Crime Writer Linda La Plante The Prime Suspect In Her Own Prosecution

Court Out: Linda La Plante & Nick Freeman

Legendary crime author Lynda La Plante found herself the Prime Suspect after her car was caught speeding five times near her £3.4m home.

The 83 year-old novelist and screenwriter appeared in person at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court today, where she admitted being the driver behind the wheel on each occasion.

She was represented by lawyer-to-the-stars Nick Freeman - known as Mr Loophole - for his success rate in beating driving prosecutions, but he failed to save her from a driving ban.

The multi award-winning writer, of Ravenswood Court, Kingston Hill, Kingston-upon-Thames pleaded guilty to exceeding the 20mph speed limit on A308 Kingston Hill on April 6, 11 and 19 and March 5 this year and November 2, 2025.

She was disqualified from driving for six months, given fifteen penalty points and fined £3,330, with £130 costs, plus a £1,332 victim surcharge.

On each occasion she was driving a 17 year-old one-litre white Toyota - taking her dog Theo for a walk in playing fields in nearby Roehampton.

The Liverpool native stepped into the witness box to argue ‘exceptional hardship’ if she was disqualified, claiming she would immediately shut down her business - La Plante Global - ending the jobs of her four staff.

Lynda already had nine penalty points on her driving licence for three speeding offences on the same stretch of road in June, 2023 and June and July, 2025.

The latest offences were all for triggering two speeding cameras for driving at between 24mph and 27mph.

She told the court the early-morning dog walk is a vital part of her ten-hour working day, which begins at 6.00am.

If she could no longer drive to the playing fields she would re-home Theo, her eighteen month-old St. Bernard Wolfhound cross.

The double Emmy Award-winner and BAFTA recipient said she also needs to drive to meet contacts for her work research and needs to think alone without the chatter of a driver.

“Sometimes I meet in motorway cafes,” explaining she also drives to prisons and homeless shelters to meet contacts.

“I am ashamed of hearing speeding fives times, but I am an exceptionally good driver and to be banned for six months would be exceedingly difficult for me.

“I would let Theo go and I would close my business,” added La Plante, explaining she is the author of “sixty or seventy” books and is currently writing four novels. 

Lavender Hill Job: Nick Freeman failed to save Linda La Plante's licence

She has owned several large breeds, including two Irish Wolfhound's; a Great Dame and a Russian Wolfhound and stressed she needed her licence to continue training and exercising Theo.

La Plante told the magistrates the death of her previous dog two years ago “broke my heart”, confirming “very much so,” when asked if Theo was a protection dog.

“I live by myself and he is very strong willed and takes a lot of training. With very big breeds it is important the owner is in control, rather than simply being walked by trainers and walkers.

“He needs to know his owner. With a dog that size he needs to be very well trained.

“I would have him re-homed if I couldn’t care for him and the emotional toll of that would damage my career as a writer. It is very solitary work and I work exceptionally hard and I would stop.”

La Plante explained she needs to keep her licence to meet important contacts, often in the criminal world. “If I get a contact that will talk to me I go to them for research.”

Dismissing the internet as no substitute for “face to face” meetings, the writer stated that is how she researches criminals and domestic abuse survivors.

“That is how I have worked since Prime Suspect and I hope to keep that,” adding she travels to prisons, homeless shelters and other unusual locations.

“It is difficult when you meet forms of criminality. They like to be very choosey about the location. My honesty and truth with these people has borne incredible details in my work.”

Her lawyer Mr Freeman asked why as somebody as successful as La Plante, who could easily afford a driver, wants to continue driving herself.

“I’ve used them in the past for showbiz functions, but for my work I never have. To drive A to B to meet someone to give details I need to hold onto that.

“I don’t want a driver talking to me. I don’t want that.

“That walk with my dog is important to me. It sheds everything and I come back refreshed.”

La Plante became emotional when recalling the previous dog she lost two years ago. “That Wolfhound would come up to my office and know I’d been working for hours.

