Leading Church Music Composer And Respected Private School Teacher Secretly Collected Child Porn

One of the country's leading composer's of church music, who also taught at several top private schools - including one attended by Nigella Lawson and Kate Beckinsale - has received a suspended prison sentence after a police raid seized child pornography at his suburban home.

Cambridge University-educated John Barnard, 66, a fellow of the Royal College of Organists and associate of the Royal School of Church Music led a "tortured" secret double-life, Harrow Crown Court heard.

"It must be a humiliating experience for a man of your background to find himself before the courts," Judge Jeremy Barklem told Barnard, who taught German and French at the £18,000 a year all-girls Godolphin & Latymer school, Hammersmith.

"You are a cultured, educated, highly intelligent man, respected and loved by many and dedicated to church music, but also tortured by a publicly-repressed sexuality and an interest in images of young men that's never been expressed physically."

He was deputy head for fifteen years at £16,000 a year John Lyon boys school, Harrow, where he organised and led trips to Switzerland and went on to also teach at the co-ed £29,000 a year Aldenham boarding school, Elstree.

Barnard, of Queens Walk, Harrow, who has directed music for BBC Radio 2's Sunday Half Hour and in 2006 was a judge for a BBC hymn-writing competition was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, and must attend 60 days 'one to one' counselling.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing indecent photographs, which relate to twenty-nine pictures found in a chest of drawers in his bedroom.

The court heard there were a total of 118 images at category C; 13 at category B and 16 at category A - the most serious, which usually involves children being sexually abused.

The vast majority of the images depicted boys aged between fourteen and sixteen years-old.

Barnard presented two references to the court, one from a retired senior police officer and another from a barrister and member of the Bar Choral Society, who as a boy was a chorister taught by the defendant.

Prosecutor Miss Kate Blumgart told the court Barnard answered his door to police dressed in his pyjamas at 6.30am on May 13, last year and immediately admitted there were images on his computer.

Further printed images were found in the chest of drawers, which he admitted printing from his computer. "He said they were his and he had forgotten them.

"Officers also visited John Keble Church, Edgware, where Mr. Barnard was head of the choir, but nothing was found there. He is currently suspended from his role there."

His lawyer Miss Maria Dineen said: "Mr. Barnard is thoroughly ashamed of the conduct that brings him to court. He was aware that what he was doing was wrong, but was too embarrassed and fearful of the consequences to seek help.

"What has been a pretty solitary life for him up to now has been opened up and he has confided in others and he has sought out professional help.

"He accepts the damage that was done to the children in these images and his risk of reoffending and harm is low.

"There is no evidence he has acted upon his predilection or offers any threat of contact offending and he has dedicated his life to some sort of public service.

"He has always been regarded as a kind, caring individual. The loss of his good character alone is itself a considerable regret."

Barnard was also made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign the sex offenders register for seven years.

He has been a successful composer, arranger, choir director and organist and sits on the council of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland and has been director of music at Emmanuel Church, Northwood; St. Alban's Church, North Harrow and St. John the Evangelist Church, Stanmore.

Barnard has composed and published over fifty original hymns, which are sung all over the world and contributes to and helps assemble publications including 'Hymns for Today's Church', Carols for Today' and Psalms for Today'.

Bolton Wanderers Star Dean Moxey Beats Speeding Charge

Bolton Wanderers star Dean Moxey, who was wrongly prosecuted for speeding in a leased Mercedes, has had the charge against him dropped.

He previously told south-west London's Lavender Hill Magistrates Court by letter that he had returned the super-saloon and somebody else must have been driving it.

The 29 year-old left-back, of Farington Lodge Gardens, Farington, Leyland was prosecuted for failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of the Mercedes C63, snapped exceeding the limit in the London area on August 27, last year.

Moxey appeared in court with his lawyer last week to hear the prosecution announce they were withdrawing the summons after they were satisfied he was not behind the wheel.

The Exeter-born star, who was signed on a free transfer from Premier League Crystal Palace at the start of the season, had already returned the vehicle around the time he moved from his former address in Caterham, Surrey.

He was still the registered keeper of the car when it was photographed over the limit, but failed to reply to two letters sent to him.

