Riddle Of Missing Battle Of Britain Locomotive Nameplate: Ex-RAF Officer And Dealer In Dock

Philip Angus

An RAF officer stole a valuable commemorative Battle of Britain steam train nameplate and sold it to a crooked railway memorabilia dealer for £12,000, a court heard today.

Squadron Leader Philip John Morley Angus, 66, took the metal ‘Lord Dowding’ nameplate from the secure Fine Arts Store at RAF Bently Priory, Harrow Crown Court was told.

It was sold years later to expert David Ewart Jones, 62, boss of Great Central Railwayana and identified when it came up for auction.

Angus, of Morecambe Lodge, Archenfield Road, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire has pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing the nameplate between January 1, 1999 and January 1, 2000.

Jones, of 14 School Street, Woodford Halse, Daventry, Northamptonshire, has pleaded not guilty to one count of dishonestly receiving stolen goods between May 24, 2010 and December 31, 2011.

Now retired, Angus was President of the Officers’ Mess Committee when he admits taking the nameplate home for restoration over twenty years ago, but sold it to Jones in 2011.

Jones sold it to a collector, along with a matching metal crest in 2013 for £65,000, but when that buyer ran into financial difficulties it ended up in a November, 2017 Tennants auction and was identified to the police.

The nameplate was a tribute to WW2 military leader Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding and two of them adorned either side of one of 44 official 1947 ‘Battle of Britain’ Class steam locomotives.

Lord Dowding’s step-son David Whiting loaned the nameplate and accompanying crest to RAF Bentley Prior in 1990 for their Battle of Britain 50th anniversary exhibition.

Bently Priory, in Stanmore, north London was the HQ of Fighter Command during the successful defeat of Germany’s Luftwaffe in 1940.

A copy was made of the nameplate and it was eventually secured to the wall outside the officers’ mess, with the original held in a secure vault in the Fine Arts Store.

Prosecutor Mr James Keeley told the jury Mr. Whiting requested the return of his family heirlooms in 2006.

“The crest was returned, but the nameplate could not be found and it was reported stolen and the RAF conducted their own investigation, without identifying a suspect or the location of the nameplate.”

However, the nameplate was identified at the auction and police found the last owner was a railway memorabilia collector, who had bought it from Jones.

David Jones

Jones had assured the customer of the item’s provenance, reeling off a long list of seemingly genuine previous owners in Brighton, Devon and north London.

“He told the customer it had taken him several years to reunite the nameplate and the crest,” the prosecutor told the court.

“The customer was interested, but was concerned because he was aware that there had been a Lord Dowding nameplate stolen from Bently Priory.

“Mr Jones went through a list of people who had owned the nameplate, the last being a north London collector, who had screwed it to the side of his garage.

“The name of the first private owner of the nameplate was still visible, painted on the inside, said Mr Jones, who said there were no worries the nameplate was legitimate with a chain of owners.”

When police visited Jones he revealed he had bought it from Angus, who was questioned by officers at Charing Cross Police Station on May 15, 2018.

“He said in 1999 he served at Bently Priory as the President of Officers’ Mess Committee and agreed to dispose of some old memorabilia.

“He found the Lord Dowding in a storeroom and asked a senior officer if he could take the nameplate home to restore it.

“It was kept in a store area, he said, but due to work pressures and medical issues he did not complete the restoration and retired in 2000.

“He told the police he had a clear-out of his garage in 2011 and found the nameplate, which he said no-one wanted and had been lying around in an RAF storeroom for a long time.

“The prosecution say you can be sure he stole the nameplate and Mr. Jones bought it and knew he was dealing in stolen goods,” Mr. Keeley told the jury.

Coincidentally, Jones was approached in 2010 by the nameplate’s owner Mr. Whiting for a valuation as he sought compensation from the RAF for losing the heirloom.

“We know that in 2011 Mr. Jones buys it from Mr. Angus and in 2013 sells it, knowing it is the same nameplate he gave a valuation for as it was either lost or stolen.

