Ex-Premier League Star Nearly Four Times Drinks Limit

Heading Into Court: Bent

Former Premier League striker Marcus Bent’s claim he was nearly four times the drink-drive limit due to a couple of glasses of wine the night before was rejected by magistrates who described it as one of the highest readings they had ever seen.

Hammersmith-born Bent, 43, of Canada Road, Cobham, Surrey was disqualified for thirty-two months when he appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court last week.

The ex-centre-forward, who scored over one hundred goals for fourteen different clubs pleaded guilty to driving his grey BMW X5 three-litre diesel on the A3 at Tibbet’s Corner on February 27.

Bent’s reading was 134 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

During his fifteen-year career, which began with local club Brentford in west London, Bent also had spells Crystal Palace; Sheffield United; Blackburn Rovers; Ipswich Town; Everton; Charlton Athletic and Birmingham and was capped by England Under-21’s.

“It was lunchtime and you were nearly four times over the limit,” magistrate Vanessa Weguelin told Bent. “There is no way you could have had a couple of glasses of wine the night before and still been at that level.

“It is one of the highest readings we have ever heard of and you compounded that by speeding in a busy area.”

Bent was also placed on a twelve-month Community Order, which includes 150 hours community service, plus 10 days of a recommended rehabilitation activity requirement.

“It is going to be a massive inconvenience for you not to drive, but you are going to have to get used to that,” the magistrate told Bent, ordering him to also pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Corran Helme told the court: “The defendant was seen driving a motor vehicle at speed and this was the cause of him to be stopped and on talking to the police there was a suspicion he had been drinking.”

Bent failed a roadside breath-test and at Wandsworth Police Station  gave the 134 breath reading.

The magistrates ordered an immediate verbal pre-sentence report and Probation Officer Kehinde Akinjo said: “He accepted the full responsibility for the offence.

Bent: Playing Days

“Mr Bent recently separated from his ex-girlfriend, with whom he has a two year-old daughter, and felt lonely the night before and went out for a few drinks with friends.

“He had two glasses of wine and it was several hours after drinking and the next day when he thought he was fit to drive and was speeding to overtake a slow-moving vehicle.

“He denies being dependant on alcohol, but has been in the past and he completed rehab last September.

“Mr Bent says he is a former professional footballer and drink and drug issues occurred when he ddi not haver anything to do after retiring and his mental health deteriorated.

“He filed for bankruptcy due to poor investments and he lost property he accumulated during a successful football career and says he is not dependant on drugs or alcohol anymore.

“I don’t think he has pro-criminal attitudes and he is remorseful. He is not working at the moment, but does some football match commentary and recently was on Universal Credit.

“He has no income at the moment, save for a twenty thousand pound return on an investment and says he had depression that led to drug and alcohol issues in the past.”

Bent’s lawyer Scott Ewing told the court: “It is widespread and known that when sportsmen finish they have too much time on their hands.

“Football was a comfort blanket and with all the dressing-room camaraderie he was able to deal with things.

“Unfortunately sycophants and leeches provided unregulated investment advice and Mr Bent went from having a high-profile successful career to nothing.

“How prolific are they in the professional football changing rooms giving ad hoc financial advice.

“That twenty thousand pounds investment was something he had forgotten about.

“He had other issues with controlled drugs ten years ago. He has now hit rock bottom, from where he’s looking up and there’s only one direction to go and that’s to give advice to others so they don’t fall into the same traps.

“It is a pity it has taken something like this for Mr Bent to get the assistance he needs,” added Mr Ewing. 

“He has an opportunity to get involved in a business building summerhouses for £150 per day, with the opportunity to use his image to promote the company and hopefully become part of that business without the financial investment.”

Bent appeared in the same courthouse in 2016, where he was fined £385 for possessing cocaine at Chessington World of Adventures and earlier that year received a suspended prison sentence for an affray with police at his home address.

After a five-year hiatus from the professional game he attempted a short-lived comeback in non-league football at the age of 39 with Wick and Cornard United.

Bent was declared bankrupt in January, 2019.

