Royal Wedding Cavalry Soldier's Violent "Cold Toast" Row With Girlfriend

A Household Cavalry Lance Corporal, who played a key ceremonial role in the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, smothered his girlfriend with a duvet and vowed to leave her in a pool of blood during a Sunday morning 'cold toast' row.

Tank commander Daniel Ridge, 31, pinned 27 year-old nurse and part-time model Johanna Cade to their bed before squirting shower gel over her clothes and putting a £300 pair of her boots in a pan of boiling water.

He was convicted at Wimbledon Magistrates Court of assaulting his girlfriend of two years at her flat in Replingham Road, Southfields on October 5, last year and causing criminal damage to her clothing.

Ridge, of Combermere Barracks, Windsor, who has served in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, and his mount Vengeful escorted the newly-wed royal couple and HM Queen from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace after their wedding on April 29, 2011.

Talking before the wedding he said: "My mum has set the video and she and my grandparents will be able to follow it all on telly and hopefully recognise me."

He was sentenced to twelve months probation, which includes 100 hours community service work and was ordered to pay Johanna £300 compensation for the assault, £370 for the damage, £620 court costs and an £80 victim surcharge. 

"It happened in the victim's home and there was gratuitous degradation in the way you spoke to the victim," announced magistrate Fiona Abbott. "The compensation is for the bruising and mental anguish caused by this assault.

"You denied your actions and minimised your part in them and the effect on your victim," she added, making an indefinite restraining order prohibiting Ridge contacting Johanna or entering her road.

Miss Cade told the court fellow Devon-native Ridge also threw two eggs and two glass tumblers at her and smeared avocado on her coat before wrapping her in the duvet, leaving her unable to breathe as he throttled her neck.

"I went to the kitchen and he was making breakfast. I said: 'The toast is cold' and his response was: 'Fine, don't have it. I'll make my own, not yours.

"He picked an egg up and threw it at me. I dodged that one and he threw another one at me and I dodged that one. He was quite angry and intense and I was disgusted and frightened.

"He raised a glass tumbler up in the air and threw that at me. I moved and it hit the floor behind me then he raised up a second one and threw it at me and again I moved."

Ridge told the court he playfully "lobbed" two eggs towards Miss Cade to lighten the mood and she deliberately placed the two glasses on the floor before the police arrived.

"I said: 'Please stop. Leave the house' and he said: 'Stop shouting, you're attitude stinks.' He had his underwear on and my dressing-gown and I said: 'Put your clothes on and leave the house.'

"He approached me extremely angrily and said: "I'm going to fuck up your life. I'm going to hurt you until you're lying in your own piss and blood.'

"I was petrified, stunned, frozen and started to cry and he went into my bedroom, got the duvet that was on my bed, and threw it over my head and body.

"I said: 'Get off, I can't breathe.' He had hold of me by the arms and then I was dragged into the bedroom with the duvet over me and pinned to the bed, with hands I think it was, around my neck.

"I couldn't see anything and at first I was very frightened and tried moving, wriggling out and became quite panicked and I managed to get my arm out.

"I reached up and I think I grabbed his ear. I hit the side of his face and made a scratch. I was frightened, I knew I had to get out from being suffocated and held by the throat."

Ridge told the court Miss Cade attacked him, leaving scratches on his neck as well as a cut and he wrapped her in the duvet to restrict her "flailing" arms. 

"She grabbed me and pulled me around the kitchen a bit and started hitting me on the back of the head in a pawing cat-like motion. I got punched in the face and wanted to stop getting hurt and grabbed the duvet to use as a barrier between me and her."

Miss Cade added: "I remember feeling the blood drain from my body. I could feel myself shutting off and not being able to breathe at all. I felt very, very dizzy."

Ridge claims Miss Cade had used one of his trainers to wipe the smashed egg off the floor and told police in a moment of "childish retaliation" he decided to damage her clothes.

"He grabbed some of my clothes and shoes and put a pair of my leather boots in a pan of boiling water," she said. "He got one of my coats and smeared it in avocado and another coat was smeared.

"He removed the boots from the water and smeared them with avocado and then went to the bathroom, grabbed some shower gel, and went into my bedroom.

"I could see he was squirting shower gel over the walls and he opened the wardrobe and squirted shower gel in there as well."

Miss Cade threw out much of the yellow-stained clothing, including a £70 coat and said she had a £550 quote to re-decorate her bedroom.

