Seven Sisters: "Covid" Spitter Hunted

Transport cops are looking for this suspected spitter after a woman was spat in the face at a north London tube station and told: “I have Covid.”

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this CCTV image and are appealing to members of the public for assistance in identifying her.

The victim was walking onto the platform at Seven Sisters Underground Station at approximately 9.10pm on Sunday, July 10 when she was involved in the nasty confrontation.

An unknown woman approached her and spat a large mouthful of water at her face and over her clothing.

The spitter told the victim: “I have Covid” before walking away.

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

If you recognise her, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 2200069149.

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

Romford Railway Station Robbery: Do You Recognise These Suspects?

Police are hunting these two suspected railway station robbers after a passenger was forced to hand over his iPhone and bank card.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released the CCTV image and are appealing for the assistance of the public to identify them.

The victim was seated on a platform bench at Romford railway station, east London between approximately 6.45pm and 6.50pm on Sunday, July 10 when he was approached by two males.

The victim was threatened by the two individuals.

Fearing for his safety the man handed over his iPhone and bank card and the two men left the station.

If you know the identity of the men, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 and quoting reference number 470 of 10/07/22.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Magic Mushrooms Man's Threat Of Spell Behind Bars

Wimbledon Magistrates' Court

A convicted cocaine dealer, under a suspended sentence, was caught in a police traffic stop with magic mushrooms in his car.

Shahjan Abdul, 37, of Brookside Avenue, Ashford, Surrey was pulled over for speeding and questioned by police about drugs when they discovered his previous convictions.

He admitted having a small amount of magic mushrooms for personal use and was arrested.

At Wimbledon Magistrates Court he pleaded guilty to possessing 10.2 grammes of hallucinogenic psilocin on January 19 in Hampton Court Road, Hampton Wick.

This was exactly five months to the day he received 19 months imprisonment, suspended for two years at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

That sentence was for offences of possession of cocaine and crack, with intent to supply and possession of cannabis and ecstasy.

Abdul's defence lawyer told magistrates the latest offence was for a relatively small amount of mushrooms for personal supply.

He made admissions to police at the scene and has completed the community service hours he received at the Crown Court and complied with the curfew that was imposed on him.

Magistrate Vanessa Weguelin announced: “Having listened to the representations, we are not going to deal with this by way of a financial penalty.

“The defendant received a suspended sentence in the last year for serious offences and we are not going to deal with this today.

“Having received a suspended prison sentence for four offences it will be dealt with by Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on a date to be fixed.”

Cannabis Dealing At Teddington Property

A young man caught dealing cannabis during a police co-ordinated drugs raid on a smart property in south-west London has pleaded guilty.

Curtis Heighes, 27, had incriminating messages on his mobile phone, indicating he was selling quantities of the drug for £70 and £50 a time, Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard.

He appeared on videolink from Glasgow, where he now lives in Norwood Park, Bearsden and pleaded guilty to one count of being concerned in the supply of cannabis on July 16, last year.

The court heard multiple suspects were targeted by police, who executed several search warrants on the day.

Heighes' former address in Somerset Gardens, Teddington, Richmond-upon-Thames (pictured)
was searched after officers forced entry and the defendant's phone also contained messages concerning drug drop-offs and quantities.

His lawyer Annie Fendrich told the court Heighes became involved via his “naivety and immaturity.”

Even though the potential sentencing powers for the offence extend to three years' custody the lawyer submitted a suspended sentence was the more likely outcome.

Heighes was bailed unconditionally to be sentenced at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

Norwich City Fan Guilty Of Shouting "Black C***" At Player

Guilty: Michael Squires

A Norwich City away supporter, reported by fellow Canaries fans for shouting: ‘Black c***,’ towards a player during the team’s league fixture at Crystal Palace, was fined and banned today.

Technician Michael Squires, 57, attended Selhurst Park on December 28, last year for the Premier League game, which his team lost 3-0.

Croydon Magistrates Court heard he also loudly booed the players’ anti-racism message when kneeling before the kick-off.

Squires, of Castle Hill, Beccles, Norfolk was convicted after a trial of racially aggravated threatening behaviour and was fined £450, with £620 costs and ordered to pay a £45 victim surcharge.

He also received an immediate 12-month football banning order, prohibiting him attending any organised matches.

