Suspended Sentence For Stalker Who "Meowed" Through Keira Knightley's Letterbox

Keira: "Worst Nightmare"

An oddball fan of Hollywood actress Keira Knightley, who “meowed” through the letterbox of her £3.9m north London home, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Wannabe musician Mark Edmund Revill, 49, of Glebe Road, Hackney also posted notes and sketches until he was finally chased away by the star’s husband.

He pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court to stalking the The Pirates of the Caribbean, Atonement, and Imitation Game star between August 1 and October 22.

Revill, who has expressed his love for the actress, was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months.

He was also prohibited from contacting her for an indefinite period and banned from going within 100 metres from her Islington home.

The court heard a statement from the star, who said: “I’m scared every time I go outside,” describing potential harm to her 18 month-old daughter Edie as her “worst nightmare.”

She added: “We loved living in this borough. My family enjoyed visiting local shops and playing in local parks and being close to the heartbeat of London.

“We are now looking to move house outside the borough. We had hoped our child would go to school here.

“When I return home I have to look behind me, concerned I don’t know who might be in the shadows.”   

He persistently visited the five-bedroom 2,800 square foot house in the Canonbury conservation area, even chalking an arrow on the pavement toward’s Keira’s front door.

The 31 year-old Teddington-born star shares the home with husband, former Klaxons musician James Righton, 33, and Edie.

Revill: Convicted Flasher

“It’s a celebrity stalking case. Keira Knightley is a well-known Hollywood actress and this defendant has developed an infatuation and embarked on a course of conduct,” said prosecutor Miss Simma Khan.

“Once the conduct made her become uncomfortable she felt unsafe.” Lawyers warned Revill to stop pestering the star, but were ignored.

“He’s using chalk and drawing on the pavement and there is an arrow pointing to the front door and he is personally delivering letters to the address.

“He lifted up the letterbox and started making ‘meowing’ sounds.”

The final incident ended with husband James confronting Revill, who has a conviction for flashing a female hospital worker he became obsessed with.

“Keira Knightley’s husband gives chase, telling this defendant off about his behaviour.

“It’s made the victim uncomfortable,” added Miss Khan, explaining the actress watched Revill chalking outside her home for an hour.

Regarding the hand-delivered messages she said: “One is a postcard with three cats winking and attached is a USB containing music about cats, which is odd.”

Keira’s mother revealed she had kept two more notes that were hand-delivered a secret to spare her daughter even more anxiety.

“It was the same handwriting, same unusual content that happened before. She did not tell her because she did not want to cause alarm and stress.”

One note read: ‘Have you listened my music?’ “As the complainant’s husband is a musician maybe that was for his benefit.”

Refill, who has previously received mental health treatment, has been in custody since arrested and Miss Khan added: “He said in open court he was in love with the victim.

“He made an admission to the officer that he was infatuated.”

Refill’s lawyer Mr. Bharat Gupta told the court his client did not receive any warnings from Keira’s lawyers. “Mr. Revill doesn’t agree with everything in the Crown’s case.

“It was in August when he first saw her and realises she lives there. He was just passing and found out where she lives.

“He himself is a music composer and on the day of his arrest he was playing guitar at home.

“His main purpose was to promote his music and there’s an attraction there as well as there is for many men.”

At one time the Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated actress was reportedly the second highest-paid actress in Hollywood and she has been plagued by at least six stalkers.

Cash Snatched By Knifeman: CCTV Released

Police are hunting this suspect after a knife-point robbery at a Wandsworth convenience store in south-west London.

Detectives have issued this CCTV image of a man they wish to identify and speak to in connection with the incident.

On Friday June 17, police were called at around 11.35pm to a report of a robbery at the Imran Mini Market on Battersea Park Road.

The robbery was committed at 11.20pm and a quantity of cash was stolen.

CCTV footage from within the shop caught the suspect walk in brandishing a knife in his right hand before threatening a 37-year-old member of staff who was behind the counter.