“When he was interviewed by the police he said he did not inform Mr. Whiting about it because he did not think he would be interested anymore.

“He also denied giving a verbal chain of previous owners of the nameplate to the customer who purchased it.”

The trial continues and is expected to last four days.

Wanted: Violent Tube Station Shoplifter

Police are hunting this suspected aggressive shoplifter after a tube station staff member was struck in the face, suffering a broken nose

British Transport Police have released this image and are appealing to the public to assist with identification.

At around 8pm on Friday July 2 at Green Park Underground station a man entered a shop and placed a number of items in his basket and walked out without paying.

A member of staff attempted to stop the man who responded by striking him in the face with the shopping basket.

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 625 of 02/07/21.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Teenage Girl Stabbed For Rejecting Thug's Aggressive Advances

A knife-wiedling racist teen, who stabbed a 16 year-old girl in the leg when she rejected his clumsy advances, has been locked-up.

Desmond Brooks, 19, was sentenced to five year and two months custody for the attack at Harrow on the Hill Underground station.

At Inner London Crown Court he pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, on the girl, plus the racially aggravated assault of her male companion.

The court heard how on the morning of October 20, last year Brooks approached the girl and her male friend outside the station and asked for her phone number and snapchat username.

The pair told Brooks to leave them alone before he became abusive, saying he would “shank” and “chef” them up.

He then followed them into the Underground station and began making racist remarks to the male, who turned around and confronted him. 

Brooks responded by punching him in the face.

The girl wrestled with Brooks before he stabbed her in the thigh and ran out of the station.
She was taken to a local hospital where she received six stitches in her leg.

Brooks was later identified, located and arrested by officers before being conveyed to police custody for questioning.

Detective Constable, David Graney, said: “This was a vicious and senseless act of violence and it’s fortunate that Brooks’ 16-year-old victim wasn’t more seriously injured.

“Violent and racially aggravated crimes have no place on the railway and the sentence handed down to Brooks sends a clear message about the consequences of such crimes.

“I’m happy to see he will spend the foreseeable future behind bars – he’s shown himself to be a violent and dangerous individual.

“Thankfully incidents like this are extremely rare on the railway network.”

Six Months Off For Sex Offender

A sexual predator, who befriended a family and molested their daughter while threatening to tarnish her as a child prostitute if she reported him, discovered today he will serve six months less than he thought.

Richard Kwabena Asubonteng, 49, of Latrigg Road, Carlisle denied, but was convicted of ten counts of sexually abusing the teenager at various locations in south-west London between 2015 and 2019.

He was originally sentenced to seven years imprisonment, but today that was corrected to six-and-a-half years.

Under the official Slip Rule procedure the sentencing judge corrected the original sentence. 

The abuse began when the girl was 14 years-old and progressed from kissing to entering her bedroom at night and also groping her between her legs, Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard.

He was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child; six counts of sexual assault;  one count of assault by penetration and one count of causing the complainant to engage in sexual activity.

Prosecutor Peter Clement told the jury the abuse began with touching and kissing in the girl’s bedroom when she was 14 years-old.

“This was no peck on the cheek, this was a kiss on the mouth by an adult.

“The nature of the sexual contact increased in intensity as time progressed.”

One charge covers an incident when Asubonteng pressed his crotch into the girl’s back when she was getting ready to go to church, the jury were told.

She was molested while doing the washing up and the abuse increased to Asubonteng exposing her breasts, said the prosecutor.

When she visited his flat he pushed his finger between her legs and made her kiss him intimately, it was alleged and groped her thigh during a church service.

The final incident was Asubonteng entering her bedroom one night when he was sleeping over as a guest, wearing just his boxer shorts, and telling the teen: “I want to lick you,” added Mr Clement.

“The defendant had befriended the girl’s mother and he was invited to the family home and to church.

“The prosecution case is he breached their trust for his own sexual gratification.”