Norwich City fan Lucy Wallis, 49, an away fans’ member attended with her husband and two of her children, aged 14 and 12 years-old.

“We were four or five rows from the front in the away stand,” she told the trial. 

“There was quite a lot of shouting, jostling of men. It wasn’t a particularly nice atmosphere, I was worried about my children. It didn’t seem like a family-friendly game.

“He bumped into my shoulder when he came in. He said something to me, I didn’t reply.

“I thought at the time he probably had a couple of drinks prior to the game. He was swaying a little bit and said: ‘Alright?’ to me and his voice sounded a little bit slurred.

“He booed when the players took the knee at the beginning of the match. I didn’t like that behaviour.

“I felt disappointed and it was a shame because I thought it would be nice to have a chat because Norwich were not doing well at the time, but I thought this was not someone on my wavelength because I thought it was an important stand.

"Disappointed": Lucy Wallis

“I think Crystal Palace scored a penalty and the atmosphere in the away crowd got worse.

“There was a lot of swearing and the behaviour of the Norwich fans was very poor, far worse than the Crystal Palace fan.

‘Once Crystal Palace scored things started going downhill.

“I think the play on the pitch had moved to the left and came back towards us and one of the players, I don’t know if they were Crystal Palace or Norwich, but they were black and taking a throw-in and that’s when the man shouted a very abusive term at him.

“He shouted: ‘You black c***.’ I am 100% certain.

“I felt disgusted, so disappointed about what life is like at the moment. I just thought it was a horrible thing to say and a great shame.

“It was very aggressive. I shout, a loud aggressive shout.

“Immediately after that he got into an altercation with two people on the aisle and they had a row.

“A second man said something like: ‘Enough of that mate.’ It was abhorrent, totally unnecessary and offensive.

“We found it an increasingly horrible area to be in and not where you would want children to be and we left at half-time.”

The London-based Norwich City-supporting family continued being distressed by the events when they returned home.

“My children were quite upset by it and | felt it was too important to leave and I wrote to the club and filed a complaint about it.”

In her letter she said her “family tradition” of supporting Norwich had been negatively effected and her children no longer wanted to attend away games.

When cross-examined Mrs Wallis denied she “took a dislike” to Squires because he booed the kneeling, but conceded she was not directly looking at him when she heard the abusive words.

“I can’t say for sure I saw him say those words, but I am still absolutely certain.”

A second Norwich City fan, Anna Bond, told the trial: “The ball came towards us and a black player came to get the ball and as he did that the gentleman next to me said: ‘Black c***.’

“I am very sure that is what I heard. It was audible and aggressive.

“I was shocked, horrified, disgusted to be honest. It took a second to process and I told my husband what he said.

“My husband was equally horrified, offended and shocked and did speak to the man. He was angry with him and wanted to make it really clear to the man we were not happy with the language and wouldn’t tolerate it.

“I saw said. Really just horrified, in disbelief really that it happened. The whole thing has been really shocking and not pleasant.”

When cross-examined Mrs Bond conceded: “I was looking ahead at the game. I did not see the words. I was not looking at him, I heard him say the words from directly next to me.

“I am convinced that the words came out of that person.”

Stewards escorted Squires out of the stadium just before half-time and he told police: “I’m not racist. I didn’t say anything.”

He gave a “no comment” interview at the police station, but told the trial: “I’ve got an away season membership for quite a few years.”

Squires travelled to the game with a friend who sat elsewhere in the away end. “It was a long journey there, with trains cancelled and before we went into the ground we had a couple of pints.

“I was just watching the game and it wasn’t until a steward came and got me that I knew anything was going on,” he told the court.

“I never said those words. The only thing I was saying was some Norwich songs and that.

“That’s all I was doing. They weren’t playing that well, the mood wasn’t great, but I’ve been watching them a long time and am use’d to that.”

When cross-examined Squires denied booing the players kneeling before kick-off, insisting he did not utter the abuse or hear anybody else shout it.

Magistrate Alison Coussins announced: “Both Mrs Wallis and Mrs Bond were clear and credible witnesses. Mrs Wallis was sitting next to Mr Squires and Mrs Bond was the next nearest.

“Both heard the words ‘black c***’ loudly and clearly and their evidence was clearly corroborative and credible and both were alarmed and distressed by the language they heard.

