Needy Cousin Denies Murdering His Relative In Street

Denies Murder: Jerome Bailey

A needy cousin, who constantly pestered a relative for cash, clothing, food and cannabis, fatally stabbed him as the pair strolled along the street last summer, a court heard yesterday.

Jerome Bailey, 37, plunged a blade into the abdomen of his second cousin Tesfa Campbell, 40, severing two major blood vessels and left him bleeding to death, the jury were told.

He fled the scene with a JD Sports stringed carrier bag and its contents, which Mr. Campbell had been carrying.

Bailey, of Greenock Road, Streatham has pleaded not guilty at Croydon Crown Court to murdering Mr. Campbell in Latchmere Road, Battersea on July 3, last year.

He also denies robbing his cousin of the carrier bag and contents.

The jury were shown CCTV footage of the pair walking near Latchmere Leisure Centre, where Mr. Campbell worked out daily, moments before he was stabbed.

Prosecutor Mr. John Price QC told the court friends and relatives of Mr. Campbell confirmed his relationship with Bailey had become strained in the weeks before he died.

“The two men were second cousins and knew each other very well and Mr. Campbell’s brother says they were close and that he had a ‘soft spot’ for Bailey.

“In the past he had helped him out by lending him money, but lately they had been arguing and Mr. Campbell told friends he was waiting for one final big argument and then he was going to cut him off.

Stabbed To Death: Tesfa Campbell

“Relatives say Mr. Campbell always spoke of Bailey’s money problems and that he would call looking for money, food, clothing and cannabis.

“Mr. Campbell himself said he loved Bailey like a cousin and gave him money, but he always came back for more.”

The pair exchanged phone calls shortly before the stabbing and it was 2.45pm when passers-by saw them in a confrontation.

“Mr. Campbell was stabbed to death. It happened in broad daylight,” said Mr. Price. “The prosecution allege it was this defendant who stabbed Mr. Campbell.

“That killing was an act of murder committed as part of a robbery.”

A passing estate agent dialled 999 and his call was played to the jury. “He’s just been stabbed. I saw the whole thing happen. There’s a lot of blood,” said the witness.

“The killer made off in the aftermath of the stabbing and Mr. Campbell collapsed to the ground at the scene,” explained Mr. Price.

He was rushed to King’s College Hospital, Camberwell, but was pronounced dead at 7.41pm that evening.

Bailey was arrested four days later at a property he was saying at in south-west London and told officers: “What do you mean he’s murdered? How can I be under arrest for my cousin’s murder?

“F***ing hell this is a madness. How the f***ing hell am I a suspect?”

In the rear summer house of the property police found two yellow JD Sports bags like the one Mr. Campbell had, along with evidence of cannabis and an Oyster card the prosecution say Bailey used to travel to the meeting.

Bailey had also shaved off his distinctive top bun hairstyle and the jury was told he may admit during the trial he was at the scene when Mr. Campbell pulled a knife on him.

“It may be suggested the knife that stabbed and killed Mr. Campbell was his own and he had introduced it into the confrontation,” explained the QC.

“However the witnesses are at one in their recollection it was not the man who collapsed that had the knife, but the other man who was the aggressor.”

Trial continues………… 

Policeman Headbutted During Surprise Raid

Police Raid: St. Crispin House

A young man whose flat was raided during a surprise police swoop headbutted one of the officers after “thrashing around on the bed” during his arrest, a court heard.

Alexander Mireles, 25, of St. Crispin House, Barclay Road, Croydon walked free after being sentenced to time already served behind bars.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting PC Vivash at his home on December 4, last year.

Mireles remained in custody until December 17 when he was served with a notice of discontinuance on the more serious charges he was facing, which were the subject of the police raid.

At Croydon Crown Court today he was sentenced to ten days imprisonment, which he has already served and will remain under probation supervision for twelve months.