There were early signs of Asubonteng’s interest in the girl, the prosecutor told the jury. “He made comments about how nice she looked.

“He was not challenged and his behaviour progressed to a sexual nature and contact over time.

“It began with a kiss on the mouth and he told her: ‘I want there to be a connection’.

“She said: ‘You’re so disgusting. No,’ but she did not tell anyone and felt ashamed at what happened and was scared to say anything and kept quiet.

“She was putting make-up on in the downstairs loo when he pushed his groin against her backside and other occasions when she was washing-up.

“He kissed her on the mouth after going out for a burger and also lifted her top and bra up and kissed her breasts.”

Married father Asubonteng also pounced when the girl was at his flat, the court heard.

“He grabbed her and said: ‘I want to sex you,’ and put his hand down her trousers and inside her pants.

“He exposed himself and forced her to the floor and pushed her head down to kiss him.”

A relative witnessed suspicious behaviour at a church service in Mitcham. “They saw Asubonteng reach out and touch her thigh  under her skirt and he stroked her hand.

“The defendant threatened her to keep quiet and if she did say something he would say she was a child prostitute.”

Female Train Passenger Followed By Sex Pest

Police are trying to identify this suspect after a female train passenger was pestered and molested.

The victim was travelling from Liverpool Street station at 7pm on Tuesday, May 11 when a man sat next to her.

The unknown male began engaging in conversation, which the woman ignored.

The British Transport Police (BTP) have released this image as they continue trying to identify their suspect.

The man assaulted the woman and followed her off the train at Goodmayes station.

She escaped him to find a member of staff at the station. 

The man then boarded a southbound train.

If you recognise him or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 481 of 11/05/21.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Housekeeper At The Connaught Denies Nicking £182K In Valuables And Cash

The Connaught

A housekeeping supervisor at The Connaught had £182,000 worth of cash, jewellery and other valuables, which had been stolen from guests the famous 5-star Mayfair hotel in her Ilford flat, a court heard yesterday.

Graziela Camacho, 30, admits taking some of the guests’ property, but not the rest, which was in such quantities police could not carry all of it away when they raided her home in the early hours.

Notable guests at the landmark hotel include Princess Grace of Monaco; Lauren Bacall; Cary Grant; David Niven; Eric Clapton and Charles de Gaulle.

At Southwark Crown Court Camacho, of Valentines House, Ilford Hill has pleaded not guilty to acquiring criminal property, namely high-value items and cash on April 3, 2019.

However, she has already pleaded guilty to seven counts of stealing from individual overseas guests, who had money and jewellery stolen while staying there.

She claims the rest of the property seized by police, including cash made up of 43 different currencies, is hers, including $31,000 belong to her mother and her own €5,000.

Camacho admits stealing a £31,500 wedding eternity ring and £18,000 diamond bangle belonging to New Yorker Gloria Nakash, who had worn them at a Paris wedding then put them under her hotel room bed.

She also admits taking Bahrain guest Hashim Al-Khalifa’s £7,000 Rolex watch, which he left in a locked suitcase, but later found the zip had been tampered with.

A Canadian guest, Nicole Swartz, had her diamond earrings, which she left in the bathroom snatched by Camacho.

The housekeeper was even caught red-handed by one Brazilian family, the Duarte’s, who found her hiding in their room.

“She was crouching on the bathroom floor and a fifty pound note was beside her,” said prosecutor Kemi Fapohunda. “She left, straightening some pictures on the way out and the family later found £1500 missing from their locked suitcase.”

Another American guest, Natalie Ramu, lost her valuable sovereign pendant necklace, given to her by her grandmother. “It was in a jewellery bag in the sitting area and then no longer where she left it.”

Guest Sarah Lomer had a pair of diamond earrings she left in a Tiffany box on her bedside table, stolen by Camacho.

The counts she pleaded guilty to reflect stolen items found during the police search.

The hotel cancelled their security chief’s holiday and called him in after the spate of thefts to conduct an in-house sting, involving cash being deliberately left in a guest room monitored by CCTV.

