Scumbag Targeted 91 Year-Old Pensioner's Life-Savings

A greedy heartless fraudster, who stole £90,000 from an OAP with help from an elderly stand-in, has been jailed.

Justin Sewell, 43, of Beulah Road, Thornton Heath transferred the majority of the victim's life savings to himself after convincing bank staff to add him to her account.

He was assisted at the NatWest branch by a woman posing as the victim and she continues to be hunted by police.

Sewell pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to two counts of fraud and received 33 months imprisonment.

The court heard that on Wednesday, March 1, Sewell - who was not known to the victim - managed to have his name added to the 91-year-old pensioner's savings account.

On that day he attended the bank with an unknown woman who pretended to be the victim and they fraudulently completed the relevant paperwork to have Sewell's name added to the account.

On March 9, Sewell transferred £50,000 from the victim's account to his own and the following day, March 10 transferred a further £40,000.

On March 15, he was in a NatWest bank in Croydon when staff alerted police to his request to make a further withdrawal.

He was arrested by officers from Croydon that day and during this arrest he was found to be in possession of cannabis.

Detective Constable Sam Bennett from Croydon CID, said: "This was a deceitful crime in which Sewell stole a significant sum of money from an elderly lady's bank account.

"A swift police investigation established that Sewell had withdrawn two large sums and was seeking a third withdrawal when he was caught.

"Anyone who believes they have been a victim of fraud should call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040."

The woman who accompanied Sewell on his first visit to the bank has not been traced and anyone with information should contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Online Live.Me Child Sex Pervert Jailed

An online sexual predator, who incited a nine year-old girl to expose herself on popular youth site Live.Me, has been locked-up for four years.

Almost 300 users of the live streaming app witnessed the victim revealing intimate parts of her body while encouraged by 28 year-old Glen Friend.

He pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court to inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The east Londoner was also handed a two-year extended supervision order, which he will be subject to on his release from custody.

The case is believed to be one of the Metropolitan Police's first successful convictions relating to misuse of the highly successful 'Live.Me' app to gain access to young children in a bid to groom them.

The app is one of the fastest growing of its type worldwide and users have limited control over who views their posts/videos.

Friend was arrested as he left prison having served time for breaching sex offender notification requirements.

He was caught after an intelligence-led operation directed officers to the fact that he was engaging with a young female user on the Live.Me service.

The Sexual Harm Prevention Order that Friend was subject to expressly forbade him to communicate with any individual under 18 years of age via social media/the internet.

During May Friend was heavily involved, along with a number of other users, in encouraging the girl into the sexual actions.

Detective Sergeant Fenton Davis, from the Waltham Forest Jigsaw Unit, said: "This application is extremely well used by children.

“Those who register seek to gain 'likes' and 'electronic gifts' from other users.

“The more they receive, the higher their status within that online community.

"Glen Friend is a predatory sexual offender, who targeted a vulnerable victim via this app.

“Offenders who seek to hide behind an online username in an attempt to hide their identity will be relentlessly pursued by investigators.

"We would like to thank South Yorkshire Police for their assistance with our investigation in helping to identify the child concerned.

"The amount of damage this type of encounter causes to these very young victims can be extensive.

“It became apparent from our talks with the girl in this case that she is easily upset and very sensitive after what she has gone through.

"Parents should be ever vigilant of their child's activity on social media sites, particularly in regard to video streaming apps.

"This conviction clearly demonstrates that people who use these streaming sites for criminal means, in particular to commit sexual offences, will be tracked down and prosecuted for their actions.”

Live.Me removed the footage at the request of the police, who are continuing to identify the other users.

Nightclub Teen Bitten In Face: White Blonde-Haired Male Hunted

A young woman was left with this horrific facial wound after a mystery man bit her as she left a nightclub.

The 18 year-old victim had just left Pryzm in Eden Street, Kingston-upon-Thames at 3.30am on June 25.

She was approached by an unknown blonde-haired white male, who put her in a headlock and bit her cheek.

