Detective Sergeant Jailed For Harassing Ex With Fake Prostitute Ads

Sex Leaflets: Ian Mangham

 A detective sergeant has been jailed for sixteen weeks for harassing his ex-girlfriend by distributing fake leaflets advertising her services as a prostitute.

Ian Mangham, 50, who wooed the mother-of-two when she reported her ex-husband to police placed the ads in local pub toilets and phone boxes.

It was revenge after business development manager Agnes Collowey, 38, dumped him and as a result she received phone calls and knocks on her door at all hours of the night.

"You are a serving police officer with a long and distinguished record over twenty-six years," District Judge Quentin Purdy told him.

"You are a man of good character and everything that goes with it facing custody for a disgraceful episode that was cruel and vindictive."

Mangham, of Baldwins Hill, Loughton, Essex denied, but was convicted of harassing her between October 23, 2014 and April 1, last year.

Hammersmith Magistrates Court heard Mangham was also the author of a hand-written note Agnes found stuffed in the letterbox of her Highams Park, Chingford home which read: 'Romanian whore. Dirty prostitute, get out of our street.'

She was also bombarded with junk mail, catalogues and brochures after Mangham completed hand-written coupons in her name for products and services.

"Far more aggravating were these leaflets advertising for those seeking sexual services and giving her full name, phone number and address.

"She had people knocking on her door in the middle of the night and phoning her and she knew they were seeking sexual services," added the judge.

Harassed: Agnes Collowey

Mangham was also ordered to pay Agnes £3,000 compensation and £500 prosecution costs and was made subject to an indefinite restraining order prohibiting him contacting her or her children.

He is now suicidal, revealed Mr. Alisdair Williamson, defending. "He was and remains ill and after the trial was admitted to Princess Alexandra Hospital.

"They were concerned about self-harming and that he would take his own life and as the probation report says, he is a broken man."

Mangham's house is for sale and he intends moving back in with his parents in Leamington Spa. 

"Please do not send him into immediate custody, he needs help and the clang of the prison door will not serve justice, but contribute to his ill health.

"Sometimes a man's life is a fragile edifice held together by the fragile bond of love and when that goes, everything goes and that happened to this man.

"It's pathetic and sad, but he'd return home to an empty house, lonely, and despite the support of the police service he could not admit to his colleagues the loneliness he felt."

Mangham began drinking heavily and his doctor put him on medication.

He has not yet confessed to being the author of the prostitute leaflets, but now concedes he was behind the avalanche of junk mail.

"He admits through me being the author of those coupons, it was one night of filling-in coupons in bitterness.

"It's difficult for a man to come to terms with the complete destruction of his life."

Before he was jailed Mangham, dressed in smart blue suit, white shirt and tie, said from behind the dock's security glass: "I am very sorry."

A handwriting expert confirmed there was a "very strong" probability he was the author of the coupons and prosecutor Mr. Michael Mallon said: "It's clear there is an obsession here."

One order was for jewellery engraved with the words: 'To My Best Lover' and 'To My Beloved Friend,' and another was for adult films.

They were together over four years after Agnes, a biology and chemistry graduate, was forced to attend Hornsey Police Station when her troublesome ex-husband reported her missing.

Their first date was on December 9, 2009 and in the early days Mangham slept on her couch.

She described their relationship as: "on-off", agreeing she ended it. "I did not see the point in continuing this relationship

"A few months after we broke up he was trying to persuade me to get back together with him," she told the court. "I tried to tell him that we were so different there was no point continuing."

She moved out in July, 2014, but Mangham turned up on the doorstep of her new home at 10.30pm three months later. "I was angry," she recalled

He then launched the harassment campaign, initially with the junk mail bombardment. "Letters were coming every day from different companies.

"They usually started with the words: 'Thank-you for your enquiry' when I had not made any enquiry

"Some were very upsetting, like one which offered to look after my dog after my death and I received a letter from an undertaker's and a mobility company."

Calls from local men seeking sex then began. "One called for sexual services and said he found my number in the mens toilet of a Chingford pub.

"I was constantly receiving text messages and some were very rude and I had people knocking on my door in the middle of the night."

One call was from a pub at the end of her road and another from a phone box opposite Highams Park train station, where a leaflet advertised Agnes's address and phone number.