However, Moxey says he leased the vehicle for twelve months from June 27, 2013 explaining: “I don't believe the car was anything to do with me at this time and Mercedes know I did not have anything to do with the car.”

Singer Will Young Caught Speeding In West London

Singer Will Young clocked-up his second speeding conviction on Wednesday after his Mercedes-Benz Bluetech was snapped by a camera in west London.

The 36 year-old star, of Prince of Wales Drive, Battersea did not attend Lavender Hill Magistrates Court and was not represented.

The court heard it was 8.08am on the A4 Cromwell Road, Earl's Court on October 28, last year when Young's jeep-type car was recorded travelling at 38mph - 8mph over the sped limit.

He completed the form admitting he was the driver at the time, but did not pay a pre-court "conditional offer" or respond further.

Young already had four points on his licence for a speeding offence on August 31, 2011 and the magistrates added another three points for the latest offence.

Because it was his second speeding offence they announced they would increase the fine to £250, with £85 costs and a £25 victim surcharge.

Young was given fourteen days to pay.

Male Model Denies Spiking Nightclub Girl's Drink With 'E'

Not Guilty Plea: Riches

A male model, accused of trying to drug a young woman at a landmark club owned by Sir Richard Branson so he could sexually assault her, has denied the charge.

Matthew Riches, 29, of Sherwood Way, Epsom appeared at Isleworth Crown Court this week for a plea and case management hearing. 

He is accused of secretly spiking the woman's drink with MDMA - more commonly known as ecstasy.

He is charged that on August 2, last year at with intent to stupefy or overpower to allow sexual activity he administered MDMA to the woman, without her consent  so as to allow any person to engage in sexual activity with her.

The incident occurred at the Roof Gardens, Kensington High Street, Kensington.

Riches entered a not guilty plea to the count and was bailed to return for trial on August 10.

Son Of Olympic Gold Medalist Linford Christie Admits 'Crack' And Heroin Charges

The son of former sprint star Linford Christie has pleaded guilty to having 'crack' cocaine and heroin stashed under the floorboards of his council flat.

Police armed with a search warrant entered the property while 29 year-old Liam Linford Oliver-Christie was out and found the drugs - with a street value of £1,410 - in a box.

Oliver-Christie, of Lakeside Road, West Kensington pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to possessing a quantity of cocaine and diamorphine on September 30, last year and was bailed for probation reports until May 19.

Drug-dealing charged were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, who previously revealed 14.1 gms of 'crack' was seized along with 841 mgms and 6.9 gms of heroin. 

The son of the 1992 Olympic 100 metres champion now claims he is successfully beating his drug problem with the help and support of his family.

Police, accompanied by a sniffer dog, search his empty ground-floor council flat at 2.30pm and also found drug paraphernalia on the living room table and an additional 23.6 gms of an unspecified white powder.

Officers left a note for Oliver-Christie and he surrendered himself at a local police station, which he attended with his solicitor.

Prosecutor Mr. Neil Griffin told the court: "There was a search warrant executed at the defendant's address. He was not home, but under the floorboards was a box containing drugs.

"The last time he was at this court he had been charged with possession with intent to supply class A, but was acquitted. He had over a thousand pounds cash and pleaded guilty to that."

Oliver-Christie's lawyer Miss Emma Fenn said: "The drugs problem is now under control. He has sought voluntary help and that has been resolved with family help.

"He is suitable for unpaid work if this passes the community threshold. This does not look like a case where a DRR (Drug Rehabilitation Requirement) assessment is appropriate, but probation may take a different view.

"He wants to explain he is already doing drugs work and wishes me to pass that onto your honour," Miss Fenn told Judge Martin Edmunds QC.   

"I shall ask the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report. It will have to be a full report," Judge Edmunds told Oliver-Christie. "You will be given an appointment and if you turn up late or not at all it is unlikely you will be given another chance."

His father also won gold for Britain in the 100m at the World, European and Commonwealth championships and his national record of 9.87 secs set over twenty years ago stands to this day.

Liam's mother is former typist Yvonne Oliver, who had a short relationship with the athlete, and he has a twin sister Korel, with neither child having much contact with their father during their upbringing.

He was bailed on condition he continues to reside at his address.

