Park Rape Investigation: CCTV Image Released

Police are hunting this suspect after a 59 year-old woman claims she was raped in a west London park in the early hours of the morning.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences Exploitation & Child Abuse Command are appealing for the public’s help to identify the man.

At approximately 3.40am on Sunday, July 10, last year a group of friends were walking along James Street, Hounslow, towards Inwood Park.

As they neared the park they heard sounds that suggested someone needed help.

The friends climbed into the park and found the woman, who stated she had been raped.

Police were called to the park and an investigation was started.

As part of that investigation officers have carried out an extensive trawl of local CCTV.

Detectives have recovered CCTV from the nearby High Street, Hounslow, which shows the woman heading inside a cab office.

At approximately 1115am, CCTV shows her leaving the cab office and walking along Hanworth Road towards the park with an unknown man.

The man is described as approximately 6ft tall, clean shaven with short dark hair.

Anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV or has any information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Film School Burglary: CCTV Image Released

Police hunting a burglar, who nicked a £2,000 laptop from a private film school in east London, have released this CCTV image of their suspect.

He walked into the Central Film School, Universal House, Wentworth Street, Whitechapel between 6.00pm and 6.45pm on July 26, last year.

CCTV in the stairwell caught the moment the suspect walked into the building and left with a rectangular object in his hand.

He is described as a slim, tanned man, aged in his late twenties with short black curly hair with white dye on top.

He was wearing a white T-shirt with a blue Adidas logo on it and grey trousers.

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

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

Man Knocked Unconscious Outside East London Pub: CCTV Released

Police hunting a drinker who left a man out cold and with cuts to his head outside an east London pub have released this CCTV image of their suspect.

On July 11, last year officers were called to the report of an assault outside The Goose public house, Broadway, Stratford at 10.00pm.

An ambulance crew were already at the scene treating an unconscious 41 year-old man.

CCTV enquiries identified this suspect outside the pub, matching the description given by the victim.

The suspect is described as a white man in his thirties with short brown hair wearing a plain dark blue T-shirt, grey trousers and white shoes.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who may recognise him.

Contact officers on 101 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Investors Defrauded Of £7.7M During Rare Earth Metals Swindle

Christopher Sabin & Tobias Ridpath

Four businessmen plotted together to dupe investors into handing over £7.7m in savings and pensions for so-called precious metals worth a fraction of the price, a court heard today.

Using a misleading website and inaccurate glossy brochure they either cold-called customers with scripted patter or placed ads offering the opportunity to purchase supposedly lucrative metals vital to 80% of the world’s industry.

They are: Christopher Sabin, 43, of Eyot House, Church Street, Shoreham, Sevenoaks.

Tobias Ridpath, 52, of Wellington Square, Hastings.

Nicholas Start, 35, of Spencer Close, Pamber Heath, Tadley, Hampshire.

William Berkeley, 52, of Barrington Court, Chichester Terrace, Horsham.

All four have pleaded not guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court to conspiring to defraud investors by making false representations.

Sabin and Ridpath, who the prosecution say established the scheme have also pleaded not guilty to money laundering.

Prosecutor Mr. David Durose told jurors Denver Trading - started by Sabin and Ridpath -  was run from a short-term £860 per month office in the City.

The court was told Start headed a “prolific” brokerage - London Commodity Markets - and Berkeley took over the Swiss branch of the business after the original director quit, claiming the business “stank horribly.”

One typical investor, Cecil McMurray, invested £243,000. “He lost a vast amount of money.”

Another client bought 100 kilos of rare metals in September, 2012 for £39,000 and two-and-a-half years later that investment was worth £285.

Nicholas Start 

The investors did not know approximately 50% of the money they handed over immediately went to the company as a sales commission - halving the investment, the jury were told.

“Not one of them have made a penny and they have lost pension pots and life savings. The losses are in the millions and millions of pounds.

“They were duped into investing,” explained Mr. Durose, who said the fraud lasted approximately one year from Spring, 2012.