"It made me feel scared and uncomfortable in my own home with my son. I feared for my safety," Agnes told the court, adding she also received mystery "aggressive" texts.

The dustbins outside her home were also pushed over late one night and someone applied for a credit card in her name.

Mangham told the court he was not behind the harassment campaign and denied there was anything inappropriate about having a relationship with a woman who had gone to the police.

"We just got talking and I believe her son took a liking to me," he said, denying there was ill-feeling after the split. "I had moved on and wished her well."

Mangham told the court he bought a home for himself and Agnes to live together in.

He agreed sending her a text, which read: "I want to marry you in Venice and be a father to your son."

When she moved out he loaned her £3,600 to cover a deposit and rent for her new home, plus another £500 to help her set-up a massage business as a sideline.

They continued to exchange texts and see each other in local pubs, even kissing on one occasion, which Mangham took as an indication they were back together.

"It was on," he told the court, explaining Agnes finally split with him in a text message.

He only turned up on the doorstep of her new home on October 24, 2014 to collect the money owed and not to harass her, Mangham claimed.

He agreed receiving a text from Agnes, which read: "This is harassment, I will report you to the police."

From that point on he said he had nothing more to do with her and the leaflets and junk mail must have been orchestrated by someone else.

He did admit reporting her to the benefits agency in November, 2014 and looking-up her new boyfriend's linkedIn page.

Tipper Truck Driver Accused Of Cocaine Pedestrian Death

A lorry driver accused of killing an elderly female pedestrian while under the influence of cocaine has appeared in court for the first time.

Anthony McArdle, 53, of Newham Way, Canning Town was driving a 32 tonne tipper truck, which struck Sushilaben Patel at 9.20am in Lewisham Road, Lewisham on October 9, last year.

She died two days later.

McArdle appeared at Bromley Magistrates Court and was bailed to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on June 2.

A condition of his bail is that he does not drive any vehicle on a public road.

He is charged with causing the death of Mrs Patel by careless driving and driving with a proportion of a controlled drug, namely cocaine, over the specified blood limit.

The prosecution also say a mirror on his tipper truck was misaligned, which restricted his view.

Bus Stop Knife-Point Mugging Of Lone Woman: E-Fit Of Suspect Released

Police have released this e-fit of a knifepoint robber, who attacked a lone woman at a bus stop in the early hours of the morning.

The 31 year-old victim was waiting for a bus in Boundary Road, near the junction with Finchley Road, South Hampstead at 5.55am on September 20, last year.

A young light-skinned black male suddenly approached and uneasy at the sudden presence of the suspect, the victim moved away from him.

The suspect waited under the bus shelter for a few moments before lunging towards the victim with a knife in his hands.

He held the knife to the victims' upper body and demanded that she hand over her possessions.

Fearing for her safety the victim handed over her bag containing her mobile, purse and other items.

The suspect then fled the scene running off down Boundary Road.

The victim was so shaken by the robbery she only felt comfortable calling police once she had reached the safety of her home.

The suspect is described as a black man, aged between 17 to 21-years old, approximately 5ft 8ins tall and of skinny build.

He was wearing a loose-fitting, dark-coloured jacket with a hood and dark jeans.

He also is said to have a deep voice.

Detective Constable Jonathan Bradshaw said: "This was a frightening incident on a lone woman as she was making her way home.

“Despite this happening some months ago the victim still remains shaken by the incident and is fearful of being out by herself.

"The robbery took place on the borders between Westminster and Camden and I believe that the man responsible is possibly someone who lives locally or knows the area quite well.

"We're keen to hear from anyone who recognises the man in the e-fit or anyone who has any information that could assist us with our inquiry."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Westminster CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

'Emmanuel': Where Are You?

Police investigating the sexual assault of a woman at a residential south-east London address have released this image of a suspect.

He is being sought for questioning by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences and Exploitation and Child Abuse Command.

The victim, aged thirty years-old was attacked inside a property in the Peckham area on September 10, 2014.

It is believed that the man's first name may be 'Emmanuel'.

Anyone who can identify this man should call the investigating officers via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference CR3025548/14.

