Lexus Motorist Caught Drink-Driving Again

A security guard, collecting a colleague after a night shift in the City of London, was caught drink-driving after police stopped his Lexus in the early hours and hit with a three-year road ban.

Zimbabwe-born learner driver Nhamo Cecil Matowe, 41, of Belgrave Road, Ilford, Essex, clocked up his second such conviction while driving without L-plates and a qualified passenger.

Matowe pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrastes’ Court (pictured) to driving with excess alcohol on his breath in St. Boltoph Street on October 15. His reading was 44 microgrammes of alcohol – the legal limit is 35.

He also admitted driving otherwise than in accordance with his provisional licence.

The court heard Matowe failed a roadside breath-test when pulled over by officers at 5am. In April 2001 he was banned for two years after being caught driving while nearly double the limit.

“Without thinking I agreed to help when someone asked me to pick them up from working nights,” he told the JP’s. “I assumed I was not over the limit at the time.”

He was also fined £360, plus £90 costs.

Song And Dance Man's Champagne Drink-Drive Rap

One of the country’s most-loved and respected musical theatre artists – who has starred in a string of hit West End shows – was caught drink-driving by police after quaffing champagne at a dinner party.

Actor and singer Robert Meadmore, 54, of Rokeby Road, Brockley, has appeared in ‘Phantom of the Opera’ ‘Brigadoon’ ‘My Fair Lady’ ‘Bless the Bride’ ‘The Gondoliers’ ‘Oklahoma!’ ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ ‘Metropolitan Mikado’ and ‘Camelot’.

Romford-born Meadmore (pictured) pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol on his breath in Farringdon Street, Central London on October 14.

Prosecutor Mrs. Alexa Morgan told City of London Magistrates’ Court it was ten minutes to midnight when police – routinely checking documents – stopped the Saab driven by Meadmore.

“There was a smell of alcohol on his breath and his speech was slurred,” added the prosecutor. “He told officers he had two glasses of champagne at a bar and he then failed the roadside breath test.”

At the police station Meadmore was breath-tested and gave an alcohol reading of 53 microgrammes of alcohol – the legal limit is 35.

“I went to a dinner party, not a bar,” Meadmore told the JP’s. “I am so sorry about this. I am devastated by this, it is so bizarre, I am not a big drinker.”

The driving ban will effect Meadmore’s career. “I am in the theatre business. I drive to a lot of concerts around England.”

Meadmore has appeared with stars all over the world and led over 50,000 people singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ in the Mall during the Queen’s 2002 Golden Jubilee and sang ‘All I Ask of You’ with Charlotte Church at the 2001 Royal Variety Performance.

He released his first classical album ‘After a Dream’ in 2005, reaching No.2 in the UK Classical Charts and gaining a Brit Award nomination.

He is also a regular radio broadcaster, appearing on BBC Radio 2 and 4 on numerous occasions – often singing show tunes.

His producer is music legend Mike Batt and the pair teamed up with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to perform the official anthem of the Channel Tunnel opening ceremony before the Queen and France’s President Mitterrand.

Meadmore is a product of London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the son of a pianist mother and opera-singing father.

The magistrates fined him £360, with £90 costs and disqualified him from driving for twelve months.

Hoodie Knifeman Kills Knightsbridge Shop Boss

A brutal hoodie mugger – who stabbed a gay Knightsbridge store boss through the heart yards from the victim’s front door – will be sentenced this Monday.

Andrew Pratt, 43, manager of Sloane Street’s Emilio Pucci, was walking home carrying a Gucci bag late at night when targeted in Northlands Street, Camberwell.

Killer Errol Clarke, 44, of Rutford Road, Streatham, pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to murdering Mr. Pratt on August 2, plus a further 3 robberies.

Witnesses reported seeing the hooded attacker rifle through Mr. Pratt’s pockets as he lay bleeding to death from a single stab wound at 10.45pm.

The victim staggered towards his front door and was later rushed to nearby Kings College Hospital, where he was pronounced dead an hour later and a murder enquiry was immediately launched by the Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

Mr. Pratt (pictured) had been appointed store manager two months earlier, after being employed as assistant manager for several years.

Following the murder security guard Tony Tuck, 46, who works next door at Chanel but had worked for Mr Pratt, said: "I'm devastated. This is awful, he was such a fun-loving guy.

