Big Bus Big Scam

A payroll administrator with popular Big Bus Tours, who pocketed nearly £60,000 by collecting ex-employees wages, has been jailed for two years.

Mother-of-two Melanie Douglas, 36, of Rosaline Road, Fulham was employed in the firm’s accounts department and had sole control of the computer programme that paid the 450-strong staff.

Between February and November 2008 she stole £59,225, diverting most of the proceeds into her brother’s bank account and pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position.

Father-of-two Delroy Douglas, 34, also of Rosaline Road pleaded guilty to laundering criminal proceeds totalling £38,094 and was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for a year and ordered to complete 150 hours community service work.

Prosecutor Mr. James Thacker told Croydon Crown Court Melanie Douglas was a £23,000 a year administrator with the Westminster-based firm since February 2005.

“She used the computer’s Pyramid System and entered all the hours worked by the employees and transferred the wages into the employees bank accounts.”

A new finance manager ordered a change in the payroll system in October 2008 and the defendant immediately took four months sick leave with stress.

“She did not want the changes implemented because her fraud would be found out,” added Mr. Thacker.

The company even gave the defendant a £6,500 pay-off, but her replacement noticed the previous year’s figures did not add up.

Six former employees were still being paid and it was discovered one of the accounts receiving funds was Delroy Douglas’s, which was subject to cash withdrawals soon after the deposits.

It was the same account his unemployment payments were deposited in.

Investigators discovered Melanie Douglas made approximately 150 payments to herself.

“You have systematically, carefully and cleverly removed from your employers sums in excess of fifty thousand pounds in eight months,” Judge Ruth Downing told Melanie Douglas.

“I cannot think of a higher degree of trust. You were the sole custodian of the wages system and cynically used the power for your own uses by siphoning off money.”

The judge told Delroy Douglas: “You allowed your bank account to be used and took some small sums.”

"Nothing To Do With Me" Claims Lawyer Accused Of Scam

A criminal defence solicitor, accused along with two legal associates of a £300,000-plus Legal Aid swindle, has told a jury: "It has nothing to do with me."

Solicitor Reuben Ewujowoh, 44, of Blythe Vale, Catford, boss of Rae and Co. of Trinity Street, Southwark denies falsely inflating every possible expense in relation to two Crown Court trials.

He told Croydon Crown Court his legal executive Lloyd McDonald, 68, received 40% of the bill and his costs draughtsman Robert Odong, 33, 5% - giving them a financial incentive to inflate costs.

Ewujowoh, McDonald, of Collins Avenue, Sutton In Ashfield, Nottinghamshire and Odong, of Bevin Court, Cruickshank Street, Islington have pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation in relation to two criminal trials and Ewujowoh alone denies one alternative count of fraud in relation to the second trial.

It is alleged the three defendants plotted together between August 2 2007 and August 26 2008 to defraud Legal Aid in the case of Tsafack, which was heard at Leicester Crown Court and between July 30 2007 and August 26 2008 in the case of Rutayisere at Luton Crown Court.

The plot was exposed, the jury were told, by chance when the same Legal Aid determining officer happened to be working on claims for both trials.

"It is still a mystery to me why Tsafack was billed as category A," Ewujowoh told the jury. "I did not go to court or the prison visits and the train and taxi claims have nothing to do with me. Mr. McDonald was responsible for that.

"I put my hand up that I did not check the bill properly, but there was pressure of time and I was not well. I had high blood pressure and did not realise they were forgeries."

False claims could easily have also been made by Odong, insisted the solicitor. "He has access to all the case papers and the memory stick containing blank attendance notes."

Ewujowoh continued distancing himself from the fraudulent claims during a tough week in the witness box, which saw him reduced to tears.

"This is not my creation and I did not give anyone instructions to do this. I don't know how all this has happened."

The trial continues.............

Veteran Londoner In Road Death 3 Years Shy Of Century

A woman who lived for ninety-seven years was tragically killed by a lorry on one of London’s busiest roads.

