GUILTY: Graduate Sound Engineer Convicted Of Multiple Sex Assaults On Guest

The music producer host of a wine and movie night has been convicted today of sexually assaulting his investment specialist guest, who woke to find his hand inside her knickers.

The woman says her breasts were also groped by fellow graduate Jacques Foce, 33, who later texted: “Thanks for a great night.”

The Cass Business School graduate, who is employed by a global investment company told the Inner London Crown Court jury: “He had unbuttoned and unzipped my jeans.

“He was moving his fingers under my trousers, under my underwear. I was frozen, I was in shock.” 

South African native Foce, of Heyford Avenue, Nine Elms, Lambeth, a former sound engineer for Cape Town’s Smile FM, was unanimously found guilty of five counts of sexual assault in the early hours of July 4, 2020.

The trial heard the woman had been invited over to the converted Victorian flat Foce shared with his absent long-term girlfriend for the evening, confirming via text: “I’m easy as long as it involves wine.”

Describing Foce, a graduate of Cape Audio College, to the jury she said: “He would always hug people when they walked into the room and he calls everyone ‘hon’ or ‘darling.’”

She fell asleep on the sofa next to host Foce, but was woken just after midnight by his actions, she told the trial.

“It was the sensation of his hand,” she explained, describing Foce touching her between her legs. ‘It took me a while to put two and two together of what was happening to me and I was scared.

“I did not think he was capable of doing this to me. I did not know what else he was capable of doing so just thought it was safe just to take it.

“He continued to rub me, stopping and starting,” confirming she did not shout at Foce or tell him to stop.

“He was touching me and then left the room in a hurry and when he came back he touched my face, he kissed my forehead, stroked my face and touched my hair.

“When he finished he turned on the light and said: ‘Wakey, wakey’ and shook me awake.”

She told the jury Foce encouraged her to sleepover in the spare bedroom. “He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. It terrified me.”

She insisted on leaving and during her Uber ride home also received a heart emoji text from Foce and she replied: “Thank-you for a lovely night.”

Prosecutor Mark Trafford KC told the jury: “The defendant is known to be charming and a hugger, to be tactile,” and had once suggested the reluctant complainant join him in a threesome with his long-term girlfriend.

He had complained to the woman he and his girlfriend were not “compatible in the bedroom” and needed to do something “out there,” the court heard.

“On the evening they had both been drinking, they had a glass or two of wine and she fell asleep,” explained the prosecutor. “When she woke up on the sofa she found her jeans unzipped and her trousers slightly down.”

Foce’s hand was between her legs, the KC told the jurors. “She was totally shocked and frozen by this and she feigned sleep, keeping her eyes closed in the hope it would stop.

“He then stopped and zipped up her jeans and then within seconds unzipped them again and carried on.

“Then he touched her breasts and her face and kissed her. She was completely frozen by this.”

Later Foce sent her text, which read: “I’m such an a***hole. I woke up hoping it was all a bad dream. I’m sorry.”

“I am so sorry I’ve done this, but really want to fix this.”

Mr Trafford added: “These are not the texts of someone that blanked out. Alcohol is not an excuse for assault of any kind and certainly not for a sexual assault.

“The defendant said that never happened, but he took advantage of her.”

Recorder Darren Reed told the jury: “I will be assisted by a report from the Probation Service so I am not going to sentence the defendant now.”

Foce will also have to sign the sex offenders register. “Counts two and three trigger the notification requirement as of today,” announced the Recorder, indicating the length of time on the register will depend on the sentence.

“I certify you have been convicted of sexual offences,” he told Foce. “As of today you must keep the police aware of your address and the name you are using.”

Bailing Foce until June 9 on the condition he surrenders his passport within the next twenty-four hours Recorder Reed told him: “It is important you are back at this court.

“I am giving you the opportunity to meet the Probation Officer and it is up to you to make use of that opportunity.”

NOT GUILTY: British Blacklist Founder Cleared Of Windrush Day 'Assault'

Cleared: Acua Gyamfi

An ex-BBC Radio London producer has been cleared of an assault-that-never-was on a black activist during a £35,000 sponsorship row.

