Accused 'Sugar Daddy' Claims Internet Date Asked For £3K Per Month

An international financial expert, accused of molesting his ’Sugar Baby’ internet date during a drug search, told a jury yesterday she only complained when he refused to give her £3,000 per month.

Graduate Angelo Fernando, 46, says the younger woman consented to the airport-style body search after he claimed to have been drugged and robbed of his watch and cash on another date.

The former City worker, of Chifney Court, Bridle Close, Surbiton has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexually assaulting the woman at the Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster Bridge Road, on August 28, 2019.

The woman, who has a Masters degree in acting, told Inner London Crown Court Fernando touched her between her legs and ran his hands over her breasts during the pre-date frisk near a fire exit.

Both were registered with the SeekingArrangement dating site, which matches ‘Sugar Daddies’ with ’Sugar Babies’.

They sat down for a drink in the hotel bar after the search and Fernando told the trial his date said she was working on a screenplay she hoped would become a sitcom.

“She said she joined the site in order to meet somebody who could provide her an allowance. Somebody who could help her fund the production of the screenplay and contribute towards her university expenses.

“Because the Masters in Acting was quite expensive she was looking for three thousand pounds a month.

“She would see me on a weekly basis in exchange for three thousand pounds a month and wanted the first instalment after the date.”

However, during her evidence the complainant denied asking Fernando for any money and said she only continued with the date to expose him.

“After I rebuffed that her body language changed and she became quite belligerent,” Fernando told the jury. “She was disappointed, it was written all over her face.

“She then started complaining about the search and said how uncomfortable it made her feel.

“She started scratching her leg and that made me subconsciously think: ‘Has she got drugs in her underwear?’

“I was not going to transfer three thousand pounds into the account of someone I had just met.

“She said: ‘I’m going home, this is a waste of time. She leaned in and I gave her a kiss on the cheek and she walked off and that was it.

“I thought she was flirtatious when she first sat down in the alcove. I did not think she was somebody who was mercenary.

“I was disappointed, but it is not unusual for women on that site to project one image, but whose motivations are completely different.”

Fernando - who claims his legal first name is Stefan - admitted using a different spelling of that name on the website and a younger age, but insisted this was for his own protection.

“There are some very unsavoury people on that site. I have been blackmailed, I have been doxxed so I have chosen to be a little discreet so people cannot look me up.”

Describing himself as a financial modelling consultant, Fernando said he paid the dating site’s £60 per month fee, but would never describe himself as a ‘Sugar Daddy’ and did not reveal any financial information.

“I was looking for someone to travel with, to go to nice venues with and had no expectation of a physical relationship,” he told the court. “I would always pay and I would buy presents because they were a friend.”

Fernando said his OCD, coupled with once being drugged resulted in a need to search all future dates thoroughly.

“On my third date with one girl she slipped a sedative into my drink at a Charing Cross pub. I became very dizzy and disorientated and woke up in the street several hours later with my watch and money clip missing.”

He explained this to the complainant before they met. “I told her on the phone I would check the areas covered by her underwear, not internally, but on the outside. 

“I told her about the search and she seemed sympathetic and there was no talk of a professional doing it.

“I ran my hand between her breasts and she was not wearing a bra. I started off by running the blade of my hand between her breasts and ran my hand over her stomach and down the sides of her dress.

“She had the same search as anyone I met on that site,” added Fernando, denying he touched the woman between her legs or touched her breasts.

“I searched behind her ears as well, running my fingertips over her ears and asked her to take her shoes off.

“If I wanted to search her more thoroughly I had her consent to do that.”

During her evidence from behind a screen Fernando’s date sobbed as she said: “He started from the ankle up, all the way up and I felt very uncomfortable and told him to stop and he carried on with the other leg and the same thing happened again.”

She said on both occasions Fernando touched her between the legs. “He said it was necessary to have a search.

“He ran his hands down the side of my breasts and said: ‘Oh. You’re not wearing a bra,’ and then ran his hands down the front. It was a slow cupping motion.”

She was convinced by Fernando’s need for security because of his “highly sensitive” work in the US defence aerospace world.

“I thought he was some kind of spy that had a job that required you to have some sort of check,” she said. “He painted a picture really well that excited me and he was someone that I’d like to meet.

“He told me he moved about the world and was not based in London.