“I used to go for a beer with him and he seemed very happy with life, he had a long-term boyfriend and everything was going well."

One witness, who asked not to be named, said the robber calmly walked away after the attack.

He said: "I heard some shouting and went outside and saw the victim walking down the street.

“It was a robbery. There was blood on the pavement and he was walking up to his house but not in a good way. He was injured in his chest. There was a guy with his hood up who just walked away."

Another neighbour said the attack was over the Gucci bag. She said: "It is absolutely appalling. I have lived here 25 years and the area has changed hideously in terms of violence."

Lesser-Spotted City Trader Seen In Dock

A secretive foreign exchange dealer, accused of a ‘Ponzi’ scheme that left 800 investors £17m out of pocket, appeared for the first time at City of London Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday).

Terence Freeman, (pictured) 61, formerly of Buckhurst Hill, Essex, is the former boss of City-based GFX Capital Markets Ltd.

Freeman, who was investigated by the City of London Police’s Economic Crime Department, unsuccessfully applied for his new address to be kept secret, but is now seeking a Judicial Review of the JP’s decision.

The application was made after Freeman claimed his tyres were slashed outside his former home and vehicles were daubed with roofing paint by disgruntled investors who have their own civil action group.

Freeman is charged that between June 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007, within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court, he was knowingly a party to the carrying on of a business, namely GFX Ltd., for a fraudulent purpose, namely the inducement of persons to invest in a ‘Safe’ exchange scheme by making false representations and statements as to the protection and profits of investments.

He is also charged that between October 1, 2007 and February 9, 2009, within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court the business of GFX Ltd. was carried on with intent to defraud creditors by similarly making false representations and statements.

He also is also charged that between January 1, 2006 and February 9, this year, being an undischarged bankrupt, acted as a director of GFX Ltd.

Between the same dates he is charged with failing to disclose to business associates his former name, under which he was made bankrupt.

Freeman is further charged with stealing £120,590 between November 7 and 30, 2007, belonging to investors in GFX Ltd and between the same dates acquiring, using or possessing criminal property, namely a diamond bespoke ring and gentleman’s signet ring.

Police began investigating GFX Ltd. on February 4, this year after Freeman himself complained of threats from investors.

Thirty investors are alleged to have lost over £130,000, with one individual said to have lost £1.5m.

Freeman was bailed conditionally to return on October 28, on conditions he reside at his address, report to local police and does not handle investments for trading.

Notorious Internet Bad-Boy Jailed For £60k F.T. Scam

A former Financial Times employee who used secret passwords to transfer £60,000 cash to a string of accounts – funding foreign trips to millionaires playground Dubai – was jailed for two years today (Tuesday).

Ex-telesales executive Amir Massoud Tofangsazan, 22, of Staten House, Rillaton Walk, Milton Keynes previously billed the F.T. for £3,511 in taxi rides after becoming “seduced by an extravagant lifestyle”.

“You proceeded over three months to obtain £60,000 from the F.T. and spent it on goodness knows what, living a luxurious lifestyle wholly beyond your means while on bail,” Southwark Crown Court Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith told Tofangsazan.

Newly married Tofangsazan’s 23 year-old nurse wife, who is five weeks pregnant, was in court with the defendant’s parents and other relatives and burst into tears after her husband was jailed, fearing for his safety in prison.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing criminal property namely £26,578.56; £9,058.81; £8,900.64 and £15,479.57 between April 1 and June 30 last year, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Tofangsazan also pleaded guilty to possessing two electronic documents purporting to have originated from the Financial Times, stating he was authorized to receive those funds, on July 17, last year at his former home at Hollow Lanes, Snodland, Kent, Contrary to the Fraud Act.

He also rose to Internet infamy after a disgruntled customer posted personal details of Tofangsazan on the web after buying a broken laptop on EBay and briefly became the poster-boy of dodgy online dealers.

Prosecutor Mr. Tim Clark said: “The defendant was employed by the Financial Times (pictured) in 2007 as a temporary contractor, a telesales executive.

“In June 2008 a number of suspicious refunds had been made from internal bank accounts dealing with conferences.

“Further investigation showed these accounts were paid into the defendant’s bank account or into credit card accounts held by his girlfriend Karen Roberts, which he had a second card for and was able to spend money on the accounts and withdraw cash.”

There were 13 transfers to an MBNA account, 4 to a Barclays and 4 more to a Capital One, all belonging to his ex-girlfriend and 9 into a Lloyds TSB controlled by the defendant.

