Online Predator Groomed Fake Underage Girl

A sexual predator, who posed online as a teenage boy to groom a fictitious young girl during a police trap, has been caged.

Graham Rycraft, 51, of Honour Lea Avenue, Stratford, east London received six years imprisonment, plus an extra four years on licence post-release.

He was convicted after a Snaresbrook Crown Court trial of attempting to meet a child under the age of 16, following sexual grooming.

Rycraft was also found guilty of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child under the age of 16; attempting to cause a child under the age of 16 to watch a sexual act and distributing and making indecent images of children.

In September 2018, Rycraft began speaking online to who he thought was a child, but was actually a Metropolitan Police Service officer using an online persona to target predatory offenders.

Rycraft initially claimed he was a 15-year-old boy and then sent Category A images of child abuse, before admitting that he was an adult and continuing to groom the ‘child’.

He arranged to meet the 'child', but was cautious of his security and went to great lengths to keep his identity hidden.

He was arrested on September 5, last year in a phone box having just confirmed to the 'child' where he wanted her to meet him.

An unregistered mobile phone was found in the phone box, which Rycraft denied all knowledge of.

Officers searched his workplace and found a bag containing condoms and Viagra.

During sentencing the judge assessed Rycraft as a dangerous offender and a risk to children, imposing the extended licence period of four years.

Detective Inspector John Halford, of Central Specialist Crime, said: "Rycraft is a calculated and callous man who sought to groom children for his own sexual gratification, taking steps to ensure his own security in the assumption that he would not be caught.

"In actual fact he had encountered officers carrying out a proactive operation aimed at bringing those who seek to exploit and abuse children to justice. 

“He will now spend years behind bars, where he belongs.

“I am proud of the dedicated team of officers involved in this operation who have worked so hard to put a dangerous offender in prison and are continually working to safeguard and protect the children of London.”

Pair Jailed After Police Cocaine Swoop

Mark Lambie (L) & Ben Hamill (R)

Two drug dealers caught in a police operation centered on a cocaine handover at a pub have been locked-up.

Mark Lambie, 48, of Whalebone Grove, Romford received nine years for supplying cocaine.

Ben Hamill, 43, of Buckingham Road, Richmond-upon-Thames, received four-and-half years for the same offence.

They appeared at Blackfriars Crown Court after the seizure of two kilos of cocaine.

A third man, Jamal Primus, 38, of Felixstowe Road, Tottenham had already admitted conspiring to supply cocaine and was due to be sentenced on another date.

On Friday, January 25, officers from the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime North Proactive Syndicate conducted a proactive operation targeting a group of gang members from north London.

Officers observed Lambie and Primus arrive at a pub in Ship Lane, Mortlake, south-west London in separate vehicles. 

A short time later, Hamill arrived and handed Lambie a white bag. 

The men then left the location and officers carried out a stop of two vehicles, including the car Lambie and Primas were travelling in, on Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, north London. 

Two kilos of cocaine were recovered and the men were arrested.

On Tuesday, January 29 Hamill was arrested. 

A search of his address revealed fifteen sets of packaging containing cocaine residue, identical to the packaging found wrapped around the cocaine seized four days earlier.

Detective Inspector Pete McDonald, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “This successful operation has seen a significant amount of cocaine removed from the drugs market. 

“Thanks to the dedication of my team, these gang members have been removed from the streets of London and will now serve lengthy sentences.

“Drugs destroy lives and fuel crime and violence in our communities. 

“We will not stop in our efforts to robustly target this kind of criminality and I hope the sentencing serves as a stark reminder to those involved in drugs offences.”

'High Five' Italian Students Guilty Of Sordid Nightclub Rape

Guilty: Orlando

Two post graduate students from wealthy Italian families, who had sex with a drunken young woman in a filthy maintenance cupboard in a West End nightclub, have been convicted of rape.

They were both caught on CCTV laughing and exchanging high-fives after raping the “ten out of ten” drunk 25 year-old victim in the Toy Room nightclub under the London Palladium.

Just six minutes after the woman met Ferdinando Orlando, 25 and Lorenzo Costanzo, 26, they were having sex in the secure room near the toilets.

Orlando, of St. George’s Square, Pimlico, is currently studying a post-graduate degree in International Law and Costanzo is taking a post-graduate masters degree in Business & Management. 

