Mother And Son Accused Of "Death By Fire" Chants At 'Witch' Neighbour

Mother and son born again Christians, accused of harassing their young mum neighbour with ‘death by fire’ chants, told a court today they were protecting themselves against witchcraft.

Leonora Joseph, 76, and her son Mark Joseph, 56, claim their neighbour, who has a young child, is possessed by the devil.

The Joseph’s, of Cromwell Road, Wimbledon have both pleaded not guilty to harassing neighbour Samantha Ginsburg on August 27, last year.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard they shouted and chanted: ‘death to Samantha’ and ‘death by fire’ outside the converted property despite previous police harassment warnings.

Today District Judge Andrew Sweet set a new trial date for March 28.

Mrs Joseph told him from the dock: “We are born-again Christians. This witchcraft is not practised openly and in past times they were burned at the stake. 

“The devil is the deceiver. He does everything in secret.

“They are always accusing the person they have attacked and they now use witchcraft as entertainment, magic.”

Mrs Joseph told the court she was simply quoting Psalm 94 Verse 1 of the Bible to protect herself from witchcraft.

Her son told the court they were living in “relative peace” with Samantha and her partner as neighbours for seven years until mysterious things began happening.

“There was a deterioration in our living standards that we have not experienced before.”

He claimed his mother was struck by a mysterious life-threatening illness in 2016. “Her vital signs were shutting down for a minute or so.

“For the first time in her life she had to go to hospital for a life or death issue.

“Over a period of time she was unable to walk. She was virtually bedridden for months, unable to go to the bathroom because she had becomes weak.

“There were a number of sicknesses and there was no diagnosis.”

Mr. Joseph said his mother spent 18 days in hospital. “They were unable to work out what was wrong with her.

“Now, thanks to God, she is able to move around and had her health.”

Regarding the charges he added: “This is a spiritual matter, not something that can be dealt with by any court of law or the police.

“We had been praying the word of God as our only defence, reading from the word of God. This is our way of dealing with it spiritually.”

Blackmailer Demanded £1,000 From Boyfriend

A woman who made a £1,000 blackmail demand against her boyfriend – threatening to continue a bogus assault claim to police – received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Joanne Singh, 33, of Southfield Road, Enfield claims there was no financial motive behind her actions, insisting she was trying to protect her own safety.

She pleaded guilty to blackmailing the man between March 1 and May 29, last year and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Singh must also complete a probation-ordered rehabilitation activity requirement of up to forty-five days.

Southwark Crown Court Judge Nicholas Lorraine-Smith told the first-time offender, who has been diagnosed as bipolar: “You are a vulnerable who needs to take care of herself.”

The court heard she has a background of psychotic episodes and was diagnosed with depression in 2014.

“Throughout your relationship you were not taking your medication,” the judge told Singh. “Your relationship was obviously pretty volatile and both of you say the other was at times controlling and he had autism.

“Blackmail is always treated seriously. When you demanded the money you said it was for a security and insurance against physical harm.

“This is a very odd offence of blackmail, not motivated by the usual financial motive,” the judge added. “It was a horrible, terrible ordeal that you subjected him to.

“You pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and expressed remorse to me in a letter and to the psychiatrist.”

NOT GUILTY: German Couple Cleared Of Stalking Ex-Neighbours

100% Innocent: Christoph & Sylvia Hons

A vegetarian couple, accused of stalking their ex-neighbours after claiming they endured intense “rotten meat” cooking smells from next-door, were yesterday cleared by a jury.

Senior restaurant sommelier Christoph Hons, 50, a wine and beverage expert at Mayfair’s Park Chinois and wife Sylvia Hons, 45, an architectural technician walked free from Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

The jury, which had been reduced to ten because the anticipated four-day trial lasted eleven days, found them not guilty by a 9-1 majority.

The German couple, who wasted £5,000 pursuing a civil claim against former neighbours Scott Lawrence and his wife Jessica Parker, insisted they always had their phones at the ready to record potentially anti-social behaviour. 

The Hons’, of Westmorland Close, St. Margarets, Twickenham always denied stalking the couple in the local area by filming them on their phones between January 15 and April 29, last year.