“The story of what he was doing, what he did and how he had been spiked and needed this security operation just to go on a date sounded like a different world.”

She felt Fernando had done this before and was careful to avoid CCTV bay taking her to the fire exit. “There was a wet mop and bucket and cleaning sign there and anybody could have walked in, but he said it was a discreet space out of the public eye.”

Denying she asked Fernando for £3,000 per month she told the court: “I signed-up for the website because it sounded exciting. Maybe I went on it because I was bored.

“What ’Stefan’ said to me in the first message sounded very exciting and very dramatic and I was interested to meet him.”

Trial continues………….

Health And Fitness Boss Caught Driving After Smoking Cannabis

Bromley Magistrates Court

A local health and fitness businessman has been banned from the roads after police stopped him in the afternoon driving his Mercedes after smoking cannabis.

Hassan El Barbary, 40, is the boss of The London Fit Club, based in Yeoman Street, Deptford and specialising in health, fitness and well-being.

He was stopped at 5.30pm, hours after smoking cannabis that morning and was over double the legal limit.

El Barbary, of Buckhurst Way, Buckhurst Hill, Essex pleaded guilty to driving his black 1.6 litre Mercedes in Creek Road, Deptford on October 1, last year with excess cannabis in his blood.

The legal limit is two micrograms and his reading was at least five.

Prosecutor Subhanur Chowdhury told Bromley Magistrates Court last month police were on an emergency call with their lights flashing and sirens blaring when the defendant pulled out in front of them.

The officers were forced to stop and tested El Barbary for drugs.

The court was told he has drug-related convictions and convictions for eleven previous offences.

El Barbary said via his lawyer he honestly believed he was in a “fit and proper” condition to drive and was overtaking another vehicle and did not see the police car.

The father-of-two said his business, which offers health and therapy services to locals, suffered “catastrophic losses” of £120,000 during the covid pandemic.

He found his personal stress was “overwhelming” due to recent family bereavements and in a “moment of weakness” smoked the cannabis joint.

There was even recent evidence El Barbary had suffered a mild heart attack, the court heard.

His last criminal offence was eighteen years ago and El Barbary now works with Greenwich Council feeding children and rehabing emergency workers.

He admitted his arrest, prosecution and court appearance caused him “great embarrassment” and was not the behaviour he wanted to set as an example to others.

El Barbary was diqualified from driving for twelve months and fined £365, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £37 victim surcharge.

'Sugar Daddy' Denies Molesting Internet Date During Drugs Search

An international financial expert molested a university graduate he met on a ’Sugar Daddy’ website, claiming he needed to frisk the woman for his own protection, a court heard today.

Boasting of his “highly sensitive” work in the US aerospace defence industry Angelo Fernando, 46, told the woman he needed to perform a drug search after having his drink spiked on another date.

However, Inner London Crown Court heard this was an elaborate ruse, which allowed him to grope the woman’s breasts and touch her between her legs during their first date at a four-star hotel.

Fernando, of Chifney Court, Bridle Close, Surbiton has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexually assaulting the woman at the Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster Bridge Road, on August 28, 2019.

“He started from the ankle up, all the way up and I felt very uncomfortable and told him to stop and he carried on with the other leg and the same thing happened again,” she told the trial.

She said on both occasions Fernando touched her between the legs. “He said it was necessary to have a search.

“He ran his hands down the side of my breasts and said: ‘Oh. You’re not wearing a bra,’ and then ran his hands down the front. It was a slow cupping motion.”

She told the jury she continued the date to discover more about Fernando and expose him, but he claims she tried to extract a £3,000 per month retainer from him as his ’Sugar Baby.’

They were both registered to the SeekingArrangement dating website, which markets itself as the place to find high net worth and successful individuals 

Fernando told her she had “expressive and captivating eyes” in his gushing online introduction, in which he described her as “intelligent, elegant and classy.”

He told her he was an economics graduate and had been a City investment banker and worked in the world of private equity before establishing his own financial consultancy, specialising in defence, security and aviation.

“I thought he was some kind of spy that had a job that required you to have some sort of check,” she said. “He painted a picture really well that excited me and he was someone that I’d like to meet.

“He told me he moved about the world and was not based in London.

“The story of what he was doing, what he did and how he had been spiked and needed this security operation just to go on a date sounded like a different world.”