Detective are appealing for witnesses and information.

The teenager required immediate medical treatment and the injuries have resulted in permanent scaring.

There have been no arrests and the assault is being treated as grievous bodily harm.

Detective Constable Robert Wise, of Kingston CID, said: "This was a savage attack that has left a young girl with a permanent scar; we urgently want to find the person responsible.

“There would have been many people who witnessed this horrible assault and I would appeal to anyone with information to contact police."

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call Kingston CID on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC.

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Knifeman Slashed Grenfell Tower Schoolboy Before Tragic Fire

A knifeman, whose “horrific” attack on a 14 year-old schoolboy resident of Grenfell Tower resulted in the family being rehoused before the tragic fire, has been caged today.

The family lived on the first-floor of the North Kensington tower block and the teen needed 30 stitches to his face after being slashed outside his front door.

Lyndon Lewis, 29, of Wordsworth Street, Liverpool has never explained why he was in the capital or why he attacked the boy at 7.45am on September 23, last year.

The boy's father tried to save him and received a stab wound to the arm, but his intervention resulted in crucial DNA evidence that identified Lewis.

He was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court of wounding the boy, with intent, and received 13 years imprisonment.

Lewis was cleared of causing actual bodily harm to the father.

During the four-day trial the court heard the boy was approached by Lewis as he left the flat and was subject to the unprovoked attack.

He was slashed across the face and also suffered wounds to his hands as he desperately tried to defend himself.

The teenage is now permanently scarred as a result of the slashing.

His father rushed outside when he heard his son's shouts and chased Lewis along Grenfell's mezzanine level in a bid to catch him.

He says Lewis stabbed him in the arm and escaped, but the jury cleared the defendant of this charge.

Fortunately police obtained blood samples from the lanyard top the father was wearing and from the wall, which matched Lewis's DNA.

He was arrested in Liverpool on November 2 by detectives from Kensington and Chelsea, but refused to answer questions.

During his trial Lewis denied involvement, refusing to say why he was at Grenfell Tower at the time.

The trial judge described the attack as “horrific”, adding it has had a terrible effect on the victim and his family.

Detective Constable Flynn from Kensington and Chelsea CID said: "Lewis has caused his victims great distress and the sentence of thirteen years reflects the seriousness of the unprovoked attack on a fourteen year-old schoolboy.

“He is a danger to the public and showed no remorse for his crime, denying his involvement to the very end.”

In conjunction with the police and due to this incident, the family were rehoused and were not at Grenfell Tower at the time of the fire on June 14, this year.

Dragon's Den Fraudster Gets Suspended Sentence On His Red Letter Day

Den of Dishonesty: Selvathiravam

An accountant for Dragon’s Den stars Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis has received a suspended prison sentence for a £33,000 forged cheques fraud on their company.

The pair run Red Letter Days - a company specialising in experience days vouchers as gifts and corporate rewards - where employee Akilan Selvathiravam, 34, worked as their finance officer.

The married dad-of-one, of Church Drive, Kingsbury pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between January 1, 2016 and February 20, this year.

The Den duo bought the company out of administration after it had been founded by former-Dragon Rachel Elnaugh and ran into financial difficulties.

Qualified chartered accountant Selvathiravam was employed at the company’s head office at 100 High Street, Southgate, north London.

He was sentenced to twenty months imprisonment, suspended for two years, ordered to perform 200 hours community service work and repay the entire sum.

Prosecutor Miss Linda Shamel told Wood Green Crown Court: “He was entrusted with the safekeeping of cheques and money in the safe.

“He falsified the cheques and forged the signatures, claiming they were corporate refunds and then cashing them individually at the bank.”

Selvathiravam was exposed by a company internal audit in February. “There were a large number of cheques falsified and put through the system,” added the prosecutor.

“CCTV evidence shows the defendant cashing cheques in branches of Barclays Bank.”

He defrauded a total of £32,955.99 and relatives have rallied around to repay the sum.