“The defendant logged on to a F.T. database using genuine details of an employee out of hours and instructed that these funds be sent to these accounts,” said Mr. Clark.

“As part of their investigation the F.T. identified two computer addresses in the UAE and the UK. He was spending money in Dubai at the time these instructions were being received.

“The defendant sought to withdraw large cash sums from banks and credit cards and he was in contact anxiously asking if the money had been paid.”

Tofangsazan even told the banks’ own fraudbuster teams he was entitled to the payouts in the form of a refund for conference tickets he cancelled.

When arrested by City of London Police on July 17 he tried to bluff it out, telling officers he had no idea where the money came from.

Detectives seized his laptop and it contained two forged letters from the F.T’s Company Secretary Alison Fortescue. “ The letters were instructing others to pay him sums of money. It’s hard to see if they were to be used for future fraud.”

Tofangsazan’s previous crimes against the F.T. include billing them for taxi rides, including a round trip to Aberdeen for which he received 200 hours community service at Wood Green Crown Court.

He also duped a national recruitment agency into believing he worked closely with ex-Microsoft chief Bill Gates on who’s behalf he was taking over a U.K. business the agency placed him with.

The agency was then duped into providing interview facilities, female interviewees and a PA.

His lawyer Warwick Aleeson told the court: “He became embroiled in debt and involved with friends who lived a lifestyle beyond his means. He became seduced by an extravagant lifestyle.”

Police recovered £30,000 of the F.T’s money – half the total taken – and the remainder will have to be pursued via the civil courts.

“He understands the folly and arrogance of what he did,” added Mr. Aleeson. 

“He has flirted with offences of significant gravity and has been caught doing it twice.

“He is an intelligent young man who could succeed significantly in life.”

The previous four weeks on remand were Tofangsazan’s first taste of custody. 

“His Middle Eastern appearance has given rise to jibes in custody,” added Mr. Aleeson.

“He is in solitary confinement for his own safety and has found it a harrowing experience. He has had a punishing taste of the effects of his criminality.”

Judge Loraine-Smith said: “It is all lavish living. He embarks on a spree using information he fraudulently obtained.

“This was theft from employer of a stark kind and all while awaiting sentence for similar offences.”

Dr Death Tried To Poison Pregnant Lover

A married doctor, who twice spiked his pregnant girlfriend’s drinks with powerful drugs in a bid to trigger a miscarriage, faces being locked up when he returns to the Old Bailey next month.

Dr Edward Erin, 44, of Gratton Road, Kensington, was convicted today (Monday) of attempting to administer poison with intent procure a miscarriage, contrary to section 1 (1) Criminal Attempts Act 1977 on February 7 and 8, last year.

Erin, a father of two, spiked 32 year-old Bella Prowse’s coffee in Starbucks, Paddington Station and the following day offered her drugged orange juice at their workplace.

Lambeth police were contacted on Friday February 8, last year after Bella became concerned about a mysterious powder she found in two drinks Erin had given to her, after she informed him that she was pregnant with his child.

Erin (pictured) had already purchased drinks at the coffee shop having previously asked what she would like.

It was obvious the lid had been removed and replaced, so when she got the opportunity, Prowse transferred the contents into a bottle.

The contents of the coffee were examined and found to include Diclofenac and Methotrexate.

Erin tried again the next day when he offered Bella a bottle of orange juice.

Noticing the seal had already been broken and that the liquid contained a powdery substance, she chose not to drink the juice.

Traces of Diclofenac were found in the liquid.

Later that day Bella attended Streatham police station with a cup and liquids that she had preserved and reported her suspicions to officers.

As a result of investigations and forensic tests, Erin was arrested at the Royal Brompton Hospital, Chelsea on Thursday February 14.

A search of Erin's residential address led to the discovery of the medication including traces on a pestle and mortar.

A further search of Erin's office resulted in the seizure of numerous tablets and powdered substances.

Detective Chief Inspector Mickey Gallagher, said: "Edward Erin is a consultant physician, pharmacologist and honory senior lecturer.

“He has been a medical professional for over 20 years, yet having failed to persuade his girlfriend, Bella Prowse, to have an abortion, he has abused his profession and position of trust, used his medical knowledge to try and bring on a miscarriage.