Night Bus Thug Claimed Three Victims: CCTV Released

Police are hunting this suspect after a night bus thug attacked one passenger then robbed two more when they got of the early hours service in north-west London.

Officers from Brent's Safer Transport Team have released this CCTV image in the hope he can be identified.

Violence erupted at 4.40am on the route N18 bus, which was travelling from Piccadilly in the West End to Wembley.

A 44 year-old man was waiting to get off the bus when he was punched him in the face, causing a bloody nose, and the victim got off.

The suspect then re-boarded the bus, armed with some sort of weapon, and attempted to attack the victim, who used his rucksack to protect himself.

The victim did not require medical treatment.

Passengers shouted at the suspect who then ran away.

Moments later, two other passengers, aged 24 and 28 years-old got off the same bus and were assaulted and robbed of their mobile phones by the same suspect.

The 24-year-old victim was taken to hospital suffering cuts to his head, which required stitches.

The suspect is described as a Middle Eastern man, aged in his twenties, with short dark hair and a goatee beard.

He wore a camouflage hat and dark clothing.

Officers are releasing a CCTV image of the man and are asking anyone with any information to contact Police Sergeant Chris Simpkins on 020 8733 3856, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting ref 182666.

Wannabe Bus Arsonist: Police Hunt Continues

Police are still hunting a youth suspected of trying to start a fire on a Croydon bus.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Roads and Transport Policing Command continue to appeal for help to identify the teenager.

This follows a half-successful appeal issued on Wednesday, January 6, which identified one suspect.

The incident took place on a Route T31 bus travelling on Field Way at about 7.45pm on September 6, 2015.

As a result of the first appeal a 14-year-old boy from New Addington was arrested on Wednesday, January 20.

He has now been referred to a Youth Offending Team.

Officers are still appealing for help in identifying this second boy, believed to be aged between 14 and 16 years-old and have re-issued a CCTV still of him.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Constable Alastair Middleton on 07909 877121 or Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111, quoting reference 3826214/15. 

Pub Double-Stabbing: CCTV Released

Police are hunting a violent knifeman after two drinkers in an east London pub were stabbed.

This CCTV image of the suspect has been released by officers on Havering borough.

The double-stabbing occurred at the Shepherd and Dog pub, Shepherds Hill, Romford just after 10.30pm on January 15.

London Ambulance Service attended and treated two men for facial and stab wounds to the chest and they were taken to hospital.

Detective Sergeant Jay King said: "We are very keen to speak with the individual pictured and would encourage anyone who recognises him to contact us immediately.

“Both victims sustained a number of stab wounds and it was only by pure chance that they were not more seriously injured or killed.

"I would urge anyone with information concerning the stabbings or the man in the picture released today to contact police as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on the non-emergency line on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting CRIS 5400808/16.

Spanking Pastor Gets Six Years For Exercising 'God's Will' With "Christian Domestic Discipline"

An evangelical pastor, who claimed to exercise God's will when spanking naked devoted female members of his congregation in the name of "Christian domestic discipline," has been jailed for six years.

The spankings, which were also dished-out to children, were to satisfy 73 year-old self-styled Reverend Howard Curtis's "desire for power and sexual satisfaction," Croydon Crown Court heard.

The father-of-three, of Bloxworth Close, Wallington ran the Coulsdon Christian Fellowship (CCF) as a cult, prosecutor Mr. Toby Fitzgerald told the jury.

He was convicted of five counts of sexual assault between January 2009 and July 2013 against one female worshipper; one count of sexual assault against another between 2007 and 2009 and two counts of child cruelty against two youngsters. 

The five counts regarded one woman, a nurse aged 28, he ordered to strip naked before putting her over his knee to slap, continuing the beating when she collapsed to the floor - with one of the dozen or so sessions in front of her husband.

"You put forward different reasons for doing what you did, which included the untidiness of her flat, her own untidiness and her lack of femininity," Judge Peter Gower QC told him.

"On the first occasion you beat her backside repeatedly with the palm of your hand as she lay across your lap with her trousers and underwear pulled down, before she ended up on the floor in what she described as a 'trance like' state.

"On the second occasion the exercise was repeated. On this occasion you also smacked her on the outside of her vagina as she lay on the floor.

"In that occasion and all subsequent occasions she was completely naked.