The staff member refused to hand over any cash, so the suspect went behind the counter and grabbed the coins left on top of the till before running out of the shop.

The suspect is described as a medium built white man, aged in his twenties.

He was wearing a grey hooded Adidas tracksuit top, black trousers and white trainers.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who may recognise the man shown in the footage.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police via 101 quoting reference number 216810 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Bank Customer Attacked In Street: Woman Robber Hunted

Police are hunting a female mugger after a 68 year-old man was knocked to the ground and had cash he'd withdrawn from a bank snatched.

Police in Haringey have released this image of a woman they would like to speak to in connection with the robbery, which left the victim suffering a hip injury.

On Friday, February 5 at 1.00pm, the victim was walking along Tottenham High Road, Tottenham, having used a cash machine inside Santander bank, Fore Street.

The victim was unaware he had been spotted by a woman inside the bank who followed him along the High Road.

As he approached Langhedge Lane, the woman pounced from behind and pushed him to the ground, taking the money from his jacket pocket.

The victim sustained an injury to his hip as a result of robbery and was taken by London Ambulance Service to a north London hospital where he was later discharged.

The suspect is described as a black woman, possibly of mixed race, aged around 40 to 45 years-old and was seen wearing a long dark jacket.

Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident is urged to call Haringey CID on 0203 276 3087 or via 101. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Curry House Sex Assault: Waiter Wanted

A curry house waiter is being hunted by police after a young woman collecting a late-night takeaway was molested outside the restaurant.

The sexual assault took place on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at about 10.30pm outside the Prithi Bangladeshi and Indian restaurant in Ewell Road, Surbiton, Kingston-upon-Thames.

The 22-year-old victim was visiting the restaurant to collect a take-away meal.

As she left the restaurant the suspect, who was working as a waiter, sexually assaulted her.

The suspect is described as aged in his 30s and may be known as either Mohammed Sala Huddin Ahmed or Moyen Qureshi.

He is a Bangladeshi male, about 5ft 3inches tall with short, dark hair.

Detective Constable Iain Millar of Kingston CID said: "We continue to appeal to trace this man and believe he may now be working in the Cambridge area.

“He has worked in numerous restaurants and also has links to the Thames Valley area and the West Midlands.

“I would appeal to anyone who recognises this man, or knows where he is, to contact police.”

If anyone has seen the suspect or has any information on his whereabouts, please contact Detective Constable Millar of Kingston CID on 101 quoting reference CRIS 0410433/13.

To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Knifeman's Attack On Shopkeeper And Son

A knifeman, who held a large blade to the throats of a shopkeeper and his teenage son, is being hunted by the police.

This CCTV image of the suspect has been released by officers based in Hillingdon Borough, west London.

On Saturday, May 14, police were called at around 10.35pm to a report of a robbery at Taal Food and Wine in Field End Road, Ruislip.

CCTV footage taken from within the shop captured images of the suspect attacking the 49-year-old shop owner and his teenage son with a large kitchen knife whilst demanding money from the till.

A struggle broke out behind the confined space of the counter where the shopkeeper sustained serious lacerations to his hands as he tried to protect both himself and defend his young son, who had been pinned down in the corner of the shop.

The suspect held the knife to the shop keeper's throat and then to the teenage boy's throat, when he tried to escape.

The victim was taken to a west London hospital for treatment before he was later discharged.

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

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Peter Boyd on 020 8246 1732, quoting reference 0909609/16 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Ex-Conservative Leader And Home Secretary Lord Michael Howard Convicted After Car Caught Speeding

Lord & Lady Howard Arriving At Court

Former Tory leader Michael Howard has been convicted of failing to say who was driving his car when it was caught by a speed camera.

Lord Howard, 75, and his wife Sandra, 76, both claimed either could have been driving their Toyota Prius, which was clocked at 37.3 mph in a 30mph zone.

The former Home Secretary and Leader of the Opposition was fined £900, with £625 costs, plus a £90 victim surcharge and received six penalty points on his driving licence.

