Accused Stalker Hired Private Eye To Follow Ex

Denial: Dickens

A notorious north Wales landlord stalked his ex-girlfriend by hiring a private detective to trail her movements after she started a new life in London, a court heard today.

Steven Dickens, 54, of Mostyn Avenue, Craig y Don, Llandudno, Conway is fighting the charge, claiming there was no sinister motive behind his actions.

He has pleaded not guilty to one count of stalking partner of eight years Aneesah Jowaheer between July 23, 2018 and February 1, this year by sending text, visiting her home and hiring a private detective to follow her.

She is a former student at Bangor University’s School of Law.

Prosecutor Mr. Akram Rana told Bexley Magistrates Court: “The Crown’s case is the complainant, Aneesah Jowaheer, is the ex-partner of Mr. Dickens.

“On October 30, last year Ms Aneesah Jowaheer contacted the police and reported that Mr. Dickens was harassing her.

“The Crown’s case is that Mr. Dickens did not accept this and continued texting her. She told him to stop, but he continued messaging her.”

In her statement to police Ms Jowaheer says: “I moved to London and told him via text message to stop contacting me.” 

“On October 30 Mr. Dickens attended Ms Jowaheer’s address in London that belonged to her auntie,” added Mr. Rana.

“He gained access to the communal area, knocking on doors and calling for Ms Jowaheer. She did not answer her door and instead calls the police.”

The court heard she had moved to Sherard Road, Eltham and found employment at a company in Aldergate Street, near the Barbican.

“On January 25, this year Ms Jowaheer calls the police from her place of work in the City, saying a private investigator turned up at her workplace asking for her and left a business card.”

Dickens accepts hiring Wallington-based Richard Martinez, of Expediate Detective Agency, but insists this was to ensure his ex’s well-being and safety.

The registered detective, who specialises in matrimonial work, told police a client called ’Steve’ put down a £320 deposit and instructed him to keep tabs on Ms Jowaheer.

“Steve asked him to conduct surveillance of a female and provided her name, address, what times she was likely to leave and her likely route and provided photographs.”

The detective began surveillance at 6.45am on January 24.

“Mr. Martinez explained he observed the female leave the address with a dog and with a male who gets into a van and takes several pictures and updates Mr. Dickens.”

The investigator and Dickens had an exchange concerning tailing Ms Jowaheer and taking photographs and the defendant.

“The Crown say Dickens says he wants to make sure he is doing what he is paying him to do,” added Mr. Rana.

The court heard the detective “wasn’t happy” with Dickens’ requests to follow Ms Jowaheer and fit a tracker to the mystery man’s van and suspended surveillance.

Dickens gave himself up at Lewisham Police Station on February 13.

“He accepts he arranged for Mr. Martinez to conduct surveillance on Ms Jowaheer to see if she was safe and well and in possession of a hard drive.” 

The scheduled trial did not start today after Dickens’ lawyer Vida Simpeh successfully sought an adjournment to take more instructions and bring four new defence witnesses to court. 

Dickens was bailed for a new trial at Bromley Magistrates Court on May 9 on condition he does not contact his ex or the detective or visit her home and work addresses.

Sexual Predator Who Preyed On Young Teen Is Caged

A pensioner has been jailed for fourteen years for sexually abusing a young teenage girl at the turn of the millennium.

Michael Shaw, 69, of Stable Close, Northolt was convicted by an Isleworth Crown Court jury of seven offences.

He was found guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 years-old; three counts of causing or inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity and one count of oral rape.

The court heard that at in the early 2000's, Shaw would meet the victim - who was known to him - at an address in west London.

The abuse started when Shaw would tickle the victim, who was in her early teens at the time of the assaults, before sexually assaulting her.

The victim reported the abuse to police in June 2017.

Shaw was arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault in July 2017 and immediately told officers: “It’s not true.”

He was charged a year later on on July 4.

Detective Constable Paul Jackson, from the Metropolitan Police's West Area Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “Today’s result is a great achievement that removes a dangerous predator off the streets.

“Shaw preyed on a vulnerable young girl – grooming her for his own gratification.

“I would like to commend the bravery and courage of the victim who come forward to police after all these years, and describe the horrible memories that she endured whilst being abused by Shaw.”

