TV Home Office Pathologist Caught Drink Driving

A television Home Office forensic pathologist - who has investigated some of the UK’s most notorious deaths - was caught at nearly twice the drink-drive limit after consuming over a bottle of wine the night before, a court heard.

Dr Olaf Biedrzycki, 50, who appeared on BBC’s documentary series ‘Death Unexplained’ has been axed by the Home Office and now fears for his career.

Ironically, it was the concerns of his wife Alexandra, 49, that led to his arrest as she informed police of his vehicle’s details, asking them to look out for him as his behaviour seemed off that morning.

He appeared at Staines Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to driving his red MG3 hatchback in Egerton Road, Guildford on November 28 with excess alcohol in his breath.

The pathologist gave a reading of 68 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

He was fined £500, with £85 costs, ordered to pay a £200 victim surcharge and was disqualified from driving for sixteen months.

The father-of-three had just left the £1.7m detached five-bedroom family home in Weston Green, Thames Ditton, where Alexandra felt his behaviour was out of character.

The doctor followed his father into forensic pathology and has spoken of his love for his role and how he enjoys waking at 5am each morning, excited about what challenges the day will bring.

“His wife contacted the police and she deeply regrets her over reaction because he was out of sorts that morning,” said Dr Biedrzycki’s lawyer Corinne Bramwell.

“He was stopped because his car was flagged that day, not because of the manner of his driving.”

Dr Biedrzycki conducted the post-mortem of former footballer Dalian Atkinson, who sadly died after being tasered by police officers, aged forty-eight years-old.

He also investigated the death of Anthony Walgate, 23, who was the first victim of East London gay serial killer Stephen Port.

Dr Biedrzycki also conducted the post-mortem of murdered Kent dog-walker Julia James, 53, and IT consultant Lee Pomeroy, 51, who was stabbed to death on a train near Guildford.

Prosecutor Rabbi Khan told the court Dr Biedrzycki was pulled over by police as he exited an A road.

“A member of the public had called the police, in this case the wife of the defendant, and he was seen driving at 14mph in a 30mph zone, drifting towards the near side.

“He told the police officers he had a few drinks the previous evening and was arrested after failing a road-side breath-test.”

Dr Biedrzycki was emotional as he sat in the secure dock during the twenty-minute hearing, which was also attended by his wife and a professional colleague.

“It is devastating for him to find himself in this situation,” explained Ms Bramwell. “It is extremely regrettable that he is here and it is not something that will be repeated.

“The last two weeks have been incredibly difficult to deal with and Dr Biedrzycki did not sleep for forty-eight hours after his arrest.

“The impact of a criminal record for this man is devastating. His career is his whole life.

“He has been suspended from Home Office work and that is fifty per cent of his income and he has referred himself to the General Medical Council (GMC).

“I hope that it is obvious the ramifications of his behaviour is huge. It is over and above the fine.

“He has to travel around to perform post-mortem’s. Often more than one in a day and he understands that a driving disqualification is a reality.

“He has had a good income and that has now been cut in half and is at risk because the GMC have the option of suspension or erasure for five years.

“Having been told he has high blood pressure he lost three stone in weight and was taking medication and not consuming any alcohol,” said Ms Bramwell.

“He started drinking when his wife was out and had not drank in months. He drank over a bottle of wine and went to bed and got up early.

“There are many mitigating factors. He is a person of good character, with an exceptional background.

“Taking into account the devastating impact this is having I ask the court to show as much mercy as possible.

“In reality he is now going to have to take taxis or rely on his wife.”

Dr Biedrzycki’s work regularly involved travel all over Kent and Surrey and to Poplar, east London and St. Helier, south-west London.

“The financial burden may run into many hundreds of pounds, increasing the financial burden of this family man,” added the lawyer.

“He works all of the time to support his family. He is busy and hard-working in a stressful job.”

Bench Chairwoman Jane Hargrave told Dr Biedrzycki: “We give you credit for your good character and your guilty plea and there are no aggravating features.

“Clearly you are a man of exceptional public service and your skills are in high demand.

“I am shocked that a man of your standing has to drive himself around south-east England, going from place to place and that obviously has had an effect on your health.

“You had a high income and that is now going to be halved.

“You will put this behind you. We see people such as yourself that reach a crisis and put it behind them and we wish you all the best.”

HMP Brixton Officer Charged With Drugs And Phones Plot

Leaving Court: Shannon Day

A female prison officer, accused of conspiring with two inmates to supply drugs and smuggle mobile phones into HMP Brixton, has appeared in court for the first time this week.