The couple admit one of them was behind the wheel of the car as it sped along Lewisham Way, south east London on January 24.

Lord and Lady Howard, a novelist and ex-model, were returning from a weekend at their Kent home in his former constituency of Folkestone and Hythe to their Westminster address.

Lord Howard, of Alderney Street was convicted of failing to give information relating to the identification of a vehicle to the Metropolitan Police.

Prosecutor Mr. Andrew Perry told Wimbledon Magistrates Court: “Shrugging your shoulders and saying: ‘I can’t remember’ is not enough.

“He said: ‘It could be me, it could be my wife. We make that journey regularly and we can’t remember who was driving.”

Lord Howard fought the case and even called his wife as a witness to back up his account.

“When I’m with my wife, which is regularly, we have no regular routine,” the QC said from the witness box. 

“We were driving back from Kent, a journey we make very regularly and who drives depends on circumstances of whether one of us is tired, has work to do or is reading.

“We have a home in Kent where we go for weekends in my former constituency.”

When asked again if he recalled who was driving Lord Howard said: “I very much wish that I did, unfortunately I don’t.”

Because the couple were holidaying in Grenada they did not receive the notification letter until over three weeks after the speeding offence.

“I tried as hard as I could to remember who was driving. It was almost a month before. I simply couldn’t remember.

“Neither of us has any desire to escape the consequences of our actions. I couldn’t truthfully complete the form.”

He has three points on his licence for speeding in 2014 and Lady Howard has an old conviction for the same offence.

“I have no incentive to dissemble about this matter. I’d rather the driver was identified.

“We frequently change over during the course of the journey. It’s a sixty-five mile journey.”

Lady Howard told the court: “We were not trying to hide anything. We simply couldn’t remember.”

District Judge Barbara Barnes did not criticise the couple’s evidence, describing them both as “credible.”

She added: “The defendant did speak to his wife to try and remember who was driving. They did rack their brains.”

However, Lord Howard should have initially given full details of who the other driver could have been, including name, age and address, rather than simply saying his ‘wife.’

“At no stage did the defendant provide the particulars of his wife in his letter. To simply refer to his ‘wife’ does not provide sufficient information.  

“The reasonable diligence has not been made out and I’m not in a position to give any credit since there was no plea of guilty.”

Afterwards Lord Howard said: “I intend to appeal.”

Rugby Star Landed Boozy Blow After Night's Drinking

Newcastle Falcons rugby star Dan Temm punched a man to the floor and tried to stamp on him during a drunken night out.

The six feet four, sixteen stone flanker, 25, got caught up in early hours violence in Wimbledon Broadway, south-west London. 

New Zealand-born Temm, of Featherstone Grove, Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour, with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence, on July 11. 

Prosecutor Miss Frances Lockhart told the court it was 4am when a CCTV operator recorded potential trouble.

“Mr. Tamm was in Wimbledon Broadway after a night out drinking and got involved in an argument and punches were thrown by another man towards him.

“Mr. Tamm stepped away and offered no violence and then a third person attempted to neutralise the situation.

“The defendant then punched this third person in the face and knocked him to the ground.

“While on the ground Mr. Tamm attempted to stamp on him.”

Two police officers witnessed him decking the man. PC Greg Barnett said in a statement: “I saw a man pull his arm back and punch another male, knocking him to the floor. 

“He tried to kick the man in the head, who was lying in the middle of the road.” 

“I saw a white male in a black and grey top throw another man to the floor and repeatedly try to kick him in the head,” noted WPC Michaela Pearce.

It is not the first time Temm, who ended up playing professional rugby in the Aviva Premiership after initially coming to the UK to play cricket, has used violence in this country.

The court heard he was convicted of battery in June, last year, when he was conditionally discharged for three months.

Mr. Mark Haslam, defending, said: “The man who was hit gets up almost immediately afterwards and never gives a statement and there is no evidence he ever had an injury.