At Isleworth Crown Court Costanzo collapsed in the dock and struck his head after hearing the guilty verdicts and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

They will both be sentenced at a later date to be fixed.

Both were unanimously convicted of two counts of raping the petite woman in the early hours of February 26, 2017, despite insisting she consented to joint sex after swapping kisses with them on the dance floor.

It can now be revealed for the first time 230 mls of blood, equivalent to a full coke can, was drained from an expanding vulval haematoma between the victim’s legs after the rape.

A doctor reported he had never seen the “unusually severe injury” in 2,000 such examinations.

Judge Giles Curtis-Raleigh announced today: “Allegations of this type attract a significant sentence of imprisonment.”

Both students were represented by QC’s over the course of three trials and it is rumoured their expensive defence team was funded by a billionaire relative.

Prosecutor Allison Hunter QC told the jury the nightclub CCTV showed the three meeting: “They can be seen to pass her from one to the other, each of them taking it in turns to kiss her.”

Guilty: Costanzo

Orlando then leads the woman to the maintenance room as she holds onto his waist, with Costanzo behind, steering her as she leans into him, the court heard. 

“I was in the middle of them so it was hard to get away from them,” the woman told the jury. “They were the support for me walking.”

All three emerge sixteen minutes later, with the woman sandwiched between the defendants. “Orlando can be seen to re-arrange her dress, which was twisted and raised at the front, to cover her modesty,” said the prosecutor.

“The pair propel her towards the ladies’ toilet, where they open the door and put her inside and turn and run down the corridor.

“They ran straight up the stairs to the outside, where they can be seen hugging, high-fiving each other, strong arming, laughing and looking at what appear to be images or videos on a mobile phone.

“They engage in gestures simulating sexual intercourse and oral intercourse and appear to laugh and congratulate each other.

“It is the prosecution case that she was not able to consent to what she sustained at the will of these two defendants,” added Ms Hunter.

“Her capacity to consent was a matter of supreme indifference and irrelevance to them in their pursuit of their own sexual gratification.”

Orlando during the trial

The complainant told the jury she has no memory of the incident, having begun drinking unlimited Prosecco at 11am, plus free shots and vodka at the club, where she was celebrating a girl friend’s birthday.

“I remember being very drunk and falling over a lot and then I was in the toilets of the club in so much pain, not wanting to get out and then I remember being on the street, sitting on the sidewalk.”

After a French couple helped her home to Ealing the woman was taken to hospital for an injury between her legs. “I was very swollen down there and bruised,” she said.

“I was very swollen, I could barely walk and there was a lot of bruising. I was very scared.”

As well as the painful swelling doctors also noted three bruises between her legs, bruising to her bum, shoulder and leg, plus a mystery love bite to her neck she had no recollection of.

She told police on a one to ten scale of drunkenness she was a “ten”, adding: “I do have a history of kissing randomners when I’m drunk.”

When cross-examined she admitted the CCTV showed her grinding her rear into Costanzo on the dance floor and flicking her long hair.

Orlando claims they flirted with each other and exchanged compliments, but the woman told the court she has no memory of their conversation.

She agreed the CCTV shows them “kissing passionately”, but denied groping him between the legs. 

Costanzo Was Hospitalised After Verdicts

Once in the maintenance room Orlando claims the woman had consensual sex first with him and then Costanzo.

Orlando’s QC Sarah Elliott put it to the woman her behaviour was “receptive” and “enthusiastic” and that she was “moaning” with pleasure.

The complainant maintained she could remember nothing and the lawyer suggested the CCTV outside the room revealed her true feelings.

“You appear to be smiling. You gave them the impression you were having a good time.”

Before the trial the students’ legal team made repeated applications to declare evidence inadmissible and even halt proceedings altogether.

Ms Elliott said: “We can see her behaviour in the club, enjoying herself. She had obviously been drinking.

“We are concerned the jeopardy these two young men of good character find themselves in.

“She has no memory of the maintenance room.

“His mother is here. This is a very close Italian family. She is depressed, tearful, is not sleeping and is self-harming by scratching her arms.

“She is a likely candidate for a nervous breakdown, if not on the verge of it.”

“We have got one view that these are arrogant, aggressive, uncaring men from an aggressive prosecution.”

Orlando himself said during the first aborted trial: “I only live to see the end of this. My whole life is on hold. It effects my studies and results because of the strain I am under.