“That paw would come up and, bang. Nothing affected me like that dog dying, he was in the prime of life. I lost it.”

Asking to keep her driving licence, she added: “I’d find it difficult on the tube and on the bus. I think I would  lose so much of my life and that walk, I need that exercise and that walk with my dog.”

La Plante claimed the stretch she’s repeatedly caught speeding on has so much confusing signage and road furniture it is difficult to fully concentrate on the 20mph limit.

“I truthfully declare before God, there will be a tragedy. There are university students jumping out and schoolchildren.”

Mr Freeman told the court, regarding Theo: “There is a very strong bond, it’s basically her life. If she was disqualified she would make the decision to close her business and there are innocent victims of that.

“The four employees would certainly suffer ‘exceptional hardship’ if you say to four people: ‘You are out of work.’ They may have mortgages, that would be a consequence.

“She is a lady with vitality and if you disqualify her a huge portion of her life will be taken away. It is a huge part of who she is.

“If you take her licence away at this age, six months off the road takes away her independence and after six months there is a loss of confidence.”

Before La Plante gave evidence he told the magistrates: “You may think this is a course of conduct with a flagrant disregard for speed limits.

“This area is fairly complex. There are an enormous amount of hazards that require a high degree of mental processing.

“There are a massive amount of visual distractions, eight or nine schools and universities, nine or ten pedestrian crossings.

“It is easy to become obsessive about the 20mph limit, but it is more important to be aware of what is going on around you.

“She has inadvertently allowed herself to go over the speed limit.

“She has travelled more than a million miles in her life and drives extensively throughout the country and abroad and in sixty-six years of driving all of her offences, bar one, are on this road.”

Bench Chairwoman Mandy Lamplough told the veteran writer: “We have considered the impact on Theo’s training, on the employees of La Plante Global and particularly on your personal well-being, but we don’t find ‘exceptional hardship’ has been made out.

“The bench feel there are alternatives to ameliorate the impact of a six-month driving ban. You will be disqualified for six months.”

After studying acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art La Plante turned to writing and received two Emmy Awards for Prime Suspect, plus a BAFTA award for television writing.

A recipient of a CBE La Plante made her breakthrough in 1983 with television drama ‘Widows’ and Prime Suspect ran for multiple series between 1993 and 2006.

Hotel Room Swoop: City Of London Sex Offender Snared

A Portuguese hotel guest, who thought he was sexually grooming a 14 year-old girl from his Square Mile room, was visited by City of London police as he lay in bed.

Andre Medeiros, 39, regularly visited London for work, but will not be returning home soon after receiving three years imprisonment for sexual communication with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

On May 28, last year used the name 'CHILL_VIBES' and initiated conversation with an online predator hunter group's decoy.

Posing on a social media platform as a 14 year-old girl, the group communicated with Medeiros.

He responded by stating that he was a 16 year-old boy, named 'Alex'.

Messages increased in a sexually explicit nature, with Medeiros sending links to videos on a porn site and asking the 'girl' to take a picture of herself in the bath.

The group forwarded the messages to police and it was discovered Medeiros was sending the communications from a hotel in the City and he was arrested on August 13.

Detective Constable Natalie Schofield, City of London Police, said: “Medeiros has a clear sexual interest in young girls and the custodial sentence handed down to him reflects the danger that he poses. 

“In this instance, Medeiros was speaking to a decoy but he did not know that and it was clear what his intentions were from his depraved sexual messages."

Another Chinese 'SMS Blaster' Text Fraudster Convicted

Another Chinese text fraudster behind a fake HMRC message that aimed to dupe unsuspecting recipients, has been convicted.

Di Li, 43, of Wentworth Park, Finchley employed an accomplice to drive around north London with an 'SMS Blaster' device, which delivered fake messages from the UK's taxman.

He was tracked down after officers from the City of London Police's Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU) investigated the accomplice.

