"Heartbroken" Musician Flouted Court Ban In Bid To Contact Ex

Court Date: Marc Eden 

A well-known Kent musician, left “heartbroken” after his younger model fiancé left him, persistently broke a non-contact court order as he sought an explanation.

Marc Eden, 47, frontman of The Peckham Cowboys, did not know his ex had booked herself into a drug rehabilitation clinic when she suddenly disappeared in April, last year.

On October 7 Croydon Family Court granted 27 year-old Georgia Seager-Hillier a non-molestation order, which prohibited the Margate-born singer contacting her.

Eden, of Granville House, Victoria Parade, Ramsgate pleaded guilty to five counts of breaching the order between December 1, last year and January 29.

He also admitted one count of harassing his ex's mother, 48 year-old Redhill sales executive Lynda Seager-Hillier between December 1, last year and January 30.

Last Friday at Croydon Magistrates Court he was placed on a community order for six months and ordered to complete 60 hours community service work.

Eden must also pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

The court heard Eden breached the order by trying to contact Georgia via her mother by sending her texts, a voicemail and a facebook messages.

He also posted pictures of Georgia on his facebook account, which was prohibited and harassed her mother by sending multiple unwanted facebook messages.

As Eden arrived at court he was served with a new two-year non-molestation order.

Break-Up: Georgia Seager-Hillier

“If he breaches it he faces up to five years in prison,” said his lawyer Mr. Oliver Kirk. “He was approached by a bailiff as he walked into court and was served with it today.

“He is an older man that fell in love with a younger woman and is heartbroken.

“She disappeared in April, last year and he did not know where she was until he discovered she was in drug rehabilitation while they were engaged.”

The court heard Georgia sent a message to Eden, which read: 'I'll be out of rehab and we will be back together soon.'

“The next thing he knew there was a non-molestation order and he wanted to hear form the horse's mouth why it was all over and knows he's been a pain in the neck.

“There has been no reocurrance since and he will go away with a flea in his ear knowing there is a new beefed-up order until 2019.

“He is currently on sick pay because he has been off work with stress and anxiety.

“He has never been before a court before and this, his first experience of the criminal justice system has been a salutary one indeed.

“When he surrendered himself at Croydon Police Station he found himself held in custody until appearing in court on Saturday morning.

“He has had quite a significant career as a musician and now works for MENCAP.

“As a result of this conviction conviction his employment may be reviewed because he works with vulnerable adults, teaching them music.

It may effect travel to the USA, where he has gone in the past to record with household names and under the current regime there may not be allowed in.”

EastEnders Star Beats Supercar Road Ban

EastEnders star Richard Blackwood has appeared in court and successfully overturned a ban after his £100,000 eco-friendly supercar was caught speeding on the M6.

The 44 year-old comedian, television presenter and musician, who plays Vincent Hubbard in the BBC soap, was found guilty last month of failing to say who was driving his white BMW i8.

On February 28 Birmingham Magistrates Court fined him £660, with £80 costs and ordered him to pay a £66 victim surcharge.

He was also disqualified from driving for six months after the vehicle was caught on camera on August 7, last year.

Blackwood, of Cavendish Road, Colliers Wood appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court to swear on oath he was unaware of the prosecution.

It will now be heard again on April 4 at Birmingham Magistrates Court.

Lorry Crash BMW Driver In Court On Cocaine Charge

A motorist accused of crashing head-on into a 7.5 ton lorry while four times the cocaine driving limit has appeared in court.

Duane Brown, 37, arrived in a wheelchair as he continues to recover from hip fractures and a serious injury to his left foot.

Brown, of 52 Haycroft Road, Surbiton is charged with driving his BMW with excess cocaine in his blood on September 17, last year in Leatherhead Road, Chessington.

He is also charged with driving dangerously and driving unfit through drugs at the same time.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court declined jurisdiction due to the seriousness of the case and Brown was bailed to appear at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on April 5.

Prosecutor Mr. Simon Maughan said it was 8.30am when a witness driving behind Brown saw him on the wrong side of the road.