Groom Cleared Of Harassing Designer During Wedding Dress Row

Not Guilty: Pedro Makufi

A desperate groom told his bride's dress designer on the day of the wedding: "The next time we meet one of us will die and that will be you," during a bitter dispute over the £2,455 gown.

Designer Samantha Benveniste - a protege of Bruce Oldfield OBE - graduated with a degree from the London College of Fashion and opened her own Kensington studio, creating bespoke garments for private clients.

She created a wedding dress for Elisa Makufi, but her husband Pedro Makufi, 43, was arrested after a series of distressing texts and voicemails, which he claims he deliberately made to bring the conflict to a head and achieve justice.

Police even visited his home at his request on the day of the wedding, which later proceeded with Mrs Makufi wearing a substitute dress.

On Tuesday the CPS announced they would not seek a re-trial against Makufi, of Hobart Road, Hayes on one count of harassment, which between March 1 and April 5, last year put Miss Benveniste in fear of violence.

"Threatened": Samantha Benveniste

The first Isleworth Crown Court trial, which ended in a hung jury, heard Makufi left a series of voicemails, including: "You've destroyed me, you've ruined my happiness. You really pissed me off, you really insult me, you ruin my happiness and wedding day."

"I promise that it will cost you a lot. I want to spend all I can to take you to court and do justice by my own hand."

"The next time we meet one of us will die and that will be you."

He told the jury: "When I sent that text it was a few hours before my wedding. I was completely lost, I did not know what my wife was going to wear. I wanted the police to be involved."

Makufi admits he sent other messages, which included: "I'm ready to do anything for what you've done to me."

"The only way you can avoid it is to kill me. First I swear to Allah. You can pass this message to the police."

Miss Benveniste told the jury she had completed the dress and the Makufi's were at fault. "They cancelled the day before the wedding. The dress was done, I had done the work."

However, the couple insist the gown was not completed in time and they should have had a full refund. Mrs Makufi told the designer: "You're always messing me up. You're always changing the price."

Miss Benveniste told the court Makufi demanded a meeting outside Notting Hill Underground Station the day before the wedding, where he expected a full refund - plus interest.

"He asked me to come with the dress and the money on my own, I'm ninety per cent sure. This was quite a traumatic experience for me. I was shaken by the whole thing."

She said she found the voicemails "disturbing", adding: "It put me in shock. I didn't see it coming. I felt extremely threatened."

Bride: Elisa Makufi

"The tone of the voice message was so fierce."

The Makufi's decided it was too expensive for the designer to make the husband a new suit, but he gave her his favourite one, which was to be matched with the bridal gown for a £1,000 charge. This was never paid. 

"They were taking the mickey," added Miss Benveniste.

Makufi claims the designer was frightened of the prospect of adverse publicity and huge court costs in fighting a civil claim against him and he sent messages to force police involvement on his wedding day to get justice.

He told the jury: "We had a very good relationship until 5.51pm on April 4. I sent a text not to frighten her, but make her realise: 'I've broken all my promises to Pedro'

"I think reading the texts she's gonna feel: 'Pedro is desperate for his suit and dress so let me do something.' I felt I'd done business with the wrong person."

The ceremony proceeded the next day, April 5, with his wife wearing an alternative dress and Makufi found a replacement suit.

He said he waited with wife until 10pm outside the tube station, adding: "If she did not give me the dress and the money I would take her to court.

"When I told her I was ready to do anything it meant doing all I can to take her to court to get back what belongs to me. It was not for her to take it as violence."

Bogus Accountant Swindled £64,000 Destined For The Taxman

Vicky: A Payne To Her Employers

A bogus accountant, who fooled her PR firm employers into believing she was fully qualified while paying the company's £64,000 tax bill into her own account during a five-year fraud, received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Mother-of-two Vicky Payne, 40, of The Lodge, Station Road, Charlton Mackrell, Somerton claims a disastrous relationship “financially crippled” her.

The charges relate to Hammersmith-based M-PR Consulting of 13 Oxford Gate, Brook Green and its managing director Marc Prema-Ratner and account director Michael Mervyn-Jones.

Payne pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation between August 31, 2009 and May 7, last year in that she lied to both bosses she had paid the company's tax liability and said she was a fully-qualified accountant and member of the Association of Accounting Technicians.

Prosecutor Mr. Don rogers told Isleworth Crown Court the total loss was £64,512.26p, of which Payne has repaid £2,000.

