NOT GUILTY: City Executive Innocent Of Embarrassing Square Mile Encounter

A City pension fund executive has finally been cleared after his arrest and prosecution for an explicit display of public affection with a drunken female financier.

Craig Brown, 62, has always admitted to the embarrassing incident in the heart of the Square Mile, but insisted the woman was consensual and this week a jury agreed.

His four-year ordeal finally ended with a not guilty verdict at Inner London Crown Court after a retrial on a charge of sexually assaulting the complainant by penetration.

The first trial heard the woman, who had been drinking all day, was the equivalent of four times the drink-drive limit and had no memory of the incident or the hours before it.

Grammar school-educated Brown, who lives in a £1.5m house in the Surrey commuter belt in Harestone Hill, Caterham, was the director of a company based in the City of London.

He told jurors he was “disgusted and mortified” by the CCTV images, which show his hand up the skirt of the woman under a covered walkway, near the Bank of England.

Motherwell-born Brown had met the experienced professional at a casual business lunch on July 21, 2021 and they continued drinking into the evening.

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

He graduated from Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University with a degree in Maths & Statistics and had separated from his wife of sixteen-years a few months before the incident.

“I was flattered, slightly surprised and enjoying the moment. I was single again and it was fun,” father-of-two Brown said. “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.”

However, the prosecution argued the compliant was too drunk to consent, but this was rejected by the jury’s verdict.

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.”

Brown always maintained the activity was reciprocal and told the trial: “The complainant was consenting and capable of consenting that night.

“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 cricket group alerted police and Brown found himself arrested and placed into a cell for the evening.

“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,” he told the court. 

CCTV showed the pair enjoying their evening together, with the complainant smiling and exchanging moments of affection with Brown.

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.”

Square Mile Bag Thief Banged Up

A City of London bag thief is starting a four-month prison sentence after suspicious police caught him red-handed.

Emad Lechhed, 26, snatched an unsuspecting man's bag from the ground outside a pub in the heart of the Square Mile.

Fortunately, officers from the City of London Police's Proactive Acquisitive Crime Team were patrolling the area and spotted him.

On the evening of June 12, Lechhed was loitering around a pub in Cannon Street, where plain-clothed officers were keeping an eye on him.

At around 9:30pm, Lechhed sneaked up behind a group standing outside the pub and picked-up the victim's bag, without him even noticing and made off.

Officers immediately sprang into action, running after Lechhed, who dropped the bag during the chase.

Lechhed was caught and arrested on London Bridge, just five minutes after committing the offence.

The bag was returned to the owner before he even realised it had been taken.

Inspector Dan Green said: “The stolen bag, and the contents, was soon returned to the owner, before they knew it was stolen. 

“The victim was full of praise for our officers when he got his bag back so quickly and we made an arrest.

“This is another fantastic result from our plain-clothed officers.

“Our warning to criminals; don’t come into the City to steal bags. If you do, you risk being spotted by our plain-clothed officers, who will track you down, arrest you and bring you to justice.”

Lechhed was also handed a Criminal Behaviour Order, banning him from entering the City for two years.

'Cinderella Snatcher' Mobile Phone Thief Caught By Training Shoe DNA

A mobile phone thief – dubbed by City of London Police as the 'Cinderella Snatcher' after his missing trainer identified him – has admitted his crime.

Spencer Duarte, 27, of Bromfield House, Bromfield, Saffron Walden, Essex was caught by traces of DNA in the footwear, which he lost during a scuffle with a have-a-go-hero.

He pleaded guilty to stealing a mobile phone from Brian de Clare in the Square Mile on August 7, last year.

Duarte also admitted going equipped for theft with face masks and tin foil, used to wrap stolen phones to block their location and ability to be traced.

Inner London Crown Court heard Duarte, who will be sentenced on a future date, was dressed as a commuter and riding an electric bike in Ludgate Hill.

At approximately 12.00pm he struck, snatching a mobile phone from a pedestrian's hand and was tackled by a member of the public, who knocked him off the bike.