Selvathiravam was reported to the police by the company and arrested and quizzed. “He admitted he falsified the cheques  because he had a gambling addiction.”

The court heard Red Letters Days have not reported him to The Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAS) and he attended a job interview with a bank shortly before the court hearing.

“His former employers support his continued employment in the financial sector and a glowing reference has been provided,” said Mr. Brad Lawlor, defending.

“Family members have grouped together to pay the full amount. He was desperate, he’s been struggling with a gambling addiction and been to rehab.”

Judge Joanna Greenberg QC announced: “This was a breach of trust over a considerable period of time.”

Red Letter Days have been fully compensated by Barclays.

American Accused Of Trolling Parents Falsely Accused Of Satanic Cult

An American blogger harassed the Hampstead parents of children involved in discredited satanic paedophile ring allegations - posing outside their primary school while saying he was armed with a knife - a jury heard today.

Rupert Wilson Quaintance, 38, a self-styled political activist and investigative journalist also posted a youtube clip in which he warned he would: “Kick down doors to take blood.”

Supporters financed the trip after also hearing him on the web’s ‘American Freedom Radio’ announcing: “I don’t want to kill them, just beat them up pretty good.”

He has pleaded not guilty to putting four mothers and a father of pupils of Christ Church Primary School in fear of violence between February 1 and September 30, last year.

Organisational Management graduate Quaintance, travelled from his home in Charlottesville, Virginia and was staying at an address in Mill Road, Erith, where he was arrested on September 13, last year.

One of the mum’s told Southwark Crown Court: “Things were put next to my daughter’s name that were horrifying, her photo was all over the internet.

“I was petrified. This man’s coming across quite violently, everything that comes out of his mouth is a violent attack.

“I have CCTV outside my house because my daughter has been identified. What do I do if I am seen outside with her? How do I keep her safe if he approaches me or comes to my house?

“My name was on the internet on a list of twenty parents and our addresses and he was coming to kick out doors down.”

The school pic was posted by Quaintance on his facebook page on the first day of term. “I was putting everything in place to protect my child and he was just feet from the entrance to the school and said he had a knife on him.”

Prosecutor Mr. Martyn Bowyer told the jury the father targeted by Quaintance was the parent of a girl, aged nine, and a boy, aged eight, known as ‘P’ and ‘Q’ who were at the centre of the allegations.

“The allegation was they were part of a large group of children in Hampstead, who had been sexually abused as part of a satanic cult in which there were human sacrifices and paedophile behaviour.”

“At the centre of the allegation was Christ Church and the father of P and Q was said to be the head of this satanic cult.”

The children were taken into temporary care, but all the allegations were dismissed by a High Court judge in March, 2015, who heard evidence from police, doctors and social workers.

Quaintance has blogged and broadcasted extensively on the case and under his Christ Church selfie pic, posted: “This is what my defiant face looks like.”

Mr. Bowyer added: “He gave the distinct impression he had in his possession a knife outside that school, but says it has all been a dreadful misunderstanding.

“He says it was an ‘in joke’ with a facebook friend in the U.S. and blamed differences in the cultures between the UK and USA.”

Police found Quaintance’s Excel spreadsheet titled: ‘Cult Details’ which had mostly blank columns headed with names, addresses, emails and phone numbers of parents, teachers and children.

Trial continues………….

Rapist Caged After Victim Recorded His 'Confession'

"Free Pass": Roser

A rapist is starting a lengthy prison sentence after unwittingly ‘confessing’ to the sex attack as his victim recorded his incriminating words on her mobile phone.

Amateur boxer and rock climber Rhys Roser, 24, was sentenced to seven years and eight months imprisonment today for the early hours rape of the 19 year-old.

The apprentice tree surgeon denied everything when arrested, but later went on the run after hearing the damning recording and pleaded guilty when he turned up for his trial.

“He had not heard the recording until earlier this year and that must have come as a shock to him, the clear evidence of it,” his lawyer Miss Marie Spenwyn told Harrow Crown Court.  

