NOT GUILTY: Navy Officer Cleared Of Wedding 'Bottling'

Innocent: Joe Simmons

A Royal Navy officer, who smashed a wine bottle over the head of a fellow wedding guest during a midnight clean-up row, has been cleared of GBH.

Weapons engineer Joe Simmons, 28, lashed out after his bridesmaid girlfriend, 28 year-old Beatrix Sibley told him she had been assaulted by another guest at St. Luke’s Church, Kew, the trial heard.

Moments later Gareth Hopkins, 40, was struck over the head with the heavy full wine bottle, causing two deep 6cm and 4cm cuts, plus splintered bone fractures, causing him to blackout.

However, the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury accepted Simmons was acting in self-defence, having been punched first by Mr Hopkins during the post-reception confrontation.

When questioned by police Simmons explained: “I just lashed out or pushed him away. I was shouting: ‘What the f*** do you think you are doing?’

“It was not an aimed blow. I used the hand that happened to be holding the bottle.”

Simmons, of Linden Lea, Fareham, Hampshire was found not guilty of wounding media productions manager Mr Hopkins, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm on October 24, 2021.

He was also cleared of a lesser charge of simply wounding University of East Anglia graduate Mr Hopkins, who the jury were told got two punches in before he was struck with the wine bottle.

Earlier Ms Sibley - the bride’s sister - antagonised Mr Hopkins and other guests of the groom, who claimed she was rude when urging them to assist the clean-up. 

The trial heard she slapped Mr Hopkins hard across the face when he asked her: “Why are you being such a c***?”

The jury were told Simmons, who has a Masters degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, confronted Mr Hopkins after the confrontation with Ms Sibley, herself a chemical engineer with a Masters degree.

“Mr Hopkins was aware of this defendant approaching him very quickly and shouting,” explained prosecutor Christopher Amis. “He thought Mr Simmons was about to assault him so got a punch in first.

“This was followed by a second punch to the defendant’s face and Mr Simmons had not done anything at this point, but Mr Hopkins says when he punched he was acting in self-defence.

“As other wedding guests jumped in between them Mr Hopkins felt something hitting his forehead very hard and he blacked-out, while holding his face.

“The defendant was in possession of a bottle of wine and had put that into the other man’s face.

Wounds: Gareth Hopkins

“The bottle smashed and Mr Hopkins went straight to the ground and witnesses say both the defendant and his girlfriend were shouting loudly and aggressively.”

As the couple left in a taxi, 999 was called and an ambulance rushed the injured guest to Kingston Hospital, where he remained for three nights.

“He had been pretty badly injured with two pretty nasty gashes and two black eyes sustained from this bottling,” added Mr Amis. 

Mr Hopkins told the jury: “I was tipsy, but not drunk. I had wine and beer and it was a really good day, a celebration, a really good wedding.

“One of the bridesmaids, the bride Amy’s sister, demanded we start to help packing up and said it in an aggressive way and I was a bit taken aback by the way she said it.

“We followed her inside and started to help putting the decorations into bags and she said we were doing it wrong and that we were useless and to: ‘F*** off.’

“That’s what she said to us. She was in an aggressive state and I wanted to get away from her because she wanted to cause trouble.

“She barged my friend Lucy with her shoulder and I did say: ‘Why are you being such a c***?’ and she slapped me.

“I did not see it coming and it was really hard to my left cheek and I could not hear in my ear and was a bit dazed and confused,” he told the trial.

“Beatrix then grabbed Lucy’s hair and they got into a hair-pulling thing, a catfight and they may have been rolling on the floor and there was a biting incident.

“The defendant was coming at me in an aggressive manner and I could hear him shouting, but not the exact words because my ear was ringing.

“He got very close up into my face and I felt like I was going to be attacked and hit him with a right jab because I thought I was about to be hit. I punched him on the cheek.

“Someone from the wedding party pushed us apart and then I just felt a tremendous force hitting my forehead. When it struck it was a pounding pain.

“I felt a lot of liquid coming down my face, which I realised was blood and I lost power in my legs and I could still hear shouting and screaming at me and did not feel safe.

“The pain got worse and worse and I was close to losing unconsciousness and cowered behind a car as he shouted: ‘I’m gonna kill him,’ as he repeated the word ‘c***’ a lot.”

Mr Amis told the jury: “Earlier, according to some of the guests, Ms Sibley had been stroppy towards Mr Hopkins’ group and to others. She was angry or put out that she was having to clean up as other guests were standing around and not helping.

“Ms Sibley demanded to know why Mr Hopkins and his friends were not helping and in their eyes said rudely: ‘Why aren’t you guys helping clear up.’

“Mr Hopkins and his group started trying to help, but it did not seem to be appreciated and a few moments later Ms Sibley told them they were not being of any help at all and said: ‘F*** off.’

“She was still bothered and knocked or barged into Mr Hopkins’ friend, Lucy Richardson, which the complainant viewed as deliberate and said: ‘Why are you being such a c***?’

