all times he was a child,” Brookfield's lawyer Mr. Mark Kimsey told Isleworth Crown Court yesterday.

Suspicions were raised in 2010 and as a punishment Brookfield's birthday present of an X-Box was withdrawn, but recently more serious complaints were made to police by the victims.

“I don't think I have come across a young man as remorseful as this and he wants to understand why this happened,” added the lawyer.

“The impact on him has been devastating and he has had to sign the sex offenders register.

“A press article has impacted the family to such an extent the defendant's mother is thinking about moving out of the area due to comments left on blogs that are rather unsavoury and on social media.

“These offences occurred over five years ago. They stopped and he has moved on and has no interest in children. This was sexual experimentation.

“He has had a girlfriend since and his aim was to join the Army, but that is very, very unlikely now.”

Prosecutor Miss Heather Standee told the court the offences, which occurred mostly on the Golf Links Estate, Southall: “Reflect sexual abuse over a prolonged period.

“It was initiated by Brookfield when he told the boy to go into a cupboard on a boat trip and groped him when they were sleeping together.

“The defendant would insist and say: 'Do it, do it.' There was a card game with the rules made up by Brookfield and he said whoever won would get the pleasure.”

The boy was aged between ten and thirteen years-old during the abuse and the two girls between seven and nine years-old.

The older girl said Brookfield would argue with her if she resisted and the younger girl then also became a target of the defendant.

“She was scared Brookfield would do something to her. It would happen every time they were alone together.”

Bailing Brookfield to return for sentencing in the new year Recorder Michael Evans QC announced: “This is a very troubling case. I have every sympathy for the victims, but it is a very difficult sentencing exercise.

“My fundamental duty has to protect the public from risk.”

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

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

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

Son And Mother Jailed For £650K Mortgage Scam That Funded Property Empire

Wayne Stubbs

A tax-dodging property wheeler-dealer and his jobless mother, who orchestrated a £650,000 mortgage fraud, which funded their property empire were both jailed yesterday.

Wayne Stubbs, 44, received six years and his mother Wendy Stubbs, 62, also of Briarwood House, Orpington Road, Chislehurst, Kent received three years.

Wayne's ex-girlfriend Rachel Gledhill, 39, of Armitage Road, Milnsbridge who worked for Harvey Nichols, but allegedly posed an IT consultant and fine arts dealer to get loans was found not guilty of participating in the plot.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wendy Stubbs

“They then bought properties on the back of these lies and received steady income by renting out these properties to tenants and that amounted to criminal conduct that was never declared.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Stubbs' were convicted of four counts of obtaining a money transfer by deception for which they are jointly charged.

Ms Stubbs was also found guilty of three counts of entering or becoming concerned with a money laundering arrangement, and a count each of obtaining a money transfer by deception, acquiring criminal property and fraud by false representation.

Ms Stubbs denied but was convicted of entering or becoming concerned with a money laundering arrangement and two counts of acquiring criminal property.

Stylist To The Stars' Double Drink-Drive Crash Shame

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 "could have killed someone" by a judge, who described the case as one of the worst he had ever heard.

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.

Today she was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years, disqualified from driving for five years and ordered to comply with an alcohol treatment requirement and attend sixteen counselling sessions.

Hammersmith Magistrates Court District Judge Paul Goldspring announced: "Someone who is this many times over the legal limit is just about as dangerous as anybody on the road. I can't think of a case that ticks as many aggravating boxes."

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

The mother-of-two pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court 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.

"She is on the surface a woman, who two years ago, was apparently a busy working single-mother. That was a social facade and hidden from virtually everybody, under the ice, there was a slow decline of physical and mental health," said her lawyer Mr. Simon Sherriff.

Prosecutor Mr. Tom Gill said 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 five days later after colliding with a parked 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, the lights on the front tyre was flat and Harries was gripping the steering wheel and staring blankly ahead.

In February, 2013 Harries was convicted of being in charge of a vehicle while over the alcohol limit and was fined and given ten penalty points.

"One of her friends tells me you would not believe this is the same woman as two years ago," explained Mr. Sherriff, adding she has a son, aged fifteen and a daughter, aged seventeen years-old.

"The marriage to her first husband was an unhealthy relationship that led to divorce and after the collapse of her marriage to her second husband she lost the family home in March and is in rented accommodation, which she hopes to get out of.

"Social services will take over if there is an immediate custodial sentence and the house she is renting for the children will go.

"There would be a long-term detrimental effect on the children if she goes to prison and they will lose their accommodation. In this case that would be the punishment of the innocent."

The court heard Harries is currently prescribed anti-anxiety drug Citalopram and anti-anxiety and alcohol-withdrawal drug Librium and in September underwent surgery after being diagnosed as high-risk of cervical cancer.