Investors were wooed with promises of returns on investments in Rare Earth Metals and Rare Earth Elements, which were vital in engineering and manufacturing.

The court heard Sabin and Ridpath founded the company in the Seychelles on February 23, 2013 and quickly gave it the trappings of a successful business.

“This was all to give legitimacy to a dishonest enterprise. These investors were being ripped-off.

“The huge commissions are utterly inconsistent with any legitimate investments.

“Purchasers were not told about the size of the commissions and some were lied to.”

Only around 15%-20% of investors money ever went towards buying the rare metals.

William Berkeley

“There is no resale market for these metals. They were almost useless as an investment.”

The price of such metals has been falling since 2011, added Mr. Durose. “The investors were blatantly lied to.”

Sabin and Ridpath hid behind a nominee director and nominee shareholder and when later quizzed by police claimed they were no more than business development managers and did not run the company.

Their website developer also quit his involvement in November, 2012, unimpressed by Sabin and Ridpath.

By then there were 1900 customer contracts on the system and dozens of sales staff selling rare metals to investors.

Customer were told their investment would double or triple over three to five years, with Denver Trading’s commission a modest 5%.

One investor was even promised a 1000% return in five years, but he and other customers were paying a five-fold mark-up.

The jury heard £5.6m ended up in a Cypriot bank account controlled by Sabin and Ridpath.

The trial is expected to last three months…………

Notorious Thief Nicked From Men Near Landmark Gay Nightclub

A notorious thief, who preys on gay men and is banned from every public toilet in central London, has been jailed for targeting victim's near the famous Heaven nightclub.

Charles Lee Omishore, 36, who conveniently lives in social housing in the heart of the West End in Peabody Buildings, Drury Lane nicked a wallet and iPhone from two men.

The crack addict was served with a five-year ASBO in February, 2013 prohibiting him from public lavatories after a spate of pick-pocketing while engaged in sexual activity with his victims.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court charged with stealing a green wallet and contents and the mobile phone in Villiers Street, Charing Cross on December 16, last year.

Omishore was also charged with breaching his Anti-Social Behaviour Order and was jailed for twenty-eight weeks.

He has preyed on Soho and the West End's gay community for over a decade and the ASBO covered Westminster and part of Camden.

Omishore is believed to have many victims who never came forward and he also stole from them in clubs, bars and even the Hyde Park rose garden.

Carer Jailed For Stealing £171K From 95 Year-Old

A council-funded carer, who stole £171,000 from a vulnerable 95 year-old pensioner, has been jailed for two years and four months.

Nazneen Chattun, 55, cashed 71 cheques and obtained Power of Attorney, which gave her control of OAP Eileen Layton’s bank accounts.

“You came to realise quickly she was to be an excellent source of money for your needs and you started to steal from her for a sustained period,” Isleworth Crown Court Recorder Edward Jenkins QC told her.

“You acted in breach of trust of your employers and the trust society has placed in you as a carer.”

First-time offender Chattun, of Biscoe Close, Hounslow denied, but was convicted of three counts of theft totalling £171,455 between June 30 and August 21, 2013.

She gave £8,388 of Eileen’s money to her children and police fortunately restrained £130,000 in her bank account.

Mauritius-born Chattun was paid by Hounslow Council to provide care to Eileen at her home in The Drive, Isleworth.  

Hounslow social services became involved after Eileen was taken to West Middlesex Hospital’s casualty department on February 10, 2012.

They discovered she had been neglecting herself and living in sub-standard conditions.

There was no heating in the house, it leaked and she was not eating or cleaning herself properly.

Eileen gave evidence to the jury via video link, but mostly answered: “I don’t know” and: “I can’t remember” to questions.

She had lived alone for fifty years and said of Chattun: “I don’t know much about Naz. She’s someone that used to pop in every other day.

“She used to do a bit of shopping sometimes if I ever wanted any bread or whatever and sit and talk. I didn’t take much notice.

“I don’t have a lot of money surely?” said Eileen, explaining her working life was spent at a Waterloo restaurant owned by her father.