Only Camacho, out of all the staff, took two £50 notes and she was immediately suspended on April 3, 2019 and the police called.

Two officers visited her address in the early hours of April 4. “They were not prepared for what they found,” said the prosecutor.

“They found the Rolex watch, a vast quantity of jewellery, earrings, necklaces, rings, designer bags, shoes and a large quantity of cash.

“The officers did not take everything, only what they could carry with them,” added Ms Fapohunda.

Checks with HMRC revealed her mother had no obvious income and Camacho herself, just her Connaught salary, plus child tax credits, which amounted to £26,000.

“Large sums of cash were paid into her account as well.”

Staff logs at the hotel show Camacho as the worker assigned to rooms, where guests reported further losses of cash and property.

“She was the staff member who would have gone to their rooms,” said the prosecutor.

Trial continues…………..

Female Train Passenger Pestered And Molested

Police are hunting a train sex pest after a woman was pestered and molested during a late-night journey leaving Central London.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released these images of their suspect.

Investigators are appealing for members of the public to identify the unknown male.

Just before 11pm on Friday, February 26 the victim boarded a train at London Bridge station. 

A man boarded the same train and sat near to her in the carriage.

Throughout the journey the male passenger tried to engage the victim in conversation. 

He then moved seats and laid down opposite her before sexually assaulting her.

He disembarked the service at Hither Green railway station.

If you recognise him, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 617 of 26/02/21.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Underground Station Upskirter Hunted

Police are hunting this suspected tube train pervert after a woman was filmed up her skirt on the station escalator.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released these CCTV images captured at Colliers Wood Underground station in south-west London.

The BTP hope this will lead to the successful identification of the suspect.

At 9.30am on Saturday, May 22 the female passenger departed a train and was followed from the platform by an unknown male.

As she walked up the escalator, the man walked behind her and pointed his phone camera up her skirt.

The victim challenged the man, who then left the station.

If you recognise him or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 360 of 23/05/21.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Caterer Sentenced For Sexually Assaulting Teenage Girl

A boozy cocaine-snorting caterer, who sexually assaulted a 16 year-old girl after providing food and drink at a funeral wake, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Maurice Fuller, 53, who claims his business is now in ruins, struck three times after taking a cocktail of drink and drugs.

At Inner London Crown Court he claimed to have now completed 195 days of cocaine rehab.

Fuller pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assaulting the teenager on November 15 and twice on December 5, last year.

He received thirty-three weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years and must complete thirty-one days of the Probation Service’s sex offenders Horizon Programme, plus ten days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

Fuller was also made subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign the sex offenders register for the next ten years.

The locations of the offences were in a vehicle outside Fenstanton Primary School, Tulse Hill; outside an industrial unit in West Norwood and at a residential address in Upper Norwood.

Fuller told the court he and others were drinking heavily while catering the funeral.

“A bottle of Hennessy was given and everybody helped themselves,” he said, insisting he had no sinister intention to get the young victim drunk.

“I had a bit of vodka, half a pint and half a bottle of rum and cocaine, about for of five lines,” said Fuller.

Before one of the assaults Fuller was in a local park at midday doing drink and drugs.

“I was in the park drinking rum,” he told the court. “I had about two or three lines of cocaine. I regret it.

“Now my business has gone.”

The prosecution suggest Fuller deliberately drove the teenage girl somewhere “dark and secluded” to sexually assault her on one of the occasions.

Bogus Businesswoman Jailed For Cruel Con

A privately-educated businesswoman has been jailed for three years and eight months for defrauding four employees, cruelly swindled when joining her ‘niche boutique’ City recruitment agency.

They were unaware 60 year-old Nicole Arbeid was still on parole, having served time for previous frauds when hired by her company, Event Talent Specialists (ETS).

Based in serviced offices in smart Folgate Street, Spitalfields ETS styled itself as an industry leader for ‘high calibre exhibition and events specialists’.