They met at nearby Waterloo Station for the first time, with the woman saying Fernando looked nothing like his online profile picture, confirming that she had consented to the search in advance. 

“He said there was a search on every date he had with a female and it would be by a professional, a thorough airport-style security search,” she told the jury from behind a screen.

“He said he didn’t have time to find anyone and would do it himself and I thought that was fine.”

Inside the hotel Fernando took her up to a secluded area near a fire exit, where he also ran his hands up her bare legs and under her mini-dress.

“There was a wet mop and bucket and cleaning sign there and anybody could have walked in, but he said it was a discreet space out of the public eye,” she said.

“At the end he insinuated it was not as thorough a search as he would have liked.”

Denying she asked Fernando for £3,000 per month she told the court: “I signed-up for the website because it sounded exciting. Maybe I went on it because I was bored.

“What ’Stefan’ said to me in the first message sounded very exciting and very dramatic and I was interested to meet him.”

Fernando’s lawyer Paul Webb put to her: “You were looking for financial reward by going on that website.”

She replied: “It was said of the site that you got taken for drinks and I guess there is a financial side to it, but I never asked for money if that’s what you are trying to insinuate”

The woman denied trying to obtain funding from Fernando for a vegan television project.

However, the lawyer suggested: “If you can find a sugar daddy your sugar baby status of just going for a few drinks will get you three thousand pounds a month. It’s a very attractive proposition isn’t it?”

Fernando admits performing the search, but insist it only involved him running his hands down the woman’s back and sides and beneath her bustline.

In his online introduction to the woman Fernando also claimed to be well travelled, having recently visited Canada and South Korea and was a lover of theatre, opera and classical music.  

He was looking for someone who also had a disdain for then-US President Donald Trump; was pro-EU and politically left of centre and claimed his ultimate ambition was to open an animal rescue centre.

The woman’s political values matched Fernando’s preferences and he was impressed by her vegan yoga-loving lifestyle and long-term ambitions to be a teacher.

However, within an hour of meeting him she alerted the hotel staff about his behaviour and dialled 999.

“I think it was a very well worked-out plan,” she told the court. “I was overwhelmed by what was going on, this guy had given me a massive story.”

Fighting back tears she added: “It was a scary situation. I thought I was going to be raped at one point.” 

Trial continues………….

Speeding Police Chase Mercedes Driver Crashed Into Skip

A Mercedes driver with an “appalling” motoring record, who fled from police at over double the speed limit and crashed into a skip, will be sentenced next month, a court heard last Wednesday.

Ibrahim Sharif, 24, had a small amount of cocaine on him as he tried to flee the officers during the high-speed pursuit through residential streets.

Last Wednesday, Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court bailed him until May 25 for a Probation Service pre-sentence report.

Sharif, of Clarence Avenue, New Malden was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured wrist after the collision, which shunted the skip into a parked vehicle, causing further damage.

He initially appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court last month where he pleaded guilty to driving dangerously and possessing cocaine in Thetford Road, New Malden on September 25.

On that occasion prosecutor Corran Helme told the court: “Police officers were on general patrol and a white Mercedes drove past at speed and turned without indicating.

“The officers employed their blue lights and siren and the driver failed to stop.

“The 30mph speed limit was exceeded with the officers having to drive at up to 70mph to catch up.

“The driver lost control and collided with a skip that was moved forward into a parked car, an Audi and the rear window was smashed.”

Sharif was detained and taken to hospital and a search found the small self-seal bag containing cocaine.

“He was driving at high-speed with no regard to other road users and was involved in a pursuit with police,” added the prosecutor.

“This is prolonged driving with disregard for the safety of others in a built-up area.”

The court heard Sharif has three previous speeding offences and was banned from driving last October.

The court committed him to Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court for sentencing because their powers of punishment were insufficient.

Also making an interim driving disqualification magistrate Vanessa Weguelin told Sharif: “We believe these matters are so serious it can only be dealt with at the Crown Court.

“That is very likely to be a custodial sentence. Your driving record is appalling and now you have this incident where you crashed into a skip, causing damage to another car.”

Pepper-Spray Woman Sentenced For Window Damage

Bromley Magistrates Court

A woman who damaged a residential window while in possession of a pepper spray-type cannister has been sentenced.