Three Years For Pub Drunk Who Glassed Bouncer

A drunken Sunderland bricklayer, who smashed a pint glass into the face of a pub bouncer - causing permanent scarring - when being ejected from a pub in London’s West End was jailed for three years on Friday.

Joseph Judsun, 27, of Blanchland Drive, Fulwell had been challenged for climbing over a half-door and ascending a private staircase, where he picked up a fire extinguisher.

He was convicted by a jury of wounding Muhammed Haroon, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, at The Montague Pyke pub in Charing Cross Road at 11.15pm on November 10, 2018.

Mr Haroon has gone onto become a police officer.

Recorder Alex Lock told Judson at Southwark Crown Court: “This was unprovoked and unjustified and it was shocking to watch on CCTV in court.

“It was compounded by watching the police bodyworn footage, which recorded your aggressive and foul-mouthed behaviour which does you no credit whatsoever.”

On Friday prosecutor Richard Milne told the court: “The victim, Mr Haroon, was a member of security staff working a the pub.

“He was aware the defendant had gone over a half door of some sort restricting access into a private area and ascended the stairs.

“He followed the defendant, who was in possession of a fire extinguisher and had a glass in his left hand, and told the defendant he would be escorted downstairs and ejected from the public house.

“As they reached the bottom of the stairs the defendant swung a blow at Mr Haroon with his left hand, while still holding the glass, and struck him to the right side of his face.

“There was no cause or provocation for this attack by the defendant and he was seen delivering another blow towards Mr Haroon.

“Other security staff assisted and took the defendant to the ground and he continued to resist and the police were called and he was very abusive and aggressive verbally.”

When police thought Judson was going to kick them, he shouted: “If I was going to do it, you’d have known about it. It would have been too quick.”

The prosecutor added: “He was swearing at and threatening the officers, kicked the doors of the police van and threatened to ‘blow up’ the police.

“Mr Haroon was bleeding heavily as a result of being struck and was taken to hospital for four wounds to the right side of his face, including one near the edge of one of his eyes and this needed a number of sutures.”

Judson was apologetic when questioned by police later. “He said his behaviour was totally out of character. He refused to say if he had consumed drugs, but did admit consuming alcohol.

“The Crown say the blow was quick and deliberate and Mr Haroon was unaware and defenceless.”

Father-of-two Mr Haroon upset his parents when visiting them in his native Pakistan after the attack. “It makes me very upset, it is very distressing when people see my face,” he said in his victim impact statement.

“I relive the trauma and when I look in the mirror it upsets me. I cannot work in the security industry and suffer panic attacks and depression  and it upsets me when I pass the venue.”

Six months after the attack a fragment of glass was still embedded in his face, causing “oozing” to the injury and he has required a total of two operations.

“He was told he was lucky not to have lost an eye,” Mr Milne told the court. “There is permanent tissue damage and this has resulted in permanent irreversible injury.”

Apart from warnings for having a craft knife while a schoolboy and shoplifting as at youth Judson has not been in  trouble with the police.

“The defendant has always accepted he was wrong and we did not run the trial to denigrate Mr Haroon,” said Gavin Doig, defending. “It was not run to cause additional upset to the victim or criticise his conduct.”

Before the trial Judson admitted he glassed Mr Haroon, but denied he intended to cause grievous bodily harm.

“Fortunately his injures are far less apparent now than those in the photographs,” added the layer. “It is far less disfiguring than it might have been.

“The defendant was in such a state of intoxication he may have behaved this way to whoever asked him to leave and laid hands on him,” said Mr Doig. 

“This offence would never have occurred but for the intoxication.

“He expressed his remorse as early as the police interview, saying how appalled he was at what he had done.”

Five character references were handed into the court, describing Judson as a “hard-working” man with stable family relationships and several relatives and friends packed the court’s public gallery.

“As a direct result of what happened that day Mr Judson has not consumed alcoholic spirits at all. He reached a level of intoxication he normally would not have,” added Mr Doig.

“He feels shame and remorse and that he has let his family down and caused them to suffer unnecessarily.