Sordid: Maintenance Room

“I feel I have done nothing wrong. I have been crying this week.” 

Costanzo’ QC Sallie Bennett-Jenkins said her client was locked up for a week after his arrest: “The shock and anxiety that has flown from that has remained with him. 

“His parents have been at his side at all stages. He has been distressed at each and every consultation. There are real and significant effects on this young man.

“He does not sleep. He has lost a considerable amount of weight and is highly stressed and anxious.”

Unwelcome Lodger Jailed For Eviction Stabbing

An unwanted lodger, who repeatedly stabbed a man attempting to remove him from the property, is starting a twenty-year prison sentence.

Paul Cane, 47, of Northfield Road, Hounslow pulled the knife when being escorted from the west London house and also lashed out at the occupier.

He was convicted by a Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, on Scotsman Cassidy Callaghan.

Cane was cleared of the attempted murder of Mr. Callaghan, who suffered a collapsed lung.

He was also convicted of assaulting the occupier, Brian Barratt, causing him actual bodily harm.

The jury were told it was 10.45pm on April 1 when Mr. Cassidy and his friend visited the home of Mr. Barratt, an older gentleman.

“Upon arrival Mr. Barratt began making a complaint about a man lodging at the house, Paul Cane, who was in at the time,” the prosecutor told the court.

“Mr. Cassidy and his friend went up to speak to Cane and asked him to leave and during the conversation things became physical.

“Cane had only been living at the house for a few days and was not happy about having to leave.

“The defendant lost his temper and produced a knife and stabbed Mr. Cassidy repeatedly in the back.”

He inflicted significant injuries to the victim’s back, neck and arm.

 “As he was doing so he tried to stab Mr. Barratt as well and caught him near the eye with the blade.

“They eventually managed to get him out of the house and Cane then attempted to get back into the property.”

Cane tried to evade police, but was tracked down and arrested.

Detective Constable Hugo Denton said: “This was an extremely violent attack, which has left the victim with injuries that will effect him for any years to come.

“I hope this sentence goes some way to repairing the trauma that has been caused so that they can start to move on with their lives.”

Drunken England Rugby Fans Fined For Burger King Assault

Fined: Footitt & Hayman

Two drunken England rugby fans, who dragged a Burger King employee over the counter after one of them mockingly filmed him cleaning up, were fined yesterday.

Construction site conveyer belt fitter Ben Hayman, 29, of Fallowfield, Warmley, Bristol and electrician Will Footitt, 29, of Bath Road, Bridge Yate, Bristol had each consumed approximately ten pints of beer each.

Both pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to assaulting Parvat Bishwakarma on November 17, last year after watching the England v Japan international at Twickenham.

Hayman was fined £375 and Footitt £187.50. 

There was no order for costs or compensation to the victim, who failed to attend the trial.

Both defendants were found not guilty of an allegation the assault was racially aggravated and they were also cleared along with Hayman’s father Martin Hayman, 61, of Fallowfield, Warmley of causing an affray at Burger King in London Road, Twickenham.

The jury unanimously acquitted Martin of assaulting customer Ciara Wilszur.

Recorder Alexandra Healy QC told the pair: “You spent the afternoon drinking and by the time you arrived at Burger King you were drunk and made a thorough nuisance of yourselves.

“You entered a private staff area and said you were Health and Safety and that you were starting work there the next day and you Ben Hayman climbed onto the counter and you Will Footitt decided to film one of the staff.

Not Guilty: Martin Hayman

“That employee was cleaning up and was intimidated by you filming him and decided to snatch your phone and you Will Footitt grabbed him and pulled him across the counter and you Ben Hayman joined in.

“He was only trying to do his job at the end of a long shift and didn’t deserve to be treated like this.

“I take into account you are both men of good character, your expressions of remorse and your character references.”

The defendants always insisted they were doing nothing more aggressive then singing rugby anthem ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’ at their table before the trouble started and never uttered racist insults or claimed to be immigration.

Prosecutor Mr. Roger Daniells-Smith told the court yesterday: “There are no injuries. This is the lowest end of common assault and the complainant was not interested enough to attend court apart from providing a statement to the police.”

The prosecution abandoned the affray and racially aggravated charges during the trial due to a lack of evidence. 

Ben Hayman admitted the assault during the trial, Footitt having pleaded guilty before it started.