Li is now starting a four-year prison sentence after an Inner London Crown Court jury convicted him of conspiracy to defraud and providing articles for use in fraud.

The 'SMS Blaster' is a high-level piece of equipment, which acts as an illegitimate mobile phone mast. 

It forces nearby mobile devices to connect to it, diverting them away from their legitimate network providers. 

By doing so, criminals can bypass safeguards designed to block malicious sender names and harmful links, enabling them to deliver fraudulent messages directly to victims.

Officers near Li's accomplice received the fake HMRC text messages and arrested him.

Detective Inspector Andrew Little, from the DCPCU, said:

“This case highlights the role of those working behind the scenes to enable fraud at scale. 

“While individuals may be deployed on the ground, it is organisers who facilitate and sustain this criminal activity.

“SMS blaster devices represent a significant threat, allowing criminals to bypass protections and target members of the public with convincing scam messages.

“We urge the public to remain vigilant. If you receive a suspicious text message, do not engage with it. Instead, forward it to 7726, a free reporting service, and block the number. 

These reports help us and our partners to disrupt fraud and protect others.”

The investigation found that Li facilitated his fellow-Chinese accomplice's involvement by arranging access to the SMS blaster device, assisting with obtaining a vehicle, and supporting his day-to-day living costs. 

The accomplice, who had accrued significant gambling debts after arriving in the UK as a student, was instructed that he could repay what he owed by driving routes and operating the equipment as directed.

The device was installed in the vehicle, and the accomplice was provided with routes and timings to follow while deploying the equipment. 

This “testing” phase was coordinated remotely by Li and others involved in the wider network.

On August 20, 2025 officers executed a warrant at Li’s home address, where digital evidence was recovered showing communications between Li and his accomplice relating to the deployment of the SMS blaster. 

At trial, Li claimed that the device was intended for “advertising” purposes and described himself as a middleman acting on behalf of an individual based in China. 

Flasher Onboard Essex Train

Police are hunting a flasher after a mystery man exposed himself to a female train passenger, travelling through Essex.

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 him. 

At approximately 6.15pm on Sunday May 10 a man exposed himself to a woman on a train at North Fambridge, Essex, before leaving the service.

Detectives believe the man in the images may have information that could help their investigation.

Anyone who recognises him is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 469 of 10 May.

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

A Pain On The Train: ASBO Phone Snatcher Hunted

An early hours nuisance train passenger, who annoyed others on a London-bound service, snatched another traveller's phone and assaulted the victim when he retrieved it.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this image of their suspect and are treating the incident as a robbery investigation.

Investigating officers are appealing to members of the public to assist them in identifying the unknown male.

The incident happened at around 4:30am on Friday, May 8 when a man boarded a train at St Albans station with a group of friends.

Once he was on board, he began acting in an antisocial manner towards other passengers.

He walked past the victim before turning back and suddenly grabbing his phone from his hand and walking off.

The victim got up and went after him and managed to retrieve his phone, but was assaulted by the man as he did so.

The man then then moved down the train before he left at Cricklewood station in north-west London.

Officers believe the man in the image could have information that may assist their enquiries.

Anyone who recognises him is asked to text BTP on 61016, or call 0800 40 50 40, using the reference 61 of 8 May.

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

Prisoner Illegally Rented Out Her Council Flat While Pocketing Housing Benefit

Rajanee Brown (l) & Shevvanice Ruddock-Brown (r)

A prisoner serving a three-year sentence for a death crash, illegally sublet her council flat and continued receiving housing benefit while locked-up, a court heard.

Mother-of-two Rajanee Brown, 31, collected £13,300 in rent, plus £8,144 in housing benefit and council tax benefit while in HMP Bronzefield and HMP Downview.

At Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court last week she received eighteen months imprisonment, suspended for two years and must complete twenty days of rehabilitation and a six-month mental health treatment programme.

On the day of her trial she pleaded guilty to dishonestly sub-letting the flat between September 14, 2021 and September 23, 2022.