Prosecutor Mr Alex Slater told the court three officers executed a search warrant at Mireles' flat and he tried to throw a mobile phone out of the window.

Police used force to restrain him, but Mireles still lashed out.

“While they were applying handcuffs the defendant pulled his head back and butted PC Vivash on the head.”

Mireles continued to resist and was escorted to a waiting police van.

The injured officer was left with a red mark to the right side of his head.

The first-time offender's lawyer James Warren told the court: “He was taken by surprise when the police turned up at that early time they did.”

The graduate is now supported by his parents, having endured the ordeal of his time in custody.

“That was quite a terrifying experience. He had never been in custody except for the police station,” added Mr Warren.

The judge told Mireles: “In the course of the police properly trying to arrest you, you assaulted an officer by butting his head.” 

Killer Stabbed Aunt Over 50 Times

A deranged knifeman, who stabbed his aunt over 50 times when she made a surprise visit to his home, has been locked-up in a psychiatric hospital.

Jordan Clarke, 23, of Sudborne Road, Brixton has been made subject to an indefinite detention order at a secure facility for killing 39 year-old Samantha Clarke.

He was convicted at the Old Bailey of manslaughter by means of diminished responsibility.

Police were called by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) at 6.36pm on April 15, 2018 to Clarke's home, following reports of a stabbing.

Officers attended with LAS colleagues and discovered Mrs Clarke in a bedroom.

Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Samantha was pronounced dead at 7.11pm.

A post-mortem gave the cause of death as multiple incise wounds. She had suffered more than 50 in total.

Jordan Clarke, Samantha's nephew by marriage, was arrested at the scene and an investigation launched by homicide detectives from Specialist Crime.

Officers discovered that Jordan had been suffering from deteriorating mental health in the days and weeks leading up to the incident, claiming that he was being followed by undercover police officers, and arranging furniture from the house in the street.

Due to his erratic behaviour, his family sought help from a doctor, who referred him to a local mental health team as a matter of urgency. 

At that time, his symptoms were not thought to be acute enough to justify immediate treatment, and so Jordan returned home with his family.

Days later, Jordan’s uncle and his wife, Samantha, decided to visit London from their home in High Wycombe because of some appointments Samantha had in the area. 

They had not informed relatives prior to their arrival and so it was a surprise visit.

Jordan’s behaviour began to worsen almost immediately. 

Two other relatives who remained at the address saw Jordan holding a screwdriver, before he made his way into the kitchen and took hold of several kitchen knives.

Jordan’s uncle continued to unload luggage and saw Jordan staring at him blankly. 

He went out to get more bags from his car and when he came back he found the front door had been locked from the inside, leaving him unable to get in.

Later Clarke simply said: “I have killed Samantha.”

Several psychiatric assessments would later diagnose Jordan as suffering from a psychotic-related illness.

The motivation behind his attack could not be clearly identified, but may have been triggered by his ailing mental health, worsened by the recent death of his grandfather, and the unexpected arrival of his uncle and Samantha.

Illegal Immigrant Carer Jailed After Naked OAP Died On Cold Tiled Floor

An illegal immigrant, who used forged ID to get a carer's job, has been jailed after her neglect led to the death of an octogenarian lady she was paid to look after.

Sibusisiwe Msipha, 38, was sentenced to a total of 33 months imprisonment for her role in the death of 89 year-old Hind Al-Charabi.

She pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to wilful neglect thereby causing the death of the OAP at her home in Corringway, Ealing on November 17, last year and one count of fraud.

The elderly lady was abandoned naked on a cold tiled floor by Msipha, who did not raise the alarm, later claiming she could not lift her.

Mrs Al-Charabi’s son, Khaldoun Zeitouni, said: “My mother was a gentle and kind lady. She had always been chatty, caring, and very loving towards all of us including her grandchildren. 

“She was so generous with her time and emotional support. She was everything to me: my best friend, the person I would go to, often my companion, and my mum.