Ben Hayman’s lawyer Mr. Mark Sahu said: “There was a member of staff holding his leg and since this incident on the rare occasions he has been in public houses he is a changed person as a direct consequence.

“He has had worry and anxiety and during the trial he showed me an online Bristol Post headline about ‘racist rugby thugs’.

“He has paid quite a price given the nature of this common assault and has paid nearly seven thousand pounds in legal bills and the family as a whole have paid over twenty thousand to fight this case.”

Footitt’s lawyer Mr. Richard Padley said: “He accepts it was an over reaction to Mr. Bishwakarma taking his phone from him.

“This case was reported in the local press and having spoken to his customers he has lost six weeks of work as a result.”

Nineties Pop Star Finley Quaye Sentenced For Thumping Gig Boss

Finley Quaye outside Westminster Magistrates Court

Drunken nineties pop star Finley Quaye has been sentenced for thumping a venue boss in the eye during a violent row after a gig.

The 45 year-old - who scooped a Brit Award in 1998 for Best British Male Solo Artist - also shouted threats he would throw a grenade and stab his victims in the kidney.

District Judge Michael Snow told the trouble-prone singer at Westminster Magistrates Court: “What makes this offence serious is the level of culpability involved.

“Before the punch you made considerable threats that would have caused significant fear then you punched this man in the face.”

The Edinburgh-born musician, of Bolton Gardens, Earl’s Court pleaded guilty to assaulting Robert Jenei at the Troubadour in nearby Old Brompton Road on September 8.

It is yet another arrest and conviction for the fallen star, who hit the heights with the release of his million-selling debut album Maverick a Strike.

Quaye was sentenced to 200 hours community service today and must pay £525, which he claims he can only afford to at £15 per week due to lack of live gigs.

“If you go around thumping managers in the face I don’t suppose you are going to get much work,” the judge told him.

Prosecutor Mr Malachy Pakenham said it was 1.30am and Quaye was being abusive and shouting threats at the venue’s security staff.

“He said he was going to punch them in the face and then punched the victim, causing bruising to his right eye.”

The singer shouted: “When I get out, I’ll f*** up you pussies. I’ll get a grenade. I’ll stab you lot in the kidney and in the windpipe.”

Mr. Jenei told police there was an incident with a the missing handbag of a woman Quaye says he just met, but who the victim assumed was his girlfriend.

“His girlfriend did not have her bag and I went back inside. When I returned he was angry and said he was going to punch me and he punched me in the eye.

“It was painful and the punch caused swelling and bruising. We restrained him on the floor and got him out.

“He attempted to pick up a bike and throw it, but it was chained to a pole. He went across the road and kicked a BMW.”

After his arrest Quaye told police: “I was drinking a lot of wine on an empty stomach. I was taking photos with people and wanted to get paid.

“There wasn’t much time between getting off stage and getting arrested, maybe thirty minutes. I wanted to stay in the flat upstairs, which I have done before.”

Referring to the victim Mr Jenei, Quaye added: “He’s always been good to me, he’s a diamond. I don’t have any recollection of punching him.”

The court heard Quaye has 14 convictions, including assault, threatening behaviour and possession of cannabis.

“There are a number of previous episodes of violence on his record that aggravates this assault on licensed premises. Ironically the manager he assaulted was trying to help him, help his girlfriend get her handbag back,” added the prosecutor.

Quaye’s lawyer Shahnaz Sargent told the court: “Mr Quaye had been performing at the club that day, had been there since 4pm with hand members setting up the session and while there he was drinking all day and some food was consumed.

“After the performance he greeted some people who were there to see him and more drinks were consumed.

“He has performed at that club on several occasions and is very ashamed at his behaviour. He accepts he has an alcohol problem and since this occasion has refrained from consuming alcohol in venues where he is performing.

“He cannot explain why his behaviour was so disorderly. He also denies being racially abusive to any police officers.

“He states he does have alcohol problems and a number of health issues that effect how he metabolises alcohol.”

Quaye was bankrupted in 2012, owing the taxman £383,000, and earns a living from £500-a time gigs and online music sales.

Boozy Rugby Fans Innocent Of Race Charge

Footitt & Hayman: Innocent Of Race Charge

The trial of three drunken England rugby fans, accused of causing havoc in a Burger King, is continuing with only one supporter in the dock.