Ridge left when she threatened to call the police, and Miss Cade added: "I was sweating, so, so frightened. I've never felt so vulnerable and fearful for my life."

She later photographed herself, revealing a bruise to her right elbow, a red mark on her left arm, a red mark to her lower back and a red mark to the right side of her chest. Miss Cade said the assault left her: "Stiff and sore."

Miss Cade denied Ridge's claim she inflicted the injuries to herself and told the court a: "Tissue of lies." She said: "I have no history of psychological problems, depression or self harm. I'm a very stable person."

She told the court of previous occasions Ridge lost his temper with her. "He smashed my phone, a bottle of perfume and once locked me out of his house in Devon at three am while in my underwear and in the rain and has repeatedly dumped me on roadsides and driven off.

"Last August I was very ill with what turned out to be meningitis and Daniel refused to take me to hospital, I begged him to take me to hospital. I had to call my motor and when I got there was rushed straight through."

Miss Cade disagreed with a defence claim Ridge was a "gentleman" throughout their relationship and again let her down during follow-up treatment. "He drove off and shouted out the window of his car: 'Get the bus to hospital.'"

She denied she was "bitter" and gave "false and exaggerated" evidence and threw the avocado at her ex, causing it to burst all over the kitchen.

Ridge told the court: "It was a childish matter that shouldn't really have happened. My clothes were ruined as well, but I didn't think it was right to press charges.

"At no point did I throw any glasses. I did not use any aggression and I did not raise my hands to her."

His lawyer, Mr. David Allman told the court yesterday: "He's been a professional member of the armed services since the age of eighteen and he's currently intending to continue that career for at least nine years.

"He is seeking promotion and that would have happened fairly soon had this court case not occurred. His promotion is now on hold.

"I am asking you to take into account the background of his service career, his duty for his country."

Female Wedding Guest's Nose Smashed By "Almighty Punch"

A drunken British Gas employee smashed a female wedding guest's nose with an "almighty punch" - leaving the woman needing reconstructive plastic surgery - when aiming a blow at her husband.

Neil Abbott, 41, had been drinking vodka during the reception at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington High Street when confronted about his boisterous behaviour on the dance floor.

"That was an almighty punch, and I have seen some over thirty-five years, from a man that is heavily built and this poor woman has suffered the most dreadful, dreadful injuries," announced Isleworth Crown Court Judge Simon Davis.

Abbott,of Grace House, Erickson Gardens, Bromley, who is a work colleague of the groom, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Christina Mina on May 24, last year and will be sentenced on May 15.

Prosecutor Mr. Tom Rodgers told the court: "Mr. Abbott goes to punch Mrs Mina's husband and connects with one forceful punch on her.

"She has had reconstructive surgery and will have follow-up surgery in June. There will be cartilage taken from her to fix a fault with her nose, which had a detached septum and enlarged nostrils.

"Mrs Mina has delayed having children because of this, but will resume once she has recovered."

There is a £10,000 estimate for medical treatment.

"This defendant has said he is not going to drink in public again," said Judge Davis. "It's the drinking that concerns me. He was absolutely drunk that night and had he not been this would not have happened.

"There could be an aspect to the defendants make-up that requires some  intervention and exploration. I would like to know why he drank as much as he did that day.

"Something went horribly wrong that day and this is a very serious case. Mr. Abbott faces a custodial sentence."

Saudi Playboy Caught Driving £168K McLaren Supercar High On Drugs

Likes A Puff: Al-Sharif

A rich Saudi playboy was caught by police driving his dad's £168,500 McLaren supercar while high on cannabis through Hyde Park one morning.

Mohammad Al-Sharif, 22, of Marylebone Road, Marylebone confessed to smoking the drug at 7.30am that morning and was unsteady on his feet with slurred speech when questioned by officers.

He pleaded guilty to driving a McLaren MP4-12c 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8 Velocita Wind Edition in West Carriage Drive on December 11, last year while unfit to drive through drugs.

Student Al-Sharif, who lives off a family allowance, was fined £400, with £85 costs and was ordered to pay an £85 victim surcharge. He was disqualified for twelve months.  

The supercar, which goes from 0mph to 60mph in 2.8 seconds, has a makeover by German specialists DMC, which increases its brake horsepower to 650bhp and makes the car more powerful and luxurious.