However, Southwark Crown Court heard the company was a sham, with Arbeid, of Cholmeley Lodge, Cholmeley Park, Highgate exploiting it to attract outside investment.

She is an old girl of £21,000 a-year Lady Eleanor Holles school, Hampton and claims to have a Masters degree in Marketing and Communications from the University of Liverpool.

The three female and one male employee were deceived by Arbeid, who intended to never pay them a combined total of £13,718 in wages, even borrowing money from them that was never returned.

They were sold promises of potentially high rewards, but instead suffered severe stress; PTSD; financial ruin; sleepless nights; black outs and panic attacks, the court heard.

Arbeid fought the charges, but eventually pleaded guilty in the middle of her jury trial to four counts of fraud by abuse of position, namely intending to not pay each employee between August, 2018 and April, 2019.

She also pleaded guilty to one count of forgery, namely creating a bogus payslip to convince one employee wages had been paid into her bank account.

Arbeid had been released form a twenty-eight month prison sentence on December 28, 2017 and started her new fraud eight months later.

Employee Sarah Cynian, a senior recruitment specialist, who was deceived by the forged payslip, said: “Nicole destroyed and abused my trust. She lied constantly and did not pay for my work.”

Elmira Shirkhan, 40, was forced to return to her family in her native Sweden after being victimised by Arbeid.

“Unfortunately I put my trust and faith in Nicole,” she said. “She lied and started to milk me for money and I broke down crying, asking: ‘What have I done to deserve this?’

“I paid the deposit on her flat and suffered panic attacks and was hospitalised with black outs and PTSD.”

Arbeid cruelly falsely reported Ms Shirkhan to the police for stealing a company mobile phone and the ex-employee said closure for her would be hearing her former boss received the “maximum sentence.”

Jasmin Thakordas’s hair began falling out due to stress and she suffered daily headaches due to the stress and “shame and embarrassment” of being deceived by Arbeid, she said.

“At the trial I was disgusted to see her again and hope she is punished to the full extent of the law.”

Ashleigh Balme said he suffered financially at Arbeid’s hands. “It was a very traumatic time, cruel and needless.

“I was not paid and she dragged out excuse after excuse and her lies resulted in more debt.”

Arbeid, who receives £1,600 in benefits every month, claims she was “obsessed by the dream of running her own business,” to impress her family and friends.

Recorder Jonathan Higgs QC announced: “Anyone listening to these four victim impact statements would say the effects were serious with both physical and mental problems and financial harm.

“I have seen no evidence of any genuine business at all, but I have heard she began a start-up company and received considerable funds for it.

“She has the opportunity to present herself as running a business and obtaining funding for it.

“She has been defrauding people for decades, she is a sixty year-old fraudster and has not presented any feelings of remorse.”

Regarding Arbeid’s police interview when she blamed company “mismanagement” the Recorder said: “Let me translate that into one word: Lies.

“She set-up what looked like a legitimate and highly-successful business of the future, securing good premises and good employees with connections in the industry.

“She tricked them all this was genuine and that they would be paid generously and maintained the trickery that this was a successful business, using her position of power and trust and a strict of lies.

“From their statements these four employees, if not destroyed, had their lives severely impacted, suffering damage to their physical and mental health and financial ruin.

“One had to leave the country, some of them had to move back in with their parents.

“She has an appalling record of fraud, going back decades and in the early days the courts treated her with sympathy and then had enough of her behaviour and started passing prison sentences, but sadly there was no change in her behaviour.

“She tricked people into working for her and tricked them into continuing to work for her and forged bank statements and made very unpleasant counter-allegations, resulting in an employee being threatened with arrest.”

Tube Train Flasher: Do You Know This Man?

A tube train passenger exposed and played with himself in front of two women.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released these CCTV images of the suspect as they attempt to identify him.

The man is wanted for suspected indecent exposure while travelling on a southbound Northern Line train from Stockwell to Colliers Wood.

At around 8.40pm on Sunday April 11 the victim boarded a train at Stockwell and sat near the door to the adjacent carriage.