Acua Gyamfi, 46, who herself promotes black creatives, was found not guilty of assaulting Alisha Hall, 41, outside a Windrush Day celebration.

  

She founded The British Blacklist in 2012 and told City of London Magistrates’ Court: “It is a media platform showcasing the talents of black creatives across the arts. 

“A labour of love that turned into a massive media project.

“I was introduced to Alisha Hall in August, 2021 by two friends at the British Film Institute (BFI) because I was planning a lunch for black filmmakers at the London Film Festival.

“I was looking for sponsors and they were approached by Alisha, who offered to sponsor the BFI London Film Festival.

“She offered support by sponsoring the introductory soiree and my two BFI friends said: ‘She has approached us, she is sponsoring us.’

“Alisha agreed to be the sponsor of the lunch and she asked for invoices for the £35,000 agreed amount for the event at the NoMad Hotel, Covent Garden.”

The luxury hotel is housed in the converted former Bow Street Magistrates’ Court listed building.

The event proceeded on October 8, with Gyamfi paying £20,000 out of her pocket to secure the location, confident Hall’s sponsorship would be paid.

“She was the guest of honour because she was the main sponsor,” Gyamfi told the court. “She said the money would be paid in three days so I used my money to pay for the venue.

“That money was not paid and she was very apologetic and said it was Santander’s fault. I used my money, £20,000, with confidence that Alisha was going to reimburse me, but that did not happen.

“She said there was ‘account maintenance’ and then there were multiple emails from her saying: ‘The money is in your bank. The money will be in your bank.’

Alisha Hall

“I started to feel quite suspicious as to where the money was and she claimed to have gone to the bank with her legal team.

“In November I was suspicious that this money was not going to come and in January I told her I did not believe the money was going to come.”

Both women attended a Windrush Day celebration at the Film and TV Charity HQ in Golden Square, Soho on June 22, last year.

“I saw Alisha in the garden area and made a point to say ‘hello’ and she kind of gave me a dismissive ‘hello’ back,” explained Gyamfi.

“I wanted to speak to Alisha to clear up why the money had not been paid and I went over to her and said: ‘We should talk.’

“She said: ‘I don’t want to talk to you, I don’t have to. Go away,’ It surprised me and I was flustered.

“I said: ‘You owe me £35,000, you owe the BFI £200,000 and Rhapsody Media £38,000.’

“I was bemused at this point and didn’t understand why she did not want to engage in conversation. I thought I could appeal to her better nature. 

“She was saying: ‘Leave me alone, go away, I don’t have to talk to you,’ and she started to get more flustered.”

The court heard Hall began shouting: “Get my lawyer, get the police,” and told the event’s organiser Gyamfi was “harassing” her.

Gyamfi told her: “You call the police because I am asking you to confess, to come clean or apologise for not paying me.”

Hall’s mother Elain Roberts intervened, suggesting the complaint was a matter for solicitors.

“Alisha then sarcastically said: ‘She doesn’t have the money for a lawyer,’ and it got more irate between us.

“She was being very unapologetic and and was swearing at me, telling me to f*** off. She was creating a storm to make it look like she was the victim.

“Something inside broke my spirits so I started to cry and get upset and emotional, asking: ‘Alisha. Why are you being like this? Tell the truth and pay the money you owe me.

‘You have ruined my life and I owe my mum £19,000 because she bailed me out.’

“She continued to tell me to ‘f*** off’ and to leave her alone and go away.”

The court viewed CCTV of Gyamfi following Hall and her mother outside and down the street, but denied she clenched her fists to punch the complainant.

“There is no way I would have done this. It was more emotional hands and I was upset.

“I’ve not had a fight in my life and I had no intention ever of hitting her, especially with her mum being there and the event, that environment.

“That was never, ever something I would do or thought to do. I did not go to hit Alisha or intend to hit Alisha and her mother showed no fear of me.

“I was saying to her: ‘You have ruined my life. You f***ed up my life.’ I was embarrassed, very distressed, very emotional.

Prosecutor Sharon Michaels asked: “You clearly believed she owed you money and was trying to get out of it, yes? That she had scammed you and was basically a very dishonest person.