Brown received the London Borough of Wandsworth flat in Dalton House, Balham Hill in July, 2017 on condition it remain her main permanent home, give notice if she intended to spend over twelve weeks away and not sub-let.

However, in October, 2021 she was jailed after her conviction for causing death by dangerous driving when she crashed in the early hours after leaving a Battersea nightclub.

She collided with a coach on the opposite side of the road, killing passenger Aliyah Roach, a 24 year-old mother-of-one and has arrived at her various court appearances in a wheelchair.

Anticipating imprisonment, Brown rented the flat to a homeless male for £950 per month.

The estate manager did not see Brown for nearly two years and needed to get in touch.

“The estate manager received an email back saying Brown was in Manchester, looking after her grandmother,” said prosecutor Nick Ham.

“There is no evidence who sent the email. The inference is Brown either got access to email in custody or somebody on her behalf was doing it.

“Emails received from Brown and her ‘aunt’ said she failed to attend an interview because her grandfather had a terminal illness and there were also purported phone calls from Brown, but it is not known who made those calls.”

When Brown was quizzed about the sub-let on February 9, 2023 she made no comment, but in a statement claimed she told the estate manager she was going to prison and enquired about ‘caretaker’ arrangements.

“She said she was unaware the flat’s occupier was paying her rent and suggested the tenant was ‘muscling in’ on the property,” added Mr Ham.

The council are trying to claim back the losses through the civil courts and incurred £41,492 bringing the prosecution against Brown, who will not have to pay a penny of those costs.

Brown says most of the money went to her sister Shevvanice Ruddock-Brown, 33, who cared for her children, aged eleven and thirteen years-old, while she was in prison.

Ruddock-Brown was also charged with the illegal sub-let, but this was dropped by the prosecution.

“Her life was falling apart and she knew she was going to prison and had to make arrangements with her sister, who would need support for providing care,” said Joseph Sinclair, defending.

“She did not want her children going into care and these were the desperate, sad, unfortunate circumstances she found herself in.

“She left prison and had not engaged in further offending and has her life back on track. She is living on a precipice financially, has council rent and council tax arrears and £8,000 in credit card debt.”

Brown is currently unemployed and in receipt of Universal Credit.

Judge Georgina Kent said: “The arrangements to sub-let took place at a time when Brown would have been expressing remorse for her previous offence and was engaged in committing further offences.

“The estate manager received emails purporting to be from you that were deceitful and she was never informed by you that you would be away from the property,” the judge told Brown.

“This is a serious offence. Social housing is scarce and there are many people who need social housing who cannot get it and you sub-let your social housing for profit.

“This type of dishonesty has a serious impact on the community and at the time you were preparing for sentencing at this court and were informed how important it was not to commit offences.

“You have had a difficult personal life and sought to improve your life by gaining a teaching qualification, which you will be unable to use, due to these offences.

“Were you to go into custody now that would have a severe impact on your children.”

Jail For Railway Copper Cable Crook

A prolific thief, who continued to steal cable from the railway while on bail for the same offence, has been jailed for two years.

Iulian Iacob, 36, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of theft of railway cabling, two counts of handling stolen goods and multiple counts of going equipped for theft.

He was sentenced to two years in prison when he appeared at Luton Crown Court.

The court heard Iacob was first arrested on July 30, last year when he was caught with railway cable and a backpack full of tools in Millbrook, Bedfordshire. 

Police were called to an incident of cable theft in progress and when an officer arrived at the scene, he spotted Iacob who matched the description of the offender.

He attempted to flee from police on his bike but was immediately apprehended and arrested.

He was bailed and then arrested again on October 28, while on bail for the first offence, after a resident saw him climbing a fence at the rear of a property in Flitwick that leads onto the railway.

Police were called and he was found in the undergrowth stripping electrical cable and putting the copper inside a rucksack.

While failing to answer police bail for these two arrests he then continued to steal cable, with DNA evidence from a drinks bottle and a lighter linking him to two separate incidents in Harpenden.

