Life Imprisonment For Midwife Who Beat Husband To Death During Shocking Campaign Of Violent Abuse

A midwife has been jailed for life for murdering her musician teacher husband, who received 78 separate visible injuries at their heavily bloodstained family home.

Hannegret Donnelly, 55, confessed to striking 55 year-old Christopher Donnelly with a rolling-pin at the Berryfields, Aylesbury house they shared with their four children.

She called 999 on March 31, last year, twelve hours after Mr. Donnelly, a biochemistry graduate, died of bronchial pneumonia on the bathroom floor while his entire family were at home.

Grey-haired Donnelly, who showed no emotion in the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court dock, was ordered to serve a minimum of sixteen years.

Today prosecutor Eloise Marshall QC told the court: “The victim was particularly vulnerable due to disability. This deceased deteriorated over a period of time.

“He was unable to walk, we say he was disabled and on her own admission Hannegret Donnelly continued to assault him at this time.

“She has said these repeated injuries were committed with a rolling pin. The Crown are unable to say if that was the only implement used.

“There was mental and physical suffering inflicted on the deceased before death. He would have been in considerable pain and continued to be assaulted.”

Her four children, aged between fourteen and twenty-two years-old witnessed the murder, but refused to co-operate with the police, did not give evidence at the trial or make victim impact statements following the conviction.

The victim’s Roman Catholic older brother, Peter Donnelly said afterwards: “As far as Hannegret Donnelly’s actions have harmed me I must be in a position to forgive.”

Mrs Justice Amanda Yip told Donnelly: “Hannegret Donnelly, you have been convicted by the jury of the murder of your husband, Christopher Donnelly. I must now sentence you for that offence.

“On the morning of 31 March 2018, you called for an ambulance, reporting that your husband had died the previous evening.

“When paramedics attended, they found his body lying on the bathroom floor. He was clearly dead.

“The paramedics noticed that he had numerous wounds to the head in various stages of healing. You admitted to them that you had caused those wounds by hitting him over the head with a rolling pin.

“This was an unusual case. Despite the obvious wounds to the head, Christopher had not suffered any apparent brain injury and the visible injuries were not the direct cause of his death.

“Post-mortem examination revealed that Christopher had died of bronchopneumonia in circumstances where his body had been subjected to repeated episodes of blunt force trauma.

“He was found to have seventy-eight separate visible external injuries of varying severity.

“Internally, he had fractures to the vertebrae of the neck and the thoracic and lumbar spine, and to both scapulae.

“There were two injuries to the larynx, indicative of neck compression.

“Tellingly, the more recent injury, inflicted within one to three weeks of death suggested the application of pressure the size of a thumb print.

“Although other mechanisms were suggested to the experts, there can be no sensible doubt that Christopher had been subjected to partial strangulation in the weeks before his death.

“Christopher’s ears showed the appearance typically seen in rugby players and boxers, so-called cauliflower ears.

“Such injuries result from repeated trauma to the cartilage of the outer ear.

“There was chronic remodelling of the bone across the whole skull, evidencing repeated trauma.

“Some of that was long-standing. There was also evidence that injury to the skull had been inflicted on more than one occasion within a few days of death, most recently haemorrhage had occurred within 2 days of Christopher dying.

“The pathologist said that he had never seen a case involving so many injuries inflicted over such a long period of time with so much resulting scar tissue.

“Viewed together, the injuries point to a sustained campaign of serious physical abuse over a prolonged period.

“Medical opinion confirmed that this contributed to Christopher’s death, at the age of fifty-five.

“His body was weakened by the repeated trauma and the need to continually repair itself.

“By January, 2018, he was described by a neighbour as clearly unwell and looking more like a man in his eighties.

“There was no other underlying cause to account for his condition. Even when he reached that point, the evidence is clear that you continued to assault him.

“Examination of your house revealed numerous areas of blood staining on walls, ceilings, doors and the bathroom blind.

“This was the house in which you and your husband lived with your four children then aged thirteen to twenty-one.

“It is hard to imagine the horror that they must have witnessed or the harm that has been caused as a result.