Recorder Jenkins told Chattun: “You fought the case and now at last changed your view and accepted responsibility.

“You may have been two solitary people who found some form of company and you saw this as a form of escapism rather than pure greed.

“You needed to take further steps to control her money and you got Power of Attorney over her financial affairs, showing a level of persistence and considerable sophistication.” 

Chattun’s lawyer Mr. Edward Henry said: “She will be broken if you send her to custody today. There are other ways she can be punished and helped.”

Junkie's Northern Clean-Up

A drug-user, who moved to Cumbria in an attempt to get clean, has been sentenced for walking into a petrol station stockroom and stealing £1200 worth of cigarettes during his days of addiction.

Terry John Lewis, 36, of Moss Bay Road, Workington was only identified months later via CCTV and immediately confessed.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates Court to burgling Beeches Express Station, Gordon Road, Carshalton on June 19, last year.

Prosecutor Miss Jackie Hughes told the court: “A large number of cigarettes were discovered missing by the owner.

“He viewed the CCTV and saw the defendant in the station during opening hours go through the stockroom door and take the cigarettes.”

Lewis, who has fifty-one previous convictions, was on bail at the time of the offence and two days later received a community order.

He has even offended since moving to Cumbria when he was caught shoplifting, but insisted this had nothing to do with his addiction.

“That wasn't for drugs, my benefits hadn't come through,” he told the court. “I've had a long history of drug use and stole the cigarettes to fund the habit.

“I've moved up north, I've moved away and got my own place and I'm trying my hardest to stay out of trouble and since I've moved it's worked.

“I've been clean for seven months, I'm on a prescription of subutex and methadone.

“It's working. So far, so good and I'd appreciate it if you did not put me in prison.”

Lewis was placed on a new six-month community order, with a twenty day activity requirement and was ordered to pay £1200 compensation and an £85 victim surcharge.

“In terms of our guidelines you should really be going to prison,” magistrate Mr. Don McKerrow told him.

“You have moved, you are doing well on your drug rehabilitation requirement and we don't want to upset that.

“Happily you are continuing to get support and making progress, but if things go wrong it's going to be very difficult for a court to keep you out of prison.

“We're impressed by the progress you have made and that's why we're being lenient.”

Fan Flogged Forged Passes To Supporters For Crystal Palace v Chelsea Match

A football fan was caught cashing in by selling forged BT Sport passes to desperate supporters outside a sold-out Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

Manchester City supporter Martin Joseph Keane, 59, had acquired the passes during a previous visit to Selhurst Park, following his own team.

Jobless Keane, of Ashley Court, Ashley Court Drive, Manchester was spotted by security staff ushering in fans to the £45-a seat main stand shortly before kick-off.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates Court to fraud by false representation on December 17, last year, namely selling the forged passes for £90 each and entering the stadium for free himself.

He also admitted possessing an article for use in fraud, namely a forged BT sports pass and an expired Invictus Games pass and possessing criminal property, namely a fraudulent BT Sports pass.

Prosecutor Miss Jackie Hughes told the court Keane aroused suspicion by entering and then leaving the ground.

“He was seen talking to some supporters and then seen walking back towards the ground, where the security officer lost sight of him near entrance H.

“Staff at the entrance said he had led three people in with the passes.”

Keane was stopped outside and was found with five forged BT Sport passes on him and an Invictus Games pass, which had expired on January of that year. 

“He said he approached two people and offered each pass for ninety pounds, but did not know they were false.

“He said he knew it was wrong, but was desperate for money, was in financial trouble and living with a friend.”

Keane, has previous convictions for deception and shoplifting, had £350 cash on him, which has been confiscated by the police.

His lawyer Mr. Nicholas Robinshaw said: “He’d come into possession of these passes the previous October when he was in London to watch Crystal Palace play Manchester City, he is a Manchester City supporter.

“He did not know they were fake, he thought they were genuine.”

Keane says he happened to be in London for Christmas and travelled to the ground because it was a big game.