“You said she scammed you as a bogus sponsor, that she’s bogus and a scammer, yes?” suggestions Gyamfi agreed with from the witness box.

“You invaded her space didn’t you?” asked the prosecutor and referring to following Hall outside said: “That’s rather intimidating isn’t it?”

Gyamfi denied she was aggressive, but was just taking a rare opportunity to speak to Hall face to face.

“Communication had been going on for so long and it was my first chance. I was calm and thought I would appeal to her best nature.”

Describing Gyamfi’s behaviour on the CCTV footage Ms Michaels said: “You’re waving your hands around and Ms Hall is trying to get away from you and you are still following.

“We see you thrusting your hands out, flailing your arms. You are waving, flailing your hands in such a manner that a man in a blue suit and another man have to step in because of your behaviour.

“Her mother steps in to stop you trying to hit her daughter. You are clearly trying to hit her and if the mother had not stepped in you would have connected.”

Gyamfi said: “I didn’t throw any punches at Alisha. I did not stand in  a boxer’s stance.”

Her lawyer George Skinner said of Hall: “She has spun a web of lies. She did not fear an attack that day.

“Ms Gyamfi is a role model, an inspiring person that has built an impressive career and uses that to help others.

“In the circumstances of the £35,000 owed you may feel she was incredibly controlled,” he told the magistrates.

Gyamfi, of Ember Court, Emlyn Gardens, Shepherd’s Bush was found not guilty of assaulting Alisha Hall in Golden Square on June 22, last year.

“It is agreed there was an argument inside and outside the venue and you followed Ms Hall and her mother outside and at the time raised your arms,” announced bench Chairwoman Sneha Kooros.

“Ms Hall’s evidence was that during the event’s Q and A you deliberately sat behind her and her mother and approached her about money she owed you on multiple occasions.

“She said she was frightened and embarrassed and asked someone to call the police.

“You followed them across the road and she said that you told her you were going to ‘get her’ and she said she thought she was going to be hit by you and you circled around her with raised clenched fists.

“We feel you were credible and honest in giving evidence and were concise and plausible,” the magistrate told her. “Your actions did not amount to common assault.

“It was a heated conversation that could have gone wrong, but it didn’t.”

Ticket Barrier Sex Assault At Letchworth Station

Transport cops are hunting this suspect after a woman was sexually assaulted at a train station.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released the CCTV image.

Officers are appealing to members of the public to assist in identifying the unknown male.

The woman complained to BTP that she was sexually assaulted at Letchworth railway station, Hertfordshire at 11.50pm on Saturday, November 26, last year.

She says the incident occurred by the station's ticket barriers, just before midnight.

Investigators would like to speak to the man in the images, who may have information that could help their investigation.

He is described as white, aged approximately thirty to fifty years-old with shaved, balding hair and wearing a green shirt, blue trousers (probably jeans) and black trainers.

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

In both cases, quote reference number 173 of 28/11/22.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Music Producer Accused Of Molesting Guest During Wine And Movie Night

An investment specialist woke from a wine and movie night to find her fellow-graduate host with his hand inside her knickers, a court heard.

The woman says her breasts were also groped by music producer and sound engineer Jacques Foce, 33, who later texted: “Thanks for a great night.”

The Cass Business School graduate, who is employed by a global investment company told the Inner London Crown Court jury: “He had unbuttoned and unzipped my jeans.

“He was moving his fingers under my trousers, under my underwear. I was frozen, I was in shock.” 

South African native Foce, of Heyford Avenue, Nine Elms, Lambeth, a former sound engineer for Cape Town’s Smile FM, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of sexual assault in the early hours of July 4, 2020.

The trial heard the woman had been invited over to the converted Victorian flat Foce shared with his absent long-term girlfriend for the evening, confirming via text: “I’m easy as long as it involves wine.”

Describing Foce, a graduate of Cape Audio College, to the jury she said: “He would always hug people when they walked into the room and he calls everyone ‘hon’ or ‘darling.’”

She fell asleep on the sofa next to host Foce, but was woken just after midnight by his actions, she told the trial.

“It was the sensation of his hand,” she explained, describing Foce touching her between her legs. ‘It took me a while to put two and two together of what was happening to me and I was scared.