Sticker-Man Claims East London Muslim 'Sharia Patrols' Inspired His Pokemon-Themed Campaign

A hospital contractor received a suspended prison sentence today for posting racially-offensive Pokemon-themed stickers of London Mayor Sadiq Khan and other high-profile muslims.

Commuter Neil Froggatt, 48, claims ’Sharia Patrol’ gangs patrolling around the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel in the heart of the East End’s muslim community triggered his campaign.

The married father-of-three, of Stroudes Close, Worcester Park, Kingston-upon-Thames randomly placed the stickers - offensively titled ‘Pakemon’ - as he travelled around the capital.

The stickers contained the tagline: ‘Gotta catch and deport them all’ awarding ‘Terror Points’ to other individuals including ex-US President Barack Obama, dubbed: ‘Obamabinlyin’.

He is described as the ‘USA’s Muslim in Chief’ and Mayor Khan is dubbed ‘Hamaskhan’ and described as the “most dangerous” Pakemon.

Froggatt 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.

He admitted sticking them on London Underground walls as well as local noticeboards and other locations around the capital.

Blackfriars Crown Court Recorder Joel Bennathan QC sentenced the first-time offender, who is currently claiming universal credit, to ten weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, plus 75 hours community service work.

“This is one of those cases where the racial aggravation totally changes the nature of the offence,” he told Froggatt, whose career has been destroyed since he was exposed.

“You arranged to have a very large number of racially-aggravated stickers produced. You stuck them up, filmed yourself sticking them up and boasted about it on twitter.

“You had thousands of followers who also did stick them up and made racially-aggravated comments.”

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.

Prosecutor Ms Carole Fern told the court: “It is a sophisticated offence of racially, religiously aggravated criminal damage.

“Mr. Froggatt has gone to great lengths to manufacture stickers, a parody of Pokemon.

“There are twelve different cards with different terror points ranging from a muslim Uber driver to President Obama and Sadiq Khan and they have ‘weaknesses’ on the cards that borders on inciting violence.”

The Uber-driver card, dubbed ‘Uberrapey’ is described as being vulnerable ‘to a cricket bat around the knees’.

The character is also described as as someone who ‘likes to drug young non muslim girls and rape them in his Uber cab’.

“People in the real world are following these cards and trading them in so it had the potential for something troubling,” added Ms Fern.

“We have statements from members of the public who were disgusted by what they saw, not muslims, but people saying they were living in a multicultural society.

“Even Mr. Froggatt’s own partner is not happy. She says to get this out of our house and away from our children.”

Using social media police tracked down Froggatt, who was arrested during a raid on his home on December 1, 2016 and his remaining cards were in his private lock-up nearby.

His lawyer Ms Vida Simpeh said Froggatt was upset about being challenged in Whitechapel one weekend as not looking like he came from the area.

“He explained that there were other incidents of people from the hospital harassed by ‘Sharia Patrol’ leaving work for wearing skirts above the knee and extensive material posted around the hospital for female genital mutilation (FGM).”

There were also FGM patients treated at the hospital and Froggatt joined ‘VOICE’ (Victims of Islamic Cultural Expression), which he claims raises funds for female victims of domestic violence.

“The background was to highlight, in his view, the ridiculous ideologies borne by religious muslims,” said Ms Simpeh.

“He accepts his actions were wrong and he accepts responsibility. He is unemployed as a result of publicity around this case, he lost two contracts when reported and one more the day after pleading guilty.”

Froggatt has children aged three, thirteen and eighteen years-old. “He has damaged beyond repair his career and this is ongoing.

“He was not the person who manufactured or finalised the designs. He accepts distributing and was not the person who came up with the name ‘Pakemon.’

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

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.

Recorder Bennathan told Froggatt: “The public really do have a right to go about their business without being mocked and abused by the campaign you were involved in.”

Armed Cops Swoop To Seize Assault Rifle

Police seized this automatic assault rifle after armed cops swooped on two vehicles in Peckham, south London.

At 5.00pm on Thursday March 7, officers from the Trident and Area Crime Command and armed response vehicles stopped the vehicles.

Officers recovered an Armi Jaegar AP80 .22 rifle with a loaded magazine from the boot of one of the vehicles.