In the Middle East's Car of the Year awards it won 'Best Supercar' and overall 'Car of the Year' for 2012 and was priced at £168,500 when launched onto the market the year before.

The Velocita Wind Edition was inspired by a mystery Saudi enthusiast, who demanded an alternative custom design to the McLaren MP4-12c and Al-Sharif's car has been photographed cruising around Basil Street and Montpelier Street, Knightsbridge.

Prosecutor Mr. Tom Gill told Hammersmith Magistrates Court: "It was 10.40am and the defendant was driving a high-powered supercar erratically along West Carriage Drive and into the Triangle car park.

"He was spoken to and there was a strong smell of cannabis coming from the car, he was the sole occupier. He was unsteady on his feet, his speech was slurred when he spoke and he appeared intoxicated.

"He was asked if he had been smoking cannabis and said he had at 7.30 that morning.

"He was arrested and taken to Paddington Green Police Station and searched and a small amount of cannabis was found that he admitted was his.

"A blood test was analysed and it was found the defendant had used cannabis and another drug, but there is no indication what that drug is."

Al-Sharif's McLaren Velocita Wind Edition

It is believed to be a prescription medication.

Al-Sharif was driving on a Saudi Arabia-issued International Driving Licence, which ironically was not valid in his home country.

His lawyer Miss Nicola Roberson told the court her client contested a claim he was driving "erratically" adding: "This falls into the lowest category of the sentencing guidelines aggravated by a moderate level of impairment."

Al-Sharif has been studying in London since 2012, attending Birkbeck College, the London School of Business and Finance to improve his English and career prospects in the finance sector.

"There is no income from employment or benefits. He lives with the financial support of his family in Saudi Arabia, who pay his tuition fees and give him a living allowance.

"He has not come before the courts before and has no intention of doing so again."

Wedding Guest Accused Of Filming Up Woman's Skirt

Oyster Shed

A guest accused of filming up a woman's skirt during a wedding reception last summer at a trendy Thamesside gastro pub has appeared for the first time at City of London Magistrates Court.

Collin Jeffrey Lieberg, 33, of Hills Lane, Shrewsbury, Shropshire faces one charge of outraging public decency at the Oyster Shed, Angel Lane on July 26, last year, namely behaving in an indecent manner by taking images on his mobile phone of a women under her skirt.

He elected crown court trial and was bailed to appear at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing on March 24.

No images were found on Lieberg's phone and the prosecution rely on the evidence of a female witness.

Policewoman's Old Bailey Date For Alleged £491K Insurance Fiddle

A policewman, who is accused of a £491,000 insurance swindle after being involved in a car crash, appeared for the first time at City of London Magistrates Court yesterday.

Laura Simmons, 30, of Lambourne, Canvey Island, a police constable with Essex Constabulary is a neighbourhood specialist, who at one time patrolled Purfleet, Aveley and South Ockendon.

She is charged with one count of fraud by false representation between September 13, 2010 and January 3, last year, namely dishonestly making a false representation that she had sustained a higher level of injuries and ongoing symptoms following a road traffic accident, intending to gain a larger financial payment in a personal injury claim.

The court declined jurisdiction due to the large sum involved and Simmons was bailed unconditionally to appear for a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on September 24.

Ex-Banker Worker Convicted Of Trying To Kill His Masseuse Girlfriend

Knife: Amish Kansagra

A bank worker, who quit his job after falling in love for the first time with a topless masseuse and her "sensual massages", was convicted yesterday of attempting to murder her by slashing her throat during a jealous knife rage.

Amish Kansagra, 28, opened a new massage parlour with Polish girlfriend Anna Imporowicz, 35, which offered "hand relief" to customers, but he was aware an ex in her native Warsaw was still pursuing her, plus interest from other men.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard they rowed the day before after a man smiled at Anna at a Holborn salsa club and Kansagra had a knife on him when he arrived at their home at 20 Clitherow Road, Brentford on June 22.

Prosecutor Mr. Julian Jones told jury: "She saw Amish with the same knife in his hand and he shut the kitchen window and put the knife to her throat and said: 'You've made the wrong decision. You will die today.'

"He was trying to stab her neck and she felt him cut her neck and and she saw her blood and fell to the floor saying: 'I love you. Don't do this.'

Stabbed: Anna Imporowicz

"She described him as having gritted teeth and eyes: 'Like the devil' and he cut her neck again, harder and deeper, and used the tip of the knife to cut her gum."

