Sickie Cop's Fraud Exposed By His Online Dog-Walking Business

A policeman, who moonlighted as a professional dog-walker while defrauding the Met of over £100,000 in full sick-pay, claiming he could barely move, received a suspended prison sentence today.

Police Constable Richard Williams, 40, told a senior officer he would probably need a wheelchair or at least two walking sticks after two car crashes while on duty.

“You did experience some health difficulties and symptoms in early 2015, but you exaggerated them during the trial and in this courtroom,” Judge Christopher Hehir told him.

“This was demonstrated in that you established and ran, with no little enthusiasm and energy a dog-walking business.”

Williams received two years imprisonment, suspended for two years and must comply with a probation-ordered rehabilitation activity requirement for up to twelve months.

“I have my own views about the extent of your health problems, but the probation service find you are not fit for community service work” added the judge.

Williams served the Metropolitan Police on the Estates Police Team, based in Dagenham, but after the second collision was hospitalised with back, pelvis, groin and side injuries.

Southwark Crown Court heard he repeatedly used correction fluid to alter genuine medical certificates from three GP’s, resulting in him being declared unfit for work.

Williams, of The Olde Walnut House, Aylesbury Road, Bierton, Aylesbury grimaced and struggled to rise to his feet with the aid of a walking stick throughout the trial.

He was convicted of seven counts of defrauding the Met by providing fraudulent and altered medical certificates between April 24, 2015 and November 27, 2017. 

He was also convicted of an additional fraud of dishonestly representing to a doctor he received police sick notes for the debilitating condition fibromyalgia.

Commenting on that diagnosis the judge told Williams: “You have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and you enthusiastically diagnosed yourself with fibromyalgia.”

Being the sole care for his troubled 16 year-old son contributed to Williams avoiding prison, added the judge. “I don’t want to ruin his life and depriving him of your care could add to your problems.”

Williams’ lawyer Robert Morris said: “He has obviously lost his good name and reputation and that is a considerable matter for a man ins forties who was a police officer.

“He’s had his reputation destroyed in the media as you’d expect in case like this.”

Prosecutor Mr. Daniel Higgins told the trial: “Mr. Williams had been working as a professional dog walker, a profession you may feel one needs to be physically active for.

“There were some positive reviews from the customers of ‘DreamyDog Complete Care’ and of ‘DreamyDogWalking’ with one customer saying: ‘I’d highly recommend Richard to everyone’.

“There are other glowing recommendations for Mr. Williams,” said the prosecutor, adding the defendant was paid nearly £11,500 by dog owners while on £100,000 sick pay, plus pension contributions.

“What the Crown say is this is a case of fraudulent activity by Mr. Williams, who while a service police constable, presented fraudulent or altered medical certificates to the Metropolitan police.

“This was in order to obtain extended sick leave on full pay and ultimately be pensioned off.”

Williams was involved in a traffic collision in early 2014, suffering back and knee injuries and again on March 26, 2015 when another vehicle reversed into the drivers’ side of a police car he was a passenger in.

The former officer, who resigned in February, last year received £20,000 compensation for the more recent accident.

“This was a low impact collision, but Mr. Williams was taken to Queen’s Hospital, Romford and on discharge he seemed to be in pain and not able to walk properly and it seemed the accident aggravated his old injury,” explained Mr. Higgins.

Williams never returned to duty and his sergeant received medical certificates from three different GP’s Williams had found.

“Mr. Williams altered the second certificate, adding the words: ‘injury not fit for work’. He has written on this medical certificate for his employer to allow him to remain on sick leave.

“The Crown say the alteration of the medical certificate forwarded to his employer for sick leave is clearly a dishonest act,” added Mr. Higgins.

Williams was prescribed morphine and pain killers during the period and complained of constant pain to his back, knees, legs, arms and shoulders, headaches, stiffness, poor sleep, burning sensations, stabbing pain, dizziness and clumsiness and numbness and pins and needles in his hands and fingers.

He told one GP he was suffering musculoskeletal pain from fibromyalgia, but the prosecution say Williams simply lifted the symptoms from the NHS’s website.

Williams did not even sometimes visit the GP’s on days he claimed the medical certificates were issued. “He knew he could manufacture his own fraudulent one,” said Mr. Higgins.

He ruled out returning to work on restricted duties, claiming he could not sit or stand for longer than five minutes, struggled to get up in the morning and could not travel in on public transport, the court heard.

“He informed his sergeant there was even the possibility of needing a wheelchair or two walking sticks and a doctor had told him he may never walk properly again,” added the prosecutor.

One police doctor Williams had to see concluded after twelve months of physical and mental treatment he could return to duty and his planned ill-health retirement was scrapped, a decision the defendant appealed.

There was no neurological reason found for his condition and all Williams’ scans were normal.

When one senior officer googled Williams’ address for a scheduled home visit he found the defendant was the director of three companies involved in dog care and dog walking.

Officers from the Directorate of Professional Standards with a search warrant raided the address on October 3, 2017 and filmed their search.

“Mr. Williams appears to move about unaided and there were no signs of any aids to assist his movement.

“The copies of medical certificates with the hardened correction fluid on were seized,” said Mr. Higgins.

