Wednesday, 1 November 2017

Drunken Plane Passenger's Bomb Threat

A dunken agitated passenger triggered an emergency after shouting: "Watch him he's got a bomb," when his Qantas plane landed at Heathrow Airport.

Merchant Navy First Officer Laurentiu Streaja, 36, was returning home to Romania following his vessel's journey to New Zealand and was locked-up for a month until his sentencing this week.

There had to be a lock-down of the A380 jet, which had taken-off in Dubai, with no passengers allowed off until a thorough search was completed.

Streaja pleaded guilty to being drunk on board the plane and making a bomb hoax on the September 30, flight.

Uxbridge Magistrates Court remanded him in custody on October 2, where he remained until this Monday's hearing at Isleworth Crown Court.

The court heard Streaja was "agitated" after the plane landed and kept getting out of his seat, despite warnings from cabin crew to remain seated.

He shoved the crew member into another passenger and shouted: "That man's got a bomb. Watch him he's got a bomb."

Streaja had got drunk on red wine during the flight and said he remembered nothing about the incident when questioned by police.

He has served in the Romanian Navy and is now second in command to the ship's captain in his current job, sailing container vessel's all over the world.

Streaja's lawyer told the court of the married dad: "This could have an absolutely devestating effect on his career and his family.

"If he goes to prison that will be the end of his current contract."

His six-month work stint had ended in Auckland and he had been travelling for twenty-seven hours without sleep when he was arrested.

Streaja admits he tried to drink himself to sleep with red wine.

Judge Andrew McDowall told him: "People who get drunk on an aircraft can cause a great deal of trouble and distress although this was in the last stages of the flight that you were misbehaving.

"I don't know what effect this will have on your career, but I'm sure it won't help it."

Streaja was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years. 



Tuesday, 31 October 2017

Severely-Disabled Man Recorded Naked Carers On Secret CCTV Cameras

A disabled man watched his naked young female carers on secret spy cameras, even recording one performing an x-rated live bed show for him with the aid of a sex toy, a court heard yesterday.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy patient Farhan Mian, 32 - who needs 24 hour care - hired Eastern European women and recorded them showering and undressing at his flat, the jury were told.

Mian was able to operate three cameras in his White City flat at in Banstead Court via a computer, which allowed him to zoom in and rotate them 360 degrees.

Two cameras were pointed at the carers’ bed in their private room and their shower, the third was in Mian’s room and there was a fourth short-lived camera hidden in a Playboy Bunny’s eye in their bedroom.

He has pleaded not guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to six counts of voyeurism for the purpose of sexual gratification between 2011 and 2015.

Mian says his nephew installed the cameras as a security measure after he was a victim of a theft and they were not for any gratification.

He can only move his tongue and right thumb and is usually bed-bound, but can operate a computer to communicate and is transported to court in a wheelchair that also assists his breathing.

Police were called and found the recordings after another carer, who had only been there five days, found a secret camera on September 3, 2015.

Prosecutor Mr. Tim Starkey told the jury three young women, from Poland and Latvia, were hired by Mian, who is funded by the NHS to arrange his own care.

The first carer was employed between 2010 and 2012. “The camera is pointed towards her and follows her to the shower and zooms in.

“She was unaware she was being filmed and did not consent.”

Another seven recordings were found on Mian’s computer, including her undressing, using the toilet and intimately shaving herself.

In June, 2011 she returned after a two-week break. “She saw two Playboy Bunny’s attached to her bed and one of the eyes was a camera.”

“She complained and Mr. Mian said words to the effect of: ‘It’s my property, I can do what I want.’

“She was upset and he offered to pay her three thousand pounds to keep quiet about the camera.”

The woman called the police, but she did not make a statement and there was no further action.

The second woman worked for Mian between 2011 and 2016. “He offered her cash to masturbate in front of him.

“He recorded her in his bedroom, where she undressed and had a sex toy and went to kiss him.

“She lay on his bed and stroked her vagina with her fingers, but did not consent to him recording her doing this.”

Police found recordings of the third woman, who was employed for fourteen months from January, 2015, sitting on her bed stripped to the waist.