This is believed to be a fully automatic assault rifle.

Two males, aged 50, and 77, were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

The 50-year-old resisted arrest and was tasered.

He was treated for minor injuries in hospital and has since been released and taken into custody.

The older male was also taken into police custody.

Detective Chief Inspector James Harper of the Trident and Area Crime Command, said: “I have no doubt that removing this weapon from circulation has prevented death or serious injury.

“Trident officers will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt and detect such criminality.”

Green Park Predator Pounced On Lone Woman

A sexual predator, who pounced on a lone woman in Green Park in the early hours, has been locked-up.

Gergo Brummel, 33, of Crescent Road, Plumstead was arrested after police heard the woman's screams in the central London park.

He was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court to eighteen months imprisonment for sexual assault.

He was also sentenced to 20 weeks' imprisonment for breaching a restraining order in relation to a separate incident.

These sentences will run consecutively.

Officers who were on patrol in Piccadilly on April 20, last year heard a woman screaming from inside the park.

They rushed in and found Brummel and the woman struggling.

The woman immediately said Brummel had grabbed her from behind and sexually assaulted her.

She had fought him off before the struggle ensued.

On searching the area, officers found a condom.

This was sent for examination and was found to have Brummel's DNA on it.

Detective Constable Mick Heaney from Westminster police, who led the investigation, said: "If it was not for the quick actions of the officers that night, I have no doubt that Brummel's attack would have escalated.

"I would like to thank those officers but also the victim for supporting this investigation.

"This has resulted in a dangerous man being put behind bars."

On his release from prison, Brummel will be made to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

Self-Styled Muslim Cultural Enforcer Convicted Of Hate Crime

A muslim zealot, who saw himself as an Islamic cultural policeman, spewed hate at a health centre during a row over a female's clothing.

Mohammed Amin, 37, of Lea Bridge Road, Leyton was well known in Whitechapel for approaching muslim women and lecturing them on their dress.

His latest confrontation was at St. Andrew's Health Centre, Bow, where he told a female member of staff she wasn't appropriately dressed and subjected a doctor to anti-Christian abuse.

He was convicted by a Snaresbrook Crown Court jury of two counts of racially or religiously aggravated threatening behaviour against NHS staff on April 9, last year.

Amin gave a handwritten note to a female member of staff stating she was not following the Islamic dress code.

The staff member confronted Amin and he made threats towards her.

A doctor intervened and he was also verbally abused on the basis of his perceived membership of the Christian faith.

Amin threatened the man with violence if he reported the matter to police.

He was sentenced to 100 hours community service work, plus ten days of rehab and must pay £85 costs.

Detective Constable Ami Henderson of the Metropolitan Police's Central East Command Unit said: “We believe Amin regularly approached Muslim women, or women he perceived to be Muslim, in Tower Hamlets and confronted them about their appearance.

“I commend the two victims at the health centre for coming forward and giving evidence at court.

“Anyone else who has been confronted in this way is asked to call police on 101.”

Angel Takes Flight: Hip Hop Star Dodges Drugs Charge

Hip Hop star ‘Angel’ has taken flight after failing to appear in court today on a drugs charge.

The singer-songwriter and producer - real name Sirach Charles - should have attended Westminster Magistrates Court, where a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The 31 year-old, of Strode Road, Fulham is best-known for hit ‘Wonderful’ which topped the UK R&B chart.

He is charged with possessing cannabis at an address in Devonport Road, Shepherd’s Bush on March 5.

Others hits include ‘Go In, Go Hard’; ’Time After Time’ and ‘The World’.

He has released two albums with Island Records, ‘About Time’ and ‘Woman’ and collaborated with artists including Tinchy Stryder and Fuse ODG.

Angel was part of ‘Artists For Grenfell’ who had a UK Number One with charity single ‘Bridge over Troubled Water.’

Ex-Cop Accused Of £100K Sick Pay Swindle

A former Metropolitan Police officer, accused of a £100,000-plus sick pay scam, has appeared in court with the aid of a walking stick for the first time.

Richard Williams, 39, is alleged to have produced forged medical certificates to ensure he received full pay while declared unfit for duty.