“I did not think he was capable of doing this to me. I did not know what else he was capable of doing so just thought it was safe just to take it.

“He continued to rub me, stopping and starting,” confirming she did not shout at Foce or tell him to stop.

“He was touching me and then left the room in a hurry and when he came back he touched my face, he kissed my forehead, stroked my face and touched my hair.

“When he finished he turned on the light and said: ‘Wakey, wakey’ and shook me awake.”

She told the jury Foce encouraged her to sleepover in the spare bedroom. “He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. It terrified me.”

She insisted on leaving and during her Uber ride home also received a heart emoji text from Foce and she replied: “Thank-you for a lovely night.”

Prosecutor Mark Trafford KC told the jury: “The defendant is known to be charming and a hugger, to be tactile,” and had once suggested the reluctant complainant join him in a threesome with his long-term girlfriend.

He had complained to the woman he and his girlfriend were not “compatible in the bedroom” and needed to do something “out there,” the court heard.

“On the evening they had both been drinking, they had a glass or two of wine and she fell asleep,” explained the prosecutor. “When she woke up on the sofa she found her jeans unzipped and her trousers slightly down.”

Foce’s hand was between her legs, the KC told the jurors. “She was totally shocked and frozen by this and she feigned sleep, keeping her eyes closed in the hope it would stop.

“He then stopped and zipped up her jeans and then within seconds unzipped them again and carried on.

“Then he touched her breasts and her face and kissed her. She was completely frozen by this.”

Later Foce sent her text, which read: “I’m such an a***hole. I woke up hoping it was all a bad dream. I’m sorry.”

“I am so sorry I’ve done this, but really want to fix this.”

Mr Trafford added: “These are not the texts of someone that blanked out. Alcohol is not an excuse for assault of any kind and certainly not for a sexual assault.

“The defendant said that never happened, but he took advantage of her.”

Trial continues……………..

BTP Investigating Sex Assault On Night Tube

Transport cops are hunting an unknown male suspect after a woman was molested on the Night Tube.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this CCTV image of the mystery man they are looking for.

The victim was at Euston Underground Station at 4.36am on Saturday, February 4 when she says she was targeted.

BTP are treating the complaint as sexual assault.

Officers are appealing to members of the public to come forward and identify the individual, who they wish to speak to.

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

In both cases, quote reference number 73 of 04/02/23.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Tube Train Horror: Suicidal Drunk Tried To Take Carnival Girl With Him

A drunk who was snubbed by a young woman waiting for a tube to Notting Hill Carnival, tried to drag her into the path of the next train.

Arthur Hawrylewicz, 42, picked-up the terrified 22 year-old and attempted to leap off the platform at King's Cross Underground Station.

Fortunately, two of her friends intervened and pulled her to safety as Hawrylewicz, of Avondale Gardens, Cardiff was knocked unconscious by the train.

He pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to one count of attempting to murder Maria Osifeso on Bank Holiday Monday August 29, last year.

He will remain in custody and be sentenced on April 24.

The victim was waiting on the Hammersmith and City line platform with her friends at around 1.30pm.

The platform was busy with Carnival goers and both Maria and Hawrylewicz were standing near the platform edge, waiting for the next train.

While they were waiting he attempted to speak to her, but noticing that he appeared drunk, the victim asked him to leave her alone.

As the train approached the platform Hawrylewicz grabbed Maria from behind with both arms and lifted her off the ground. 

He attempted to turn and throw her, along with himself, in front of the train.

As he propelled himself around and into the path of the train, two of Maria's friends bravely managed to intervene and pulled her to safety.

Hawrylewicz then moved his head in front of the train and received a glancing blow which knocked him unconscious.

Officers quickly arrived on scene and arrested Hawrylewicz as he was taken to hospital for treatment. 

His injuries weren’t serious and he was able to be interviewed by officers the next day.

In his interview, he claimed he’d drank three beers and a third of a bottle of vodka and travelled to King’s Cross with the intention of harming himself – but he didn’t recall any interaction with the victim.

Detective Sergeant Mike Blakeburn said: “This was a completely unprovoked and incredibly disturbing attack, which will have been beyond terrifying for the victim – a young woman who was on her way to enjoy a day at Notting Hill Carnival with her friends. 

