Tube Train Passenger Beaten Unconscious

A tube train passenger suffered a fractured skull and cheekbone when he was punched and kicked unconscious and had multiple teeth knocked out.

The male victim got into a row with a group of people onboard an Underground train in Central London about a woman singing and dancing in the carriage.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released these images as they appeal to the public for assistance in identifying the suspects they believe were involved.

They are treating the incident at Barbican Underground station as a serious assault.

At just after midnight on Monday, July 12 a row began about the signing and dancing passenger between the victim and the group.

As the victim got off the train a man from the group charged at him and punched him repeatedly in the head.

He fell to the floor and lost consciousness.

The rest of the group then kicked him as he lay on the floor.

As a result of the attack the victim suffered a fractured skull, fractured cheekbone and had multiple teeth knocked out.

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

If you recognise them, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference number 22 of 12/07/21.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 40 50 40.

Train Hand Sanitising Assault

A train passenger mocked for sanitising his hands was violently pushed onto the platform when he tried to alert station staff.

British Transport Police (BTP) are hunting this suspect after the incident in south-west London.

When the victim was pushed from the carriage he suffered cuts to his arms and lost his glasses.

At just before 11am on Sunday July 4, the suspect started talking to the victim from the other side of the train carriage as they travelled between Stoneleigh and Raynes Park stations.

He said it was ridiculous that he was sanitising his hands.

The victim stood up to alert staff at Raynes Park station when the suspect grabbed his phone and started waving it in the air. 

The victim managed to get his phone back and positioned himself at the train doors to get the attention of station staff on the platform.

The man then pushed the victim from behind, sending him crashing to the platform. 

If you recognise him, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 193 of 04/07/21.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Train Spit: Do You Know This Passenger?

Police are hunting this train passenger after a woman was spat in the face while travelling through east London.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released the CCTV image as they continue to try and identify the suspect.

At just after 6.30pm on Friday, June 11, the victim was travelling on-board a tube train between Whitechapel and West Ham stations when a man stood on her foot.

She and the man got off the train at West Ham and both boarded a second train travelling towards Barking.

As the man was about to disembark the train at Barking, he lowered his face covering and spat at the victim.

If you recognise him, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 570 of 11/06/21.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Strangers Attacked After Verbal Insults

Two violent thugs jumped out of a car in the early hours to attack two strangers after they insulted a woman the victims were with.

Officers investigating the double stabbing in Haringey last year have released these images of two men they would like to speak with in connection with the attack.

Police were called shortly after 4.30am on Sunday, June 14 by London Ambulance Service who reported they were treating two men suffering stab wounds at the junction of High Road and Turnpike Lane, Wood Green.

An investigation was launched immediately - it is believed that the assault was unprovoked and appears to be an isolated incident.

A black car containing two black males had pulled up alongside pedestrians and made derogatory comments toward a woman, making her feel uncomfortable. 

This led to the victims’ verbally arguing with the two men who were in the car.

The men then got out of the vehicle and attacked both victims, leaving them with serious stab wounds.

One victim also sustained a broken bone around his eye socket which required surgery.

Officers would like to speak to the two men pictured in connection with the incident.

Detective Constable Yuliya Orudzheva from the Met’s North Area Command Unit said: “This was a brutal attack on two men who had never seen their attackers in their life. 

“They were minding their own business and enjoying a night out when they were set upon.

“It’s remarkable, despite their stab wounds that they escaped life-changing injuries.

“I would urge anyone who recognises those pictured to contact us so we can speak to them about this incident.”

Anybody with information is asked to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC, quoting CAD1942/14Jun2020. To remain anonymous contact Crimestopperson 0800 555 111.

Hammer Teen Locked-Up For Cop Attack

A violent teenager has been locked-up for smashing a claw hammer into the back of a policeman's head, inflicting a deep bloody wound to the officer's scalp.

Brandon Flanagan, 18, of Bell Lane, Twickenham, fled after striking the officer when stopped on a moped, even evading the PC's chasing colleague despite being tasered.

He was convicted by a Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Flanagan received five years custody.