“My mother passed away on the 17 November 2018. She was at her home and under the trusted care of Sibusisiwe Msipha. 

“This was the day that changed my life and that of my family. 

“What makes it even worse is the thought of how she died. I entered the room and found her naked and broken, on the cold tiled floor of her bedroom.

“I have so many unanswered questions as to what happened, the extent of her injuries, whether she was in any pain, how long it had taken for her to pass away and was she calling out for me or for help.”

Detective Inspector James Howarth, said: “Sibusisiwe Msipha should have had the care of a vulnerable 89-year-old lady as her top priority. 

“She failed in that duty. Msipha inexcusably abandoned Mrs Hind Al-Charabi to pass away on her own and showed a total disregard for the safety and security of a fellow human being.

“Mrs Al-Charabi’s family have suffered intolerably and whilst no sentence can ever make up for the loss of a loved one, we are pleased that justice has been served today.”

Police were called to a sudden death at the address in at approximately 8.35am after the other of the deceased’s two carers found her lying on the floor.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended, but Mrs Al-Charabi was pronounced dead at the scene.

Msipha – who was the weekday carer – was stopped by officers when she was seen walking away from the address with a suitcase. 

She was arrested and taken to a north London police station.

She was later found to be in possession of a fraudulent identity document and was in the country illegally.

Detectives from Specialist Crime launched an investigation into the death. 

Throughout her police interviews, Msipha claimed that Mrs Al-Charabi had fallen from her bed and that she as unable to lift her. 

At no stage did she call anyone for assistance.

£20m Picasso Damaged At Tate Modern: Young Man In Court

A man accused of vandalising a £20m Picasso painting at the Tate Modern appeared for the first time at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court today.

Shakeel Massey, 20, of Clarendon Court, Willesden Green is charged with ripping the Spanish artist’s 1944 work ‘Bust of a Woman’.

He indicated a not guilty plea and was remanded in custody to appear at Inner London Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on January 30.

Massey is charged that on December 28 at the Tate Modern, Bankside, Southwark, without lawful excuse, damaged the painting, intending to destroy or damage the property or being reckless as to whether the property would be destroyed or damaged.

It is not believed any implement was used and little details were given, but sufficient damage was caused for the painting to be removed from display and is now with the Tate’s conservation team.

The painting was completed by Pablo Picasso on May 5, during the final weeks of the Nazi occupation of Paris and is a portrait of the photographer Dora Maar.

The Tate’s website says the reconfigured features of the subject may have been Picasso’s way of reflecting the complex atmosphere in the city at the time.

The 81cm by 65cm painting has been on long term loan to the Tate from a private collector since 2011.

A Tate spokesperson said: “An incident occurred at Tate Modern on 28 December when a member of the public attempted to damage a painting.

“The person was swiftly apprehended and has been charged. Police are investigating.

“The work of art is with our conservation team for expert assessment.”

Publicity-Hungry Katie Price Screams Press-Intrusion While Publicising Her Own Court Case

"Am I Online?' Price Leaves Court

Publicity-hungry wannabe Katie Price was obsessed with press coverage at her driving ban appeal - while publicising the hearing herself and taking pictures outside.

She appeared at Woolwich Crown Court, where she successfully cut her driving disqualification from 24 months to 18 months.

The 41 year-old professional celebrity insisted she needed her licence to drive around her disabled son Harvey - then in front of the judge and magistrates condemned the reporter in court for daring to repeat her case.

Despite screaming press were intruding into her private family life by covering the appeal she allowed her flunkies to take pictures of her arrival, which were immediately sold to the tabloids. 

Price claimed the two-year ban amounted to “exceptional hardship” and told Judge Michael Evans QC she had five children, aged five to seventeen years-old.

Apart from her eldest Harvey, she has shared care with the other four children. “I’m divorced so I have them fifty-fifty. They have their set days and we stick with that.

