Sex Creep Who Targeted Female Students Convicted

A prowler, who deliberately targeted terrified lone young women in student accommodation, remains locked-up after audaciously failing to convince a jury the victims were flirting with him.

Troy Maurice, 29, lied that he was only looking for somewhere to sit down and relax and listen to music on his headphones when scoping student housing for potential targets.

He has remained in custody since police arrested him for his second attack and lost his bid for freedom at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court when the jury convicted him on all five counts.

Maurice, of Beaudesert Road, Handsworth, Birmingham was found guilty of sexually assaulting two young women on March 27 and April 16.

He was also convicted on both occasions of trespassing, with intent to commit a sexual offence, and falsely imprisoning the second victim in her studio flat.

The trial heard Maurice struck after entering Cliff House, Claybrook Road, Hammersmith and Fulham Palace Studios, Fulham Palace Road.

A student was doing her laundry in the basement of Cliff House and told the jury Maurice, who she did not know, was down there and crept up behind her.

She said he placed his hands on her back and moved them up to her bra straps and even tried to pull down her leggings, while telling her “shush” and to remain quiet.

However, Maurice tried to lie his way out of the accusation, claiming: “It’s an okay place to hang around for no particular reason, somewhere to sit.

“There’s not many people around there and I was confident I was allowed to go there,” he told the trial. “I would go there to chill out and play some music.

“The laundry is the only place with seats and stuff and she was doing her laundry in front of me.

“She was bending over to pick up her clothes. I thought she was an attractive woman and I would say she was being provocative.

“The way she was bending over and bouncing and what she was wearing was revealing.

“I thought: ‘Maybe she wants me to make a move or something,’ and I was completely unaware she was going to overreact.”

Maurice denied locking the laundry door to prevent the terrified young woman from fleeing and reaching for her bra straps or attempting to remove her leggings.

“I put my hand on her leggings, assuming, I swear to God, she would give me a positive response, which she did at first and then she flipped out.

“She wasn’t having it and I was disappointed. I was 100% sure she was leading me on to make a move.

“She was very upset and after that I shrugged my shoulders and left.”

Three weeks later Maurice followed his second victim into Fulham Palace Studios, where he pushed her into her flat.

He detained her there, deleted information from her phone and attempted to unzip her trousers and touch her breasts.

However, Maurice denied he was a prowler, claiming: “It was socially acceptable for me to go there.

“I was trying to find somewhere to sit down and play music and relax,” he told the jury.

“I asked her if I could charge my phone and she took me to her room.

“She said it was okay for me to sleep there and clean and shower as well.”

Maurice denied piling suitcases against the door to prevent the terrified victim from escaping, insisting: “It was a very positive vibe, I started to like her and she started to like me.

“I knew from her mannerisms she liked me and she was behaving positively.

“First she offered to hug me and was presenting her body to me sexually and that led me to ask if I could be sexual with her.”

Maurice then pleasured himself in front of his disgusted victim. 

“She said it was okay, it was sexual role-playing. She was flirting with me and stuff and was giving me energy back.”

The victim’s ordeal lasted into the early hours and when concerned security officers checked in on her Maurice coached her what to say in an attempt to get rid of them.

However, it was obvious something was wrong and the police were called.

“She was scared of the police, not me,” claimed Maurice. “I didn’t think I was going to get arrested.”

Maurice was remanded in custody until his sentencing.

Train Passenger Threatened With Knife And Robbed: Do You Know This Suspect?

Transport cops investigating a knife robbery onboard a train in south-east London have released this image of their suspect.

British Transport Police (BTP) are appealing to the public for assistance in identifying the wanted individual.

The victim was a passenger on a Plumstead to London Cannon Street railway station when they were approached by a male at approximately 9.10pm on the evening of Monday, August 1.

The suspect is reported to have demanded the victim’s possessions. 

When the victim refused the suspect showed the victim a knife tucked into his waistband. 

He then stole the victim’s bag and their trainers.

The suspect is believed to have left the train at Charlton station.