“He felt Ms Sibley had been rude and stroppy and she responded by slapping Mr Hopkins really hard to the face. It stunned him and he had to sit down on a bench.

“As she walked away Mr Hopkins followed, remonstrating with her, stunned that she slapped him in the face with such force.”

When Simmons emerges, carrying some bags and the bottle of wine, a guest overheard Ms Sibley telling him she had been assaulted, the jury were told.

When Simmons was questioned by on December 15, 2021 he told officers he was protecting himself. “He says he was acting in self-defence  and saw Ms Sibley involved in an argument,” explained Mr Amis.

“He told the police a man came running across the road and punched him hard in the face.”

Woman Sexually Assaulted At Brentwood Station

Transport police are hunting a mystery male after a woman was sexually assaulted exiting an Essex train station.

At approximately 6.00pm on Monday, June 26 the complainant was approached by a male as she left Brentwood station.

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

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 735 of 28/06/23.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Royal Navy Officer Accused Of Midnight Wedding 'Bottling'

Wine Bottle: Joe Simmons

A Royal Navy weapons engineer officer smashed a wine bottle over the head of a fellow wedding guest during a midnight row over cleaning up after the reception, a court heard today.

Engineering graduate Joe Simmons, 28, lashed out after his bridesmaid girlfriend, 28 year-old Beatrix Sibley told him she had been assaulted by another guest at St. Luke’s Church, Kew, the jury were told.

However, Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard Ms Sibley - the bride’s sister - had slapped complainant Gareth Hopkins, 40, hard across the face when he asked her: “Why are you being such a c***?”

Moments later Mr Hopkins was smashed over the head with the heavy full wine bottle, causing two deep 6cm and 4cm cuts, plus splintered bone fractures, causing him to blackout.

Simmons, of Linden Lea, Fareham, Hampshire has pleaded not guilty to wounding media productions manager Mr Hopkins, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm on October 24, 2021.

He also denies a lesser charge of simply wounding University of East Anglia graduate Mr Hopkins, who the jury were told got two punches in before he was struck with the wine bottle.

The trial heard Simmons, who also has a Masters degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, confronted Mr Hopkins, who was a guest of the groom after the confrontation with Ms Sibley, herself a chemical engineer with a Masters degree.

“Mr Hopkins was aware of this defendant approaching him very quickly and shouting,” explained prosecutor Christopher Amis. “He thought Mr Simmons was about to assault him so got a punch in first.

“This was followed by a second punch to the defendant’s face and Mr Simmons had not done anything at this point, but Mr Hopkins says when he punched he was acting in self-defence.

“As other wedding guests jumped in between them Mr Hopkins felt something hitting his forehead very hard and he blacked-out, while holding his face.

“The defendant was in possession of a bottle of wine and had put that into the other man’s face.

“The bottle smashed and Mr Hopkins went straight to the ground and witnesses say both the defendant and his girlfriend were shouting loudly and aggressively.”

As the couple left in a taxi, 999 was called and an ambulance rushed the injured guest to Kingston Hospital, where he remained for three nights.

“He had been pretty badly injured with two pretty nasty gashes and two black eyes sustained from this bottling,” added Mr Amis. 

Mr Hopkins told the jury: “I was tipsy, but not drunk. I had wine and beer and it was a really good day, a celebration, a really good wedding.

Cuts: Gareth Hopkins

“One of the bridesmaids, the bride Amy’s sister, demanded we start to help packing up and said it in an aggressive way and I was a bit taken aback by the way she said it.

“We followed her inside and started to help putting the decorations into bags and she said we were doing it wrong and that we were useless and to: ‘F*** off.’

“That’s what she said to us. She was in an aggressive state and I wanted to get away from her because she wanted to cause trouble.

“She barged my friend Lucy with her shoulder and I did say: ‘Why are you being such a c***?’ and she slapped me.

“I did not see it coming and it was really hard to my left cheek and I could not hear in my ear and was a bit dazed and confused,” he told the trial.

“Beatrix then grabbed Lucy’s hair and they got into a hair-pulling thing, a catfight and they may have been rolling on the floor and there was a biting incident.

“The defendant was coming at me in an aggressive manner and I could hear him shouting, but not the exact words because my ear was ringing.

“He got very close up into my face and I felt like I was going to be attacked and hit him with a right jab because I thought I was about to be hit. I punched him on the cheek.

“Someone from the wedding party pushed us apart and then I just felt a tremendous force hitting my forehead. When it struck it was a pounding pain.

“I felt a lot of liquid coming down my face, which I realised was blood and I lost power in my legs and I could still hear shouting and screaming at me and did not feel safe.

“The pain got worse and worse and I was close to losing unconsciousness and cowered behind a car as he shouted: ‘I’m gonna kill him,’ as he repeated the word ‘c***’ a lot.”

Mr Amis told the jury: “Earlier, according to some of the guests, Ms Sibley had been stroppy towards Mr Hopkins’ group and to others. She was angry or put out that she was having to clean up as other guests were standing around and not helping.