Paulina Surys, 42, of Linden Gardens, Notting Hill Gate appeared at Bromley Magistrates Court (pictured).

On her first appearance she admitted the offences.

Surys pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage on August 2, last year to the window, belonging to Ria Hearn, at an address in Lovelace Green, Eltham.

She also pleaded guilty to possessing a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid/gas, namely capsaicin; dihydrocapsaicin and PAVA, outside the property.

Surys was conditionally discharged for twelve months and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £22 victim surcharge.

She must also pay £580 compensation for the damage she caused.

Sneak-Thief Sentenced

Bessemer Place

A sneak-thief was caught on CCTV nicking a Barclaycard from behind the concierge desk at a new Greenwich Peninsula development.

Mohammed Abutaher, 42, of Galsworthy Avenue, Poplar, was eventually tracked-down nearly five months later.

He appeared at Bromley Magistrates Court, where he received a twelve-month Community Order, which includes 100 hours community service work and up to twenty days of a Probation Service-supervised recommended activity requirement.

Abutaher pleaded guilty last month to burgling 17 Bessemer Place, Greenwich on August 7, last year and stealing the Barclaycard.

Prosecutor Subhanur Chowdhury told the court it was approximately 3pm when a member of staff at the commercial premises noticed a mystery intruder had taken his bank card.

The staff member had left their jacket and bag in a postal room behind their concierge desk.

When CCTV was viewed an unknown male, later identified as Abutaher, was seen unlawfully entering the restricted area.

Police were shown the images and on January 20, this year Abutaher was arrested, across the Thames river, in Bethnal Green.

There was no evidence the Barclaycard was ever used.

Abutaher, who the court heard has committed six previous offences, including dishonesty, said: “I'm so sorry for what I did.”

Social Worker Caught Drink-Driving

Bromley Magistrates Court

A midnight drink-driver, pulled over by police who saw her Mercedes travelling “extremely cautiously,” has been banned from the roads.

Social worker Cherlene Gwekwerere, 37, of Rangefield Road, Bromley was also fined £120, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £34 victim surcharge.

The single-mum, who is in receipt of Universal Credit, pleaded guilty to driving the black 1.5 litre diesel vehicle in Wickham Street, Welling on February 12.

Prosecutor Mr Subhanur Chowdhury told Bromley Magistrates Court last month
it was twenty minutes after midnight when police spotted Gwekwerere driving “extremely cautiously and slowly.”

She was stopped and failed a roadside breath-test.

At Lewisham Police Station the first-time offender blew a reading of 53 microgrammes of alcohol in her breath.

The legal limit is 35.

The court heard Gwekwerere, who admitted drinking earlier that day, was employed as a Family Support Worker and needed her car to transport her clients.

The court was also told Gwekwerere was “profusely sorry” for the offence.

Ex-World Champ Boxer Glenn McCrory Denies Schoolgirl Waitress Threats At Joshua Title Bout

Leaving Court: McRory

Former World Cruiserweight Champion Glenn McCrory appeared in court yesterday, accused of threats towards three schoolgirl waitresses at a title fight.

The 57 year-old was attending a dinner at Tottenham Hotspur stadium, which was hosting world WBA; WBO and IBF champion Anthony Joshua’s defeat to Ukrainian challenger Oleksandr Usyk.

County Durham-born McCrory, of Anderson Court, Burnopfield, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, nicknamed the ’Northern Warrior’ during his fight days, won the IBF belt in June, 1989.

During his thirty-win career McCrory also held the British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight belts.

He appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court charged with three counts of threatening behaviour towards each schoolgirl waitress at the London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham on September 25, last year.

McCrory pleaded not guilty to each count and was bailed to return for a two-day trial on August 2. 

Prosecutor Jyothi Somavarapu told the court: “The London Academy of Excellence was hosting a dinner event associated with boxing at Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

“Students were invited to work as waitresses and one was on reception, greeting guests as they arrived.

“One made contact with Mr. McCrory at 4.30pm and greeted him and asked what table he was seated at.

“He replied: ‘Whatever table you’re at,’ and grabbed this young lady’s hands and arm while he was speaking to her.

“Various words were being uttered and two other females found themselves in a similar situation and all three mentioned similar things.