“The defendant says he did not say ‘black c***’ and did not hear anyone else saying it. We don’t find Mr Squires to be a credible witness.”

Prosecutor Sudara Weerasena told the court Squires has multiple convictions for assault by battery; plus convictions for drink-driving; criminal damage and a public order offence.

“You must apply an uplift for the offence because it is racially-aggravated,” she told the magistrates. “Distress was caused to multiple people in the vicinity and children were present.

“It was a busy place, he is not of good character and distress was caused.”

"Decent Bloke" Jailed For New Year's Party Bedroom Grope

A New Year’s party guest, described by a judge as a “decent bloke” was jailed today for climbing into the drunken host’s bed and groping her between the legs.

Jamie Benjamin Hardman, 33, who has never been in trouble before, knew his neighbour had been put to bed by her boyfriend and sneaked into her flat as the party continued above.

“The influence of drink and drugs is so often the case when a decent bloke such as you behaves out of character,” Inner London Crown Court Judge Jane Rowley told him.

Hardman, of Eastbourne Road, Blackpool pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault by penetration at the Tooting Bec address in south-west London in the early hours of January 1, 2021.

After his arrest he resigned from the company he co-founded, which brings puppies to businesses and workplaces for the mental well-being of staff.

Hardman sobbed throughout the hour-long hearing attended by his parents and sister and Judge Rowley told him: “I accept your remorse. Those are not crocodile tears, you are a decent fellow struggling to accept what he has done.

“I am going to pass the shortest sentence I can and I have followed the rock-bottom figure a judge can impose, but it is my duty to send you to prison immediately.”

Hardman received three years and four months imprisonment, must sign the sex offenders register for life and comply with a 15-year restraining order, prohibiting him contacting the victim.

He had always fought the case until police, urged by prosecutor Avantika Prakash, forensically examined the inside of the victim’s knickers and found his DNA.

“It was approximately 2-3am when the complainant, who was feeling ill, was put to bed by her boyfriend, who placed a plastic bowl next to her,” Ms Prakash told the court.

“Later, Mr Hardman went to the bedroom and got into the bed and the complainant felt a hand unbutton her jeans and go inside her knickers.

“She stirred, but when she heard this defendant say: ‘It’s alright,’ she realised it was not her boyfriend and got up and ran into her bathroom in a highly distressed state.”

Her boyfriend confronted an apologetic Hardman and twice punched him in the face as he broke down, claiming he did not know what had happened due to his intoxicated condition.

“The next day Mr Hardman visited the victim and said he was sorry, that his behaviour was out of character and he did not know what he was doing and hoped everyone could move on,” said Ms Prakash.

When questioned by police Hardman claimed there was “consensual kissing on the bed,” but could remember little more, having consumed eight beers, a bottle of gin, cocaine and ecstasy.

In her victim impact statement the woman said she had suffered “intense anxiety” and “insomnia” since the assault.

She described “horrific night terrors” and flashbacks that required five months of therapy and medication as she struggled with her mental health.

“She was extremely drunk and the Crown say she can be said to be extremely vulnerable at the time,” added Ms Prakash. “The offence is also aggravated by Mr Hardman being under the influence of a mixture of alcohol and drugs.”

Hardman’s lawyer Steven Gosnell conceded the forensic results prompted the late guilty plea. “Up until then the defendant had a very limited memory of what happened in that room apart from some spooning and kissing.”

However, Judge Rowley disagreed: “Saying there was consensual kissing was a lie to cover up his reprehensible behaviour.”

Mr Gosnell told the court: “He has been brought up by his mother and father in an exemplary way and the remorse that he shows is genuine and he is clearly petrified about  what will happen to him today.

“In his own words he said: ‘These are not the actions of the person I thought I was.’ He could not get his head around the allegation and where he went that night.

“The mixture of the cocktail of alcohol and drugs led him to behave in the way he did. He comes from good stock to use an old-fashioned phrase.”

Judge Rowley announced: “It is an incredibly sad case and the guidelines call for an immediate custodial sentence.

“He has led a constructive life and can be said to be of exemplary character.

“I love my job and it is very hard to impose a sentence on you, but you know you must go to prison,” she told Hardman. 

“In those early hours you knew she was the worse for wear for drink and you followed her into her home. A woman in that condition cannot give her consent.

“You have studied, you are hard-working and you have made something of your life and I am touched by the references and letters from your mother and father and sister and the friends who hold you in high esteem.