"This was not a morality trial, but the nature of this case in unusual in that it is only the second of it type to be brought before the courts in the last 40 years.

Erin has been judged on evidence and the jury have applied good sense and fairness. I would like to state that this prosecution has been brought on behalf of Bella Prowse and my thoughts are with her at this time.

"Thankfully, Erin failed in his attempts and Bella has a healthy child."

Bella Prowse, said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Metropolitan Police Service and Crown Prosecution Service.

"I am especially grateful for the support of my friends, family and daughter during this very difficult time."

Erin will be sentenced on 15th November.

Huge Ink Cartridge Burglary Alleged

The former employee of a prestigious City bank, accused of tricking his way into the building by purporting to still be a member of staff, and helping himself to £40,000 worth of ink cartridges appeared in court last week.

Johnstone Peter Otaigbe, 42, of Roycraft Avenue, Barking, Essex, is charged with entering BNP Paribas, 55 Moorgate, between November 12, 2008 and January 28, this year, as a trespasser, and stealing the printer cartridges.

He was bailed by City of London Magistrates’ Court unconditionally to return on November 23 for Crown Court committal.

CCTV Exposes More Alleged Troublemakers

Three G20 protestors, arrested after police examined CCTV footage of the demonstration which took place in the City of London earlier this year, appeared in court for the first time last week.

Neale Christopher McDermott, 38, of Babbacombe Road, Bromley, pleaded not guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court to assaulting PC Darrah on April 1 near Bucklersbury House.

McDermott, accused of punching the officer in the face, was bailed unconditionally to return for a trial on February 2, next year.

Francis Jose Medina, 41, of Upper Caldy Walk, Islington, is charged with criminal damage to the Wellington Statue, near the Bank of England, by graffiti on April 1.

He was bailed unconditionally to return on November 12.

Joseph Booth, 21, of Grateley House, Dilton Gardens, Roehampton, pleaded not guilty to assaulting PC Wood in Bishopsgate on April 1.

Booth, accused of throwing an apple in the officer’s face, was bailed unconditionally to return for trial on February 5.

Ban For Beer And Brandy Booze-Up

An Oxford drink-driver, arrested next to the Bank of England after enjoying beer and brandies with an old friend, was fined and banned from the roads for a year on Wednesday.

Tiler Arthur Silva, 36, of Kersington Crescent, pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court to failing to provide a breath specimen on July 9.

Prosecutor Miss Alexa Morgan told the court it was just after midnight when police stopped Silva driving his van in Threadneedle Street.

Officers noticed a smell of alcohol on his breath and he failed the roadside test, but despite three attempts at the police station he was unable to give any reading on the official intoximeter.

“Mr. Silva traveled to London for work. He is the owner of his own tiling business,” said Miss Nadia Khan, defending.

“He went for dinner with his assistant and then went for a drink with a friend he had not seen for twenty years.

“The friend encouraged him to stay, promising to put Mr. Silva up for the night so he went to the pub and carried on drinking,” added Miss Khan.

“He had two pints with the earlier meal and two pints and two brandies in the pub, but the friend did not follow-through with accommodation.

“He found himself stranded in London and made the foolish decision to drive because he felt he had no choice, but to drive.”

The JP’s fined Silva £300, with £115 costs and disqualified him from driving for twelve months.

Southwark Council Fined For OAP Scooter Death

Southwark Council were fined the maximum £20,000 yesterday (Wednesday) after a disabled 67 year-old man plunged to his death from the back of a welfare bus, after his motor scooter suddenly shot backwards.

The local authority had taken the pensioner and others from the Aylesbury Day Centre, Walworth, on a day out to Alexandra Palace, (pictured) Haringey, but tragedy struck in the car park when Mr. Delaney fell from a tail lift, suffering fatal head injuries.

Southwark were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive and admitted at City of London Magistrates’ Court to failing in their duty to carry out a risk assessment and draw up safe procedures for loading those in motorized scooters on September 20, 2006.

“This was a vulnerable person who died as the direct result of a breach by Southwark Council,” prosecutor Mr. Zameer Bhunnoo told the court.

The authority was criticized for having no official risk policy in place despite a warning circulated by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in 2005, following similar fatal incidents across the country.

The group, made up of local residents with mobility issues, who otherwise would be confined to their homes, had just enjoyed the Independent Living Exhibition.

Mr. Delaney was sitting in his motorized scooter as it was raised on the rear tail lift.