A few minutes into the journey, the victim saw a man who had also boarded the train at Stockwell in the carriage next to her touching himself inappropriately, whilst looking at her and another female. 

The man then got off the train at Colliers Wood station.

Officers believe the man in the images 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 16 of 12/04/21.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Women Molested On Tube Station Escalator

Transport police are hunting this suspected pervert after two women were molested on an underground station escalator and followed onto a tube train.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this image of the young man as they continue to try and identify him.

At around 11pm on Friday June 4 the two victims were approached by a man while travelling down an escalator at Oxford Circus Underground station. 

The man sexually assaulted both women and continued to follow them on to a train.

He sat next to them on the train and made sexual remarks throughout the journey. 

He departed the train at Edgware Road station.

If you recognise him, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 2100040171 of 4/6/21.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Tulse Hill Station Staff Assault: Do You Know This Suspect?

Transport police are hunting this suspected thug after a member of railway staff was pushed ten feet down a flight of stairs at a south London station.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this CCTV image and are appealing to members of the public to identify the suspect.

The staff member was hospitalised with a cut to the back of his head after the June 23 assault at Tulse Hill station.

After the 9.30am incident the man ran out of the station and remains at large. 

If you recognise him or have any information please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 143 of 23/06/21.

Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Boys Robbed Of Canada Goose Jacket And Gucci Bag Onboard Train

Two teenagers were threatened with a knife and robbed of a designer jacket and bag onboard a train in south-east London.

British Transport Police have released this CCTV image of their two suspects as they attempt to identify them.

The victims were travelling on a train from Waterloo East on April 16 and at approximately 10pm were approached by two males.

The boys were shown a knife inside a bag one of the robbers was carrying.

The robbers proceeded to punch the victims before quickly taking their Canada Goose coat and Gucci side bag. 

The men immediately got off the train at Kidbrooke station following the incident.

If you recognise them, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 2100025879 of 16/04/21.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Female Passenger Harassed And Groped

Police are hunting this suspected tube train pervert after sexually-explicit remarks were made towards a female passenger, who was then molested.

British Transport Police have released this CCTV image of the suspect as they continue attempting to identify him.

The incident occurred at Green Park Underground Station in Central London at 10.15pm on Monday June 7.

The victim got off a train at the station when a man approached her on the platform and began to harass her with sexual remarks.

The victim tried to walk past the man, who then sexually assaulted her.

As she walked away he followed her to a different platform and continued to shout inappropriate comments at her.

Officers believe the man in this 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 147 of 08/06/21.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Girl On Girl Tube Train Attack: Suspects Hunted

Police investigating a violent tube train attack against two women have released these CCTV images of a female duo.

British Transport Police are seeking information regarding the identity of the two young women suspects.

They are investigating an allegation of assault on an eastbound Central Line train at approximately 7.40pm on Saturday June 5.

The two suspects are believed to have approached another pair of woman between Leyton and Leytonstone stations.

The women became abusive and aggressive towards the victims, punching one several times in the face and pulling them to floor by their hair.

Whilst on the floor the victim was kicked and spat at. 

When the other victim tried to intervene, she was also punched in the head.

If you recognise them, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference number 558 of 05/06/21.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Female Passenger Molested On Escalator: Do You Know This Man?

British Transport Police are hunting this suspect after a female passenger was molested on an escalator.

Officers investigating an allegation of sexual assault at Canary Wharf Underground station have released the image as they attempt to identify the man.

At around 7.30pm on Sunday June 6, a woman complained of being sexually assaulted by a man while travelling on an escalator.

Officers believe the man in the 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 436 of 06/06/21.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Drunken Passenger Wanted For Headbutt Attack

Police are hunting this suspected drunken passenger after a railway station security guard was headbutted and knocked unconscious.

At around 10.50pm on Saturday March 6 the victim, a member of security staff at Charing Cross station, was dealing with an intoxicated man.

