Saturday, 6 March 2021

NOT GUILTY: Power Boating Businessman Cleared Of Royal Thames Yacht Club Grope

A power boat record breaking businessman was cleared yesterday of groping a woman outside the Royal Thames Yacht Club after telling a jury he was arguing with her smoking companion.

Entrepreneur Peter Bonham Christie, 39, always maintained his innocence, insisting the motivation for the pair’s claims was to get him drummed out of the 245 year-old private members club.


The Isleworth Crown Court jury took less than three hours to unanimously find Bonham Christie not guilty of one count of sexual assault.


Privately-educated Bonham Christie, whose company transports expensive classic cars, was accused of “lunging” towards the 27 year-old fellow club-member in the early hours of November 30, 2018 and thrusting his hand between her thighs.


She told the trial she was left shaken and upset by the incident and her evidence was backed-up by another club-member, Andrew Sutherland, 60, who was enjoying a cigarette with her.


He told the four-day trial: “I thought he was going to shake her hand, but grabbed her literally in the crotch area…between her thighs…I was quite shocked.”


However, Bonham Christie, who attended £40,000 a-year Millfield School, insisted he never touched the woman, but had gone outside to confront Mr Sutherland about a cocaine allegation he made about him.


“It’s a nonsense, a complete nonsense. The whole thing is ridiculous,” he said. “I know that I didn’t do it. She’s convinced somethings happened, I didn’t do it, that’s it.


“All they wanted was for me to be thrown out of the Royal Thames Yacht Club. They got trapped in their lie. What they have done is wrong.”


The defendant had spent the evening at auctioneers Bonhams, where he had a contract to transport expensive cars for sale, before moving onto five-star Claridge’s and in total consumed two glasses of champagne, two vodka and tonics, plus a glass of wine.


At the Royal Thames Yacht Club he says Mr Sutherland told a female friend and senior business client of him: “Nice guy, nice guy, shame he takes too much cocaine.”


This prompted the confrontation outside. “I was fuming with what he said, but I got nowhere. He had just said to one of my senior clients a lie and I grabbed him and shook him.


“I said: ‘Andrew, what the f*** did you do that for? Why did you say that?’ That was it.”


Bonham Christie was immediately discharged by Recorder Annabel Darlow QC, following the jury’s verdict and did not apply for any costs.

Friday, 5 March 2021

"Nonsense, A Complete Nonsense" Says Businessman Accused Of Royal Thames Yacht Club Grope

A power boating businessman, accused of groping a woman between the legs outside the Royal Thames Yacht Club, told the jury the allegation was “a nonsense, a complete nonsense,” yesterday

Peter Bonham Christie, 39, denies one count of sexually assaulting the 27 year-old woman in the early hours when she was having a smoke outside the Knightsbridge club on November 30, 2018.


Isleworth Crown Court heard the woman - a fellow club-member - was left shaking and in tears after the sudden early hours grope outside the 245 year-old exclusive private members club.


Bonham Christie, of Gosport Street, Lymington, Hampshire, who runs a company that specialises in the transportation of classic and luxury cars, said he was angry with the woman’s companion, 60 year-old Andrew Sutherland.


Bonham Christie told the court: “I was f***ed off. Anger got the better of me.”


The former University of Portsmouth student, an old boy of £40,000 a-year Millfield School, said Mr Sutherland had described him as a cocaine-user to a female friend and business client.


He told her: “Nice guy, nice guy, shame he takes too much cocaine.”


Bonham Christie told the court he did not touch the complainant, who was standing next to Mr Sutherland when he angrily approached him outside the club.


“I know that I didn’t do it. She’s convinced somethings happened, I didn’t do it, that’s it.


“It’s a nonsense, a complete nonsense. The whole thing is ridiculous.


“All they wanted was for me to be thrown out of the Royal Thames Yacht Club. They got trapped in their lie. What they have done is wrong.”


During the evening Bonham Christie consumed at least two glasses of champagne, two vodka and tonics and a glass of wine and said Mr Sutherland was “hitting” on his female friend.


“He is someone I know and prefer to keep at arm’s length. He’s not a particularly nice person, he’s a drunken idiot.”


Bonham Christie said the complainant clearly took Mr Sutherland’s side in their dispute. “She was looking after him, she took him away from me.