“Had it not been for their brave actions pulling her from Hawrylewicz’s clutches, we could easily have been dealing with a murder investigation.

“Hawrylewicz has never offered any explanation or rationale for why he did what he did and claimed throughout interview that he had no recollection of the incident, but the victim will have to live with this traumatic memory for the rest of her life. 

Thankfully he can now expect a significant custodial sentence where he’ll have plenty of time to consider the implications of his senseless and violent behaviour.

“As shocking as this incident it is important remember that events like this are incredibly rare on the railway network, and in this case BTP officers were on scene within minutes and able to quickly arrest Hawrylewicz and bring him into police custody where he’s remained throughout the investigation.”

City FX Boys Burger Bar Punch up

Three young suited City foreign exchange specialists - out drinking during a team-bonding night - were described as “animals” by a burger bar assault victim, attacked during a queue row.

Company Director George Eales, 25, boss of ACTA PACIFIC FX joined in the late-night assault, triggered by his employee Alex Kit Perrotton, 22, landing the first blow.

Both were convicted at City of London Magistrates Court of assaulting Tim Miles at Shake Shack, Leicester Square on September 8, last year.

The third member of their international payments team, aged 17 years-old, was also caught on CCTV swinging punches at the victim and was dealt with separately as a juvenile.

“This has made me second-guess people when I am out in London as I had never been attacked before,” said Mr Miles in his victim impact statement.

“They were dressed in suits and I thought they would act respectfully, but they acted like animals.”

Eales, of Albemarle Road, Beckenham was fined £865, with £385 costs and ordered to pay a £346 victim surcharge.

Perrotton, of Wickham Way, Beckenham was fined £692, with £385 costs and ordered to pay a £277 victim surcharge.

“I have never been in a fight before and I was just being hit,” Mr Miles told the trial.

Prosecutor Sharon Michaels told the court: “This was at night and must have been a frightening scene for the people there seeing what was going on.”

The prosecutor told Eales: “You came back in and attacked him. You ran back in and we can see you thump Mr Miles at least two times.

“You were not under threat and you just joined in. You came barging back in and start hitting Mr Miles. You were not trying to break it up, if you were you’d be pulling your 17 year-old colleague away.”

Eales claimed he was trying to break-up trouble started by Mr Miles and a friend of the victim, who were in front of the trio in the queue.

“It was the first team night out, I own a payments company,” said Eales, estimating he had four halves of beer that evening.

“There was just jovial banter between the two groups, but then the atmosphere started to turn.

“The complainant and his friend in a striped t-shirt were aiming quite a lot of aggression. The complainant became very much the aggressor with his friend and was rude and threatening.”

Eales claimed Mr Miles was “picking on” the 17 year-old, threatening: “I’ll see you outside.”

The five foot, six inches tall Eales claimed he was intimidated by the larger, older man. “Any contact I made was to break it up.”

The trio fled the burger bar and were chased and caught by police. “That was an error of judgement,” said Eales. “I did not know how to react.

“We all felt we were under the threat of violence.”

Perrotton was caught on CCTV landing the first blow, a slap to Mr Miles’s face. “I felt it was appropriate to defuse the situation with an open-handed slap,” he told the trial. “I was not my objective to hurt him.”

He also claimed the other group were the aggressors and were encouraging other customers to jump the queue in front of the defendant’s, while blocking their path.

“We were started on by two fellahs older than use and bigger than us and the striped t-shirt male was shouting: ‘F*** him up, weight him in.’

“The complainant was leaning forward towards out group saying nasty, horrible threatening things.”

Prosecutor Ms Michaels asked Perrotton: “You just slapped him around the face didn’t you? You decided to slap him, you were not under threat.

“The man is just paying for his burger and he was not showing a threat or being aggressive.”

Mr Miles was left with red marks to his injured face. “It is quite obvious where the injuries to his face come from and the lack of  injuries to the defendants shows where the truth lies,” the prosecutor told the court.

Perrotton disagreed, telling the trial: “I felt quite threatened myself. It was an open-handed slap to defuse the situation.