“He will be incarcerated for the first time in his life over three hundred miles from home and away from his support network.”

Recorder Lock told Judson: “I was pleased to hear Mr Haroon has started to recover from his injuries and this terrible event and has started a new career.

“You were found guilty of a very serious offence for which the maximum sentence is life imprisonment. Only a custodial sentence can be justified.

“You were not provoked and you were not defending yourself. You did use a weapon in the form of a pint glass to assault Mr Haroon.”

Property Boss Helped Herself To Company Cash

The co-ordinator of a Brixton property company has admitted using the firm’s credit card for herself and transferring tenants’ deposits to her own account.

Tianna Melius, 23, worked at Lexadon, who also paid fees to a cleaning company she secretly ran.

Melius, of Queen’s Mead Road, Bromley appeared at Croydon Crown Court, where she will return for sentencing on May 3.

She pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by abuse of position to make gains of £6,200; £4,496.47 and £1,415.50 between January 14 and February 18, last year.

However, Melius claims even though she did not declare to her employer she was running Speedy Cleaners, which received funds from Lexadon, her benefit was not £6,200, but approximately £387.

Judge Peter Gower QC announced: “This is a case that is screaming out for a pre-sentence report.

“It is for the sentencing judge to decide what way to go on the basis of plea.

“It seems this is a case that may well cross the custody threshold, but equally may not do so.

“Every option of sentencing ing is open , community order, suspended sentence and immediate imprisonment.”

Bedroom Burglary Charges Denied

A middle-aged man, accused of repeatedly burgling a bedroom safe for cash and valuables, denied the charges when he appeared at Croydon Crown Court.

Redd Stone, 51, of Welbeck Road, Carshalton was bailed to return for trial next year.

He pleaded not guilty to burgling the address in Stirling Avenue, Wallington between May 21 and June 3, last year, stealing a ring and necklace from the safe.

Stone also pleaded not guilty to three counts of burgling the address of £2,000; £1,000 and £2,000 cash.

He also denied a fifth count of burgling the address on May 22, stealing two wedding rings.

Stone will stand trial on March 27, next year.

Tube Train Passenger Punched And Kicked During Bag Snatch

A tube train passenger was punched and kicked in the face by a mystery wanted woman, whose male companion had snatched the victim's handbag as they arrived at East Acton Underground station.

British Transport Police (BTP), who have launched a robbery investigation, have released this image of their suspects and are asking for the public's assistance in identifying them.

At 3.30pm on Wednesday February 9, a group including a man and woman were causing a disturbance on a westbound Central Line service.

As the train reached the station, the man from the group grabbed the bag of a female passenger. 

She tried to get it back from him, before the woman he was with pulled her off the train, shouting and hitting her in the face.

The victim was pushed on the floor of the platform and was repeatedly punched and kicked in the face by the woman.

The man then took the victim’s phone from her pocket before the group left the station.

Officers believe the people in the CCTV images 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 349 of 09/02/22.

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

Cardiff City Fan Hurled Coin At Millwall Match

A Cardiff City football fan, who had consumed a cocktail of cocaine and alcohol, was caught throwing a 50p coin onto the pitch during his team’s Championship clash with Millwall last month, a court heard.

Courtney Tucker, 38, had travelled to The Den in south-east London on February 12, where the Welsh club were defeated 2-1.

The father-of-two, of Cowbridge Road E, Canton, Cardiff, who works part-time in the building trade, pleaded guilty last Wednesday to throwing a missile at a spectators area, contrary to the Football (Offences) Act.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing a small quantity of cocaine.

Two days before the match Tucker had excitedly tweeted: "Just booked on for Millwall away, happy f***ing days." 

Prosecutor Mr Subhanur Chowdhury told Bromley Magistrates’ Court: “At Millwall football stadium stewards were concerned that he threw something at the football pitch.

“CCTV was viewed confirming he threw a fifty pence piece onto the football pitch.

“He was stopped and searched and a small amount of cocaine was found in his possession.”

First-time offender Tucker was arrested.

“He said the small amount of cocaine was for his personal use and he unfortunately loses his good character today.”