They were accused of filming their former next-door neighbours while observing from local cafes and as they ran past with the Bearcat Running Club.

Both couples ended up filming each other with their phones and Go-Pro’s and Christoph, whose home is equipped with multiple CCTV cameras, was issued with a police harassment warning along with his wife and Mr. Lawrence.

Commuter Admits Distributing Racially-Offensive Pokemon-Themed Stickers

A commuter placed racially-offensive Pokemon-themed stickers demanding the deportation of muslims as he travelled around London, a court heard today.

Company director Neil Froggatt, 48, admitted sticking them on London Underground walls as well as local noticeboards and other locations around the capital.

“You pleaded guilty to these matters, which the court considers serious,” Blackfriars Crown Court Judge Ian Darling told the first-time offender, who was bailed until March 11 for sentencing.

A previous hearing was told one sticker read: ‘Gotta catch and deport them all.’

Froggatt, of Stroudes Close, Worcester Park, Kingston-upon-Thames pleaded guilty to racially and religiously-aggravated criminal damage between November 16 and November 29, 2016.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing articles, namely the stickers, with intent to destroy property between November 16 and December 2, 2016.

“There is clearly going to have to be reports. All options are open,” added the judge.

The court heard Froggatt placed the stickers on a wall and stairway at Kennington Underground Station; a Tesco’s cashpoint in Worcester Park; a Sutton council noticeboard; the Plough Inn pub, Kingston and a Martins Newsagents noticeboard in Old Malden.

At the end of 2016 there were reports of racist Pokemon-themed stickers being plastered on tubes, trains and buses all over London.

One featured former US president Barack Obama, described as: ‘USA’s Muslim in Chief who has protected Islamic causes over those of the rest of the world.’

Another was of ‘Ginger Jihadi’ Jordan Horner, dubbed on the stickers as: ‘Gingermo’, whose weakness was being ‘allergic to sunlight.’

Also featured on the cards was London Mayor Sadiq Khan - worth the maximum 200 ‘terror points’ - and convicted hate preacher Anjem Choudary.

A website openly sought recruits to distribute the stickers, which were also seen in West Berkshire and at an M6 service station near Knutsford, Cheshire.

The court did not go into detail concerning which particular stickers Froggatt distributed and had in his possession.

Boozy Plane Passenger Jailed

An Great Yarmouth plane passenger was jailed for six months on Friday for being drunk onboard a Gulf Air flight from Bahrain to Heathrow Airport.

However, Karl Foster, 37, of Kings Road, Gorleston remains at liberty after jumping bail and failing to appear for his trial.

He was convicted in his absence by an Isleworth Crown Court jury of being drunk on flight GF007 on February 2, last year and a warrant remains for his arrest.

Foster did appear via videolink from his local magistrates court at a pre-trial hearing, where his frustration with the case was obvious.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and asked: “How can I take action against the airline for failing in its duty of care?

“All because I had one pint in Bahrain? This is a waste of resources, money. It's stupid.

“Someone has a mental breakdown on a plane and they are charged. Is that it?

“This is absolutely ridiculous. I spent three weeks in India after someone was run over in front of me by my taxi driver.

“I was tired, I was fragile, I had not slept for three weeks. They filled me with vodka and I had a meltdown.”

When told the jury trial would go ahead Foster said to the judge: “Five times I asked for help and now I'm asked to shell out s***loads of money.

“How do I take the airline to court? Why am I being screwed over and my life turned upside down?”

He was also sentenced to an extra fourteen days to run consecutively to the six months for breaching his bail.

Wife Accused Of Stalking Claims Lawyer Told Her To Have Phone: "At The Ready"

Christoph & Sylvia Hons

A vegan woman and her vegetarian husband, accused of stalking their former neighbours, told a jury she always had her phone at the ready to record their anti-social behaviour.

Architectural technician Sylvia Hons, 45, and her husband Christoph Sons, 50, a senior restaurant sommelier, claim they were tormented by meat cooking smells from next-door.

The German couple wasted £5,000 pursuing a civil claim against former neighbours Scott Lawrence and his wife Jessica Parker, who they say harassed them.