“I was fuming with what he said, but I got nowhere. He had just said to one of my senior clients a lie and I grabbed him and shook him.


“I said: ‘Andrew, what the f*** did you do that for? Why did you say that?’ That was it.”


Earlier Bonham Christie described himself to the jury: “I am a high achiever. I like to have fun, I work very hard.


“I like to win, I like to have goals and achieve them and I have, quite a lot.”


Bath-born Bonham Christie, a self-styled entrepreneur, sold his first office water cooler company for over £1m, utilising water sourced on his family’s Dorset property.


Bonham Christie represented GB in sailing and skiing, aged 13 years-old and once received an award from the Royal Yachting Association for breaking the offshore powerboat world speed record.


Trial continues…………

Thursday, 4 March 2021

Businessman Grabbed Woman "Between Her Thighs" Says Royal Thames Yacht Club Member

Peter Bonham Christie
A power boating businessman left a fellow Royal Thames Yacht Club member “obviously distressed, physically shaking” when he groped her between the legs, an eye witness told a jury today.

Peter Bonham Christie, 39, denies one count of sexually assaulting the 27 year-old woman in the early hours when she was having a smoke outside the Knightsbridge club on November 30, 2018.

Giving evidence from his Cotswold home club member Andrew Sutherland, 60, told Isleworth Crown Court he attended the club following a City banking function earlier that night.


He said was outside smoking with the complainant when Bonham Christie emerged: “I was about to introduce him and before I could he made his lunge to her.


“He turned around without any provocation, quite an aggressive move without any reason, I think with his left hand.


“I thought he was going to shake her hand, but grabbed her literally in the crotch area…between her thighs…I was quite shocked.


“She was visibly distressed and physically shaking after it. The shaking turned into tears then.


“After the initial shock I turned around to him and said: ‘What are you doing?’ and he tried to apologise to me and I placed myself as a physical barrier between the two of them.


“I have to assume he was quite drunk, it was so unexpected what he did. He seemed to apologise and he was doing it to me, not her.


“She was pretty shocked by the whole thing and was obviously distressed, physically shaking over it and crying.”


The woman then told Bonham Christie’s girlfriend what happened. “She was still shaking and increasingly angry about it and his girlfriend was quite shocked about it as well.”


Mr Sutherland called a taxi for the complainant and checked on her the next day. “I phoned her up to check she was okay. She was still very upset by it all.


“It’s an embarrassing situation for a member of the club to do what he did.”


The witness also spoke to the defendant the next day. “He specifically mentioned he had done something silly and I had to get him out of a significant hole.


“He asked me to provide him with her phone number so he could apologise and I told him it was not appropriate for me to give him the phone number.”  


Mr Sutherland denied Bonham Christie’s assertion both he and the complainant were “very drunk” and that he was an associate of a social circle known as the “drink and curry crowd.”


Denying he was a “big drinker” the witness also denied telling one guest that night: “Peter Bonham Christie is a good bloke, but takes too much cocaine.”


Bonham Christie’s QC Felicity Gerry put to Mr Sutherland: “He didn’t lunge at her and did not grab her at all.


“What you say about him lunging at her is not true. Your recollection is mistaken because you were drunk and maybe you grabbed her Mr Sutherland?”


“That’s ridiculous,” he replied.


Bonham Christie admits he was angry at Mr Sutherland’s alleged comments and behaviour that night and approached him outside, saying; “You f***ing idiot, why did you do that? You’re a f***ing idiot.”


“That’s a complete fabrication,” said the witness. “I have no animosity against Peter Bonham Christie at all. I am certainly not lying and I’m not mistaken.”  


Bonham Christie, of Gosport Street, Lymington, Hampshire, runs a company that specialises in the transportation of classic and luxury cars.


The former University of Portsmouth student is an old boy of £40,000 a-year Millfield School and a member of the 245 year-old exclusive private members-only Royal Thames Yacht Club.


Bath-born Bonham Christie, a self-styled entrepreneur, sold his first office water cooler company for over £1m, utilising water sourced on his family’s Dorset property.


Bonham Christie represented GB in sailing and skiing, aged 13 years-old and once received an award from the Royal Yachting Association for breaking the offshore powerboat world speed record.