Anyone who knows him is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40. 

In both cases quote reference number 653 of 01/08/22.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Architect Guilty Of Molesting Drunken 'Bottomless Prosecco Brunch' Graduate

An architect molested a drunken fellow-graduate when she passed out on a leather Chesterfield couch, following an all-you-can-drink ‘bottomless Prosecco brunch’, a court heard.

Oliver Smail, 31, who has a Master of Architecture qualification from Kingston University was convicted of touching the woman, who joined his group’s all-night pub and bar crawl, between her legs.

“I remember him trying to touch me and moving to the other side of the sofa,” she told the jury at Inner London Crown Court, adding she woke at 6.30am with her underwear and tight spanx shorts around her knees.

She insisted Smail, of St. Catherine’s Court, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and a former Planning Support Officer with Aylesbury Vale District Council groped her between the legs as he lay alongside her on the living-room sofa.

He denied, but was convicted last Friday by the jury of one count of sexual assault by penetration at his friend’s two-bedroom apartment in Stead Street, Walworth on September 8, 2019.

Smail was bailed until October 28 for sentencing.

“I woke up and that’s what was happening,” the woman told the trial. “There was a point in the night I was aware of him.

“I was aware of this because of the way he was touching me. I think he was completely out of it. Very intoxicated.”

The woman told the trial she began drinking in Dalston’s trendy ‘Jones & Sons’ which offers a two-hour ‘Off The Wagon’ brunch of never-ending Prosecco.

“We were drinking for two-and-a-half hours,” she told the court. 

She was celebrating a birthday and she and her two female friend’s joined Smail’s mostly-male group and continued drinking cocktails at the nearby ‘Three Sheets’ bar.

Smail and friends Tom Madden and Alexander Hodgson-Doughty all know each other from the University of Kent.

They moved onto other local pubs and bars, continuing to drink and both the woman and Smail snorted cocaine during the evening and she also took an ‘ecstasy’ pill.

“I have been very honest that I took ‘ecstasy’ and cocaine. I have no recollection of who gave it to me, it was one of the three men.”

The group then took a minicab to Elephant & Castle with the vague idea of going to the Ministry of Sound nightclub, but instead bought a bottle of gin from and off licence and continued drinking at Alex’s flat.

“I am not denying I was drunk,” she added, recalling a short chat she had with Smail that evening. “I got the feeling he was flirting, but from early on I was not interested and made that clear.”

After a few rounds of gin and tonics at the flat Alex disappeared into his bedroom with the complainant’s friend, leaving her to sleep on the living-room couch.

The next morning she burst into the bedroom to complain about Smail to her friend, who asked him: “Did you finger my friend while she was asleep? Did you do that?”

The friend said Smail tried to hide under a pillow and replied: “I thought she consented.”

When cross-examined he insisted he was referring to her consent to leg touching and nothing more intimate. 

He quickly put his jacket on and left the apartment as the complainant’s friend continued shouting and demanding the police be called.

Smail, who runs his own design firm, told the jury all he did was rub the woman’s leg when he woke up in the middle of the night to find it in his crotch.

He was also drinking in ‘Jones & Sons’, where he also confessed to taking cocaine. “It is not something I regularly do, it was pushed towards me during brunch.”

Regarding the complainant he said: “I didn’t find her sexually attractive,” but admitted texting a friend during the evening to describe her as “cute.”

“I was really quite drunk,” he admitted, explaining his motivation for squeezing onto the couch was to sleep and not any sexual motive.

“I woke up with something rubbing against my crotch.

“I was in a very deep sleep, very hazy and my reaction was to feel the leg. I kind of rubbed it, squeezed it like a massage just to see if it was a girl or a guy or a reaction of some sort.

“She kind of squeezed my hand and rubbed it and nothing was said by anyone.”

Smail claims he got up to sleep in the spare room, but Alex told him it was being rented via Air B&B so he returned to the couch.

“When I woke up I was being kicked in the head. It was not as hard kick and I took it as a meaning she did not want me on the sofa I had been rubbing her calf earlier on.