Shannon Day, 24, of Wells Park Road, Sydenham, south-east London appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court, where she is charged along with Bertil Baluba, 34, and Mark McBain, 62.

All three are jointly charged with conspiring between September 1 and October 31, 2022 to supply a quantity of cannabis.

They are all also charged with conspiring between the same dates to supply a quantity of synthetic ‘Spice Paper’ - a Class B drug.

All three are further charged with conspiring between the same dates to convey prohibited articles into HMP Brixton, namely three mobile phones and cables.

Day alone is charged with one count of misconduct in public office, namely while acting as a prison officer conspiring with an inmate to convey prohibited articles into the prison on October 24, 2022.

She is also charged with fraud by false representation between January 22, 2022 and February 9, 2023, namely failing to disclose she had visited a separate prisoner at HMP Lewis and HMP Maidstone, with intent to gain employment at HMP Brixton.

Day is also charged with possessing a quantity of cannabis on October 24, 2022.

Baluba, who appeared in court via videolink, is also charged with possessing a prohibited item in HMP Brixton on October 20, 2022, namely a mobile phone.

He is also charged with money laundering, namely transferring £2,170 of criminal property into the bank account of Day between September 1 and October 31, 2022.

All three will appear at Croydon Crown Court on January 7, next year with Day bailed on condition she does not contact her two co-defendants.

Ex-RFU Executive Banned From Twickenham

Twickenham Ban: Grenville-Jones

A former England Rugby executive has been banned from Twickenham - under threat of imprisonment - following the bitter break-up of his relationship with the sporting body’s legal chief.

Ex-RFU Commercial Director Robert Spencer Grenville-Jones, 47, was arrested and charged with stalking solicitor and mother-of-two Kate Mowbray and has now received a court-imposed five-year restraining order.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court yesterday heard the couple had a turbulent relationship with Grenville-Jones smashing items; kicking glass door panels and throwing a wine bottle and suitcase at Ms Mowbray.

She is currently Head of Legal at England Rugby, having been senior legal counsel to the RFU between January, 2020 and March, 2024.

Grenville-Jones, of Clares Cottage, Higher Bockhampton, Dorset initially appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court last April, charged with stalking his ex on dates after March 2, last year.

He was also charged with causing criminal damage to the glass panels to the front door of her south-west London property on March 2, 2024.

Grenville-Jones always denied the charges and was due to stand trial this week before a jury until Ms Mowbray refused to give evidence and the Crown Prosecution Service withdrew the case.

However, Judge Mark Bryant-Herron KC announced: “It is clear on the evidence I have reviewed that there is, in my judgement, an ongoing risk that in absence of a Restraining Order this defendant is likely to pursue a course of conduct in relation to this lady and her children that amounts to harassment.”

The court also heard Grenville-Jones made a completely false report of child abuse against Ms Mowbray to social services, which she described as “malicious.”

“She has made a statement, which I have to treat as hearsay, in which she describes how her ex-partner assaulted her during their three-year relationship and since it ended in March, last year he has been harassing and stalking her,” said the Judge.

“She describes this defendant becoming more physically and verbally abusive. In December, 2022 there was a heated argument, during which he accused her of cheating.

“In February, 2023 she recalls Mr Grenville-Jones throwing her out of their hotel room and a bottle of wine after her and there was criminal damage at her house.

Legal Chief: Kate Mowbray

“In August, 2023, after the defendant lost his job, there was an argument in a pub and when they got home Ms Mowbray says she was pushed hard into a wall, giving her a black eye.

“Also a porcelain object was thrown across the kitchen by this defendant and smashed.

“By September, 2023 she describes erratic behaviour and abusive messages.

“She describes the defendant grabbing her by the shoulders during an argument and she considered packing her bags and leaving the house and says he also cut up her work pass.

“He grabbed the suitcase and threw the contents across the room, with the suitcase hitting her in the face and she says he then smashed her computer monitor and put his hands around her throat.

“The relationship came to and end formally on March 2, last year and shortly afterwards he attended her property and she heard the doorbell going repeatedly, with Mr Grenville-Jones peering through the door.

“She says she opened the front door and asked him to leave and he barged into the house and was, in her words ‘angry and aggressive.’

“He picked up a Tesco shopping bag and threw it outside and she closed the front door on him. He kicked the door repeatedly, damaging the glass and she describes herself as ‘feeling petrified.’

“Between March and April he sent her messages, which she describes as nasty and some as loving. There were over two hundred WhatsApp messages between April 8 and 13.”