The trial continues………..

Wednesday, 3 March 2021

"Cuckooing" Killer Jailed For Brutal Murder Of Flatmate

Mohammed Assri
A predatory homeless thug took over a vulnerable middle-aged man's life, inflicted 60 injuries on his victim during a deadly beating.

James Dowdell, 55, fought for his life when attacked by Mohammed Assri, 47, who was found with the deceased's bank card and a large amount of bloodstained cash.

He moved into Mr Dowdell's address in St. Mark's Grove, West Brompton and took over his finances and tried to exclude his carers.

He was convicted of murdering Mr Dowdell on February 17, last year and received life imprisonment, with a twenty-one year minimum.

Assri made a frantic call to police, reporting he had returned to the property to and found the frail Mr Dowdell dead.

Officers and paramedics attended to find Mr Dowdell with head injuries. 

He was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Assri was arrested and detectives began an investigation, which found the relationship between him and Mr Dowdell to be unclear. 

Assri claimed his name was Adam and that Mr Dowdell was his uncle. 

Assri had been homeless prior to moving into the flat in late January.

Having moved into the flat, Assri quickly established control, seeking to exclude James’s carers. 

He took over his finances, including using his Halifax debit card regularly and pawned a valuable watch-strap belonging to Mr Dowdell.

Officers found Assri lied about his whereabouts in the hours before Mr Dowdell's death.

James Dowdell

A post-mortem examination revealed bruising on Mr Dowdell's wrists and marks to his hand suggesting he had tried to defend himself from the fatal attack.

The cause of death was blunt force trauma and compression of the neck.

Assri claimed Mr Dowdell's injuries were sustained by falling and were self-inflicted. 

This was disproved by pathologists and medical evidence.

Detective Inspector Maria Green, from Specialist Crime said: “This has been a truly tragic case and my thoughts are with James Dowdell’s family as they continue to come to terms with their loss. 

“I pay tribute to them and the strength that they have shown.

“Assri is a violent and manipulative man, who has taken no responsibility for his actions. 

“He used his court appearance as an attempt to dishonour the memory and life of James and delay the trial causing great upset to James’ family.

“I hope that this conviction, and the sentence imposed, will send out a clear message to those intent on committing violent acts – that tackling violence in London is a top priority for the Metropolitan Police and we will continue to apprehend those responsible for causing misery and fear in our communities.

“The community will be a lot safer as a result of Assri now being behind bars. 

“People must remember that they can play a really important role in tackling violent crime and if you have information about crime, we urge you to tell us, so that we can tackle violence together and help keep our neighbourhoods safe.”

Mr Dowdell's Mother said: As a family we arrived expecting a two week trial. 

“In the event it ran to six weeks. 

“One of the traumas of this was that it appeared that the timetable could be puppeteered by a lying manipulative murderer who seemed to thrive on all the attention. 

“It felt that the defendant could simply produce a new story at will to keep everyone dangling.

“James' body riddled with more than sixty injuries shows how courageously he fought for his life. 

“It highlights the levels of venom and savagery within this murderer that he could almost casually and for no possible motive brutally destroy James. 

“The blood splatters on every wall and devastation in James' room are graphic testament to that.

“It is simplistic to say life is made up with two types of people those who "give" and those who "take", but I know which one James was and it isn't the same as his murderer. 

“So I suppose, it was inevitable that someone like James with no hatred or violence in his soul was too late in recognising such evil in another. 

“We have heard how he was slowly becoming aware of the increasing threat, but when asked by his friend Grainne if he would survive until she came to him, he replied: 'Hopefully!!!!' 

“This will resonate with us for ever more."

Tuesday, 2 March 2021

Businessman Accused Of Royal Thames Yacht Club Grope

A dashing businessman, who excels in sailing and powerboat racing, groped a young woman between her legs outside Knightsbridge’s Royal Thames Yacht Club, a jury heard today.

Peter Bonham Christie, 39, is accused of “lunging” at the 27 year-old fellow club member when she was having a smoke in the early hours of the morning. 


Bonham Christie, of Gosport Street, Lymington, Hampshire, whose company specialises in the transportation of classic and luxury cars, has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting the woman on November 30, 2018.