“An investigation by the Specialist Economic Crime Unit confirms she has no assets apart from a very old VW vehicle and there will be no Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings.

“It was a double fraud because she was posing as a trained accountant and while in that position diverted money that was due to HMRC.

“It caused great concern and the hiring of other accountants to speak on their behalf. It caused a lot of difficulty apart from the financial loss.

'The very person trusted to keep the company's tax affairs in order turned around and destroyed it.”

After the sentencing Mr. Mervyn-Jones said: “I am surprised that someone can get away with the theft of sixty-four thousand pounds.”

Payne's lawyer Miss Emma Fenn said: 'Mrs Payne knows what she has done is wrong and is incredibly remorseful. She attended the police station voluntarily and made admissions and said she wanted to put things right.”

The court heard Payne has an 18 year-old son and a 16 year-old daughter, who has hyper-mobility disorder, an eating disorder and self-harms. She also supports her mother and her current “vulnerable” partner.

“She herself suffers from a number of medical conditions and she is clearly not going to be allowed to work in the accounting industry again,” added Miss Fenn. “She says she was stuck in a vortex after a relationship financially crippled her.

“She wants to repay the money, however long it takes.”

Judge Andrew McDowall sentenced Payne to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered her to perform 250 hours community service work and a £100 victim surcharge.

The judge made no financial order for compensation or confiscation, announcing: “I don't want her to be put in a position where she is juggling debt or going to Wonga.

“This is a serious type of offending, a breach of trust and putting people in a position of owing money to HMRC and they only have prospects of small amount dribbling back over a period of time.

“If it was just you, you would be heading off to Holloway,” Judge McDowall told the first-time offender. “Because others in your family would be effected it will be suspended.

“It is regrettable you got yourself into the mess you did and have only just avoided a custodial sentence. Your employment prospects are hampered for ever and day.”

KFC Customer Thumped When He Tried To Break-Up Late-Night Row

KFC Earl's Court

A peacemaker, who tried to split-up a late-night drunken row in Kentucky Fried Chicken by two men in the queue, was thumped in the head himself when he became the target for anger.

Christopher Frearson, 26, of Beswick Avenue, Bournemouth pleaded guilty to assaulting Anthony McCormack at KFC in Earl's Court Road, Earl's Court on April 4 and being drunk and disorderly on the same occasion.

Prosecutor Mr. Tom Gill told Hammersmith Magistrates Court yesterday it was 11.40pm when Mr. McCormack entered the fast-food restaurant and joined the queue behind the two men.

“They started shouting at each other and the complainant tried to calm them down and this defendant punched him in the head.

“Police were called and Frearson started making comments like: 'So what?' and “I wouldn't punch him for no reason.'

“I started drinking all-day at midday and have just stopped.”

No ambulance was called, but Mr. McCormack did complain of a pain to the back of his head.

Frearson told the court: “It was just a lapse of concentration. I'm not a huge drinker, it was a birthday and I consumed too much and got into an altercation.

“I didn't intend to cause anyone harm and apologise for my actions.

“I can only remember little bits of that night.”

Frearson was fined £265 for the assault, plus £135 for being drunk and disorderly and was ordered to pay £75 compensation to Mr. Frearson.

He must also pay £85 costs and pay a £26.50 victim surcharge.

Caretaker At Luxury Belgravia Apartment Block Assaulted Local Doctor Kept Awake By Late-Night Party

Jose Pires

The residential caretaker of a landmark Belgravia apartment block was caught on his own CCTV pushing a doctor, who lives in a £2m flat across the road, down the steps of his building after he complained about late-night noise coming from the top floor.

Jose Pires, 40, who lives and works at Wilbraham Mansions, 10 Wilbraham Place angrily responded to 66 year-old Dr. Jay Saccone, of 9 Wilbraham Place pressing intercom buttons at 1am as he tried to find the source of the noise keeping him awake.

He was convicted at Hammersmith Magistrates Court today of assaulting the US-born retired physician in the early hours of October 24 and was fined £200, with £650 costs and was ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

CCTV captured Pires answering the front door and gesticulating wildly at Dr. Saccone before shoving him away and following him across the road to his building, where he described the residents as “animals” and “pigs.”

