House Of Lords Advisor Stalked At Her Private Gym By Yoga Classmate

Stalker: Jumshed Khan

A House of Lords advisor was stalked by a “creepy” member of her yoga class at a private gym, where he pestered her with notes and gifts and tried to follow her home.

Cambridge-graduate Roshani Palamakumbura, 38, who has a degree in Political Philosophy and is a policy advisor on EU and foreign affairs was targeted for over two years by herbalist Jumshed Khan, 50.

The full-time carer, of Peabody Estate, Old Pye Street, Westminster was convicted today of stalking Ms Palamakumbura between June 1, 2015 and August 22, last year.

They met at Bannatyne Millbank - owned by former Dragon’s Den star Duncan Bannatyne - located a few minutes from her Westminster office.

Hendon Magistrates Court found Khan made inappropriate comments to Ms Palamakumbura, followed her to the nearby Underground Station and gave her a “strange” and “disturbing” 26-page handwritten letter.

Khan also muscled his way into drinks with her boss, former director of the Refugee Council Lord Dubs, 85, then complained to the court about having to pay.

“I had to pay for the drinks because he wouldn’t cough up, it was two glasses of wine in the Westminster Arms that cost £19.95. I was hoping her was going to pay, but he never did.” 

Lords Advisor: Roshani Palamakumbura

The court heard Khan was angered by her choice of new personal trainer at the gym - a notorious ladies man named ‘Paul’ - and he claimed the pair had concocted the case against him.

“When Roshani began sleeping with Paul they began conspiring together to get me kicked out of the gym. Paul hates me and I think he used Roshani,” claimed Khan.

However, Ms Palamakumbura, a wine expert one employed as a sommelier by Gordon Ramsay, said she lied about the romance to get Khan off her back. “He was shaking, upset, emotional, almost close to tears.

“I did lie to him and said: ‘Yes. I’m sleeping with Paul, we’re in a relationship.’ I thought that was the best way to end things. I had to get him out of my space.

“I began avoiding the gym, I stopped going to yoga and was careful about what I was wearing. I had changed.

“I tried to avoid classes I knew Jay (Khan) would go to and noticed if I started going to a new class he would to or sit outside my pilates class.

“I never went to the sauna again and I felt uncomfortable about going to the swimming pool because I knew he’d be there. I was angry and felt I’d lost control of my life.”

She eventually went to the police on August 22, last year after a yoga class row. “Jay walked in and was extremely angry and said: ‘You’re in my place and you know it.’

“He was seething. It was incredibly scary and he deliberately wanted me intimidated and he was enjoying it.”

That led to the gym banning Khan. “When Jay was banned it changed everything, not having him there.”

Khan claimed the only written paper he gave her was a health drink remedy, however Ms Palamakumbura told the court: “He gave me written pieces of paper and little gifts.

“I made it clear I thought he was a bit of a quack that didn’t know what he was talking about regarding yoga or health.

“He misinterprets slight interest. He has an incapacity to read signals from women and was very interested in giving advice on how I should diet and look.”

Regarding the 26-page letter she added: “It disgusted me at the time. It’s a pathetic unrequited crush.

“The yoga teacher did tell Jay off for staring. How can he tell me I’m wearing too much make-up or my posture is wrong if he’s not staring?

“There was another letter after that, something to my mother and he was begging me to go to dinner or for a drink with him.”

Her gym pal Emma Mackintosh saw the long letter, describing it as “creepy, strange and disturbing,” telling the court: “It was like he was psychoanalysing her, I think he was a bit obsessed with her.”

Khan claimed to be a “devoted friend and confidante” to Ms Palamakumbura. “She would tell me intimate details of her private life and confide in me about other men she was seeing.

“I became more of an advisor and could see she was making a lot of mistakes. She had multiple relationships with men.

“I helped her lose weight and get rid of her spots.”

Prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Bryan said: “He is a classic stalker. He is absolutely obsessed with this young woman, even when she makes it obvious she doesn’t want his attention.”

Bailing Khan until March 19 for a pre-sentence report District Judge John Zani told him: “She made it clear to you that your interest in her was not welcome.

“You did stalk her and all options, not excluding imprisonment, are available."