During the melee Duarte lost the training shoe and his rucksack, with three mobile phones falling to the ground.

Crime scene investigators recovered the trainer left at the scene, which was then sent to be forensically analysed.

Physical Forensics Manager Andrew Walker, of the City of London Police, said:“We were able to get sufficient levels of DNA from the shoe to obtain a single, major profile that was suitable for searching against the National DNA Database.

“This search generated a ‘hit’ to a male whose profile had previously been uploaded. 

The slipper fitted our Cinderella and we were able to bring him before the courts.”

Duarte was spotted and stopped by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service on September 9 and brought to Bishopsgate police station for interview, where he was arrested on suspicion of theft from a person.

Police Constable Jake Dean, of the City of London Police, said:

“Do not come to the City and think you can steal from residents, workers or visitors without paying the penalty. 

“Our targeted patrols, excellent police work and extensive CCTV will mean you will be caught and brought to justice.

“Phone snatching has a significant impact on victims and our key priority has been to reduce the number of phones stolen and relentlessly target those criminals responsible.”

After initially being tackled and falling off his bike, Duarte attempted to flee, but was then pulled from his bike a second time.

He then made off on foot, losing his shoe and his rucksack, which had a pack of disposable face coverings and two rolls of kitchen foil.

Duarte was also seen discarding his cycle helmet and the other shoe.

Constituent Accused Of Sending Anti-Semitic Emails To Labour MP

A constituent, accused of bombarding Labour MP Helen Hayes with anti-semitic emails, appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court today.

Austin Crick, 55, is said to have also attached images of injured and dead children to the messages, which concerned the ongoing Israeli-Gaza conflict.

Hayes, 50, has been the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood since 2015 and Crick resides in East Dulwich,

He is charged with the racially-aggravated harassment of the MP between February 20 and May 21, last year.

The prosecution say Crick, who was smartly dressed in a white shirt, dark red tie with a large Palestinian badge attached to his jacket, sent the emails on on February 21; March 4; April 9 and May 20.

He indicated a not guilty plea and elected Crown Court trial.

Prosecutor Medinat Muhammed told the court: “The defendant repeatedly sent anti-semitic emails to his MP.

“They relate to the ongoing crisis between Israel and Gaza and he used aggressive and offensive language and graphic photos of injured and dead children.”

The court heard Liverpool-born Hayes, the current Chair of House of Commons Education Select Committee, took the decision to report Crick to the police because his behaviour was effecting members of her team.

Crick was bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 25 on condition he does not contact the MP or her senior parliamentary assistant Niall Adams.

Banned: Investec Banking Giant Founder Caught Using Mobile

The multi-millionaire founder of global banking giant Investec received a six-month driving ban today for using his mobile phone while driving his Bentley in the West End.

South African businessman Bernard Kantor, 75, was reported by a cyclist, who recorded him checking emails on his phone while stationary at temporary traffic lights.

He fought the charge for a year, but pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates’ Court to using a handheld mobile phone while driving in Portman Street, on June 9, last year.

Kantor already had nine points on his driving licence for three speeding offences and the six points imposed for this latest offence triggered the automatic disqualification.

Prosecutor Barto De Lotbiniere told the magistrates: “A cyclist saw the defendant in a Bentley motor car in Portman Street and the car was queuing at temporary traffic lights.

“He recorded the defendant using his mobile phone and submitted the video footage to the police.”

When caught Kantor was two miles from his £5.5m home in Queen’s Grove, St. John’s Wood.

His lawyer John Dye told the court: “There is footage. People on bikes are recording what people are doing in their cars.

“To have some sympathy he was in stationary traffic and checking emails because the traffic was going nowhere.”

Kantor was fined £800, with £85 and ordered to pay a £320 victim surcharge.

“We are going to have to disqualify you as well,” bench  Chairman Steven Phaure told him.

“For using your mobile phone it is six penalty points we are putting on your licence and that means as you know, you have fifteen points and we will have to disqualify you for a period of six months from today.

