Military Tattoo: Celebrated Household Cavalry Corporal Molested Party Teen

A drunken Household Cavalry staff corporal - featured by the Royal British Legion for his military tattoos - molested a 15 year-old party guest during a sleepover.

Father-of-four Lawrence Sabatini, 38, ventured down to the living-room, where the teen was sleeping with another young girl and groped her bum and between her legs.

When confronted he angrily barked: “Can you f***? You’re just lesbians, f*** you lesbians.”

Sabatini, of Thiepval Drive, Bulford, Wiltshire, was a subject of the ‘Tribute Ink’ exhibition, due to his multiple tattoos commemorating the service of Commonwealth servicemen and women.

He fought the charge, claiming his alcohol intake resulted in loss of control of his actions, but this was rejected by the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury, which convicted him of sexual assault.

Sabatini and his wife were guests at the Hounslow house party on August 8, 2021 and were expected to share an upstairs bedroom.

“You drank heavily at that party and knew at the time you were sleep-deprived after a Wiltshire military exercise, but consumed beer and several litres of vodka,” Judge Marcus Tregilgas-Davey told him yesterday.

The victim, who attended the sentencing with relatives, told the trial: “I was on a blow-up bed and he came in and laid there and then started going down by my bed.

“I thought he was drunk and so I moved, but he moved and started touching my bum and tried to go through my legs.

“He grabbed my bum and tried to pull me closer and was scooping me by my bum.”

The girls left the living-room due to Sabatini’s creepy behaviour and when the second teen persuaded the victim to return he verbally abused both of them.

“Wisely the two girls left the room distressed and sought comfort elsewhere,” added Judge Tregilgas-Davey. “In the morning you said you had no recollection of the incident.”

Prosecutor Michael Hillman said: “There is no victim impact statement, but she was in tears when I spoke to her this morning.

“She has been effected by this offending and is much less social and not going out as much.”

Sabatini’s lawyer Ailsa Williamson told the court: “The defendant has not drank alcohol since this incident three years ago and has been seeking treatment for his PTSD.

“He has been recently medically discharged and received a lump sum and now he and his family will be moving out of military accommodation.”

Judge Tregilgas-Davey announced: “I accept this incident has had a not insignificant impact on her and it is deeply upsetting as a young woman should be enjoying life and going out socialising.

‘It struck me during the trial that she was very brave coming forward with the complaint. She showed a great deal of fortitude.”

First-time offender Sabatini received a twelve-month community order, which includes 200 hours community service work and thirty days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

He must also sign the sex offenders register and pay £4,000 costs.

Sabatini joined the Army in 2005, becoming an elite Paratrooper before transferring to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, where he was a Staff Corporal - the equivalent rank to Staff Sergeant.

He served two tours of Afghanistan, where he regularly operated behind enemy lines as part of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force.

Before his second tour of Afghanistan South African-born Sabatini’s left arm was ‘sleeved’ with tributes to fallen Commonwealth soldiers.

“Some people are not good with words. Tattoos are a way of expressing something important to you without having to speak,” Sabatini told the ‘Tribute Ink’ touring exhibition.

“People might spot your tattoo, but never ask you about it, but if they do it is a way to start that conversation about its meaning.

“To some people they are just tattoos, but for me it will always be more than that. It is a good way of expressing yourself.

“Getting my sleeve before I headed back out to Afghanistan allowed me to get in the mindset and to set the tone for the forthcoming deployment.

“My favourite piece within my tattoo are the poppies. These were the first thing I got.

“They represent the respect for the fallen. There is no greater sacrifice than being prepared to die for your country and it commemorates the ultimate sacrifice.”

Thameslink Pervert Targeted Female Passenger

A female train passenger travelling through south London was deliberately targeted by a mystery pervert, who pleasured himself opposite her.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this image of their suspect.

Investigating officers are appealing to members of the public to assist them in identifying the mystery male, who is of Asian appearance.

BTP are treating the incident as indecent exposure.

The victim was on a Thameslink train at approximately 11.15pm on Tuesday, February 6.

An unknown man sat opposite her as the service travelled between Tooting and Herne Hill and exposed himself and started masturbating.

The woman was extremely distressed and left her seat to report what had happened.

If you recognise the man in the image or have any information about the incident please contact officers by texting 61016, or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 808 of 6 February.

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

Tracks Of My Tears: Ex-Train Couple's Bust Up

A Southeastern trains employee, who bumped into her ex-girlfriend – a driver with the company – struck her to the side of the head in a busy shop, a court heard.