After colliding with the Champion Timber lorry Brown was transferred to St. George’s Hospital, Tooting via helicopter air ambulance.

He had broken both hips and his left ankle.

The road was closed eight-and-a-half hours after the collision and police found a small snap-bag containing a white powder, which tested positive for cocaine.

Traces of morphine and ketamine were also found in his bloodstream, but may have been for medical reasons.

Brown has previous convictions for driving while disqualified and without insurance. 

Waitrose Overtime Scam: Employee Sentenced

Isleworth Crown Court

A Waitrose supermarket employee charged with fraudulently awarding £33,000 in overtime payments has received a suspended sentence.

Sanjay Bhatti, 27, of Greenford Road, Greenford was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty when he initially appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court to one count of fraud by false representation between March 1 and September 30, 2015.

Namely fraudulently authorising overtime payments at Waitrose with the intention of making a gain of £33,409.39.

Bhatti was committed to the crown court for sentencing due to the seriousness of the offence.

He received ten months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and was ordered to complete 200 hours community service work. 

Ex-Maths Teacher Convicted Of Molesting Schoolgirl In 1990's

A former maths teacher has been convicted of molesting a 15 year-old schoolgirl over two decades ago.

Anthony John Pryor, 73, of Maybank Gardens, Pinner taught at the local Northwood High School, Potter Street, Northwood.

He was convicted after a four-day trial at Isleworth Crown Court of one count of indecent assault in the early 1990's.

Pryor was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and ordered to pay £1,200 costs.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for seven years.

The former pupil came forward in 2014 and the offence was investigated by the Child Abuse Investigation Team from Hillingdon and Ealing boroughs.

Man Jailed For Heathrow Hotel Attack

Attack: Holiday Inn, Heathrow

A Mid Glamorgan man has been jailed for ten months after a violent attack at a Heathrow hotel.

Max James Patrick Kelly, 31, of Llwybr Y Coetir, Caerphilly was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court.

He was convicted of assault, causing actual bodily harm, to Sam O'Brien at Holiday Inn, Sipson Road,Sipson, West Drayton on April 6, last year.

Kelly pleaded guilty to the offence and the original more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Benefit Fraud Couple Enjoyed Secret "Dream" Life Of Luxury Cruises

Lisa & Andrew White 

A former civil service couple enjoyed luxury cruises to the Med and Caribbean during their “dream” life funded by a six-year £152,000 benefit fraud.

Ex-local government employees Lisa Annette White, 56, and Andrew Mark White, 56, ran two cafe’s and had a secret seafront apartment in Broadstairs, Kent, which they boasted of in a local magazine.

Investigators from the Royal Borough of Greenwich found footage of Mrs White dancing around The White House cafe to Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You.’

She was receiving disability payments after telling the council she needed oxygen tanks to aid her breathing, needed help dressing and a walking-stick indoors and a wheelchair outside.

Last week at Inner London Crown Court she sobbed throughout the thee-hour hearing and received 18 months imprisonment and her husband received nine months, suspended for two years.

“She’s dancing around. I can see why she’s happy, if I was getting money for nothing, I’d be happy,” said Judge Tudor Owen. 

White was captured on CCTV struggling with a walking stick when applying for a new council house at the council’s Woolwich Centre, but was enjoying her secret life on the south coast.

The couple own 30 Grand Mansions, 30 Queen’s Gardens, but Mrs White swindled the borough by claiming she shared a council flat with her 84 year-old mother in Teynham House, Alderwood Road, Eltham.

Mrs White pleaded guilty to nine counts of fraud; three of failing to notify a change in her medical circumstances and one count of money laundering.

Mr. White admitted one count of aiding and abetting his wife make a false representation to get on the council’s housing waiting list and laundering £12,800.

She claimed disability, based on obesity, in 1995, but after a gastric band op in 2005 her weight plunged from 27 stone to 13 stone.

However, she kept claiming Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Employment Support Allowance and her husband and sister Karen Taylor, 62, were her paid carers, with the council even giving her a disabled parking permit.

Her mother, Angela Dempsey, and Karen, of 49 Queen’s Head Street, Islington were charged with aiding and abetting fraud and money laundering respectively, but the prosecution offered no evidence against them.   