“You can see him (Mr Miles) leaning over and he starts the argument again. It does not make sense for me to go around hitting people.”

Ms Michaels told the magistrates: “It was a single slap, but is seemed to start off everything and this ended up as a group incident and there was bleeding on the complainant’s face.”

Convicting both first-time offenders magistrate Colin Gregory announced: “Regarding Eales he can be seen approaching Mr Miles and delivering two blows to him. 

“He was punching him to the side while the victim was already being attacked.

“We reject the claim of self-defence in relation to Perrotton and the suggestion the slap to the face was to defuse the situation is not credible.”

The first-time offender was told by the magistrate: “Mr Miles was not an immediate threat and there was a security guard between the two of you.

“You are both of good character and there was an element of provocation here and we cannot be sure what injuries Mr Miles sustained from your conduct.”

Classical Musician Lady Alison Mendes Banned After Caught Speeding In Her Tesla

Banned: Lady Mendes

The award-winning classical musician wife of James Bond director Sir Sam Mendes appeared in court today where she was banned from driving after clocking-up her fourth offence.

Lady Alison Mendes, 44, received a six-month ban, despite her barrister pleading with magistrates for a shorter disqualification.

The trumpet soloist, of Turville, Buckinghamshire, is also an arranger, producer and music educator and has won three Classic BRIT awards.

She pleaded guilty to driving her black 2019 Tesla at 38mph in a 30mph zone on the A40 Westway Flyover, Shepherd’s Bush on August 15, last year.

Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court heard Lady Mendes, who married Academy Award-winning film director Sir Sam in 2017, already had nine penalty points on her driving licence.

These were imposed in March, 2020 and July, 2022 for three separate driving offences.

Today’s three points took Lady Mendes - who was awarded an OBE in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to music - to twelve penalty points, which triggers an automatic six-month disqualification.

Prosecutor Sarah Will said it was 10.53am when a speed camera captured Lady Mendes - a Visiting Professor of Trumpet at the Guildhall School of Music and drama - breaking the limit.

Her barrister, Tunde Okewale, told the magistrates: “The objective is to identify a period of time commensurate with the offending and we submit the circumstances can persuade you to pass a disqualification as low as possible.

“One of the hallmarks was that this was an incident without incident. It was eight miles per hour over the speed limit, it was during daylight and there were no vehicles in front or behind.

“There was no danger to any other vehicles or people or a high volume of traffic or pedestrians in the vicinity.”

However, bench chair Vanessa Weguelin announced: “The mandatory disqualification is a period of six months.”

Lady Mendes, a trumpet soloist at the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms and one-time principal trumpet of the London Chamber Orchestra, elected not to give evidence and claim ‘exceptional hardship’ to avoid the disqualification.

She was fined £666, with £90 costs and a £266 victim surcharge and received three penalty points on her driving licence.

“As has been pointed out that makes you a totter and you will be disqualified from driving for six months and you will need to reapply for your licence towards the end of the disqualification,” the magistrate told Lady Mendes.

City Corporate Lawyer Sentenced For Stalking Ex-Girlfriend

A City corporate lawyer continued stalking his ex-girlfriend by creating fictitious online dating profiles to match and track her movements, a court heard.

Matthew Howells, 31, an associate with Bishopsgate international American law firm Cooley, even championed himself via those fake profiles, describing himself as a “good guy” to his former partner, magistrates were told.

The Bristol Law School graduate, who is employed on the firm’s venture capital team, broke down in the dock at Wimbledon Magistrates Court as his lawyer outlined his life achievements.

Howells, who arrived at court in a BMW convertible, of Clapham Manor Street, Clapham pleaded guilty to stalking optometrist Sumita Mistry, 30, between March 31 and July 8, last year.

He received a twelve-month Community Order, which includes a ten-day rehabilitation requirement and must pay £500 compensation to his ex-girlfriend.

Howells was also made subject to a two-year restraining order, prohibiting him contacting Sumita or going to her address and must also pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

After the split he bombarded his ex-girlfriend with unwanted phone calls and texts - even creating the bogus online profile ‘Alex’ on dating app Hinge - which the victim believed was a genuine suitor, said prosecutor Harriet James.