The Hons’, of 16 Westmorland Close, St. Margarets, Twickenham have pleaded not guilty to stalking the couple in the local area by filming them on their phones between January 15 and April 29, last year.

“We were filming in anticipation of something that might happen, that another incident may occur,” Sylvia told the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury.

“We were anticipating something might happen to us,” she added. “The history is Scott Lawrence has followed me down the street.

“It was natural every time I’d leave the house or station to have the phone on record in anticipation of being shouted at or their dog coming up to me.

“He had followed me down the street menacingly before and my solicitor said: ‘Have your mobiles on and ready, but don’t give anyone any reason for thinking you are stalking unless something very dramatic happens.’

“There were also noises and shouts made at our cats at our end window, where you could hear communication.

“We thought our cats were being targeted.

“We wanted to have a normal life without having to film and be anxious,” Sylvia told the court. 

“He once started following me with a menacing grin in St. Margaret’s. That had never happened to me before and I hid behind a van and called police 101.

“I panicked.”

Both couples ended up filming each other with their phones and Go-Pro’s and Christoph, whose home is equipped with multiple CCTV cameras, was issued with a police harassment warning along with his wife and Mr. Lawrence.

Trial continues………..

MBE Entrepreneur Caught Drink-Driving After Triggering Alarm At £1.8m Home

Not A Fit Up: Tandon Leaving Court

A respected entrepreneur awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List was caught by police over twice the drinks limit after returning to his luxury home with more alcohol.

Garage forecourt tycoon Balraj Tandon, 59, was so drunk he mistakenly triggered his own burglar alarm when leaving in his Mini Cooper, prompting officers to attend the £1.8m house.

Yesterday he was fined £200, with £85 costs, plus a £30 victim surcharge and disqualified from driving for 12 months - 10 months less than the guidelines recommend for such a high reading.

Tandon has previously said he was “absolutely overjoyed” when his MBE award for services to business and the community was announced.

He arrived in the UK as a Ugandan refugee in 1975 and said he was particularly thrilled because the award “came from the Queen,” adding: “We are royalists and we love her so much.”

The father-of-four admits he burst into tears on hearing of the honour.

Nicked In Driveway: Tandon's Luxury Home

“Clearly this offence is completely out of character,” announced District Judge Julie Cooper at Croydon Magistrates Court. “I have to take into account your exceptional good character.

“Throughout your entire life you have exhibited a drive to help others and these actions are very much out of character, so I am stepping away from the guidelines.”

Tandon, of Fitzjames Avenue, Croydon - co-owner of the nationwide ‘Park & Shop’ franchise - pleaded guilty to driving with 89 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath on January 30.

The legal limit is 35.

Prosecutor Mr. Jason Seetal told the court it was 5pm when officers attended the address to reports of a burglar alarm going off.

“They noticed a Mini Cooper with the defendant inside and saw him stumbling out of the car so approached him and he fell backwards onto the boot of the vehicle.

“They noticed a strong smell of alcohol and as they tried to talk to the defendant he ignored the officers and tried to walk past them as they asked if he had been drinking.”

Driving Ban: Tandon

Tandon claims due to the noisy burglar alarm and his ear wax condition he could not hear the officers and was not deliberately ignoring them.

His lawyer, Ms Williams, who refused to give her first name, told the court: “There are no aggravating features, but significant mitigating features.

“His sister very sadly has cancer of the oesophagus and he found out that day she had surgery and there was an infection and was very unwell.

“He arrived home alone and was very distressed and started drinking some alcohol and then made the very short drive to his local off-licence to buy more alcohol.

“He did not set the security alarm properly so the alarm went off.”

Tearful Tandon’s supporters packed the courtroom and Ms Williams added: “His whole community have come today and he feels he has let his community down and the police and the court down.

“He wants me to emphasise his own shame and the fact that he has stopped drinking since this.

“He is someone of exceptionally good character and runs fifty sites around the UK with his company model investing in young people and investing in their careers and starting out in business.

“It is a family business started by his parents and because he has sites around the UK the disqualification will have a significant impact.”