The jury heard that on the afternoon of Monday, May 20 several members of the public called 999 to report two people on a motorbike behaving in a suspicious manner in the Kneller Park area of Twickenham.

Flanagan, who is now known to have been the pillion passenger, was reportedly openly carrying both a knife and a hammer.

Two PCs from the South West area’s Emergency Response Team attended and positioned themselves close to a nearby underpass in order to intercept the motorbike. 

When it emerged, the officers stopped the vehicle and took hold of the suspects in an attempt to detain them.

At this point, Flanagan used the claw hammer, which he was holding, to strike one of the PCs with considerable force across the back of his head before running away. 

The rider of the motorbike also escaped and enquiries continue to identify him.

As the officer lay injured, his colleague pursued Flanagan on foot. 

In a desperate bid to escape he jumped over a fence and started running through gardens. 

The officer successfully fired his Taser into Flanagan, who fell to the ground.

However, while the officer was climbing over a fence to arrest him Flanagan seized the opportunity and ran away – with the Taser prongs still attached to his jacket.

A short while later, police were called to a suspicious male matching the description of Flanagan at a nearby pub. 

Officers entered the premises and found Flanagan enjoying a soft drink and when challenged he lied about his name.

The injured officer’s colleague then entered the pub and identified Flanagan as the male he chased and Tasered. 

Flanagan was then arrested. 

The investigation was led by Detective Constable Ben Pierce, from the South West area’s CID, who established his case based on DNA evidence and witness accounts.

The injured officer is now fully recovered but required hospital treatment for a deep wound to his scalp.

Detective Sergeant Kara Moulds, from the South West area’s CID, said: “Flanagan has shown no remorse for his actions and has refused to admit his guilt throughout. 

“The evidence collected by DC Pierce was overwhelming and as a result the jury convicted Flanagan. 

“He is now facing a long stint behind bars where he can reflect upon his actions.

“This case highlights the very real risks with which police officers are confronted on a daily basis and the courage and professionalism officers demonstrate when doing their job. 

“Police officers do their job to protect the public, not to be viciously attacked by them.”

Fulham Cocaine Charge

A cocaine dealer has been jailed for nine-and-a-half years after police seized a large quantity of the drug, plus thousands of pounds at this Fulham ground-floor flat.

Former company director Anthony John Gardner-Sharp, 34, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court.

He initially appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Gardner-Sharp, of Colville Square, Notting Hill, west London was convicted of the offence at this separate flat in Rigault Road.

He was initially charged with possessing approximately two kilos of cocaine, with intent to supply, on or before September 15, last year.

Gardner-Sharp was also charged with acquiring, using or possessing criminal property at the address on or before the same date, namely £180,000.

Jailed: Greenwich Hospital Finance Manager

Greenwich Hospital

A finance boss at Greenwich Hospital has been jailed for two-and-half years after a fraud that netted him thousands of pounds.

Abel Phiri, 45, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court.

He initially appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court a year ago.

Phiri of Burford Road, Brentford, west London was the south-east London hospital's financial account manager.

He was initially charged with fraud by abuse of position between May 18, 2015 and May 4, last year, namely dishonestly abusing his position to make a gain of £134,433.98. 

Disgraced Ex-Teacher Caught Again With Dodgy Images Of Youngsters

A disgraced former teacher at prestigious private boys’ prep school Colet Court was sentenced yesterday after being caught for the second time with indecent images of male children.

Ex-Classics master Anthony Paul Fuggle, 64, who taught for two decades at the junior division of St. Paul’s School, whose alumni include former Chancellor George Osborne, walked free with a suspended prison sentence.

Fuggle, of Aristotle Road, Clapham pleaded guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court to a charge of making 73 indecent Category C photographs of children on April 12, 2018.

Six years ago he received four months imprisonment, suspended for two years, after admitting six counts of possessing indecent images of children, plus seven counts of making indecent images of children.

The charges totalled more than a thousand still and moving images of children.

“This is an indecent images case,” prosecutor Sudara Weerasena told the court today. “An allegation was made against this defendant that led to police officers attending his address.