“Forensic evidence confirmed that all the blood markings came from Christopher.

“The blood spatter across walls, ceilings and furniture was indicative of repeated beatings occurring in various parts of the house.

“Repeated blows with a weapon, such as a rolling pin, are required to produce the observed blood patterns.

“You admitted to the police that you had repeatedly assaulted Christopher, causing the wounds to his head.

“There can be no doubt that the other injuries were also inflicted by you.

“The fractures to the back and associated tissue scarring suggest a defensive position, perhaps curled up but certainly with his back to you.

“You said in interview that you had hit Christopher not every day, but every few days.

“You sought to minimise the harm you had done, claiming that there was something strange in the house that had affected your health as well as Christopher’s.

“It is notable that no signs of illness or injury were found when you were medically examined after your arrest.

“You gave various reasons for what you had done, none of which make much sense.

“You talked about Christopher being in a time warp, reminiscing about earlier stages of his life, and about him descending into foul moods.

“You also suggested that at times he welcomed the beatings and that he was not really affected by them.

“You claimed that there was an occasion around New Year 2015, 2016 when Christopher assaulted you by punching you and then pushing you into a cabinet.

“Since your children apparently confirmed this, I am prepared to accept that there was an incident in which Christopher used some violence towards you.

“However, it is clear from all that I have heard that this was out of character for him.

“There is no hint that he had been violent before.

“I do not know what lay behind this, in particular, I have no way of knowing whether it was entirely one-sided.

“However, as is readily accepted on your behalf, it cannot begin to excuse your later conduct.

“What is clear is that the violence you inflicted was one-sided.

“You have not suggested that Christopher was violent to you at any time after that; there were no signs of injury on you when you were arrested, and the blood found in your home all matched his.

“No one but you really knows what caused you to repeatedly assault your husband.

“It does not appear your relationship was always troubled.

“You had been married twenty-three years at the time of his death.

“I have heard that you were an exceptionally close family.

“You and your husband apparently shared similar views about many things, including concerns about the modern education system which led you to home educate your children and a rejection of modern means of communication.

“None of you had mobile phones and although you once had a landline that had been discontinued.

“It appears that the family were leading a somewhat isolated existence at the time of Christopher’s death.

“I have seen photographs and video clips of happier times and have heard evidence about enjoyable times spent with your wider family.

“However, around 2014, it seems that all contact with your extended families ceased. The family were not often seen by neighbours.

“When you did go out you all tended to go out together. You were a qualified midwife, but you gave that occupation up to raise your children.

“Your husband was a music teacher, but he gave his job up in 2015.

“You talked of Christopher experiencing “mental decline”.

“You said that he had begun losing weight a couple of years before his death and photographs appear to support this, although he still looked physically well then.

“From things you and the children said to the police, it may be that Christopher started to experience mental health issues around 2014 to 2015, coinciding with him ceasing work and cutting off contact with his family.

“It is said on your behalf that this was before you had begun assaulting him and so was not caused by your abuse.

“However, what that must mean is that your abuse began at a time when Christopher’s mental health was declining.

“At a time when he needed the support of his wife of over twenty years, you instead inflicted terrible violence on him.

“Having said that, I am prepared to accept for the purpose of sentencing you that initially this decline may not have manifested itself as an obvious vulnerability.

“Things the children said suggest that Christopher may at times have been quite difficult to live with and that, as is contended on your behalf, you experienced a decline in the quality of your family life.

“None of this though can begin to excuse what you did.

“You continued to abuse Christopher when he was in a state of obvious physical decline, as was apparent to your neighbour and is readily visible on the CCTV video of your trip to Kew Gardens, just ten days before he died.

“The medical evidence confirms that the neck injury was significant and would have been very painful.

“You talked about Christopher being stooped with very stiff shoulders and shuffling, all of which are compatible with a painful injury and spinal cord irritation.

“Still, you continued to inflict further injury.

“As the jury have found, you intended, at least, to inflict really serious harm.

“I cannot be sure that the injuries were inflicted with an intention to kill.

