Motorist Accused Of Insurance Scam Jailed

Isleworth Crown Court

A motorist charged with inventing a fake knifepoint kidnap story to help an insurance claim has been jailed for eight months.

Suresh Parmar, 41, of Falcon House, Town Lane, Staines-upon-Thames was also accused of being under the influence of cocaine when driving his Audi A6.

He was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court.

Parmar was originally charged with fraud by false representation, namely between April 2 and June 16, 2015 claimed he was kidnapped at kinifepoint, intending to make a gain, namely an insurance claim.

He was also charged with driving the vehicle with an excess level of cocaine in his bloodstream and driving while unfit through drugs in car park of Holiday Inn, North End Road, West Kensington.  

Free-Spending Finance Chief Nicked Half A Million From Events Company

"Greedy": Gwenda Hussey

The “greedy and selfish” financial controller of a global events management agency, who swindled the company out of over half a million pounds, has been jailed for five years.

Mum-of-three Gwenda Hussey, 53, of Ty Mawr, Llanellen, Abergavenny started off as a book keeper at Q2Q Communications, based at Westminster House, Kew Road, Richmond-upon-Thames.

However, over a period of five years she transferred an average of £2,000 per week into her own bank accounts to pay off store and credit cards.

She says she became addicted to shopping to deal with family stresses, but the only major purchase investigators found was £9,800 on a new kitchen, plus a £25,000 gift to her husband.

Hussey was convicted after a four-day trial of one count of fraud by abuse of position between May 1, 2010 and November 30, 2015, with intent to make a gain, namely £544,040.01p.

She fought the case, claiming her bank account must have been hacked, but now accepts her guilt, saying she could not face up to the shame of admitting she was a fraudster in front of her children, all in their early twenties and one a schoolteacher.

The family’s old Richmond home in south-west London has been sold for approximately £500,000 and Hussey’s 50% share will go towards compensating Q2Q. 

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard £12,000 has been recovered so far, with Hussey claiming the family had been £80,000 in debt.

Caught: Hussey

She admits “living beyond her means” and treating her family to holidays with the company’s money, explaining her youngest son’s nervous breakdown, aged 14, was the trigger to the offending.

“You were convicted by the jury on overwhelming evidence,” Recorder Ann Mulligan told Hussey, who was pay paid £765 per week by Q2Q, after starting there in January 2008.

“That renumeration was insufficient for your purposes and you alone with the three directors had access to the company’s online bank account and over five years you made regular and often substantial transfers into your own account.

“During those years it was obvious you lived well, well, well beyond your means.”

Q2Q’s MD Matt Ridler gave a victim impact statement. “He expresses astonishment at the extent of your greed and selfishness.

“You were aware that the company went through some difficult times, but you ignored that an syphoned the money away.”  

Hussey’s lawyer Mr. Rag Chand told the court: “She simply buried her head in the sand and found it difficult to address the problems in her life.

“She sought to solve those problems through shopping, extensive shopping.”

TV Production Specialist Streaked In Deserted Car Park Late One Night

The stressed manager of a television production company that provides tech support to the BBC and Sky Sports stripped naked in a deserted car park to “feel cold air on his skin.”

Steven Richard Barclay, 38, drove late one night to the deserted business park, but did not know motion-detector CCTV cameras captured his bizarre strip show.

He is a fibre optics specialist for NEP Broadcasting and travels abroad extensively covering events.

Barclay, who lives in a £1.2m home at Claremont Road, Teddington pleaded guilty to outraging public decency and was conditionally discharged for 18 months.

He attended £14,700-a year Halliford School, Shepperton and is a graduate of Kingston University.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard on Thursday Barclay drove to Teddington Business Park at 11.00pm on March 11.

“The owner of the venue was alerted on his phone that one of the security cameras was triggered by sensor motion,” explained prosecutor Miss Caroline Mungal.

“The camera shows an Alfa Romeo car and a man, the defendant, getting out naked.

“There were two females walking nearby who did not appear to notice him as there was a wall between them.”

Barclay was seen to relieve himself in the car park. “He walked back to the vehicle naked and drove off.”

He was traced via the car’s number plate and arrested.