She claimed her nearest train station, Horsham, was a fifteen minute drive away. “I live in the middle of nowhere. There was a bus stop outside my house, but they don’t use it anymore, in fact I’ve never seen a bus.

“My mum is twenty minutes away, but I was told last year she is terminally ill. She used to help me with Harvey, but he’s too much work, he’s too big and most people couldn’t handle Harvey.

“They all go to different schools, Jett and Bunny go to the same one, Princess and Junior to to Box Hill and Harvey goes to Wimbledon.

“I drive them and pick them up and the do football, gymnastics and horse riding.”

Papping The Papps: Price's New Career? 

Price told the court as well as the school run she needs a licence for emergency hospital dashes for twenty-six stone Harvey.

“He takes medication six times a day and if he doesn’t take it he will die. If he bangs his head he has to go to hospital or he will get a fit and die.

“This year I have taken him three times to hospital. It is quicker to drive him than take an ambulance. It is quicker for me to drive than take an ambulance because I live in the middle of nowhere”

Price said Harvey could not cope with anyone but her driving him and she needs her licence to pick-up medication from his GP and drive it to his Wimbledon school, where he lives during the week.

“I couldn’t have a taxi driver because if they bang the door he will go for the windscreen and if they click the seat belt without warning he will kick off.

“Friends can’t take him. You have to know how to talk to him.

“Not being able to drive will effect my life massively. The nearest shop is a mile walk and I can’t cycle because there’s no pavements where I live.

“I’m also on my fourth kidnap threat. Three months ago we heard from Scotland Yard.

“I need to have a car so I can get out and get away.”

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Job asked Price if she had explored the possibility of council-run community transport, but she insisted it wouldn’t be practical.

“Harvey would lash out at everybody on the bus. I don’t think that would work anyway. It would be too dangerous.

“I’d have to hire a driver, but I can’t, I’m bankrupt at the moment. There literally isn’t anyone, it has been a struggle.

“Everyone is scared to put Harvey in their car because they’ve seen what he’s done to my car.

“They told me I can get a mobility car, where it is kitted out to fit him and he can get disability allowance.”

She told the court her ex-husband was not available to assist. “No, he cheated on me seven times so he’s not coming back.”

As for Harvey’s father, ex-footballer Dwight Yorke, 48, Price said: “He doesn’t want to know. He hasn’t seen him since he was four because of his disabilities.

“I’ve been married twice. none of them want to know about Harvey when I’ve split up with them.”

“Because of him, rather than you, we’ve decided your disqualification of two years amounts to exceptional hardship,” said Judge Evans, sitting with two magistrates. 

“Your driving record is appalling, you know that,” the judge told Price. “You have displayed a degree of arrogance, knowing the effect of disqualification if you accumulate points.

“We have very little sympathy for you because of your driving record, but we do have sympathy for those who suffer the consequences of your reckless behaviour.”

Price’s disqualification was reduced from twenty-four to eighteen months.

Rogue Trader Gets More Prison Time For Nobbling Jury With Help Of Wife

Conman: Patrick Cleere

A rogue trader will do more prison time and his loyal wife ordered to do community service for successfully nobbling a jury by handing out cash and business cards on the court steps.

The trial of roofer Patrick Cleere, 66, was scrapped after he and his wife Rita, 66, handed out twenty pound notes to potential jurors arriving at Blackfriars Crown Court.

The couple, of Ealing Village, Madeley Road, Ealing were both found guilty of doing an act to pervert the course of justice on July 16, last year.

A total of £920 cash was seized from people - including jurors - by the court’s listing officer and another £855 cash was confiscated by police from Rita Cleere.

Also seized were distinctive wooden business cards for Patrick Cleere’s company Candleverse Ltd.

Police are still searching for the £1,775 cash they seized from inside the courthouse and from Rita after it went missing from Walworth Stations’ secure property store.