“We now have a man hanging his head in shame over his behaviour.”

Roser, of Bravington Road, Maida Vale pleaded guilty to one count of rape; attempted rape; sexual assault and assault by penetration at a Kilburn address on September 14, 2015.

He raped the teen in the flat’s shower after the victim fled to the bathroom because she was suffering a panic attack brought on by Roser’s unwanted advances.

Future Not Bright: Roser

“He made it plain he wanted to have sex and she didn’t,” said prosecutor Mr. Peter Clement. “The defendant became more demanding and somewhat bullying of her.

“He grabbed her by the arm, torso and neck and the more aggressive he became the more aroused he got.”

They were still in the bedroom when she grabbed her phone and began the audio recording, which later proved she was pleading: “Leave me alone.”

“He said he had a ‘free pass’ to have sex with her and by this time she was in tears, asking him to shut up and leave her alone,” added Mr. Clement.

She locked herself in the bathroom, but Roser persuaded his way in. “He locked the bathroom door and pushed her into the shower.

“He pulled her head back and bent her left arm behind her back.” The teenager was then raped.

Prison Is Pants: Roser

They returned to the bedroom, where the phone recorded Roser saying: “I was wrong in every way. I shouldn’t have done that, I don’t know what came over me.

“Don’t tell anyone please. You don’t want to do the whole court thing. You’re not going to stand up in court and tell everyone you were raped, way too embarrassing.

“You were kinda sexy because you had wetness on your face. 

“That’s the one thing that’s going to ruin my life. Don’t f***ing tell anyone, it’s real simple.”

In an impact statement fifteen months after the attack the victim said: “It has had a staggering effect on me,” explaining she had suffered depression, anxiety, insomnia, flashbacks and night terror.

Recorder Matthew Lowe told Roser: “Your subsequent conversations were recorded on that telephone.

“You were heard saying you had gone mad and were wrong in every way and went onto plead with her not to report what happened and put pressure on her.

“She describes it as emotional blackmail. What you did to her that night has had significant psychological and emotional effects.”

Acid Attacker Left Lone Victim Scarred For Life: E-Fit Released

Police hunting a late-night acid attacker have released this e-fit of their suspect.

The 32 year-old male victim was walking along High Street, Stratford, east London at 11.30pm on May 22 when he was approached by two men.

One of the men asked if the man wanted to buy cannabis and demanded money.

The victim refused and the suspect then threw a corrosive liquid in his face.

He ran to the nearby bus station station, where he was assisted by station staff and an ambulance called.

He was taken to an east London hospital, and later transferred to another hospital outside of London for further treatment.

The victim suffered serious burn injuries, causing permanent scarring.

Despite carrying out CCTV enquiries, no arrests have been made and police from Newham borough are now releasing this e-fit of the suspect.

He is described as a man in his late twenties, of Mediterranean appearance, and of slim build.

He was clean shaven, spoke with a London accent and was wearing a bright red hooded-top, a dark-coloured baseball cap and dark trousers.

Detective Constable Suhal Miah of Forest Gate CID said: "This was a horrific attempted robbery where the suspect didn't hesitate to spray his victim with a corrosive substance, knowing full well that it would likely cause life-changing injuries to his victim.

"We need to identify the man responsible, and we would urge anyone who thinks the e-fit looks familiar or knows anything about the incident to come forward and talk to us."

Any witnesses or anyone with information about this robbery can call Forest Gate CID on 0208 217 5820, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you wish to remain anonymous.

Rape Hunt After Nightclub Woman Approached In Park

Police are hunting this suspected rapist after a woman believes she was attacked in a park after leaving a nightclub alone.

The woman, aged in her thirties, has no recollection of being raped, but remembers the man approaching her and subsequent checks revealed sexual activity had occurred.

This CCTV still was taken at the club – Zumbale – in High Road, South Tottenham in the early hours of May 28.

The woman was enjoying a night out with work colleagues and says she spoke to the suspect during the evening.