Williams, of The Olde Walnut House, Aylesbury Road, Bierton, Aylesbury appeared on bail at Westminster Magistrates Court.

He was sent to Southwark Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing on April 29.

Williams is charged with nine counts of fraud by false representation on dates between April 24, 2015 and December 13, 2017.

He faces one charge of possessing an article for use in fraud on November 23, 2017, namely a quantity of Med 3 fit note medical certificates.

The court heard Williams was involved in a traffic crash while on duty and committed the offence with the intention of being pensioned off.

Bus Thug Fractures Female Passenger's Jaw

A woman travelling on a bus in east London with her husband suffered a fractured skull when repeatedly punched by this suspect, who also beat her spouse.

Detectives investigating the unprovoked attack on the couple, both aged 28 years-old, in Tower Hamlets have released this CCTV image of the person they wish to speak to.

At around 7.30pm on Sunday, October 7, last year the suspect boarded the route 108 bus in Tunnel Avenue and sat towards the front of the bus.

The victims were already sitting on the bus towards the back.

As the bus was approaching Limehouse Town Hall at around 7.50pm, the suspect pressed the stop bell.

Whilst waiting for the bus to come to a stop, the suspect approached the female victim and, completely unprovoked, punched her several times.

The male victim then tried to intervene, at which point the suspect attacked him too.

The suspect used the emergency stop button to open the bus doors, and he made off towards Cotton Street.

The victims reported the incident to police and the bus drove to the next stop, where it remained until police attended.

The woman was left with a fractured skull, and the man sustained swelling and bruising to the face.

They were taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service where they were treated for their injuries.

The suspect is described as a black male with short black hair and no facial hair, around 25-years-old and approximately 5ft 10ins tall.

At the time of the offence, he was wearing a black jacket and trousers.

Detective Constable Lorcan Wolujewicz, of the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: “This vicious, unprovoked attack has left the victims very shaken, with one sustaining serious injuries.

“If you have any information which could assist this investigation, please get in touch.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Roads and Transport Policing Command’s Reactive Crime Team by calling 101 and providing crime reference 6492/07OCT18.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Another Grenfell Tower Fraudster Caged

A former Grenfell Tower resident, who cashed in on the fatal fire by claiming £47,415 in accommodation and aid has been locked-up for five years.

Moses Ettienne, 49, was housed in a comfortable hotel and received other sustenance after lying he lived in the council tower block when it was gutted by the blaze.

Isleworth Crown Court heard he had moved out years earlier and even gave a non-existent flat door number to The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea when making his bogus claim.

He also refused to give the council and police details of the flat he claimed to live in.

Ettienne said this was due to his ‘top secret’ work with foreign governments on renewable energy and that the flat may still contain these classified government files.

He even tried to claim that as a result of his government work he was afforded diplomatic immunity due to his attachment to the US Mission in Geneva.

The reality was he held no diplomatic status in the UK.

Ettienne had created two renewable energy companies with Companies House, but both were closed after a year due to lack of trading.

Evidence showed that he was in fact a second hand vintage clothes stall holder.

Mother And Son In Court For "Witch" Harassment Of Upstairs Neighbours

Leonora & Mark Joseph

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

Leonora Joseph, 76, and her son Mark Joseph, 56, claim their neighbour, who has a six year-old autistic child, is possessed by the devil.

The Joseph’s, of Cromwell Road, Wimbledon have both pleaded not guilty to harassing neighbour Samantha Ginsburg between August 27 and November 30, 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.

Prosecutor Mr. Thomas John told District Judge Andrew Sweet: “The allegation comes from Samantha Ginsburg, who lives in a flat in Cromwell Road, SW19.

“Both accused live at their flat and you will hear Samantha Ginsburg’s account of her family circumstances and a course of conduct.”

The charge accuses both Joseph’s of shouting: “Death by fire,” playing their television loudly and calling their neighbour’s young daughter a: “Witch.”

The Joseph’s were bailed by the judge until May 10 for a pre-trial review.

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.”

His mother Leonora added: “None shall suffer a witch. That’s what the Bible says.”

Judge Sweet announced: “The court has been on notice there may be mental health issues in relation to this case. The question as to whether the Joseph’s are able to have a fair trial has been raised.