"You told the jury you did so because God had told you that it would release a frigid spirit from her.

"She was desperate to make her marriage work, improve the sexual side of it and be able to start a family.

"You had persuaded her to believe that what she was agreeing to was some form of spiritual act designed to help her.

"In reality, as with the other woman, this was sexual abuse for your own sexual gratification. it involved a gross breach of trust by a man whose station within the church put him in a position of very considerable power."

The second woman, a single-mum and clothes designer in her late forties, was desperate to remain part of the church "inner circle."

"She regarded you and loved you as a father," Judge Gower said. "Someone who had taken her in and helped her.

"It was against that background that you exploited her vulnerability and prevailed upon her to submit to being smacked by you on her bare backside.

"She was persuaded by you and others this was a means of getting out of her, with God's assistance, what were described as bad or undisciplined spirits.

"At first she refused, but you persisted, and eventually she agreed to submit to this 'discipline', having been conditioned by you to think that she needed to be disciplined for some past disobedience such as not attending church and that it was something of which God approved.

"With the benefit of hindsight she described your interpretation of the bible as 'bizarre' and 'weird'……..You deceived her into thinking that what you were doing was in her best interests, that it had a spiritual basis and a biblical justification, when in reality it was a sexually abusive act performed for your own sexual gratification."

Curtis took her to the home of another female follower and in that woman's presence ordered the victim to pull down her trousers and underwear and lean over a bannister.

"You beat her repeatedly with the palm of your hand, she said you did it twenty or thirty times with full force, causing her to become extremely upset and bruising her badly."

He was also convicted of one count of child cruelty between March 1, 2007 and February 28, 2008 in relation to the woman's nine year-old daughter.

"You took her upstairs, she said she was dragged, and smacked in a manner that she described as very hard and rough, at least four times, with the palm of your hand, leaving red marks, but no bruising," said the judge.

The second child cruelty conviction relates to a worshipper's baby, whose bottom he pinched, leaving the toddler "black and blue" some time between January 1, 1986 and January 3, 1989.

Curtis's lawyer Miss Julia Flanagan said: "He is a genuinely spiritual and in many ways a good man trying to do good in his community for forty years.

"He is sorry that his actions have caused any harm or upset to anybody and has lived an agonising three years for this trial to take place."

His wife Marilyn, who has supported him throughout, is now suffering with anxiety and the couple have had to downsize to a small flat and survive on Curtis's state pension.

She mouthed: "I love you," towards Curtis and the couple blew kisses at each other as he was led to the cells.  

"They have a great sense of shame and humiliation and Mr. curtis has the ignominy  of being a sex offender."  

During his evidence to the jury Howard said: "I believe a smack at the right time and place can be beneficial."

Curtis was ordained in 1988 under the umbrella of the Elim Pentecostal church.

"He presented himself as an inspirational man of God," said Mr. Fitzgerald. "The Crown say the church was run for this defendant and he cloaked himself in the trappings of a religious leader.

"In reality he was nothing of the sort. He deceived his congregation, including children.

"He said he was going to cast out evil spirits from people and that discipline had to be administered by striking bare flesh with the bare hand."

He was found not guilty of two counts of indecent assault in relation to a third female worshipper; digital penetration; two child cruelty counts regarding a boy and causing actual bodily harm to a young girl.

Curtis must also sign the sex offenders register for life and has been placed on the barring list, prohibiting him working with children and vulnerable adults. 

Ex-School Governor Gets Thirteen Years For Raping Young Girl

A former school governor, who the probation service say has a "high likelihood" of re-offending, has received thirteen years imprisonment for twice raping a 10 year-old girl.

Seemingly respectable Malcolm Greenaway, 68, an IT management consultant, struck at his £475,000 suburban home, where his wife had endured years of violence.

"These vile and unnatural acts were perpetrated by you against a wholly innocent child, you utterly stole her innocence," Croydon Crown Court Recorder John Gallagher told him.

Greenaway, of Stanley Park Road, Carshalton Beeches pleaded guilty to two counts of raping the girl between December 6, 2008 and December 5, 2010.

He must serve eight years and eight months before he can be considered for parole and then spend an additional five years on licence when the sentence expires.