Pensioner Nora Gutmann was struck by the large vehicle opposite Madam Tussauds waxworks in Marylebone Road (pictured) at noon on June 17, not far from her St. John’s Wood home.

She was treated at the scene by paramedics and was rushed to Paddington’s St. Mary’s Hospital where she sadly died from her injuries soon after arriving.

The driver of the lorry was arrested at the scene and released on police bail pending further investigations

A post-mortem examination took place on June 21 at Westminster Mortuary and gave cause of death as multiple injuries.



Next of kin identified the victim.



Detective Sergeant Jeff Edwards, who is leading the investigation, said: ”I am grateful for a number of people who stopped at the scene to assist the casualty.



“This stretch of road was fairly busy at that time and I would urge anyone who may have seen any of the parties in the moments leading up to the collision, or the collision itself, to contact police.”



Anyone with information is asked to call the Road Death Investigation Unit at Hampton Traffic Garage on 020 8941 9011, or call anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Director Who Helped Himself To Company Cash Dodges Jail

A company director who ripped off the fellow owners of a property firm he ran – writing nearly £30,000 in cheques to himself – has dodged jail with a suspended sentence.

Keith Kennaird, 55, of Rowan Close, Ealing wrote cheques to his landlord to pay his rent, plus personal cheques to himself on eight occasions between November 2008 and January, last year.

He pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and at Isleworth Crown Court was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, and ordered to pay £10,000 compensation.

Prosecutor Miss Abigail Penny told the court first-time offender Kennaird was a director along with two other investors of West London’s Abbey Wharf Properties.

“He wrote cheques for his own benefit without the knowledge of the other directors,” she explained.

The total loss was £27,100.

“As far as one of the other directors was concerned this was an investment business for his retirement and he is very concerned he has lost so much money,” added Miss Penny.

“That director says it was a way of saving a lump sum for retirement.”

Kennaird’s lawyer Sir Jonah Walker-Smith said: “The losers will be the insurance company. There will not be any loss to the individual company directors.

“This offence was committed due to need rather than greed. Most of it was used to pay his rent.”

The defendant had run the company for the entire seventeen years of its existence – investing in property – and was not drawing a salary.

“The others were sleeping partners, he was doing the work of the company, the day to day running of the company, investing in property,” said Sir Jonah.

“Unfortunately he went ahead and paid himself because he felt aggrieved, he felt hard done by. It was naïve stupidity.

“He took the view he was done down by them because he was doing more than his fair share of work and there was a certain amount of tit for tat.”

Trouble-Prone Model In Dock Again

A glamorous ex-Harrods sales girl and model has dodged prison yet again - despite threatening her victim with a bogus sex complaint if he called police.

Holly Salter, 23, snatched £750 from the man's wallet during a boozy night out with a pal, but when he caught up with the pair moments later she vowed to lodge a sexual assault claim if he did not back-off.

The theft put the single-mum in breach of a suspended sentence for smuggling a mobile phone to a jailbird ex-boyfriend and she only avoided prison because of her two year-old daughter Poppy and the fact she is eight-months pregnant.

Salter, of Buckingham Road, Hampton, Middlesex pleaded guilty to stealing the cash from Anguel Popov, 35, at his flat at 8a The Green, Ealing, West London on July 1, last year.

She and a 23 year-old friend, had originally been charged with burgling the flat, but the prosecution at Isleworth Crown Court dropped the allegation.

The girls claim Mr. Popov had invited them up to his flat, which he denies, insisting he chased after them when discovering the money missing from his wallet he left in his bedroom.

"There was a pursuit out into the street and he confronted the young women," prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Wright told the court. "There was a threat that if he continued with the complaint they would say he sexually assaulted them in the flat."

The victim then flagged down a passing police car and officers quizzed the young women at the roadside.

"Their stories were contradictory about how they came to be in the flat. One said they met Mr. Popov in a pub and the other said outside the flat.

"The cash was recovered from Miss Salter.

"When he returned home Mr. Popov noticed other items were missing, including his car keys and some jewellery," added Mr. Wright.

"When he returned to the location where he confronted the young women he found his keys in the gutter and the jewellery in a nearby doorway."

