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.”

Two-Timing Boyfriend Sentenced For Breaking Partner's Nose

Punch: Heaven-Lee Roach

A two-timing love rat, who punched his live-in girlfriend while she was face timing the ‘other woman’ - breaking her nose in two places - has been sentenced.

Heaven-Lee Roach, 35, met the second woman on Tinder and has always insisted he was using lawful self-defence when his girlfriend punched him in the chest during a row.

The long-running case finally concluded at Inner London Crown Court last week, where Roach stood two jury trials.

Roach, of Doulton House, Lambeth Walk, Lambeth received a twelve-month community order, which includes 250 hours community service.

Recorder Natasha Peter also ordered him to pay £3,000 compensation to victim Lici Parra in £300 monthly instalments.

Roach was convicted of inflicting actual bodily harm on operations assistant Ms Parra at her Saperton Walk home, Lambeth on November 8, 2021.

During the first trial prosecutor Maria Culling told the jury Roach’s reaction to being struck was excessive and could not be considered lawful self-defence.

“The Crown say he didn’t need to use self-defence at all. A big adult man delivering a blow with a clenched fist is not proportionate.”

Giving evidence from behind a screen Ms Parra told the trial she dated Roach for two years after meeting him on social media.

“We were in a tricky point because a week before I discovered he was on Tinder.”

Girlfriend: Lici Parra

She received no replies to her texts to Roach, who later told the court he was at the cinema with his second girlfriend and his phone was in ‘Airplane Mode’.

Ms Parra quickly became concerned Roach was not responding. “He would usually say he was suicidal and I started to have anxiety at work.”

She went to an old address of his and an older woman answered the door. “She introduced herself as the mother of his girlfriend and I was shocked, it was not what I expected.

“The woman explained that he was with her daughter and was not answering the messages because he was with her.

“I did not want to be lied to anymore. I wanted the truth.”

She met up with Roach near her flat shortly afterwards. “He said he was low and felt like killing himself and that is why he was not answering the messages.

“He was getting aggressive and removed his rings because he wanted to punch something, he said and did not want to damage his rings,” explained Ms Parra.

She phoned the second woman via a video call and told Roach: “Look who I am speaking with.”

“I felt very sad and upset and that he needed to leave my home and that he was a liar,’ she told the jury. “The other woman broke down and started to cry.

“I said he was a fraud, but he was just arrogant and cold and I tried to spit, but nothing came out of my mouth and he laughed and said: ‘It’s just air.’

“I pushed him away because he was getting very close and he came closer very aggressively.”

The pair returned to Ms Parra’s home. “We went upstairs and he was laughing at me and I think I pushed him again.

“He straight away punched me with his fist towards my nose, two or three times.

“I remember that I was very scared and that I needed to run away and I just started bleeding straight away.

“His eyes were empty, he was a monster.”

She said Roach snapped: “Don’t punch me,” before knocking her onto the bed and following up with a second blow.

“All the time the other woman was on my phone and my nose would not stop bleeding,” added Ms Parra.

Roach told the jury: “I was in a relationship with both women at the same time.”

Her met the second woman on Tinder and claimed he was attempting to break-up with her that day.”

The prosecutor told the court Roach was questioned by the police. “He claims she became aggressive and he had to use self-defence.”