“You have been a brave man admitting what you did and I am sure when you come out you will come out a better man.”

Bitter Ex-Missus Harassed Former Hubby's Wife

Wimbledon Magistrates' Court

A telephone and email harasser has been sentenced for waging a campaign against her ex-husband's current wife.

Barbara Nichols, 63, of Appleton Square, Mitcham, a full-time carer to her mother, made repeated silent telephone calls and sent emails under a false name to the victim.

She pleaded guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates Court to one count of harassment between September 30, 2021 and January 27, this year.

Prosecutor Corran Helme told the court the victim thought it was “strange” Nichols 'liked' a post on her daughter's facebook page and a few weeks later she started receiving phone calls from a withheld number.

She would receive three such calls a day and then began receiving emails from an account in a man's name.

Email messages included: 'Changing profile pictures won't make him love you,' 'no good blocking me,' 'You better start looking for husband 3, 4 or 5.'

The victim felt the unknown harasser knew personal details about her husband's family history and their wedding anniversary.

The court was told the victim was “anxious, crying and depressed” as a result of Nichols' behaviour and was struggling to sleep at night.

She was confused by Nichols' campaign because her relationship with the defendant's ex began three years after the split-up sixteen years ago.

Nicholas told the court: “I feel ashamed. I cannot describe how I feel, I feel awful.

“I have come to terms now and don't have any issues.”

Magistrate Vanessa Weguelin told Nichols: “Your behaviour was bizarre in the extreme.”

She was sentenced to a twelve-month Community Order, which includes 120 hours community service and up to 25 days of a Probation Service-approved Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

Nichols was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim, plus £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

Teenage Girl Molested At Rochester Railway Station

Police are hunting this suspected pervert after a teenage girl was molested on the platform of Rochester station in Kent.

British Transport Police (BTP) are treating the incident as an offence of sexual assault.

Officers investigating the allegation have released this CCTV image and are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying him.

At 10.00am on Sunday, July 10 the victim was waiting on the platform when a man sat next to her engaged her in conversation.

He made inappropriate comments towards her before sexually assaulting 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 2200069048.

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

Underground Smoker Gives Passenger Black Eye

A smoker challenged for puffing a on the Underground gave the other passenger a black eye for pointing out his anti-social and illegal behaviour.

The victim was violently punched in the face, causing swelling as well as the eye injury at Kennington Underground Station.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this image of the suspect and are appealing to the public for assistance in identifying him.

At 1.10pm on Friday, June 24 the victim challenged a male on the platform for smoking, which was met with the violent response.

If you recognise him, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 2200062793.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Suspect Wanted For 'Upskirting' Female On The Tube

Police are hunting this suspected tube train pervert after a female passenger says she was recorded intimately on a mobile phone.

The victim says images of her upper leg were taken during the 'upskirting' incident.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this image of the man they wish to speak to.

The victim was travelling on a Piccadilly Line train at approximately 7.30pm on Tuesday, July 12.

She says a male passenger onboard the eastbound service near King's Cross station was recording her on his phone at unorthodox angles.

She also insists images of her leg were on the man's phone screen.

The man got off the train at Arsenal Underground station at 7.40pm.

Officers believe the man in the CCTV image may have useful 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 2200069578.

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

Train Toilet Pervert Locked Up

An online groomer, who sexually assaulted a girl he lured into a train toilet after claiming he was too nervous to use it alone, has been locked-up.

Deneil Walker, 21, had been communicating with the girl via the web on apps including Snapchat, before arranging to meet her at Northolt railway station in west London.

He paid her fare and they boarded a train, travelling across London to Liverpool Street, and he molested her after tricking her into joining him in the toilet.

Walker, of Laburnum Close, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity on October 4, last year.

He received four years custody and was ordered to sign the sex offenders register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The distraught girl was abandoned by Walker after the attack and approached members of the public for help.

She was soon taken to the closest police station, where she reported the crime.

Walker was arrested early the next morning.

Detective Constable Vicki Bladen said: “The victim was in touch with us straightaway, a very brave thing to do while dealing with such a distressing offence.

“Within hours we were knocking on Walker’s door, finding crucial evidence such as the victim’s train ticket inside his man bag. 

“He was arrested, charged and put before the courts.