Father and son Martin Hayman, 61, and Ben Hayman, 29, of Fallowfield, Warmley, Bristol, both pleaded not guilty to affray at Burger King, London Road, Twickenham on November 17, last year.

Friend Will Footitt, 29, of Bath Road, Bridge Yate, Bristol also pleaded not guilty to affray.

They had each consumed approximately ten pints of beer while enjoying the Twickenham international against Japan last year, Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court was told.

However, the judge ruled the affray charge would not proceed with this jury and a decision on any further proceedings regarding the count will be taken at the conclusion of the trial.

Hayman snr: Maintains Innocence

Ben Hayman changed his plea to assaulting employee Parvat Bishwakarma to one of guilty during the trial and will be sentenced on that charge with Footitt, who also admitted it, at a later date.

Both men were cleared during the trial on the judge’s direction that the assault was racially-aggravated. 

The trial is currently continuing with only Martin Hayman in the dock, charged with assaulting Burger King customer Ciara Wilszur, who says he pushed her. 

Trial continues………..

Hooded Muslim Caught Posting Jew-Hating Posters To Synagogue

A hate-spreading anti-semite, who pasted insulting posters to a synagogue in east London, has been sentenced.

The Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command investigated the hate campaign aimed at the local Jewish community.

Shehroz Iqbal, 27, of Kenwood Gardens, Ilford, wore camouflage clothing while distributing the posters at the place of worship and near Gants Hill Underground Station.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court he pleaded guilty to displaying written material that was threatening, abusive or insulting intending thereby to stir up racial hatred.

Iqbal received 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, 30 days rehabilitation, 60 hours unpaid work and a £100 fine for breach of a previous suspended sentence.

Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said:“The slogans on the posters Iqbal was displaying were clearly intended to stir up racial hatred towards the Jewish community.

“Police quickly responded to the situation and carried out a thorough investigation, resulting in the arrest and prosecution of Iqbal.

“I praise the actions of the member of public who swiftly reported the incident to police. 

“By people coming forward with such information we can act to quickly resolve a situation, as we have done here.

“The Met is committed to tackling hate crime in all its forms and this investigation shows our determination to pursue those who seek to sow racial hate and division within London’s communities.

“I want to reassure the Jewish community, and indeed, all of London’s communities, that we take such offences extremely seriously and will strive to identify and bring those responsible to justice.”

On the evening of March 17, 2017, a member of the public exiting Gants Hill Underground Station via the underpass saw Iqbal, who was dressed in camouflage clothing and a hoody, taping posters to the underpass walls. 

On closer inspection, he saw that the posters displayed anti-Semitic messages and called the police.

He then saw Iqbal walk out of the exit and towards the Chabad Lubavitch Synagogue to which he attached more anti-Semitic posters. 

This was all caught on CCTV.

Local police arrived shortly afterwards, but Iqbal had already fled. 

They seized the posters, which were forensically examined and subsequently linked to Iqbal.

The investigation was furthered by the Counter Terrorism Command and on March 23, 2018 detectives arrested Iqbal at his home address. 

He was taken to an east London police station for questioning and admitted to the offence.

Filthy Restaurant Boss's £40K Benfits Swindle

A rogue Islington restauranteur prepared meals in filthy mice-infested conditions while secretly swindling the council during a 12-year £40,000 benefit scam.

Anwar Hussain, 41, deliberately kept his ownership of the restaurant and flat above - which he rented out - a secret while claiming housing benefit on his council property.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard Hussain, his wife and four children continue to enjoy their taxpayer-subsidised social housing in Northampton Park, Canonbury despite being over £8,000 in rent arrears.

He no longer runs India Garden in Brecknock Road, Holloway and is currently a part-time waiter claiming working tax credits and child tax credits and claimed Legal Aid for the court proceedings.

Hussain pleaded guilty to five counts of dishonestly making a false statement to obtain Housing Benefit between March, 2005 and February, 2017.

He also admitted four food safety and hygiene summonses brought by Islington Council against him and duplicated against his company Promex Trading Ltd.

Hussain lied to the council he owned no property and kept secret the rent he received from tenants above the restaurant, who themselves were claiming housing benefit.

The restaurant was inspected without warning on March 14, last year and the council’s Environmental Health team found poor standards of cleanliness and evidence of mice infestation.

A pest control contractor solved the mice problem, but a second visit revealed no improvement in overall cleanliness and Hussain blamed his staff, claiming he had spent £15,000 on the business.