Met Police Employee Jailed For Exhibit Thefts And Child Porn

A Metropolitan Police employee has been jailed for two years and eight months after a probe into his theft of shotgun cartridges and mobile phones also exposed his fetish for illegal porn.

Adrian Milton, 49, had reported the 300 cartridges and two phones as 'destroyed', but the ammo was found during a police raid on his former address.

The disgraced property officer, of Swallowdale, South Croydon pleaded guilty to stealing the seized evidential items from Croydon Police Station between August 28, 2010 and March 17, 2016.

He also pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing extreme, prohibited and indecent images at his address on March 16, 2016.

Those counts related to pornography involving live animals, plus 46 prohibited images of a child.

Milton also had 446 Category A images of children; 379 Category B and 1675 Category C.

He was arrested on March 17, 2016 at Croydon Police Station, his place of employment after an investigation by the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) into the theft of items from the criminal exhibits store.

Milton was arrested again for the indecent images on June 1, 2016 and charged with all the offences on February 9, last year.

He was suspended from duty and later dismissed.

Detective Sergeant Andy Griffin of the DPS said: "There is no place for dishonesty within the Metropolitan Police Service, and those who breach either the law or the standards expected of officers or police staff will be brought to account.

"During the investigation we also uncovered that Milton had disgusting images of children being abused.

“Demand for these repugnant images fuels abuse and he has rightly been further imprisoned for this offence."

No Jail For £64,000 Kenyan Benefit Cheat Who Masterminded Five-Year Scam

A benefit cheat, who lied she was a struggling single-parent whil secretly living with her husband and sub-letting her council-funded flat during a five-year £64,000 swindle, received a suspended prison sentence yesterday. 

Kenyan-born Gladys O’Brien, 44, collected money from tenants who rented her in-demand flat in Gilbey Road, near Tooting Broadway Underground Station.

She was claiming housing benefit for the property to cover rent to the real landlord while living on the other side of the capital in Lavender Grove, Hackney.

At Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court she received eight months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months.

O’Brien was also ordered to complete 120 hours community service and she is subject to Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings to recover the money. 

Now residing at a family address in

Ibbertson Road, Bournemouth O’Brien pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change in circumstances to the London Borough of Wandsworth.

Between April 26, 2010 and November 8, 2015 she did not inform the council she was in receipt of rental income.

Prosecutor Miss Amanda McCabe told the court: “She was not entitled to that benefit because she was living with her partner at another address.”

O’Brien submitted the housing benefit claim on January 24, 2007 on the basis she was “a single-parent on a low income,” but began renting it out three years later.

“The defendant had not declared she was sub-letting the flat while living with her husband.”

Mum-of-two O’Brien married in 1997, but says she left her husband and successfully applied for a non-molestation order before reconciling and moving back in.

On March 7, last year she was called into a Jobcentre for interview, where she admitted living with her husband.

“She did deny renting out the flat in Gilbey Road and receiving rental payments for it since 2010 and continuing to sign new tenancy agreements with the landlord while sub-letting it.

“She accepted her actions were selfish.”

O’Brien initially repaid Wandsworth Council £1,777 per month until October 30, last year, but that has dropped to £50 per week since February 2 after losing her job.

“She informed the benefits agency she became unemployed.”

Wannabe Model Drunkenly Abused Passengers On Flight After St. Valentine's Getaway

A self-styled model, actress and dancer was met by police as she returned from a romantic St. Valentine’s Day getaway after drunkenly abusing fellow passengers on the flight.

Mum-of-two Parise Leandra Marciano Gale, 27, was so drunk she thought she was still in Marrakesh, Morocco after landing at Gatwick Airport.

The former property lettings agent, of Ifield Road, West Brompton pleaded guilty today to being drunk onboard the EasyJet flight on February 21.

Prosecutor Mr. Mark Kateley told Crawley Magistrates Court: “A few weeks ago there was an incoming EasyJet flight from Marrakesh and this defendant was onboard that aircraft.

“There are reports to the fact she was in a very intoxicated state and quite loud and some passengers told her to be quiet and she responded with unpleasant abuse.

“The police were told there was a drunk female onboard and she was met off the aircraft by police, who recorded her being loud, shouting and extremely inebriated.