Dr. Saccone told the court: “There was loud noise from coming across the street and after an hour I thought I would deal with it. It was quite loud music and voices and earplugs did not help me.

Dr. Jay Saccone

“There had been noise from this building before and I put on some clothes and went across the street and rang the porter's bell and asked the gentleman if he would deal with the noise.

“I rang a second bell because I thought I knew which flat it was from, but I got the wrong bell.

“I told the porter: 'Could you please deal with the noise. I'll come back in ten minutes,' and I went back to my flat, but nothing changed and the noise persisted.

“I rang the porter's bell again and asked him to deal with it and he came up to the front door and that's when he became angry and shouted at me and pushed me.

“His voice was raised and he was quite close to me. He said: 'Do you want me to headbutt you?'

“He pushed me with two hands fairly forcibly in the chest and then pushed me once or twice more.

“He followed me across the street and remonstrated more. He said at quite some volume: 'The people in your building are all animals, all pigs.' He was voluble and angry.”

Dr. Saccone denied he was drunk and “aggressive and abusive” and did not accept telling Pires: “Go f*** yourself.”

10 Wilbraham Place

Pires was questioned by police and denied pushing Dr. Saccone, who he said woke him in the early hours by shouting through the intercom.

He claimed the doctor “smelled of alcohol” was “rude” and “in his face” during the doorstep confrontation.

The caretaker insisted he was merely escorting Dr. Saccone from the premises and never pushed him.

Pires told the court there was a social gathering on the top floor of his building, but insisted it was not noisy and claimed he could not hear anything from his basement flat.

“On the intercom I heard someone with slurred speech say something about noise. It was not in a polite way, it was an abrupt way and he said: 'Go f*** yourself' and left.

“He was off his face, nothing I could say would move him from his vicious constant repeated visits.”

Pires claimed there was tension between the two buildings. “Our building is the more well-balanced building. There is discomfort from across the road because we are more composed, balanced, well mannered.

“The board from across the road has fully supported my case. There is friction between the board and Dr. Saccone.”

Jose Pires at 10 Wilbraham Place

Pires, who has a rent-free grace-and-favour flat, which at the time he was sharing with his partner and their young child, was supported by doctor's wife Suzanne Stacey, who lives in the apartment under where the party was held.

“The intercom started buzzing around 1am. He was pressing all the buttons and waking everyone in the building up,” she told the court.

She looked outside and saw Dr. Saccone in the street. “He was swaying about a bit as if he was drunk.”


Convicting Pires the magistrates announced: “There was more force than an ushering movement.”

The court also heard even though he has no criminal convictions Pires has come to the attention of the police for similar domestic incidents.

Drug-Crazed Brick Thug Jailed For Murdering Stranger

Malachi Lindo

A drug-crazed killer, who used a brick to cave in a stranger's face during a violent street confrontation, has been caged for life – with a fourteen-year minimum.

Malachi Lindo, 27, of Bowles Green, Enfield was convicted of murdering 51 year-old Phillip Steels of nearby Burncroft Avenue in the early hours of September 4, last year.

The Old Bailey heard Mr. Steels had been drinking at home earlier that evening and had later gone out – still angry about a long dispute he was having with his neighbour.

After leaving a friend's house Mr. Steels was walking along Green Street, Enfield, where he became involved in an altercation with Lindo – a total stranger.

A fight began and when Mr. Steels fell to the ground Lindo sat over him and smashed him about the face with a house brick, causing horrific injuries.

Lindo left Mr. Steels in a pool of blood and crossed the road towards a parked white Audi A3.

He sat down with his back to the vehicle with his legs in the road just yards from Mr. Steels for fifteen minutes, causing several passing cars to swerve round him.

Police arrived at 1.45am and Lindo ran towards Hertford Road with officers in pursuit.

Phillip Steels

Lindo continued to act erratically and babble and said to officers that he had taken a cocktail of drugs, including cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy.

He spat at officers and then asked if he could go home saying: "I promise I won't kill again".



Mr. Steels was pronounced dead at the scene.

The brick was found lying alongside his body as well as the blue baseball cap Lindo had been wearing.

A rucksack found nearby contained a large quantity of drugs and related paraphernalia belonging to Lindo.