“Items were seized, including a laptop, and on it were the images of boys aged approximately nine to fifteen years-old provocatively posing in swimming trunks and underwear.

“Some where lying provocatively on a bed and one was squatting in a grassy area fully exposed.

“What is relevant is that this defendant has a previous conviction in 2015 and received a suspended prison sentence for similar matters, a total of thirteen separate offences of indecent images regarding children.”

Multiple teachers, who worked at the Barnes school, have been investigated and prosecuted under Operation Winthorope, an investigation into historical sexual abuse at St. Paul’s and Colet Court.

Fuggle is currently on the sex offenders register and reports to Brixton Police Station.

Magistrate Timothy Keay told Fuggle: “This isn’t the first time you have been before the court for offences of this nature.

“On this occasion the offence was not quite as serious as before, but we have to be mindful of the previous conviction and give some uplift to the sentence.

“The offence is so serious it crosses the custody threshold and we are sentencing you to four months imprisonment, however we found this can be suspended for two years to allow you to continue the treatment you have already begun.

“You have to sign the sex offenders register again within the next three days and you are disqualified from working with children for the rest of your life and you are subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the rest of your life.”

Fuggle must also attend a Probation Service sex offenders programme for 31days and complete 30 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement, plus pay £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.   

His lawyer Max Hardy told the court: “I ask for the maximum credit for the guilty plea at the earliest opportunity and the fact the defendant has recognised his wrong-doing and taken advantage of courses treatment available.

“He is very keen indeed to understand where this comes from to ensure it does not continue into the future.

“They are Category C images, the lowest category and although clearly unacceptable and unlawful, sadly people have come before the courts in possession of more serious images.

“The defendant accepts he laboured under the wrong impression these were less unacceptable  than may have been because they were clothed and accepts this is the wrong analysis and approach.

“This represents a de-escalation in offending and of course the court wants to see an end of offending and that goal and possibility is in sight.

“He has sought out treatment and a better understanding of where these urges come from so he can equip himself with the tools to prevent relapses in the future.

“He needs to work on his sense of social isolation and boredom.

“Since the loss of his job that was very precious to him and ended in the most sad and regrettable circumstances he has returned to bookkeeping and completed the academic side of that course.

“This is not a man who is going to be sitting at home alone with his computer.

“The police visited him in 2018 and for three years this has weighed very heavily on him and given him an opportunity to reflect on this conduct.” 

In 2017 former master Patrick Marshall, 74, who taught at St. Paul’s, received 18 years imprisonment for abusing ten boys in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

In 2016 ex-sports teacher Michael Ellis, 75, received eight-and-a-half years for indecently assaulting two boys and former teacher David Sansom-Mallett, 74, was jailed for 14 years for abusing multiple boys.

Another teacher, ex-history head Keith Perry, 77, was convicted of possessing 600 child abuse images on memory sticks hidden inside an umbrella at his home.

NOT GUILTY: Phlebotomist Cleared Of Sexually Assaulting Patient

A private hospital phlebotomist - who always insisted merely giving an anxious female patient a comforting peck on the forehead - has been cleared by a jury of sexual assault.

He had been accused of deliberately cupping her face in his hands and only missing her lips when she ducked her head at the last moment.

Following a short trial at Southwark Crown Court Osama Dessoukli Ali, 46, of Carterhatch Lane Enfield was found not guilty of one count of sexually assaulting the lone woman in her private room on November 19, 2019.

He was employed at The London Clinic near Harley Street.

The trial heard she stayed at the hospital overnight after partial knee replacement surgery the day before and Dessoukli Ali did not deny kissing her on the forehead, insisting he had no sexual motive.

The jury were told he flattered the patient, telling her she looked “young and beautiful” and “lovely” and requested to see her again before she was discharged.

Dessoukli Ali denied flattering the woman and making a fuss about sharing the same birthday.

“I had a twenty-four hour guard outside my room because I was so scared he would come back and a photograph of him was given to security staff to prevent him coming back,” the patient told the trial.