Bobbette Henry, 50, (pictured) of Broadfield Road, Catford ran into former partner Tea Dautovic in a branch of healthfood store Holland & Barrett in Lewisham on August 29, last year.

Bromley Magistrates Court heard the women disagree on the amount of force used with Ms Dautovic describing it as a punch to the side of her temple and the defendant claiming she merely put her hand out.

Henry pleaded guilty to assault and was conditionally discharged for twelve months, ordered to pay £50 compensation to her ex, plus £85 costs and a £26 victim surcharge.

The court heard the couple had dated for five years and came face-to-face just two weeks after the split, although Henry says they broke up two years before that.

Without warning the defendant suddenly and unexpectedly struck Ms Dautovic with a punch to the side of her head.

The victim immediately walked away and described herself as feeling “shocked, scared, confused and angry,” and is now paranoid about walking around in public in Lewisham.

The prosecution described it as a “fairly short assault” with no description of any injury.

Henry claims Ms Dautovic called her a “black n*****” when they met in the shop and had deliberately tried to “antagonise” her since they broke up.

She also insisted she did not punch the victim, but simply put her hand out, but accepted it was unacceptable behaviour.

The magistrate told Henry: “It is always a great shame to see someone of your age in trouble. I know emotions were high and it was not the worst assault we have ever heard of.

“I am sure we will never see you again.”

Escalator Sex Assault: Do You Know This Suspect?

A female tube train passenger was followed from the carriage and molested on the escalator by a mystery man, who sneaked behind her.

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

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

At around 9.45pm on Sunday, February 18 the victim was on a southbound Northern Line train when a man boarded at Archway and sat a few seats away.

The victim left the train at Warren Street and, as she got up to leave, noticed the man leaving ahead of her. 

He then stopped to get behind the victim, followed her off the platform, and sexually assaulted her on the escalator.

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

Anyone with information is asked to contact the British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 120 of 19/02/2024.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.

Travelodge Sex Predator: "Not One Scintilla Of Remorse"

A sexual predator, who lured a young unsuspecting, vulnerable woman into a hotel room where he molested her, received a suspended prison sentence today.

Hiron Miah, 42, convinced himself the victim - who has learning difficulties - would acquiesce to his clumsy advances as he stripped down to his boxer shorts and coaxed the woman onto the bed.

An Inner London Crown Court convicted him of two counts of sexual assault at the Travelodge Hotel, Waterloo on January 22, 2019.

Miah, of Passive Close, Rainham received twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years and must complete a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years and must comply with a five-year restraining order, prohibiting contact with the victim.

“She was unaware that you had booked the hotel room,” Judge D Reed told Miah today. “That was your plan, your intention to have sexual intimacy.

“You thought if you got her alone in the hotel room it would inevitably lead to her yielding to your attractiveness.”

Miah stripped down to his vest and boxer shorts and donned a bathrobe.

Telling her: “You’re mine. You’re my girlfriend,” he started unclipping her bra.

“You took your boxers off and took your penis out,” Judge Reed told Miah. “However, she told you she would rather watch the telly.”

By now Miah had placed himself behind the victim on the bed. “You were, in her words ‘whacking’ her back with your penis and the jury found this was sexual assault.

“You touched her bottom under her clothing and the jury found this was also a sexual assault.”

The woman eventually responded by striking Miah. 

“That slap brought you to your senses,” Judge Reed told him.

“She was a young woman with learning difficulties. She may not look like a child, but she acts like a child.

“She found herself in a room with a man she had only just met.”

The court heard Miah, who still maintains his innocence, has ADHD and some educational difficulties of his own.

“Your motive was sexual gratification and I have not seen one scintilla of remorse,” the judge told him.

“You lack sexual respect for women.”

Miah was described as a “medium risk to the public” and Judge Reed announced: “There is a realistic prospect of greatly reducing the risk you pose with probation intervention.

“You know how narrowly you have avoided going to prison today.”

Cannabis Driver Caught During Flood Mercy Dash

A driver, who got out of bed to assist his flooded in-laws, has been banned from the roads after police caught him behind the wheel under the influence of cannabis.

Yard supervisor Kevin Andrews, 55, had a half-smoked joint in his BMW when stopped during the journey and was nearly three times the legal blood cannabis limit.

At Staines-upon-Thames Magistrates’ Court he was fined £120, with £85 costs, ordered to pay a £48 victim surcharge and disqualified from driving for twelve months.