"There is no pattern of offending to take into account when looking at the issue of dangerousness," announced Judge Susan Tapping. "A lengthy sentence will follow anyway.

"He says he was in sufficient control of himself to go so far and no further rather than being angry and suffering a total loss of control that led to him behaving in a way in which Anna believed she was fighting for her life."

Anna tried to flee out of the front door, but was pulled back by the defendant. "He still had the knife in one hand and the other hand around her neck and stabbed her in the side.

"She escaped via a window and while she had one leg out Amish tried to stab her everywhere," added Mr. Jones.

Luckily a retired nurse came to her aid and as Kansagra fled the bloody scene he told passers-by Anna had inflicted the injuries on herself.

"The prosecution say this was a clear cut case of attempted murder, an intention to kill."

The defendant slept rough and travelled to Manchester and back, eventually giving himself up at Shoreditch Police Station, initially claiming he remembered nothing due to a three-day vodka binge.

"He said she was the first person he had ever loved and that there was something inside him. He recalled stabbing Anna in the neck and seeing the blood and confirmed he was not acting in self-defence."

The jury were told they began dating when Kansagra became a regular client of Anna's, who massaged her naked customers while either topless or wearing skimpy underwear.

He quit his bank job and opened a massage parlour with her in South Ealing Road, but their "happy relationship" ended the day before the stabbing after a man smiled at Anna at a Holborn salsa club.

"When they got home he was shouting that Anna was a whore and Amish grabbed her phone and laptop and destroyed them."

Kansagra is accused of shoving her against a fridge and the stairs before leaving and it is suggested he posted a skimpy-clothed image of her on Facebook with the caption: "I'm a prostitute and proud of it."

They agreed to meet the next day, but Kansagra had already armed himself with a "big knife" he took from the massage parlour.

The defendant revealed his jealousy during a party the previous new year's eve and caused a scene when a guest became too friendly with Anna.

"A guy dropped a cocktail stick down her cleavage and later squeezed her bottom and Amish started swearing and scratched the man's nose," said Mr. Jones.

Anna told the jury they met through her work. "It was sensual massage and the masseuse would maybe be in her underwear or without a bra and the client would be without their underwear.

"It ends with hand relief," she added, insisting sexual intercourse would not take place.

Kansagra was convicted by the jury of one count of attempted murder and found not guilty of assaulting Anna by pushing her against the fridge and the stairs.

Before the trial he pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage, possessing a bladed article and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Kansagra, who put his head in his hands after the verdict was announced, was remanded in custody for sentencing on March 19.

Billionaire's Wife Denies 'Keying' Neighbour's Bentley In Alleged Parking Rage Incident

Gautam & Stephanie Thapar

A billionaire's wife, accused of 'keying' a wealthy neighbour's £120,000 Bentley behind her £21m Knightsbridge home during a parking rage incident appeared in court for the first time today.

Mother-of-two Stephanie Thapar, 50, of Cadogan Place is charged with causing £4,153.46 worth of criminal damage to the two-door black 4-litre Continental GT Coupe V8 belonging to Michael Connor in Cadogan Lane mews on January 22.

She is the second wife of Indian-born Gautam Thapar, 54, an engineering and paper entrepreneur, who founded the Avantha Group and has an estimated net worth of £1.0 billion, and who accompanied her today.

German-born Mrs Thapar resides in a five-bedroom, five-bathroom house, which has an integral lift, private two-car mews garage to the rear and has previously been advertised for rent at £56,333 per month.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge, denying she touched the vehicle, and was bailed to return to Hammersmith Magistrates Court for trial on July 29 on condition she does not contact Mr. Connor.

Prosecutor Mr. Tom Gill told the court it was 7pm when Mr. Connor looked out of the window of his home after hearing Mrs Thapar sound her horn as she tried to negotiate past his parked Bentley and enter her garage.

"Mr. Connor saw her reversing into her garage and she then got out of her vehicle, exited the garage and placed some rubbish bags adjacent to the complainant's vehicle.

"The defendant went back inside her garage and on this occasion when she exited her garage, walked to the rear of the Bentley and scratched it five or six times with an unknown small object."

When he inspected his vehicle Mr. Connor found "deep scratches in the paintwork" and called police, who ascertained the damage was recent.

"The defendant was arrested an interviewed and completely denied the offence," said Mr. Gill.

An earlier trial date had to be changed because the couple are visiting India on business between June 20 and July 8.