After working for his father at a single garage the family now have a business with a £200m annual turnover. 

Tandon is proud of raising over £50,000 for cancer research by donating the 5p plastic bag charge his shops collect.

He is a trustee of charity the Friends of Baale Mane, founded in 2001 to combat the exploitation of girls’ labour in India and a trustee of Wandsworth’s Hindu Society Centre.

“What he has done is inexcusable and he has a determination never to be here again. This is wholly out of character,” said Ms Williams.

As he left the dock Tandon told the court: “I am very sorry.”

Drunk Newcastle United Yob Threw Plastic Beer Bottle At Young Crystal Palace Star

Court In The Act: Mahoney

A drunken football yob, who threw a plastic Carlsberg bottle at young Crystal Palace star Aaron Wan-Bissaka, hopes his ambition to became a Prison Officer will not be effected by the conviction.

Floor layer Anthony Mahoney, 31, had consumed a dozen beers while travelling with Newcastle United supporters for their away match in south London.

The green bottle he hurled from the Arthur Waite stand at Selhurst Park made contact with the highly-rated right-back, who fortunately received no injury.

The incident was caught on camera and was circulated on social media, leading to the identification of Mahoney, who was so drunk he doesn’t remember it.

Mahoney, of Stephenson House, Stephenson Street, North Shields, Tyne and Wear pleaded guilty today to throwing a missile onto a football playing area on September 22, last year.

He claims to be more of a rugby fan, saying the 0-0 Premier League fixture was the first match he ever attended and District Judge Julie Cooper rejected the prosecution’s application for a football banning order.

Prosecutor Mr. Jason Seetal told Croydon Magistrates Court: “The defendant attended with Newcastle United fans and during the second half he threw a bottle onto the pitch that hit one of the players, Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

“Fortunately that player was not injured and the bottle was removed from the pitch.

Boozing: Mahoney At Match

“That incident was circulated on social media and from that the defendant was identified.”

Mahoney was arrested and questioned by police. “He said: ‘I don’t remember if I’m honest. I had some cans going down after no breakfast and I was completely drunk.’

“He said he was a rugby fan, not a football fan and was down with friends and did not want to threaten violence and said throwing the bottle was a drunken mistake,” added Mr. Seetal.

“He said he had about twelve pints in total.”

Applying for an order prohibiting Mahoney attending matches the prosecutor said: “Alcohol seems to have been a factor here so the prosecution say there is a risk of attending future football matches.”

First-time offender Mahoney told the court: “It was out of character, a drunken mistake. I’m not into football and I just went down with the lads and I apologise.

Mahoney's Empty

“I am applying to be a Prison Officer and that is coming up soon. I have not had a drink since.

“It was a plastic bottle and I just threw it without thinking of the consequences. It was a stupid mistake.

“I play rugby, I’m a member of a rugby team. There was a spare ticket going so I just went.

“It is the first football match I have ever been to.”

Regarding his career plans with the prison service Judge Cooper told him: “I would think they will see you have a criminal record.”

Mahoney received a six-month conditional discharge, with £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

“You a rugby person and it is unlikely you will attend more matches,” she told him. “You did throw a missile during the football game and you could have caused the player serious harm by your actions.

“The consequences of your actions could have been extremely serious, but this offence is completely out of character.

“I accept it was though excitement and I am sure you will not be before the court again.”

Bust Up At Bookies: Punter Slashed During Winning Ticket Row

Police are hunting this suspected knifeman, who lashed out at another punter in a betting shop after trying to grab a winning ticket.

Police were called at 3.15am on July 27, last year to the bookies in East Street, Barking.

When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from a small laceration to the head.

The 22-year-old victim informed officers the suspect had attempted to take a winning ticket, leading to an argument.

The suspect grabbed a knife from a kitchen area before slashing the victim.

The suspect - who is believed to be known as 'Mo' - fled the scene with a second man.

Detectives would like to hear from anyone who recognises the man who was captured on CCTV.

Anyone with information is asked to call officers at the East Area Command Unit based at Ilford via 101 quoting reference 832/27Jul17

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Life For Sex Predator Who Struck After Prison Release

A serial sexual predator is back behind bars for attacking a young woman just three months after his release from a 31-year life sentence for rape.