“I must therefore sentence you on the basis of the lesser intent to cause serious harm.

“However, the extent to which this affords mitigation is tempered by your actions at the time of Christopher’s death.

“The events of the night of his death suggest that even if you did not wish him dead, you at least did not wish to save his life.

“Although it is said that you took some steps to help him when he was very unwell, the fact remains that Christopher suffered further injuries within his last twenty-four hours alive.

“He died on the bathroom floor that night. The various excuses you gave for not calling an ambulance sooner are simply not credible.

“You waited until all signs of life were absent before calling the emergency services.

“You have, of course, also deprived your four children of their father. Sadly, your separation from them through your arrest and now imprisonment can only add to their trauma.

“You, Hannegret Donnelly, are fifty-five years old. You have no previous convictions.

“I have listened to all that has been said on your behalf. Your situation is unusual.

“I accept that until this abuse started, you had led a blameless life, had been happily married for many years and had apparently been a good mother to your four children.

“There is only one sentence that the law allows to be passed for murder: that is a mandatory life sentence.

“The circumstances are unusual, involving repeated incidents of violence over a prolonged period. It is clear that Christopher had experienced real physical suffering for a long period before death.

“It is inconceivable that he did not also suffer mentally.

“Although I identify these matters as aggravating factors, I must guard against double counting them. The unusual circumstances of Christopher’s death call for careful consideration.

“Although there were repeated episodes of violence before his death, I bear in mind that it is the cumulative effect of those assaults that has given rise to the conviction for murder.

“Further, the vulnerability I have identified arose from those earlier assaults. To treat the prior suffering and the vulnerability as separate aggravating factors requiring separate uplifts to the starting point would, in my view, risk overstating matters.

“I will therefore look at the matter in the round. I must though have in mind that you persisted in inflicting serious harm on Christopher as he was very obviously suffering and becoming weaker.

“It is also a serious feature of your offending that your children must have witnessed your repeated violence towards their father and were present when he died.

“The effects on them are hard to imagine. The fact that they lived a relatively isolated existence magnifies the impact upon them.

“I am pleased to hear that they are now getting on with their lives as best they can.

Ms Marshall told the jury, who unanimously convicted Donnelly of murder after a 13-day trial: “In the last year of his life Mr. Donnelly was subjected to repeated serious domestic abuse.”

She said the victim had 78 exterior visible injuries, plus fractures to both shoulders; his back; neck and voice box.

“The majority of the injuries were caused by blunt force trauma, mostly to the head, neck, shoulders and back.

“The Crown’s case is Mrs Donnelly murdered her husband by repeatedly inflicting injuries on him that resulted in his poor health and eventual death.”

The court heard paramedics felt the Christian family, who had become increasingly isolated, were strangely detached from Mr. Donnelly’s death.

“They noticed his head was covered in multiple wounds, gashes, about twenty in all,” added the QC.

The defendant told the paramedics they occurred two weeks previously. “I did hit him over the head with a rolling pin after a falling out,” she told them.

“Christopher wouldn’t have wanted to go to the hospital. He doesn’t like doctors,” added Mrs Donnelly.

Old blood staining from the victim was found on the walls and ceiling by the front door, hallway, staircase, dining-room, kitchen and bathroom, plus on radiators, furniture, window blinds and wall tiles.

Mr. Donnelly was described as a “talented musician” who studied at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama and played the saxophone and clarinet.

He met German-born Hannegret in 1992 and the couple’s four children are aged between fourteen and twenty-two years-old.

“Their household was a complex and strange one and even though they seemed a conventional family over the years they withdrew from life outside and the children were home taught.”

Family members described the defendant as “controlling” the jury were told, with the couple having “lost a grip on reality” and talking about “living in end times.”

When Mrs Donnelly was asked by the 999 operator why she waited so long to raise the alarm, she replied: “We wanted to grieve.”

Paramedics arrived at the cluttered home and felt a strange atmosphere, explained Ms Marshall. “The defendant did not appear panicked or distressed.”

They noted Mr. Donnelly’s nose was flat, with a large wound across the top and his face and ears were deformed.