Tucker’s lawyer Cleo McLaren said: “He is embarrassed to be here today. He has been attending football matches all of his life, since he was a young boy with his grandfather.

“He had not been out much since lockdown and just took it too far.

“As he told the police: ‘It was silly. I had too many beers and a bit of that cocaine.’

“It was at the end of the match and there was some banter going on between the supporters and the coin was not aimed at anyone in particular or any player.”

The court decided not to make a football banning order and magistrate Stefan Smith told Tucker: “We must make an order to reduce violent offending at football matches, but we think it is unlikely you will repeat such behaviour.”

Instead Tucker was conditionally discharged for two years, fined £184 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

Behind Bars: Rogue Auction House 'Expert' Who Swindled Thousands Of Pounds

A rogue auction house boss, who deliberately targeted elderly homeowners in the poshest parts of London, flogging their valuables without permission or simply keeping them, is finally behind bars.

Peter Taylor, 61, printed up convincing-looking flyers and business cards, presenting himself as a legitimate expert, who could obtain good prices at auction for the victims’ property.

Isleworth Crown Court heard the estimated loss to the 11 victims - who knew him as Peter Tillott - is approximately £267,000.

Yesterday Judge Sarah Paneth remanded Taylor in custody until March 31, having adjourned sentencing, announcing: “The sooner he begins serving his sentence the better.” 

Taylor had been granted bail after being convicted earlier this year following a lengthy trial to give him the opportunity to make restitution to his many victims. 

Trading under his previous legal name of Peter Tillott he operated in and around Kensington; Fulham; Chelsea; Notting Hill and West Brompton in West London.

Taylor, of St. Margarets Road, St. Margarets, Twickenham, was found guilty of eleven counts of fraud relating to each individual complainant between March, 2016 and February, 2019.

He is a veteran of insurance fraud and a £3m tax scam for which he was jailed for four years a decade ago.

One victim Lady Patsy Alliott, 90, is still missing her valuable candlesticks and prints. “She doesn’t know what happened to them,” said prosecutor Katrina Charles.

Lady Patsy’s rosewood jewellery box was valued by Taylor at £700, but he claimed he couldn’t get more than £140 for it.

Yesterday, Ms Charles told the court: “This case involved a number of elderly, vulnerable victims targeted by the defendant, who posted flyers through the letterboxes of individual house or addresses of multiple occupancy.

“He claimed that he was from a genuine Chelsea auction house.”

Taylor operated under the company name ‘Chelsea Auction House’ and ‘Muck2Brass’, listing his 23 year-old son as a director.

“The defendant changed his name for a fresh start because the reputation attached to Peter Tillott had become a liability,” said the prosecutor during the lengthy trial.

One victim, who replied to his business card, was Austrian-born psychoanalyst Karin Syrett, 79, who lives in a £800,00 apartment in Royal Crescent, Notting Hill.

After reporting Taylor to the police he paid her a mere £265 for valuables worth £2,500. “She says this has had an adverse effect on her health,” said Ms Charles.

Also swindled was businesswoman Caroline Shamash, 50, boss of Saffron interior arts, which provides “luxury items” to high-end interior designers.

She says Taylor disappeared with £5,295 worth of her property, including an expensive chandelier of hers she discovered he was selling on eBay.

The businesswoman hunted the evasive Taylor down to his business unit, where she met his son. “He told her the defendant was either out, unwell or in hospital,” explained Ms Charles.

Elderly gent Arnold Rosen says he lost £2,285 worth of furniture Taylor removed in a hire van from his garage to sell at auction, the trial heard.

Another gentleman, Roy Turner, allowed Taylor and two assistants to walk out of his home with a treasured collection of thirty watercolours and prints, resulting in an estimated loss of £5,000-£10,000.

Describing the collection as his “pride and joy” the victim says Taylor valued his property, which had taken a lifetime to collect, at one quarter of its true value.

He was trying to raise funds to assist his son and daughter-in-law buy a property. “I now realise I’m probably a vulnerable old man. I didn’t think I was,” said Mr Turner in his victim impact statement.