She left at 4.40am and while walking home was approached by the same man in a local park.

The next thing she recalls is arriving home at 6.00am, feeling something had happened to her.

A medical examination revealed penetrative sex had occurred.

After speaking to the victim, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command were able to identify this suspect on CCTV from the club.

The suspect is described as a clean shaven thin man of Spanish or Portuguese origin, around 5ft 7inches tall.

He has black bushy hair, was wearing an orange t-shirt and carrying a bag. He was also wearing a star-shaped pendant.

Officers are appealing for anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward and speak to police.

Any witnesses to the incident are also asked to contact officers on 101 or tweet at @MetCC.

To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Young Pianist Incited Love-Struck 12 Year-Old Girl For Sex

Piano Man: Eglinton

A talented young pianist-to-the-stars, who has performed at the Savoy hotel and Wentworth Golf Club, has received a suspended sentence for inciting a 12 year-old girl to have sex with him.

Jazz and Blues musician Matthew Eglinton, 26, has played for the late Sir Bruce Forsyth and Des O’Connor and accompanied comic Bobby Davro’s stage show.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard the schoolgirl, who dreams of becoming an actress, would climb out of her bedroom window for secret late-night dates with the pianist.

He sent her explicit texts and facebook messages boasting of his size and sexual prowess, fantasising about what he would do to her and vice versa.

Eglinton, of Clover Rise, Plymouth, Devon pleaded guilty to causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity between July 1 and September 30, last year while he was living in Twickenham.

An additional count of grooming the youngster for sex was dropped by the prosecution. The maximum sentence he faced was 14 years.

He moved to London to advance his career and has also played at the Oval Cricket Ground; the Four Seasons Hotel, Canary Wharf; Elstree Film studios and live venues including the Alleycat Club and Phoenix Artists Club.

Prosecutor Miss Fern Russell said the girl revealed everything to a school youth worker last September. “She told the worker she was dating a ‘Matthew’ and they loved each other.

“He treated her like a china doll and she felt loved and said she felt so strongly she would self-harm or commit suicide if there were any consequences, like prison, for him.”

The girl initially told Eglinton she was 16 years-old, but then said she was only 13 years-old and he told her he was twenty.

Court Date: Eglinton

“He took a naked upper torso photo of himself and told her he would like to engage in sexual activity with her.

“He said what he would like to do to her and what he would like her to do with him and it was graphic and forceful.

“He told her she was gorgeous and attractive and asked her to engage in sexual acts.”

The girl told police they kissed passionately, describing it as “snogging”, but Eglinton initially told police there was no physical contact.

As well as meeting in Eglinton’s back garden the pair met in local parks, exchanging kisses while sitting on a bench. 

The prosecution say the explicit messaging and meetings lasted between two and four weeks. 

Eglinton initially fought the case, forcing the girl to give evidence and accusing her of “making it up”, but changed his plea and also admitted the kissing.

His lawyer Miss Hannah Duncan told the court today: “He is a young twenty-six year-old in looks and behaviour and at that time was extremely naive.

“So many people speak of him so highly. He has genuine remorse and the ability to change.”

Eglinton’s parents, brother and 28 year-old girlfriend were in court supporting him, with his father addressing Judge Timothy Lamb QC, and asking for “leniency.”

The pianist, who has also performed in the south of France and Tokyo, is also one-half of jazz duo ‘Blue Croon’ and plays at weddings and parties.

Mugshot: Eglinton In Custody

He has also been the  musical director for shows as Guildford County Club, the Theatre Royal Winchester and Waterloo East Theatre, which included a production about the life of French singer Edith Piaf, called ‘Love Conquers All.’

“The most recent suicide attempt was no more than a month ago,” added Miss Duncan. “A custodial sentence would effect him perhaps more than some others, he’s not mentally strong, not equipped for custody.

“It’s been absolute hell this potential custodial sentence hanging over him.”

Judge Lamb sentenced Eglinton to two years imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and ordered him to pay £1500 costs.