“Sexual crimes are a priority for British Transport Police. Every person has the right to travel in safety, and anyone who is a witness or is a victim to a sexual crime is strongly encouraged to contact us.

“No report is too small or trivial, we will always take you seriously. Contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40.”

Knife-Wielding Docklands Light Railway Robbers Derailed

Tyreese Ulysses

Two Docklands Light Railway robbers, who terrorised commuters with knives and machetes while snatching phones and other personal property, have been locked-up.

Tyreese Ulysses, 20, of Mineral Street, Plumstead, pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery and four counts of possessing a knife in a public place. 

At Inner London Crown Court he was sentenced to eight years custody.

Jamal Wilson, 21, of Wood Vale, Forest Hill pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and one count of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. 

At the same court he received thirty-four months custody.

Three other males, aged 17 to 21 years-old, have also been sentenced for their roles in the September 2020 crime spree.

Between September 1 and 17, 2020 Ulysses, Wilson and two teenagers committed six knifepoint robberies between them on-board DLR services in East London.

One each occasion they approached victims on the train, pulled out a knife or a machete and demanded possessions from them.

They were able to rob multiple phones, a wallet and a Gucci bag. 

During a knifepoint robbery on September 17 one of the teenagers also snatched a phone from a passenger and ran away.

Jamal Wilson

After the incidents were reported to the British Transport Police (BTP), detectives launched an investigation to trace and arrest the group.

Following Wilson’s arrest for his part in the robberies, detectives analysed his two mobile phones and discovered more than 200 messages referencing drug supply. 

He was further arrested for conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.

BTP Detective Constable Chris Pretty said: “This was a petrifying experience for all the victims, who were subjected to the group’s despicable spate of robberies.

“Ulysses and Wilson are opportunist criminals that aren’t fit to be in our community – I’m thankful to the courts for handing them adequately strong sentences behind bars.

“I would also like to thank the victims, the public and our colleagues at the Metropolitan Police Service for assisting our investigation, allowing us to trace and arrest the culprits quickly.

“We’re patrolling the network in London and across the UK round the clock to crack down on knife crime. Crimes of this nature will never be tolerated, and we’re devoted to removing dangerous weapons from the railway.”

Path Wars: The Sentencing

Sentenced: Virk

A neighbour involved in a long-running dispute with the next-door couple, has been sentenced for breaching a restraining order by falsely accusing them of being drug-dealers.

However, Ruby Virk, 54, claims her life is being made a misery by the couple, accusing them of excessive noise and smoking cannabis.

She pleaded guilty to breaching the three-year order, which was made after the Crown Prosecution Service dropped harassment proceedings against her in relation to the couple in November, 2020. 

Virk was sentenced to a twelve-month Community Order, which includes 140 hours community service.

She was also fined £100 and ordered to pay her neighbour £250 compensation.

Police were called to her address in Haygreen Close, Kingston-upon-Thames at 4.30pm on November 3, last year to deal with a dispute involving Virk’s tenant and door locks being changed.

While the officers were there Virk’s neighbour’s opened their front door to see what was going on, said prosecutor Rose Edwin at an earlier hearing.

“The tenant said those neighbour’s were in trouble with the police and drug-dealers and he said he had got that information from his landlady, Virk.”

She is subject to a court-imposed restraining order made on November 25, 2020, prohibiting her from contacting her next-door neighbour’s; standing outside her front door; posting items to them and accusing them of being drug-dealers.

Ground Zero: Haygreen Close

“She has informed other parties that there neighbour’s are drug-dealers,” added the prosecutor.

The court heard Virk has four convictions for a total of fourteen criminal offences, mostly of a public order nature.

The male half of the couple detailed the problems living next-door to Virk in his victim impact statement.

“There has been a financial impact on our lives. We have had to instal an alarm system and installed security cameras,” he said.

“We have not slept well over the last three years and are awake at every noise and bang in the night in fear that Ruby is damaging our home or trying to get in again.

“We are in fear of her slander and lies that we are drug-dealers and racist.”

The neighbour said he lost an architecture role due to a stress-induced drop in his work performance.

“We are unable to use our garden or have guests over more than a few times due to the constant harassment.”

One underlying issue is a shared pathway both Virk and her next-door neighbour’s have to use to access their homes.   