The couple bought the mansion block flat in 2007 and in 2009 Lisa was the highest bidder to take over the seafront Bandstand Kiosk, a cafe called ‘Beyond The Sea.’

“My dream by the age of fifty was to live in Grand Mansions and own the Bandstand Kiosk,” she cooed in a local magazine. “Both dreams have come true and I love it.”

An investigation was launched in June, 2014 because Andrew, her full-time carer, lived in Broadstairs, while Lisa claimed to reside in Eltham.

However, the council’s surveillance team filmed her loading up cafe stock from wholesalers, carrying shopping bags in Bluewater, carrying suitcases, serving customers and walking unaided.

Living The Dream: Secret Beachfront Apartment

The couple enjoyed five nights on the QE2 cruise liner; a 21-day Mediterranean cruise on the Queen Victoria; a £5,500 26-night Caribbean cruise on the Oceana and after their arrest a 28-night £9,000 New York and Caribbean cruise on the Queen Mary 2.

When arrested at a separate rented flat, 25 Grand Mansions, on September 28, 2015 Lisa claimed she did not live there and insisted she needed her walking stick, which was locked in her car a five-minute walk away.

“She was exhibiting extreme difficulty that the crown say was more acting,” said prosecutor Mr. James Fletcher. 

The couple met when working for Camden council and have two children, aged in their twenties and Mr. White has a background in physical education.

Andrew became a governor at St. Joseph’s primary school in Greenwich and they both receive pensions from their long civil service careers.

“Significant sums of money were defrauded from the taxpayer by you, Lisa White,” Judge Owen told her. “You claimed a variety of different benefits, representing you were disabled and needed care and support and were living in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

“The victims are people who pay tax that has been given to the likes of you in the form of benefits.

“You carried on this fraud for six years. You took advantage of the system.

“I am told by you that you are remorseful and I have no doubt you are sorry you were caught. I’m not convinced your remorse is genuine.

“Even after you were arrested you then went on a cruise, you both took a twenty-eight night cruise on the Queen Mary Two.

“You were cruising around the Caribbean, no doubt full of remorse. Of course not.

“You had a liking for the Caribbean. There was no reaction from you that: ‘The games up, let’s put money aside’ no, you were cruising around the Caribbean.

“You carried on this act that you had great difficulty walking, that you need your stick from the car and were struggling to walk, but there’s abundant evidence you weren’t in that condition at all.

“You made out you were much more disabled than you actually are, you seem to be struggling with every step, bravely soldiering on, barely able to walk.

“You were exaggerating your needs to cheat your way up the housing list. You wanted to get in front of other people by saying you had these great needs, everything you did was cheating.”

Cyclist Punched By Angry Driver Who Cut Him Up At Lights

Traffic Lights: Scene Of Attack

A road rage thug punched a cyclist who tapped on his window to complain about being cut-up at traffic lights.

James Ainscough, 41, was driving his mother's blue Honda Jazz when he jumped out shouting: “Don't fucking hit my car,” and threw a right-hander.

The punch connected with cyclist Alexander Storie Barr's right eye, injuring him and Ainscough then picked up the bike and shoved it against the cyclist, breaking the chain.

The jobless builder, of Park Crescent, Twickenham pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr. Storie Barr and causing criminal damage to his bike at the junction of Castelnau and Lonsdale Road, Barnes on August 1, last year.

Prosecutor Miss Ann Barrett told Wimbledon Magistrates Court: “The victim, Mr. Storie Barr, was riding his bike home from work and as he approached the junction to turn right the Honda pulled in front and cut him up.

“He tapped on the window and the defendant got out and threw his right fist, which connected with Mr. Storie Barr's right eye and he threw a punch in self-defence, hitting Ainscough on the chin.

“The defendant then picked-up the bike and pushed it against the victim then threw it to the ground, damaging it by breaking the chain.

“As Mr. Storie Barr walked away he was given a hard shove to the back of his left shoulder and was fearful he would be attacked again or run over.