"On the first occasion the officers state she was in a confused state. She is on this medication and it effected her capacity," added Mr. Sherriff.

"The surgery a month before seems the most likely trigger to these offences. The hair that broke the donkey's back."

District Judge Goldspring told a tearful Harries: "There is an issue regarding your thought process around vehicles when you have had alcohol.

"If you get into a car this much over the limit that car becomes a lethal weapon and to compound it there was a road traffic accident. You could have killed someone.

"Within five days you were back in the car over the limit and placed yourself and other road users in great peril. These readings are up there with the highest this court has ever heard of.

"It's a difficult case to sentence. The easiest thing in the world would be to send you to prison, but I have considered carefully the effect your behaviour has had on the children.

"The loss of their mother to custody and then being taken into care would be devastating and they are at an age where they may never recover from it.

"It would be easy to send you to prison, the guidelines make that a clear-cut decision and I feel I ought to, but I'm not going to."

Harries was also ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

"Audacious" Female Fraudster Gets Suspended Sentence For Conning Banker Sir George Mallinckrodt

Target: Sir George's Home

A young female fraudster, who carried out an "audacious", scam on the president of Schroders merchant bank, Sir George Mallinckrodt, who handed over £74,000 worth of jewellery and lost £6,700 in cash, walked free with a suspended sentence today.

Miranda Trudy Elmakhzangy, 20, of Dunstable Road, Caddington, Luton, posed as a police officer and conned Sir George, 84 and his wife Charmaine, 79, into handing over the valuables on the doorstep of their multi-million pound Chelsea home.

Judge Anne Molyneux told her at Isleworth Crown Court: "This was a planned and carefully executed offence. Your victims were vulnerable, they were exploited. This was a mean and cruel thing to do."

She pleaded guilty that on April 7 in
Chelsea Square, Chelsea she stole jewellery, worth £74,000, and £6,700 cash belonging to the elderly couple and received a twelve month prison sentence, suspended for eighteen months.

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

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

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

The couple were convinced they needed to hand the items over to police for sake-keeping and when encouraged to call her bank the fraudsters remained on the line and took security details and PINS from Mrs Mallinckrodt.

Prosecutor Mr. Tim Starkey said: "The victim's in this case, Mr and Mrs Mallinckrodt, in the early hours of the seventh of April, having flown back to their home in Chelsea from Germany that night were contacted by somebody pretending to be a PC Harrington.

"It was Mrs Mallinckrodt that took the call and told that she and her husband had been targeted and it was high risk."

The couple were told the gang had already conned a £350,000 Rembrandt etching from other wealthy victims, but that was the: "tip of the iceberg."

They were convinced their bank cards had been compromised and needed to be cancelled and were told to phone the bank number on the back.

"She spoke to a male and went through the cards, giving the numbers and typing in the PIN's and told that they would be cancelled," added Mr. Starkey.

"PC Harrington asked about valuables in the house and she told them about jewellery and he asked if there were firearms.

"They said a police officer would arrive and the password 'Berlin' would prove this was genuine and once that was done they could collect their property from Holborn Police Station." 

The couple were told six plain-clothes police officers were patrolling their exclusive square and Elmakhzangy rang the doorbell at 2am, but had to return because the couple were not ready.

Elmakhzangy's Mercedes car was caught on CCTV circling the square while she waited and this led to her arrest later via number plate recognition.

Her DNA was also taken and matched to the doorbell even though she tried to trick police and pretended to be her sister at Dunstable Police Station. 

After collecting the valuables and cards on the doorstep Elmakhzangy was caught on three different cashpoint cameras withdrawing a total of £1,040.

What's App messages on her phone revealed her involvement in the plan since March, with conversations regarding collecting packages from homes and not getting caught.

Elmakhzangy's lawyer Mr. Tom Buxton said: "The facts of this case are quite extraordinary and it's a great shame to find a young woman of good character involved in something as serious as this."

He told the court an ex-boyfriend and cocaine addiction prompted the offence.

"It seems an audacious offence, but if it is accepted there were others behind the scenes organising this that were far more criminally responsible than her the court may see fit to deal with her in a way that doesn't involve an immediate custodial sentence."

Judge Molyneux added: "Your victims were vulnerable, your victims were deceived, high value items were taken from them and the very high sentimental value can't be quantified."

Elmakhzangy was also ordered to perform 250 hours community service work and pay £2,000 compensation.

Charges of driving a 1.8 litre silver Mercedes in Sharpenhoe Road, Streatley, Bedforshire on July 8 without insurance and obstructing a PC Cundell at Dunstable Police Station on the same day were sent back to Hammersmith Magistrates Court.

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

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

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."