Virk’s lawyer Catrina Sheehan told the court: “The victim impact statement seems to be highly-exaggerated. This charge is related to just one incident.

“The impact statement relates to many other older incidents.

“The background to this is a long history of a neighbour dispute and she says her life is being made a misery by the couple through noise and the smell of cannabis.

“She has required therapy and treatment for depression.”

Virk told the magistrates: “It was the height of the moment. It was an intense evening.” 

Church Party Guest Jailed For Raping 12 Year-Old

A church birthday party guest is starting a thirteen-and-a-half year prison sentence after shoving a 12 year-old attendee into bushes and twice raping her.

Ghana-born Kofi Prempeh, 28 - nicknamed ‘Africa’ - ignored the girl’s pleas to stop and her desperate attempts to push him off in the dark park as he walked her home. 

Prempeh, of Wide Way, Mitcham pleaded guilty to two counts of raping the girl in the park near Leighton Street, West Croydon on August 4, 2018 three days into his trial.

“How you can have gone from a young man with no history with the police to raping a child is difficult to fathom,” Croydon Crown Court Judge Elizabeth Smaller told him.

“It involved a considerable degree of violence in a public park late at night.

“She spent a period of time terrified she was pregnant and that must have added to the terror this young girl felt and she says there is not a day that goes by that what you did does not interfere with her life and she is still in counselling.

“I find you do pose a risk to young females and it is necessary to protect the public from you.”

Prosecutor Nicola Merrick told the court last Friday: “He claims he did not know how old she was at the time, but the Crown do not accept that assertion. He knew when he engaged with her that she was a child, aged twelve years-old.

“She had gone to a party organised in a church hall that the defendant had also attended and she overstayed longer than her mother agreed.”

Prempeh was not a stranger to the girl, who had attended alone.

“The defendant left the party with her at 10pm or so and arrived at her home address at around midnight, a journey that would normally take twenty minutes,” added the prosecutor.

“The route he took her on was through the park. It was dark and he pulled up her dress and pulled down her knickers.

“He warned her that she was not to tell her mother or anyone else what he had done and she experienced some bleeding the following days.”

Prempeh was arrested three months later and denied raping the girl, only finally admitting his guilt after the trial began and she had given evidence and been cross-examined.

During that trial the court heard the girl’s family believed she would be safe amongst fellow-churchgoers they knew.

Miss Merrick told the jury: “That evening there was a birthday party and the congregation attended and the girl’s mother thought members of the church would keep an eye on her daughter.

“She was outside the church when the defendant came out and spoke to her while holding a bottle of beer, which she thought was Guinness.

“She believes he tried to persuade her not to go home and as she walked through the park he was beside her.

“Mr Prempeh pushed her down into some bushes and pulled up her dress and touched her breasts and pulled her knickers down.

“She as shouting at him to leave her alone,” explained the prosecutor. “She was upset and tried to push him off.

“She was saying: ‘Stop, stop. There are people that can see you,’ but that did not seem to put him off.

“She was crying and he could see she was upset and told her to stop. She could not stop herself and he shouted: ‘No more crying.’

“The complainant phoned her mother and told her she was okay and the defendant kept telling the girl she was not to tell anyone what he had done to her and that it would be bad for her.

“The defendant told her: ‘If I find out you’ve said anything to anyone there will be trouble.’

“The girl confided in her cousin and three months later told her family what had happened.”

Prempeh’s lawyer John Hunter told the court on Friday there was little point making him subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order on release. “There is every possibility of him being deported in any event.

“He has expressed the shame he feels on a daily basis and during his time in custody he realises just how inappropriate his behaviour was and questioned if it was worth carrying on living.

“The impact on him has had a significant effect. It was not planned in any way, it was opportunistic and something that he bitterly regrets and will do so for the rest of his life.

“She was not pulled into bushes or anything of that sort and she is not entirely reliable in the evidence she did give. There was evidence of some accepting of what happened and wanting it to happen.”

However, Judge Smaller challenged this, remarking: “Well, on her evidence that is what happened and stating otherwise doesn’t do your client many favours.”

The judge told Prempeh: “Your counsel’s propositions are somewhat of an anachronism to me. I do not accept these submissions or that this girl suggested these acts should take place.”

The judge also extended the licence period following Prempeh’s release by four years and ordered him to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and added his name to the barring list, which prohibits working with children and vulnerable adults.