A search of his home revealed more drugs paraphernalia and Lindo confirmed that at the time he was actively dealing drugs.


Investigating officer, Acting Detective Sergeant Mike Stubbins, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC), said: "This was a horrendous attack on an innocent member of the public, brought about by a complicated and confused individual being high on a cocktail of drugs.



“Lindo had been taking numerous drugs. He has stated that his mind started playing games and he felt he was in a parallel dimension. 



"This is a tragic case where an innocent member of the public has felt the wrath of a young man whose life had been unraveling and who had turned to experimenting with illegal substances.



"Unfortunately he has let out his frustration on the first person he has seen leading to the death of Philip Steels.



"The investigating team worked tirelessly to bring this defendant to justice and to try and bring some form of relief to the family of Mr. Steels.

“I only hope that over time the horrible facts of Mr. Steels death fade in the minds of his family and friends and this result is able to bring an element of closure to this tragic incident."

 

Not Guilty: Architect 100% Innocent Of 'Rape' That Never Was

100% Not Guilty: Adam Leheup

An architect "addicted to first dates" - who was wooing thirty-five woman online and having sex with six of them - was cleared on Friday of raping and sexually assaulting a blind date hours after they met.

University of Greenwich graduate Adam Leheup, 34, a technical co-ordinator on the £500m Nine Elms Point Development was accused of insisting on having sex with the 25 year-old despite her shouting: "No, no," Blackfriars Crown Court was told.

She told the jury during the week-long trial Leheup said afterwards: "In my experience girls say no, but they don't mean it".

Leheup, of In View Court, Mayfield Road, Hersham, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey was found not guilty to raping the woman and sexually assaulting her at her flat in Delancey Street, Camden in the early hours of July 10, 2013.

He spent nearly a year on police bail before eventually being charged and appeared emotional, emitting a slight gasp, as he was cleared.

He says they enjoyed an night-long date, which included wine and cocktails, with the young woman responding to his physical advances and allowing him to remove her bra in her bedroom so he could massage her back with oil.

Leheup revealed he was communicating with thirty-five woman at the time and regularly having sex with six of them, but stopped short with the complainant. "She said: 'Stop' once and I turned to my side and started to go to sleep," he told the jury.

"When girls have said nothing is going to happen, I've ended up having sex with them," he added. "My penis did touch her genital area. At no time did any part of my penis go into her vagina."

However, one of the complainant's flatmates told the court Leheup said: "I put it in for a second and that was it," and when they threatened to dial 999 he lied: "I used to work for the police."

He was called a "creep" by one of the complainant's friends, who also tried to grab him by the hair and slapped his hands during the 4am confrontation.

"I told him nothing was going to happen, but he started to kiss me and I could tell he was naked," the complainant told police. "He took my clothes off and was on top of me and penetrated me and I was shouting: 'No' a lot, but he was not listening.

"I was saying: 'No', but he thought it was a joke or something. Then maybe he realised I was serious and he calmed down.

"He said: 'Girl's say: 'No', but they don't mean it.' I just wanted him out. My flatmate said she was going to call the police, but he laughed at her and said it would just be a domestic."

Prosecutor Mr. Ish Sheikh told the court the couple met on dating app 'Let's Date' - which connects users who mutually find each other attractive - and had two bottles of wine at Gordons Wine Bar, Embankment after meeting and walking across Waterloo Bridge.

It was so late Leheup had missed his last train and his date agreed to put him up for the night. "She made it clear nothing would happen and they went to a second bar, 'Joe's', in Camden where they had mojito's.

"He started kissing my neck and it made me a bit uncomfortable, but it wasn't vicious or nasty and later I did kiss him back. We were getting on well," the woman told police in a video interview. 

"The kissing had got a bit more aggressive, stuff I did not like, his hand on my throat, which makes me vulnerable.

"I said: 'Nothing is going to happen.' I'm not that kind of girl."

Mr. Sheikh added: "The defendant was also a bit funny towards her when she was talking to other men at the bar."

They returned to the complainant's flat in the early hours. "She shares it with two others and when they got into the bedroom she changed into jogging bottoms and a top and got into bed, where the defendant joined her without any clothes on at all.

"He started kissing her and got on top of her and she was shouting: 'No, no,' and to stop, but he did not take any heed of these cries and touched her with his fingers."