“He made numerous attempts to avoid physical violence by backing away,” said the lawyer of the Falcons rugby 7s captain.

“The defendant seeks on numerous occasions to avoid confrontation, but overreacts after a long period of provocation.”

Mr. Haslam viewed CCTV of the incident at Sutton Police Station: “The defendant can be seen making strenuous efforts not to get involved.

“He runs backwards for a minute ducking and weaving and on two occasions Mr. Tamm was put to the ground and kicked while on the ground.

“The events began earlier at 3.45am. There is a dispute between two groups of young men and the aggression from the outset came from the other group.

“He unfortunately retaliated after the violent pursuit of him and the provocation.

“He accepts he had been drinking, but there is nothing to say he was fighting drunk.”

Magistrate Ms. Vanessa Weguelin told Temm: “You were involved in a very unpleasant melee. We accept it was long and sustained and you did try and extricate yourself.”

He was fined £350, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £35 victim surcharge.

Stalker Harassed MP Stella Creasy With Violent Imagery

Stalker: Loughlin

A feminist, who bombarded Labour MP Stella Creasy with such violent imagery for twenty-one months the politician feared for the safety of herself and her family, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Stalker Corinna Anne Loughlin, 44, turned up at an anti-rape rally the MP participated in and would email her about events she attended and what she was wearing.

She is now also banned from contacting Ms Creasy after Hendon Magistrates Court made her subject to an indefinite restraining order.

Loughlin, of Kemp, The Concourse, Colindale pleaded guilty to stalking the MP between January 1, 2015 and September 16, this year.

She was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

The court heard Ms Creasy, the MP for Walthamstow, was bombarded with emails and letters at her Waltham Forest Labour Party Office.

MP: Stella Creasy

Loughlin told the police she began emailing the Sutton Coldfield-born politician in support of her campaign to have author Jane Austen on the back of the new £5 note, but the communication got out of hand.

“The complainant Stella Creasy began receiving emails from Corinna Loughlin approximately two years ago and they came from different email addresses,” said prosecutor Miss Balbir Suri.

“The emails caused concern due to the nature of the language and the content, which included delusional thoughts about harming other people.

“The MP received emails almost everyday and sometimes five or six a day and they often contained abusive language towards other public figures.

“She also described Ms Creasy’s public appearances and what she was wearing, making the MP believe she was monitoring her closely.”

Death threats were made about well-known individuals, including musician Mark Ronson, and Loughlin also wrote: “I really need some f***ing money.”

She turned her attention to another individual she described as a: “Fat ugly queer.”

The MP never replied, hoping to discourage Loughlin, but the emails torrent continued.

“She felt harassed by the sheer number of emails and distressed by the violent language,” added Miss Suri.

Loughlin went to a rally outside the Indian embassy in June, which the MP also attended. 

“Loughlin began sending emails mentioning other members of Ms Creasy’s family she had met outside the embassy.

“Ms Creasy felt Loughlin was fixated on her life and family and was a person with violent tendencies who may attend her office or other events, making her feel vulnerable.”

She was arrested on September 16. “She apologised and said she meant Stella Creasy no harm.

“She said she had followed Ms Creasy’s because she was a feminist, as she was, and would now follow a real feminist, Theresa May.

“It is clear to see the escalation of the stalking and the nature of these messages were clearly disturbing.”

In a statement to police the MP said: “She was delusional about harming other people and made me fear for my safety. The language used was distressing.”

Her lawyer told the court: “She was suffering from a breakdown.

“She was clearly not herself and this morning she found it very, very difficult and finds this embarrassing.

“She is remorseful and the court needs to know her state of mind and what she was suffering.

“Looking back now she is upset that she would do that.”

NOT GUILTY: BBC Operation Yewtree Suspect Cleared By Jury Of Sex Charges

An Arabic interpreter for the BBC’s World Service, accused of subjecting an 18 year-old secretary to a daily ordeal of sexual abuse during the eighties, has been acquitted.