“She was so inebriated she was under the impression she was still in Marrakesh and not the UK.”

Gale, who studied performing arts at Hammersmith College, has three previous convictions for assault, receiving a suspended prison sentence in 2016.

Her lawyer James McAllister told the court: “She apologises and expresses her remorse and embarrassment.

“She has anxiety and had stopped taking her medication and was nervous on the flight and got drunk to get through the flight and there was an argument with another passenger that boiled over.

“She was on a St. Valentine’s weekend with her partner of two years Mr. Bashir.”

The court heard Gale is now a full-time carer for her grandmother, who is battling cancer, and has a son, aged seven and a six year-old daughter.

“She is a regular church attender and has discussed this incident with her minister.”

Magistrate Lesley Overington told the emotional Gale: “You know why you’re here. It was not a good thing to get drunk on an aircraft.

“It is a serious offence. Don’t do it again.”

Gale - who could have received up to two years imprisonment if the case was sent to the Crown Court - was fined £115, with £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

“I’ll never do this again,” Gale told the court. “I’m never going to drink on a plane ever again.”

Hotel Awards Entrepreneur Denies Raping Three Women During Rough Role-Playing Fantasies

A Cambridge-educated hotel awards boss raped three young women by taking his desire for rough sex and role-playing fantasies too far, a court heard today.

Edward Gabbai, 30, who runs The World Boutique Hotel Awards, raped a 17 year-old escort, a young Swede and a 23 year-old stranger, Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court was told.

Gabbai, of Thornbury Gardens, Borehamwood, who has a PhD in microbiology and nanoscience, has pleaded not guilty to raping the first two women once and the third a total of three times.

Prosecutor Mr. Simon Russell Flint QC said the first two women had agreed to consensual sex with the defendant that became rape and the third was a drunken woman he took home in a cab.

The jury were played mobile phone footage police seized from the defendant of the third woman on her on her knees in the bathroom of Gabbai’s Battersea house sit in the midst of the alleged rapes.

“It shows a naked girl on her knees, she appears to be distressed and has been assaulted. You can hear the defendant say: ‘Tell me you will do anything I want,’ and see him slap her violently.

“The footage shows him telling her to put her arms behind her back and bottom in the air.

“She can be heard saying: ‘Please don’t, ouch, please don’t, ouch.’”

The first woman was happy to engage in role-play, the jury were told. “The defendant told her he was into fantasies, role-playing, where he would rape someone by forcing an a female as she tried to get away.”

However, one day this went too far, the court heard. “She said to him: ’No, no. Stop, stop.’

“She said to him: ‘No Edward, stop, stop, this isn’t part of the role-play. She was saying it with so much emotion she says he could tell it was not role-playing.

“She was crying from the pain and was in such shock that she says she couldn’t remember the safe word and just shouted out: ‘Safe word, safe word!’ and he stopped.”

The teenager did not report Gabbai to the police at the time.

“This being rough and violent in the course of sexual activity, we say, is a common and repeating theme,” said Mr. Russell Flint. “Edward Gabbai likes to dominate sexually and inflict hurt and violence on those who he engages in sexual activity.”

The second woman was a Tinder date, who did initially consent to sex with Gabbai until she was raped in the bedroom of a Stoke Newington address, the jury were told.

“He picked her up and put her on all fours and started giving her orders as what to do. He pinned down her legs, pushed her down and started to become very aggressive.

“He started strangling so hard she could not breathe, bit her neck and ear so it left a visible mark, turned her head so he could slap her face and pulled her hair.

“He said: ‘That’s my favourite bit.’ She was screaming out and he continued to have sex with her.

“Facial injuries were caused by the defendant beating her up, quite frankly.”

She reported Gabbai to the police after becoming embarrassed about her parents seeing her in such a state and having to cancel her passport picture appointment at the Swedish Embassy.

“He said she liked rough sex. He said he hit her about twelve times, but at no time did she tell him to stop.”

The last complainant had been drinking in Angel and agreed to get in Gabbai’s shared Uber cab at 3.30 because she had no phone power to call her own.

However, once in the address she court heard Gabbai told her in the hallway: “You have got to let me do whatever I want to you.”