Greenaway was a governor at Wallington High School for Girls between 1988 and 1997 and at Stanley Park Infants and Junior schools between1922 and 1988. 

"You pose a significant risk of serious harm. I suspect you are devious and manipulative and know how to work the system.

"You used and abused her sexually for your perverted lusts and feelings and groomed her into believing no one would believe her and as a result she sit this away for years."

The victim revealed to a schoolteacher in 2014 that she had been raped by Greenaway, who called her into his bedroom saying: "I need a hug."

When interviewed by police the girl could not bring herself to utter the words and instead wrote on a piece of paper: "He raped me."

Greenway told the youngster it would be their "little secret" and convinced her she would not be believed if she reported him.

He again raped her in his bedroom on a second occasion, after which the victim threw up.

She has since suffered panic attacks, suffered weight-loss, post-traumatic stress disorder and was hospitalised after taking an overdose.

The rapes were reported while Greenaway was serving a three years and nine months sentence for inciting two girls, aged thirteen and fifteen, to engage in sexual activity.

A probation report described the defendant as "controlling and dominant" and prone to "explosive anger."

"It's a great shame you felt no feelings for her except your unnatural and perverted feelings," Recorder Gallagher told him.

Met Detective Guilty Of Posting Fake Prostitute Leaflets Advertising Ex-Girlfriend

Guilty: Ian Mangham

A detective sergeant's twenty-six year career in the Met is in tatters and he faces the prospect of jail for harassing his ex with fake leaflets advertising her services as a prostitute.

Ian Mangham, 50, who wooed the mother-of-two when she reported her ex-husband to police placed the ads in local pub toilets and phone boxes.

It was revenge after business development manager Agnes Collowey, 38, dumped him and as a result she received phone calls and knocks on her door at all hours of the night.

Mangham, of Baldwins Hill, Loughton, Essex denied, but was convicted of harassing her between October 23, 2014 and April 1, last year.

He was bailed to return to Hammersmith Magistrates Court for sentencing on May 16 and District Judge Quentin Purdy told him: "You are at genuine risk of immediate custody.

"I come to that conclusion with a heavy heart. I am aware of the consequences for a serving police officer, but the evidence was overwhelming."

Mangham was also the author of a hand-written note Agnes found stuffed in the letterbox of her Highams Park, Chingford home which read: 'Romanian whore. Dirty prostitute, get out of our street.'

She was also bombarded with junk mail, catalogues and brochures after Mangham completed hand-written coupons in her name for products and services.

A handwriting expert confirmed there was a "very strong" probability he was the author of the coupons and prosecutor Mr. Michael Mallon said: "It's clear there is an obsession here."

One order was for jewellery engraved with the words: 'To My Best Lover' and 'To My Beloved Friend,' and another was for adult films.

They were together over four years after Agnes was forced to attend Hornsey Police Station when her troublesome ex-husband reported her missing.

"A few months after we broke up he was trying to persuade me to get back together with him," she told the court. "I tried to tell him that we were so different there was no point continuing."

She moved out in July, 2014, but Mangham turned up on the doorstep of her new home at 10.30pm three months later. "I was angry," she recalled

He then launched the harassment campaign, initially with the junk mail bombardment. "Letters were coming every day from different companies.

Harassed: Agnes Collowey

"Some were very upsetting, like one which offered to look after my dog after my death and I received a letter from an undertaker's and a mobility company."

Calls from local men seeking sex then began. "One called for sexual services and said he found my number in the mens toilet of a Chingford pub.

"I was constantly receiving text messages and some were very rude and I had people knocking on my door in the middle of the night."

One call was from a pub at the end of her road and another from a phone box opposite Highams Park train station, where a leaflet advertised Agnes's address and phone number.

"It made me feel scared and uncomfortable in my own home with my son. I feared for my safety," Agnes told the court, adding she also received mystery "aggressive" texts and had her dustbins pushed over.

Mangham told the court he was not behind the harassment campaign and denied there was anything inappropriate about having a relationship with a woman who had gone to the police.

"We just got talking and I believe her son took a liking to me," he said, denying there was ill-feeling after the split. "I had moved on and wished her well."

Mangham told the court he bought a home for himself and Agnes to live together in.