Earlier that evening the he dined at auctioneers Bonhams, where he also gave a speech and took a client to five-star Claridge’s in Mayfair, Isleworth Crown Court was told.


Former University of Portsmouth student Bonham Christie is an old boy of £40,000 a-year Millfield School and a member of the 245 year-old exclusive private members-only Royal Thames Yacht Club.


Prosecutor Emma Smith told the jury Bonham Christie followed the woman - who was attending a drinks evening - and fellow-member Andrew Sutherland, 60, outside.


She had attended a function for younger club members with her boyfriend, but he had left and it was the first time she had been introduced to Bonham Christie.


“You will hear from her how he went up to her, put his hand between her legs and how he grabbed her crotch.


“She did not say anything because she was so shocked, but pushed him off and said: ‘What are you doing?’


“The defendant apologised to Mr Sutherland, but not to her and went back into the club.


“Mr Sutherland will describe being outside and having a cigarette and the defendant coming outside and coming up to the complainant, lunging at her and grabbing her crotch.


“The following morning he received a call from this defendant, who apologised and said: ‘You’ve got to get me out of a hole’.


“He asked for the woman’s phone number and Mr Sutherland thought it was not appropriate to hand over her details.


“What was the hole Mr Bonham Christie had to get out of?” the prosecutor asked the jurors. “Was it because he sexually assaulted her in the way she and Mr Sutherland will describe to you?”


The woman reported the incident to the club and in March, 2019 told the police.


Bath-born Bonham Christie, a self-styled entrepreneur, who sold his first office water cooler company for over £1m, utilising water sourced on his family’s Dorset property, attended Kensington Police Station on March 26, 2019.


“He described Mr Sutherland as being very drunk and that Mr Sutherland had made comments about he, Mr Bonham Christie taking cocaine.


“In that background Mr Bonham Christie went outside to ‘have a word’ with Mr Sutherland and they had a friendly argument and he went back into the club


“He said he had been drinking, but had not touched her.”


Bonham Christie represented GB in sailing and skiing, aged 13 years-old and once received an award from the Royal Yachting Association for breaking the offshore powerboat world speed record.


The trial continues.......

Monday, 1 March 2021

Man Denies Park Rape

A lone man took advantage of a drunken woman he raped after taking her to a west London park, a court heard today.

The victim, aged in her late twenties, had been drinking and taking cocaine the night before with two friends and ended up in Hitherbroom Park, Hayes.

Thomas Mangar, 36, of nearby Bourne Avenue has pleaded not guilty to raping and sexually assaulting her on May 12, last year.

Now bearded and wearing a turban Mangar looks little like his police custody photograph as he fights the charges at Isleworth Crown Court.

Prosecutor Ross Cohen told the jury the pair were identified the night before.

“This was the last time she could have been rescued,” he explained. “The defendant took her to a local park out of view of any witnesses and CCTV.

“This is where the offences took place.

“The complainant was not able to remember anything about the night before, about arriving at a hotel and getting stuck into drink and drugs.

“She woke up with the defendant on top of her, having sex with her. She remembers her bra was undone and her underwear had gone missing.

“She says she shouted and screamed at her attacker and recalls public in the park were alerted and and her attacker got off of her and moved away.”

The witness was described as being “scared” and heard the woman tell the man later identified as Mangar: “F*** off. Get away.”

Another witness meditating in the sunshine saw the woman pulling her trousers up while a man knelt beside her.

“The witness saw her push the man and strike him around the head,” explained Mr Cohen. “She started crying, saying: 'I don't know where I am.'

“The woman then accused one of the witnesses of standing aside and watching her being raped.

“She was extremely upset and very angry.”

Mangar was seen “hanging around” and was followed by a park user before breaking into a run.

When the witness caught up with him Mangar claimed he thought the man was a “black robber” targeting him.

Mangar claimed there were four black men in the bushes near the woman, who he thought was having a heart attack and when he offered her water she told him to “fuck off”.

The woman called 999 and told police she had been raped.

The trial continues...........

Sunday, 28 February 2021

Caught: Scum On The Run Who Tricked Way Into OAP's Home

A heartless burglar, who preyed on an octogenarian by tricking his way into her home to steal, has finally been locked-up again.