“The motorized scooter went backwards over the tailgate plates and he fell,” explained Mr. Bhunnoo. “We don’t know if Mr. Delaney put it in reverse or if gravity and the weight of bags hanging from the scooter caused him to go backwards.”

Later tests showed the scooter was too large to be safely secured in place by the tailgate plates.

The JP’s also ordered Southwark to pay £4,466 costs.

Afterwards Mr. Bhunnoo said:” Had basic health and safety measures been carried out, this loss of life could've been prevented.

“A suitable risk assessment and safe procedure should have been drawn up covering the loading and unloading of people who use motorised scooters, who are loaded on and off welfare buses."

Surveyor's Time Sheet Scam

A building surveyor, who forged time sheets and pocketed an extra £1,725 from recruitment specialists who placed him with a charitable housing association, was fined for his “opportunistic” moment of greed.

Matthew Tompkin-Kenward, 35, of Atlas House, 466 London Road, Isleworth, was on the books of recruitment specialists Morgan Hunt, of New London House, 172 Drury Lane, Covent Garden, who have branches in Russia and Dubai and pride themselves on expert headhunting services for leading global businesses.

They placed him with Accent Peerless, a registered social landlord, who have offices at Pembroke Broadway, Camberley, Surrey; Broad Street, Cuckfield, West Sussex and Stourside Place, Ashford, Kent.

He pleaded guilty to false accounting in that he dishonestly falsified documents, namely Morgan Hunt time sheets, with a view to gain for himself, between April 14 and 18 and April 21 and 25, last year.

Prosecutor Miss Neelam Sharma told Blackfriars Crown Court Tompkin-Kenward’s skills were employed as a maintenance supervisor for the housing association on a contract, which ran from July 2007 until April 11, last year.

“Accent noticed notwithstanding the contract had expired this defendant was still putting forward time sheets and was claiming for work,” said the prosecutor.

It’s quite clear what this defendant did,” added Miss Sharma. “He was given a bone fide time sheet and using tipex or some other alteration forged the next two time sheets.”

Tompkin-Kenward repeatedly cancelled meetings with Morgan Hunt to discuss the irregularities and was eventually arrested on October 27 when he attended a police interview.

He initially claimed the time sheets were genuine and reflected work he performed off-site at home in a bid to complete a project.

The first-time offender later repaid Morgan Hunt the full £1,725. He is now employed by another housing association on £630 p.w.

His lawyer Mr. Gregory King-Underwood told the court: “It was the heat of the moment.”

Judge Aiden Marron QC, fining Tompkin-Kenward £2,500, plus £765 costs, told him: “I regard this to be a rather opportunistic theft with a measure of breach of trust.

“You were very wise to plead guilty to these offences. It is out of character, you are a decent individual, but do this again and you will lose your liberty.”

DNA Traps Rapist Twenty Years On

A Scottish rapist, who dodged justice for two decades, was locked-up for nine years after tell-tale DNA evidence eventually caught up with the beast, who had returned home following his reign of terror south of the border.

Stephen Johnstone, 50, of Montrose, Angus, specialized in breaking into homes occupied by lone, vulnerable women, raping them and making off with valuables.

Johnstone,(pictured) caught by the Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire Cold Case Rape Investigation Team, was jailed at Southwark Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to raping a 62 year-old widow in Bexleyheath, Kent, on September 13, 1989 and raping a 25 year-old woman in Barnet, Hertfordshire, on October 23.

He broke into the first victim’s home as she slept and after raping her stole jewellery, including her late husband’s wedding ring.

He again forced himself into a victim’s home the following month, raping the younger woman and helping himself to cash and jewellery.

A police probe was launched immediately after the first rape and DNA samples taken from the scenes showed a link between both crimes.

However, despite an appeal in the local press and e-fits provided by the victims, no suspect was identified.

The trail went cold until, in 2008, a review of the crimes by the Cold Case Team prompted the Forensic Science Service to upgrade the DNA samples.

One from the first crime scene matched a sample on the national DNA database, given by Johnstone when he was arrested for drink driving, while a further one taken after the second offence also showed a match to Johnstone.

He was arrested on April 21, this year and taken to London for questioning, where he denied the offences.

After Johnstone was jailed Detective Constable Jenny Thrower of the Met's Cold Case Team said: "Johnstone's offences were particularly brutal leaving both victims badly traumatised and suffering significant after-effects even until today.