“She said it must have been just after she had taken a shower and said Mr. Mian frequently spoke to her in a sexually inappropriate way.

“He bought her a bikini to wear when she showered him and bought her a short Ann Summers dress.

“He said his carers often gave him ‘extras’ which she took to believe as sexual favours.”

Mr. Starkey added: “The cameras were installed specifically with the purpose to allow these acts of voyeurism to take place.

“He told the police he was a victim of theft and got his nephew to install the cameras.”


However, the jury were told some of the recordings were made before his claim a Bulgarian carer stole £300 from him in 2014.

Trial continues…………  

Monday, 30 October 2017

Off-Duty BA Employee Denies Groping Sleeping Passenger During Long-Haul Flight

Speak: Denies Grope
A drunken off-duty British Airways cabin crew employee groped a sleeping business-class passenger after catching the man’s eye on a long-haul flight to Bangkok, a court heard.

Paul Speak, 47, is accused of touching the man between the legs at least twice and dramatically fainting on board the BA plane when the complaint was reported to him. 

“I believe I said: ‘What the f*** are you doing? Stay away’,” the passenger told Isleworth Crown Court.

Travelling alone, the man claims he caught Speak looking at him earlier. “It was a stare straight to me and a smile.”

He recalled three touches as he dozed in his seat. “The first time was the feeling of a light breeze on my thigh.

“I felt it again and saw the same guy walking back to his seat. “It was a light touch on my thigh, the inner thigh.

“Something happened again and I caught the hand. It was in the crotch area.”

The passenger says his penis was touched above his clothing.

“He mumbled and stumbled. I saw embarrassment on his face, shocked that he had been caught.

“I think that he might have been drunk.”

Prosecutor Miss Kathy Hirst told the jury: “The complainant, who was travelling alone, noticed another gentleman in a distinctive pink shirt walked down the aisle and ‘clocked’ him.

“There was eye-contact and he held his gaze.”

She said the the first incident occurred four hours after taking off from Heathrow, with Speak, a BA employee, using his staff points to fly.

“On two occasions the complainant says he was touched above clothing on his penis.

“He was woken by someone running his hand over his thigh area, near his crotch.

“He raised his eye mask and saw the man in the pink shirt retreating.

“It happened again forty minutes later. The hand went up towards his waistband and it seemed to be prolonged.

“He saw the same man in the pink shirt walking up the aisle.”

The passenger reported Speak to the cabin crew and a member of staff spoke to the defendant.

“It was obvious to her he was drunk and she told him a complaint had been made.

“His eyes rolled and he fainted and fell to the floor.”

Speak, who denies touching the passenger, was questioned by police on his return to the UK.

“He disputed he assaulted the complainant and accepted he was wearing a pink shirt.

“He said he forgot to take his medication for high blood pressure and had a few drinks before take-off and took a sleeping pill.

Speak, of Hawkes close, Langley, Slough has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault on October 12, last year.

Trial continues……….

Sunday, 29 October 2017

Park Rapist Who Pounced On 17 Year-Old Girl Gets Life

A rapist, who befriended a 17 year-old girl in a park after asking her for a cigarette light, has been caged for a minimum of sixteen years.
Otis Morrow, 38, of High Road, Leyton persuaded the youngster to assist him moving items in nearby Jubilee Park, where he raped her in a secluded area.
Snaresbrook Crown Court placed him on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely when passing a life sentence.
The court heard that at 7.12pm on Wednesday, April 19, police were called by the girl, who was found in the park in a distressed and dishevelled state.
She said Morrow approached her in the park and asked for a light for a cigarette.
They both sat together and talked and he asked her to assist him with moving some items in the park, which she agreed to.
Once they were in a secluded area of the park, Morrow pushed the teenager to the floor, sexually assaulted her and then raped her.
Detectives from the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command attended and were able to identify Morrow from her description.
Two hours later Morrow was arrested and taken to an east London police station where he was charged.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Henry Marshall, said: “This was a horrible attack on a girl who innocently wanted to help Morrow when he asked for help.
He abused her trust, deceived and then caused her further physical and psychological harm.
I hope the sentence served will allow her to move on with her life and be a warning to those intent on causing harm to others.”