Peter Kerrigan, 33, was on the run after escaping from a secure mental health facility in 2015, after a burglary conviction.

He avoided capture for five years, despite a national manhunt to trace him, but was finally caught after being identified on a doorbell camera.

Kerrigan, of Queens Crescent, Kentish Town pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to the Hampstead distraction burglary and escaping custody.

He received four years imprisonment.

Kerrigan absconded the Homerton facility in March, 2015 and remained free until he was caught after posing as a council labourer on March 17, last year to enter the OAP's home.

During the burglary the victim caught Kerrigan in her bedroom looking through her purse.

He fled without stealing any of her property.

Fortunately, the victim had a doorbell, which recorded Kerrigan's arrival and entry into the address.

An investigation was launched by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Central North Basic Command Unit (BCU). 

With an image of the suspect and forensic evidence left behind at the scene, detectives were able to identify Kerrigan.

On Thursday, July 2 Kerrigan was arrested in Camden after being identified by officers.

DC Stacey Whitaker, who led the investigation, said: “Distraction burglary is extremely upsetting and traumatic for those involved therefore it is only right that Kerrigan – who has a history of offending - has received this sentence. 

I’d like to thank the local community for providing vital information regarding the whereabouts of Kerrigan which led to his arrest.”

Saturday, 27 February 2021

Police Smash £1/4m Cannabis Farm

Police have smashed a huge cannabis-growing operation in west London after responding to suspect activity around a building.

Officers were called to the Hillingdon property at 9.36am on Wednesday, January 27 after the suspicious activity report.

When they entered the property, they found approximately 5,000 plants, along with growing equipment.

One room alone had 1,800 plants.

The plants are thought to have had a street value of around a quarter of a million pounds.

They have now been recovered and an investigation is underway to establish the circumstances of the find.

Police Sergeant Crystal Govers, of the West Area Basic Command Unit, said:"Drugs have a devastating impact on communities and individuals and we will do everything we can to remove them from the streets.

"We will act upon intelligence from members of the public and would urge anyone who is aware of suspicious activity in your area to report it to the police as soon as possible."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC. If you have information about this specific incident quote CAD 1677/27Jan.

You can also provide information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Friday, 26 February 2021

Drunken Farmer Posed As Cop On Wimbledon Common

A drunken farmer repeatedly posed as a police officer on Wimbledon Common, even attaching a flashing blue lamp to his 4x4 during a bizarre obsession last summer, a court heard.

Marc Peter Dailly, 58, left his 142-acre property, which is also home to his wife’s horse livery stables, and drove up the A3 to the common in south-west London.


Yesterday at Wimbledon Magistrates Court Dailly, of Slough Farm, Telegraph Lane, Claygate, Esher pleaded guilty to three counts of impersonating a police officer on June 24; July 15 and July 19, last year.


He also pleaded guilty to using his Mitsubishi Shogun, which was fitted with a blue warning beacon, contrary to the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations, on July 19.


The prosecution dropped an offensive weapon charge of possessing a police-style baton, submitting it was part of the main three impersonating offences.


Prosecutor Mr David Roberts told the court the alarm was raised on July 19: “Police were called to reports of the defendant driving a vehicle on Wimbledon Common, claiming to be a police officer.


“The police officers say he was drunk, slurring his words and produced a card, claiming to be a police officer.


“There were two other earlier incidents when a parks officer warned the defendant about having a vehicle with a flashing light.”


The arresting officers describe Dailly - who also has a background in veterinary farming - as “driving erratically and at speed.”


Mr Roberts explained: “The defendant introduced himself as ‘the Chief Inspector’ and admitted he had ‘one or two’.


“He was also in possession of a police-style baton that the Crown Prosecution Service say is part of the charge of impersonating a police officer.”


Dailly was separately prosecuted for drink-driving at three times the limit and last year was fined £500 and disqualified for two years.


The court heard Dailly has had personal struggles and read a letter from his wife before bailing him until April 8 for a pre-sentence report.

Thursday, 25 February 2021

Santander Manager Accused Of £179K Fraud

A Santander manager, accused of raiding the bank accounts of “mostly elderly and vulnerable customers” of £179,900, appeared in court for the first time yesterday.