“They all spoke to their teacher and there was even an announcement at the event that the waitresses were underage children working at the venue.” 

RSPCA Trustee Accused Of £100K-Plus Expenses Scam

An RSPCA trustee, accused of a seven-year £100,00-plus expenses fraud on the animal charity, appeared in court for the first time yesterday.

David Mawson, 47, is accused of creating a business account while a trustee of the London South East RSPCA and defrauding the charity in relation to Premier Inn rooms and taxi fares. 

Croydon Magistrates Court heard Mawson booked a total of 328 days at Premier Inn during a four-year period, claiming expenses of approximately £91,000, plus approximately £15,000 in Addison Lee taxi fares.

Mawson, of Staines Road, Twickenham was bailed unconditionally to appear at Inner London Crown Court on May 11 and did not indicate a plea.

He is charged with fraud by abuse of position between January 1, 2012 and September 30, 2018 while occupying the position of trustee he dishonestly abused that position, intending to make financial gain.

Prosecutor Mili Matin told the court Mawson was reported to the police by a fellow-trustee in 2018.

Taunton Police Officer Charged With Sex-Messaging 15 Year-old Girl

Court Date: Burton

A police officer appeared in court for the first time yesterday charged with sexually-explicit communication with a 15 year-old girl.

Scott Burton, 45, of Fitzhead, Taunton, Somerset indicated a not guilty plea and elected Crown Court trial.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court before a special sitting of District Judge Michael Snow, who bailed him to appear at Exeter Crown Court on May 10.

Burton, who unsuccessfully applied, via his legal representative, not to give his home address in open court, was ordered not to contact the complainant as a condition of bail.

He is charged with engaging in sexual communication with a child between January 1 and March 31, 2020 in Taunton, with intent to encourage the girl to make a communication that was sexual.

The court was told Burton was sending “inappropriate messages” with a sexual context to the girl, who was 15 years-old at the time.

Derby Nuisance Caller Threatened Police

A Derby man, currently locked-up for making threatening phone calls, appeared in court today, where he complained about his probation officer and lack of legal representation.

Danesh Joshi, 49, has been remanded in top-security HMP Belmarsh since police arrested and charged him with his latest offences.

“I have been really abused by my probation officer,” he told Inner London Crown Court. “I have been denied the opportunity to get legal representation.”

Previous offender Joshi, of Portland Street, Cavendish earlier pleaded guilty to making threatening phone calls to Derbyshire Police and persistently making use of a public communication network to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety on December 18, last year.

He admitted the offences when he appeared via videolink at Croydon Magistrates Court, where a charge of making threats to kill were dropped.

“I was accused of threatening to kill my probation officer, but they did not proceed,” said Danesh from the secure dock.

“At Croydon Magistrates Court I was suffering extreme anxiety. I did not understand the charges fully and did not know if I was guilty or not guilty.

“I've had some memory loss as well and I have not seen any Legal aid forms in custody.”

Danesh was remanded in custody to return on April 19.

Restraining Order Imposed On Stalking Charge

Bromley Magistrates Court

A middle-aged Kent man, charged with stalking a woman, has been slapped with a five-year restraining order.

Graham Pilcher, 55, of Red Tree Orchard, Ashford appeared at Bromley Magistrates Court.

He was originally charged with stalking Jennifer Ingelbrecht between January 1 and April 9, last year.

The charge accused Pilcher of stalking the woman in Folkestone by driving past her home and the homes of her sister and her parents and parking near the complainant's and sister's home for varying lengths of time on numerous occasions.

Pilcher was said to know his behaviour amounted to harassment.

A second charge that he performed an unauthorised computer function in Folkestone on April 6, last year was dismissed.

Pilcher was sentenced to a twelve-month Community Order, which includes 150 hours unpaid community service work.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge and not to make any contact with Ms Ingelbrecht until the restraining order expires on March 1, 2027. 

Champion Petrolhead "Fuming" Over Race Conviction

"Fuming": Spence outside court

Champion racing driver Jamie Spence called a turban-wearing Heathrow Airport parking attendant a “Paki”, after trying to drag him over to see £700 worth of damage to his Range Rover, a court heard.

The 48 year-old former British
Formula Ford and Formula Three champion was enraged after seeing damage to the wing mirror and alloy wheels of the vehicle after a family holiday in Spain.