When she moved out he loaned her £3,600 to cover a deposit and rent for her new home, plus another £500 to help her set-up a massage business.

They continued to exchange texts and see each other in local pubs, even kissing on one occasion, which Mangham took as an indication they were back together.

"It was on," he told the court, explaining Agnes finally split with him in a text message.

He only turned up on the doorstep of her new home on October 24, 2014 to collect the money owed and not to harass her, Mangham claimed.

He agreed receiving a text from Agnes, which read: "This is harassment, I will report you to the police."

From that point on he said he had nothing more to do with her and the leaflets and junk mail must have been orchestrated by someone else.

He did admit reporting her to the benefits agency in November, 2014 and looking-up her new boyfriend's linkedIn page.

Shakespeare Restaurant Swan At The Globe Fined After 25 Diners Suffer Food Poisoning

Fine: Chris Wright

A landmark restaurant attached to Shakespeare's Globe theatre has been fined after twenty-five diners suffered food poisoning from undercooked roast beef.

The Swan at the Globe on London's Bankside was prosecuted by Southwark council after the customers experienced vomiting and diarrhoea.

At Croydon Magistrates Court the restaurant, which enjoys a £6-7 million annual turnover was fined a total of £1100, with £683 costs and was ordered to pay a £70 victim surcharge.

The restaurant's millionaire managing director, 52 year-old Christopher Diccon Wright, of Blaise Farm, Tower Hill, Offham, West Malling was in court.

The restaurant admitted three summonses relating to serving roast beef unsafe for human consumption; failing to have proper controls in place and failing to protect food from contamination between August 24 and 25, 2014.

Only one of the customers sought medical assistance and all the UK-based diners returned to the restaurant on invitation for a meal.

The restaurant reported the outbreak of food-poisoning to the local council when customers complained.

The Swan admitted the cooking time for some of the roast beef was insufficient.

The restaurant says it has paid £10m to the Globe Theatre over the last nine years, had enjoyed a five-star rating and the new owners invested £2.5m in a new kitchen.

Their lawyer, who refused to give his name, told the court: "It has a reputation to protect and is very keen to defend it. The restaurant is very sorry and it's reputation has not been dented."

District Judge Andrew Price announced: "The company has done everything it can to ensure this is not repeated and has achieved higher standards of food hygiene."

Fraudster Cheats Vulnerable Pensioners Out Of Savings: CCTV Released

Police hunting a cruel fraudster, who tricked bank details out of two OAP's and withdrew £2,890 of their savings, have released this CCTV image of their suspect.

On November 30, last year police were called at around 2.30pm to reports of a courier fraud at an address in London Road, Cheam.

At 9.15am, a man aged in his seventies received a call from a blocked number claiming they were from his bank.

The victim gave his bank details over the phone including his Personal Identification Number (PIN).

A courier later arrived and took his card away.

Only when the victim visited his bank was he made aware that he was a victim of courier fraud and £2,300 had been withdrawn from his account from two cash points in the bank.

CCTV from within the bank captured a man withdraw money from the victim's account at approximately 10.40am.

On the following day, December 1, last year at approximately 1.10pm an elderly woman in her late eighties from Netley Close in Cheam was tricked out of £590 in the same way.

An attempt was made on the card in the Game Store for a purchase over £1,000.

The bank declined the transaction.

CCTV in the Game Store captured the man try to make the purchase.

He is believed to be the same man.

The suspect is described as a white man, with short brown hair.

He was seen wearing a dark jacket, grey tracksuit trousers and boots.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who may recognise the man shown on CCTV.

High-Viz Sledgehammer Burglar Hunted By Police

A burglar disguised as a workman and armed with a sledgehammer tried to smash his way through a property's glass door during an early-morning break-in bid.

Wearing a high-viz jacket the would-be burglar was caught on CCTV at the address in Parmiter Street, Tower Hamlets, east London on November 16, last year.

Police were called at around 10.00am to a report of an attempted burglary, which occurred between 6.45am and 8.00am.

CCTV overlooking the entrance captured a man, in a high visibility jacket, use a sledge hammer to smash the glass door.

The same man is believed to have gained entry into the residential premises in the late evening of November 7.

The suspect is described as a man aged in his forties with short hair.

