Dating Site Fraudster Sentenced For Gold Trading Scam

A cruel conman swindled three women he met on a dating website out of £20,000 by promising membership of an exclusive gold trading club.

The victims agreed to meet 44 year-old Khalid Mahmood at various train stations, where he continued to pressure them into handing over the money.

The elaborate scam involved building up trust and convincing the victims he needed official passport-sized photos and fleeing when they were in the booths having their picture taken.

British Transport Police (BTP) investigated and Mahmood was ordered to pay £20,000 compensation to the victims while also completing 200 hours community service work.

He was also sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years and must complete a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

At Inner London Crown Court Mahmood, of Vicarage Crescent, Redditch pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation and three counts of theft.

The first woman agreed to meet him outside King's Cross station in March, 2020 when he offered her exclusive membership to a gold trading club if she handed over £6,000. 

Once he had the cash he told the woman she would need a passport photograph and guided her to a photo booth in the station, while he offered to complete the online forms on her behalf on her phone.

When the woman emerged from the booth Mahmood was gone, along with her cash and phone which also contained her credit card - he used this to withdraw a further £200.

In November the same year Mahmood set up a meeting with his second victim, who he had first engaged with on the same website at Manchester Piccadilly station, where he offered her the same exclusive membership.

After pressurising her into the deal she later agreed to the transaction, meeting him for a second time at Euston station to hand over the cash.

Mahmood's plan was temporarily foiled when he could not locate a photo booth, instead sending the victim into a shop to enquire while he made off with her £7,000 cash.

On the third occasion, in July 2021, he travelled to Oxford to meet his victim, who he had also initially met on the dating website.

During this meeting he attempted to convince the woman to take up his offer of membership. 

Despite her telling him she wasn't interested and had no money he called her later the same day to tell her he had already signed her up and would pay half the membership fee leaving her to find the remaining £4000.

Having borrowed the cash from her mother she met Mahmood at Victoria station, where he made her withdraw an additional £300. 

He then told her he would complete the online form on her phone while she looked for a photo booth. 

When she returned Mahmood had left the station with her phone and cash.

Mahmood was arrested by British Transport Police in April, last year by officers waiting at Gatwick airport to meet him from a flight from Pakistan.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Jennifer Brown said: "Mahmood conned these women by building up their trust online and in phone calls before setting up the meeting and offering a too good to be true deal.

"Mahmood snared the women, none of whom could afford to lose the cash he stole from them, by promising potential riches from his connections to the gold trading market.

"Once we had Mahmood in our sights it was only a matter of time before he was brought to justice. 

“Criminality of any kind will not be tolerated and we continue to work to deter those who operate criminal enterprises using the rail network."

Two-Timer Busted Girlfriend's Nose With Punch

Punch: Heaven-Lee Roach

A two-timing love rat punched his live-in girlfriend in the nose - breaking it in two places - while she was face timing the ‘other woman’, a court heard this week.

Heaven-Lee Roach, 33, lashed out when he was struck to the chest by operations assistant Lici Parra, who immediately rushed to the nearest police station.

Sales assistant Roach, of Lambeth Walk, Lambeth pleaded not guilty to assaulting Ms Parra, causing her actual bodily harm, at her nearby Saperton Walk home on November 8, 2021.

Prosecutor Maria Culling told the Inner London Crown Court jury his reaction was excessive and could not be considered lawful self-defence.

“The Crown say he didn’t need to use self-defence at all. A big adult man delivering a blow with a clenched fist is not proportionate.”

Giving evidence from behind a screen Ms Parra told the trial she dated Roach for two years after meeting him on social media.

“We were in a tricky point because a week before I discovered he was on Tinder.”

She received no replies to her texts to Roach, who later told the court he was at the cinema with his second girlfriend and his phone was in ‘Airplane Mode’.

Ms Parra quickly became concerned Roach was not responding. “He would usually say her was suicidal and I started to have anxiety at work.”

She went to an old address of his and an older woman answered the door. “She introduced herself as the mother of his girlfriend and I was shocked, it was not what I expected.

“The woman explained that he was with her daughter and was not answering the messages because he was with her.

Push: Lici Parra

“I did not want to be lied to anymore. I wanted the truth.”

She met up with Roach near her flat shortly afterwards. “He said he was low and felt like killing himself and that is why he was not answering the messages.

“He was getting aggressive and removed his rings because he wanted to punch something, he said and did not want to damage his rings,” explained Ms Parra.

She phoned the second woman via a video call and told Roach: “Look who I am speaking with.”

“I felt very sad and upset and that he needed to leave my home and that he was a liar,’ she told the jury. “The other woman broke down and started to cry.

“I said he was a fraud, but he was just arrogant and cold and I tried to spit, but nothing came out of my mouth and he laughed and said: ‘It’s just air.’

“I pushed him away because he was getting very close and he came closer very aggressively.”

The pair returned to Ms Parra’s home. “We went upstairs and he was laughing at me and I think I pushed him again.

“He straight away punched me with his fist towards my nose, two or three times.

“I remember that I was very scared and that I needed to run away and I just started bleeding straight away.

“His eyes were empty, he was a monster.”