He must also attend thirty days rehab, plus up to 100 days of a sex offenders programme.

An indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order was made and Eglinton must also sign the sex offenders register.

“It is not said that the complainant has suffered severe psychological harm from this relationship,” announced the judge.

“Indeed, she declines today to give a victim impact statement and I am told she is troubled by the prospect of the defendant losing his liberty.”

Acid Clampdown: Twelve Months For East Londoner

A young man caught with a bottle of bleach-type acid near the scene of a street mugging has been caged for a year.

Bradley Kerr, 21, was stopped by police in Eleanor Street, Bow, east London in the early hours of July 18 after a man reported he had been robbed by a group of males.

In his bag, officers discovered a soft drink bottle containing a fluid they suspected contained a noxious substance.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court Kerr pleaded guilty to one count of possession of an offensive weapon.

Tests later revealed that the substance had a high ph level and it was confirmed as a bleach-type acid that would cause injury if thrown at somebody.

Detective Sergeant Mike Stubbins, of Tower Hamlets CID, said: "This is an excellent result and the sentence reflects how seriously the police and the courts view the possession of acid and noxious substances.

"There was no good reason for Kerr to be carrying this fluid around with him and this sends out a message that police will not hesitate to arrest anyone believed to be carrying these types of substances, and pursue prosecutions vigorously.

"These substances can be, and unfortunately are, used in the commission of crimes which have a huge impact on victims’ lives."

If you would like to report anyone you suspect of carrying a noxious substance, or if you are a victim or a witness to a crime involving a noxious substance, call police on 101.

Call 999 in an emergency, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Alternatively, tweet Met Police via @MetCC.

Ex-CPS Lawyer Sentenced In Courthouse She Once Prosecuted Criminals

"I'll Cut Your Throat": Anne

A Crown Prosecution Service lawyer, who flung her 69 year-old mother-in-law onto a sofa shouting: “If you open your mouth I’ll cut your throat,” was sentenced today.

Solicitor Anne Murgai, 42, dominated the £375,000 house her husband bought with his mother and put the pensioner in fear of another assault the next day.

She was convicted of both incidents, despite fighting the case during an all-day trial, and was ordered to complete 80 hours community service.

“She did not want me to come, she did not like my presence,” petite Usha Kariholoo told Croydon Magistrates Court, explaining she was attacked during a row over chores.

“She came to me and said: ‘I’ll show you,’ and pushed me three times and fortunately I fell on the sofa. I could have fallen on the floor for all she cared,” added the mother-in-law.

“She hit me two or three times on the shoulder and said: ‘I’ll kill you.’ I was shivering.”

The pensioner had just bought the house with son Rakesh Kariholoo, 45, for his wife and son Andrew, 2, and they were joined by Murgai’s 80 year-old mother.

Murgai, of 70 Ridgewell Close, Lower Sydenham was found guilty of assaulting Usha at the matrimonial home at nearby 25 Elfrida Crescent on September 26 and 27, last year.

She shook her head in the dock of the courthouse, where she has prosecuted hundreds of cases as the magistrates announced their decision.

"Disbelief": Rakesh

“I also shook my head in disbelief at what she did to my mother,” said Rakesh afterwards. “I wondered: ‘How has it come to this?’

Usha told the trial: “I was not allowed to touch or feed the child and there were arguments between her and Rakesh, with her telling him: ‘You don’t do this and you don’t do that.’

“I told her Rakesh is doing enough and she should help him. She was not working, she was sitting at home all day and did not like that I called her a housewife.

“Rakesh had two jobs at the time and she was telling him: ‘You don’t do the garden, you don’t do the toilets.’

“I told her Rakesh is doing everything and she should also help and that it was very honourable to be a housewife, but that created a reaction,” added Usha.

The “housewife” remark triggered the assault, said Usha, denying Murgai’s claim she kicked her three times in the stomach while shouting and swearing aggressively.

The next day Usha was hanging her son’s laundry in the back garden. “She had a fist and I knew she was going to push me again, she tried to push me.