A witness recorded the incident, which left Mr. Storie Barr with a bruised eye and a graze to his leg.”

Ainscough's lawyer claimed his client was not “habitually violent” despite the court hearing he had a conviction for assault in 1999.

“He was not out looking for trouble and had borrowed his mother's vehicle,” added the lawyer.

“There was a loud banging on the back of the vehicle and the cyclist moved the bike alongside the driver's door and was abusive.

“In his own words the red mist descended and he lost it and threw a punch and is ashamed and embarrassed.

“He has depression, is on medication and that day was a particularly low day.”

District Judge James Henderson told Ainscough: “It's an offence of road rage and you caused injury. It was a frightening experience and he was caused distress.”

Ainscough was fined £100, with £30 costs and ordered to pay the victim £100 compensation, plus a £30 victim surcharge. 

Woman Harassed Ex With Online Paedophile Claims

A woman falsely branded her ex-boyfriend as a child molester during online chat's with his father.

Melissa Watson, 47, of Abbot Gate, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk ended up being arrested and prosecuted for harassment after the month-long exchanges.

She fought the charge, but was convicted after a trial of harassment between June 9 and July 19, last year and is now banned from contacting the victims.

Bexley Magistrates Court heard the Facebook Messenger chats were motivated by “malice.”

She was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes a 30-day Thinking Skills programme and 15-days rehabilitation.

Watson was also ordered to pay £400 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

She was also placed under an indefinite restraining order not to contact the victim nor members of his family or attend an identified address.

Magistrate Miss Karla Lowe said: "It's serious enough to impose a community order," after being told there were "complex issues" and had been some legal argument earlier in the proceedings.

Prosecutor Sam Mitchell said: "There were aggravating features of publishing damaging information he was a paedophile causing him to be estranged from his employers and friends.

He had to have two weeks off work. They were false allegations on Facebook over a month.

"The judges at trial believed the victim's evidence and said malice was the motivation."

Watson's lawyer said there were a small number of communications over Facebook Messenger over a month.

The court heard their relationship broke up by mutual consent before she received information in April last year.

There was no planning, no communication with him.

Most of the contact was civil and when he asked her to stop making the allegations she did.

The lawyer said he was "reluctant to divulge too much of the personal circumstances," adding: "She works with the homeless on the streets by cutting their hair."

EastEnders' Star's Booze And Cannabis Row With Pregnant Teenage Daughter

Court Date: Gerry Cowper & Allec Foley

The pregnant teenage daughter of ex-EastEnders star Gerry Cowper spat in her mother’s hair and threw beer over her during a row over drinking and smoking cannabis.

The 18 year-old had been drinking through the night with her boyfriend at the family’s £1m home and reacted after Ms Cowper - who played Rosie Miller in the BBC soap - called her: “Disgusting.”

Student Allec Foley also smashed a front door glass pane and split a wooden fireplace, which she angrily shoved out of her way, during the heated row.

She was convicted at Wimbledon Magistrates Court of assaulting her mother, 58, on July 19, last year at 12 Saville Road, Twickenham and causing criminal damage to the pane and fireplace.

Foley received a twelve-month conditional discharge and magistrate Mr. Rod Wood told her: “Drink played a significant part in what happened.

“In an agitated state you pushed the fire surround and beer was thrown towards your mother and spit directed at your mother.”

Allec, who is due to give birth to a boy in six weeks, told the court: “I’d been drinking throughout the night and had an argument with my boyfriend about the pregnancy.

“My mum called me: ‘Disgusting’ and said I was smoking and drinking while pregnant and I said: ’That’s disgusting’ and spat.”

Gerry fled the four-bed house and called 999 from her car at 8am, also fearing for her daughter’s safety after she cut her wrist with a razor blade.

When quizzed by officers Allec said the row escalated when her mother snapped: “You’re still smoking weed. You’re disgusting.”

She told the court she broke the glass a couple of days earlier when trying to get her sister to answer the door. “I was really intoxicated at this point and my hand went through the glass and was bleeding.”

Allec claimed the spiting incident was accidental. “There was never any point that I intended that, she was halfway down the stairs.