The jury were told the blood staining was consistent with more than one strike with a blunt object and Mrs Donnelly repeated her rolling pin story to the police, but now said it was months previously.

“She told the police she hit him with the rolling pin in self-defence and said: ‘I had to defend my corner somehow.’

“Even if violence occurred in 2015 as she said it is minimal compared to the injuries she inflicted on her husband.

“He appears never to have retaliated when she inflicted these injuries.”

Police found her diary, which included an entry in January, last year, which translated as: ‘I didn’t let him go to the toilet.’

“This exhibits the control she had over Mr. Donnelly,” said the prosecutor.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Felicity Parker of Thames Valley Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People Investigation Unit said: “Hannegret subjected her husband to a prolonged period of domestic abuse, systematically hitting him with a variety of objects, including a rolling pin when he said or did something she did not approve of.” 

Carer Nicked From OAP And Crash Victim

The trusted carer of a severely injured accident victim has avoided jail despite raiding his bank account of around £2,500 while also ripping-off a 93 year-old woman.

Catherine Berry, 30, was employed via agency Christies Care to look after brain-damaged, wheelchair-bound Stephen Burningham, who in 1992 was injured in a serious road traffic accident.

The mum-of-one, of Cornbrash Rise, Paxcroft Mead, Trowbridge pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position and was sentenced to twenty-two months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard south-west London resident Mr. Burningham is also severely weakened down the right side if his body, suffers shortage of breath and has serious pulmonary issues.

His food needs to be pureed to avoid choking and Berry, was employed to care for him and observe a strict protocol when handling his finances.

However, she withdrew up to £100 a time from his account, which she was not entitled to, spending the money on her boyfriend’s birthday and online gambling.

She was originally charged with defrauding Mr. Burningham between July 27, 2016 and July 10, 2017 and on June 19, last year was convicted of defrauding another client in Leicester.

For that offence Berry was placed on a community order and told to pay £150 compensation to the 93 year-old victim she was caring for.

Judge Sarah Plaschkes QC told Berry: “You abused your position, taking money out of the account.

“You used the account to gamble online, pay for a parking ticket and spend money on things for yourself.

“He could not manage his financial affairs and needed constant care.

“This was committed over a sustained period of time and you have previous convictions for doing the same thing.

“You made a deliberate attempt to cover up your criminal activity and six months of records went missing.”

Judge Plaschkes noted there were only a few days between Berry taking money from both Mr. Burningham and the Leicester OAP.  

Berry had fought the case and only admitted her guilty after the jury heard the prosecution’s evidence against her.

“You waited until all the prosecution evidence had been given,” the judge told a tearful Berry.

Berry’s partner remained outside court with their five month-old son as Judge Plaschkes added: “I have been told you are likely to lose your home family home if you are imprisoned.”

Berry was also sentenced to a three-month electronically-tagged home curfew between 7pm and 7am and she must complete a 20-day probation-ordered activity requirement.

There was no order for compensation.

Female Prison Officer Admits Exchanging Texts With Convicted Drug Dealer

Guilty: Paula Radley

A female prison officer today admitted exchanging “inappropriate” texts with a convicted drug dealer serving time at HMP Wandsworth.

Paula Radley, 45, was told she faces being locked-up herself for her communications with convicted drug dealer Adrian Woodhouse, 41.

One text he sent her read: ‘Feeling very low. You can give me a hug tomorrow if you feel like it.”

Radley, of Keyworth Close, Clapton pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office between July 2 and August 13, last year, namely communicating with inmate Woodhouse.

Both of them pleaded guilty to the unauthorised transmission of text messages at HMP Wandsworth between the same dates.

Woodhouse, who received ten years imprisonment in 2018, pleaded guilty to possession of a restricted item, namely a mobile phone on August 29, last year.

Prosecutor Alexandra Boshell told Kingston-upon-Thames Crown court: “These charges came about as a result of Woodhouse’s cell being searched at Wandsworth Prison.

“He was also searched and a mobile phone was found concealed on his person.