Charlotte Mills, 33, of Titchener Close, Bicester, Oxfordshire appeared on bail at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court.


She is charged with one count of fraud by abuse of position between June 30, 2015 and December 1, 2019.


She gave no indication as to plea, but her legal representative indicated she would make admissions to a lower amount.


The customer service manager was bailed to appear at Inner London Crown Court on March 25 after the magistrates refused jurisdiction due to the seriousness of the case.


Prosecutor Mr. David Roberts told the court: “She defrauded mostly elderly and vulnerable customers.”

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Nineties Pop Star Finley Quaye Smashed Bus Door During Fare Row

Troubled 90’s pop star Finley Quaye has notched up yet another conviction - this time for throwing a metal road sign through a glass bus door during a fare row.

Now living in the modest Abercorn House Hostel, 28-30 Bute Gardens, Hammersmith the 46 year-old Brit Award-winner appeared today at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.


Edinburgh-born Quaye, whose hits include ’Sunday Shining’ and ‘Even After All’ got into a row with the driver of the bus in Hammersmith and threw food all over the interior.


He pleaded guilty to causing £249.14p worth of criminal damage on June 17, last year and was bailed until March 3 for a pre-sentence report.


The court heard Quaye, who has multiple alcohol-related convictions, tried to use his card to pay the fare, but there was a disagreement.


He started shouting and swearing at the driver and after throwing around the food, exited the bus and walked around to the drivers’ side to continue the row.


Quaye picked up a metal road sign and threw it through the glass door of the bus, damaging it completely.

Tuesday, 23 February 2021

Brothers Deny Attacking Their Gay Couple Pals During Boozy Night Out

Marc Palmer-Elder
Two brothers turned on their gay couple friends during a violent Saturday night out in London’s West End - hospitalising the victims who were both viciously punched in the face, court heard.

One victim was also repeatedly kicked and stamped on by the pair, with one brother mockingly offering gay sexual favours to make the injured man ‘feel better’ during the drive home, the jury were told.


Marc Palmer-Elder, 24, of Faraday Road, Slough and Shaun Palmer-Elder, 23, of Wren Wood, Welwyn Garden City both deny the allegations at Southwark Crown Court.


Both brothers have pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Peter Burdon-Kirkwood in Carlton House Terrace, near The Mall on August 11, 2019.


Marc alone has pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Tristan Christian on the same occasion and Shaun also denies a count of causing criminal damage to Mr. Burdon-Kirkwood’s mobile phone.


Wannabe model Mr Christian told the jury all four drove from Slough to Central London for an enjoyable night out - drinking on the way - but the brothers were spoiling for trouble in the pub.


He estimated Marc finished half a bottle of rum during the journey and shared the rest with the others.


“The mood changed once everyone had a drink…There was a lot more aggression in the way they were coming across and talking.


“It seemed like they were looking for some sort of trouble.”


He told the jurors the brothers showed off to some girls outside they had stolen a bottle of alcohol from the pub and then began fighting with some friendly passers-by.


Shaun Palmer-Elder

“It came from the boys, it was not provoked. They were giving a whole attitude, a vibe and they wanted a fight and they got a fight.”


“Marc then started throwing glass bottles down the road towards these guys, while there were people walking in the road. I was disgusted.”


He said Marc also threw a punch at a random Romanian rickshaw driver. “Marc punched one of the Tuk Tuk drivers in the mouth and his mouth instantly started bleeding.”


When the police turned up Mr Christian admits he lied to the officers to get his friend off the hook.


All four friends then started walking back to their car. “Marc hit Pete out of nowhere, his nose had popped.


“There was so much blood from one person, I’d never seen before, you only see that in films. His nose burst with blood gushing out, it was so shocking.


“He kind of ran up to Pete and jumped and punched him straight in the face and popped his nose and burst his cheek.


“He still wanted to fight, to hurt anyone and was shouting loads of abuse, like: ‘He’s faking it. He’s a pussy’.


“I spoke to Shaun at the time Marc punched me. As I turned my head he’s punched me so hard I instantly heard this crack and spat out blood and knew my jaw was broken and heard it disconnect.


“It’s horrible that my friend could have done that and he was saying I couldn’t speak if it really was broken.”