The court heard he was previously prosecuted for similar offences at the restaurant and is now subject to a Hygiene Prohibition Order, banning him from managing a retail food outlet.

Following that earlier prosecution Hussain dissolved his company and Islington Council are objecting to Promex Trading Ltd. to be dissolved while assets are chased.

His lawyer Ms Natalya Segrave told the court: “He has expressed remorse for his actions and admits that he is wrong.

“He was having financial difficulties and that benefit fraud was used to keep the business afloat and the family solvent.”

Recorder Karim Khalil QC told Hussain: “You are serially dishonest in your financial dealings at a personal and corporate level. 

“This is a litany of dishonesty. You have failed hopelessly to give any realistic account of your money.”

Hussain received two years imprisonment, suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 200 hours community service and twenty days of rehab.

Promex Trading Ltd. was fined a total of £8,000 even though Recorder Khalil conceded: “There may be no funds within the company,” and ordered Hussain to pay £6,000 costs.

Islington Council will pursue compensation under Proceeds of Crime Act legislation.

Sister Of ISIS Executioner's Crush On Documentary Maker

The sister of notorious ISIS executioner ‘Jihadi Sid’ developed a crush on a journalist documentary producer telling her family’s story, harassing him and his ex-girlfriend, a court heard today.

Konika Dhar, 32, of North Circular Road, Palmers Green, Enfield, the sister of Siddartha Dhar, 35, who fled the UK with his wife and four children to join ISIS, featured in ’My Son the Jihadi.’

The documentary was produced by Sunday Times Security Correspondent Richard Kerbaj, who afterwards received unsolicited heart emoji’s and flattering messages from Dhar.

She sent messages including: ‘Looking beautiful Richard x’ and ‘You look beautiful Richard xx.’ 

At Camberwell Green Magistrates Court she pleaded guilty that between January 1, 2016 and April 4, this year she harassed Mr. Kerbaj with online threats.

She also pleaded guilty that between August 1, 2016 and April 4 she harassed his ex-girlfriend, Times reporter Katie Gibbons, with online threats.

Dhar appeared before the Commons Home Affairs Committee in January, 2016 to answer questions about her brother’s appearance in an ISIS propaganda video showed ‘British spies’ being executed.

Her brother, a former bouncy castle salesman converted from Hinduism to Islam and changed his name to Abu Rumaysah an is now on the US State Department’s global terror list.

Prosecutor Mr. Akram Rana told the court: “The victims are Richard Kerbaj and Katie Gibbons. Mr. Kerbaj is the Security Correspondent at The Sunday Times and his role is to write about national security and terrorism.

“Dhar is the sister of Siddartha Dhar, known as ‘Jihadi Sid’, who travelled to Syria to join ISIS.

“Mr. Kerbaj was producing documentaries for Channel Four about the families of Islamic terrorists and approached a number of families, including Konika Dhar.

“Het met her several times and the relationship was purely professional and he met her to tell the story of being the sister of ‘Jihadi Sid’.  

“Afterwards she began to contact Richard, sending heart emoji’s and other inappropriate messages, which he tried to play down by telling her, her phone must have been hacked.

“He made it clear to her the messages were inappropriate,” added Mr. Rana. 

“Dhar found out Mr. Kerbaj had a previous relationship with Katie Gibbons and she was upset by this and contacted Ms Gibbons and her family and set up a fake Facebook account as Katie.”

Dhar was reported to the police for harassment and after a gap in contact began messaging again in December, last year.

She sent flattering WhatsApp messages to Mr. Kerbaj and emailed The Times on seven separate occasions, regarding his relationship with Ms Gibbons.

Dhar also sent messages to Ms Gibbons’ family on Facebook, including one to her sister, which read: ‘What is your sister doing with my husband? What the f*** is your sister doing?’

She also messaged Mr. Kerbaj’s father and mentioned the journalist’s new girlfriend, writing: ‘Your son belongs with me, not Marine.’

The Sunday Times have applied for a High Court restraining order against Dhar, prohibiting contact with the two complainants and their friends and family and going within 200 metres of their Southwark HQ.

District Judge Stuart Miller bailed Dhar for sentencing on October 30, telling her: “The court wants the benefit of a pre-sentence report before it can pass sentence.”

She was bailed on condition she does not contact the complainants or their friends and relatives.