Once the man was refused travel he headbutted the guard, before punching him to the ground and knocking him unconscious when told to leave the station.

The man ran away from the scene and the victim had to attend hospital for treatment to his injuries.

Officers believe the man in the images 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 497 of 06/03/21.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Exec Drunk On Free Wimbledon Tennis Hospitality Wine Attacked WPCs

A Royal Albert Hall executive - drunk on free wine in the hospitality section at the Wimbledon tennis championships - kicked, kneed and spat at two female PC’s, a court heard today.

Graduate Laura Pannett, 27, was seen throwing her bags and possessions to the ground as she left the venue in search of a toilet.

After the officers assisted her she went for them, aiming punches and kicks - connecting with a knee to the groin of the first officer - and was handcuffed and taken away.

At Wandsworth Police Station her aggression continued and she spat at both PC’s and kicked the second officer.

Pannett, of Foulser Road, Tooting Bec pleaded guilty to assaulting PC Maria Teixeira outside the All England Club and assaulting PC Jennifer Anderson at the police station on June 29.

She is a senior sales executive at the Royal Albert Hall, having graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a First Class Honours Degree in Sport Development and Coaching. 

She also studied Sport Business Management and is a former Press Centre assistant with the London Marathon.

Pannett received a twelve-month Community Order, which includes 150 hours unpaid work and was ordered to pay £150 compensation to PC Teixeira and £100 to PC Anderson.

Magistrate David Walker told her: “These offences are serious, against emergency workers who were trying to assist you.

“We accept you are remorseful and embarrassed by this incident and that you are well-regarded by your employer and that this was out of character and driven by alcohol.”

The Royal Albert Hall are aware of Pannett’s prosecution and her manager sent a reference to the court. 

Prosecutor George Cravelli told Wimbledon Magistrates Court: “The officers were on patrol at the All England Club during the lawn tennis championships.

“They identified a female spectator, who appeared to be highly intoxicated, throwing her bags and possessions to the ground.

“She told them she wanted to use the toilet and they pointed her in the direction across the road.

“When she reappeared she was aggressive towards the police officers, raising her arms and trying to punch and kick them.

“Contact was made with a knee to the groin area and as a result she was arrested and taken to Wandsworth.

“When she was being booked in she spat at officer Teixeira and assaulted officer Anderson by kicking her.

“She was questioned and said she could not remember what happened and had too much to drink and behaved disorderly.

Cambridgeshire native Pannett, who attended Abbey College, Ramsey told police: “I had far too much. I’ve acted this way before when I’ve been drinking.”

She confessed to consuming an excessive amount of wine and said her behaviour was out of character. “Only when I drink too much,” she explained. “I had way past two our three glasses.”

Pannett had no recollection of the incidents. “I can’t remember, I’m really sorry,” she said. “I’m really sorry if I hurt someone, really sorry.”

Afterwards PC Anderson said: “This incident annoyed and disappointed me. I did not expect to come to work to be assaulted.

“I was trying to assist Laura, but she has too much to drink and her behaviour was intolerable.”

Pannett’s lawyer Rashmi Hirani told the magistrates: “She was in the hospitality section at Wimbledon and the drinks were being topped up.

“She was so drunk she could not remember her actions and she was extremely remorseful in interview and these offences are out of character.

“Her drinks were constantly being topped-up and she could not keep tabs on how much she was drinking.

“Clearly she was drunk and she was saddened listening to the statements and was breaking down on hearing her behaviour and activities on that day.”

Probation Officer Kehinde Akinjo told the court: “She was extremely drunk and attended an event where drinks were easily available through top-ups.

“She does not remember the events of that day and is remorseful and during her appointment broke down in tears during the interview.

“She usually only drinks on social occasions and behaved out of character that day.

“She is highly educated with a good job, a graduate with two degrees.”

The court heard Pannett, who was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge,  also has convictions in 2019 for battery and criminal damage, arising out of what she describes as a “toxic relationship” with an ex-boyfriend.