“Save for a good reason the trial should go ahead and the Crown are keen that it does.

“I have a doubt in my mind, having read the report, that if I go ahead with the trial there is a full capacity on the part of Mr and Mrs Joseph to put their defence and participate in the trial.

“I am asking for a full psychiatric report on Mr and Mrs Joseph, without which I cannot decide if there can be a fair trial.” 

Made In Chelsea Star Caught Drink-Driving After Night Of Gin And Tonics

Court Date: Mills

Made in Chelsea star Charlie Mills has been banned for drink-driving after calling police himself when falling over in the early hours after downing four gin and tonic’s.

The 25 year-old banking heir was stopped in his black two-litre Range Rover near the posh private Hurlingham Club, in Fulham, west London at 1.30am.

He joined the reality tv show for Season 14 in 2017, describing himself as a former model, playboy, and socialite.

Mills, dressed in a light grey double-breasted suit with white shirt and blue tie gave his address to Westminster Magistrates Court as Lound Hall, Bothamsall, Retford, Nottinghamshire.

It is a £4m 70-room country house, built in the Georgian style in the 1930’s for mining heir Sir Harald Peake.

Mills pleaded guilty to driving in Hurlingham Road on March 13 with 78 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35.

He was fined £1100, with £85 costs, ordered to pay a £110 victim surcharge and disqualified for 18 months.

District Judge Michael Snow had encouraged Mills to reconsider fighting the case, even ordering the police bodywork camera footage to be played in court.

During footage of Mills’s arrest

he can be heard explaining: “I fell out of the car with my phone and I really f***ing hurt my head there. 

“I called your 101 people.”

He can also be heard claiming he was looking for a friend’s home in the area and was prepared to leave the vehicle where it was and accept a parking ticket in the morning.

Licence Up In Smoke: Mills

When asked if he had been drinking Mills replied: “Not an exceptional amount, not enough to be over,” indicating he had consumed four gin and tonic’s up to two hours previously.

He had driven to London to party with “nine to ten friends” at Bluebird Chelsea restaurant on the King’s Road then had more drinks at the Ritz afterwards.

He tried to avoid the automatic drink-drive ban by claiming special reasons, namely travelling a short distance on an empty road to find a safe parking space, but this was rejected by the judge.

“I wasn’t planning on drinking, so I was going to drive back so when I did have a drink I was going to a friend’s house in Fulham,” he told the court.

Mills claimed teetotal pal Alexander Nall-Cain drove to the Ritz and then to Fulham, where he intended staying the night at the home of Ella Flashman in Althea Street.

“I was waiting in the car, I don’t remember how long. I was waiting to move the car, to sober up a little bit.

“I had fallen out of the car, the passenger side and tripped and hit my head. I think I tripped on something that was underneath the car.

“I was not in the right state of mind.

“I moved the car from where it was parked to the parking space. My handle was in ‘park’ and that’s when I saw the blue lights.

“I had driven it two hundred yards. The roads were completely deserted.”

Prosecutor Mr. Matt Barrowcliffe said police spotted three mopeds passing at that time and told Mills: “The reason you didn’t see those mopeds was because you were so intoxicated.”

However, Judge Snow said: “Mr. Mills is not driving in a quiet country lane in rural Leicestershire, but in the middle of London and in the middle of the night they have road users and pedestrians on them.

“Even  on his account I don’t find special reasons exist. Two hundred yards is not a very short distance.

“There was the clear possibility of danger of coming into contact with other road users.

“There is no evidence from Mr. Nall-Cain of Ms Flashman. All of this depends on his recollection and his recollection is not a strong one.

“He doesn’t know how long he was sitting in the car or what he tripped up on when he fell out of the car.

“People do stupid things when they are drinking and memories tend to be unreliable.”

Mills claims it was unfair for police to sit and wait for him to drive off when they responded to his 101 call, and the judge said: “They watched him drive away and that may be regarded as a dirty trick or not.” 

Mr. Barrowcliffe told the court police responded to a report of a man who was drunk and considering driving opposite a school in Broomhouse Lane.

“The officer made their way to the area and saw a vehicle parked with it’s lights on. The officer waited to see if anyone returned to the vehicle.