She was represented in court by leading QC Jeremy Dean, who successfully defended X-Factor star Tulisa Contostavlos of cocaine supply after a News of the World sting.

In 2008 Mr. Thapar won Earnst & Young's 'Entrepreneur of the Year Award' for manufacturing and in 2013 King's College conferred an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his "exceptional achievements in the fields of industry and philanthropy.'

Teen Who Sexually Abused Younger Children Sentenced

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, has received a suspended sentence.

Jake Brookfield, 19, 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.

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 in 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.”

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.

He was sentenced to twenty-four months custody, sentenced for eighteen months, and ordered to perform 80 hours community service work.

Brookfield will also have to sign the sex offenders register for ten years and was made subject to a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Everton FC Fan Caught Selling Cocaine To Supporter During Match

"Good Time": Liam Gray

An Everton FC supporter, caught on CCTV selling cocaine to a fellow fan during an away cup-tie, bemoaned the inferior quality of the drug in his home town when addressing a judge yesterday.

Father-of-two Liam Gray, 28, of First Avenue, Fazakerley, told Isleworth Crown Court Judge Simon Davis: "The quality was a lot better than it was in Liverpool.

"It was a one-off, knocking out the gear, not a regular thing. It was so everyone could have a good time.

"I only bought it to sell to my friends and bought it in London so we could have a good time on the coach on the way home."

He pleaded guilty to possessing twenty-five wraps of cocaine, weighing nearly 20 gms, with intent to supply and supplying two wraps to the fan at Craven Cottage during his team's 2-1 Capital One Cup defeat to Fulham FC on September 24, 2013.

Gray claimed he paid £750 for the drugs to a dealer he originally bought from at the Glastonbury festival earlier that year and had arranged to meet at a pub near the football ground.

He was filmed selling two wraps for £30 to Kevin Keating, 40, of Ennerdale Close, Kirkby and both were arrested son after.

Gray had £105 cash on him, plus the twenty-five wraps of cocaine concealed in his underpants and initially tried to convince police he was only selling Mr. Keating a coach ticket.

The defendant organises his own coach trips for Everton fans throughout the UK and abroad and buys all the match tickets via the supporters club.

Many of his regulars enjoy getting high, confirmed Gray. "I was going to take the cocaine on the coach on the way home and sell it at cost price to anyone that wanted any and use the rest myself.

Gray, who has a previous conviction for supplying the drug added: "Now I don't take cocaine anymore because of the effect it has had on my life."

He was bailed until April 24 for sentencing.

Drug Overdose Death: Manslaughter Accused In Court

Christopher Brooking

A man accused of unlawful killing in relation to the drug death of a father-of-four, who overdosed in a Kingston-upon-Thames flat, appeared in court for the first time yesterday.

Christopher Alan Peter Brooking, 46, of Queen's Road, Twickenham spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during a brief hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates Court.

He is charged with the manslaughter of William Boots, 43, at 6 Perry Court, 26-28 Old London Road on May 16, last year.

Brooking was initially arrested the same day on suspicion of administering a noxious substance and later on suspicion of manslaughter.

Teddington man Mr. Boots was previously employed as a technician at Teddington Tyres in Kingston Road and was working for a cleaning company at the time of his death.

Paramedics were called to Perry Court, an affordable homes development managed by housing association Paragon at 2.30am, but were unable to revive Mr. Boots.

Brooking was bailed to appear at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing on March 19 on condition he does not contact any member of Mr. Boots' family and resides at his current address.

Top-Security Prison Chaplain Demolished Level-Crossing Barrier While Setting-Off On Hols

The prison chaplain of top-security HMP Belmarsh has been convicted of careless driving after demolishing a level-crossing barrier while setting-off on holiday with his wife.

Reverend Trevor Jacquet, 59, drove through flashing red lights as the warning siren sounded and the barrier was severely damaged when it came down on the fully-loaded trailer he was towing behind his VW Transporter.

Jacquet, of Scawen Road, Deptford was found guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates Court and fined £265, with £85 costs, plus a £26 victim surcharge and received four penalty points for the offence at North Sheen level crossing, Manor Road on July 26, 2013.

"As a result of this conviction he will be investigated by his employers at Belmarsh and I ask you to take that into consideration," Mr. Peter Dahlsen, defending, told the magistrates today. 

One witness said Jacquet, who was travelling to the west: "Just went for it," as the warning lights signalling an approaching train began flashing.