She said Roach snapped: “Don’t punch me,” before knocking her onto the bed and following up with a second blow.

“All the time the other woman was on my phone and my nose would not stop bleeding,” added Ms Parra.

Roach told the jury: “I was in a relationship with both women at the same time.”

Her met the second woman on Tinder and claimed he was attempting to break-up with her that day.”

The prosecutor told the court Roach was questioned by the police. “He claims she became aggressive and he had to use self-defence.”

Trial continues………….  

Taking The P***?: Disgusting Railway Yob Jailed

A “crude railway lout” molested a female passenger after urinating on a carriage seat in front of other train users.

Harry Burgess, 25, was travelling with a group when he exposed himself to other passengers and relieved himself as the train service made its way to New Eltham station.

At Bromley Magistrates Court he received twenty-four weeks imprisonment and was made subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order.

He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault and one count of assault.

The court heard Burgess was travelling through south-east London on April 4 and after his initial disgusting act threw a seat cover into the face of a male passenger.

Shortly afterwards at New Eltham railway station, Burgess sexually assaulted a woman as she boarded the service.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Matt Smart said: "Burgess’ loutish and crude behaviour was humiliating and intimidating for the woman he singled out.

“He is now serving time behind bars for his pathetic attempts to impress the friends he was travelling with. 

“Sexual assault and violence of any kind is no joke as Burgess can now testify.

“We take all reports of sexual harassment and unwanted sexual behaviour seriously and will support victims throughout our investigations.

“If you are a victim of, or a witness to, a sexual offence on the railway - I urge you to report it to us by texting 61016 or via the Railway Guardian app. We will always take you seriously."

Victoria Station Shop Worker Sprayed In Face By Suspected Thief

A suspected shoplifter sprayed a noxious substance into the face of a suspicious employee when challenged at Victoria Station.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this image of the mystery male they are searching for and have requested the assistance of the public in identifying him.

On Wednesday, August 16 at 2.20pm an unknown man entered Holland and Barrett in Victoria Place shopping centre. 

On leaving the shop he was challenged by a member of staff and a bag of items, believed to be stolen, was retrieved by staff. 

The man then sprayed a substance in the face of the staff member and fled the area.

The substance caused a burning sensation to their skin, eyes and throat.

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

Officers are also keen for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact them.

Anyone who recognises the male is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016, or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 368 of 16 August.

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

Burglary Tragedy: Romanian Gang Targeted 98 Year-Old WWII Veteran

"Mentioned In Dispatches": Peter Gouldstone

A Romanian burglar, whose gang’s plot to break into the suburban home of a 98 year-old OAP resulted in the WWII veteran’s death, was jailed for six years and one month today.

Retired telephone engineer Peter Gouldstone was found by his son Simon, collapsed on the bedroom floor of the property he had happily occupied for over sixty years.

Living alone since the death of his wife in 2013 he suffered severe injuries, including two bleeds to the brain and extensive bruising.

The house was ransacked, including the bedroom the elderly man was sleeping in, and the gang escaped with a Panasonic tv and jewellery with only sentimental value.

Career burglar Nicolae Ion, 32, - aka Patrascu - was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to conspiring with persons unknown to burgle dwelling houses in New Southgate on or before November 6, 2018.

This included the Evesham Road home of Mr Gouldstone, which was targeted by the Romanian gang on Bonfire Night 2018, with Ion captured on a neighbour’s CCTV. 

Police found his fingerprints on the handle of a rear patio door, near another rear door, which had been forced open, but he has always insisted he did not enter the property.

“Two men are seen on CCTV in the garden of a property in Shrewsbury Road staking out a dwelling house, but instead broke into Mr Gouldstone’s rear garden,” said prosecutor Bartholomew O’Toole.

“The defendant’s fingerprints are found outside on the patio door handle and the rear kitchen door was forced and damaged.

Injured During Break-In: Peter Gouldstone

“There was an untidy search, both downstairs and upstairs. They opened drawers and threw items into the bathtub and searched the bedroom of the war veteran, who had been mentioned in dispatches.

“Mr Gouldstone’s son Simon, alerted by a neighbour, found him lying on the bedroom floor unconscious. He was taken to hospital, but never recovered consciousness and died on November 30.”

In his victim impact statement Simon Gouldstone said: “This was all a great shock to both me and my sister and after the burglary I participated in a press conference, gave an interview to the BBC and took part in the Crimewatch programme.

“This was all very challenging for me, but the police and hospital staff were very supportive as were the messages from family and friends and from people we did not even know.

“I have been a conduit for the other local neighbours, who are concerned by threats to their own safety and the police sealed the site for four months before we could enter the house and deal with my father’s affairs.

“My father’s situation was particularly distressing, to assault a ninety-eight year-old with poor hearing is beyond belief for an old tv and items of jewellery with only sentimental value.

“Nobody deserves to die in those circumstances and the toll on the family has been significant.”

Ion fought the charge until the day of his trial and was anxious to distance himself from Mr Gouldstone’s death, even insisting his defence barrister David Langwallner make a futile application for a press reporting restriction. 