Joseph Galloway, 68, pounced on the terrified woman, aged in her twenties, from behind after following her from a bus and pushed her to the ground as she screamed for help.

He pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning the woman and additionally falsely imprisoning her, with intent to commit a sexual offence, in Prince Georges Road, Colliers Wood on September 5, last year.

Galloway also pleaded guilty to robbing her of her purse and possessing a blade when he was arrested four days later.

At Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court today heavily tattooed bearded Galloway was sentenced to life imprisonment with a five-year minimum.

On June 4, last year he was released from a life sentence imposed in 1987 for rape, inflicting grievous bodily harm and robbery.

In 1981 he received seven years imprisonment for inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent to rape.

Galloway was housed in a flat above a jewellery and gift store next-door to a hairdressers in affluent East Sheen, south-west London in Upper Richmond Road West, just 100m from a kids nursery.

He was loitering around Colliers Wood Underground Station at 9.20pm and followed the victim when she exited her train and boarded a bus on her way home.

She did not know Galloway was following her when she got off the bus and began walking along a road, which has industrial and factory units on either side.

He attacked her from behind and she screamed and fought off his sexual advances.

A female witness heard her screams and bravely followed Galloway back to the tube station, trailing him to Tooting Broadway and giving police a vital description, which helped quickly identify him.

He was identified using his Oyster travel card on CCTV, which revealed he traveled in the Mortlake area and officers from their Safer Neighbourhoods Team and the Met’s Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command (CASO) arrested him.

Galloway was originally charged with attempted rape, which he denied, and this was dropped on the first day of his trial.

Detective Inspector Rory Wilkinson of CASO said: “I welcome the court’s decision to keep this dangerous man away from society.

“He has proved himself to be a serial offender with no remorse and a capability of committing heinous crimes of this nature again.

“The victim’s bravery throughout the whole identification and court process has been remarkable and reflects her actions of defence during the attack.

“Not only did she avoid serious injury, but also stopped Galloway committing a serious sexual offence against her.

“In fighting back she alerted a passer-by who subsequently called and assisted police. 

“I would lastly like to thank this witness, who not only called police, but followed the suspect, enabling us to identify him.

“With her assistance we were able to make a swift arrest and hold Galloway accountable for his actions.”

Vegetarian Couple Accused Of Stalking Neighbours Claim They Were Tormented With Cooking Smells

'Meat Smells': Christoph & Sylvia Hons

A vegetarian couple, accused of stalking their ex-neighbours, claim they endured intense “rotten meat” cooking smells from next-door, a court heard.

Senior restaurant sommelier Christoph Hons, 50, a wine and beverage expert at Mayfair’s Park Chinois told the jury his career makes him particularly sensitive to taste and smells.

“Your home is full of this bad smell, in the curtains, in your clothes, all over the place,” he told Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

“It was very intense, foul meat, rotten meat. I am quite sensitive on taste and smell, it is a big part of my job.

“We called the police every time that happened. Every time it occurred.”

The couple traced the smells to a service pipe between the two homes and installed insulation in the area, which successfully combatted the odour. 

Neighbour: Jessica Parker

He and wife Sylvia Hons, 45, an architectural technician, both of Westmorland Close, St. Margarets, Twickenham deny stalking Scott Lawrence and his wife Jessica Parker between January 15 and April 29, last year.

They are accused of filming their former next-door neighbours on their mobile phones while observing from local cafes and as they ran past with the Bearcat Running Club.

Scott and Jessica moved half a mile away after repeated run-ins with the Hons', who also complained about late-night parties, loud banging, drilling and dog-walking to the side of their property.

Both couples ended up filming each other with their phones and Go-Pro’s and Christoph, whose home is equipped with multiple CCTV cameras, was issued with a police harassment warning along with his wife and Mr. Lawrence.

Earlier Jessica told the jury: “They tried to attract our attention to film us. I’d see them out of the corner of my eye.

“I knew they didn’t want us to be in the garage area, but it was useful to us. We would throw a ball to the dogs and nobody else minded.