“The beer was a gesture, there was no intention to get it out of the bottle. In anger I threw my arm and the beer did go over the wall and floor.”

Despite complaining about her daughter to police Gerry tried to get her off in court and even made a withdrawal statement. “I did not dream for one second the next step would be this.

“She was on the floor crying and was quite distressed. The pregnancy was fresh in my mind and we got into a verbal exchange about that.

“I said: ‘Oh, are you keeping it are you?’ which upset Allec quite a lot.”

At one point Allec hid in a cupboard and told her mother to: “F*** off,” and they had another “screaming match” the day before, the court heard.

Police Called To Saville Road House

“She was very concerned and very distressed and on this morning she attempted self-harm and took some tablets. I saw the fresh blood and said: ‘I need to call you an ambulance’.

“At the bottom of the stairs something wet hit my back. I thought I had sticky beer in my hair.

“They said: ‘We’re charging your daughter’ and I said: ‘You’re joking.’

“I never supported this prosecution. I never wanted a prosecution to come from what I said, I was misled.”

PC Scott Brodie said: “Ms Cowper was outside in her car distressed, very upset and it was hard for her to get her words out.

“She told me her daughter had thrown beer at her and spat in her hair and there was a lot of beer on the wall and the top she was wearing was soaked-through at the back.

“The house was very messy and untidy and the fireplace looked like it had been tipped upside down in the hall.” 

  

Fulham-born Geraldine ‘Gerry’ Cowper appeared in the soap between 2004 to 2006.

Her late twin sister Jackie Cowper, who died aged just thirty-six, was also an actress, whose credits included ‘Birds of a Feather’ and ‘The Bill’.

In her early twenties Gerry played Jim Hacker’s daughter Lucy in ‘Yes Minister’ and also appeared in ’Only Fools and Horses’; ‘The Bill’; ‘Casualty’ and Law & Order: UK’.

She also has credits in 1970’s cult movies ‘Frenzy’ and ‘The Wicker Man’.

Her younger sister Nicola Cowper, 48, also appeared in Eastenders as recurring character Gina Williams.

The sisters had long-term relationships with bank-robbing accomplices Mark Foley, 56, and Tony McCann, 57, who snatched £9,000 from a branch of Lloyds Bank in 1988.

Foley received 14 years and McCann 15 years.

In 2006 ex-boxer Foley received a life sentence for robbing a Surbiton Unwins off-licence while wearing a black curly wig and holding a gun to the cashier’s head.

He and an accomplice fled with £181 cash and £1,000 worth of cigarettes and alcohol.

He was also suspected of slashing a barman’s face in Spain two years earlier

Geraldine has split with Foley, Allec’s father, and McCann is serving a life sentence - with a 21-year minimum - for murdering a 33 year-old man he stabbed to death in 2006.

Stalker Stared At Schoolgirl From Car

A creepy stalker was caught after his 14 year-old girl victim woke from a nightmare and told her mother about him staring at her from his car as she walked to school.

Palbin Gurung, 31, spent months parking his vehicle on her Twickenham route, driving from junction to junction to get ahead of her and watch as she passed by.

Gurung, of Harlington Road East, Feltham pleaded guilty to stalking, which involved serious harm or distress, between June 1 and November 30, last year.

He will return to Wimbledon Magistrates Court on March 14 for sentencing after the preparation of a probation pre-sentence report.

Prosecutor Miss Mary Atere told the court: “This relates to the stalking of the victim, who was fourteen years-old at the time.

“She says she noticed the defendant following her in his car on her normal route to and from school.

“She was wearing school uniform and it was obvious she was of school age.

“The defendant would drive up to the next junction and park his vehicle and constantly stare and follow her with his eyes.

“He did not get out of the vehicle and he would smile at her on some occasions.

“She changed her route to school to avoid certain roads and there were times she did not want to go to school or leave the house.

“It only came to light when she had a nightmare about the defendant and woke at 2am and told her mother.

“Her step-father then followed her to school and took the vehicle’s registration number.”

This helped police trace and arrest Gurung, who told them: “I admit I have been waiting along the route. I have no intention of scaring her or her family or doing it again.”