“She said: ‘I’ll show you,’ and came forward. If I fell on the ground I could have broken my head.”

Usha told the court she heard Murgai tell her husband: “When you’re not here you’ll see what I’ll do to your mum.”

Rakesh slept on a downstairs couch and left his mother in a hotel while he was at work, calling the police eight days later.

Sofa: Usha

“I did not want to call the police, it was my son’s idea,” said Usha. “He couldn’t take it any longer.” 

Rakesh witnessed both assaults and said: “The first time she was shaking and pushing her at the same time.

“The next day in the garden my mum was shouting: ’Please neighbours help me, she’s going to kill me.”

Murgai told the court her husband and his mother physically tried to push her out of the house and twice snatched a phone out of her hand when she tried to call 999.

“It’s a load of nonsense, it’s all lies. I was told in a lie the house was for myself, Rakesh and Andrew.

“She was shouting, swearing and being abusive while she was putting the laundry out. It was a set-up by her, she knows there’s CCTV in the garden.

“That home was a toxic environment and Usha wants to control her son and married life. She sees her life as with Rakesh, she’s married to him.”

The defendant said Usha told her: “I will slit your throat and kill you if you don’t get out of the house.”

Murgai now lives with her mother and has objected to her ex-husband having any contact with Andrew.

District Judge Kamlesh Rana told Murgai, who mow lives on benefits: “An assault on a lady of this age in her own home, where she is entitled to feel safe, must be reflected with some degree of seriousness.”

Murgai, who still protests her innocence, was placed on twelve months probation and also ordered to pay £200 costs and £100 compensation to Usha.

She must also comply with a twelve-month restraining order, prohibiting contact with her mother-in-law and attending the former matrimonial home.

Blackmailer's £10K Benefit Threat Bid Against Ex-Mum-In-Law

A penniless dad, who tried to blackmail his ex-mother-in-law out of £10,000 by threatening to report her for benefit fraud, received a suspended prison sentence today.

David Ward, 32, had a “sense of entitlement” to the 60 year-old woman’s cash, feeling she had done little to financially assist him and his family.

He sent his ex texts including: ‘I want £10,000 off your mum or I’m taking her to the cleaners’, ‘I’m not greedy, she’s got a lot of money’ and ‘If you call the police your mum will go to prison.’

Ward, of Lyham Road, Brixton pleaded guilty to one count of blackmailing Christine Anne Gullefer on May 13 at her home in Felmersham Close, Clapham.

“You must have known you were not entitled to that ten thousand pounds even though it’s said you had a sense of entitlement,” Recorder of Southwark Judge Usha Karu told him.

Inner London Crown Court heard Ward, who has since obtained a welding job, owed £2,600 in rent, plus council tax.

Prosecutor Mr. Peter Lancaster told the court Ward had a seven-year on-off relationship with the victim’s daughter and the couple have a three year-old son.

The court heard they split in May due to the daughter’s infidelity and Ward turned up on the widow mother’s doorstep a week later.

“The victim has health issues, depression and asthma and receives income support a disability living allowance.

“He said he wanted to speak about her daughter and naively she let him in and said she did not want to get involved.

“He raised his voice and said he wanted ten thousand pounds and gave her until six pm or he would contact social services and say she made false claims.

“He said she had not financially supported him, her daughter or their child.”

The victim immediately contacted the police. “When the officers arrived at her house she was in fear and felt intimidated.”

She revealed Ward previously accompanied her to the bank and knew she had savings.

His lawyer Mr. Robin Ghosh told the court: “The complainant was fairly well to do in his eyes and he felt this was unfair.”

Judge Karu sentenced Ward to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two year and ordered him to complete 150 hours community service work.

“This lady has some significant health issues and you took advantage of that by threatening to report her for making a false claim,” she told him.

“You had been to the bank with the mother and knew she did have some savings. 

“She must have been shocked and frightened when in her distressed state a young man turned up on her doorstep and demanded money.”