Barclay’s lawyer Mr. Chris Coss told the court: “He was under an overwhelming level of stress and unable to cope drove to this deserted car park.

“He felt claustrophobic and wanted to feel cold air on his skin. It was a walled car park and he went over to one area to urinate unaware the two women were there.

“At NEP UK he is head of fibre optic cables and works for the BBC and Sky Sports.

“He is now in a management role and has people working for him and has to undertake a lot of international travel.

“He has settled down, is now able to cope and is unlikely to offend in the future.”

The court heard Barclay has a diagnosis for depression and has ADHD and is under the care of a psychiatrist.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Dangerous Driver Admits He Was Four Times Cocaine Limit

Head-On Crash: Duane Brown

A motorist who crashed head-on into a 7.5 ton lorry while four times the cocaine limit has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Duane Brown, 37, arrived at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court in a wheelchair as he continues to recover from hip fractures and a serious injury to his left foot.

Brown, of Haycroft Road, Surbiton also pleaded guilty to driving his BMW with excess cocaine in his blood on September 17, last year in Leatherhead Road, Chessington.

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. 

The court heard he has had 14 operations since the crash as well as physiotherapy.

He was bailed until May 30 for a pre-sentence report.

Homeless Charity Boss Visited By Prince Charles Nicked £10,000

Charity Boss Nalton & Prince Charles

An outspoken homeless campaigner forged invoices to take nearly £10,000 from a charity he ran.

Jamie Nalton, 41, was the director of The Simon Community, an outreach project for the homeless in Camden, north London.

The father-of-one, of Green Leas, Sunbury-on-Thames was bailed by Blackfriars Crown Court last week to return for sentencing on May 9.

He pleaded guilty that between June 12 and September 13, last year at The Simon Community, St. Martin’s Vicarage, Vicar’s Road, Kentish Town he stole £2068

Nalton also pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation between same dates, namely altering two invoices to make a gain, namely £7,800.

Criticising the government’s policy surrounding benefits and how they effect the homeless he once said: “There is a lot of misunderstanding around welfare reform and people are being sanctioned and ending up with no money whatsoever.”

The charity proudly announced Nalton’s arrival in their Spring 2015 newsletter, noting: “We are pleased to tell you that we have a new Director.

Charity Thief: Nalton Leaving Court

“Jamie Nalton joined us as an interim Community Manager last Christmas and has been with us since then.

In February he was appointed as the new Community Director and is now officially in post.

“Jamie has a lot of experience in the homelessness sector that he gained through working for C4WS, the Camden Winter Shelter providers, who organised the church winter shelters in the borough.

“Jamie first came to us when he was working as a consultant who travelled the country advising night shelter providers on best practice.”

Nalton himself said: “I am honoured to work for the Simon Community, a charity that not only helps those without support, but also campaigns on their behalf.” 

He is now a night-shift labourer on the Cheesegrater construction site in the City and was allowed the adjournment to find legal representation.

Nalton complained about being refused Legal Aid. “It was refused due to high earnings, which I find hard to believe.”

Regarding compensating The Simon Community he told the court: “Absolutely. That’s always been the case.”

Recorder John Bate-Williams announced: “It’s obviously important in a serious case like this that you are represented.

“You have got three weeks to get your case in order.”

Much of his mitigation will centre on the medical condition of his wife Jhoana Nalton, 36, a weddings and home accessories designer, who was diagnosed with brain aneurysm in July, 2014.

Jhoana, who has a daughter, Jessica, 5, with Nalton had a stent implant to ease a bulging in blood vessel in her brain.

Previously commenting on homeless issues Nalton also said: “Not everyone is aware of services and there may be reasons they feel unable to engage with them.

“Some services in Westminster, for example, are only available to people with a local connection.

“I think we really need to understand more about why people are begging. Arresting people and giving them a criminal record is absolutely not helpful.

“The police need a better understanding of the issues that they are dealing with here.”

Mobility Scooter Joyrider Crashes Into Barber Shop

Grounded: Macky After Scooter Crash

A boozy middle-aged joyrider took a mobility scooter for a spin and crashed it into a barber's front window.

Heavy-drinker James Macky, 52, received a suspended prison sentence and has been banned from driving any vehicle for twelve months.