She felt vulnerable and intimidated by the “very angry” Gabbai, the court heard. “He pushed her onto the bed and slapped her on both cheeks very hard.

“She started crying immediately and he called her lots of names, like slut,” explained Mr. Russell Flint.

“He pushed down on her neck, she couldn’t breathe, was gasping for breath and she really thought he was going to suffocate her.

“She says she was hysterical, crying and unable to speak and was told: ‘If you cry out or try to go away I’ll make it worse for you.’

“She slapped her face, her bottom, her legs.”

Gabbai raped her three times, said the prosecutor, while instructing her to say she was only twelve years-old and announcing: ‘You’re a little twelve year-old girl.’

Later Gabbai unlocked the front door and took her phone number before she left and the young woman reported him to the police.

When examined she had thirty separate areas of injury.

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

Dumped Dad-Of-Two Dodges Jail For Stalking And Assaulting Ex

Fernando & Angelica

A father-of-two, struggling to accept the end of a thirty-year relationship, received a suspended prison sentence today for stalking his ex at her Harvey Nichols workplace.

Fernando Carmona, 49, a Westgate area manager, turned up at the exclusive Knightsbridge department store in an “aggressive” manner, demanding to see her.

He is now banned from the store after receiving a restraining order.

Colombian-born Carmona, of Quinton House, Wyvil Road, Vauxhall   also made threatening calls, vowing to kill his ex’s new boyfriend.

He pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court to stalking Angelica Montealegre between January 12 and 15.

He was also convicted of assaulting her at the apartment they once shared at Pollard House, Northdown Street, Islington on January 13 by throwing a telephone at her.

Carmona was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and must participate in up to thirty days Probation Service rehabilitation.

Carmona: Leaving Court

He was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order, which prohibits contact with Angelica, visiting the former family home and her workplace.

Carmona was also ordered to pay £200 costs and pay a £115 victim surcharge. 

Prosecutor Mr. Edward Cohen told the court, where Carmona initially appeared in custody: “This is a domestic incident involving a couple whose thirty-year relationship is coming to and end.

“The defendant is not able to move on from that and there are issues that are getting worse by the day.

“He has pleaded guilty to sending abusive voicemails to the victim. They were of a threatening nature, saying that he would kill her new partner.

“This new parter has been a real turning point.

“He turned up at Harvey Nichols demanding to speak to her in an aggressive way.

“He threw a telephone at the complainant after she disclosed she had a new partner.”

Carmona always denied throwing the phone, but was convicted after a trial.

He was described as “very emotional” when questioned by police. “He was not in a calm manner and was in an agitated state,” explained Mr. Cohen.

Rolex Robbery: Vicious Knifeman Wanted

Police hunting a vicious knifeman, who stabbed a middle-aged gent in west London while demanding his expensive Rolex watch, have released this e-fit of the suspect.

At 6.30pm on January 15 the 56 year-old victim was approached outside a pub in Comeragh Road, West Kensington.

The suspect, who was brandishing a knife, demanded the watch and stabbed the man in the arm.

He left empty-handed and fled in the direction of Barons Court Road.

The victim was taken to a west London hospital for treatment and has since been discharged.

The suspect is described as a black male, aged between 28 and 32 years-old, approximately 5ft 9ins - 5ft 10ins tall, of a stocky build, with short tight curly black hair, possibly with a flat top, wearing a dark coloured hooded anorak or hooded parka type coat.

No arrests have been made.

Detective Constable Imran Khan, of Hammersmith and Fulham CID said: "We are appealing for witnesses in the area to come forward. It would have been busy at the time of the incident, someone may have seen something that could assist our investigation.

"The suspect threatened the victim with a distinctive looking knife, with a red handle and red blade.

"We are keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or recognises the description of the suspect issued in the e-fit."

If anyone has any information is asked to contact Hammersmith and Fulham CID on 0208 246 2442 or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Armed Petrol Station Robber Caged For Nine Years

A petrol station robber, who used a BB gun sprayed black to terrify cashiers during a £2,300 two-month spree, has been jailed for nine years.

Reece Whelan, 21, of Arnold Road, Northolt, Middlesex targeted seven north-west London stations

He pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to six counts of robbery and one of attempted robbery, plus seven counts of possessing an imitation firearm.