"It is right that he should be held to account for his crimes and that a clear menace to society should be taken from our streets.

"This case shows that the Metropolitan Police will do everything possible to make sure offenders are brought to justice - regardless of when their crimes were committed."

Scooter Boy's Drink-Drive Shame

Two glasses of lunchtime wine later washed down with a couple of pints were enough to land a learner motorcyclist with a road ban after police pulled him over in the City of London.

Michael Austin Kane, 39, of Oak Tree Close, Loughton, Essex, employed by the Westminster Drug Project, was stopped and failed a roadside breath-test.

He pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates' Court (pictured) today (Monday) to riding his black Piaggio scooter in Bishopsgate on October 4 while nearly double the drink-drive limit and failing to display L-plates.

He claimed to feel fit to ride the scooter despite enjoying the lunchtime tipple with his sister, followed by two pints of beer with a drinking buddy.

Kane was fined £250, with £85 costs and disqualified from driving for twelve months.

Anti-Runway Activists Arrested At House Of Commons

Twenty-three Heathrow Airport protestors were arrested by police at the House of Parliament during an anti-third runway demo which saw just as many who successfully dodged security and scale walls to the roof remain.

Approximately twenty-five protestors, part of a peaceful environmental demonstration, refused to climb off the roof with officers trying to talk them down and reason with representatives on the ground.

Security alarms were activated at 3pm today as the large group began climbing onto the roof of the Visitors’ Entrance in Cromwell Green, Westminster.

Six hours later half of them, assisted by police, descended from the roof of Westminster Hall and were arrested on suspicion of trespassing on a protected site.

They were taken to a Central London police station and later bailed pending further enquiries.

'Menace Of Mayfair's' Jewellery Crime Spree

A modern-day ‘Raffles’ – dubbed the ‘Menace of Mayfair’ – cheated over fifty victims out of jewellery and valuables worth nearly £100,000 after meetings in posh locations such as The Dorchester and Claridges.

Smooth-talking Scottish conman Andrew Batchelor, 51, boss of the impressively titled ‘The Watch and Jewellery Exchange of Mayfair’ paid no income tax and had previously been jailed for similar crimes north of the border.

He will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on October 16 after pleading guilty to 22 counts of fraud by false representation, 6 counts of deception and one of fraudulent trading during the five-year swindle which funded his extravagant lifestyle.

Victims, wowed by his convincing website and expertise, handed him over valuables to sell, after meetings in Mayfair bars, restaurants and hotels, but in return received worthless cheques.

He was arrested on July 9, last year after one victim reported being swindled and following a probe by the London Regional Asset Recovery Team a total of 45 duped customers were identified.

Batchelor (pictured) is notorious in his native Scotland where he was sentenced to five-and-a-half years for similar crimes in 1999 at the High Court and is a bankrupt.

Dubbed the ‘Glasgow Goldfinger’ for a string of high profile crimes he swindled £400,000 out of unsuspecting victims at his shop in Royal Exchange.

Victims taken in by his easy charm, designer wardrobe and trappings of wealth include company directors, lawyers and hedge fund managers who lost valuables worth up to £30,000 each.

Described as “sophisticated, charming and very persuasive” Batchelor sold or pawned the items, splashing out on fancy hotels, five-star holidays, Vidal Sassoon haircuts, eyebrow shaping and eyelash tinting.

Superintendent Matt Parkes of the London Regional Asset Recovery Team said: "Over a period of five years, Andrew Batchelor has caused a great deal of anguish to his victims, depriving them of their valued possessions with no financial remuneration.

“This successful prosecution shows that London RART will pursue persons who cause such harm to the public, prosecute them and take back all the proceeds of their crime."

Robber Targets OAP's

A scumbag bully-boy mugger – who targeted little old ladies – even tying one up in her own bedroom and forcing the terrified victim to give her PIN number will hopefully be locked-up for a long time next week.

Cowardly Lloyd George Wright, 49, of Billington Road, New Cross, followed his victims home and robbed them of cash and bank cards.

He was convicted after a trial at Southwark Crown Court of three robberies, theft and false imprisonment and will be sentenced on October 13.

The first victim, a 69 year-old woman, was trailed home in Greenland Quay, Rotherhithe, on May 24, 2007 by Wright (pictured).