Walid Moussa, 76, was employed within the corporation’s International Broadcasting and Audience Research Department at Queens House, Kingsway, Holborn.

“It didn’t happen once, but daily for almost a year,” prosecutor Mr. Subhankar Banerjee told Harrow Crown Court. “The assaults took place while she was working at the BBC.”

The defence suggested the complaint was motivated by the woman’s desire for financial compensation.

She told the jury during her evidence she did not know Moussa’s behaviour amounted to sexual abuse at the time.

It was the teen’s first job and she told the court: “He seemed a nice friendly man, which made me think he was a nice person.

“After a couple of months he asked me questions about my sex life and showed me pictures of women, some topless or in bikinis and asked me if I would pose in the same manner.

“I was taken aback. I didn’t have a sex life, I didn’t believe in sex before marriage.

“It had been quite a nice job to begin with and I wasn’t enjoying going to work anymore.

“It got worse. He came around his desk and before I knew anything he was in front of me putting his hand down my top.

“I felt incredibly scared, I couldn’t move, I was incredibly shocked. I can only describe it as groping and I felt like it was forever.

“He told me I was a mere secretary and he was an Arabic translator and it would be much easier to replace me than him.

“I knew there were tears rolling down my face and I composed myself before seeing the other staff. Obviously I didn’t want to create a big fuss.

“I believed I’d be labelled a troublemaker and wouldn’t be able to get a job.”

On one occasion the abuse escalated, she claimed. “He put his hand up my skirt and it happened one time because after that I always wore trousers.”

It was only after publicity surrounding the Jimmy Savile scandal that the woman reported father-of-two Moussa to police and she was interviewed by Operation Yewtree officers.

Describing the first incident Mr. Banerjee said: “The defendant suddenly got up and came around the desk and put his hand inside her blouse and bra and fondled her breast.

“She remembers freezing in shock,” he added, explaining: “This groping continued until she left the BBC in July, 1984.

“She did not report what happened because she was frightened of losing her job.”

It was only on her last day of work she reported Moussa to two supervisors, but the defendant’s career went from strength to strength.

“This defendant went onto work for the government and was vetted to the highest possible standard and there was no suggestion of sexual impropriety during that vetting procedure.”

Moussa, of Fursby Avenue, West Finchley was found not guilty of four counts of indecently assaulting the woman between July 17, 1983 and July 7, 1984.

NOT GUILTY: Lodger Innocent Of Blackmail Charge

A lodger, accused of terrorising his landlady with violent threats against her family to blackmail her out of £2,700, has been acquitted after a three day trial.

Luke John Ottaway, 48, of 26 Broomfield Road, Welwyn claimed her was an ex-jailbird vigilante, who was pursued by gangsters for debts and would use violence himself, the court heard.

He pleaded not guilty to one count of making an unwarranted demand for money, with menaces, from the grandmother at her home in Ravenscar Road, Surbiton, south-west London.

She told Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Ottaway claimed he had cancer and had split from his demanding wife when she rented him a £75 a week room at her home from June 7 to July 21, last year. 

However, during the trial the jury heard the complainant had considered dropping the charge at one point.

Ottaway maintained his innocence from the start of the investigation.

Street Drinker Caught On Thameside CCTV Killing Female Duck

A street drinker caught on CCTV killing a female duck he tempted with bread on the bank of the Thames has appeared in court.

A council operator filmed a group sitting by Richmond Riverside near Heron Square and captured the moment the wild bird was killed with a twist of her neck.

Robert Lyle Muir, 49, who lives in digs in Sandycombe Road, North Sheen appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court and will fight the charge.

He was investigated by the Metropolitan Police’s Wildlife Crime Unit and will return to court for trial on January 30.

Muir pleaded not guilty to killing a wild bird, namely a female mallard, contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

He was with a group of drinkers being monitored by council-operated CCTV when the female duck and her male mate flew across the river towards them. 

Muir grabbed the bird and appeared to twist her neck, then grab a second time, apparently to finish her off.