Partial intercourse occurred for a very short time and the young woman managed to get away and told Leheup: "Why did you do that when I said no?"

Mr. Sheikh explained: "One of the flatmates was woken because of the shouting and told Mr. Leheup to leave, but he wouldn't because he said he had work the next day and wanted to wait until the trains started running

The flatmate threatened to call the police and Leheup clambered down scaffolding outside the balcony door, but was arrested on the way to the underground station.

When questioned by police the defendant said his date did not object to being touched intimately by him. "He said he was fondling her breasts and there was no talk of sex one way or the other.

"When they arrived at the bedroom he said she said words to the effect of: 'Welcome to my crack den.'

"He said he took her bra off because she wanted a back massage with some oil and they began kissing.

"He said he got on top of her her and she then freaked out and as soon as she did he got off her," explained Mr. Sheikh. "He said he climbed down the scaffolding to avoid a confrontation.

"When she was shouting: 'No' he should have known she was not consenting. He was not going to take no for an answer that night."

The young woman admits she was under the influence of alcohol. " I was probably more drunk than I should have been. I was feeling a bit giddy, a bit tipsy, but I was not falling over."

Army Compo Winner Swindled Thousands Of Pounds In Benefits

Bus Selfie: Debique

An ex-British Army soldier, who won a £17,000 landmark pay-out from the armed forces after winning a sex and race discrimination case, went on to immediately swindle thousands in benefits while receiving student grants and loans.

Single-mum Tilern Debique, 33, was overpaid £9,309.94 in income support, jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit and her punishment will be to stay indoors every night for the next three months - something she does anyway.

Prosecutor Miss Mary Lawrenson told Wimbledon Magistrates Court: "She was claiming income support as the parent of one dependant child, a daughter, and this meant she was also entitled to housing and council tax benefit.

"An investigation identified her as being in full-time education at the London Metropolitan University and in receipt of a student loan."

Former Corporal Debique, who was a systems engineer in the British Army between 2001 and 2008 with 10 Signal Regiment and now works in IT, graduated with a degree in Business Information Technology and Business Law in 2013.

"She said she was studying, but it was part-time and thought she did not have to declare it. She failed to notify a change of circumstances."

Debique, originally from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, took the Army to an Employment Tribunal after an incident when she failed to appear on parade one day because she had to look after her daughter.

Camera Shy: Bus Stop The Press

Her commanding officer told her the Army was a: "war-fighting machine" and: "unsuitable for a single mother, who couldn't sort out her childcare arrangements."

She won the case, plus a race discrimination claim because she was not allowed to bring over her half-sister to look after her child, but received far less than she wanted.

Debique originally claimed £473,535 for loss of earnings; £325,160 for loss of Army benefits; £315,562 for loss of pension rights; £10,000 in aggravated damages, plus £18,000 for "hurt feelings."

District Judge James Henderson said: "This was initially a genuine claim and I do not think it crosses the custody threshold."

Debique has repaid approximately £1,000 so far and Mr. Henderson added: "I don't think a fine is appropriate because she is using a lot of money to pay this back and is likely to lose her job.

"You are not suitable for unpaid work because you have a daughter to look after," he told her. 

"I give you full credit for pleading guilty to these offences and I am quite satisfied it was because you were in  difficult financial situation and the time and not high living."

Debique was sentenced to a three-month community order with a daily electronically-tagged evening curfew between 9pm and 6am and was ordered to pay £85 costs, plus a £60 victim surcharge.

She told the court there was no need for her to go out in the evenings and that once she collects her daughter from school she stays in for the rest of the night.

Debique swindled £6,581.87 in income support and jobseeker's allowance from the Department of Work & Pensions and £2,728.07 from Wandsworth Borough Council in housing and council tax benefit.

"You have a payment plan in place so I am not going to order compensation," added Mr. Henderson. "I don't think it is appropriate to send you to prison, but if you breach the order that may become a possibility."

Debique, of Delia Street, Earlsfield pleaded guilty to four counts of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances between September 7, 2010 and July 7, 2013 and dishonestly making a false statement on June 7, 2012.

Not Guilty: Xmas Shopper Cleared Of Killing Fellow-Customer In 'Trolley Rage' Tragedy

A Marks & Spencer Christmas customer, accused of killing a frail fellow-shopper by ramming him with her trolley, has been cleared of manslaughter.