Dog Owner Who Stabbed Pet During 9/11 Breakdown Cleared Of Causing Suffering

9/11 Trauma: Christiane Ewing

A former theatre and film production designer, who stabbed her miniature schnauzer dog ‘Pepe’, has been cleared of inflicting suffering because she was in the grip of suicidal post-9/11 trauma.

Christiane Ewing, 52, plunged a kitchen knife into her beloved five-year old dog’s abdomen and slashed her wrists after seeing a news items about the bin Laden family on the tv.

She told Wimbledon Magistrates Court yesterday she suffered PTSD, depression and anxiety after being evacuated from an American Airlines plane moments before it was due to take off from New York’s JFK Airport on September 11, 2001.

The court was shown images of the bloody scene, with a large pool of blood in the living room, with a large black-handled kitchen knife next to it, plus bloodstains in the hallway, bannister and outside the bathroom.

Fortunately she phoned her ex-husband minutes after the stabbing and he rushed bleeding ‘Pepe’ to a vet for successful emergency surgery.

Ewing, of Florence Road, Wimbledon, who has a First Class degree in theatre, was found not guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog at her home on August 1, last year.

She told the trial she had been drinking white wine from 3am and saw a news items about the death of Hamza bin Laden, son of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden.

Pepe Recovering After Stabbing

“I felt like I had been punched in the stomach and was immediately sick. It felt like my head was full of black mist and Pepe and I must escape this world,” she said.

“The two of us would be up in the sky together, away from this terrorism horror. It was a moment of complete despair.

“I was going to end my life and Pepe’s life and we would be safe, off this awful planet.

“I stabbed him and cut him.”

The vet found seven different knife injuries on the dog and told the court he would have died without surgery to his spleen.

There were also wounds to his colon and intestine and more superficial slashes around body and fortunately he recovered after three days.

Ewing phoned her ex-husband Adam Nice in tears that morning, telling him: “Pepe’s dead and I’m next. Get round here and get Pepe to the vet.”

He said in a statement: “I could hear Pepe whimpering at the top of the stairs and he had a big cut behind his ear and his belly was hanging out.

“It isn’t safe for him to live with Christiane anymore and I will look after him when he is better.”

Ewing, who was backed up by a psychiatrist who gave evidence, told the trial: “I couldn’t trust anyone to look after him. He is by my side all the time.

“The whole of nine eleven came at me like a tsunami.”

Reflecting on the stabbing she added: “Horrendous is too small a word. A day does not go by that I am not in tears and praying to God for his welfare.

“I am disgusted and don’t know what words I can say. My heart is absolutely broken, shredded.

"It was not an act of cruelty, but an act of love and we would be together, forever.”

Company Boss In Dock

Court Date: Westminster Magistrates'

A company director has been fined for for a Public Order Act offence against another man around the corner from his Pimlico home and business base.

Che Frantz Jeffreys, 50, boss of electrical manufacturing firm Tower Power Ltd. appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today.

He pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour, with intent to cause fear or or provoke unlawful violence towards Mark Dunsby in Constitution Street on November 21, last year.

The offence was in breach of Section 4 of the Public Order Act.

Jeffreys, of Gloucester Street was fined £80, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £32.

He agreed to immediately pay £20 and the remainder at the rate of £5 per week.

Deaf Bank Worker's £22K Sign Language Swindle

A deaf Lloyds Bank apprentice, who pocketed £22,700 in benefits awarded to him for sign language interpreters, received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Dominic Olanya, 32, took advantage of the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) Access to Work grant, which assists people with disabilities to remain in employment. 

Olanya, of Westcroft Square, Hammersmith pleaded guilty to defrauding the DWP between July 6, 2015 and May 20, 2016 by making false claims for sign language interpreters.

Croydon Crown Court heard he either took the money and did not use an interpreter or employed their services and never paid them, resulting in one pursuing a civil claim against him.

Judge Elizabeth Smaller told Olanya: “A grant scheme paid by the taxpayer is available to provide you with support to enable you to work for Lloyds Bank.

“Over a period of ten months you repeatedly made claims for interpreter services that had not taken place and this was for your personal monetary gain.

‘You had worked hard to make your family proud of you and despite your deafness had achieved a lot in life and built up a good reputation for yourself and had a responsible job.

“You achieved this because you worked hard and are intelligent, but I suspect you will never have such a job again.”

Olanya was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and ordered to complete 50 hours community service.

He must also comply with an electronically tagged curfew for four weeks between 8pm and 6am and pay £500 compensation to the DWP.

Prosecutor Grace Ong told the court Olanya claimed the grant for multiple hours per week for assistance working on his laptop; meetings; for handwritten notes; telephone calls and communicating with his manager and colleagues.

“Instead of the interpreter payments going to the interpreters he arranged for monies to be paid into his own bank account under the name of a real interpreter.”

Olanya was interviewed by the DWP on November 30, 2017. “He claimed he had no idea payments were going into his account, but alter admitted he was using the money for day to day expenses.

“He admitted he took a big risk in doing so and was wrong and the largest purchases we can find he made were for Apple products, including a laptop.”