“The officer decided to drive past and as the officer moved off the Range Rover also drove off so he moved in behind and activated the lights and the vehicle stopped.

“This defendant exited with his hands in the air and admitted he, himself called the police, but he could not remember what he said.

“He failed the roadside breath test and was taken into custody.” 

On the footage Mills can be heard saying: “Yeah, that’s way over. I’m going inside,” as he gave the roadside breath-test.

Earlier the judge announced: “He needs to understand the consequences of his actions today. I’m not prepared to accept his not guilty plea today,” when Mills initially decided to fight the charge.

Mary Johnson, defending, told the court: “There are two issues, but without seeing further evidence it is difficult to advise.

“The issue is the procedure in this matter, at the roadside and at the custody suite and there are other arguments in relation to special reasons.

“There are discrepancies in the police officer’s timings, phone calls, they don’t match out timings. There are other factual matters.”

After Mills decided to plead guilty she said: “There was no intention to take the vehicle beyond that point. There is no complaint from the police about the way it was driven.

“It was not driven in a reckless manner that can be criticised. The reason it was being driven was to park it.

“He lives in a rural part of the country where there’s almost no public transport. The nearest is a bus stop one and a half miles away.

“He has taken on a new job in the east Midlands with an investment and property company that requires driving.

“He does a lot of charity work, is involved with the Diana Award, the Mental Health Foundation and with anti-bullying.”

Privately-educated Mills was introduced to the show by old pal Julius Cowdrey. 

The country home is owned by his step-father Robert Everist, a child care centre and manufacturing and property entrepreneur who married Charlie’s mother Susan Mills.

PA Crashed Car While Over Five Times Drink-Drive Limit

A PA continued driving after her car’s airbag was deployed when she crashed into a tree while over five times the drink-drive limit, a court heard.

Experienced magistrates said in years of court service the reading was the highest they’d ever encountered and was so high it smashed through the established sentencing guidelines.

Witnesses said 28 year-old mum-of-one Carley House was “spaced out” after her severely damaged black Ford Fiesta came to a halt and a resident snatched the ignition keys.

At Croydon Magistrates Court she was sentenced to twelve weeks imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, and banned from driving for three years.

“Some of us have been sitting in court many, many years and we have never seen such a high quantity of alcohol in someone’s system,” said bench Chairwoman Lesley Budge. 

“You are not even on our sentencing guidelines. You are way over.”

Mum-of-one House, of Derwent Lodge, St. Phillips Avenue, Worcester Park, Sutton pleaded guilty to driving with 191 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath in nearby Sandringham Road on March 3.

The legal limit is 35.

Prosecutor Roz Wordell told the court it was 8.15pm on a Sunday when a local resident heard a “loud bang” outside their address.

“The witness saw House driving and she was trying to drive away so they took the keys out of the ignition and called the police.

“She was sitting in the driver’s seat and was clearly intoxicated and is described as ‘spaced out’.

“The Fiesta had collided with a tree in the street and despite the air bags being deployed she tried to drive off, but only travelled two metres before the damage prevented the vehicle going any further.”

House’s lawyer Judy Ramjeet told the court: “She is extremely scared of being in court today. She has never previously got behind the wheel of a car having drunk alcohol.

“She would always take public transport, a taxi or walk. She can’t explain why she did what she did and is mortified by her actions. 

“She did drive a very short distance, it was very quiet, she had no passengers and there was nobody around.

“Unfortunately she potentially lost her job as a result of this incident, received a minor injury to her shoulder and has been very depressed since the incident.

“She is very scared at the thought of going to prison and does not think she would cope in prison.

“She has tried to tackle her alcohol problem and did go to residential treatment last summer, but after the break-up of her relationship with her partner at the time she resumed drinking.”

The magistrate told tearful House: “When you are behind the wheel of a car you could hurt yourself or damage another vehicle.

“You could have hit a person, instead you hit a tree. It could have been a mother pushing a buggy along with two kiddies.

“We have to mark the fact that you were driving with such a large amount of alcohol in your system.

“This was a high reading out of our guidelines, out of our experience. These were serious matters, but the outcome could have been so much worse.”

House was also ordered to complete 80 hours community service work, complete a 30-day activity requirement and pay a £115 victim surcharge and £85 costs.