“I was so dazed and confused. I did not understand why I was being kicked.”

Smail denied pulling down the woman’s underwear. “I was not aware of what she was wearing under her dress. I never moved any of her clothing.

“I only had one hand that was free at any time.”

He was questioned two weeks later and charged over two years after that. “It was upsetting. I remember my heart racing and having this massive weight on my shoulders and having to trust in this system that I am going through.”

When questioned by the officers Smail admitted: “Obviously she is a pretty girl and I am a man so I may make a few moves.

Insisting he would do nothing without the woman’s consent he recalled the moment she kicked him in the head. “I remember thinking: ‘Oh God. I totally misread that situation.’

“I grabbed a pillow and slept on the floor until I was woken up by her friend pulling it away.”

Ex-Dulwich College Music Teacher Denies Molesting Pupils

A former music teacher at prestigious Dulwich College appeared in court for the first time yesterday, accused of molesting two boys during piano lessons at the private school three decades ago.

Martin Ball, 88, indicated not guilty pleas at Croydon Magistrates Court, which declined jurisdiction and bailed him to appear at Inner London Crown Court on October 28.

He is charged with two counts of indecently assaulting the boys, both aged under sixteen years-old, at the school between January 1, 1990 and January 1, 1995.

Ball, of The Drive, Beckenham, is alleged to have touched both boys over their clothing during lessons a the £48,000-a year school.

Prosecutor Dwaine Coward told the court: “The victims were students at Dulwich College, during which time they took piano lessons.

“The defendant was a piano teacher and the defendant would touch the victims’ bottom or groin while teaching.

“If convicted, the defendant would have abused his position of trust, which increases culpability.

“The sentence, if convicted, is likely to be well in excess of the Magistrates Court range.

“This conduct was carried on for some substantial time. The frequency of occasions extending over a period of time would be an aggravating factor.”

The court heard Ball is facing imprisonment on conviction of between twelve months and four years.

Notable former Dulwich College pupils include actor Chiwetel Ejiofor; authors P.G. Wodehouse and Raymond Chandler; Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera; politician Nigel Farage; former Governor of the Bank of England Eddie George and explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Mother With Two Children Victim Of "Hate Crime" At South Tottenham Station

Transport police are treating as a “hate crime” an incident involving a man and woman and mother with her two children at a north London railway station.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released these CCTV images of their two suspects and are appealing for the assistance of the public in identifying them.

The victim, a mother with her two children, was racially abused by a couple at approximately 4.45pm on August 6 at South Tottenham railway station.

BTP investigating officers believe the pair in the 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 2200079033.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The King's Speech: Coronation Chief Duke Of Norfolk Banned From Roads

Court On The Phone: The Duke of Norfolk

An aristocrat responsible for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II was yesterday banned from driving for six months after police caught him chatting to his wife on his mobile phone.

His Grace The Duke of Norfolk, Edward William Fitzalan-Howard, 65, failed to convince magistrates he should not be disqualified to allow him to organise the coronation of King Charles III.

Lavender Hill Magistrates Court heard the officers suspected him of jumping a red light as he crossed a junction in front of them.

In his hereditary role as Earl Marshal he told the court he is also in charge of the coronation and asked successfully for part of the hearing to be held in private in the interests of “national security.”

He pleaded guilty to one count of driving his six year-old blue three-litre diesel BMW while using a hand-held device in Battersea Park Road, south-west London on April 7.

He was fined £800, with £350 costs and ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge.

The six penalty points imposed by the magistrates on His Grace, added to the nine already on his driving licence after two speeding convictions automatically triggered the six-month disqualification under totting rules.

He unsuccessfully argued the disqualification would cause him “exceptional hardship” in organising the coronation and running his estate, which employs 150 people.

Magistrate Judith Way announced: “We accept this is a unique case because of the defendant’s role in society and his role in the King’s coronation and even though inconvenience may be caused we do not find exceptional hardship.