Saturday, 28 October 2017

Late-Night East London Assault: Race Attack?

Police are hunting a thug who battered this victim outside a Marks & Spencer's in east London.
Police were called to George Lane, Woodford at 2.08am on October 22 after the 30 year-old man was found unconscious.
He had suffered serious head injuries and was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital.
The suspect, a five-foot, seven inch tall black male was last seen leaving in a grey car after walking towards South Woodford Station.
He had short hair that was longer on top and was wearing a dark top and dark-coloured jeans.
A group of teenagers - who were standing nearby - are believed to have recorded the attack on their phones before driving off in a black car.
Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to call the East Area Reactive Investigations Unit via 101 or tweet @MetCC.
Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Friday, 27 October 2017

Nanny Who Downloaded Indecent Pics Of Kids Back In Court

A children’s nanny, who downloaded child porn images, was was told by a Crown Court judge today to attend a Probation Service meeting.

Elliana Ede-Borrett, 23, of Sumner Road, Croydon, who says she was prompted by an unknown person to obtain the sick images, was bailed to return on November 10.

She appeared at Inner London Crown Court, where the judge told her: “You must co-operate with the probation service and get to the meeting and get this report prepared.”

When she returns the court should have completed pre-sentence and psychiatric reports.

Ede-Borrett had already pleaded guilty at her first appearance at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court to three counts of making indecent images of children between September 23, 2015 and May 3, last year.

These relate to 12 Category A images - the most serious - 18 Category B images and 17 Category C images.

The first-time offender has lived in a hostel for vulnerable adults since her arrest in May, last year.

None of the images relate to the children she was looking after.

Thursday, 26 October 2017

Pensioner Neighbour-From-Hell Flooded Downstairs Flat During Dispute

A violent neighbour-from-hell pensioner has been convicted of deliberately flooding her long-suffering partially-sighted downstairs neighbour by overflowing her kitchen sink.

Susanne Crew, 71, damaged the floors and walls of Marc Costantini, 55, during a long-running feud.

She has now effectively been sentenced by a court to a ban on overflowing the kitchen sink at her flat in Cranes Park, Surbiton.

Crew was convicted at Wimbledon Magistrates Court of two counts of causing criminal damage to Mr. Costantini’s flat on August 7 and April 14.

She was also convicted of harassing Mr. Costantini between April 9 and April 14 by stamping on her floor day ad night, flooding him and keeping her TV on at a loud volume.

Crew was also found guilty of causing criminal damage to a cell mattress she urinated on at Kingston Police Station on August 7.

The convictions put her in breach of a conditional discharge she received on February 17 at the same court for assaulting Mr. Costantini, who she punched in the face with a bunch of keys.

Crew shouted: “I’m innocent,” from the dock yesterday as prosecutor Mr. Ciaran Cronin told the court Mr. Costantini called the police on April 14.

“They observed water coming down from the flat above and went up and observed that Crew had put the plug in the kitchen sink and water was spilling over and down to Mr. Costantini’s flat.

“She was asked to turn the water off and she said she liked to turn on the taps to annoy Mr. Costantini.

“She would put the taps on at various different hours she told the police and would turn the TV up loud.”

Police were called again by Mr. Costantini on August 7. “There was the same overflowing sink and water going down to his flat causing damage to the wall and carpet below.”

They arrested Crew, who told police: “I did what I did because he’s up to no good downstairs.”

She urinated on her cell mattress at the police station. “She said: ‘I don’t like using the loo’s here because other people have used them.’

“In August, last year she knocked on Mr. Costantini’s door and hit him in the face with a set of keys.

“He sustained a graze to his left cheek and she shouted that she was going to have him because he turned the TV up.

“She told him: ‘Next time I’ll turn up with a knife.’

“On an earlier date she hit his front door with a broomstick, causing minor damage.”

Crew shouted from the dock: “Lies! He assaulted me badly. I’ve her assaulted anyone in my life.”