Speaking from behind a screen the married woman said Dessoukli Ali entered her room at 9am to take a blood sample. “He said: ‘Oh my God we have the same birthday. That’s really special.’

“He seemed to be happy and excited we had the same birthday then put his hands on my face and brought my face forward to kiss me.

“I thought: ‘This is not right,’ and put my head down. 

“He kissed the top of my head, my forehead because I dipped my head, otherwise it would be on my face, my lips.

“It frightened the life out of me. He kept saying it was really special we shared the same birthday.

“It was really horrible, I knew it was not right and he kissed me again and I dipped my head down.

“He was saying: ‘You’re lovely,’ and said I looked young and I looked beautiful.”

Dessoukli Ali said he placed one hand on the woman’s temple and gave her a peck to the forehead to reassure her because she was anxious about the surgery.

“I was getting that panicked feeling and I was reaching for my buzzer,” she told the court. “I just wanted him to get out of the room.

“He asked: ‘Can I see you tomorrow?’ and I said definitely not because my husband was coming  and he asked if he could come and see me when my husband was not there.

“He seemed to be disappointed and just left.”

The prosecutor told the jury at the start of the trial the hospital interviewed Dessoukli Ali after the complaint. “He told them he noticed she had the same birthday and in his culture that was something very special and that he kissed her.

“He was obviously remorseful and was suspended by the hospital, with the complaint referred to the police.”

Dessoukli Ali was questioned by the police a month later and told them: “I just kissed her, there was no sexual reason. I tried to care about her because she was scared.

“I touched her head and told her she would be okay and kissed her. I did not try and kiss her anywhere else.

“She was scared and I tried to calm her down.”

Ex-French Rugby Player's Drink-Drive Assaults

Wimbledon Magistrates' Court

Former French Rugby Union player Florent Pierre Rossigneux was sentenced yesterday for a violent incident when he was caught riding his three-wheel scooter at three times the drinks limit.

The six foot two 51 year-old ex-Wasps and Bedford Blues flanker appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court, where he was ordered to complete an alcohol dependency programme.

Now a company director Clichy-born Rossigneux, of Eve Road, Isleworth was also banned from driving for the next two years.

He pleaded guilty to riding his grey Piaggio scooter in Little Green, Richmond on October 22, last year with 106 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35.

Now the coach of Actonians RFC, Rossigneux also pleaded guilty to assaulting female Saron Awet and Matthew Lea, causing him actual bodily harm at the same time and place.

The court heard Rossigneux’s assault on the female was limited to briefly holding her arm.

He was sentenced to a two-year Community Order, which includes a 12-day alcohol treatment requirement under the direction of the Integrated Hounslow Engagement Access and Recovery Services.

Rossigneux must also comply with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and complete 100 hours community service.

The court ordered him to pay £100 compensation, a £95 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Yacht Man Sentenced For Double Domestic Assault

An ex-professional diver, who lives on a yacht moored in Falmouth, received a suspended prison sentence today for the double domestic assault of a woman.

Peter Cooper, 48, of Mylor Yacht Harbour fought the charges, but was convicted.

He was found guilty of assaulting Imogen Gardiner on June 15 and 16 at a flat in Kestrel Avenue, Herne Hill, south London.

At Croydon Magistrates' Court Cooper was sentenced to twenty-four weeks imprisonment, suspended for twenty-four months.

The court ruled the reason for a custodial sentence was due to the seriousness of the offences, which were described as “sustained” and in a domestic context.

Cooper was also made subject to a five-year restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting Imogen Gardiner and entering Kestrel Avenue.

He was also ordered to pay £500 costs and a £128 victim surcharge. 

Private Hospital Phlebotomist Denies Sexually Assaulting Patient

A private hospital phlebotomist cupped a recovering female patient’s face in his hands and planted a kiss because they shared the same birthday, a court heard today.

Osama Dessoukli Ali, 46, was employed at The London Clinic near Harley Street and only missed kissing the woman full on the lips when she ducked her head at the last second, the jury were told.