When she told ‘Alex’ via online chats she was sunbathing on Clapham Common Howells suddenly appeared twenty minutes later and continued his attempts to woo her back into his affections, added the prosecutor. 

While also posing as ‘Alex’ and deliberately matching online with Sumita he claimed to know her ex-boyfriend from playing football, describing him as a “good guy” and dismissing her suggestion her ex was a stalker, explained Ms James.

She also matched online with ‘Jake’, but suspected it was the defendant posing as another date and cut off contact, the court heard.

“I am constantly looking over my shoulder. I don’t know what will make him stop,” Ms Mistry told the court in her victim impact statement. “I don’t trust dating apps anymore and I don’t trust my friends.

“This has caused anxiety and has effected my work and I have had to cancel work,” she added. “I would like a restraining order for life.”

The pair had been in a relationship, but split due to Howells’ infidelity, said his ex.

Ms Mistry told police: “We broke up on March thirty-one because he cheated on me and I told him to leave me alone.

“I blocked him on Instagram and did not answer his calls and blocked all contact with him.”

She asked a flatmate to deal with handing over Howells’ belongings to him and when he did get through to her on the phone told him to: “F*** off,” the court was told.

“He emailed her and she did not reply and called her asking to meet up,” explained Ms James. “He came to her flat uninvited and got through the communal door and her flatmate gave him his belongings.

“The defendant continued to send more emails and make calls, only stopping for a period when he knew she was in Dubai.

“He asked to meet up when she returned and on April 12 when she was walking to work he started following her, a part of the evidence the defence does not accept.

“Mr Howells asked to meet her at a pub and near her work she found him sitting outside a public house and they talked for three hours.

“He told her he wanted to send her a song he had written and then on another occasion he was outside her home again.

“The complainant also bumped into Mr Howells at her local tube station when he told her: ‘I’m going in the same direction,’ then contacted her to go on a rock concert date with him.

“She stopped all contact, but came home one day to find gifts of flowers, a chocolate bunny and card by her door,” added Ms James. 

“She then bumped into him at her local supermarket and the next day spent all day together."

Feeling vulnerable staying in her flat due to Howells, Ms Mistry made other sleeping arrangements on one occasion and the defendant asked: “Where did you spend the night? Your curtains were not closed.”

She admitted weakness in a drunken moment resulted in her contacting Howells because she “missed him” and he stayed the night, but they split again afterwards.

“He had a breakdown and started crying,” explained the prosecutor, adding Howells would deliberately leave personal items, such as his watch, behind at the flat to give him an excuse to return.

One day in May she received six missed calls from him and on May 15 there were eight.

“Mr Howells began using a new number, which the complainant unwittingly answered and on May 17 he was sitting on a bench outside her work when she left, asking to go for a drink.”

On May 21 she matched with a ‘Jake’ on an online dating app. “Due to their text conversations she became suspicious,” said Ms James.

“The next day she matched with ‘Alex’ and later told him she was working in Clapham and was on the common. Twenty minutes later this defendant appeared while she was sunbathing.

“While adopting the ‘Alex’ dating profile Mr Howells claimed he knew who Ms Mistry had been dating and said: ‘He’s a good guy and not stalking you.’

“|n June she received another call from a new number and it was the defendant. She told him: ‘Stop stalking me or I will contact the police.’

“She called the Stalking Helpline and they advised her to contact the police.

“There is an incredible high degree of planning here in setting up dating profiles and matching with the complainant on dating sites,” concluded the prosecutor. “There was a significant level of stress.” 

Howells was arrested on June 17, last year and has not contacted his ex-girlfriend since. 

“As a solicitor he is at a high risk of being struck off or sacked from his American company,” said Kevin Smith, defending, producing a character reference from a Detective Inspector.

“He is the first generation of his family to go to university and feels he has let everybody down,” said Mr Smith of the University of the West of England Masters graduate.

“He assists his parents and brother and spends £5,000 per month on other peoples rent and he volunteers with St. Mungo’s and Citizens Advice.

“When he landed his current job there were one thousand other applicants for it as well.”

“He is at low-risk of offending or causing serious harm according to the Probation Service.”