Disgraced Priest Sentenced For Nicking Mass Collection

A disgraced parish priest, who stole £200 from his church’s Sunday collection, received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Father Fortunato Pantisano, 44, fought the charge and still maintains his innocence, but now faces being booted out of the Roman Catholic church

The Italian-born priest, who was ordained at Westminster Cathedral in 2013, was based at Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in Tynemouth Street, Fulham.

“You were identified by CCTV entering a locked office at the church, where you had been working and took two plates of money that had been collected,” District Judge Daniel Sternberg told him.

“No credit can be given to you for any kind of admission and you continue not admitting to these offences today.

“You told the author of your pre-sentence report that you were entitled to this money and plainly the trial court decided you were not entitled to that money.”

Father Pantisano received twenty weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years and was ordered to pay £200 compensation to the church, £654 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

He was forced to move to accommodation at St. Edward’s Convent, Harewood Avenue, Marylebone while on bail and was convicted of stealing the money from Our Lady of Perpetual Help on January 7.

“This is an offence of high culpability as you were a person with a high degree of trust, a high position as a minister of religion and you abused that trust,” Judge Sternberg told the priest.

“This offence is very serious, but you do have a strong prospect of rehabilitation and there is some personal mitigation.

“You have no previous convictions and were of good character and positive good character through your role in the church and you will no longer be able to continue your vocation as a minister of religion.

“This offence is so serious the custody threshold is crossed.”

Father Pantisano’s lawyer Tony Meisels said: “Obviously Father Pantisano has lost his good character. This is his first criminal conviction and he has lost a lot due to this situation.

“He was on a sabbatical and was paid last month, but does not know if he will be paid this month while they decide what to do within the Roman Catholic church.

“He has a meeting tomorrow with the Vicar General, where the church lies and I think it is fair to say he will not be able to practice again in the Roman Catholic church and may face canonical proceedings.

“He has been an employee of the church for twenty-four years. It is his life.”

Prosecutor Connie Wong told Westminster Magistrates Court yesterday that it was after the second mass of Sunday, January 7 Father Pantisano was caught on internal CCTV entering the office adjoined to his church accommodation.

“He was a priest of the church, but was suspended from service at the time and went to two plates and left the room.

“The total amount of cash stolen was estimated at two hundred pounds.”

The trial heard the priest was reported to police by parish volunteer John McGranaghan, who had placed the two wicker baskets in a locked office, which could also be accessed from the priest’s house.

“This was the collection from the parishioners for the two masses that morning,” he told the trial. “We went back to count the offertory and there were two empty baskets and the collection had gone.”

He suggested collection money had been going missing at the church recently. “Because of what had been happening in the previous weeks I decided to go back to count the money that day.”

Fortunately CCTV in the office showed Father Pantisano enter via an adjoining door, remove the two baskets containing cash from the room, then return them empty.

The Diocese of Westminster Director of Resources, Robert Walker told the court there are strict rules regarding the cash collections and individual priests cannot simply help themselves to the money.

“Basically I see the money going from one hand to the other and it is taken without authorisation,” he said regarding the CCTV. “He is taking individual notes from the baskets and leaves with the money.

“There is no reason for him to be in there at that time, particularly as he was suspended.”

Father Pantisano was arrested on April 30 and gave a ‘no comment’ interview at Hammersmith Police Station.

He told the trial he was not suspended and was entitled to be in the office, but could not recall if he had taken any of the collection money.

“I do not remember taking any money. If I did it was not my intention to be dishonest, it was to buy food maybe, I don’t remember.

“Sometimes there are emergencies like homeless needing money or charities or the priests need to buy food.”

Trial prosecutor Nathan Paine-Davey asked the priest: “It is not credible to say you do not remember taking the money, is it? It is what has brought you here today.

“You have gone into that office by unlocking the door from your side and taken that money. That’s the truth isn’t it?”

Father Pantisano replied: “I am the parish priest and I have a right to be there. The money is given for the priests to decide what to do.

“I deny stealing and I have no other comment.”

Mr Paine-Davey told the magistrates: “The defendant cannot tell you why he had his hands in the baskets and took them out of view. That is not credible.

“The purpose of removing the baskets was to steal money out of sight of the CCTV and only today we hear this vague, rambling account of what happened.

“You just can’t put your hand in a collection basket. That is dishonesty.”

The trial magistrates told Father Pantisano he had no credibility whatsoever in the witness box and his evidence had assisted the prosecution case against him.

In his impact statement Mr Walker said: “This has caused an incredible amount of mistrust between the church and the parishioners. It only takes one person to do something wrong to ruin the reputation of the rest.”

Yesterday, the court heard Father Pantisano’s parents, aged 75 and 73 years-old still reside in his native Calabria and he has a brother in Milan and another in France.

“He has got some medical issues, anxiety and depression,” explained Mr Meisels. “He has been living at a convent, but due to the publicity of this case has been told he cannot live there.”