Dessoukli Ali, of Carterhatch Lane Enfield has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexually assaulting the lone woman in her private room on November 19, 2019.

Southwark Crown Court heard she stayed at the hospital overnight after partial knee replacement surgery the day before and Dessoukli Ali does not deny kissing her on the forehead, insisting he had no sexual motive.

During an internal hospital investigation Dessoukli Ali explained that sharing the same birthday with somebody was very significant in his culture, the jury were told.

However, the jury were told he flattered the patient, telling her she looked “young and beautiful” and “lovely” and requested to see her again before she was discharged.

Dessoukli Ali denies flattering the woman and making a fuss about sharing the same birthday.

“I had a twenty-four hour guard outside my room because I was so scared he would come back and a photograph of him was given to security staff to prevent him coming back,” the patient told the trial.

Speaking from behind a screen the married woman said Dessoukli Ali entered her room at 9am to take a blood sample. “He said: ‘Oh my God we have the same birthday. That’s really special.’

“He seemed to be happy and excited we had the same birthday then put his hands on my face and brought my face forward to kiss me.

“I thought: ‘This is not right,’ and put my head down. 

“He kissed the top of my head, my forehead because I dipped my head, otherwise it would be on my face, my lips.

“It frightened the life out of me. He kept saying it was really special we shared the same birthday.

“It was really horrible, I knew it was not right and he kissed me again and I dipped my head down.

“He was saying: ‘You’re lovely,’ and said I looked young and I looked beautiful.”

Dessoukli Ali says he placed one hand on the woman’s temple and gave her a peck to the forehead to reassure her because she was anxious about the surgery.

“I was getting that panicked feeling and I was reaching for my buzzer,” she told the court. “I just wanted him to get out of the room.

“He asked: ‘Can I see you tomorrow?’ and I said definitely not because my husband was coming  and he asked if he could come and see me when my husband was not there.

“He seemed to be disappointed and just left.”

Prosecutor told the jury at the start of the trial the hospital interviewed Dessoukli Ali after the complaint. “He told them he noticed she had the same birthday and in his culture that was something very special and that he kissed her.

“He was obviously remorseful and was suspended by the hospital, with the complaint referred to the police.”

Dessoukli Ali was questioned by the police a month later and told them: “I just kissed her, there was no sexual reason. I tried to care about her because she was scared.

“I touched her head and told her she would be okay and kissed her. I did not try and kiss her anywhere else.

“She was scared and I tried to calm her down.”

The prosecutor told the jurors: “You have to be sure the touching was sexual. That is very much the dispute in this case.

“Mr Dessoukli Ali does not disagree there was touching, but the fact he was telling her she was young and beautiful and that kind of thing makes it sexual.”

Trial continues……………… 

NOT GUILTY: Ex-RAF Officer And Dealer Cleared Over 'Lord Dowding' Nameplate Mystery

A retired RAF officer has been cleared by a jury of stealing a valuable ‘Battle of Britain’ steam train nameplate, along with the dealer who was accused of dishonestly receiving it. 

Former Squadron Leader Philip John Morley Angus, 66, always maintained he simply took home the ‘Lord Dowding’ nameplate from RAF Bently Priory to restore it and had no dishonest intent.

He sold it for £12,000 to David Ewart Jones, 62, boss of Great Central Railwayana, who has also maintained his innocence, insisting he did not know it was missing from the RAF base. 

At Harrow Crown Court the jury took only twenty minutes to unanimously find Angus, of Morecambe Lodge, Archenfield Road, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire not guilty of one count of stealing the nameplate between January 1, 1999 and January 1, 2000.

They also unanimously acquitted Jones, of 14 School Street, Woodford Halse, Daventry, Northamptonshire of one count of dishonestly receiving stolen goods between May 24, 2010 and December 31, 2011.

Not Guilty: Philip Angus

Jones was excused from sitting in the dock throughout the trial due to his Tourette’s syndrome and was allowed to follow proceedings remotely from home.

He claimed to be suffering high blood pressure and said he was “distressed and anxious” and unable to leave his house.