Macky, of Camden Avenue, Feltham pleaded guilty to taking and driving away the scooter in nearby Hampton Road West on February 17.

Uxbridge Magistrates Court heard he did not have the consent of the disabled owner and the offence was aggravated by causing alarm and distress to staff and customers within the salon.

Macky also pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour at the same time and place.

CCTV shows him collapsing to the ground after crashing the scooter into the shop front.

He was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and will remain under the supervision of the probation service for the entire period.

Macky must also comply with an alcohol abstinence requirement for forty days, which will be monitored electronically.

He was also fined £100 and ordered to pay a total of £550 compensation, with £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Tesco's Worker Repeatedly Punched: CCTV Image Released

Police hunting a thug, who repeatedly punched a Tesco's shop worker in west London, have released this CCTV image of their suspect.

At approximately 2.35pm on Thursday, May 12, last year a man entered the store in North End Road, West Kensington.

He approached a male member of staff and shoulder barged him before punching him several times.

The man then left the store.

The victim sustained facial injuries during the unprovoked attack.

The suspect is described as a black man, with a bald head, aged in his thirties and approximately 6ft 1inches tall.

Anyone who recognises this man or who can provide information about the incident is asked to contact Hammersmith and Fulham CID on 020 8246 2505 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.

Midnight Garden Rape: E-Fit Released

Detectives hunting a rapist, who jumped a garden fence last August and attacked a woman enjoying the late summer evening, have released an e-fit of a the suspect.

In the early hours of Monday August 1, the woman - aged in her thirties - was sitting in a rear garden of an address in Ellerton Gardens, Dagenham when a man jumped over the fence.

She tried to run away, however the man grabbed her and pulled her to the floor.

He then raped her before running off towards Woodward Road.

The suspect is described as a very dark-skinned black man, 5ft 6ins to 5ft 8ins in height, of medium build and aged in his early to mid-twenties.

His complexion was described as poor, possibly spotty, and he smelt unwashed.

Detective Constable Jay Gardner from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command said: "This is a shocking attack which has left the victim very distressed.

"We are now issuing this e-fit image and urging the public to help us identify this man.

“If you think you may know the man depicted in the e-fit, please do call us.

"We also want to speak with anyone who saw a man matching this description, or anything else suspicious, in the area of Ellerton Gardens and Woodward Road during the late evening of Sunday, thirty-first of July into the early hours of Monday, the first of August.

"Substantial enquiries have been conducted with the local community, but we urge anyone who may have been in the area at this time to come forward."

Any witnesses or anyone who has any information is urged to call police on 020 8217 7466. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

There have been no arrests at this stage and enquiries continue.

Bus Sex Pest Hunted For Grinding Against Females

Police hunting a bus sex pest, who rubbed himself against a teenage girl and a middle-aged woman, have released this image of their suspect.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC) are appealing for the public's help to identify the man.

On Wednesday, September 21, last year a 16-year-old girl was sexually assaulted at a busy bus stop in Camden Close, Bromley at around 3.20pm.

As the girl was waiting for the bus, she felt something rubbing against her back.

She initially thought it was people pushing her as the bus stop was busy however, when she turned around and saw a man rubbing his groin against her back.

The man then got on a 161 bus.

It is believed the same man carried out a similar offence on Monday, July 4.

A man boarded a route 161 bus at a bus stop on Chislehurst High Street, and stood behind a 43-year-old woman.

As the bus moved away, he pressed himself against her with his groin. She turned around and the man moved away.

The man is described as of Asian appearance, aged about fifty and approximately 5ft 5inches tall.

Officers believe the man regularly travels on buses around the Bexley and Bromley area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Naomi Goodman at the RTPC via 101.

You can also contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you wish to remain anonymous.

Tooting Midnight Rape: E-Fit Of Suspect Released

Police are hunting this suspected rapist after a woman was attacked just after midnight as she returned to her car in Tooting.

The woman – aged in her twenties – was approached in Lucien Road on September 21, last year.

The suspect forced the woman into an address before raping her - he then fled the scene.

This e-fit has been released in an attempt to trace him.

The suspect is described as a man of Asian appearance, between 20-25 years old, approximately 5ft 7inches tall and of slim build.