Her lawyer Mr. Ovais Kadri told the court: “She does continue to deny the charges. She has a fragile disposition.

“She is proud of her flat, she’s had a flat there for a long time.”

Deputy District Judge Abdel Sayed said: “She’s made the complainant’s life a misery and breached the conditional discharge.

“I think there is a big risk of this continuing.

“These are very serious incidents. This is escalating, increasing in frequency.

“His enjoyment of his property is seriously undermined.”

The judge sentenced Crew to a twelve-month community order with a prohibited activity requirement, namely not to overrun her taps or contact Mr. Costantini.

She was also fined £50, with £100 costs and ordered to pay an £85 victim surcharge and pay the police £126.96 for the damaged blanket.

Wednesday, 25 October 2017

Barrister Porsche Tragedy: Driver Charged

Michael Sunnooman
A property investor, charged over the death of 64 year-old barrister David Batcup, who was struck by a Porsche as he left a legal charity gig, appeared in court for the first time today.

Michael Sunnooman, 52, of Deal Road, Tooting was bailed unconditionally by Wimbledon Magistrates Court to appear at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing on November 22.

He indicated a not guilty plea to one charge of causing death by dangerously driving a white 3.4 litre Porsche 911 in Bedford Hill, Balham on September 13, last year. 

Part-time judge Mr. Batcup had just left the Law Rocks battle-of-the-bands event at the Bedford pub, where staff from firms including Harbottle and Lewis, Mishcon de Reya and 1ITL performed.

He was struck at 10.18pm and thrown twenty feet as he crossed the road and was pronounced dead at the scene

David Batcup
The 16 year-old vehicle, worth around £18,000, was found abandoned nearby.

Mr. Batcup worked for over thirty-five years in criminal courts on high-profile cases including murder, money-laundering, drug dealing and sexual abuse.

He graduated from University College London and was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1974, where he retied from role of head of chambers in 2000 to take up his Crown Court judge role.

Tuesday, 24 October 2017

Ex-Cop Turned Rogue Trader Must Repay Customers Or Face Going To Prison

A disgraced ex-police officer turned rogue trader, who ripped-off homeowners he charged £112,900 for shoddy work, has been given five months to save himself from prison.

Plumber Steven Trendell, 41, who admitted fraudulent overcharging, resigned from the Met a decade ago when prosecuted for moonlighting while on sick leave.

He appeared at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court today, where Judge Andrew Campbell told him: “I’ll put sentencing off for five months to see how much you have repaid.

“It has to be written confirmation or I won’t believe you. Your sentence will depend significantly on whether I think you have made proper efforts to repay.”

Trendell ,of Monks Green, Fetcham, Leatherhead pleaded guilty to participating in a fraudulent business, namely Home Edge Plumbing & Heating, between August 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015.

The charge relates to work at two properties in Evesham Terrace, Surbiton for two loft conversions and an extension and trading standards say the overcharging equalled £51,200.

He also pleaded guilty to making a false representation to the occupiers of a house in Ravenscar Road, Surbiton, namely that he provided a genuine gas safety certificate and was FENSA-registered.

“We have lost our entire life savings and are in serious debt and could lose our home,” said Seb and Serena Riemann, of Evesham Terrace, who paid Trendell £57,200.

The loft extension of their £800,000 home needed to be ripped down and rebuilt and the extension re-roofed, with an extra £30,000 needed to put things right.

The Evesham Terrace Properties
The front door did not close properly, the hall floor was rising, the staircases did not comply to regulations, sink waste drained into their dishwasher and the drains were unfinished.

Their next-door neighbours also hired Trendell, who told them he was a former soldier, who served in Bosnia and protected the US President and other VIP’s for the Met’s protection division.

The court heard Trendell claimed he retired from the force on medical grounds and not because he received a suspended prison sentence for deception in 2006.

They paid him a total of £55,700, but an independent expert valued the work at £17,500 with more money needed to complete the project.

He lied to another couple he was FENSA-registered - a window-fitting competency scheme - when charging £40,000 to convert their property to a single dwelling. 