A “collectors item” print valued at £1,000 was only worth forty quid, according to Taylor; a King’s Road, Chelsea gallery painting a mere £80 and a valuable Francis Bacon map £80-£100.

French restauranteur Eric Payet, 44, allowed Taylor to clear his two old premises of all their contents and fixtures and fittings, resulting in an estimated loss of £112,000.

“He felt he could trust him because they had a working relationship and met regularly,” said Ms Charles. Mr Payet is now working in Saudi Arabia and feels “embarrassed,” at being conned, the court heard.

Taylor also cleared the home of a Helen Ford’s deceased mother and she found property, including a clock; mink coat; silver coffee pot; music centre; tankards and pair of glass carafes on his eBay account.

He had claimed the property was worthless and the complainant estimates the loss at £2,500 and contributing to countless “sleepless nights.”

The late Gill Miller, who died of cancer aged 77 just before the trial, contacted Taylor after he put his business card through her letterbox and later saw her property for sale online, estimating her loss at £2,500.

She tried to hunt Taylor down and discovered his ‘auction rooms’ were a gutted property. “She says she suffered a huge drop in confidence and suffered sleepless night and anxiety and felt embarrassed and stupid.”

Veteran antiques dealer Maria Gabriela Ponce de Leao, under pressure from her children to relieve pressure on space, allowed Taylor to walk out of her home with 83 antique items.

She had already handed him over her “best antiques” earlier and claims valuables, including bookcases, chairs and a bureau were sold for rock-bottom prices at Lots Road Auctions Chelsea, resulting in a £30,000-£50,000 loss.

“The defendant’s reaction in the witness box was to laugh at the notion she was an antique dealer when he gave evidence in the trial,” said Ms Charles.

The victim says she lost her “financial independence” at the hands of Taylor and suffered “anxiety, panic attacks, sleeplessness, hopelessness and despair.”

There were two more victims of Taylor, the second of which says he lost property worth £50,000 to £100,000.

Taylor was found not guilty of defrauding company director Sheila Newsum, 83, who lives in a £1m West Brompton apartment and responded to Taylor’s business card, which he shoved through her letterbox, the court heard.

She is the Chair and Managing Director of Hunters Associates, an international events company and said she allowed Taylor to remove valuables from her home, suffering a £11,340 loss.

Taylor was also cleared of defrauding another man and woman.

Train Station Assaults: Do You Know These Suspects?

British Transport Police are hunting these suspected train station thugs after a passenger and have-a-go-hero were assaulted.

Officers are appealing for the assistance of the public in identifying them.

At approximately 6.30pm on Saturday, January 22 a male passenger was punched when using the stairs at Woking station, Surrey.

When another passenger intervened in the altercation, he was also assaulted.

Officers would like to speak to the men in these images as it is believed they may have information which could help the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to text 61016 with reference 512 of 22 January.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.

"Do You Know Who I Am?" The Police Would

A female early-morning tube train commuter was attacked by a mystery man, who kicked her legs, while shouting: “Don't mess with me.”

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this CCTV image of the suspect and are seeking the public's assistance in identifying him.

At just before 8am on January 3, the victim was waiting in Burnt Oak station in north london when a man she didn’t know charged towards her while shouting aggressively.

She turned away from the unknown male and he started kicking her legs. 

The woman ran into a newsagents and the man chased her, while shouting: “Do you know who I am?” and: “Don’t mess with me,” before kicking her again.

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

If you recognise him, or have any other information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 2200000524.

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

'Have A Drink On Me': Train Sex Pest Hunted

A train sex pest harassed a female passenger and molested her at the end of her journey.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this image of their suspect as they appeal for the public's assistance in identifying him.

The woman was travelling between Sanderstead and East Croydon on Thursday, January 27 when approached by a male passenger at 1.45pm.

BTP are treating it as a “prolonged sexual assault.”

The male approached the woman on the train under the guise of asking for directions.

As they chatted he offered his drink to her as a gift, which she refused.

The unknown man then took a sip and offered the drink again.

As the woman went to get off the train at East Croydon station, he sexually assaulted her.