“Messages were identified as Radley having communicated wit him. She is a senior prison officer at the prison.”

The court heard she was convicted of seven counts of fraud in February, last year and Woodhouse has committed 55 previous offences.

“He is serving a lengthy custodial sentence for drug offences.”

In 2005 he was convicted on ten charges relating to drug supply and firearms offence and last year received ten years for drug offences.

“A prison term is highly likely,” said Radley’s lawyer Mr. Andrew Hill. 

“When one looks at the nature of the text messages there is a clear indication of their contact being inappropriate in this case.”

He said Radley was on anti-depressants after a skin cancer diagnosis in 2017 resulted in five operations and in October, last year she was diagnosed as bipolar and prescribed lithium.

Judge Georgina Kent told her: “These are very serious offences because they are against the discipline of the prison and impacts on the discipline and security of the prison.”

Woodhouse, currently locked-up at HMP Erlstoke, appeared via video link and Radley was bailed to return for sentencing on May 2.

Lawyer Denies Thumping German Fashion Designer At Royal Opera House Wagner Performance

Court Date: Feargrieve

A corporate lawyer repeatedly punched a leading fashion designer he accused of insulting his wife during a seat row at the Royal Opera House, a court heard yesterday. 

Barrister Matthew Feargrieve, 43, is accused of thumping couturier Ulrich Engler, 56, who tried to climb into the better seat where his wife had left her coat.

They were at the landmark Covent Garden venue to enjoy the six-hour performance of Richard Wagner’s ‘Siegfried’ - the third of four operas in the composer’s ‘Ring’ cycle.

University of Oxford law graduate Feargrieve, of Lonsdale Road, Barnes pleaded not guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court of assaulting Mr. Engler on October 7, last year.  

The independent legal expert, who advises asset managers, plus corporate and private clients on investments and wealth planning was bailed to attend City of London Magistrates Court for a two-day trial starting on May 9. 

Prosecutor Victoria Murphy told the court it is customary for audience members to return to the same seats they occupied throughout the performance.

However, trouble began when German-born Mr. Engler, who owns a boutique in Moreton Street, Pimlico climbed into an unoccupied seat next to Feargrieve’s wife.

“The seat next to her was empty and she placed her coat on the seat. Mr. Engler was sitting directly behind the empty seat and as the lights went down and the performance started Mr. Engler climbed over onto the empty seat to get a better view.

“Then the accounts begin to differ, with the account of Mr. Engler who says he asked if it was okay to sit there as it had not been an issue at a previous show,” explained the prosecutor.

Couturier: Ulrich Engler

The designer asked Feargrieve’s wife: “Have you paid for this seat?” and she replied: “No, I have not.”

“He picked up the coat and put it in her lap and a short time later she said: ‘My coat is on the floor.’

“Mr. Engler did not look at her and Mr. Feargrieve punched him several times saying: ‘How dare you talk to my wife like that.’

“There was bruising, a possible fractured rib, a visit to an osteopath and the x-ray showed there was no fracture.”

In her account to police Feargrieve’s wife says: “He threw the jacket onto the floor.”

Ms. Murphy added: “She says Mr. Engler placed his hand on her arm and pushed her backwards, hard into Mr. Feargrieve.

“The defendant’s account is that he does not agree with what has been said by the other witness and gives his version of events that he was pushed.

“He says Mr. Engler was being physical with his wife.” 

Law Society member Feargrieve is originally from Stockport, Cheshire, where he attended The Kingsway Comprehensive School.

Drunken Theatre VIP Shut-Down 'Othello' Performance Amid Chaotic Scenes

"Very Angry": Mike Fox

An all-female theatre performance of ‘Othello’ was cut short amid chaotic scenes after a cast mutiny against a VIP guest, who then shoved one actress into the front row of seats, a court heard.

The drunken disruptive behaviour of creative arts schoolteacher Mike Fox, 56, who continually disturbed the performance, resulted in a shout of: “Stop the show. Call the police.”  

The part-time theatre producer was invited to attend the London Theatre production in New Cross, which he planned to take to the south coast until causing the dramatic shut down.