The remains were tossed into a nearby bin and a female member of the drinking group was seen fleeing in disgust.

The seemingly healthy duck was probably collecting food for her young at that time of year.

Muir is denying the charge based on the only possible defence available to him, namely that the bird was injured and suffering and he was carrying-out a mercy killing.

Mother And Daughter Deny Racially-Abusing Doctor Neighbour

Rosa & Rebecca Rahman

A mother and daughter, accused of racially abusing a doctor at a neighbouring medical practice, have appeared in court.

Rosa Rahman, 75, and Rebecca Rahman, 45, both of Balham Park Road, Balham deny the charges, which allegedly occurred between June 25 and August 23.

Both Rosa and Rebecca pleaded not guilty to harassing Dr. Mathiaparanam Sreetharan, of the Sai Medical Centre with verbal abuse and a notice.

Rosa is accused of using the words “die” and “b****** bleeding country dry.”

Both have also pleaded not guilty to using racially-aggravated threatening behaviour towards the doctor on June 30 and a lesser charge of threatening behaviour.

Rosa denies assaulting the doctor on July 5 and Rebecca denies assaulting him on July 26.

They were both bailed to return for trial on January 27.

Anti-Racism Musician Denies "House Negro" Charge

An anti-racism campaigner shouted: “Here comes the house negro” when a black PCSO tried to stop a fellow-musician busking in the street.

Alavi Dowie, 49, of 19 Singleton Court, Chapel Street, Blackpool admits using the words, but insists there was no racist intent, merely a reflection of his own heritage.

He has pleaded not guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court to racially aggravated threatening behaviour in Camden High Street on July 14.

Dowie organised the Music Against Hate Crime programme at the Z-Arts Centre, Hulme last year after he was called a “black b******” when busking in Blackpool.

The court heard the PCSO was on duty near Camden Underground Station last summer, looking for a homeless man she assisted earlier.

The officer approached the white female busker, who was entertaining a crowd of people in a prohibited area.

As she did Dowie shouted: “Here comes the house negro,” continuing to repeat the statement despite being asked to stop.

As the officer spoke to the busker Dowie continued repeating the words and the police were called and he was arrested.

The court heard the PCSO was “distressed” by the defendant’s behaviour, which she took as racial abuse against herself, with onlookers said to be “shocked.”

When quizzed by police Dowie put an alternative spin on the words, claiming he asked: “Why are you behaving like a house negro?”

In court he explained: “Society may wish to obliterate history, but that is my history. Slavery.

“I can ask if of the police because they are in a position of power and are policing me in a certain way.”

The trial was adjourned until next year.

What A Pain: Chiropractor To The Stars Thumped Motorist During Road-Rage Commute

Punch: van Schalkwyk

A chiropractor to the stars, who has treated One Direction’s Liam Payne at his private clinic, punched a driver in the face during a road-rage confrontation after warning: “I will f*** you up.”

Dr. Robert van Schalkwyk, 43, sent the victim’s specs flying across the inside of his vehicle after becoming angry about being cut-up during his early-morning motorbike commute.

He is the owner of FulhamBackCare, based at the Chelsea & Fulham Chiropractic Centre, Parsons Green, where he’s also seen singers Dido, Holly Jonson and Danii Minogue.

At Croydon Magistrates Court on Wednesday he was convicted of assaulting Francesco Rucco in Green Lane, Sutton and was conditionally discharged for eighteen months.

He was riding his powerful 1200cc motorbike from his £800,00 five-bedroom home at 28 Heatherlea Grove, Worcester Park to the clinic at 7.15am on May 27.

“He cut off my line of traffic and I was forced onto the opposite side of the road to avoid getting hit,” van Schalkwyk told the court. “Facing oncoming traffic made me scared basically.

“I hooted to let him know of my presence and he gave me a two fingers up sign and it went through my head he was a dangerous driver.”

At traffic lights the doctor tapped on Mr. Rucco’s window and the driver opened it halfway.