Officers believe the man in the CCTV 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 322 of 27/01/22.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 

Masseur Sentenced For Molesting "Attractive" Female Client

A respected massage therapist, who acted out a “pornographic fantasy” when molesting a young professional woman two decades his junior, has avoided prison with a suspended sentence.

Masseur Graham Stannard, 47, repeatedly touched the “attractive” half-naked 25 year-old woman between her legs, claiming he was encouraged by her moans of pleasure.

However, the woman insists she did not consent and her involuntary moans were a response to Stannard massaging her painful sciatica - caused by an irritated nerve.

Uniquely Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Judge John Lodge ordered Stannard to pay £600 towards the victim’s twenty-three private psychotherapy sessions she needed after he molested her.

“It is hard to imagine a grosser abuse of trust than a woman on a massage table, in a position vulnerability, expecting to receive therapy and instead becoming a victim of abuse,” the judge told first-time offender Stannard.

“The generosity of spirit of your victim, who should have nothing but contempt for you, is reflected in her victim impact statement where she says: ‘I hope the man is provided with the professional tools needed to address his behaviour and prevent any further assaults.’

“It is impossible in a case of sexual violation to seek to place a monetary value on it. It diminishes the gross violation of these offences, but the victim has sought to have therapy and that has cost her.”

The jury rejected Stannard’s claim he honestly believed the woman was consenting and unanimously found him guilty of two counts of sexual assault. 

“That was the bizarre thing about the trial,” added Judge Lodge. “That he had a reasonable belief there was consent, which the jury understandably rejected.”

Stannard, of Fleetwood Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, received twenty-one months imprisonment, suspended for two years and must complete 35 days of the Horizon sex offenders programme and up to 30 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

The trial heard Stannard, the boss of Healing Zen Massage and a practitioner of Zen-Su deep release massage had a therapy room in a beauty salon in Bedford Hill, Balham, south London.

After reading his positive online reviews the woman, who has a high-pressure desk job, booked an appointment to receive a massage on August 2, 2020.

The jury viewed her recorded police statement in which she said: “When I removed my mask he said: ‘Wow. You’ve got such a lovely smile,’ and I thought that was the first thing out of place.”

She stripped-down to her knickers and lied face-down on the massage table as Stannard began. “He said: ‘It’s really nice you are making those noises. I’d like to hear more of them’.

“They were just the normal noises of a massage,” she told the trial, explaining Stannard put his hand between her legs after massaging her hip area.

“He just went for it and touched me four times or something, quite hard under my knickers so it was not a mistake.

“I went completely quiet. I always thought in a situation like that I’d be shouty and tell him to: ‘F*** off,’ but I just completely froze.

“I started moving my bum and hips away, but it didn’t deter him and I thought: ‘What the f***?’

“I thought: ‘F***, he’s going to do it again,’ and this time he really went for it.

“He asked me to turn over. I was topless and he looked stoked, so happy with eyes wide open, buzzing.

“He said: ‘You’ve got such an amazing body,’ he was ecstatic and said he was going to do my front and I thought he would do something worse.”

She said Stannard hastily concluded the massage then tried to discuss it with her. “He was close to my face and from then it was just creepy.

“He returned after ten minutes and he was like: ‘God, that was amazing. Maybe I can take you out to dinner and do a massage after that.’

“He gave me a hug and was going to try and kiss me and I left and called my boyfriend and burst into tears and told him what happened.

“I was sitting on the kerb, breathing heavily, it was horrible. I walked around for twenty minutes dry heaving and had a bath when I got home because I had oil all over me and wanted to get it off.”

She then received a text from Stannard, which read: ‘Lovely to see you. Let me know about home massage.’

Today, prosecutor Warwick Tatford told the court: “This defendant was working as a provider of massage services within a hairdresser’s and a booking was made online by the woman.

“The defendant appeared to have a sexual attraction towards her and commented on her smile, which she thought was strange and while on her front her touched her above her knickers and then twice skin on skin.”

During the trial the prosecutor told the jury: “No doubt his regular clients think good of him, but he gave into sexual temptation that day when he gave a massage to this twenty-five year-old lady, an attractive lady as you will see in the video. 