Spence, of Coptfold Hall Farm, Ingatestone, Essex, was convicted last Thursday of the racially-aggravated assault of Tarvinder Singh Ahluwalia at the Terminal Five car park on September 4, last year.

“He heard Mr Spence call him a Paki and made a 999 call and was clear in that call he was called a Paki,” announced Ealing Magistrate Subash Ludhra.

“You got it totally wrong,” visibly upset Spence told the magistrate before he was a fined £290, with £620 costs and ordered to pay £50 compensation to Mr Ahluwalia, plus a £34 victim surcharge.

“You’ve got someone who doesn’t even speak English who only understands one word. I’m fuming,” said Spence while the magistrates were considering their sentence. 

Spence had returned from a two-week holiday with partner Chantelle McGelligan and their young child and collected the black Range Rover from the airport’s ‘Meet & Greet’ parking service.

“Basically I noticed the wing mirror had damage on it and two of the wheels had been curbed,” he told the trial. “I then asked the complainant if he could acknowledge there was damage before I left.

“He was a little abrupt and said: ‘Ring the office. It has got nothing to do with me.’

Damage: Spence's Range Rover

“I did grab him by the arm, but not very tightly and asked him to come and acknowledge there was damage.”

Spence admitted swearing at Mr Ahluwalia, but insisted he did not use the racial slur.

“I turned around and walked off and called him a: ‘F***ing p****.’

“There was seven hundred pounds of damage and I was a little bit annoyed. I do work hard for what I have got, but I definitely did not attack him, hit his arm or pull his arm.

“It is disappointing when you give your car to a company. They have basically said they are not paying for it.

“I asked him three times and did hold his arm to guide him towards the car,” explained Spence. “He changed his story from me running and hitting his hand to grabbing his arm.

“His story has elaborated and grown more and more. I’m not racist.”

However, Mr Ahluwalia, who had a Punjabi interpreter when giving evidence, told the court: “He checked the car and said there was some scratch on the car.

“He came back to me and pulled my hands with a lot of force and I told him to leave me and take a picture of the scratch and send it in.

“He did not leave me, he was pulling me and I told him to leave me alone because there was a camera there and witnesses.

“He did not hit me, he  pulled me,” added Mr Ahluwalia, denying he exaggerated the incident.

“He told me: ‘You Paki.’ I think he thought I was a muslim.

“This happened for the first time in my life. It made me feel very, very bad.”

Spence’s partner Chantelle, who had waited by the Range Rover, did not see any physical contact, but told the trial she heard her fiancé’s words.

“I noticed the wheels and wing mirror was damaged and I could hear Jamie swearing a little bit.

“I heard him swearing, I think he said ‘twat’. He was obviously upset there was damage to the car.”

Prosecutor Beata Murphy told the trial it was 4.45pm on a Saturday when Spence collected his vehicle. “The complainant told him to contact the manager on Monday.

“The defendant took hold of the complainant’s right arm and demanded he looked at the damage to the vehicle, but he could not leave his desk, where he kept all the other customers car keys.

“The defendant walked away with a female and a child and the word ‘Paki’ was heard and the complainant called 999 and reported it to the police straight away.”

Spence’s lawyer Natalie De-Merist told the court: “The defendant has a personality disorder and has difficulty regulating his emotions.

“When he gave evidence he said that he was sorry he grabbed and swore at Mr Ahluwalia in the first place.”

When the magistrates retired to consider their sentence an obviously angry Spence told Ms Murphy: “You’ve done me.”

He added: “This world is so bad. Everybody is out to shaft everybody else. Take, take, take. 

The magistrates heard Spence has previous convictions for threatening behaviour; assault and obstructing police.

“The prosecution have proved their case,” announced Mr Ludhra. “The assault was racially-aggravated.”

Southall Somalian Stabbing: Thirteen Years For Killer

13 Years: Ilyaas Maalin

A killer involved in a Somalian gang stabbing on the suburban streets of Southall is starting a thirteen-year prison sentence.

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

He fled to Holland in a failed bid to avoid justice and was extradited back to the UK approximately four years after the killing.

The victim was strolling to his local betting shop when attacked by the brutal gang - some of whom are still wanted - on two separate occasions. 

Maalin faced a murder trial at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court, where a jury convicted him of the lesser offence of manslaughter.