“We know the need for security clearance for any driver and we do not think this is insurmountable for his high-profile role.

“We believe the defendant has the means to employ a driver.” 

Court of the King: Arriving at Lavender Hill

Apparently still respecting a period of mourning His Grace, of Arundel Castle, Arundel, Sussex wore a solemn dark grey suit, white shirt and plain black tie.

Prosecutor Jonathan Bryan told the court: “The time was just before 4.15pm in the afternoon.

“Police officers were in a vehicle on Battersea Park Road when they saw a BMW.

“They were stationary at traffic lights and their light turned green and the BMW cut across them and they assumed he must have jumped a red light. and noticed the driver was using a mobile phone and not paying attention.

“They drove up to the driver and looked through the window and saw the driver was using a mobile phone.

“The driver was His Grace and he said he did not know he went through a red light and was in conversation with his wife and that is why he was using the phone.”

The court did not hear any prosecution regarding a red light offence.

Initially His Grace fought the case, submitting a not guilty plea and was scheduled to stand trial before his late change of plea.

“He stands to be disqualified as a totter for a period of at least six months,” added the prosecutor.

Applying for the press to be excluded from His Grace’s “exceptional hardship” application his lawyer Natasha Dardashti said details of the coronation of King Charles III would have to be revealed.

“This is an extremely peculiar submission. His Grace the Duke of Norfolk, as Earl Marshal was responsible for the preparations of the funeral of her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II and is now the person in the country responsible for the coronation of his Royal Highness King Charles III.

“His Grace will need to provide some information and details of the coronation of his Royal Highness.

“The reason for this to be in camera is for reasons of national security and there are details that have not yet been discussed with his Royal Highness; the Prime Minister and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

“The application for exceptional hardship should be in camera to prevent the escape of that information, which is of an exceptionally sensitive nature.”

He is the current 18th Duke of Norfolk and a member of the House of Lords and as the Duke of Norfolk is the most senior peer in the peerage of England.

He is a member of the House of Howard and inherited his title from his father Miles Francis Stapleton Fitzalan-Howard, the 17th Duke of Norfolk.

He was educated at Ampleforth private boarding school and Lincoln College, Oxford and is married to Georgina Susan Gore and is the father of three sons and two daughters.

“Once the coronation of his Royal Highness has taken place there will be no need for these details of the coronation to remain private,” added Ms Dardashti.

“The organisation of state occasions takes years of planning and involves issues of security for world leaders attending the UK, the public and other people attending, which will require his grace to go into details .”

Lavender Hill did explore transferring the case to Westminster Magistrates Court to be heard before the Chief Magistrate of England and Wales Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring due to issues of “national security” but his office was happy for it to be dealt with “locally.”

Regarding the application for a part-private hearing Mr Bryan said: “We take a neutral position on that. It is not for the Crown to take a view one way or the other.

“There has to be a compelling reason for that course. Is it really necessary for the defence to go into such details that would compromise those arrangements?”

The magistrates agreed to hear details of His Grace’s role in the coronation in private and afterwards Ms Dardashti said: “This is a huge and very, very peculiar responsibility.

“His huge responsibility for the coronation means he needs to drive to all parts of the UK for meetings and to arrange what will be another huge world spectacle.

“The Royal Family are loved throughout this country and all over the world and are economically very, very important to the economy of this country.

“The coronation of a King is financially important to all of us.

“He does not get paid for being Earl Marshal and is working with a huge amount of responsibility and must be available at short notice.

“The logistics of having four drivers with security clearance to drive him around if he needs to go anywhere, even at 3am are not workable.

“It would be a huge extravagance to have a team of drivers. It is not workable and is not realistic.

“This is a particular point in the history of this nation. The coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.

“It is a huge responsibility for this one man.

“It is because of this timing it is so crucial that he keeps his licence.”

His Grace stepped into the witness box and appealed for the magistrates not to impose six penalty points, claiming “exceptional hardship” to his livelihood and his 150 full-time and part-time staff if he was disqualified.