“Ms Sibley demanded to know why Mr Hopkins and his friends were not helping and in their eyes said rudely: ‘Why aren’t you guys helping clear up.’

“Mr Hopkins and his group started trying to help, but it did not seem to be appreciated and a few moments later Ms Sibley told them they were not being of any help at all and said: ‘F*** off.’

“She was still bothered and knocked or barged into Mr Hopkins’ friend, Lucy Richardson, which the complainant viewed as deliberate and said: ‘Why are you being such a c***?’

“He felt Ms Sibley had been rude and stroppy and she responded by slapping Mr Hopkins really hard to the face. It stunned him and he had to sit down on a bench.

“As she walked away Mr Hopkins followed, remonstrating with her, stunned that she slapped him in the face with such force.”

When Simmons emerges, carrying some bags and the bottle of wine, a guest overheard Ms Sibley telling him she had been assaulted, the jury were told.

Elizabeth Line: Sex Pest Strikes

A train sex pest, who molested a lone woman travelling on the new Elizabeth Line before pestering more female passengers, has been locked-up.

Edgar Junior, 50, of Barnsdale, Reading received twenty months imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of sexual assault.

He was also made subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him subjecting women or girls to unwanted attention and drinking alcohol in a public place.

On March 28, last year Junior boarded an Elizabeth Line train travelling to Reading at Paddington and sat in the two seats opposite the victim.

He began pointing at the victim and making sexualised comments to her, causing another passenger to challenge him and tell him to leave her alone.

The passenger left the carriage and Junior sexually assaulted the victim before continuing to make further sexualised comments and gestures.

His behaviour caught the attention of a second passenger who attempted to speak to the victim and sat with her for reassurance.

The victim left the train and Junior was seen to continue approaching other women on the train and making them uncomfortable.

He was reported to British Transport Police, who intercepted the train at Reading, identified Junior and arrested him at the scene.

After the Reading Crown Court hearing Detective Inspector Marvin Bruno said: “Junior is a disturbing individual, who subjected a woman to a brazen and persistent sexual assault as she was travelling on a train alone, and the custodial sentence he’s been handed shows just how seriously these offences are taken.

“I am thankful to the bystanders, who recognised his revolting behaviour and stepped in to help, before reporting it to police immediately which allowed our officers to then intercept the train and arrest him.

“I cannot emphasise enough the importance of saving our text number 61016 in your phone. 

If you ever witness or experience behaviour like this you can text us discreetly and the message will come through in real time to our control room who can dispatch officers to a location if required. 

We will always take you seriously.”

Suspected Fare-Dodger Wanted For Train Station Punch

A suspected train fare-dodger punched a member of station staff in the face when caught jumping the ticket barrier.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released these two images of the suspect.

Investigating officers are appealing to members of the public for their assistance in identifying him.

At approximately 9.30pm on Saturday, July 1 an unknown male was challenged at Gravesend station, Kent on suspicious of attempting to access the platform without buying a train ticket.

The staff member was in the process of ejecting this man from the station when he was punched in the face.

Officers would like to speak to the man in the images, who they believe could have information which may assist the investigation.

Anyone who recognises the man or has any information can contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 771 of 01/07/23.

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

Female Harry Styles Fan Sexually Assaulted On Tube After Wembley Gig

A Harry Styles fan was molested onboard a tube train after leaving the singer's Wembley Stadium show.

The victim had attended the star's London date of his huge 'Love On Tour' series of concerts.

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

BTP officers have released this image of their suspect and are appealing for members of the public to assist identifying him.

The female victim boarded a southbound Metropolitan Line train at approximately 11.00pm on Wednesday, June 14 at Wembley Park Underground Station.

She complained that a mystery male sexually assaulted her between that station and the Baker Street stop.

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 31 of 15/06/23.

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

Bottles Of Corrosive Leaking Acid Dumped At Tube Station

Transport cops have launched an investigation to find the owners of corrosive leaking acid found in an abandoned rucksack at a tube station.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this image of two suspects.

They are requesting the assistance of the general public to help identify the two mystery males.

At approximately 4.30pm on Tuesday, May 23, staff at North Greenwich underground station located a rucksack.

In it, two bottles of a strong acidic substance were found. 

It is believed the substance had started to leak from the bottles and had been abandoned.

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

Anyone with information can contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 with reference 465 of 23 May.

Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Train Mobile Mugging: Suspect Sought

A teenage train passenger was threatened when mugged for his phone while travelling on an afternoon service.

The 18 year-old victim was travelling between Salfords train station, Surrey and Purley station in the London Borough of Croydon.

British Transport Police (BTP) are treating the offence as robbery.

Investigating officers have released this CCTV image of the their suspect and are appealing for the assistance of the general public in identifying the unknown male.

The robbery occurred at approximately 4.00pm on Tuesday, June 20.

The victim was approached by a man, who snatched his phone out of his hand. 

He was then threatened by the male to reveal the phone's passcode.

The man got off the train at Purley Railway Station with the victim's phone.

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

Anyone who recognises him is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016, or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 492 of 20 June.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.