“He just fancied her and couldn’t resist sexually assaulting her. It was quite a forceful massage and she made noises when he hit a painful spot. 

“She talks about moaning, but not with a sexual meaning. He started imitating what she was saying, like it was turning into some sort of pornographic fantasy.

“The defendant seems to have been caught up in the excitement of it all and acting out a sexual pleasure.

“He told the officers he was sexually aroused and had crossed the line. That’s quite close to admitting sexual assault and he says he got carried away in the moment and that it felt consensual.”

When cross-examined the woman was asked about the noises she made and said it was “wrong” to conclude she was “aroused” during the massage.

She was asked why she did not ask Stannard to stop, replying: “It happened so quickly, I was in shock. I didn’t know what to say.”

Additionally, the woman was questioned as to whether moving her bum and hips could be “misconstrued” as joining in with the sexual behaviour. 

Stannard’s lawyer John Livingston told the court: “This is a man who is generally a kind and sensitive individual. This was out of character behaviour, crossing the line of professionalism in his line of work, which he has been doing for a number of years.

“This is the only incident of any complaint and the woman researched before booking the massage and the results indicated he was good at his job and helped a lot of people.

“It seems to have been an isolated incident of losing his proper professional judgement and now he is very remorseful about it.”

However, in his Probation Service interview Stannard repeated his claim he believed the woman was genuinely sexually aroused. 

“That may be the result of extreme embarrassment of what he did and his remorse,” added Mr Livingston. “The chances of his reoffending are low and going through the trial process has been traumatic.

“He has learned a very big lesson in the harshest possible way and has no intention of risking repeating any sort of offending.

“He had to stop his massage work. That has not been feasible since the start of this case and he is now a delivery driver for Uber Eats.”

Judge Lodge concluded: “The work of Horizon and the rehabilitation activity requirement will provide a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and reduce the risk of further offending so the sentence can be suspended.”

Stannard was also made subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, prohibiting him providing any physical, mental or spiritual therapy and he must sign the sex offenders register for the same period of time.

On-The-Run: Fugitive In Dock Accused Of Somalian Group Murder

Stabbed: Gus Fenton

A suspected murderer, involved in a brutal street gang attack on a lone man walking to his local betting shop, fled to Holland to avoid justice, a court heard yesterday.

Ilyaas Maalin, 23, was one of five young men armed with knives and bats who killed 29 year-old Gus Fenton in Southall, west London, the jury were told.

At Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Maalin has pleaded not guilty to murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Gus’s brother Elijah, 35, who came to his younger sibling’s aid.

Prosecutor Bill Emlyn-Jones told the trial Gus left his home on March 28, 2017 for his local betting shop.

“He was being followed by a group of five much younger men, specifically looking for him.

“Once they found him there was a short meeting that ignited into violence in broad daylight in a busy high street, crowded with pedestrians and drivers.

“Mr Fenton was chased and caught and he was punched and kicked, lasting a few seconds,” continued the prosecutor. “He was not seriously injured at that stage and the group of five headed off.”

Gus phoned his brother Elijah and began walking home, but was confronted by the same group a second time.

“They attacked him again and some had armed themselves and the attack was significantly more violent.”

By now Elijah had driven to the scene, explained Mr Emlyn-Jones. “He sees his brother attacked by the group armed with knives and bats and other objects.

“They turned their violence onto Elijah and he was stabbed, but Gus was not lucky, he had serious injuries six separate stab wounds.”

Sadly, Gus died the next morning.

“There is no dispute this defendant is one of the young men involved,” the prosecutor told the jury. “The extent of his involvement is for you.

“Within a few days of the murder the defendant went to Holland to avoid arrest and trial, the prosecution say.

“He was returned to the UK last year.”

The jury will view CCTV images of the attack during the trial.

“All five are acting together as a team, each playing a part by causing serious injuries or helping and encouraging those doing the stabbing and inflicting the injuries.

“The CCTV will show group violence by five friends acting together.”

Trial continues…………….