He is seen wearing a high visibility hooded jacket and dark coloured trousers.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who may recognise the man shown on CCTV.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police via 101 quoting reference number 200281 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Laptop Sneak Thief: CCTV Released

Police hunting a sneak-thief, who nicked a laptop from an east London florist's, have released this CCTV image of a suspect.

Detectives from Tower Hamlets are investigating the burglary and they wish to identify and speak with the unknown man in connection with the incident.

On October 6, last year police were called at around 1.25pm to a report of a burglary at a florist on Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green.

The burglary was reported to have occurred at some point between 1.25pm and 1.35pm that day.

A Sony laptop worth £500 was stolen.

The suspect was caught on CCTV entering the shop and walking around the store.

He then went upstairs to the first floor and left the flat minutes later.

The suspect is described as a man in his thirties with short hair and glasses.

He was wearing a black coat and jeans and was carrying a rucksack.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who may recognise the man shown on the CCTV.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1999962 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Carer Thieved £54K From Dementia Pensioner

A carer, who paid a gastric band bill and private school fees for her two children with some of the £54,000 she took from her 82 year-old dementia client, was jailed yesterday.

Single-mum Maria McCalla, 31, preyed on vulnerable pensioner Vera Haselden convincing her to write cheques in sums of£10,000 and £6,000.

On top of that she withdrew cash sums totalling £13,400 and £24,760 from an elderly woman whose dream of independent living was destroyed by the defendant.

McCalla, of Carolyn Road, Wembley received two years and eight months imprisonment at Harrow Crown Court.

She pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud regarding the cheques and two counts of theft between June 4 and August 10, 2014.

There will be no pursuit of Miss Haselden's money under the Proceeds of Crime Act after the prosecution decided there was no prospect of recovering any assets.

"I have heard about gastric band surgery, school fees, computer equipment, including an X-Box and brand-new clothes," said Recorder Andrew Hearn.

"The consequences for Miss Haselden have been enormous because she lived in fear of entering a care home and the whole point of employing you was so she could stay at home.

"She now has no capital and as a consequence has gone into a care home," he told the first-time offender. "She told the police she feels like she is in a prison, ending up where she did not want to be."

The court heard McCalla, whose 17 credit cards are all in the red, only began working for Miss Haselden two months before she started defrauding her.

"You became depressed, started gambling, and got yourself into money problems.

"You say Miss Haselden offered to lend you money and you took sixteen thousand pounds in loans, knowing you couldn't repay it.

"You stole further money from her, cash withdrawn over the bank counter when she was with you and cash withdrawals after she had given you her bank card and her PIN."

Eventually a suspicious bank employee tipped-off police, but McCalla denied stealing when questioned.

"You're attitude was that you had been given the money and were entitled to accept gifts."

McCalla's lawyer Mr. Malik Aldeiri agreed she initially denied the offences. "She was living in a bubble of false reality and denial.

'She felt like a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders when she confessed her mistakes. She took responsibility."

The court heard McCalla's children are aged eleven and six years-old. "She has told them everything to teach them the error of her ways and they are distraught.

"Her living conditions were poor with mould in the bathroom, a boiler that gave up in the winter, leaving her without heat and hot water and she had mice and pigeons in the loft."

McCalla receives Jobseekers Allowance, plus child benefit and has an income of £1,000 a month, which she said could be put towards compensation.

"She's is not living an extravagant lifestyle and comes away from this with no glory."

McCalla was also ordered to pay £500 costs.

Rookie Politico With Legal Ambitions Avoids Jail For Drug-Dealing

A young Labour politician - with ambitions to be a lawyer - avoided prison for drug-dealing after a judge decided not to ruin his bright future.

Student Firase Morgan, 25, of Rodmarton Street, Marylebone stood as the official Labour Party candidate for Hyde Park Ward in the City of Westminster council elections two years ago.

He was not elected a councillor and currently attends BPP University, where he is studying for an LLB law degree.

However, he was caught selling £40 worth of cannabis to a barmaid outside a Sloane Street pub and had another £1,120 worth of the drug hidden in the roof lining of his car.

Isleworth Crown Court Judge Robert Winstanley told Morgan: "You were playing a sophisticated part in a well-planned cannabis organisation.