He had a thin moustache and was wearing glasses, a red hooded top and light coloured tracksuit bottoms.

The victim was taken to a Haven and is being supported by specialist officers.

Officers from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command investigate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 020 8721 4251 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Prat In The Hat: Violent Thug Hunted For Savage Shop Sign Assault

Police are hunting for an impatient customer, who left a shopkeeper needing 13 stitches to a head wound, when struck with a metal sign.

Police in Hackney have released this image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the violent attack outside a Food and Wine shop in Kingsland Road.

The incident occurred at 3.35am on Monday, February 29, last year.

The thug hurled a metal cash sign at the 48-year-old victim after he refused to serve him ahead of other paying customers who were queuing.

The suspect had assaulted the victim inside the shop and was asked to leave.

When the victim followed him outside to make sure he left, he was struck with a metal cashpoint advertising board.

This left the victim with a serious laceration; he was bleeding profusely from the head as a result of the attack.

He was driven to an east London hospital by a friend where he received 13 stitches.

PC Jo Giles, from Hackney's Violent Crime Unit, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a savage and unprovoked attack on a hard-working gentleman merely doing his job in the shop.

“He was struck with such force with the improvised weapon that his skull was exposed.

“It is extremely lucky that medical intervention was administered so promptly otherwise the consequences to the victim could have been fatal.

“We have exhausted all other enquiries and need the public's assistance."

Police want to hear from anyone who may recognise the man shown in the CCTV images or who witnessed the assault.

The male suspect is described as slim build, approximately late twenties or early thirties.

He has full dark coloured beard and moustache and short cropped hair on head.

He was wearing a black cape with a Burberry lining, red denim jeans and a dark grey trilby hat.

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigating officer PC Jo Giles or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Ex-Royal Navy Pensioner Jailed For Molesting Young Girl

Kingston-upon-Thames CC

A pensioner's south coast retirement dream is over after he was locked-up for four years for sexually abusing a young girl over a decade ago.

Gavin Rae, 77, of Old School Mews, Bognor Regis served in the Royal Navy for twenty years and was prosecuted for abusing the girl at an address in south-west London.

He was sentenced at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

Rae originally appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on May 21, 2015 charged with eight counts of indecent assault at an address in Northway, Morden between September 15, 1997 and September 14, 2003.

Disgraced Teacher Jailed Again For Sex Abuse

A disgraced sports teacher has been jailed again for molesting a young boy at the private west London school he taught at over two decades ago.

Michael David Cole, 52, of Cae-Yr-Ebol, Pontnewydd, Cwmbran, Gwent received twelve months imprisonment and was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

He was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court after originally being charged with two counts of indecently assaulting a boy, aged under 14 years-old, between June 19, 1990 and June 18, 1991.

Six years ago he was locked-up for five years after being convicted of five counts of indecent assault at St. Martin's Prep School, Northwood.

He was employed at the all-boys school, which teaches children aged between 3 and 13 years-old, between 1988 and 1991.

Before that trial Cole, who also taught religious education, admitted 17 counts of child pornography.

He conducted phoney 'health checks' in his office, ordering the young boys to strip before touching them for his sexual pleasure.

Magician Get Suspended Prison Sentence For Whacking Girlfriend With Champagne Bottle

Magic Man: Marcus Lewis

A magician and hypnotist hit his girlfriend with a champagne bottle and made her police crime number disappear by eating it when she tried to call the police.

Marcus Anthony Lewis, 30, and Catherine Mallett, 26, rowed about the volume of each other’s respective music and messaging friends and ex’s.

Lewis, of Kipling Avenue, Worthing was convicted of causing Catherine actual bodily harm at her Shepherd’s Bush flat on July 14, last year and assaulting her again on July 18.

Lewis specialises in close-up magic and hypnosis and hires himself out as a professional ice-breaker for social events and is a youtube star for his street act.

Yesterday he received twelve weeks imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and must complete up to forty days of a probation service-ordered rehabilitation programme.

He was also ordered to pay £620 costs, a £115 victim surcharge and was made subject to an indefinite restraining order prohibiting contact with Catherine.

The couple were together eight months and shared her flat in Frithville Gardens, but Catherine asked him to sleep elsewhere the night before the bottle assault.