He told Bexley Magistrates Court the cast formed a human barricade to block his return to his seat and the performer playing Othello gave his wife the “middle finger” during the fracas.

Fox, of Beechfield Road, Bromley - a graduate in Arts & Entertainment - was convicted yesterday of assaulting Jo Sharifi, who was playing Cypriot governor ‘Montano’ at the October 20 performance last year.

The trial heard Fox, a well-known performer and writer on the fringe scene, dodged past the actors who tried to block him as he continued to try watching the play.

The cast wanted theatre owner and director Harry Denford to throw his guest out for his disruptive behaviour and Ms Sharifi said: “He’s trying to get him to leave and he’s not leaving.

“They started jostling and had a hold of each other and Mike said: ‘Do you want to fight Harry?’

"Immediate Pain": Jo Sharifi

“I felt a hand come onto my waist to move me out of the way, it was Mike’s hand and I said: ‘Get your hands off me.’

“I called out: ‘Stop the show. Call the police’ and Mr. Fox’s wife goes onto the stage and there is shouting between her, the audience and the cast members.

“I was apologising to the audience when I felt a big push with two hands behind me. I lost my balance and fell onto three empty front row chairs.

“They were metal chairs and really painful. My knees hit the metal in between them and there was immediate pain. I started crying and said: ‘He pushed me.’

“Everyone in the theatre was shouting: ‘Oh my God, you pushed her’ and he replied: ‘I didn’t push her, she fell.’

“I felt shocked and burst into tears, I was tense and for the following weeks felt very vulnerable,” an emotional and tearful Ms Sharifi told the trial.

Actress Isaura Barbe-Brown - who played ‘Othello’ - said: “He was shifting around and making too much noise, getting up a lot and getting in the way.

“When he was asked to get out of the way for the actors to get on and off the stage he was quite rude.”

The ‘Fantastic Beasts’ star didn’t recall giving Cheryl Fox the “middle finger,” but said: “There was a lot of arguing and yelling from her.

“I was being yelled at and sworn at quite a lot and told them they should leave if they were in that mood and that the police had been called, but they did not want to.”

PC Anwar Khan described Mr. Fox as “hostile and aggressive” and clearly drunk, slurring his speech and smelling of alcohol. “He was getting very angry for very little reason.”

'Othello': Isaure Barbe-Brown

Fox told the court he only had a small glass of wine before the play, which he described as “inordinately long” and left the first time when Mr. Denford incorrectly accused him of filming.

He then left for the toilet. “I felt I needed to go. I tried to hold on, but unfortunately wasn’t going to make it so I nipped through the curtain.

“When I returned I was immediately blockaded by four or five people. My heart raced for a moment because I thought they were people from the street.

“It was members of the cast trying to block me and when I stepped sideways I was grabbed. I said: ‘This is ridiculous. What’s going on?’

“I saw an opening and nipped back to my seat when somebody threw the curtain open with great gusto and the house lights came up immediately, full blast, and everyone was wincing.

“I was getting shouted at and assailed on all sides by hostile people saying: ‘You’ve ruined the play; You stupid idiot,’ and various swear words were going back and forth.

“I was mortified they had stopped the play and had no reason they had taken against me. I’d gone to my friend’s theatre and was being blamed.

“I did not know what was going to kick off when somebody lunged towards me and I instinctively put my hands up and they fell over these chairs.

“She jumped back up and was in my face, shouting at me.”

His wife Cheryl Fox said: “There was chaos everywhere, everyone was up. The cast seemed very aggrieved and were angry about something.

"There Was Chaos Everywhere": Cheryl Fox

“They were surrounding Mike like a mob, I was scared for Mike. They kept saying: ‘This is your fault. You’ve ruined our play.’

“It was an intimidating situation and utterly confusing. The woman who played Othello was quite aggressive and was pointing at my face and gave me a one-fingered gesture.”

Fox produced ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ with Harry for Bromley’s ‘Shakespeare in the Park’ last year, which he told the court was attended by the local mayor and MP.