“You cannot drive any motor vehicle on a public road and if you drive while disqualified you will be committing a serious offence and may go to custody.”

“Thank-you kindly,” replied Kantor. “Fortunately I never drove here.”

Kantor co-founded Investec with his brother Ian in Johannesburg in 1974 and became the MD of its UK operations in 1997.

The investment banking giant was a long-term sponsor of Test Match cricket in England, plus the Derby Festival in horse racing and continues to sponsor international rugby.

Station Robber Caught Red-Handed By Police On Platform

A young train station platform robber – who threatened to stab the victim if he raised the alarm – has been locked-up.

Joseph Richard, 23, struck at Pitsea railway station, Essex, telling his 20 year-old male victim he would be seriously harmed if he did not hand over his silver necklace.

When British Transport Police (BTP) officers appeared by chance on the platform the threats continued, with Richards ordering the victim to pretend and act as if they were friends.

Fortunately, the victim raised the alarm and Richards was arrested on the spot.

At Basildon Crown Court he received forty months custody after pleading guilty to robbery.

At approximately 2.40pm on Monday, September 2, last year the victim was on his way to work when he was approached by Richards, who engaged him in conversation.

Richards shook the victim's hand and refused to let go. 

He then walked the victim towards a bench, where Richards demanded the necklace, threatening to seriously harm him if he refused.

Shortly afterwards BTP officers arrived on the platform and Richards told the victim to act as if they were friends or he would stab him.

When officers approached the victim was able to inform them he had been robbed and Richards was taken into custody.

Investigating officer DC Daryl Keogh said: "The young victim was on his way to work when Richards subjected him to a frightening ordeal that left him seriously fearing for his safety.

"BTP officers were in the vicinity in relation to another matter and were quickly able to take action when the victim bravely informed them what had just happened, despite having been threatened not to do so.

“The railway network is a CCTV rich environment and directly influenced Richards' subsequent guilty plea. 

“As a result he will now spend a substantial amount of time behind bars. 

“I hope this serves as a deterrent to anyone else concerned in such offences that robbery on the railway network will be investigated and offenders brought to justice."

Anyone who is the victim of robbery on the rail network, or a witness, should speak to an officer or member of staff, or you can text us on 61016, or call 0800 405040. In an emergency always call 999.

Train Stamp Thug Fractured OAP's Skull

A teenage thug, who repeatedly stamped on the head of an 84 year-old train passenger – inflicting a fractured skull, plus other serious injuries – has been locked-up.

Zepheniah Dufeal, 18, of Church Street, Edmonton left the elderly gent fighting for his life with bleeding to the brain, fractured ribs and a collapsed lung.

He attacked the OAP at Edmonton Green station, just after 8.00pm on Tuesday, July 16. 

At Inner London Crown Court Dufeal received fourteen years after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent.

The pair – who did not know each other - departed the same train, but before leaving the station Dufeal lashed out at the octogenarian.

He struck out at the retreating victim a second time, causing him to fall to the ground.

Dufeal then stood over him and proceeded to stamp on his head twice, before slapping him in the face and throwing the victim’s baseball cap down.

Dufeal then made his way out of the station, leaving the victim on the ground.

Fortunately, the man was found by another passenger, who alerted staff and he was taken to hospital. 

Officers viewed the CCTV, which captured the entire incident and Dufeal was recognised by an officer following a shared ID briefing. 

Dufeal was arrested the next day at his home address, near the station.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Attwell for Major, Serious and Organised Crime said: “This was an exceptionally violent and unnecessary attack on an elderly man. 

“Dufeal acted in such a horrific manner and with such brutality, it is only luck that the victim was able to survive such a horrifying attack.

"I want to thank the victim and his family for their support throughout this investigation and trial. 

“I hope they feel some sense of comfort and reassurance knowing this individual has been convicted as a result of his cruel and heartless actions.”

Rugby-Playing Cop "Shellshocked" By Rape Arrest

UPDATE: THE JURY FAILED TO REACH ANY VERDICTS AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE DEFENDANT WAS CLEARED OF ALL CHARGES.