In March this year he was spotted by a dog walker behaving suspiciously close to the railway in Harpenden.

The same dog walker spotted Iacob again on April 2 and called police after she saw him starting a fire and stealing cable from the railway at Harpenden Oval.

He was again arrested after being found covered in soot with bags filled with copper piping and cabling and admitted planning to sell it onto a scrap dealer. 

PC David Sheldrick said: “Iacob has been a persistent nuisance to the railway. 

“Despite already being caught in the act twice and arrested, this did little to deter him from re offending and stealing more copper and cable from the railway.

“Cable theft is a dangerous, costly and disruptive crime that simply will not be tolerated.

“The cost incurred to the railway due to Iacob’s persistent offending is passed onto you and me and everyone who uses the rail network.

“Thanks to the report from the vigilant dog walker Jacob was arrested for the final time and put before the courts.

“If you see anything suspicious on the railway, please call us on 0800 40 50 40 or text us discreetly on 61016.”

Danny Matthews. operations director for Network Rail East Midlands Route, said: “Cable theft is not a victimless crime. 

“It puts offenders at serious risk of injury and can cause significant disruption for our passengers and freight customers, while costing thousands of pounds to repair the damage caused.

“This individual repeatedly targeted the railway despite previous arrests, so I welcome this sentence and the close partnership working between Network Rail and British Transport Police that helped bring him before the courts.

“We're committed to tackling cable theft across our route and would encourage anyone who sees suspicious activity on or near the railway to report it immediately. 

“Information from members of the public is often vital in helping us catch offenders and keep the railway safe and reliable for everyone.”

Big Brother Versus Little Sister

Outside Court: Hanah Haji

Big Brother star Hanah Haji pummelled her little sister’s face with punches during a row over her bringing men to the family home, a court heard.

The 25 year-old appeared in 2024’s Series 21 of the reality show, where she went on hunger strike in protest over the show’s food.

Ealing Magistrates’ Court saw an image of a cut above the left eye of her 19 year-old sister Mona Shiekh, along with bruising to her face.

Former HR consultant Haji, of Reade Court, Stanley Road, Acton was convicted of assaulting her sister at the address on July 16, last year and was bailed to August 24 for a probation report.

Mona told the trial from behind a screen it was 7.30pm and she was ill and in her bedroom when she refused Haji’s request to go to the shops for her.

“She muttered: ‘What the f***?’ and I could hear her say: ‘I hope you die from your condition,’ as she shouted in the hallway.

“She barged in, slamming the door against the wall. She pushed me onto the bed and I covered my face and she started banging on my face.

“She was punching. I could feel the fists and I was screaming.”

Mona audio-recorded the foul-mouthed row on her phone, which was played in court, revealing the shouting and swearing between the sisters.

“You’re a whore as well,” shouted Mona on the recording, telling the court: “She was bringing men around the house.

“If you’re going to have sexual intercourse in the morning multiple times with men while I’m in the house you need to have boundaries.”

In her statement the younger sister said: “I’m really scared of her and can’t go back to my home address safely.”

Haji claimed she only punched her sister in self-defence when she was scratched to the arms and kicked to the legs, but the victim denied this.

“In the past she has got physical with me, tapping me on the shoulder and spitting in my face,” said Mona. “It was not self-defence, it was unprovoked.”

Haji showed the court images of injuries she claimed were inflicted by Mona, adding: “We were in each other’s face. She scratched me and was kicking me.

“After a bit I punched her because she was kicking and scratching me and a year later I still have those bruises to my legs.

“I punched her and punched her again and she screamed and I backed off. I’m not trying to beat up my little sister and I am not a spitter, that’s disgusting.

“I did not want to hurt her physically. I don’t blame her, I blame the hostile environment we were in.”

Bench chairwoman Caroline Newell announced: “You admitted punching your sister twice in the face and we don’t believe you were required to use that level of force that resulted in the injuries sustained by your sister.”