“I am the Chief Executive of the Dukedom, farming, forestry, our business assets etc. That is my job.”

Explaining his Peppering Project, a conservation initiative on 3,000 acres of his estate, His Grace insisted he needed his driving licence to use the public roads to access the area.

“For twenty years we have been trying to find a way to save nature and to feed the world,” he told the court.

He was trying to save at least ten “red-listed”endangered species and needed his licence to drive, sometimes at 4am to the South Downs, to monitor this progress.

“I spend an enormous amount of time in my spare hours witnessing the revival of nature and managing bringing this change about.

“Dawn and dusk are the crucial times to count the species and I need to use the public roads to do this,” His Grace told the magistrates.

He claimed he was £45m in debt after buying back 14,000 acres of his Dukedom’s original land. “That, in effect, is my life’s work done.”

His Grace said continuing to be allowed to drive was vital to the health of his estate and its ability to repay increasing interest charges.

“The interest burden has doubled and will put enormous strain on our income flow from the Dukedom to meet the burden.”

He also owns lands in Norfolk, Yorkshire and industrial units in Sheffield.

“If there is a problem I have to be able to react and I do not know where I will be. I may go to Yorkshire and drive  or to Norfolk and the only way to get there is to drive.

“Also my office in Arundel is four miles away from where I live.”

Hiring a chauffeur would be challenging to his “chaotic schedule” the court heard.

“Obviously I have the means to hire a driver, but the trouble is life is not that simple. I do not know if I have to drive at four in the morning to see the Curlew.”

His Grace also said he preferred the informality of arriving for work in “my old BMW” than be chauffeur-driven. “I like to be straightforward and being accessible to people.”

Regarding any ban he added: “It will curtail my manoeuvrability to an extent. It could be very, very serious and my responsibility is to those 150 people and those 150 families.

“Even if one family was effected and some have been with us forty, thirty years. If Gary the tractor driver were to lose his job I’d feel responsible. If I lost twenty to thirty people that way I’d be mortified.”

The magistrates dismissed the Duke of Norfolk’s application not to be disqualified on the grounds of ‘exceptional hardship’, indicating they did not believe a ban would put the jobs of employees in jeopardy.

They also concluded he could employ a driver if necessary.

Outside court the Duke indicated he did not want to answer any questions.

Vaping Assault On Overground Train

An Overground train passenger was punched by two unknown males when he complained about a group of young men vaping on the service.

It was just before midnight on July 10 when the passenger was attacked in response to his complaint, which escalated when a second group of young men boarded and a melee ensued.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released these images of two suspects and are appealing for the assistance of the public in identifying them.

The train was travelling north via Harrow and Wealdstone station when the group were challenged by the male passenger.

Two of the men then punched the passenger before a second group of young men boarded the train and a disturbance occurred between the groups. 

Officers believe the men 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 637 of 10 July.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Train Passenger Exposed Himself To 14 Year-Old Girl

Transport cops are hunting this suspected train pervert after a man exposed himself to a 14 year-old girl, who was travelling with her mother.

British Transport Police have released this image of the male they wish to speak to and are appealing for the assistance of the public to identify him.

The teenage girl and her mother were travelling between Gatwick and Hitchin railways stations on Saturday, August 27.

At approximately 7.00pm a man sat near them.

During the journey the man exposed himself inappropriately to the 14-year-old girl, while staring at her. 

The victim’s mother confronted the man, who then got up and walked away.

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

If you recognise him, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 548 of 27 August.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Bus Sex Pest Hunted In Heart Of Square Mile

Police in the City of London are hunting this suspected bus sex pest after two lone females were molested while travelling through the Square Mile.

One woman was even followed from one bus to another by the suspect to continue sexually assaulting her.

Both women complained that the unknown male would sit next to them and deliberately push his elbow into their breast before apologising and attempting to engage them in conversation.

City of London Police have released this CCTV image of their suspect and are appealing for the assistance of the public in identifying him.