“He said: ‘I will f*** you up’ and he punched me, he punched me with the right hand,” the victim told the magistrates.

Rucco: Specs Sent Flying

“I was wearing glasses and they were knocked off onto the other seat,” added Mr. Rucco, denying he flicked the v-sign or made “donkey” noises towards van Schalkwyk.

He took himself to hospital, suffering pain to his nose and the right side of his face.

An eye-witness confirmed the doctor threw a punch through the open window and made contact with the driver, but van Schalkwyk claimed he was merely shaking his fist.

He rode off after the attack, but the witness had filmed his bike’s number plate and he was traced.

Father-of-two van Schalkwyk claimed: “I wanted to make him aware he almost knocked me down back at that junction.

“He started shouting back that it was my fault and that I was clearly speeding. He was angry.

“I was a bit emotional and did ask him if he was: ‘f***ed up.’ I was expecting an apology.”

He was also ordered to pay £625 costs and a £30 victim surcharge and bench chairman Richard Gould told him: “Regardless of what happened that day it could have been avoided.

“I am sure you will leave today having learned when and when not to engage.”

Lodger Denies Blackmailing His Landlady

A lodger terrorised his landlady with violent threats against her family while blackmailing her out of £2,700, a jury were told yesterday.

Luke John Ottaway, 48, of Broomfield Road, Welwyn claimed he was an ex-jailbird vigilante, who was pursued by gangsters for debts and would use violence himself, the court heard.

He has pleaded not guilty to one count of making an unwarranted demand for money, with menaces, from the grandmother at her home in Ravenscar Road, Surbiton, south-west London.

She told Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Ottaway claimed he had cancer and had split from his demanding wife when she rented him a £75 a week room at her home from June 7 to July 21, last year. 

The grandmother, giving evidence from behind a screen, said Ottaway did not pay a penny in rent and even failed to honour a compromise of £10-£20 a week for bills.

“He was so open, so chatty, so friendly that I agreed to rent the room to him,” she explained, but did not charge him anything up front.

“I did not want to push him. This gentleman told me he had cancer so I wasn’t going to be ruthless and demand money.

“He was very flirtatious with me, trying to butter me up and saying how lovely I was and what a nice person I was. I let my guard down.”

She said Ottaway claimed to own two companies, had lost £47,000 since leaving his wife, but had money stashed in a safety deposit.

“He asked me for a loan within a week and a day of moving in,” she explained, but quickly discovered he used the £1,700 to recover his expensive Rolex watch from a Welwyn pawnbroker.

“I was furious and swore at him and he said the Rolex was a sentimental present from when he was working close protection for the Saudi royal family.”

She thought the cash was going to pay off gangsters. “He had hinted there were people after him and he had been part of a vigilante group and someone was after him for money.

“He said he owed a debt to a gang member and they would come after him and hurt him. They would come to my door because they could track him down.”

Ottaway then claimed he was a man of violence, she claimed. “He said he had no inhibitions about nail-gunning people to doors and breaking their legs.

“He said he had served four-and-a-half years for aiding and abetting the kidnapping of a woman and that he was a dangerous sociopath that people should not cross.”

Ottaway’s demands for more money continued, the court heard. “At the time I was petrified, I was scared that if I did not get the money something would happen to me.

“I was a vulnerable woman living on my own and my head was reeling from the demands that were coming for money so myself or him wouldn’t get injured from this gang.”

She said Ottaway once put a hunting-knife to her throat. “He said: ‘I could easily stab you, but I’m only joking.’ My heart was racing.”

The woman borrowed from her brother and gave Ottaway another £1,000, but things became even more sinister when she demanded it back, she explained.

“He said: ‘When people don’t do what I ask them to do I target my family.’

“I said: ‘Stay away from my son and my grandson.’

“After that I made every excuse for my grandson, who is two-and-a-half, not to be in my flat,” she added, in tears.

“I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to my grandson. I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown at this point, I couldn’t deal with it.

“I was in a state of shock and easily manipulated.”

Trial continues………….