Widower Michael Buckley, 60, suffered a broken wrist and thighbone when knocked to the floor of the store in The Glades shopping centre, Bromley, but never recovered and died three months later.

Melanie Serita Buck, 33, of Chelford Road, Bromley was found not guilty of the charge, plus an alternative count of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

She was with her mother at 1pm and pushing a trolley when she clashed with Mr. Buckley, who was carrying a basket inside the busy store on December 22, 2012.

"Mr. Buckley was browsing the food aisle when he came into contact with the defendant," prosecutor Mr. David Howker QC told Croydon Crown Court.

"There was something of a gridlock in the aisle and the defendant could not get past him. 

"There may have been a clash between his basket and her trolley and a few words exchanged and the upshot was Miss Buck deliberately rammed Mr. Buckley with her trolley and the result was to knock him to the floor."

The first words out of the injured man's mouth as Buck fled toward the exit were: "She rammed me."

Mr. Buckley was only eight stone and 5 foot five inches tall and described as "frail" by Mr. Howker, who added: "A fractured kneecap he had a few years earlier slowed him down.

"Miss Buck assaulted Mr. Buckley. causing him to fall to the floor and injure himself and cause the chain of events that led to his death. She is responsible for that death."

Buck was arrested on Boxing Day. "She said she was being bumped in the legs by Mr. Buckley's basket and was trying to get past him and hit him accidentally with her trolley."

Mr. Buckley, of Whatman Road, Forest Hill died on March 5, 2013 at Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough, Kent after three months in intensive care following complications relating to his injuries.

Mr. Buckley, had lost his wife Irene two years before his death, also had severe hearing problems and had retired from an office job at Camberwell New Green Cemetery.

"He could have had a heart attack at any time and Miss Buck would not have known that when she rammed the trolley into him."

Suspended Sentence For Street Thug Who Attacked Strangers

A engineer, who suddenly attacked two strangers in the street – racially abusing one of them – and battled with police until he was sprayed with CS gas received a suspended prison sentence today.

Neil Saunders, 33, of Richmond Road, Worthing had spent the evening with friends in south-west London and was apparently in good spirits when he left them, but soon afterwards was out of control, getting into one violent confrontation after another.

He pleaded guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates Court to the racially aggravated assault of Luis Ramirez in Putney High Street on September 27, last year.

He also pleaded guilty to assaulting black bus driver Joseph Lewis and resisting a police officer in the execution of his duty and was sentenced to twelve weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months.

Saunders was also ordered to perform 80 hours community service work and pay £200 compensation to Mr. Lewis; £50 to Mr. Ramirez and £85 costs.

Prosecutor Miss Mary Atere told the court Mr. Ramirez had just got off a bus with his son near Putney Bridge after 10pm on the Saturday evening when confronted by the defendant.

“Mr. Saunders swung his arm and hit Mr. Ramirez in the chest and was shouting and swearing. With his right hand he punched Mr. Ramirez in the face, then swung for a third time, connecting with the victim's face.

“He was heard shouting: 'What are you going to do? This is my country. Go back to your own f***ing country.'

“Bus driver Mr. Lewis was on a break and sitting on a bench outside TK Maxx when Mr. Saunders came to his attention because he seemed to be arguing with people in the road.

“The defendant sat next to Mr. Lewis, who was on his mobile phone, and he punched Mr. Lewis in the face, on the nose and the victim thought it may have been broken.

“Police were called and by now Mr. Saunders was standing in the middle of the road waving his arms around and when approached he resisted arrest and struggled violently with the officers.

“He had to be CS sprayed because he was so volatile, pushing and kicking out.”

When questioned by police Saunders claimed to have no memory of the incident.

His lawyer Miss Sophie Smith told the court there is the possibility a drink he was having with pals may have been spiked. “He left them in a happy mood and cannot remember what happened.”

Saunders claims he suffered a “blackout” - perhaps as a result of his Temazepam prescription for insomnia, which he received during a difficult period when his baby daughter was only twelve-months old and his wife was suffering post-natal stress.

The police officer who questioned him said Saunders was “very remorseful” and “crying and sobbing” throughout the interview.