The first sexual assault occurred on the number 35 bus, between London Bridge and Liverpool Street, travelling north at around 12:10pm on October 10, last year.

The second sexual assault occurred on the number 149 bus, between Dalston and Fenchurch Street and the 344 bus, between Fenchurch Street and Southwark Bridge, both travelling south between 9:30am and 10.00am on March 17, this year.

The man involved in the assaults is believed to look for lone women on buses before sitting extremely close to them.

On the second occasion in March the man followed one victim from the first bus onto her connecting bus to continue the assault.

Detective Inspector Kelly Fisher, from the Public Protection Unit at the City of London Police, said: “We want to speak to the man pictured about these assaults which have left the victims feeling extremely vulnerable.

“This behaviour is unacceptable and nobody should be made to feel unsafe or anxious travelling on public transport. 

“It is vital we gain as much information as possible to help ensure this does not happen again so I would urge anyone with information to get in touch as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and ask to speak to the City of London Police, quoting reference 21000589913. 

Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ or via phone at0800 555 111.

Train Passenger Violently Mugged For Mobile

Police are hunting a pair of violent muggers after a train passenger was attacked for his mobile phone.

The victim, a male, was grabbed around the throat and wrestled to the floor as he tried to get away from the duo.

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

At approximately 2.45pm on Thursday, August 11 two men approached the victim on a train service as it approached Dartford station, Kent and demanded his mobile phone.

The victim tried to move away from the men, who then grabbed him by the neck, grappled him to the floor and made him unlock his phone.

Both men ran off the service at Dartford railway station.

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 11 August.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

"Banter" Bottling In Kingston Pub

A customer services manager bashed another woman over the head with a bottle during drunken over-the-top behaviour she dismissed as “banter”, a court heard.

Tamagin Mellor, 48, touched the chest of another female pub customer during a rowdy drinking session, which descended into a mass brawl when she also struck out with the bottle.

The following month she left her role with Merlin Entertainments, whose theme parks include Alton Towers; Chessington World Of Adventure and Legoland.

Mellor, of Chesfield Road, Kingston-upon-Thames pleaded guilty to inflicting actual bodily harm to Rosie Tune at the nearby Kings Tun pub on May 7.

She also pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon, namely a bottle, on the same occasion.

Prosecutor Timothy Fulford told Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court it was midnight when the lone defendant joined the victim and her friends, who were drinking at a table.

“The victim noticed the defendant started to touch one of her friend’s breasts in ‘banter’ and he friend asked her to stop, which she did for a time.

“It then started again and Mellor was challenged, at which point she started getting very angry and the victim heard her say she was going to: ‘Bottle her.’

“Before she could react she felt an impact to the left side of her head, a sharp pain and fell to the floor.

“She says everything was a blur and she felt confused and people were asking her if she was okay and police were called to the scene.”

Officers questioned Mellor. “She accepted she was intoxicated and that she was deeply ashamed.”

At the time of the offence Mellor was under a court-imposed Community Order for an offence of failing to provide a breath-test when suspected of drink-driving.

“She has very little recollection of the incident and there is a suggestion this was not a completely unprovoked assault,” said Ms Ros Olleson, defending. “There was a bit more going on.

 

“She expresses remorse for her behaviour. This was not so hard that the bottle broke, but it clearly caused a bump, causing the woman to fall to the floor.

“What followed was a melee and Ms Mellor did receive a blow to her head, contributing she thinks to having little recollection of the events.

“She is a binge drinker and when she does drink it is to excess.

“Her behaviour on the day was so shocking to her she has taken steps to address that and has not drunk alcohol since.

“She works as a customer services manager, dealing with the public and this behaviour was out of character and unlikely to be repeated.

“Luckily little injury was caused.”

Magistrate David Charnley announced: “This offence is so serious a term of custody is appropriate, but it will be suspended.

“There was use of a weapon by the defendant, aggravated by being intoxicated and under a court order.” 