“He did not like me messaging my friends and he had a message from his ex-girlfriend so we had a row about double standards,” she told Hammersmith Magistrates Court.

“He came back early and asked to talk, but I was going out and when I came back he put the latch on and essentially locked me out.”

Champagne Bottle: Catherine

Lewis says he was forced to spend the night at a 24-hour internet cafe and denies locking Catherine out or blocking the door.

“I banged on the wall and he let me in, but kind of closed the door on me before I got in. He was trying to be aggravating.

“I pushed him out of the way and he pushed me onto the sofa and got on top of me and pinned me down and with a clenched fist threatened to punch me.

“I managed to push him off or he might have got off. There was a wine glass on the coffee table and I threw it and it hit the wall and broke, I was making him go away.

“I kicked a bin bag in frustration and rubbish fell out and he had my phone that had fallen out of my pocket.”

Lewis says she threw the bin bag at him and the champagne bottle inside it struck his knee.

“I said I’d chuck his headphones out the window if he didn’t give me my phone,” Catherine told the court.

“He’d picked the champagne bottle from the floor and hit my elbow with it and I was rolling around the floor in absolute agony.

“He said: ‘You’re faking, I didn’t hit you that hard,’ and then started filming me with my phone, saying I was mental.”

The court watched footage of a bloody Lewis filming Catherine as she held the stem of the broken wine glass.

He could be heard saying: “Stop trying to stab me with the f***ing glass.”

Catherine said: “I didn’t slash him with the glass. He was picking the broken glass up off the floor and cut his fingers.

“I was in a hell of a lot of pain, he broke my arm.”

Catherine went to hospital, where the elbow injury was treated as if it was a break, but this was never confirmed. 

Lewis says she hit him with a shoulder bag and he swung the champagne bottle to fend off her attack.

Four days later there was another row about Lewis’s behaviour and a tense atmosphere afterwards, Catherine told the court

“I was on my laptop not talking to him so he took it off me and threatened to smash it.

“He then played music on his phone, then blue toothed it and put the speaker in my face as I tried to play my music. I don’t like his music.”

Catherine grabbed her police letter from the earlier incident, which escalated the row.

“He jumped on top of me and clawed the paper out of my hand that had the crime number and left a huge scratch.

“He got the piece of paper out of my hand and ate it and I left and called the police.”

Lewis claimed she was “taunting” him with the crime number and making threats to call the police.

In her victim impact statement Catherine said: “I’m ashamed and embarrassed and was worried about coming home.

“I lost a lot of sleep over this and feel the quality of my life has gone down.”

Magistrate Catharine Seddon told Lewis: “The more serious offence is the ABH, aggravated by a significant physical injury and caused by a weapon, a glass weapon, a bottle that could have caused much more serious injury.

“There was significant psychological harm to the complainant, who was left with a large degree of anxiety and there was a second incident some days later when you would have had time to reflect about this ABH.”

'Plastic Glassing' Nightclubber Needed Fifteen Stitches

Blood On The Dancefloor: Rhys Copas

A nightclub thug was jailed yesterday for using a plastic beer cup to inflict an ear wound requiring 15 stitches during a “violent and vicious assault” on another man.

Children’s football coach and tyre fitter Rhys Copas, 28, admits he “lost his temper” during the petty bar row in the early hours and is now starting a three-and-a-half year sentence.

Copas, of Meadfoot Road, Streatham pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, with intent, on Pritan Patel at Wimbledon’s The Watershed on March 19, last year.

CCTV footage shows Copas landing a final right-hander after a flurry of blows and an unknown male kicks the victim, who is doubled-over in an effort to protect himself.

Ironically the venue switched from glass to plastic cups to reduce the risk of such serious injuries.

In his victim impact statement Mr. Patel said: “I started a new job with an American company and had to meet its president with a black eye and scarring.

“When people take photos of me it is highlighted more and whenever I see myself in the mirror I see the scars and that is not how I want friends and family to remember me.”

Recorder Sarah Clarke QC told Copas, who was identified after a police appeal: “An argument seems to have developed over something minor and your reaction is a vicious and violent assault.

“You repeatedly punched him with the hand holding a hard perspex cup and then with your other hand.