The court heard Whelan carried out a series of robberies at BP, Shell, Asda and Esso petrol stations in Ruislip, Northolt and Harrow between March 29 and May 18, last year.

Whelan armed himself with a BB gun, which had been sprayed black to make it look like a real handgun, and demanded money from staff.

During two of the robberies, Whelan used violence to steal cash by 'pistol-whipping' the cashiers with the gun after they initially refused to hand over money.

In total, Whelan stole £2,300 as a result of the six robberies.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad identified Whelan as the result of a proactive investigation, which linked him to the series of robberies.

Whelan was arrested at his home address on July 4 and a search of his bedroom resulted in the seizure of the BB gun used in the offences.

During the sixth offence, a piece of the gun had broken off and was recovered from the scene.

The BB gun recovered from Whelan's address had the same piece missing.

Detective Constable Alan Mears, of the Flying Squad, said: "Whelan is a violent criminal who used threats and violence to steal cash from petrol stations.

“He was committing offences at a rate of almost one a week so it was important he was caught as soon as possible."

Detective Chief Inspector Scott Hartley said: "Reece Whelan committed a series of extremely violent offences, causing utter terror to members of staff working at various petrol stations, who were faced with an armed man demanding cash.

“As a result of a diligent and painstaking investigation by the Flying Squad, a violent criminal has been brought to justice and sentenced to a lengthy period in jail."

Dates and locations of robberies:

1. Robbery at BP, Mandeville Road, Northolt on 29 March 2017 at 21:20hrs. Whelan demanded cash from the till. Total of £170 stolen.

2. Robbery at BP, Field End Road, Ruislip on 7 April 2017 at 05:55hrs. Whelan demanded cash from the till which was initially refused. He hit the cashier on the forehead with the firearm causing a small cut. Approximately £250 was stolen.

3. Robbery at BP, Victoria Road, Ruislip on 14 April 2017 at 20:24hrs. Whelan demanded money and stole £668.

4. Robbery at Shell, West End Road, Ruislip on 27 April 2017 at 21:16hrs. Whelan demanded money and stole £300.

5. Robbery at BP, Mandeville Road, Northolt on 9 May 2017 at 21:55hrs. Whelan stole £180 after demanding money from the till.

6. Attempted robbery at Esso, Alexandra Avenue, Harrow on 16 May 2017 at 23:02hrs. Whelan hit the cashier in the face with a firearm causing bruising to his head.

7. Robbery at Asda, Church Road, Northolt, 18 May 2017 at 18:35hrs. Whelan stole £738.

Shopkeeper Stabbed: Youth Hunted

A shopkeeper was stabbed in the leg when he asked a young customer for proof of age when buying cigarettes.

On Monday February 5 two males entered the convenience store in Bounds Green Road, Bounds Green, north London at 9.30pm.

One of them asked for some cigarettes, but when the 32-year-old shop assistant requested proof of his age, the suspect became angry.

He was asked to leave and an altercation occurred as the victim tried to evict the man from the store.

The second man tried to break up the altercation.

Once outside the store, the victim discovered that he had been stabbed in the leg.

The victim was treated at the scene before being taken to a north London hospital.

He has since been discharged.

The suspect is described as black, aged between 15 and 17 years-old, 5ft 9ins tall and of slim build.

He was wearing grey tracksuit trousers, a light grey hooded top, a black jacket with a fur hood, a black baseball cap and grey trainers.

Detective Constable Sarah Ward, from Haringey CID, said: “The shop assistant asked for proof of the suspect’s age and, not wishing to lose the shops licence, he challenged him as he thought he was underage.

He did not expect to be assaulted and stabbed as a result.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Haringey CID on 020 3276 3074 or the police non-emergency line on 101.

Tatler Girl Hon. Lana Palumbo Caught Drink-Driving Near £3.7m Family Home

Photo-Genic

The daughter of millionaire property magnate Baron Palumbo was banned from driving yesterday after police caught her at over twice the drinks limit while speeding from a birthday party at 1.20am with a passenger and without any lights on. 

Hon. Lana Rose Palumbo, 26, daughter of Peter Garth Palumbo, 82, told magistrates she was simply moving her blue Fiat 500 from a single yellow line to a residents parking bay.

She pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court to driving in Collingham Gardens, Chelsea on February 15 with 81 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. 

The legal limit is 35.

She was disqualified for twenty months and fined £520, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £52 victim surcharge.

Lana, who lives in the family’s nearby six-bedroom £3.7m property in Astell Street, told the court: “I made a terrible error of judgement. I was driving my car a short distance, but I was under the influence and I do feel very ashamed and very embarrassed and I’m very sorry.

“I was parked in Old Brompton Road on a single-yellow and the idea was to move the car to a residents bay. My judgement was off, I should have just left the car, but I feared it would be towed away.

“I misjudged how much I consumed and I did not have dinner that night,” she said from behind the glass-panelled secure dock, wearing black jeans, a charcoal-grey crew neck pullover and white shirt.

“I was not even intending to have more than one drink.”

Lana told the magistrates her wallet, money and bank cards were lost that night so she could not pay for a taxi.

She is employed in business development by The Walbrook Club, an exclusive private members club located near the Bank of England in a 1952 Queen Anne-style townhouse built by her property developer grandfather Rudolph Palumbo.

She was educated at £21,000-a year Collingham College, Earl’s Court and studied graphic design at £11,400- year Shillington College in the Square Mile.

Photo Shy

As daughter of a Baron she carries the ’Honourable’ title.

“This matter goes back to the fifteenth of February and it was twenty past one in the morning when police on uniformed patrol on Brompton Road saw a blue Fiat that was, in their opinion, driving above the 30mph speed limit and it did not have any lights on,” said prosecutor Mr. Malachi Packenham.

“They followed and stopped the vehicle and when she opened the window they could immediately smell alcohol. She was asked to step out of the car and was described as smelling of alcohol and unsteady on her feet.”

The court heard she “blew red” at the roadside. “She was brought into custody at charing Cross Police Station.”

Magistrate Mrs Catherine Seddon told her: “I’m sure that you were aware when you entered your plea there was a mandatory period of disqualification. In determining the period of disqualification we took  into account the reading, in this case eighty-one microgrammes in breath.

“In this case what aggravates the offence is that clearly you were driving in a dangerous fashion. The police behind you say you were speeding and you did not have any lights on at the time and you were carrying a passenger.

“We can take into account your remorse is genuine and you were only travelling a short distance.”

She had a full clean driving licence up until this offence and asked to complete the optional drink-drive awareness course to knock twenty weeks off her road ban.

She told the court: “I’m working part-time. I was working with my mother for a month. I’m basically trying to set up something and put a business plan together and I have inheritance.”

“Can I pay this week?” asked Lana. “I was in the process before I was stopped of selling my car. So the car is sold.”

Lana is heiress to a vast multi-million pounds property empire along with her siblings, who include Petra, 28, a fashion model and James, 54, - Lord Palumbo - the Ministry of Sound nightclub and entertainment empire supremo,

She was formerly employed by fashion brand Muzungu Sisters and says her dream is to open cafe in Portobello.

Her father, Eton-educated Oxford University graduate Peter Garth Palumbo, 82, is godfather of Princess Beatrice. 

Baron Palumbo inherited a family trusts with an estimated value of over £135m 

Lana’s mother is Lebanese-born Hayat Morowa, 66.

The family fortune was made by Lana’s grandfather Rudolph, the son of an Italian immigrant, who bought up and developed central London bomb sites after World War Two.

Her father is the ex-polo playing team mate of both Prince Philip and Prince Charles has been described as an arts connoisseur, ultimate society insider and confidant of the royals.

He is said to have given sanctuary to Princess Diana after he separation from Prince Charles at his country pile Bagnor Manor, near Newbury, Berkshire. 

Baron Palumbo graduated with a Master of Arts and from 1976 to 1994 was a governor of the London School of Economics and Political Science.

He was Chairman of the Tate Gallery Foundation, Serpentine Gallery and the Arts Council during the eighties and nineties and was also Chancellor of Portsmouth University. 

Baron Palumbo is an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Structural Engineers, the Faculty of Building and Royal Institute of British Architects.

He was made a life peer on February 4, 1991 with the title Baron Palumbo of Walbrook, City of London.