Judge Justin Cole told Patrick Cleere, who has a criminal record of 53 offences: “You intended to, as demonstrated by the verdict of the jury, derail your trial.

“There had been requests of an adjournment, but this was your unlawful attempt to achieve your aim.

“You poisoned the well of potential jurors because so many people were canvassed outside the court building.

“In my assessment the appropriate punishment in your case is eighteen months imprisonment consecutive with the term you are currently serving.”

Cleere appeared via video link from HMP Thameside, where he is serving nine years for defrauding customers of £388,000.

Loyal Wife: Rita Cleere

Regarding Rita Cleere the judge announced he was showing “exceptional mercy” to her as she cared for her disabled grandson, who has a mental age of under two and was influenced by her “charismatic conman” husband.

She was ordered to complete 80 hours community service work and pay £200 costs.

Judge Cole added: “Rita, you can leave the dock. Consider yourself extremely lucky. What you did went to the heart of the administration of justice.” 

The nobbling scheme was initially successful and Patrick Cleere’s trial was postponed, however he later received nine years for the scam. 

The latest trial, at Harrow Crown Court, was told the Cleere’s recruited family and friends to dole out £20 notes and the business cards to potential jurors on the steps of the courthouse. 

Patrick Cleere had failed in repeated efforts to adjourn his rogue roofer trial and this was an attempt to scupper it by compromising potential jurors with cash handouts. 

The couple recruited family members and friends to help them and they were also arrested and charged, but were acquitted of perverting the course of justice.

They are: great-nephew Adam Cleere, 23, of Wellesley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

Patrick’s niece Natalie Cleere, 44, of Vineyard Court, Kings Parade, Clacton-on-Sea.

Rajiv Netto, 51, of

Rodden Road, Frome, Somerset and Hungarian national Hajnalka Romvari, 37.

The CPS dropped the same charge against Patrick’s brother John Cleere, 68, before the trial.

The acquitted defendants always maintained they were innocently working on a promotion scheme for Candleverse Ltd.

The group congregated around Blackfriars Crown Court, handing out the unique wooden business cards for Patrick’s candle company, plus the cash to everyone entering and leaving.

Jurors did take cash and many of the business cards were found in the jury room, resulting in the trial being postponed.  

Prosecutor Mr. Robin Sellers told the jury: “Patrick Cleere and five others were due to stand trial on criminal charges, which he asserted he was not ready for.

“On the day of the trial Patrick and these defendants arrived together, some carrying clipboard and all wearing lanyards around their necks showing his business card.

“They approached individuals making their way in, explaining they were representing Candleverse Ltd. and were enticing people to look at the company website.

“Instead of discount vouchers they handed out twenty pound notes and the wooden Candleverse business cards.

“Most importantly and uppermost in Patrick Cleere’s mind were that these people were potentially to be selected to serve on the jury for his trial.

“The company was in the evidence of the trial so jurors may have been compromised.

“Any juror would recognise Candleverse if they received a card and maybe view the company in a positive light, known as bribing or tampering with a jury.

“These defendants together carried out this act with the intention of derailing that trial that day.

“They were arrested that day outside Blackfriars Crown Court and Adam said he did not even know his great uncle was on trial and Rita described it as a: ‘charitable exercise.’

“All of this is nonsense. These defendants knew why they were there and what they were doing and that was to derail the trial.”

Charity Man Blew Kid's Cash And Nicked Computer Equipment

An IT boss with a Third World children’s charity, who blew their cash on alcohol and expensive cigars at a luxury New Delhi hotel, has been told to repay the money or go to prison.

Christopher Wiseman, 40, was employed by Mayfair’s Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, where he also pinched a laptop and three mobile phones.

He joined the charity - founded by billionaire Sir Christopher Hohn - immediately after leaving Battersea currency exchange specialists Halo Financial, where he stole an iPad Air, MacBook Air and other equipment.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard Wiseman, of 22 Woodlea Drive, Bromley used the charity’s credit card on drink and cigars while staying on an all-expenses work trip at the 4-star Sheraton New Delhi.