However, the pony-tailed padre, who was cleared of the more serious offence of dangerous driving claimed his windows were all closed with the air conditioning on and he heard no siren or saw any flashing lights.

"He is a responsible man with a committed and responsible vocation in life," Mr. Dahlsen told the court. "He's given evidence on oath and swore on the bible before yourselves and his maker."

The Crown Prosecution Service pushed for a dangerous driving conviction and prosecutor Miss Thea Viney said: "Reverend Jacquet's driving fell well below that expected of a careful and competent driver.

"The Crown say that when dealing with a level crossing the driver has to be aware of the signs and the lights and must ensure there is space and time for him to get to the other side, particularly as he had a trailer behind him.

"He ought to have seen the lights and heard the sirens and the other drivers in the queue said the defendant should have seen the lights."

Bored Accountant Sent Sordid Sex Pics And Texts To Women

An bored accountant with ambitions to become one of his profession's watchdogs sent anonymous sexually-explicit message and texts, plus naked images of himself, to nine women.

The victims included a finance manager, who dumped him after one date fourteen years ago; an auditor who briefly worked with him and his next-door neighbour.

South-African-born father-of-two Darrell Cheyne, 35, of Deeprose Close, Guildford, a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), still hopes to join the organisation's regulatory body, which police's professional standards.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth CrownCourt to three counts of stalking between November 9, 2012 and March 18, last year and was yesterday sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 100 hours community service.

Another six victims in South Africa were identified by police, but there was insufficient evidence to the criminal standard to bring charges in relation to them, but the prosecution asked for them to be included in a restraining order.

Judge Andrew McDowall told the first-time offender, who was supported in court by his wife Candice: "I don't know if it will effect your employability, but if they do take action that's part of the price to pay for your sick behaviour."

Prosecutor Mr. Bartholomew O'Toole told the court Cheyne was eventually traced via messages he sent to Durban woman Kate Du Tiot, who went on a lunch date with the defendant in 2001.

"He was keen to start dating her and invited her to a BBQ at his home, where she turned up with her fiancé and things did not go happily.

"She later rejected a Facebook friend request from Cheyne then started receiving silent calls, texts and a photo of a penis, assumed to be the defendant's."

Texts included: 'Do you want to suck my c***?' and 'Do you want to put it in your p****?'

Cheyne sometimes signed-off as 'Loverboy' and in total made twenty calls, sent ten texts and four explicit images.

He worked briefly at Visa Europe, Sheldon Square, Paddington with auditor Annabelle Grant in 2012, who was the first to go to the police and they discovered the phone was being topped-up in a nearby Sainsbury's.

"She had received explicit calls and said the man had a South African accent, recalling that a former work colleague, Cheyne, came from there," explained Mr. O'Toole.

He sent the mother-of-two texts, which included: 'Do you want to meet up and f***?' "How are you babe? Coffee and a quickie?' and 'Do you want a picture of my hard c***?'

"She says this was extremely distressing," added the prosecutor, explaining Cheyne was arrested on April 16 last year and his home and new workplace near St. Paul's was searched.

Police seized mobile phones, SIM cards, camcorders, computer equipment, a hard drive and disposable cameras.

They identified him as the mystery caller harassing his next-door neighbour Rebecca Branston, who also received explicit images of Cheyne.

"She had known him since 2012 and describes him as a quiet man and says she was 'gobsmacked'  when she discovered they were from him."

Texts included: 'Hi sexy. You keen for casual sex? and 'Hi Sexy. Keen for fun?' "She felt this was a massive invasion of her privacy."

Cheyne's lawyer Mr. Abdullah Al-Yunusi told the court his client has sought professional counselling. "He has been open with his family and has expressed remorse and regret.

"One expert says the offences were motivated by boredom," added the lawyer, revealing Cheyne has undergone 75 hours of therapy.

"He is self-employed at the moment and is trying to get a job with the regulatory body of CIMA."

The court also ordered Cheyne to pay £1200 costs, a £100 victim surcharge and obey a seven-year restraining order prohibiting him form contacting any woman without identifying himself.

Mosque Bite Worshipper Spat Skin Onto Floor

Biter: Suad Awad

A woman who bit a chunk out of a fellow-female worshiper's forehead at her local mosque - spitting the skin onto the floor - received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Mother-of-two Suad Awad, 41, had just arrived at Shepherd's Bush Mosque when she suddenly lunged at extended relative Amina Essa, who is still receiving plastic surgery for the wound above her left eye.

