TV Dinners: Social Media Expert In Covid Meal Headbutt Row

Young: Meal & Drinks Row

A social media tv expert, who has worked on hit shows including ‘The Voice’ and ’Sunday Brunch’ head butted a pub manager during a covid meal and alcohol row, a trial heard.

Joel Young, 47, objected to what amounted to a ‘substantial meal’ after ordering sausage roll and chips and launched the sudden attack as he left the premises, the jury were told.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard the Leather Bottle pub in Garrett Lane, Tooting were enforcing the then-covid rules, which stipulated alcohol could only be served with a full meal.

Young, of Felix Court, Charcot Road, Colindale, who has also worked for ITN, Channel Four News and ‘First Dates Hotel’ has pleaded not guilty to assault, causing actual bodily harm to Skyla Bryant on December 5, 2020.

“It was the evening and Joel Young and his friend ordered a basic sausage roll and fries, with maybe a scotch egg,” said Mr Bryant. “They claimed they had a substantial meal, but I encouraged them to place another order.

“They complained about the rules and I reminded them of the guidelines and things escalated from there.

“It was Joel Young that got angry and he continued the conversation, saying: “This is f***ing ridiculous, this is a substantial meal,” and continued to swear.

“He downed the rest of his pint and said: ‘bye then,’ and I said: ‘bye then,’ and he turned around on the spot and and head butted me in the face, in the nose.

“The top of his forehead landed on the bridge of my nose.”

Earlier prosecutor Mr Francis Gaskin told the jury: “This was during covid and there were Tier Two restrictions in place at the time and customers needed to be having a substantial meal to be served alcohol.

Injured: Skyla Bryant

“This defendant and his friend went to the Leather Bottle and ordered some drinks and some food, sausage roll and chips.

“The deputy manager, Mr Bryant looked at the food order and said it was not a substantial meal and the customers should go or order more food.

“Mr Young was not happy about this and was angry, is the prosecution’s case. He put his glass down firmly on the table and said he was leaving.

“He went to the door and there was a time when both men were close and Mr Young head butted Mr Bryant, striking his face with the bridge of his nose.

“This was completely unnecessary, uncalled for, unlawful and unprovoked.

“The defence case is that he thought he was about to be attacked by Mr Bryant and used lawful force to defend himself.

“He went to hospital with a cut to his eyebrow and redness to his nose, which was bent and there was a fracture and damage to the nose.

“To be fair there was a previous incident when Mr Bryant suffered damage to his nose.

“Nothing was done by Mr Bryant that would make anyone think he was going to assault anybody.”

When cross-examined by Young’s lawyer Will Hanson Mr Bryant denied he was the aggressor.

“You could have appeared intimidating by following as he left?” asked the lawyer. “Were you angry and acting aggressively?”

The pub manager denied this as well as a suggestion he repeatedly shouted: “Get off the premises.”

He also denied “facing up to,” Young with his “fists clenched,” and was about to assault the defendant.

“I disagree,” insisted Mr Bryant.

Trial continues……………

Bus Rapist Preyed On Teenage Girls

A rapist who targeted teenage girls on the bus network is starting an eighteen-year prison sentence.

Silvestar Toshev, 27, took the girls to remote areas on both occasions and was trapped by DNA.

He was convicted at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court of two counts of rape in south-west London.

The court heard on January 19, this year a 16-year-old girl was raped by Toshev, who had initially approached her on a bus in Morden. 

The attack happened in a remote area near to Stonecot Hill.

CCTV was recovered by detectives and resulted in Toshev being identified as a suspect.

Further enquiries linked him to another rape involving a 17-year-old girl that had occurred in Claremont Gardens, Surbiton on September 21, 2021.

On that occasion, the victim was standing near a bus stop when she was approached by Toshev, who took her to a remote area before attacking her.

Detective Sergeant Andy Walker, from the local policing team in south-west London, said: "This man is a dangerous predator who targeted teenage girls in public. 

“I am pleased that our investigation has resulted in him receiving a significant custodial sentence.

"I would like to thank the victims for the support they have shown throughout this investigation. 

“It has been an incredibly difficult and upsetting experience for them and I hope this outcome brings them some closure.