“It was an opportunistic incident and he accepts he made a gain, but it was not substantial.

“He was in financial difficulties at the time, he is not in work due to significant health problems.

“He has not worked for some time and has been living off savings. It was very foolish and won’t happen again.”

Keane was fined £150, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge.

Magistrate Mr. Don McKerrow told him: “Fraud is always serious, but it is a while since you have been in trouble and you are not working and therefore have limited income and savings.”

Lithuanian Women Accused Of Jetting-In Brides During £315K Sham Marriage Visa Plot

Lina Kezelyte & Valentina Kezeliene

A gang of Lithuanian women - headed by a daughter and her mother - flew in brides to marry Indian and Pakistani men in a £315,000 sham marriage visa plot, a court heard.

A total of twenty-six bogus marriages have been identified in which young Lithuanian women were booked on flights with budget airline Wizz Air and flown to Luton Airport from Vilnius, the jury were told.

Sometimes the marriage ceremony at a London-area registry office would take place the following day, with the bride returning home alone shortly after.

The grooms were often illegal overstayers, who had exhausted every legal means to remain and should have returned to their home countries.

The five woman have all pleaded not guilty at to conspiring together between February 1, 2012 and August 28, 2014 to assist unlawful immigration by arranging the marriages and assisting the grooms.

They all also deny money laundering between the same dates, namely converting criminal property, the sham marriage fees.

They are: Lina Kezelyte, 32, and her mother Valentina Kezeliene, 53, of Warmwell Avenue, Colindale.

Beata Jarmolovic, 28, of Park Barn Drive, Guildford.

Renata Semasko, 29, of The Oaks, Aldershot Road, Guildford.

Ruta Sperskaite, 25, of Vanderville Gardens, East Finchley.

Beata Jarmolovic & Ruta Sperskaite

A sixth defendant, Mohemmed Jemaldeen, 33, of Turner Road, Edgware, who is accused of providing the grooms, faces the same two counts, but is absent from the trial.

Prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Polnay told Croydon Crown Court that as members of the EU spouses of Lithuanian nationals have the right to permanently live and work in the UK.

“This case is about the subversion of that right for profit, to the detriment of those that play by the rules, by arranging sham marriages to fool the authorities into allowing the grooms to remain in the UK.

“This conspiracy was to help non-EU national men to live and work in the UK via a sham marriage.

“They managed, in some cases, to fool the Home Office and other public bodies the marriages were genuine.”

Even when a visa application was rightly denied, the jury heard appeals to the Home Office were successful, with the grooms being allowed to stay as a legal spouse.

Remata Semasko

“These six defendants were involved in arranging these marriages, setting them up and running the show.

“Many of the grooms were desperate. They had already tried and failed to stay in the UK.”

The bogus brides were paid a fee and shown how to apply for a National Insurance number as soon as they arrived, which proved they were exercising their EU treaty rights.

The jury were told Lina Kezelyte was the “ringleader” who recruited most of the brides and her mother booked flights and helped launder the profits.

“The other defendants assisted in moving around the money and helped out at the weddings themselves,” explained Mr. Polnay.

Ceremonies took place in registry offices from Camberley, Surrey to Enfield, north London.

Investigators discovered that during the period of the conspiracy Lina received £315,376 into her five bank accounts, with £99,496 of it in cash.

She declared to HMRC she was earning an annual salary of £36,000.

“There is cash swilling around, a lot of it.”

The trial is expected to last seven weeks………….

Young Woman Sexually Assaulted After Pride In London

A Middle-Eastern sexual predator became aggressive and molester a young woman after she became separated from friends after the Pride in London event.

This CCTV image of the suspect running from Covent Garden has been released by the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command.

On Sunday, June 26, at around 1.20am, a 24-year-old woman was befriended by the suspect after finding herself alone.

The man became aggressive towards her and sexually assaulted her in Bracknell Street.

The woman fought back and he ran off and was captured on CCTV running in the direction of High Holborn.