Trendell also left behind a bogus gas safety certificate and when investigated by the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames refused interview requests.

He was also sacked by his solicitors because he refused to pay them and fought the case until shortly before his trial was due to begin.

Regarding the Riemann’s Judge Campbell told him: “There is no doubt the effects have been devastating and they had to borrow money from relatives.

“It’s a trail of destruction and they’ve suffered torment.”

Trendell told the court: “I’m truly sorry for what happened. Given the opportunity I’d like to pay them back. I acted irrationally and irresponsibly.”

He said his kitchen-fitting company made £80,000 profit in the last financial year.

Judge Campbell told him: “I’m not making any promises. You may well still receive an immediate custodial sentence, but if you make a reasonable start to paying-off the money the length of that sentence will be reduced.”

Monday, 23 October 2017

Domestic Street Assault: Man Convicted

A thug has been convicted of a domestic assault in which a woman was throttled, slapped and pushed onto a car's bonnet in front of her child.
Saif Uddin, 27, of Alexandra Park Road, Wood Green pleaded guilty to the attack halfway through his trial.
Snaresbrook Crown Court heard Uddin had an argument with the victim, who he knew, in Fairfield Road, Bow on December 27, last year.
Witnesses said Uddin grabbed the woman round the throat and slapped her during the dispute and he also pushed her onto the bonnet of a parked car.
Officers arrested him a short while after the incident and he initially denied the assault.
However, after contesting the case Uddin pleaded guilty to one count of assault and was conditionally discharged for 18 months. 
Detective Sergeant Rob Brown of Tower Hamlets Community Safety Unit said: "Uddin lost his temper following a dispute and lashed out at this woman, subjecting her to a violent and sustained attack.
“His actions were compounded by the fact that a young child was present during the attack and would have been well aware of the distress caused."

Sunday, 22 October 2017

Rapist Gets 8 Years After DNA Nails Him Nearly Two Decades Later

A rapist has been caged for an attack nearly twenty years ago after DNA he gave after a recent arrest identified him.
Andrew Boys, 52, of Reading Road, Sutton posed as a legitimate mini-cab driver in central London and picked-up the then 26 year-old victim.
Southwark Crown Court heard he pulled over in Bagleys Lane, Fulham during the journey to the woman's home in February 1998.
He raped the woman on the back seat of his vehicle threatening to “dump her in the river” if she tried to escape his clutches.
After the attack, Boys drove the victim home and she contacted the police.
An initial investigation failed to identify a suspect, but the breakthrough came years later when Boys was finally arrested for an unrelated matter.
In 2015, a DNA review of forensic evidence gathered at the time of the attack gave a positive match to Boys.
He was arrested at his home on December 3, 2015 and charged with rape and false imprisonment.
He fought the case, but a jury convicted him of rape and the charge of false imprisonment was ordered to lie on file.
He was sentenced on the same day to eight years imprisonment.
Detective Sergeant Gemma Robb, of the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command said: "The fact that this attack happened nearly twenty years ago acted as no barrier to us in our pursuit of Boys.
I hope this sentencing encourages victims that no matter how much time has past, we will continue to pursue those responsible.
I trust that Boys’ conviction can help the woman he attacked to move on from her horrific ordeal.

“Anyone who has been the victim of such an attack should contact police and report the crime, you will be believed and you will be supported."

Saturday, 21 October 2017

NOT GUILTY: Visiting Businessman Cleared Of City Hotel Rape Claim

A Glasgow businessman was found not guilty yesterday of the hotel room rape of a drunken young woman during a trip to London. 

Privately-educated graduate William Paton, 30, was accused of taking advantage of the 26 year-old City worker on March 4, last year after she downed brandy and wine all evening.

Yesterday at Blackfriars Crown Court the Crown Prosecution Service announced they would not be seeking a retrial and offered no evidence against the absent Mr. Paton.

Earlier this month a jury failed to reach a verdict in relation to the case.  