The priests’ mental health has been negatively effected since an allegation, not disclosed, was made against him in 2018 when he was a parish priest north of London, the court heard.

“He has not properly come to terms with the offending and there is a degree of denial in the report and he is keen to put this behind him and move on with his life,” added Mr Meisels.  

The lawyer argued the offence was not at the top end of breaches of trust.

“I appreciate he was a priest in a church, but the highest culpability is for those in a much higher position, with a higher degree of trust than a priest in  a small church with a small amount of money.”

Community service was not a sentencing option because Father Pantisano does not intend on remaining in the UK.

“He has really lost a lot. His position, income, career. He has lost a lot already and whatever punishment he gets today will only cap it.”

Bare Cheek: Police Hunt Mystery Male And Female

Police are hunting this bare-chested suspect and his alleged high-heeled female accomplice after two train passengers were attacked at midnight.

One of the male victims needed medical treatment after both were assaulted by an unknown man and struck to the head with a woman's shoes.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released these CCTV images and are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying them.

At approximately 11.50pm on Saturday, July 27, two men boarded a train from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex heading towards Stanford Le Hope railway station, where they left the service.

After arriving at the platform, at around 12.05am, the two men were approached by a man who attacked them. 

Then a woman who had also been on the train took off her heeled shoes and began hitting the two men in the head.

One of the men was left with injuries requiring medical treatment.

Officers believe the people in the CCTV images may have information that could help their investigation.

Anyone who recognises them, or has any other information, is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 12 of 28/07/24.

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

Over Forte: Lady Aliai Caught Speeding.......Again

On Foot: Lady Forte Banned

Lady Aliai Forte - wife of millionaire luxury hotelier Sir Rocco - has again been hit with a six-month driving ban for her latest speeding offence.

The 59 year-old mother-of-three was caught on camera driving her black four-litre Audi A6 at 50mph in a 40mph zone.

She received three penalty points, which when added to the nine points already on her driving licence triggered an automatic statutory ban.

Italian-born Lady Forte, of Cheyne Gardens, Chelsea, who married Sir Rocco, 79, in 1986, appeared at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court.

She admitted speeding along the A3 Kingston Road, near Tibbet’s Corner roundabout, Putney at 9.20am on January 9.

The court heard Lady Forte has convictions for speeding on March 8, 2022 and January 29, this year and also for using her mobile phone while driving on December 21, 2023.

The one-time fashion designer also received a six-month driving disqualification in 2020.

“It is a terrible thing for me to be disqualified from driving,” she told the magistrates. “It causes me huge problems to my life.”

She is clearly still frustrated that half the points on her licence are for using her phone.

“I got points for an offence I don’t think I committed, talking on the phone. The phone was on my lap and six points is ridiculous.

“I work really, really hard and do a lot of charity work.

“I lose my driving licence for this? Doing fifty in a forty? I am always doing things, I am always in a rush.

“Maybe I was distracted by the change of the speed limit. I am very sorry and I apologise, I don’t want to break the law.”

Insisting that losing her licence would impact her negatively, she added: “I am organising a big charity event for the London Symphony Orchestra and I am running an estate in Surrey.

“I apologise because I do not want to break the law, but losing my driving licence creates a lot of problems for me.

“I am a very safe driver and I have never had an accident in my life.”

Instead of completing a financial means form to work out her fine Lady Forte simply wrote that she had “sufficient funds” to pay any amount to the court.

It is believed the Forte family are worth in excess of a quarter of a billion pounds.

“I don’t really know what to write. My husband pays all the household expenses so you can call me a housewife. I did explain that I don’t pay bills.”

Before leaving Lady Forte cheekily asked the magistrates to make an exception and slash the statutory disqualification in half.

“Is it possible to do three months instead of six? It causes great difficulty,” she requested.

Bench Chairman Timothy Keay told her: “You pleaded guilty to this offence of speeding at 50mph on the A3 in a 40mph zone.

“That offence adds three penalty points to your driving licence and leaves you liable to further penalty.

“You do have an extremely poor driving record that leaves you liable to disqualification. 

“The points totting system is to punish repeat offenders and you are a repeat offender.

“You are obviously a woman of more substantial means,” added Mr Keay, fining her £666, with £100 costs and a £266 victim surcharge.

“I do not have my licence because yesterday my car was broken into and it was stolen along with my credit cards, which I have cancelled,” Lady Forte told the bench.

“Your driving licence is no longer valid anyway,” Mr Keay told her.

Lady Forte is the daughter of Rome neurologist Professor Giovanni Ricci and she is the mother of Irene, Lydia and Charles.

City Executive Accused Of Sexual Assault: "Disgusted And Mortified" By CCTV Footage

A City pension fund executive has confessed to being “disgusted and mortified” by CCTV images, which show his hand up the skirt of a drunken female financier near the Bank of England.

Craig Brown, 61, had met the experienced professional at a casual business lunch that day and told a jury she consented to sexual activity in a covered walkway near the entrance to Bank Underground Station.