He has a reputation for big-spending and his three children from his first marriage took him to the High Court, claiming he used the family trust to spend £2.5m on vintage wine; £1.8m on classic cars; £13m on valuable art, plus the purchase of a French chateaux.

Charges Dropped Against Reality TV Superfan Accused Of Harassing BGT's Wayne Woodward

Charges against a “celebrity hugger” reality tv superfan have been dropped on medical grounds after months of court appearances. 

Tania Macintosh, 26, was accused of harassing Britain’s Got Talent runner-up Wayne Woodward and assaulting his sister.

Macintosh, of Hartland Road, Morden was said to have repeatedly asked the 23 year-old singer, who was second in the 2016 series, for a ‘cuddle and a kiss’ at public engagements.

Croydon Magistrates Court heard a thirty-page psychiatric report had been prepared on Macintosh, who has Asperger’s Syndrome.

Macintosh appeared in the dock wearing a t-shirt sporting a photograph of herself hugging X-Factor judge Louis Walsh and carrying a notebook emblazoned with images of Woodward, a photo of whom she also had on her keyring.

She was charged with pursuing a course of conduct amounting to the harassment of Woodward between May 27 and July 8, last year in the Sutton area.

This consists of repeatedly requesting a “cuddle and kiss” at public events knowing he did not wish to and causing damage to his vehicle on June 17 by removing his car’s number plate and turning up unannounced at his address and continually contacting him by telephone.

Macintosh was also charged with assaulting his sister Maxine Woodward in Sutton on July 8 by beating.

Wayne and girlfriend Abbie Jarvis announced in March last year they were having a baby boy, which he intended naming Frank, after his hero Sinatra.

After finishing as runner-up in 2016 to musician Richard Jones he failed to land a deal with Simon Cowell’s label Syco.

Despite this Woodward released the album N.U.M.B and single Animal last summer.

Rotary Club Charity Fraudster Must Pay-Up Or Face Lock-Up

A new Rotary Club member organised a charity skydive and gala dinner to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, but pocketed £7,500 for himself.

Now ex-stockbroker Akbar Siddiqi, 28, has been given a six-month deadline to get himself a job and return a chunk of the money or face going to prison.

He pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between April 27, 2014 and August 3, 2015 while a member of the Tooting club and named on a bank account to be used for charitable purposes.

Siddiqi, of Nutfield Road, Thornton Heath was ordered to return to Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court having repaid at least £3,000 and quit drinking.

“You must get a job, even working in McDonald’s, absolutely anything, you’re an intelligent man,” Judge Judith Coello told him yesterday, deferring sentence.

Prosecutor Carol Summers said: “Nothing has been repaid whatsoever despite him having a substantial amount of time to repay that money and being interviewed twice by police.

“The club itself have had to pay it out of club funds.

“The defendant joined the club in 2014, having been a regular guest for some months and proposed a sky-dive and gala dinner fundraiser.”

Participants collected sponsorship for the sky-dive and tickets were expensive for the Central London dinner at the Connaught Rooms.

Both Siddiqi and Tooting club President Len Saker, who were the account signatories, promoted the sky-dive on Radio Jackie and £15,725 was made from both events.

However, Siddiqi secretly obtained a cash card and made 65 withdrawals totalling £4,105 and used the card to buy alcohol clothes, shoes, pay restaurant and hotel bills, a £638 internet dating site bill and top-up his Oyster card.

Two members even gifted him £250 awards they each received for services to the Rotary Club to cover his admin and time organising the events.

Immediately after the events Siddiqi stopped attending the club and constantly made excuses for not paying the money. 

The club’s treasurer described the fraud as “traumatic” and the cause of a “great deal of distress” saying he felt “let-down and cheated.”

Mr. Saker said: “My initial reaction was amazement and confusion. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”

Siddiqi’s lawyer Gudrun Fama told the court: “He’s a troubled young man and solved his problems with alcohol. Once he started drinking he couldn’t stop.”

Judge Coello told him: “I’m concerned none of this money has been paid back to the Rotary Club. You’ve buried your head in the sand, hoping it will all go away.

“If you do not meet these objectives you will go to prison, but it is better the Rotary Club get their money back and are not out of pocket due to your thoroughly dishonest actions.

“You should be ashamed of yourself.”