Andrews, of Molesham Way, West Molesey, Surrey pleaded guilty to driving with 5.9 micrograms of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in his blood in Rydens Road, Walton-on-Thames on November 21, last year.

Prosecutor Gus Walter told the court officers stopped Andrews’ red BMW 325 because the vehicle was flagged for having no MOT.

“The reason for the stop was an expired MOT on the vehicle and the officers noticed a very strong smell smell of cannabis and a residue of a green herbal substance.

“The defendant provided a half-smoked cigarette that he confirmed was cannabis.”

A roadside drug swipe test showed he was positive for cannabis and Andrews was arrested and taken to Staines Police Station.

The first-time offender’s lawyer, Jennifer Lewin said: “He did not expect to be driving, but got a call from the parents of his partner.

“He was woken by the call and told there was a flood and both of them were sleeping in electric beds and he has training as an electrician and made the decision to drive.

“It was a split-second decision to go and he did not think of the options.

“The loss of his driving licence will be quite difficult for Mr Andrews and his family. He does look after others’ needs and with their shopping.” 

War Of The Roses: Interior Designer Cleared Of Race Charges Against Florist Neighbour

Court Date: Peter & Joanne Barkatullah 

An interior designer has been cleared of racism charges against his Romanian financier-turned florist neighbour in a War of the Roses-style dispute in their Surrey gated community.

Peter Barkatullah, 59, claimed mother-of-four Mihaela Cavallaro broke community rules by running her floral business from her garage and also objected to her children playing in front of her £1.8m house.

The pair were next-door neighbours at St. Ann’s Park, Virginia Water and she called the police when confronted by an angry Barkatullah outside her home on May 24, 2022.

“We ended up moving out of there,” she told Staines-upon-Thames Magistrates’ Court. “He went to our estate agents to have us kicked out, saying we were trash.

“I was a renter and that bothered him deeply because he is an owner. I didn’t belong in this country and my kind of people didn’t belong in this country, but I’m not an illegal. I came here with papers.”

Her three youngest children, aged eight, six and two were playing in a coned-off area in front of her house when Barkatullah stopped his car.

“He said that it was not a playground and children should not be there and that I should move the cones, but there is nothing in the rules that says no cones are allowed.”

The row continued on the driveway of Barkatullah’s £1.7m house. “He said: ‘Get the f*** out of my property,’ and tried to hit me and came at me with a fist.

“He told me to go back to my country. I don’t need this hate, it had been going on for two years,” Mrs Cavallaro - known in the community as ‘Mela’ - told the trial.

“He said: ‘You don’t belong here,’ and I can’t believe anyone would say that, this is a good neighbourhood.”

Mihaela 'Mela' Cavallaro

She denied going to the police in retaliation to Barkatullah’s numerous complaints against her. 

“It is a tight community and I just wanted to be left alone to live in that property.”

She told the court Barkatullah’s behaviour was not exemplary, despite his complaints against her. “He drives his car too fast and too loud and has a lot of clients at his house.

“I was not running a business from my house, it was a hobby and I was volunteering and doing a lot for charity and I do not bother the neighbours.”

However, the original 999 emergency call was played in court and Mrs Cavallaro failed to report she was under threat of physical attack from Barkatullah or told by him to return to her home country.

The 6.00pm row was witnessed by the Chairman of the estate’s management company Derek Holden, who told the trial: “I heard a commotion and saw the defendant in his car. He had stopped opposite the home of Mela.

“I heard shouting and angry voices. He was clearly angry, but I have good soundproofing so I have no evidence of exactly what was said.

“He was shouting at Mela and a group of small children and they were shouting back and several of the children were crying.

“His wife came out and ushered him away. He was in no way physically aggressive.”

Mr Holden’s wife Dorian told the trial: “Mela has charming, lovely children and me and my wife have great respect for her.

“We heard shouting and very loud noises and our neighbour was out there with her children playing and another neighbour was shouting at her and she was shouting at him.

Neighbours: Dorian & Derek Holden

“I could hear noise, but not the exact words they were saying and he came back to have more confrontational words with Mela.

“It was again very angry and he had his hands up as if he might do something, but his wife came out and restrained him.

“Both me and my husband were afraid he may lay hands on her or strike her because he was so furious.

“She was visibly very, very upset and her children were crying.

“He did not like the children being outside with their toys. He disagreed with that.”

Barkatullah, supported by wife Joanne, 53, was found not guilty of both racially-aggravated assault and racially-aggravated harassment and awarded his defence costs from central funds.