Grammar school-educated Brown was the director of a company based in the heart of the Square Mile is also the former Head of Global Consultant Relations for industry giants Legal & General.

“I watch the video and being in that situation was very embarrassing. I should not have been there or in that situation,” he told Inner London Crown Court. “Obviously we were doing something we shouldn’t be doing in a public place.”

Brown, who lives in a £1.5m house in the Surrey commuter belt in Harestone Hill, Caterham has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexually assaulting the woman by penetration on July 21, 2021.

“I was flattered, slightly surprised and enjoying the moment. I was single again and it was fun,” father-of-two Brown told the trial. “We continued to kiss each others’ face and neck and I like massaging legs, it is something I do.”

The jury watched CCTV of the woman sitting on the ground with a kneeling or crouching Brown running his hands up and down her legs and feet in the public area at approximately 9.30pm.

“She was giggling and enjoying the relaxation,” recalled Brown. “I massaged closer to the top of her thighs, becoming more sexual and I moved my hand up further.”

He admitted placing his hand between her legs and underneath the white lacy thong she was wearing. “It was initially stroking and then rubbing and she was clearly enjoying it. She was laughing and smiling and making murmurs of pleasure.”

Prosecutor Valeria Swift told the jury the married mother was “semi conscious” and far too drunk to consent, with an alcohol reading equivalent to four times the drink-drive limit and no memory of events after 7.00pm.

A group of friends, who had been attending a cricket match, stepped in and interrupted the couple, with the complainant assuring them: ‘He’s a good guy.’

“The complainant was consenting and capable of consenting that night,” answered Brown to questions from his lawyer Eleanor Laws KC. “I thought she was good fun with an interesting and vibrant personality and we got on well.”

He told the court he intended to get the train home until the woman suggested continuing to drink. “It was two days after the Covid lockdown and we were pleased to be out.”

Brown had joined a lunch the complainant was enjoying with a City financial consultant at Cabotte French restaurant earlier in the day and after that man left they continued drinking at two other bars.

“We were kissing and cuddling in the bar and we were both being foolish, kissing and touching in the lift. We were laughing and joking, two people fairly drunk in London on a Summer’s night.

“We left the bar and I went to Tesco. It was a foolish decision, a bad drunken decision, but she suggested having more wine where we were sitting.”

The sexual activity was interrupted by the cricket group, recalled Brown. “I heard a noise and heard one of the witness’s saying: ‘What are you doing?’ and coming over and confronting me and pushing me away.

“They asked me what I was doing and why I was doing it. The men were quite aggressive.

“I understand now what they thought they had seen. We were doing something we shouldn’t have been doing.

“They were talking at once, it was quite bewildering and frightening. I could not believe what was happening, I had never been in such a traumatic situation in my life.

“They were holding me and stopping me. I wanted away from these guys.”

The woman suffered two seizures and was taken to hospital in an ambulance and police arrested Brown, who spent a sleepless evening on a concrete cell floor before questioning the next day.

“I was disgusted, bewildered, ashamed of everything that happened that previous night. I was very stressed and feeling terrible  that I had got myself into that situation.” 

Ms Swift told the jury: “CCTV in the lift shows Mr Brown putting his hand on her waist and the woman smiling and laughing and it would seem she was happy and comfortable in his company.

“CCTV also shows a porter help her steady herself as she leaves the bar as she seemed unstable and by 9.20pm she looked decidedly drunk,” explained the prosecutor.

“They are again picked up on CCTV on a walkway near Bank Underground Station and this defendant kissed her and you can see her smiling, but you may conclude she was very drunk indeed.

“She was swaying as she was walking and the CCTV shows her slump to the ground.

“The defendant started to stroke her legs and her head was slumped down completely.

“A group of friends who had just attended the cricket were passing and some of them saw kissing and others saw Mr Brown ‘fingering’ the woman.

“Perhaps they were taken aback by this happening in a public place, but what struck all of the group was the state the complainant was in.

“They variously describe her as ‘limp’ and ‘semi-conscious’ and not aware of what was happening.

“By this time she was unresponsive, but there were small movements of her leg, indicating she was not totally unconscious, but in a drunken stupor.

“The group approached to confront the defendant because they came to the conclusion that what they saw was ‘not on’ and there was ‘something off’ about it.

“They felt the defendant was taking advantage of a severely drunken semi-conscious woman.

“As the group approached, this defendant moved and the woman completely slumped down,” explained the prosecutor.

“She was in such a drunken stupor she did not have the capacity to consent to sexual activity.

Nine days later the woman gave a video-recorded interview to police, confirming she had been drinking wine that day and was introduced to Brown.

“He seemed a pleasant guy and he knew his stuff and was very well-versed in the industry,” she recalled.

“I do not remember leaving the pub with him. It is a complete blank.

“I vaguely remember shouting, but don’t know how that related to what happened.

“I don’t know if I was attacked, I have no recollection. I have no recollection until the police and paramedics.”

Trial continues…………