He knocked on her front door pretending he wanted to borrow a pen and when she turned inside to get one Wright attacked her, snatching cash, cards and her mobile phone.

The next victim, aged 84, was followed to her home in Hazel Way on November 7 after Wright spied her withdrawing cash from her bank in nearby Southwark Park Road.

As she neared her front door he grabbed her from behind and pushed her to the ground, taking the cash and a bank book from her coat pocket.

On June 30, 2008 a 76 year-old shopper, returning to her home in Windmill Close, Southwark, after a trip to the Elephant and Castle, was forced inside after Wright asked to borrow a pen.

She was bundled to the floor, but cowardly Wright was unhappy at grabbing a mere £40 and tied her up in her bedroom, grabbing bank cards andforcing her to write down her PIN numbers.

Wright was arrested on September 16, last year by officers from Southwark CID’s Robbery Squad.

Detective Constable Vicki Thomson of Southwark Robbery Squad said: "Wright targeted those he knew could not defend themselves and used threats and violence against them in their own homes.

"All three victims have shown great courage in giving evidence. By doing so, they have made sure he will be punished for these despicable crimes."

Barclays Bank Cashier Accused Of £21,000 Fraud

A young Barclays Bank cashier, accused of ripping-off his employers' to the tune of £21,000 in a seven-day campaign, was committed to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday.

Eklas Ali, 20, of Gosford House, Tredegar Road, Bow, appeared at City of London Magistrates' Court (pictured) facing four Fraud Act counts.

Ali is charged with dishonestly abusing his position of trust at Barclays Bank, Poplar, intending or exposing them lose £7,000 on September 24; £8,000 on September 25; £5,000 on September 30 and £1,000 on September 30, last year.

Strangler-Mugger Locked-Up

A brutal mugger who prowled the trendy late-night streets of Battersea with a teenage accomplice, strangling female victims into unconsciousness during a two-month reign of terror, was caged for nine years.

Jobless Temman Dias, 25, of Bowstead Court, Surrey Lane, Battersea was convicted at Kingston Crown Court of seven robberies committed between July 25 and October 3, last year.

A 17-year-old Mitcham, Surrey, youth was locked-up for five years on the same charges.

Wandsworth CID’s Robbery Squad arrested the pair after investigating a series of disturbing attacks on lone women approached from behind and strangled to the point of collapse and valuables snatched.

Police swooped on Dias’s (pictured) address after the final attack on a 30 year-old woman, arresting him, his accomplice and seizing the victim’s property, including a distinctive pair of pink gloves.

Detective Inspector Matt Phelps of Wandsworth CID said: "This has been a protracted, complex investigation and trial.

“I would like to praise the victims who not only had to endure the original offences but also the frustration of the two previous attempts at prosecution. It meant they had to give evidence three times.

"These two men used unnecessary violence against vulnerable victims and people in Wandsworth will be glad to see they have been captured and convicted."

Slick Pair Accused Of £250m 'Ponzi' Fraud

Two smooth-talking businessmen masterminded a £250 million-plus international ‘Ponzi’ fraud from a former RAF base, duping investors with outlandish promises of huge returns, a court heard.

Imperial Consolidated, based at Binbrook, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, and several overseas offices, collapsed in June 2002, owing £150m.

Lincoln Julian Fraser, (pic.l), 38,of Orford Hall, Brookenby, Binbrook, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire and Jared Bentley Brook, (pic.r) 39, of Sefton Drive, Worseley, Manchester, attracted 3,000 clients from all over the world.

“Instead of receiving their money back plus the generous rate of return which had been promised to them most investors lost everything,” prosecutor Tim Barnes QC told the Blackfriars Crown Court jury.

“This was an international fraud which cost investors hundreds of millions of dollars, they were promised high returns, they thought that their money was safe.

“These two defendants were masters of getting money from investors. They told a great story of capital protected investments, returns far above the normal rates of interest, investments in solid and successful trading businesses in the U.K.

“The published material on behalf of Imperial Consolidated was glossy and well put together,” explained the QC. “In layman’s terms they could certainly ‘talk the talk'.

"They projected themselves as dynamic entrepreneurs, proud of creating a great international business empire under the grandiose title ‘Imperial Consolidated’.”

Both men have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud investors in investment schemes between January 1, 1998 and June 30, 2002 and fraudulent trading, knowing it was for a fraudulent purpose between May 1, 2000 and June 30, 2002.