A rugby-playing police officer, accused of raping a student in his hotel room, told a jury he was “shellshocked” when five arresting officers banged on his door at 2.00am a couple of days later.

Constable Jordan McLean, 26, had just played for the British Police rugby team against Army Rugby Union and he and his teammates headed out for the evening.

Croydon Crown Court heard he met the University of Surrey student in Guildford’s Casino nightclub and the pair took a taxi back to his Holiday Inn room.

“I have been playing it over in my head constantly,” he told the trial. “This has been my life for the last two-and-a-half years and I have not been able to work. I did not do this.

“I did not hold her down, I didn’t use force. I have never been aggressive to anyone, aggressive to a woman in my life.”

McLean, of Silvertonhill Avenue, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of assault by penetration in the early hours of January 26, 2023.

McLean had flown down to play the fixture in Aldershot - a heavy defeat - and insists the sexual activity with the student was consensual on both sides.

“I was born and raised in Hamilton and I always planned to joined the police. My family were in the police and when I was young I was bullied a lot and wanted to protect and serve.

McLean joined Police Scotland and progressed to the British Police team, which is comprised of the best players from all the forces in the country.

“I’ve played rugby all of my life and this was my second game for the British team.

“At the hotel we dropped our bags and headed out. I had one drink and found out the rest of the boys were at the Casino nightclub,” he told the trial.

“I had seven or eight beers by the end of the night. I’m quite a large fellah and can drink quite a bit as long as it is beer.

“She caught my eye and started speaking to me. She was totally fine and we had a drink together at the bar.

“We hit it off because we are both sporty. She played netball and I played rugby.

“I am not the best dancer so was just moving and we were touching each other and I asked her if she wanted to come back to the Holiday Inn.”

McLean confessed he was in an “on and off” two-year relationship at the time. “There was infidelity on my part. It was not something I was proud of doing, but we were not fully committed.

“When I came back from the toilet she said: ‘Yeah. Let’s go.’ We were kissing in the back of the taxi. Sex, that was the idea of going back to the hotel.”

The young woman earlier told the court six feet three inches-tall McLean held her down on the bed in the hotel room and raped her and then a second time when she returned from the bathroom.

“She was touching me and all over me,” he said from the witness box. “We had a wee kiss in the hotel corridor, you can see it on the CCTV.

“We were chatting and flirting and tried each other’s vapes, the different flavours.

“We were kissing on the bed, side by side and I began taking my shirt off and she helped me.

“She took her trousers off. The top came off, she took her top off.”

McLean told the jury consensual activity followed, including him putting his hand between the student’s legs. 

However, the young woman gave a different account. “He was moving his hands down my body and he started to take my trousers down and my shoes, he took them off. I felt frozen.

“He pulled his trousers off and his shirt and he forced himself forward on me.

“All the time I was saying: ‘No’. He could tell I was upset, but he carried on.”

She said she dressed herself, but was raped again.

“He pulled my trousers back down and I just thought: ‘Lay there.’ I just did not feel in the mood, it was with someone I didn’t know.”

Defence lawyer Guy Ladenburg asked her: “What did you think you were going to do in the hotel room? Play a game? Watch a film”

He suggested: “You may have regretted your decision to have a one-night stand, but you went along willingly and freely with what went on in the bedroom.”

McLean, who insists the episode was a consensual one-night stand, says they parted on good terms. “We were talking before she left. I had no idea she didn’t want to be there.”

He was arrested at his home in Scotland two days later.

“I was totally shellshocked when they came to the door. The first thing I heard at two in the morning was banging at the door and five officers there.

“I have never been arrested, never even had a speeding ticket in my life. I was in total shock and was in a cell for ten hours.”

When cross-examined McLean said: “I told her my name. I have no reason to do this, no reason to hurt her.

“I was in a relationship at the time so did not think it was best to exchange numbers.”

Prosecutor Ed Hand suggested: “The prosecution say you have concocted a false consensual account to cover up your forced sexual episode. You just helped yourself.”

Trial continues………….