He pleaded guilty to stealing from the charity, plus stealing a back-up drive, data saver and usb stick from Halo and Judge Stephen John found he was also responsible for taking the iPad and MacBook after a short Newton hearing to determine the extent of his offending.

“He has tried to duck and dive to avoid or minimise his responsibility. He is a devious and manipulative man,” said the judge.

“Immediately after leaving Halo in no time at all he was dishonest in relation to the charity, taking equipment and making extravagant and unauthorised expenses.”

The judge deferred sentencing Wiseman until April 20 next year for him to pay £9,169 compensation to both bodies.

“I can do one of two things,” Judge John told him. “Sentence you today to twenty-one months imprisonment as you have chosen to brazen the matter out in front of me.

“Alternatively I can defer sentence on you for four months on the basis it gives you more than ample time to secure compensation to both the institutions you stole from.

“If you make payment in full you will come back before me and I will suspend the term of imprisonment.

“If you fail to pay in full I will be sending you to prison with immediate effect.

‘Let me down and the last I will see of you is your back as you go down the steps to custody.”

After leaving the charity Wiseman went on to be an £89,000 a year IT director with train company Govia Thameslink until taking £13,000 redundancy last October.

“There is a breach of a high degree of trust in both cases,” prosecutor Miranda Jollie told the court.

Tube Passenger Wanted For Groping Himself Opposite Teen Girl

Police are hunting this suspected Underground train pervert, who played with himself after sitting opposite a 16 year-old girl.

On August 26 at around 1pm, a man boarded a northbound Northern Line service at Camden Town and sat opposite the teenager.

The girl noticed the man put his hands down his trousers and touch himself inappropriately for around three minutes.

He is believed to have left the train at Woodside Park.

Officers believe the man in the CCTV image may have information which could help their investigation.

If you recognise him, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 687 of 26/08/19.

Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Major Christmas Day Police Investigation Into Overnight Battersea Death

A major police investigation is taking place in Battersea today

after a body was found in the road on Christmas Eve night.

Officers stood guard over the unidentified person, who was covered in a white sheet, until a police forensics tent was erected in the early hours of the morning and a police cordon remains.

The Metropolitan Police have not yet issued a statement on the incident.

Residents of Battersea Church Road, where properties sell for an average of £1.2m, woke up on Christmas Day to find the major crime scene outside their homes.

A section of the road was closed at approximately 10.00pm on December 24 and a policewoman stood near the covered body for much of the evening.

One local resident, a 70 year-old retired Lloyds reinsurance underwriter, whose £1.5m home overlooks the scene said: “The police told me a serious crime had taken place.”

The gent, who did not want to be identified, said he only discovered the crime scene when walking his cocker spaniel Jessie at approximately 10.30pm last night.

“There was police tape along the end of my road, Paveley Drive, at the junction of Battersea Church Road and I thought somebody had been run over,” he explained.

“Cars bomb along here at 50mph in a 20mph zone, but the police told me it was nothing like that so I think somebody has been stabbed or something.

“I am still suffering from being attacked in my front garden over three years ago. This area isn’t safe anymore and I’ve put my house on the market.”

The body remains at the scene and residents are being allowed to drive through the police cordon if they need to get away on Christmas Day.

Aristocrat Back Behind Bars

An aristocrat, who is 65th in line to the British throne, will be spending Christmas behind bars after he was jailed for yet another racially aggravated crime.

Ironically Rowan Nash Lascelles, 42, will be swapping a bed at the homeless hostel named after his great-great grandfather George V for a prison cell.

Last Thursday at Westminster Magistrates Court he was sentenced to sixteen weeks imprisonment, plus one week to run concurrently for jumping bail.

Lascelles, the son of The Hon. James Lascelles, 65, the second son of the 7th Earl of Harewood, had gone on the run and failed to appear for his earlier trial.