Miss Atere added: “He ignores the obvious distress to the victim and the fact she changes her normal route.

“He has frightened her and has had an impact on her. She has had nightmares about this defendant.”

Fashion Grad's Dancefloor Stiletto Stamp During Barstool Row

Stiletto: Shaw-Grant

A fashion graduate stamped on another woman with her stiletto heel when the petite victim was thrown to the floor at a Kensington club during a St. Valentine’s Day bar stool row.

Jadine Kimberley Shaw-Grant, 33, inflicted a cut to the thigh and foot of City accounts executive Alejandra Millan-Doussin, 39, who also suffered a bloody nose at Kensington Roof Gardens on February 14, last year.

Shaw-Grant, of Ladbrook Close, Ashgrove Road, Bromley, denied, but was convicted at Hammersmith Magistrates Court of assaulting Mrs Millan-Doussin.

On Tuesday she was placed on a six-month community order and must obey an evening home curfew for ten weeks between 8.30pm and 6am.

She was also banned from pubs and clubs for four months and ordered to pay Mrs Millan-Doussin £100 compensation and £400 court costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

“She was shouting and was aggressive,” said Mrs Millan-Doussin, who was drinking champagne at the club with her husband Alexis Doussin, 34.

“They took the stool and when I went to ask them for it they were aggressive,” she added, explaining Shaw-Grant was backed-up by another woman and a man. 

The club’s CCTV captured the melee as the couple disappeared to the floor beneath a number of people, with Shaw-Grant clearly making a stamping-motion at the prone victim.

Alejandra Millan-Doussin & Alexis Doussin 

“I blacked-out, I did not feel anything, it was scary. I couldn’t move,” added Mrs Millan-Doussin, a senior executive payroll executive with global accountancy giants Moore Stephens.  

Her husband was also knocked to the dance floor and witnessed the attack on his wife. “She was lying on the floor, taking punches and kicks.”

Shaw-Grant has a degree in Fashion Buying and Brand Management from Ravensbourne - formerly the Bromley College of Art, whose famous alumni include the late David Bowie and designers Stella McCartney and Bruce Oldfield.

Prosecutor Mr. Manjit Mahal told the court: “There was a dispute between Miss Shaw-Grant and the complainant over a bar stool in the club.

“A female from the defendant’s group walked up to the complainant in an aggressive and confrontational manner and heated words are exchanged.

“A male from Miss Shaw-Grant’s party gets involved and the complainant starts backing off to avoid confrontation.

“Miss Shaw-Grant and her group then launch an attack on the complainant and her husband.

“The complainant is thrown to the floor along with her husband and while on the floor she’s assaulted.

“She grabs the hair of someone in self preservation.

“Miss Shaw-Grant comes up and deliberately stamps on the victim while she is on the floor and she sustains an injury and is taken to hospital.

“She suffered injuries to her face and to her leg, which she says is the result of a female’s heel.”

Shaw-Grant was convicted on the basis of inflicting the injuries to Mrs Millan-Doussin’s thigh and foot.

Police traced her to her home address. “She says she only kicked the victim to force her to release her grip on her friend’s hair.” 

Her male friend, who could be seen throwing punches was cautioned by the police.

District Judge Richard Inyendo said: “At least one of the injuries was caused by a stiletto and drink was clearly involved.

“I could be justified in imposing a custodial sentence today, but I don’t think that’s fair on you because after the trial you were told a community order was being considered,” he told Shaw-Grant.

“You involved yourself in violence that was sustained. You should have stopped and thought before carrying-on.

“The lady suffered injuries as a result of what you did to her, kicking and stamping on her while she was on the floor.”

After the sentencing Mrs Millan-Doussin said: “I am so amazed and grateful with the police for all their effort and hard work during the investigation.”

Regarding Shaw-Grant she added: “I don’t want to cause any damage to the person that attacked me. I only wish her well.”

Red Light Cyclist Caught With Drugs

A young cyclist, who was pulled over by police for jumping a red light, had cannabis and ecstacy on him.