The court heard Olanya arrived in the UK as a young child when his parents, who supported him in court, had to “take flight” from their home country.

“It is sad that twenty-two thousand pounds can be disposed of with so little to show for it apart from a criminal conviction,” added Judge Smaller. 

“This gentleman was in receipt of a wage, but was receiving an extra two thousand a month tax free.”

Bankrupt Businessman Jailed For Raiding Parents' Bank Accounts

Jailed: Giuseppe Masella

A former bankrupt businessman, who looted his dead mother’s bank accounts of £48,000 before targeting his octogenarian father’s £33,000 savings, has been jailed.

Giuseppe Masella, 48, of St. Dunstan’s Road, Hammersmith emptied his mother’s account just three weeks after her death, leaving only £10 for his father, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

Two years later he opened an internet account in his father Antonio’s name without permission and in two weeks drained it of cash.

Masella denied, but was convicted of two counts of fraud and one count of transferring criminal property regarding his mother’s account in March, 2015.

He was also convicted of two count’s of fraud and one transferring criminal property regarding his father’s account between February and June, 2017.

His greed has split the family with his two brothers taking different sides in the bitter dispute.

“The jury found you guilty after a two week trial of the deliberate and fraudulent looting of your mother and father’s savings accounts,” Recorder Joseph Boothby told Masella.

Sentencing his to eight months imprisonment he told Masella: “You did this in a cruel and calculating way, taking advantage of your father’s trust and lack of understanding of english over a two-year period.

Betrayed: Antonio Masella

“He was living with you, all of his interests in his other houses being extinguished by your actions.

“You never apologised, co-operated or engaged and were repeatedly evasive until the end of the trial.

“Your conduct cannot be so easily forgiven.”   

Prosecutor Mr. Tyrone Silcott told the trial: “In 2015 and 2017 this defendant took money out of his parents’ accounts without permission.”

Masella’s mother Anna, who had three sons, died on March 5, 2015.

“By March 28 all of her savings, apart from £10, had been transferred out of her account,” said the prosecutor.

“In December of that year Antonio went to the Nationwide so he could share the money amongst his three sons, including Giuseppe who is the oldest, but found it had all gone, save that £10.

“All of those transfers had been made by this defendant and all of them were made dishonestly.

“The defendant and his family moved in with Antonio after the death of Anna. He had previously been made bankrupt, but this was lifted in 2015.

“A new Nationwide online account in his father’s name was opened in 2017, which the prosecution say is a fake account and Antonio will tell you someone else opened it.

“That was a fake account set up online to syphon money away from his father.

“The defendant has dishonestly moved money out of his parents’ accounts to his own by making dishonest false representations to the bank.”

The money represented the life savings of Masella’s mother and father and in his victim impact statement Antonio said not only he was effected, but also his two other sons.

Masella’s lawyer Mr. Benjamin Waidhofer told the court: “There is not a pot of money floating around with tens of thousands of pounds available.

“How can he pay anything if he is in custody? He can’t, but he can if he is in the community.

“His defence always was that he had permission and he says the last two years have been a living hell.

“He is the main breadwinner for his family and has three children aged nine, seven and three and the trial sadly set one brother against the other and the father.

“He became tearful when explaining the circumstances regarding his children who want to see their grandfather and uncle.”

The prosecution have indicated they will pursue Masella for financial compensation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Piccadilly Circus Rape: Police Release Image Of Suspect

Police are hunting this suspected rapist after a woman in her forties was raped in an alleyway near busy Piccadilly Circus in the early hours last summer.

Westminster police have just released a CCTV image of their balding suspect and have appealed for anyone who recognises him to contact them.

At approximately 3.00am on August 2, last year the woman was walking near Piccadilly Circus in London’s West End when she was approached by the unknown male.

He took her to a nearby alleyway where he raped her.

Detective Constable Sue McKenzie announced: “A dedicated team have been leading the investigation into this despicable offence and the next stage is to appeal to the public to help identify the man in the image as we believe he could assist with our enquiries.

“Specialist officers continue to support the victim through what has been an extremely traumatic time.

“I urge anyone who recognises this man, or if you are the man in the CCTV image, to contact us immediately.”

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 or contact police via twitter @MetCC quoting reference Cad 6777/02Aug19.

Anonymous tips can be given to independent charity Crimestoppers at crime stoppers-uk.org or on 0800 555 111. 

Health Charity Fraudster Sentenced

A woman who ripped-off a health watchdog charitable organisation has received a suspended prison sentence.

Rabiena Hassan, 26, was charged with fraudulently making payments into her own account at the expense of Healthwatch Lambeth at their office at 336 Brixton Road.

The charge amounted to £18,463.65 between December 2, 2015 and June 27, last year.

Hassan, of Froissart Road, Eltham, south-west London pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation when she appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court.

Healthwatch, which is also a Community Southwark member, says it aims to ensure the health and care needs of local people are met by providers.

Yesterday Hassan was sentenced to 26 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months and ordered to complete 240 hours community service work.

She must also pay £1,000 compensation to Healthwatch, comply with up to twenty days rehabilitation and pay £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge. 

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.”