In his absence he was convicted at Hendon Magistrates Court of the racially aggravated harassment of Avi Daoudi at Victoria Station on April 18.

A second charge of racially aggravated harassment against Shubhamangla Sampanguramareddy was dismissed.

He received eight weeks imprisonment and was ordered to pay a £122 victim surcharge.

An additional eight weeks imprisonment was added, to run consecutively, for breaching a community order imposed for a similar offence.

Lascelles, of King George V Hostel, 75 Great Peter Street, Victoria was convicted last July of the racially aggravated assault of a Leicester Square casino doorman and racially abusing his supervisor.

On that occasion he spat blood in the bouncer’s face after fighting outside with some homeless men and called the supervisor a: “Paki.”

Again Lascelles jumped bailed and did not appear for the trial.

Vodka-Swilling Train Pervert Locked-Up

A drunken sex pest, who claimed a female train passenger whose skirt he lifted up provoked him by flashing her legs, has been locked up.

After drinking half a bottle of vodka Leon Pawlica, 59, boarded a train from London Victoria to West Croydon at 8.30am on May 22.

He approached the victim and tried to engage her in conversation.

Feeling uncomfortable, the victim moved away, and Pawlica attempted to speak to another woman on the train.

When the train stopped at Crystal Palace and the victim got up to leave, Pawlica lifted her skirt and sexually assaulted her. 

She challenged him and he followed her off the train and through the station.

The victim asked station staff for help who called the police and he was arrested nearby following a search of the area.

Pawlica was convicted at City of London Magistrates Court of one count of sexual assault.

He was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison and was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for seven years and pay £775 costs.

Pawlica was also handed a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prevents him from carrying open alcohol and sitting next to or opposite a lone female on public transport.

In his police interview, Pawlica firstly claimed he was too drunk to remember the incident before accusing the victim of “sexually provoking it herself…because her legs were open.”

Detective Sergeant Dan Holmes of British Transport Police’s Sexual Offences Unit said: “Thankfully we police a CCTV rich environment and this blatant sexual assault was captured entirely on camera.

“Pawlica knew he had no defence, but his attempt to blame the completely innocent victim, who was left understandably distressed by the incident, is utterly reprehensible.

“It’s no surprise the court saw straight through this and I am pleased to see Pawlica handed a custodial sentence.

“I hope it serves as a strong reminder that sexual offenders absolutely won’t be tolerated on the railway.”

Victoria Station Axeman Jailed

An axeman was caught at Victoria Station during a police operation involving a specialist sniffer dog searching for terrorists carrying explosives.

British Transport Police engaged in Operation Servator were at the busy terminus on April 16, 2018 checking passengers as they came through the fare barriers.

Nithusan Gobinathan, 22, of Harries Road, Hayes, west London had the twelve-inch axe in his rucksack without the protective blade cover.

He was convicted at Blackfriars Crown Court of possessing an offensive weapon and was sentenced to seven months imprisonment.

Gobinathan noticed the considerable police presence and caught the attention of plain clothed officers, who stopped to speak to him.

After raising the suspicion of officers he was stopped and searched, and the axe was found in his rucksack.

He was arrested and taken into police custody.

Project Servator Inspector Pete Day said: “There’s absolutely no excuse to be carrying offensive weapons on the railway, and thankfully, Gobinathan will now have time to think about his choices in prison.

“Gobinathan tried to claim that he’d bought the axe to carry out garden work, so I’m pleased the jury saw straight through this and that he was handed a custodial sentence.

“We are specially trained in spotting individuals like him who would rather avoid us, and we carry out high visibility Project Servator patrols like this every day, up and down the country.

“Don’t be alarmed if you do see us, we’re there to keep you safe and make sure the railway is a difficult place for people like Gobinathan to operate. 

“You can help us by keeping an eye out for anything or anyone suspicious and texting us discreetly on 61016.”