The court heard that since the formal break-up Grenville-Jones attended her property uninvited on four occasions.

This included a visit on April 12, last year. “He knocked on the door and she hid behind the sofa and he then messaged her from the doorstep. 

“She called the police and he was asked to leave.”

“She says in January, this year she was alerted to child services and it was explained to her that Mr Grenville-Jones made allegations off child abuse against her, regarding her own children.

“She describes his actions in reporting her to the police, who took no further action, as ‘malicious.’

“The prosecution are not proceeding against you and I have considered it appropriate to impose a Restraining Order on you,” Judge Bryant-Herron told Grenville-Jones.

“Five years is the necessary length of the order to meet the risk I have identified. This is a court order and any breach is an offence punishable by imprisonment.”

Grenville-Jones is prohibited from contacting Ms Mowbray and her two children from a previous relationship; attending their residence and school and Ms Mowbray’s workplace - Twickenham Stadium.

Earlier prosecutor John Clifford told the court: “The Crown have reviewed the case and in light of the withdrawal statement in which she makes it clear she does not wish to support the prosecution because she wishes to get on with her life, this is not a case where the complainant should be summonsed.

“There was a previous solicitors undertaking by the defendant not to contact the complainant and he breached that undertaking and breached his bail in May, last year when he contacted her.

“This defendant reported her in regards to allegations of child abuse that were totally fabricated and false.

“In her victim impact statement she describes how the events have affected her and she now wishes to move on and for her and her children to live in peace.

“She says: ‘I am absolutely terrified that someone I have not seen in ten months should try to impact my child custody.’

“The terms of the order have been agreed. The officer in the case has spoken to her and she supports the conditions.”

Grenville-Jones’ lawyer Danielle Borden said: “The defendant accepts it is necessary to make the order to ensure there is no contact between these individuals.”

High Tech Fraudster Blasted Tube Passengers With Spam Texts

A high-tech fraudster, who used an electronic SMS blaster stored in a large suitcase to spam rush hour commuters with fraudulent text messages, has been jailed.

Kong Ji Chen, 31, received twenty-four weeks imprisonment for bombarding tube train passengers with spam text messages as they travelled on the busy Victoria Line.

Inner London Crown Court heard on Tuesday, July 1 at approximately 5.30pm a passenger received a spam text message.

The text claimed to be from Parcel Mail and invited the reader to click on a link to update their details in order to receive a package. 

Users who did so would then be asked to enter in their personal details.

The passenger was familiar with SMS blasters and grew suspicious of Chen when he noticed him loitering with a large suitcase, not getting on any trains or moving on from the platform.

Local officers were alerted and arrived at Victoria Underground station, where Chen was found sitting on a bench next to a large green suitcase. 

Chen claimed he was waiting for a friend, and claimed the suitcase had been given to him earlier in the day by another man.

Officers searched the suitcase and upon opening it saw a portable battery attached to an electrical unit with a green flashing light and a black antenna. 

Chen was then immediately arrested and taken into custody.

A technical security adviser reported that there were 165 reports to mobile phone carriers of the same spam text message coming from the same number between 2.38pm and 10.37pm on July 1.

Investigating officer DC Adrienne Curzon said: "I'm very pleased with the result in this case. Chen targeted potentially thousands of commuters, attempting to harvest their data.

“The conviction was achieved thanks to the close work our officers undertook with mobile network operators including BT, Virgin Media O2, and Vodafone as well as the National Cyber Security Centre and Ofcom.

"Thanks to the vigilance of one member of the public, our officers were able to act and prevent more people from being targeted and becoming victims of Chen's fraudulent endeavour.”

City Petrol Broker's Road Rage Race Rant

A City oil and petrol broker shouted: “You f***ing n*****,” at a black driver, who undertook her in the bus lane at a busy roundabout, court heard.

Letizia Bonuglia, 45, who is employed in the heart of the Square Mile as a Gasoline Med Broker - specialising in the Mediterranean market - then repeated the racial slur when challenged.

Fortunately, her words were captured on the victim’s dash cam and Bonuglia - who lives in a £900,000 apartment in Cambridge Mansions, near Battersea Park - was arrested and charged.

At Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court she pleaded guilty to one count of racially aggravated harassment in York Road, Wandsworth on June 23.

Prosecutor Nathan Fuller told the court there was a line of traffic, including Bonuglia, approaching Wandsworth roundabout when victim Carlos Wilson used the bus line to drive past on the inside.

“He was undertaking a number of vehicles, including this defendant, and at the lights they came to a stop and there was a disagreement between the two of them.