The man is described as white, with tanned skin, aged between 30 and 40 years-old, 5ft 11ins tall with dark hair.

He spoke with a strong middle eastern accent and was wearing a distinctive camouflage tracksuit.

Detective Constable Ben Lucas said: "I am really keen to identify and trace this man so we can progress our enquiries and bring the perpetrator to justice.

“The victim had been out with friends celebrating Pride in London.

“This should have been a happy day but instead she found herself the victim of an appalling sexual assault which has left her frightened and traumatised.

"If you know this man please get in touch with us."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police via 101 quoting reference MetCU 217567or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Violent Thug Attacks Plumber Who Refused Him A Lift

A plumber was attacked in the doorway of a customer's house by a violent passer-by demanding an early-hours lift from the tradesman.

This CCTV image of the suspected thug has been released by police in east London investigating the attack.

The 46 year-old victim was repeatedly punched in the face and had two windows of his vehicle smashed during the 2am confrontation.

On Sunday May 1, last year the plumber was sitting in his vehicle, which was parked in Findon Gardens, Rainham.

He was approached by a man who opened the passenger side door and asked to be taken to an address.

The victim explained that he was not a taxi driver and refused to give the male a lift.

The suspect then became aggressive and the victim, fearing for his safety, left his car to go inside the customer's address.

The victim entered the customer's address but the suspect pursued him and forced his foot in the door preventing it from being shut.

The suspect then assaulted the victim by striking him a number of times in the face before fleeing.

As he passed the victim's car, he smashed two windows before making off in the direction of Wennington Road.

The suspect is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall of slim build.

He was wearing a blue baseball cap, light grey/dark coloured hooded top underneath, black gloves, dark coloured trousers and dark coloured trainers.

He was also seen to carry a black man bag over his shoulder.

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

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Constable Raheel Sarwar from Havering Police on 01708 779155 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Retired Nurse Targeted By Heartless Thieves

Suspect In Victim's Bank

Police are hunting two despicable thieves, who slashed a retired nurse's shopping trolley to steal £5,000, after distracting her by feigning illness.

The 78 year-old victim went to the thief's aid when she collapsed by her side and this distraction technique allowed the accomplice to snatch the savings.

On Thursday, July 21, at around 1.00pm the victim went into Lloyds TSB bank in Brixton and withdrew the cash to give to her family following the death of a relative.

She left the bank and walked down Coldharbour Lane towards Atlantic road and Brixton's indoor market in Market Row.

She was being followed by the two women thieves, who were believed to have been in the bank at the same time.

The victim stopped at butchers Dombey Meats in Brixton market, where one of the women had then pretended to fall ill.

As the victim went to the aid of the woman her accomplice took the opportunity to cut the victim's shopping trolley with a knife and take the cash from inside.

The victim was unaware and continued shopping, only later discovering a vertical incision through the fabric of the bag, where her cash was stored.

WPC Susan Nash said: "This is a horrible crime that has left the victim stripped of her independence.

"She's now afraid to leave the house, scared she could be followed again.

“This is a victim who gave her life to caring for others as a nurse, who wanted to use some of her life savings to help her family.

“We urge anyone who has any information to get in touch."

Officers are keen to speak to the suspect, who is described as an Asian woman in her twenties with dark clothing and a dark head scarf.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who may recognise or witness the woman shown on the CCTV image or who was shopping at Dombey Meats that day.

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

Bus Stop Flasher: Do You Know This Creep?

Police are hunting this suspected flasher, who exposed himself to a woman at a north London bus stop.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Roads and Transport Policing Command head the enquiry.

They have released this image of a man they would like to speak to who maybe able to assist with their enquiries.

On Monday, March 7, last year in Finchley Road, Golders Green the suspect indecently exposed himself to a female at the bus stop.

On Thursday, March 24, in Finchley Road, East Finchley, the suspect was seen by police officers acting suspiciously at a bus stop.

He then ran off from the officers.