Lukas Audickas, 22, of Dixon Court, Canonbury Road, Islington was stopped on his bike in nearby Islington Green.

He appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court, where he contested knowingly having the ecstasy, and a date was fixed for the trial.

Audickas pleaded guilty to possessing a small quantity of cannabis on October 5, but denied one charge of possessing MDMA – better known as 'e'.

He claims he does not know how the ecstacy ended up in his pocket.

Audickas was conditionally discharged for twelve months and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

A forfeiture order was made to destroy the drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Wine Thief Nicked £1,795 Bottle From Harrods

A Harrods shoplifter with expensive tastes walked out of the department store with a £1,795 bottle of red wine.

Gevorg Harutyunyan, 41, of Salamanca Place, Kennington used a carrier bag from another respected retailer – Waitrose – to cover his crime.

Today at Hammersmith Magistrates Court he was placed on probation for twelve months and ordered to complete 80 hours community service.

It was his second shoplifting offence in five months and he breached a twelve-month conditional discharge when nicking the wine.

Harutyunyan pleaded guilty to stealing the bottle from the store on February 9.

Prosecutor Miss Denise Johnson told the court the defendant concealed the wine within the carrier bag and left without making any attempt to pay.

When stopped outside by security he apologised for what he had done.

“At the police station he was asked if he was under the influence of drink or drugs and said: 'No.' and said he felt ashamed of himself as a result of the incident.”

Harutyunyan, who has to obey immigration reporting conditions and is disqualified from working or claiming benefits, claims it was an “impulsive” act.

He claimed he did not know the value of the wine and wandered into the shop with a friend after shopping at Waitrose.

Harutyunyan has two sisters in the UK, but is too ashamed to tell them about the theft.

“It is the second time you have been shoplifting and that aggravates the situation you are in,” District Judge Richard Inyendo told him.

“The other aggravating factor is the high value of the item you stole.”

Harutyunyan was also fined £50 for breaching the conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Council Highways Expert Convicted Of Drunken Midnight Street Attack

Guilty: Richard Hamilton

A local government officer attacked a stranger in the street during a drunken midnight confrontation following a boozy leaving do.

Highways engineer Richard Hamilton, 48, who is employed by the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames bashed the architectural assistant's head against the pavement.

Civil engineer Hamilton, of Stoneydeep, Twickenham Road, Teddington, denied, but was convicted of assaulting 25 year-old Lucas Docherty.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard it was 12.30am on October 15, last year when Hamilton, who was walking along Twickenham Road with a pint glass in his hand, bumped into Mr. Docherty.

“I had just got out of a cab and was walking towards my house and was approached by someone and bumped into,” he told the court.

“It was almost on purpose and whether it was aggressive or due to alcohol, I don't know.

“I asked him if he was alright and he said something about not knowing where he was and was trying to get home.”

Mr. Docherty offered to help and began walking Hamilton to the nearest bus stop.

“He had a pint glass in his hand and I asked where he got it from and he tried to put it over the top of my head.

“He came behind me as if he was trying to hit my head. He sat on me and was repeatedly bashing my head against the pavement.

Attacked: Lucas Doherty

“There was around twenty hits on the pavement and I thought this could really do some damage.”

Fortunately police saw the assault and intervened.

“He was sitting on me when the police arrived and I had a bit of blood coming from the back of my head and there was a gash.”

Earlier that day Hamilton had visited the Institution of Civil Engineers and attended a Richmond function, where he consumed approximately six pints and a measure of whiskey.

He claimed Mr. Docherty was the aggressor and denied bumping into the victim.

He claimed the victim followed him and confronted him with the words: “Have you got a problem?”

He denied hitting Mr. Docherty with the pint glass, insisting he had to pin him to the floor to protect himself.

Police said Hamilton was “swaying” and had to lean against the police car to remain upright.

He told the officers he felt threatened by Mr. Docherty and held him to the floor in self-defence.

The magistrates found the £37,000 a year highways expert guilty of the street attack and conditionally discharged him for two years.

Hamilton was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to Mr. Docherty, £500 court costs and a £20 victim surcharge.