"Tackling sexual offences and violence against women is a priority for the Met.

“I hope this case demonstrates that we take allegations seriously and will take action to remove dangerous men from the streets of London."

HMP Wandsworth Locksmith Made Moulds Of Cell And Wing Keys

A HMP Wandsworth locksmith made concrete moulds of a cell key and two wing keys while boasting of selling them for £100,000 to start a new romantic life in Trinidad, a court heard today.

Married Andrej Martynov, 44, exchanged flirtatious online messages with a colleague at the south-west London prison, urging her to join him in the Caribbean.

He was employed by private facilities management firm Carillion, who had a government contract at the prison and began working there despite hardly speaking a word of English.

Lithuanian-born Martynov, of Routh Street, Beckton pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in public office on or before September 12, 2019, namely while the ‘lock and key controller’ made moulds of keys and removed them.

“He had the moulds for the specific purpose of enrichment. The intention was for a dishonest purpose if a selling opportunity arose,” announced Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Judge Rajeev Shetty.

When his boasts were reported by colleague Sabrina Ghany police raided his matrimonial home and discovered in a sock drawer the two quick-drying cement moulds, containing three key impressions.

The project escort, who accompanies outside contractors and tradesmen within HMP Wandsworth, told the court she was one of only two fellow-workers who joined Martynov for his birthday drink in a local pub.

“He told me he fancied me and he was interested in me and made two sets of keys and was going to sell them. He said he was going to sell them for fifty thousand pounds each and start a new life.

“It sounded like a joke and I did not take it seriously. It didn’t sound genuine.

“Later we had a beer on Wandsworth Common and he said he wanted to sell the keys  and that he had a buyer.

“He said there was a woman interested and that we could go to Trinidad, where | am from and have a comfortable life there.

“He was very serious and very determined and I kept it very casual and did not show him any reaction, but he was saying it one too many times so I reported him.

“There was an extremely flirtatious facebook element, but I deleted it and apologised to him,” added Ms Ghany. 

“He specifically told me he made a set of Class One and Class Two keys.”

There is no evidence Martynov used the moulds to manufacture keys, but after their discovery all the keys and locks in the entire prison were changed.

Prosecutor Richard Job told the court Martynov began working at HMP Wandsworth in April, 2017 and was fully trained in sensitive security procedures.

“He would be in possession of prison keys that he would collect at the start of his day’s work and have access to the wings and the cells.”

Police raided his former home in Earlsfield Road, Earlsfield on September 13, 2019.

“When officers searched a chest of drawers they found two blocks of cement, each bearing the impression of keys and he said they were moulds of prison keys,” explained Mr Job.

“He used quick-drying cement, but said he had no intention to supply them to anyone else.

“Using the keys one could get from the cell to the prison grounds with only the wall to scale and as a result all the keys and locks in the prison had to be replaced.”

Police also found two containers of cannabis, which Martynov claimed he bought from a cyclist in Wandsworth Park for £80 and he paid a £246 fine, plus a total of £107 in court costs on his first appearance.

With the assistance of an interpreter Martynov told the court he innocently made the moulds to assist his understanding of prison locks.

“The prisoners block the locks and I thought I could make a tool to open the locks, like a tool bit,” he explained.

“I wanted to train myself how to pick the locks, I wanted to know how prison locks work so I could complete call-outs quicker and go home.

“I made the moulds and one day took them home in my pocket. I did not want to throw them away in case someone recognised them as prison keys.

“I realised I made a stupid mistake and I wanted to smash the moulds when my wife was out, but I did not get the opportunity.”

Martynov laughed at the suggestion he could charge £50,000 per key, insisting he did not discuss this with Ms Ghany.

“About prison keys we talked nothing at all. We have not talked about prison keys,” he said. 

“It was a bad idea to make the moulds, I recognise that. That is why I took them out to destroy them.”

Rejecting Martynov’s account Judge Shetty told him: “You are facing a custodial sentence,” bailing him to return on November 30.

“I cannot see any justification for suspending the sentence. It is not that long ago that somebody actually escaped from Wandsworth prison.

“I don’t see any circumstances where a court could impose anything other than an immediate custodial sentence.”

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.