Five days later, on Tuesday, March 29, whilst at East Finchley ‘Stop E’ on the High Road, the man ran from police officers after he was seen dropping bed pillows by a stream.

On this occasion, he was not seen to have committed any offences.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Roads and Transport Policing Command on 07500 60 7652 or via 101.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 55 111.

Sloane Shoplifter Sentenced For Thieving From High-End Stores

A high-end shoplifter, who donned a fur coat to blend into her exclusive surroundings as she swiped valuable jewellery from stores near her £2m Sloane Street apartment, has been sentenced.

Privately-educated housewife Jutta Curatolo, 52, of Grosvenor Court targeted Harvey Nichols, Liberty, Dolce & Gabbana and Basia Zarzycka.

The San Francisco native, who attended the city's Catholic St. Mary's College would specifically select gold and diamond jewellery for closer inspection before stealing it.

The mother-of-two, who lives with her 49 year-old husband pleaded guilty to stealing a £2,450 pattern ring with blue stone from Dolce & Gabbana's Sloane Street store on November 17, last year.

She also admitted stealing a Marco Bicego silver and gold ring, worth £2,260 from Harvey Nichols and Co, Knightsbridge on November 28.

Curatolo further admitted stealing a 'Dusty Diamonds' 18ct gold bangle, with 23 grey diamonds, worth £4,200 from Liberty's in the West End on January 7, this year.

Curatolo also pleaded guilty to stealing a £500 pearl tiara and a pearl necklace with antique silver cross, worth £800 from Sloane Square's Basia Zarzycka.

She was fined £250 on each count of theft and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge when she appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court.

The magistrates heard long-term alcoholic Curatolo is currently attending AA meetings daily and a private psychotherapist weekly.

Prosecutor Miss Aislinn Rice told the court first-time offender Curatolo walked into Dole & Gabbana at 2.19pm and asked to see the ring.

"A staff member took it out and once their back was turned the defendant concealed it in her hand and dropped it into the pocket of her fur coat then tells staff she needs to pick-up her children."

She struck at Harvey Nichols - which has since banned her - at 4.16pm. "She placed a large soft toy on the counter and asked staff about a ring.

"She placed it on her right hand and while staff were away for thirty seconds she picked-up the stuffed toy with the ring still on her hand and left.

"Staff pressed the alarm, but the defendant had already left."

Curatolo - who has a background in design - denies the cuddly toy was a blocking tactic, insisting she innocently bought it earlier at a Winter Wonderland fair.

At 12.45pm she visited Liberty, near Oxford Circus and asked to see various items. "She attempted to conceal two pieces in her hand and was asked for them back, but staff had not noticed a third piece."

Curatolo learned police were onto her and gave herself up at Notting Hill Police Station, where she confessed to the fourth theft.

All the jewellery was returned, bar the Harvey Nichols ring, which the defendant then paid for.

"She said she suffers from alcoholism, depression, anxiety and is bipolar and suffers blackouts and commits offences while drunk," explained Miss Rice.

"She said she was embarrassed for what she had done and sometimes remembers and sometimes has no recollection.

"She said she did not know why she took them and did not always like the items.

"The crown say there is an element of planning and distraction techniques, like the cuddly toy and she waits for staff to be distracted and targets high-value items."

Her lawyer Miss Ranjeet Dulay told the court: "This is a drunken lady, who at the time committed offences that were compulsive on her part. She's been an alcoholic for years.

“There was not a significant degree of planning. In these moments she was very drunk.

"The defendant is genuinely remorseful  and this lady has sought to address the reasons why she is here today, she has a troubled history with a history of mental health issues."

Curatolo has a son aged twenty-one and a twelve year-old daughter and her relationship with them is strained by her problems, the court heard.

The lawyer also talked of a "failing marriage" and "eating disorders" and near-fatal skin condition contributing to her client's situation.

She receives a disability allowance from the USA as a result of being prescribed incorrect medication and her husband takes care of all the bills.

"She has no intention of finding herself in trouble again and she has not been back to any of these places to commit offences."