The Somali-born unemployed part-time student, of Conningham Road, Shepherd's Bush pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Ms Essa on May 4, 2013.

"The victim was leaving the mosque after completing her prayers and came across the defendant, who appeared to be entering," explained prosecutor Mr. Nadeem Holland. 

"They are known to each other as members of the same extended family, their grandmothers are sisters.

"Ms Essa could think of no reason there could be bad blood between them, but there was a phone call several months earlier when she was supposed to have made comments about the defendant's husband.

"Ms Essa says the defendant jumped at her and could immediately feel the defendant biting her and heard a crunching noise and heard her spit.

Plastic Surgery: Amina Essa

"She says: 'The blood came down like rain down my face.'

"The defendant attempted to bite her a second time on the nose and Ms Essa moved her head and tried to push the defendant away and as she did the defendant bit down on the middle finger of her right hand.

"As Miss Essa tried to pull her finger away the defendant bit again, holding it in her mouth.

"She was shouting: 'Let go, help, help' and two women intervened and assisted in getting the defendant off Ms Essa."

The victim needs ongoing treatment, which involves moving fat from one part of her body to fill the wound. "At the mosque the skin was spat out," added Mr. Holland.

Awad's lawyer Mr. Andrew Sheriff told the court: "The parties can't assist with the motivation for the attack and the probation report suggests cultural or religious differences.

"There was no pre-meditation, she was not following the victim and it seems to be an accidental meeting and resulted in what she describes as an absolute moment of madness.

"This is a one-off incident in her life and there is remorse shown and no suggestion of on-going animosity. She is the sole carer of children aged seven and five."

Judge Andrew McDowall told Awad: "There's no explanation for what you did. It has been called a moment of madness, but for your unfortunate victim it is going to be a permanent problem.

"You are saved from an immediate prison sentence by the fact you pleaded guilty, that you have family responsibilities, you are of good character and it would be undue punishment on your children."

Awad was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, placed on two years probation and made subject to a three-year prohibited activity, namely contact with Ms Essa.

Turning to the victim Judge McDowall said: "I can only express sympathy towards you and if there were means to give you compensation from the defendant I would.

"I can only give advice that you may be eligible for compensation from public monies, but I cannot make any orders."

Rookie FOREX Trader Swindled Trusting Investors In £200,000 Fraud

A newly-divorced single-mum, who set-up an illegal DIY foreign exchange investment scheme, is starting a forty-month prison sentence after defrauding friends and fellow wannabe traders out of £200,000.

Sandra Giraud, 49, thought trading in foreign currency was the answer to her money troubles, but within months she was sending bogus statements to trusting investors, one a woman she knew with Multiple Sclerosis.

One victim suffered a "nervous breakdown" after losing his £88,850 life savings, another lost the entire £45,000 they set aside for their son's private education and another was forced to abandon their dream Barbados retirement after losing £62,000.

Giraud, of Empire Road, Perivale, Greenford pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud and one count of carrying on a regulated activity while not authorised between January 1, 2009 and November 1, 2012.

After her divorce she signed-up to 'Traders University' - a course run by polo-playing self-proclaimed multi-millionaire Greg Secker, 39, who adorns his website with images of himself in the company of Prince William and Sir Richard Branson.

Tempted by the lure of making millions of pounds on the foreign exchange market Giraud set herself up as a trader and began investing the savings of people she befriended on the course.

Prosecutor Mr. Hugh Forgun told Isleworth Crown Court: "There is a pattern of money being put into foreign exchange trading and some withdrawals for personal expenditure.

"From the outset fraudulent paperwork is served on the investors that their investments are growing year on year with the effect people don't take any money out and, in fact, put more in."

The prosecution estimate approximately £412,000 was given to Giraud, with only £217,450 returned to her investors during the fraud.

The largest loss, £88,850, was suffered by Mr. Nicholas Brannen, who initially put in £20,000 followed by £90,000.

"The vast majority was lost, his entire life-savings," explained Mr. Forgun. "He took the defendant to the High Court, where she was declared bankrupt and he suffered what he describes as a nervous breakdown."

One-time friend Eulita Kudzi lost all the £45,000 she saved for her son's education. "She describes the loss as devastating."