The court was told £253.9 million was invested in Imperial Consolidated over four-and-a-half years and over £150 million has vanished, despite investors being convinced by the pair their savings were safe.

“It was illusion and not reality,” Mr. Barnes explained. “The investments were not protected, the UK businesses were not solid and successful.

“The rates of return for those who were fortunate enough to redeem their investments before the crash came from utilizing new investor funds for that purpose and not from the profits of established successful businesses as the investors believed.”

The jury was told neither Fraser nor Brook, who lived in Beacon Lodge, near Louth during the fraud, have any accountancy or formal financial qualifications.

They were banned from being company directors after a previous venture – Progressive Leisure – which ran the Midland Hotel, Morecambe, Lancashire, ceased trading, leaving a string of unhappy creditors.

“These two men in reality treated the investors with contempt,” added Mr. Barnes. “They speak of pandering to the greed of the investors in setting rates of interest that would bring the money in.

“They made promises which could not be kept and were not kept. They diverted investor funds for their own use to pay for their own lifestyle and to enable them to pursue a range of personal and uniformly unsuccessful business interests of their own.”

The duo blame Administrators – who tried to solve the mess left by Imperial Consolidated – plus a host of others, including the police, Price Waterhouse Coopers and Internet whistle-blower David Marchant for the massive losses, the jury were told.

“The truth is that these two men were simply fraudsters or conmen,” continued the QC. “They were slick and professional and extremely successful in getting money from investors worldwide.

“They were fundamentally a couple of selfish and dishonest individuals who for some years perpetrated a highly successful fraud.”

The jury was told the overall benefit to the defendants totaled £20 million and investors funds were secretly ploughed into a string of failed ventures including a hotel, bar, South American mine, Sierra Leone granite quarry and a mobile field hospital.

Fraser spent £111,000 on Orford Hall, turning his cellar into a Panic Room with bulletproof doors and hundreds of thousands of pounds was lavished on his pet project of buying and restoring old military vehicles.

From May 2001 Fraser drew £50,000 a month from the Fraser Brook Partnership – a firm funded by investors – and pocketed a £2 million salary from Imperial Consolidated, which even paid his £1 million tax bill.

The jury was also told the pair used investors money to buy a £1 million Kingair plane then trousered £550,000 when they sold it.

“The only way in which Imperial Consolidated kept going for so long was by paying old investors from new investors money,” explained Mr. Barnes.

“The defendants knew that as soon as the flow of new investment money dried up that their game would be up.

“That is why they tried so hard to keep the flow of incoming funds by promising higher rates of interest and seeking to persuade existing investors from redeeming.”

Offshore branches of the company were opened in the Bahamas, Grenada and the British Virgin Islands, plus an office in posh Mayfair.

“The scale of the deficiency was enormous. Over £150 million of investor funds had apparently disappeared. How had this come about?” asked the QC.

A string of associated companies were created, convincing investors these firms were the driving force behind overall profits.

“Those UK businesses were simply a fig-leaf to cover the increasing black hole at the heart of Imperial Consolidated,” said Mr. Barnes.

Huge yields of 15%-36% were promised and investors were wowed by impressive statistics the defendants paid to be published in the respected Financial Times.

“Imperial paid for supposed performance figures to be listed in the F.T. That newspaper did not authenticate the claims, they merely published the information provided to them by Imperial in return for a charge.

“It gave the investment some creditability and the investors some comfort,” added the QC, explaining the company used terms such as ‘Capital Protected’ and ‘Total Asset Protection’ to impress customers.

Investors received bogus statements boasting the company was profitable. “Documents showing the purported increase in the value of the clients’ investments were not worth the paper they were written on.

“There was no successful underlying business activity to generate the rates of return,” said Mr. Barnes.

“The only way in which the fraud operated as long as it did was through lying about the true trading performance of the companies and by manipulating the Imperial Consolidated financial statements to give a false picture of their profitability and solvency.”

Even though RAF Binbrook was rented on a five-year lease in 1997 it was listed as a £6.95m company asset on the books, following a dubious valuation including false information regarding planning permission, the jury was told.

Brook was described by the QC as an “effective and persuasive spokesman” skilled at selling the funds and without his talents the fraud would have failed.

The pair even tried to convince the Bahamas Securities Commission their company had a growing £120m a year turnover.

Eventually the Serious Fraud Office moved in and the pair were arrested in 2004.