When Mr. Burdon-Kirkwood tried to call an ambulance Shaun stopped him, said the witness. “He took Pete’s phone out of his hand and kind of snapped it.”


As the victims tried to get away the injured Mr. Burdon-Kirkwood was struck again, the court heard.


“Marc, again running, jumped and hit Pete again, a very forceful hit and he fell and hit the kerb and was lying lifeless, he was unconscious,” explained Mr. Christian.


“They saw that as an opportunity to kick the life out of him, kicking him, stamping.”


All four returned to the car and during the journey to Slough, Shaun made mocking comment to the injured Mr Burdon-Kirkwood, the jury were told.


Mr Christian said: “He was sitting behind Pete and saying: ‘Do you want me to touch you? Do you want me to do oral to you?’


“That was entertainment to them they were smiling at this point and happy with what they achieved.


“Me and Pete spent the next two days in A & E with serious injuries and I’ve got metal plates in my lower jaw.”


The trial continues and is expected to last four days.

Monday, 22 February 2021

Thames Marina Boss Fails To Have Tenant Assault Case Dismissed

Threats: Djurberg
The flamboyant boss of a luxury Thames marina, who screamed at a boat owner: “I’ll break your f***ing head,” while waving a heavy-duty roofing tool, failed to have the case thrown out today.

Myck Djurberg, 60, had already whacked 52 year-old Dutch IT consultant Klaus Beversluis across the back of the head with a pair of gardening gloves.

He appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court, where he was told being locked-up was still a potential option, and was bailed until April 1 for sentencing.


Businessman Djurberg lives in a landmark £13m Swiss chalet at Hampton Riviera Boat Yard, Hampton Court Road, Richmond and is in dispute with Mr. Beversluis, who rents out his three boats via Airbnb.


He was convicted in his absence earlier this month of assaulting Mr. Beversluis and using threatening behaviour towards him on May 8, last year.


After failing to attend the trial a warrant was issued for Djurberg’s arrest and he surrendered himself to the court the following day.


His hopes for a re-trial were dismissed by District Judge Timothy Godfrey, who announced: “This application is ill-founded. There’s no good reason for me to re-open proceedings.


“In my view these offences are serious enough for a community sentence. I’m not saying there should be a custodial sentence, but if you refuse to do a community sentence custody would be an option.”


Mr. Beversluis was upset by a £5,500 service fee and Djurberg’s order to evict the victim’s caretaker when he walked into the marina office at 10am.


He told the trial: “The second I came in he leapt up from behind his desk and almost ran towards me, shouting: ‘Get out of here! Get out of here!’


“He shouted at me and I said I could not get out and wanted to clarify the matter.


Tenant: Beversluis

“He came up towards me and grabbed the nearest thing to him, which were a pair of heavy-duty gardening gloves, raised them and hit me on the back of my head and I also got a bruise on my arm.


“I got a smack on my head as I was trying to get out of there.


“He hit me across the back of the head with as much force as as he could muster and the back of my head was red the next day, it did sting, but did not draw blood.”


Mr. Beversluis fled the office, but was pursued by Djurberg, the court was told.


“I turned around and Myck Djurberg came out of the office and had grasped a weapon that I had seen before,” he added.


“It is called a lead dresser. It is a very heavy roofing tool, roofers use to hit lead flashing around chimneys.

“He had it raised up high and said he would break my f***ing head in.


“I had no doubt he would use it. I was absolutely terrified and ran away as fast as I could.


“It’s heavy enough to cave someone’s skull in, in my opinion.


“I suppose it has effected my confidence. It shook me up tremendously for a while and I had medical advice for increasing my anti-depression and anti-anxiety medication.”


The entire incident was captured on Mr. Beversluis’ camera and played during the trial, including a still of Djurberg holding the tool.


Mr. Beversluis even bought a replica of the tool and brought it to court to show the magistrates.


“There was no need to to hit me or in my view pick up a deadly weapon and threaten to hit me in the head,” he told the court.


Djurberg was questioned by police the next day and claimed he was scared and asked the victim to leave, but he wouldn’t.


He denied hitting the victim with the gloves and said his tenant elbowed him in the chest and his mind was blank about what else may have happened.


Djurberg said the object in his hand was a pencil case and denied using the threatening words.