Mellor received twenty-four weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and must comply with a three-month Alcohol Treatment Requirement and attend twenty days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

She was not ordered to pay any compensation to the victim, but must pay £85 costs and a £128 victim surcharge.

Suspected Fare-Dodger Wanted For Wine Bottles Assault

Transport cops are hunting a suspected fare-dodger, who swung a carrier bag containing wine bottles at a member of station staff when challenged.

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

At 10.05pm on Thursday, August 25 at busy Holborn Underground station in central London the staff member challenged a male for pushing through the ticket barrier behind another passenger.

The man began to shout abuse at the tube station worker, swearing at him and using threatening language.

He then said: “I’m going to do something that will make you mad,” before throwing a plastic bag containing bottles of wine towards the victim’s head. 

The victim held up his hand and the bottles hit him, causing a cut to his thumb.

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

If you recognise him, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 168 of 25/08/22.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Romanian Pickpockets Jailed For Targeting Ten Year-Old Boy

Bobocel (L) & Iancu (R)

Two professional pickpockets were caught preying on a ten year-old boy as they targeted passengers at busy Tottenham Court Road Underground station.

Romanian pair Daniela-Catita Bobocel, 35, and accomplice Narghita Iancu, 41, covered the youngster's bag with a scarf to hide what they were up to, but were caught by watching police.

Both pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court to one count of attempted theft at the West End tube station on July 12.

Bobocel (L) received eighteen weeks imprisonment and Iancu (R) fourteen weeks imprisonment.

British Transport Police in plain clothes were on patrol when Bobocel and Iancu caught their attention. 

They noticed they were looking closely at other passengers and their property as they entered and exited the station.

The officers, who are specially trained in identifying those with criminal intent, observed as Bobocel and Iancu approached an elderly woman and attempted to move towards her rucksack. 

On that occasion, the woman moved away out of their reach before an offence could take place.

They unsuccessfully targeted two further women before setting their sights on the ten-year-old boy. 

Officers watched as they used a scarf to cover his bag and Bobocel put her hand in to steal from it. 

At this point an offence had been committed and officers were able to immediately arrest them on the spot.

Inspector Sharon Turner said: “Bobocel and Iancu are professional criminals who quite sickeningly, deliberately preyed on a young child after unsuccessfully attempting to steal from adults.

“Thankfully our specially trained plain clothes officers were able to intercept them in the act and ensure they are now behind bars.

“Passengers should feel reassured to know we have plain clothes patrols like this taking place across the Underground day and night to keep everyone safe. If you ever have any concerns while travelling please do text us on 61016.”

"Predatory" Pervert Jailed For Preying On Female Tube Passengers

A “predatory” tube train pervert, who flouted a Sexual Harm Prevention Order when pleasuring himself in front of a female passenger, has been locked up for sixteen months.

Terence Emberson, 55, of Church Road, Hertford boarded a Victoria Line train at Tottenham Hale, stared at two woman and exposed himself to another.

British Transport Police (BTP) tracked him down to his home and arrested him for the offence, which breached an existing SHPO, prohibiting him lowering or unzipping his trousers in a public place.

The SHPO had been imposed for a similar previous offence of exposure in 2020.

At Westminster Magistrates’ Court Emberson pleaded guilty to one count of indecent exposure and breaching the SHPO.

He was committed for sentence to Inner London Crown Court, where he received sixteen months imprisonment and was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

The court heard it was around 7.00pm on Wednesday, June1, when Emberson boarded the train and the victim noticed him staring in the direction of two other women on the carriage.

He then turned towards her and exposed his genitals, staring at her while he masturbated in front of her.

BTP Detective Constable Emma Martin said: “I’m pleased to see Emberson behind bars for his sickening actions which left the victim horrified.

“Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are given to protect the public, and Emberson’s blatant disregard of this proves his predatory mindset.

“No one should be subjected to this behaviour as they travel, and we are absolutely committed to stamping it out.

“I urge anyone who experiences or witnesses a sexual offence on the railway to report it to us by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40. 

“We will always take you seriously. In an emergency, always dial 999.”

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.