“He said he was allowed to drive down the inside and she called the victim a ‘f***ing n*****,’ and when he asked her if that is what she said, she repeated the words: ‘Yes. You’re a n*****.’

“Both of them called the police and officers describe this defendant as ‘distressed and crying’.

“She said the other driver had tried to crash into her, but this is not true.”

Bench Chairman Gilles Casse announced: “This has been described as a form of road rage and a ten to thirty second burst of anger as a result of someone driving in the bus lane and then attempting to cut across.”

He told Bonuglia, who attended Sapienza University, Rome: “We are going to fine you. We have heard what you earn and give you credit for your guilty plea.

“We will be uplifting the fine due to the racial element.”

Bonuglia was fined £2,800, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £1,120 victim surcharge. 

Another Speeding Conviction For 'Top Gear' Producer

Andy Wilman with classic Top Gear line-up

Porsche-driving ‘Top Gear’ producer Andy Wilman has clocked up yet another speeding offence after being caught on camera travelling at 30mph in a 20mph zone.

The 63 year-old did not appear at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court, where he received three penalty points and was fined £666, with £130 costs and ordered to pay a £266 victim surcharge.

He was executive producer of the BBC show between 2002 and 2015 before leaving with old school pal Jeremy Clarkson to create spin-off ‘The Grand Tour’, broadcast on Amazon Prime.

Wilman, who lives in a £6m house in Lyford Road, Wandsworth Common pleaded guilty to driving his grey 2.9 litre Porsche Macan in excess of the 20mph limit on the A41 Finchley Road, Hampstead, near the junction with Parsifal Road on April 21.

At the same court in May he received a six-month disqualification for his fourth speeding conviction in three years, meaning the latest three points were imposed a few days after getting his licence back.

Prosecutor Kari Williams told the court: “It was 4.46pm and a speed camera recorded the driver at 30mph in  a twenty.

“Mr Wilman was disqualified in May, this year as a totter and the licence does not currently have any live points.”

Bench Chairwoman Wendy Preston announced: “He was disqualified in May and this offence pre-dates it.

“In the case of Mr Wilman his licence will be endorsed with three penalty points and will be fined.

“We are taking into account his guilty plea. It would have been a thousands pounds, but we are taking into account the plea.”

Wilman’s solicitors wrote to the court, indicating he would be admitting the offence.

Wilman became the unofficial ‘fourth member’ of the classic Top Gear line-up of Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond is now working on Clarkson’s Farm in the Cotswolds.

He was educated at £52,000-a year Repton School, Derbyshire - also attended by Clarkson - and has also produced ‘Clarkson’s Farm’.

Working extensively with his school chum Wilman has also produced ‘Jeremy Clarkson’s Motorworld’; ‘Jeremy Clarkson’s Extreme Machines’; ‘Jeremy Clarkson: Meet the Neighbours’ and ‘Jeremy Clarkson: The Greatest Raid of All Time’.

BAFTA-nominated Wilman, an £800,000 a year broadcasting executive was given twenty-eight days to pay.

Bagged!: Square Mile Pub Thieves Captured

Thieves: Bourhar (L) Kraifa (R)

Two more foreign thieves, who targeted City workers enjoying a drink, have been locked-up for stealing a woman's bag.

The pair struck in the heart of the Square Mile at the The Magpie pub, New Street, near Liverpool Street station.

Hecham Bourhar, 29, and Mohammed Kraifa, 34, acted together to steal the woman's bag that was lying on the floor underneath a table.

Bourhar entered the City of London despite being subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order, banning him from the Square Mile for previous offending.

The dishonest duo, both of St. Georges Court, Wood Street, Walthamstow were sentenced for theft of the bag on Tuesday, November 11.

On that evening they were captured on CCTV taking the bag, which contained a LENOVO laptop computer, headphones with microphone, clothing, plus other items worth £2,000.

They each received eighteen weeks imprisonment, but Bourhar will not serve any extra time for breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order as his eight-week sentence for that offence will run concurrently.

Kraifa hooked his foot inside the strap of the bag, dragging it out from underneath the table while the nearby victim was completely unaware.

Bourhar then swiftly picked up the bag and the pair exited the premises.

Sergeant James Wood, of the Proactive Acquisitive Crime Team at the City of London Police, said: “By using all our resources in tracking down bag thieves, we have already made significant arrests which have led to a number of successful prosecutions. 

“This is another great result, with two bag thieves behind bars.

“Our dedicated officers are working tirelessly to identify and apprehend individuals who target those who live, work and visit the Square Mile.”