"Because of your control of stock and commercial involvement you played a significant role.

"You are saved from a custodial sentence by three things: You have got problems and have done something to address them.

"You have pleaded guilty and your record does not help you, but it is seven or eight years since you were last involved, when you spent a period in custody for robbery.

"I'll give you this opportunity to pick things up in your life and continue with your studies and career ambitions and address your cannabis addiction."

Morgan was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 120 hours community service.  

He pleaded guilty to possessing 28 wraps of cannabis, with intent to supply, outside the Gloucester Pub, Sloane Street, Knightsbridge on March 5.

He also pleaded guilty to supplying a quantity of cannabis to a female member of the pub's staff.

Morgan is also a senior ambassador for charity Just for Kids Law and lobbies businesses to employ people with criminal records.

Prosecutor Miss Roxana Nasser told the court it was 4.30pm when plain-clothed police officers on routine patrol noticed a young woman running down the street.

"This young person ran to a cashpoint machine and dashed back to a pub where she works then dashes out to a car in a side street.

"Mr. Morgan is in the car and as the officers approach it they see the lady rush out with something.

"When they approached the car it smelled heavily of cannabis and when they searched it found twenty-eight white containers in the roof lining in a blue carrier bag."

Inside the two-and-a-half centimetre styrofoam condiment-style takeaway containers were small amounts of herbal cannabis.

The two Morgan sold the barmaid were in her room above the pub - which contained drug paraphernalia - and she said: "I bought the weed from the bloke in the car."

The barmaid had phoned a reliable number she knew and Morgan turned up.

Morgan's bedroom was also searched and police seized £1,000 cash, which they suspect is the proceeds of drug-dealing, but it will be returned to the defendant.

He claims it was his student finance and he had no other income.

Morgan received youth custody when convicted of robbery in 2008 and in 2009 received a suspended prison sentence for theft from the person.

His lawyer Miss Laura Miller told the court: "He played a limited role under direction with limited understanding of the operation.

"Since 2009 he has taken substantial steps to stay away from offending and has had assistance from 'Just for Kids' with education and housing.

"They placed him in a hostel and he moved away from his peer group."

Morgan's university knows about the two drug charges and have assured him he can continue a course that also includes a twelve-month partnership with Harvard.

"He's continued with his voluntary work with the charity, training solicitors and barristers through 'Just for Kids' to assist youngsters in youth courts.

"He attends a soup kitchen in Tottenham Court Road and assists.

"His depression and anxiety was exacerbated in the month before this offence when he started smoking cannabis and that led to these offences.

"He's ashamed of himself and feels he's let himself and others down, finding himself back before the courts.

"He intends taking a gap year from university to stabilise himself. Long-term he intends to work in the banking and finance industries.

"His career prospects will be effected by these convictions. The ramifications will be felt for him in the future if not his entire working life."  

Former Football Star Andy Roberts Denies Assaulting Wife

Former soccer star Andy Roberts has appeared in court, accused of assaulting his Footballer's Wives ex at his detached £1.8m home.

The 42 year-old ex-Millwall, Crystal Palace and Wimbledon midfielder of St. Paul's Cray Road, Chislehurst denies the charge.

He is accused of assaulting 42 year-old Lee-Anne Roberts at the five-bedroom property on April 9.

She was an advisor to ITV's Footballer's Wives drama and appeared in ten episodes of the show.

The court heard the pair have now split and are divorcing.

Dartford-born Andy is a former England Under-21 international whose various transfers between clubs totalled £4.25m.

He will return to the same court for trial on July 8.

Sky TV Pirate Set-Top Box Accused In Court

A man accused of making £19,200 from selling pirate set-top boxes to customers wanting cheaper Sky TV has appeared in court.

Scott Aldridge, 36, of Petersham Drive, Orpington allegedly sold the twelve-month subscription for £59.99 via eBay.

He did not indicate a plea at Bromley Magistrates Court.

Aldridge is charged that between September 27, 2014 and July 29, 2015 he supplied articles for use in fraud, namely satellite boxes and software.

He is also charged with concealing or transferring criminal property between the same dates.

Aldridge was bailed to appear for a preliminary hearing at Croydon Crown Court on May 25.