Retired Catherine Lambert's Caribbean plans were shattered when her £62,000 investment vanished. "She had emigrated to Barbados, but could no longer tay there due to the loss and was forced to return to the UK."

The victim encouraged her brother Bernard Lambert to invest and he lost £10,000 and MS afflicted Sara Holloway lost £5,000. "She says the loss exacerbated her condition."

Giraud's lawyer Mr. Graham Smith said: "This is a sad case and the impact on her friends and colleagues has been significant.

"As the losses continued she and her daughter moved from their £1,150 a month rented house to a two-bedroom flat in order to reduce her lifestyle costs.

"She had an ongoing desire to make good and this was not fraudulent from the outset.

"This started when she divorced and living with a young daughter needed an income to get her on her feet, which led her to Traders University, an institution that feeds the possibility of becoming rich in a short time.

"She met the complainants through foreign exchange trading and they all had a desire to gamble. They were people who put trust in her.

"She was not sending out false invoices from the start, but did it fairly early out of the embarrassment of not successfully trading with the expertise they expected."

The prosecution have been given leave to apply for compensation, but no significant assets have been identified.

"Odious" Voyeur Jailed For Spying On Naked Hospital Patients

A mental health support worker studying for a nursing degree has been jailed for secretly filming female patients in the changing rooms of two Manchester hospitals to satisfy his "alter-ego" who exists in a "secret world."

Christian Connor, 27, says he got a "buzz" from spying on his victims and also recorded women in the bathroom of his shared house and groomed a 13 year-old boy to send intimate images of himself.

However, Isleworth Crown Court Judge Douglas Moore told him: "Words like 'manipulative', 'despicable', 'merciless' and 'odious' spring to mind," jailing the first-time offender for sixteen months.

Connor, of Norwood Road, Stretford, Manchester pleaded guilty to eight counts of voyeurism for the purpose of sexual gratification; three counts of possessing under-age and extreme pornography and one count of encouraging the making and distributing of indecent images.

The offences, which occurred between September 1, 2010 and April 16, last year, took place at Prestwich Hospital, Prestwich; Salford Royal Hospital, Salford and a rented house in Mildred Street, Salford.

Connor was caught after befriending a 13 year-old boy from Hounslow, west London on the internet and persuading him to send images of his feet to an email address. The boy refused requests to send pictures of his genitals.

Officers traced him and seized his computer, which contained the secret footage he filmed in the hospitals and the bathroom of the home he shared with his girlfriend as well as sick child and extreme pornography.

"You behaved in an appalling way showing a complete abuse of trust, targeting young people and individuals that you knew," Judge Moore told him. "You were within the mental health unit where people are seeking help and need security  and you showed a ruthless disregard for their well-being.

"You took photos of individuals in your shared house when they were taking baths and showers and these people people thought you were a friend. You showed no mercy to those individuals."

Police seized 411 images mostly made up of Connor's secret filming, plus 12 more from the internet at Category A - the most serious.

Prosecutor Mr. Martin Hooper said: "He told the officers he had a foot fetish and was aroused by his ability to manipulate other people and stated the images were for his enjoyment. He also admitted downloading extreme pornography and child pornography."

Connor's lawyer Miss Penelope Blake: "He was living in this secret world where he was compelled by this addictive personality, this foot fetish, to commit the offences he did.

"It was a manifestation of his addiction, his obsession. This is not something he will be doing again and he is nothing but embarrassed, ashamed and disgusted.

"From an early age he wanted to spy on everyone and this grew into addictive, obsessive behaviour. He says he gets a 'buzz' from it and being in a position of power.

"There is almost an alter-ego person different to his day-to-day self," added Miss Blake, who confirmed Connor has sought counselling since his arrest.

He was employed as an NHS support worker for six years, but was forced to abandon his degree studies two years in when arrested. Connor's mother is an auxiliary nurse and his father, who supported him in court, a management accountant.

"He has lost his sister, who says she wants nothing more to do with him, his girlfriend, his friends and the stigma of these offences will follow him for the rest of his life. He'll be on the sex offenders register."

The victims of Connor's voyeurism gave impact statements and used words such as "shocked," "bemused," "nightmare," and one subsequently suffered panic attacks.

Judge Moore added: "This is an abuse of trust case because he worked within a mental health unit and he was a mental health support worker at the time.

"A mental health unit demonstrates clear vulnerability and one victim is reluctant to return because she no longer feels safe there."

Connor will also be subject to a ten-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order.