Paton, of Fruin Avenue, Newton Mearns, who attended £12,00 a-year Hutcheson’s Grammar School and is a mathematics graduate of the University of Strathclyde was attending a black-tie event at a City of London livery company.

His family run a nationwide company involved in the insurance and maintenance of taxis and private-hire vehicles. 

He always denied one count of rape and protested his innocence throughout the week-long trial, insisting the complainant had consented to sex.

Both Paton and the complainant told the court they had little recollection of the evening, but the woman claims she woke up at the Holiday Inn, Cavell Street, Whitechapel to find the defendant having sex with her.

“The next thing I remember was being rocked and seeing someone there, I freaked out,” she told the jury. “I did not know if it was real or not and I remember crying in the toilet. I scared myself that I could drink that much.”

She told the court she was “eight out of ten” on a scale of total inebriation, having started on cranberry juice at noon and progressing to double brandy and coke, plus wine.

Paton told the jury he had little recollection of the evening, but stressed: “I would never, ever take advantage of a woman. There’s absolutely no way that I would rape any woman.”

Friday, 20 October 2017

City Fund Manager Denies Fake Porno Frame-Up Of Female Colleague

Davide Buccheri Outside Court
A City investment fund manager today denied creating pornographic images of a young female colleague to discredit her to bosses, 

Italian Davide Buccheri, 25, was employed by the M&G Group - part of financial giants Prudential - where academic high-achiever Rebecca Baker, 22, also worked.

He appeared at City of London Magistrates Court, where he pleaded not guilty to one count of harassing Durham University graduate Ms Baker at the 5 Laurence Pountney Hill HQ between September 9, 2016 and May 29, this year.

The charge accuses Buccheri of obtaining images from Ms Baker’s social media accounts and editing them with pornographic images of females of similar appearance and informing her employer of the images to discredit her.

He will return for an all-day trial on December 21 and was bailed on condition he does not contact Ms Baker a HR department ex-colleague and any employee of M&G Group.

Prosecutor Miss Sonya Foxsmith told the court: “The complainant, Ms Baker, at the relevant time was an intern with the company and met Mr. Buccheri, who worked at the firm.

“He made romantic advances towards her that were rejected and she made a complaint to the HR department.”

Ms Baker left the company for a short time before beginning full-time work as post-grad employee.

“Mr. Buccheri uploaded number of images of Ms Baker with females of similar appearance that were pornographic that he obtained from the internet.

“They were edited and cropped by Mr. Buccheri to make it look like Ms Baker and that is placed in a gallery showing genuine images of Ms Baker.

“These were revealed to the HR department by Mr. Buccheri via the ‘Whistleblower’  scheme.

Academic: Rebecca Baker
“It is a planned and sophisticated approach to cause her distress.

“During a police search various items of computer equipment were seized from his address, particularly a laptop which was interrogated that brings very strong evidence against Mr. Buccheri.”

The court heard the online gallery was created by an account called ‘Flying Gerbil’ registered in Buccheri’s name, with the same date of birth.

“It can be proved this defendant created these galleries with the sole intention to harass Ms Baker.

“It would fall to Mr. Buccheri to explain who, but him had access to creating that gallery.

‘The harassment covers a wider period because of his first romantic advances towards Ms Baker.

“The misconduct began when he was an intern.”  

Buccheri was employed as a Fund Manager Assistant for twelve months up until August, this year after completing the company’s Investment Graduate Scheme.
City HQ: M&G Group

A finance and equities and annuities specialist, Buccheri joined the company as an investment graduate in September, 2015.

He obtained a Master of Science, Finance from The London School of Economics and Political Science and is a graduate of Milan’s Universita Bocconi.

History grad Ms Baker left 800 year-old Colchester Royal Grammar School, where she was Female Head of House, with five Grade A* A-Levels.

Originally from Stoke-by-Clare, Suffolk she was also an academic high-achiever at Colchester County High School, which she left with twelve GCSE’s at A*.

Like Buccheri she became a permanent employee at M&G Group after joining their investment graduate scheme and began full-time last month.

Founded in 1931 as Municipal & General Securities Company Limited, the firm launched the first ever unit trust that year.