He was eventually caught after flying into Edinburgh Airport on September 6, last year from his native Romania while on a Metropolitan Police wanted list.

Ion’s fingerprints were found at other break-ins and he also pleaded guilty to burgling 248 Oaks Lane, Ilford on August 4, 2019, stealing jewellery; two suitcases; a television and two jewellery boxes.

He further pleaded guilty to the attempted burglary, with others, of 32 Manor Drive North, New Malden, south-west London on July 30, 2019.

Ion also pleaded guilty to another burglary in August, 2019 when a conservatory door was smashed down and a television, laptop and cash taken in Waltham Abbey.

He was further sentenced for the burglary of an address in Bishop’s Stortford, where £7,900 worth of cash, laptops, phones, watches, plus a satnav and camera were taken.

He was able to legally enter the UK despite having served sentences of three years and three-and-a-half years in his home country for offences of theft and where he received a suspended sentence for robbery.

While the Gouldstone tragedy was being investigated Ion continued committing offences in this country, receiving 24 weeks for a north-west London burglary in August 2020 when he broke into a residential property and stole power tools.

He also received four weeks custody for breaking into a garden shed in 2020 and stealing a bike and eight weeks imprisonment for driving while disqualified.

Today, he was also disqualified from driving for six years after pleading guilty to dangerous driving during a 3am police chase on March 3, 2019 when his silver Vauxhall collided with a lamp post and parked car.

Two other men were in the car, along with power tools and the apparent proceeds of theft or burglary, but the items could not be traced to any owners.

“It is not the Crown’s case that this defendant caused the death of Mr. Gouldstone,” said Mr O’Toole. “He pleaded guilty on the basis he did not enter the premises, but was with other people who did.

“This was part of a spree carried out by this defendant and others and required a great deal of planning and organisation.

“It would have been apparent there was a vulnerable victim in the bedroom when they continued to steal and Ion is party to that joint-enterprise when the bedroom is entered.

“The offences are at night, there is a vulnerable victim and the group came to the UK from Romania.”

Mr Langwallner told the court: “There is no doubt this is a spate of burglaries by a criminal gang.

“He would show up and be designated a role in this floating community and is not sure of their identities, but there were always two or three people. 

“He is a burglar and he has been involved in a gang that causes terror in people. It is behaviour that is not to be approved or condoned.

“He is specific he did not enter Mr Gouldstone’s home and I do not wish to diminish the honour of this war veteran. It is a horrific set of circumstances.

“He has always maintained he had nothing to do with the elderly victim’s death and was outside.

“He did not learn any lessons from the burglary, he is a persistent burglar and continued to be so.

“The monies were sent back to his family in Romania, where he has three young children.

“He will inevitably serve some of his sentence in Romania and hopefully not be allowed in this country again and hopefully find a better way to be a breadwinner for those children.

“He accepts he is a burglar and has done wrong. He puts his hands up, but says he knew nothing about what happened to Mr Gouldstone.”

Judge Louise Kamill told bearded Ion, who needed the assistance of an interpreter: “You are a burglar, a dishonest man and since 2010 have committed many offences.

“You served prison sentences in Romania before coming to this country and associating with a criminal gang here.

“Their aim was always burglary and you make no secret of it. You sent the money home and from time-to-time you went home.

“This was a particularly serious burglary. The occupant of the house was sleeping upstairs, was hard of hearing and aged ninety-eight years old.

“It is accepted you did not enter, but you were part of the gang when things were taken, including from the bedroom of the man with items piled up in the bathtub.

“Afterwards that gentleman died and you are not responsible for his death, but it was a consequence of the shock and terror of burglary.”

Mr Gouldstone, who worked for the Post Office until retiring in 1980, passed away in hospital three weeks after the break-in.

A post-mortem confirmed the cause of death as complications of a traumatic head injury.

Tube Train Passenger Wanted For Male-On-Male Sex Assault

A tube train passenger says he was sexually assaulted by a mystery man after approaching him for directions.

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

At approximately 10.25pm on Sunday, August 6 the complainant boarded a northbound Northern Line train at Kennington Underground Station. 

While onboard the complainant approached another man, who also boarded at Kennington, to ask whether he was on the correct train. 

He was then sexually assaulted by the man. 

The complainant then moved to another carriage.

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 2300092243.

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

Instagram Phone Snatch Trick: Suspects Sought

A teenage boy's mobile phone was snatched out of his hand by robbers - who claimed they had a knife – using a social media trick.

The youngster was targeted at the relatively quiet West Dulwich railway station in south London.

British Transport Police (BTP) have begun a robbery investigation and released these CCTV images of their suspects.

They are appealing to members of the public to identify the two mystery males.

At approximately 4.00pm on Tuesday, June 27 the teenager was approached at the station by two young men, who asked him to follow them on Instagram. 

When the boy took his phone out, they snatched it from him. 

When the victim tried to take the phone back, one of the men verbally threatened him by saying that he had a knife.

On the same day, the men used the same tactic to carry out another robbery and attempt one more.

Detectives would like to speak to the men in the image, who they believe may have information that could help their investigation.

Anyone who recognises them is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference number 455 of 27 June.

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