The court also heard that as a juvenile in 2016, when she was 15 year-old Haji was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm and received a rehabilitation order, which included an electronically-tagged curfew.

Docklands Light Railway Passengers Halt Sexual Assaults On Female

A sex attack on a female Docklands Light Railway (DLR) passenger by a mystery male was only interrupted when two other train users stepped in.

At approximately 10.30pm on Friday, May 29 the woman was on the platform at Canary Wharf when a man approached and began to sexually harass her.

He then followed her onto the DLR service and sat next to her.

As she tried to move away he grabbed onto her and sexually assaulted her, refusing to let her go.

The man only stopped when two other passengers came over to help and he eventually got off the train at King George V station.

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

Detectives would like to speak to the man pictured, as they believed he may have information that could help their investigation.

Anyone who recognises him is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 153 of 2 June.

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

Woman Molested Onboard Northern Line Tube Train

A female tube train passenger has been molested by a mystery male while travelling on a Northern Line service.

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

Investigating officers are appealing to members of the public to assist them identify him.

At around 5.30pm on Thursday, April 23, the victim boarded the train, which was travelling towards Tufnell Park and stood by the door.

The woman was then sexually assaulted by a man who got off the train at Tufnell Park Underground station.

Detectives would like to speak to the man pictured, as they believed he may have information that could help their investigation.

Anyone who recognises him is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 491 of 23 April.

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

Tajikistan Train Predator Targeted 13 Year-Old Girl

A sexual predator, who targeted a 13 year-old girl onboard a train, has received twelve years for what investigating police describe as an “abhorrent” series of offences.

Tajikistan national Abdulmanon Aliev,50, of Rye Lane, Peckham was convicted after a week-long trial at Inner London Crown Court.

The jury found him guilty of two counts of assault by penetration; three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted rape.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

On the afternoon of June 16, last year the young girl was travelling from Southend to London's Fenchurch Street station.

During the journey she was approached by Aliev, who deliberately sat opposite her and attempted to use a translator app on his phone to communicate with her.

She moved away from him to sit in a window seat, but he followed the teenager and sat next to her in an aisle seat, blocking her.

Aliev forced himself upon the victim and subjected her to a prolonged sexual assault until the service arrived at its destination.

She left the train and boarded another heading back out of London, leaving Aliev behind at the station.

She reported what she endured to members of the public, who encountered her in a distressed state, and the police were informed shortly after.

British Transport Police (BTP) detectives launched an urgent investigation to identify Aliev, trawling hours of CCTV footage to track his movements before and after the attack.

The manhunt ended on June 27 when plain clothes officers spotted him in Peckham, South London, and he was immediately arrested.

His home address was searched and officers located and seized the clothes he was wearing on the day of the attack.

BTP Detective Constable Elizabeth Cahill said: “Aliev singled out a vulnerable child and subjected her to one of the most abhorrent sexual assaults I’ve ever investigated.

“While the focus of attention will rightly be on him as the despicable sexual predator that he is, I want to pay tribute to the brave victim who reported him to police.

“His conviction and 12-year jail term would not have been possible without her account of what happened and her willingness to support our investigation.

“We take every sexual offence report extremely seriously, and we’ll stop at nothing to ensure vile offenders like Aliev are put behind bars where they belong.”

Woman Molested Onboard Packed Elizabeth Line Train

A female passenger on a crowded Elizabeth Line train has been molested by an unknown male, who hid his actions amongst the packed carriage.

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

Investigating officers are appealing to members of the public to assist them identify him.

At approximately 7.30pm on Sunday, April 19 a man boarded the Westbound train at Tottenham Court Road.

When the train arrived at Bond Street he sexually assaulted the woman, attempting to disguise his movements within the crowd.

He then got off the train at Ealing Broadway.

Detectives would like to speak to the man pictured, as they believe he may have information that could help their investigation.

Anyone who recognises him is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 115 of 20 April.

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