He received ten years and nine months on that count, plus another two years and three months after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

At the start of the trial prosecutor Bill Emlyn-Jones told the jury 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, 35, and began walking home, but was confronted by the same group a second time.

Stabbed: Gus Fenton

“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 viewed 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.”

Another gang member, 29 year-old Mohamed Abdillahi is serving an eighteen year sentence for manslaughter and violent disorder.

Wanted: Three Suspects

Three more males are still being hunted by police, who have released CCTV images of the suspects.

The Somalian-born trio have all been identified by the police as Mohamed Abdulhi Abdi, 27; Mohamed Abdi Mohammed, 23 and Mohammed Mohammed, 23.

They are all believed to have left the UK.

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin of Specialist Crime said: “Despite the convictions of these two men our murder investigation continues.”

NOT GUILTY: Neighbour Cleared Of Displaying Far-Right Insignia

Free: Michael Tisbury leaving court

A man charged with deliberately provoking his next-door neighbour by displaying far-right insignia outside his suburban home, has finally been cleared.

Michael David Tisbury, 61, who receives disability benefit, was on police and court bail for nearly two years before finally clearing his name.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard he suffered an anxiety attack as he waited for his case to be called on, anticipating the prospect of a full jury trial.

Tisbury, of Portland Avenue, New Malden originally appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court in 2020 facing charges that were later dropped.

The Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service agreed to charge him with the racially/religiously aggravated harassment of neighbour Vasutha Sivapalan at his address on March 27, 2020.

Tisbury was alleged to have displayed a threatening sign, namely ‘adapting the Mercedes Benz symbols on his white panel van’s wing mirrors to mimic the Nazi eagle swastika.’

He was also charged with possessing material to stir up racial hatred on March 27, 2020, namely a Sun Wheel flag on a pole, associated with the British National Socialist Movement.

Those two charges were dismissed, but Tisbury still faced a Crown Court trial on a charge of the racially-aggravated harassment of Vasutha Sivapalan between January 3 and March 28, 2020.

The prosecution eventually decided to offer no evidence on this count.

In return, Tisbury agreed to be bound over for good behaviour for a period of two years in the sum of £250.

He will only be ordered to pay the penalty if he breaches the bind over.

Tisbury also agreed to comply with a restraining order, prohibiting contact with the complainant - who has moved from the area - for a period of two years.

The court heard Tisbury’s wife had lost her Ofsted child-minding certification as a result of their former neighbour’s complaints.

Relations between the neighbours soured after the complainant called police, accusing Tisbury of daubing a racial slur on his own wall.

Officers asked Tisbury to remove what was written and left.

“You see how strongly she feels about the conduct of this defendant. She has moved away,” said prosecutor Tom Jones.

However, Tisbury’s lawyer Kim Aiken told the court: “He says false allegations were made against him.

“The defendant doesn’t agree he wrote the word ands the police agree the words were not made out.

“He is of good character and says he did not write the words.”

South-West Londoner Put On Sex Offenders Register

Wimbledon Magistrates Court

A Barnes resident has been sentenced for his sexually-explicit communication with a 'youngster' he believed was under 16 years-old.

Shaun Hoell, 39, will now remain on the Sex Offenders Register for the next seven years, which will keep police informed of his whereabouts and residence.

At Wimbledon Magistrates Court he received six months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Hoell, of Marrick Close, Upper Richmond Road pleaded guilty to sexual communication with a child between January 20, 2020 and April 19, last year.

He was charged with intending to obtain sexual gratification by communicating about sexual intercourse and sending indecent images.

Hoell was also ordered to complete 100 hours community service and up to thirty days of Probation Service-recommended rehabilitation. 

Richmond Park Resident Convicted Of Criminal Damage

A woman involved in a long-running dispute with her neighbours has been convicted of damaging property at her south-west London address.

Ruby Virk, 53, who lives on the edge of Richmond Park, fought the case, but was convicted after a short trial at Wimbledon Magistrates Court.

She was fined £200 and ordered by the court to pay £750 compensation to the victim, Anthony Butler.

Virk, of Haygreen Close, Kingston-upon-Thames was found guilty of causing criminal damage to a television; sunglasses; power tools and a bedside cabinet, without lawful excuse, on November 3, last year.