However, the trial judge insisted he attend for short period during the jury swearing-in so those who were to try him could see him before the trial was opened by the prosecution.

Now retired, Angus was President of the Officers’ Mess Committee when he took the nameplate from the secure Fine Arts Store over twenty years ago, selling it to Jones in 2011.

His lawyer, Jonathan Reuben told the jurors: “When Philip Angus found the nameplate in 1999 he looked to see if there was a label to identify ownership.

“In his view the plate had been lying in a storeroom for a long time, with no specific owner and no one wanting it.

“It was left to rot, he thought it had been abandoned. He wanted to restore it.” 

Jones bought it and later 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.

During the trial, which Jones watched from his home via videolink due to health problems, he told the jury the nameplate “looked a bit of a mess”.

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.

Cleared: David Jones

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.

Jones maintained during the trial he did not associate the nameplate he bought from Angus with the missing one loaned by Lord Dowding’s step-son.

“It was crystal clear from the condition of it that it was not the same plate, because I knew David Whiting’s plate was fully painted up, restored and polished and this one was in very poor condition.”

Prosecutor Mr James Keeley told the jury at the start of the week-long trial that 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.

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.”

Guilty: Dancefloor Groper Who Targeted Same Woman Twice

A dance floor predator, caught on a City nightclub’s CCTV groping an IT account director between her legs for the second time, has been convicted.

The 31 year-old woman was entertaining clients at her company’s Christmas party in the heart of the Square Mile, even shrugging off the first grope to avoid ruining the evening.

Algerian kitchen porter Nabil Zerdi, 51, was recorded loitering around the dance floor of Cornhill venue Forge and jurors watched CCTV of him targeting the victim and sneaking up on her from behind.

At Inner London Crown Court Zerdi, of Jersey Road, Isleworth was unanimously found guilty of two counts of sexual assault on the evening of December 19 and early hours of December 20, 2019.

Recorder James Dawson ordered a pre-sentence report and Zerdi will return on September 9.

Prosecutor Richard Job told the jury: “The complainant went to a bar nightclub, The Forge, in the City of London. She was hosting a works do.

“At 9pm she was walking from the dance floor to the bar when a man reached across and deliberately placed his hand between her legs.

“She was still at then club at 1am and was on the dance floor with colleagues when the same man came up behind her and placed his hand around her hip and deliberately put his hand between her legs, touching her through her dress.

“She confronted the man and attempted to grab his arm and speak to him, but he waved her away and walked off.

“She spoke to club staff, who called the police and the man was detained until officers attended.

“The man who touched her on both occasions was this defendant, Mr Zerdi and he was arrested on suspicion of assault.

“When he was questioned the defendant denied the first incident, but said the second incident was just his attempt to squeeze past and there was no sexual intention.”

The prosecutor told the jury they would view CCTV footage of the second incident.

“You will see her berating Mr Zerdi and him waving away her complaints.

Giving evidence from behind a screen the victim told the jury: “I got brushed past by some man who decided to touch me where he should not have.

“He reached under and cupped his hand and grabbed me.

“He stared at me and I stared at him and pointed at him and said: ’No’ and he casually walked off.”

Because she was entertaining important company clients the woman kept her composure and did not report the man.

“I had a duty to my clients to try and continue the night,” she told the court, but said the same man repeated his behaviour in the early hours.

The jury were shown CCTV of the second incident and the woman, wearing a sequinned dress, was approached by Zerdi, who had been loitering around the edge of the crowded dance floor.

“I felt the same hand again, more forceful, more pressured and there he was again,” she explained.

“I felt someone come towards me and cup me again over my dress. The same guy who did it the first time was standing there.

“I am one hundred per cent sure it was the same man.

“The look that he gave me, I’ll never forget and I did not want him to get away with it again or worse, do it to someone else.

“I grabbed his arm and said: ‘Don’t touch me like that again,’ and I went for help.”

She denied her judgement was effected by alcohol.

“Yes, I had some drinks, but I had high-profile clients so I could not be drunk. I was aware of my surroundings.”