“He suffered a laceration to his earlobe, which required fifteen stitches and that was caused by the perspex cup in your hand.

Copas Lands Blows

“Mr. Patel was still in pain two months later and still watches his back when he is out in public. You have taken that feeling of safety away from him.”

Copas had turned his life around after receiving thirty months youth custody in 2009 for his role with the notorious Terror Zone gang, which robbed security vans of nearly £1m.

He coaches Hackney Downs Rangers’ under-eight football team and Recorder Clarke told him: “It’s a tragedy you have thrown that away in the heat of the moment.

You are hardworking and an excellent role model to them and you are genuinely remorseful. It’s brave of you to admit to such a serious offence.

Copas’s lawyer Miss Cheryl Nwosu said: “He says he became angered about an issue concerning where he was standing at the bar.

“He says Mr. Patel was shouting expletives at him and Mr. Patel appears to put his hand in his drink. He lost his temper.”

Noisy Neighbour's Race Battle With Resident And Police

A noisy neighbour launched into a foul race-hate rant when asked to turn her music down and battled with police when they arrived, continuing her insulting behaviour after she was arrested.

Single mum-of-two Zoe Barnard, 33, of Cuffley House, Sutton Way, North Kensington shoved her neighbour and called her a: “White c***, white f***ing bitch,” and twice assaulted the same police officer.

She pleaded guilty to assaulting neighbour Janet Farmer on December 21, last year at Cuffley House, where she also pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment.

Trainee carpet fitter Barnard also pleaded guilty to assaulting PC Matthew Watson at Cuffley House and at St. Thomas's Hospital and racially aggravated harassment while being transported in the police van.

Hammersmith Magistrates Court heard today that neighbour Janet Farmer, who lives two floors below Barnard, couldn't even enjoy watching television with her partner because of the noise above.

She went up to ask the defendant to turn her music down and was told: “F*** off. You don't care my mum just died you bitch. Leave my f***ing door, f*** off.”

Barnard shoved her in the chest and Ms Farmer's partner jumped in between them and the couple returned home.

However, Barnard followed the pair and unleashed the racist abuse outside their flat.

They called the police and the court heard Barnard was “aggressive to the officers” and aimed a kick at PC Watson when she was being handcuffed.

She called one police officer a “n*****” during another racist outburst and collapsed to the floor at the police station.

Barnard claimed to have sickle cell syndrome and said: “I'm an actress. I'll get booked into a mental hospital.”

At the hospital she aimed a punch at the same officer she kicked out at and he managed to deflect the blow.

The court heard Barnard, who has daughters aged nine and eleven years-old, has a drink problem and a previous conviction for assaulting a police officer.

The magistrate told her: “This behaviour was absolutely unacceptable as you know.”

Barnard was placed on a 12-month community order with a 20-day rehabilitation requirement and must undergo a six-month alcohol treatment requirement.

She must also complete 60 hours community service work, pay £50 compensation each to Ms Farmer and PC Watson and pay an £85 victim surcharge.

Son Denies Collecting Deceased Mother's Benefits

A son kept his elderly mother’s death quiet for over a year while he continued receiving £17,000 in benefit payments on her behalf, a court heard yesterday.

Harold Davis, 62, was paid £1,049 per month by the London Borough of Barnet to fund care for his mother Beryl Davis.

However, following her death in a hospice on June 11, 2013 he continued receiving payments for fifteen months then lied about when she died, Harrow Crown Court was told.

Davis, of Nigel Court, Seymour Road, East Finchley has pleaded not guilty to fraud by failing to disclose information, namely his mother’s death and fraud by false representation, namely claiming she died on June 10, 2014.

Prosecutor Miss Thaiza Khan said Mrs Davis, of Greenacres, Hendon Lane, East Finchley received care support from the council’s Adult Social Services department.

“These payments continued for fifteen months after her death and this defendant failed to disclose his mother was deceased.

“He also made false representations about the date of his mother’s death. He gave a much later date to reduce what he had to pay back.”

The court heard Davis gave the false date only after a council review of their care payments in 2014.

An investigation of his bank accounts revealed he transferred lump sums of £5,000, then £8,000 to one he shared with his ex-wife.

Trial continues…………..