“We have also put on some theatre and comedy shows together. I am a producer, writer and composer,” he said.

He is an events organiser at London’s ‘Fat Jesters’ comedy club and has taken shows to the Edinburgh Festival and other fringe projects.

Fox’s credits include bit parts in EastEnders and Casualty, plus work with the BBC News and BBC Radio One.

He and wife Cheryl did not have to pay and were also given a complimentary bottle of wine by Harry before the show, but say they did not drink it, having visited a local pub beforehand.

“We’d had a few drinks. I still knew what I was doing and was quite coherent,” he said. 

Fox was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which includes 50 hours community service work must pay £200 compensation to Ms Sharifi, plus £215 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Boozy Investment Banker Thumped Barman After Insulting Woman

A drunken investment banker made a lewd gesture to a woman in a Chelsea gastropub then leered at her bum when confronted and punched a barman in the head when refused more alcohol, a court heard.

Nicholas Dyte, 53, who lives in a £1m apartment on a private estate overlooking Wentworth golf course admits he has a “smart arse mouth” which he and his pals enjoy.

He was convicted of assaulting both the the female customer and barman and using threatening behaviour at the Admiral Codrington pub, Mossop Street on December 18, last year.

Dyte, of Dormy House, Portnall Drive, Virginia Water, fought the case, insisting he did not make a gesture with his mouth and fingers to intimate a sexual act and only pushed the barman.

Today at Westminster Magistrates Court he was placed on a 12-month community order, which includes 120 hours community service work.

He must pay £100 compensation to the woman; £500 compensation to the barman, plus £1,000 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Bryan told the court: “The woman was with work colleagues enjoying a pre-Christmas celebration and at 9pm made eye-contact with Dyte, who was on the other side of the bar.”

She later told police: “He made a rude gesture. He made a V-shaped symbol with his fingers and licked in between them three or four times while looking at me.

“That was a sexual gesture. He was mimicking licking my vagina. I was disgusted and decided to challenge him.”

She says six foot five inch-tall Dyte asked: “How’s your f***ing p****.”

Mr. Bryan added: “He laid his arm on her, turned her around and bent down to look at her bottom.”

Ten minutes later Dyte was cut-off by the bar manager because he was so drunk and settled his bill.

“Before leaving Dyte leaned across the bar and threw a single punch that connects with the barman’s forehead, resulting in bruising.”

Probation Officer Christine Bradford interviewed Dyte and told the court: “He was having a pre-Christmas celebration and admits he has a ‘smart arse mouth’ when in drink.

“He and his friends think he is funny, but he knows other people don’t find him funny.

“The manager was refusing to serve him and his friends anymore alcohol. He admits pushing the bar manager, but not punching him.

“He is currently setting-up a new business venture, an investment fund in which he intends to be the investment manager, but feels these convictions will cause him problems with financial regulators.”

Dyte told the court: “I apologise for the upset I caused, particularly to the young lady. I am embarrassed about the whole evening and am ashamed of my behaviour.

“The lewd gesture is not something I did.”

Magistrate Mr. David Best told Dyte: “This was an awful incident that took place. The bar manager was doing his job and you were also grossly offensive to a customer in the pub.”

Sixteen Years For Vicious Kitchen Knife Stabbing

A knifeman who attacked a vulnerable middle-aged man he knew – piercing his lung and spleen – has been jailed for 16 years.

Scott Slade, 21, of Yew Tree Gardens, Romford, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, on the 56-year-old victim.

The victim was known to Slade and was considered vulnerable.

At 11.15pm on Sunday, September 9, last year Slade stabbed the victim several times with a kitchen knife at an address in Yew Tree gardens.

He fled the scene, leaving the victim bleeding heavily and warning him that if he told anyone he’d been stabbed he would kill him.

Police and London Ambulance Service were alerted when the victim’s family went to the address ten minutes after the attack.

The victim was taken to an east London hospital as police launched urgent enquiries to trace the suspect.

Slade was located at Rush Green Road, Romford leaving a mini-cab.