“Eventually the got a ’No Dog Walking’ sign put up there.

“We had been exercising our dogs and Mrs Hons went back home to get her moped and drove it at us for half an hour, while filming.

Court Date: Christoph & Sylvia

“My heart was pounding, but what is the best thing to do with a bully? We had been subjected to aggression, but when someone is bullying you, do you just scuttle off?”

Sylvia claims Jessica was enjoying the confrontation and “smiling” because one of her dogs was barking at her, but the complainant says her dog was agitated by the deliberate moped revving.

The defendant recorded the incident, which was played to the jury, who heard Mr. Lawrence shout: “You and your husband are freaks. We know you have eight or nine cameras.”

Mrs Hons claims Jessica told the dog: “Get her,” and the jury were shown a doorstep confrontation the defendants filmed, while pointing their phone at Mr. Lawrence.

He can be heard saying: “Call the police you voyeuristic p*****. You two have done nothing but harass me for the last six months while I’m walking my dogs.

“The pair of you are f***ing idiots.”

Mr. Hons told the jury loud weekend parties began taking place in late 2015. “We could hear the music through the walls up until two or three am.

“I complained, but I found them quite aggressive so reported the noise to their landlord. The parties stopped, but then they started throwing things at the walls and there was loud banging of doors up to midnight.

“There was also six weeks of continuous drilling. You could feel the vibration through the wall. It was getting very annoying.”

Mr. Hons told the jury he and his wife reported his neighbours to Richmond-upon-Thames’s Environmental Health department because of the constant noise.

He denied “laughing and abusing” his neighbours as they walked past, giving them ‘the finger’ and damaging one of their vehicles.

Mr. Hons insisted he would go out of his way to avoid confrontation in the street. “I would go behind a bush or a car to avoid contact with Mr. Lawrence.

“By that stage I was in a kind of fear and anxious about him. My cameras were to monitor and prevent an incident because I did not know how far it would go.

“He once said: ‘I’m going to get you, I’m going to slap you.’ He was very aggressive.

“I was shocked. We never gave him a reason to do that. I feared for the safety of myself, my wife, my house and my cat.

“It was frustrating that the police really didn’t do anything to resolve this situation.”

Trial continues………….

Rogue Trader Tricked 82 Year-Old Out Of £200

Police are hunting this suspected conman after an 82 year-old woman was tricked out of £200 at her Dagenham home.

The man knocked on the door of her home in Foxlands Road on either December 11 or 12, last year claiming she owed him money for decorating work.

No work had been carried out.

The man returned on a second occasion and was caught on a CCTV camera the woman's daughter had installed following the first offence.

Officers have released this image in the hope that someone will recognise the man and contact police.

They would also like to hear from anyone who may have been approached by this man, or who was in the area and saw a man acting suspiciously.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Constable Schlosz at the East Area Command Unit via 101.

Burglar Nicked Camera Equipment From Leading Art University

Central Saint Martins

A serial burglar raided a top art school of camera equipment to fund his gambling addiction, a court heard yesterday.

Robert Smith, 33, of West Lane, Bermondsey was given a prison warning after admitting his latest offence.

He pleaded guilty to burgling Central Saint Martins University of the Arts, located in Granary Square, Kings Cross on May 7, last year.

Blackfriars Crown Court was told he snatched cameras, lenses and cases during the burglary.

“Smith has a fairly extensive list of offending, including burglaries,” announced Judge Alexander Milne QC. “There is a real risk of a custodial sentence here.”

Smith's lawyer said his client has a “gambling habit” and was once banned from betting shops as a condition of a community sentence.

The court heard he has anxiety and depression and bailed him until March 8 for a pre-sentence report.

Son Locked-Up For Mum Money Fraud

A heartless fraudster, who cheated his mother out of her money, is starting a two-and-a-half year prison sentenced.

Glen Harryman, 45, fought the case, but was convicted by a Croydon Crown Court jury.

He was immediately sentenced.

Harryman, of Dale Street, Chatham, Kent originally appeared in court charged with taking £10,700 from Marianne Harryman between September 26, 2015 and October 5, 2016.

He systematically removed money from his mother's bank account.