He was arrested at 11.50pm still armed with the knife.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard the victim had been stabbed in the chest, arm and back with the knife piercing his stomach, lung, diaphragm and spleen.

This, along with a previously existing lung condition, meant that the victim’s health declined rapidly and he was in an induced coma for several days, followed by two weeks of critical care and the need for ongoing treatment.

Detective Inspector Jason Prendergast of the East Area Command Unit said: “It is only right that Slade will spend a long time in prison, having pleaded guilty to this violent and cowardly attack.

“The victim has not fully recovered and he may not walk unaided again.

“I hope that the lengthy prison sentence that Slade is facing provides the victim and his family with some measure of comfort.”

Convicted Drug Dealer Still On Run

A drug-dealer is still on the run from a five-year prison sentence imposed in his absence.

Arthur Khanye, 29, of Newham, east London was sentenced on October 2, 2017 at Snaresbrook Crown Court for supplying Class A and B drugs.

Khanye was arrested following a raid on his home in 2016 by officers from the Trident and Area Crime Command.

A quantity of drugs was recovered.

Detective Sergeant Paul Deville, said: "We have carried out extensive enquiries to locate Khanye after he failed to appear at court. Unfortunately, these have proven to be unsuccessful.

"I would urge anyone who knows of his whereabouts to contact police so that his attempts to evade justice can be stopped."

Khanye was known to frequent the North Woolwich area of Newham as well as having connections with Essex.

Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at Trident on 020 8345 4125 or via 101.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 02SD/631436.

Big Brother Star Repeatedly Punched By Beer Festival Pal

Gillman: "Flurry of blows"

Former Big Brother star Darnell Swallow was repeatedly punched to the back of his head by a drunken pal during an all-day beer festival drinking session.

New dad Luke Gillman, 35, of Queensland Road, Holloway was upset the reality star refused to visit his two month-old baby despite their twelve-year friendship and launched the attack.

“Gillman landed a tirade, a flurry of blows against Mr. Swallow,” prosecutor Mr. Charles Shelton told City of London Magistrates Court yesterday. “It was an attack from behind with several blows reigned down on the head.”

Partially-sighted Darnell, 37, told the trial he was not relaxed at Kensington Olympia’s Great British Beer Festival on August 11, last year.

“Up until the incident I’d say I was quite anxious. I believe Mr. Gillman may have been disappointed where our friendship was at.

“Luke was irritated and the point of escalation was when he arose, got up, came behind me and punched me in the head.

“I was discussing with him some personal problems in my life and how I admired where he had got in his life.

“I can remember multiple blows, mainly to the back and side of my head and afterwards he poured his beer on me.

Court Date: Swallow

“Instinctively I covered up. I was unsure what was happening and my next memory is of a glass being thrown at me and breaking.

“I was shocked and confused about what was happening and why it was happening.

“I had a cut on the back of my head and felt bruising.”

The Ipswich-born musician, who grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and finished fifth in 2008’s Series 9 of Big Brother, denied he was “aggressive.”

Darnell also denied saying: “F*** you and f*** your baby,” and throwing the first punch.

Gillman claims Swallow was agitated by his requests to see the new baby and told him: “Stop asking or I will stop you.”

They were sitting around a table with two other pals and the group had regularly attended the festival for a decade.

“There was an altercation and the defendant erupted in anger,” explained Mr. Shelton. “Gillman was offended that Mr. Swallow had not been around to see his new-born baby.

“There was no threat made by Mr. Swallow and the defendant had been drinking beer and cider all day.”

The pair had holidayed together and were described in court as “close friends,” but the relationship had soured.

When questioned by police Gillman said he had been “drinking all day” and had little recollection of the incident.

“He said he was blind drunk,” added Mr. Shelton, but did recall Darnell telling him: “I haven’t been around. What does that tell you?”

Gillman told the officers he expected to see Darnell down the pub to patch things up a couple of days later.

The magistrates rejected Gillman’s claim he acted in self-defence and found him guilty of assaulting Mr. Swallow.

He was fined £540, with £775 costs and ordered to pay a £54 victim surcharge.