Salter admitted she was in breach of a three-and-a-half month suspended sentence imposed for giving ex James Kerr, 22, a mobile phone at Harrow Crown Court, where he was later jailed for five years on robbery and burglary charges.

She also has convictions for driving while disqualified, without insurance and failing to give her name and address to police.

"She told me this was the first time she had been out for some time and drank far too much alcohol," said Mr. Stephen Earnshaw, defending. "It took her some time to sober up."

Recorder Giles Curtis-Raleigh told Salter: "I am troubled by a breach of the suspended sentence that has been ignored and was a chance given by the courts, but I am pursuaded because of the children not to send you to prison today.

"You stole seven hundred and fifty pounds from this man's wallet within his house. It was clear breach of his privacy.

"What makes it more serious is that you were subject to a suspended sentence. You had been given a chance.

"I am just persuaded to take a different view for the sake of your children, but regardless of them there will come a time when the court has no option, but to send you to prison.

"You were caught and your response was to try and intimidate him by telling lies that he had sexually assaulted you and your friend.

"This was a mean offence."

Salter has modelled for Miss Selfridge, was a Miss London finalist and has had roles in film, television, commercials and pop videos.

Boozy Singer Caught Drink-Driving Again

A wannabe pop star, who kicked out at police who caught her drink-driving for the third time, was nearly three times the limit when stopped behind the wheel.

South Londoner Natalie Jones, 33, drowned her sorrows to ease the devastation of discovering her boyfriend of six years was a married man with two children.

She pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in her breath in Park Lane, Mayfair in the early hours of April 14, blowing a 94 reading. The legal limit is 35.

She was also convicted of assaulting two police officers and was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, suspended for twelve months; ordered to obey a 14 week nightime curfew; complete 100 hours community service and was disqualified from driving for five years.

She was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to each officer.

Southwark Crown Court heard today police officer’s daughter Jones was caught drink-driving in 2005 and 2006 and driving while disqualified in 2007.

Jones, of Crown Dale, Upper Norwood claimed she was “very embarrassed,” “ashamed” and “emotional” when caught a third time.

Dismissing her appeal against the sentence Recorder Catherine Newman QC said: “Whilst this was a tough sentence it was justified.

“Your record is extremely bad with three drink-drives in ten years and this was a dreadful offence. The five-year disqualification was fully justified.”

Jones was ordered to pay £300 costs.

Murder Detective Determined To Crack Cold-Case Prostitute Killing

Police are still trying to solve the murder of a North-East London prostitute – severely beaten and strangled in her home sixteen years ago.

Christine McGovern, 47, was found naked at 53a Hamilton Road, Walthamstow at noon on June 22, 1995.


She had been asphyxiated and beaten so badly her spine and nose were broken and her body was covered in severe bruises.


Officers hope that as the years have passed allegiances may have changed or someone too scared to come forward at the time now feels able.



Detective Inspector Ken Hughes, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “We are appealing for anyone who didn't originally come forward to contact us.



“Circumstances change over the years and it may be someone now feels they can approach us in confidence and anonymously if they wish.



“Even if you just have a hunch or had suspicions about someone at the time we would like to hear from you - we can quickly eliminate people from the enquiry from the evidence we have recovered from the scene but a piece of information you may think is useless could be crucial.”



She was found by a friend in the flat she occupied alone with her Rottweiler dog.

Christine was last seen alive at about 6:30pm on June 21 1995 in the street outside her home.

A number of people reported that at around 11:00pm they heard a dog barking - possibly the victim’s.



There had been no forced entry to her home, but it had been ransacked and there were items missing, including a video recorder, a satellite decoder, four gold rings and a gold necklace with a St Christopher’s pendant.

Detectives believe she was murdered by someone she knew.



Anyone who can help is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3734. If you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

Schoolboy Error Costs Gunman 6-Year Term

Suspiciously walking through school grounds as police watched – then dumping a gun wrapped in a towel – cost this criminal his freedom after a search of his home found another firearm and 462 bullets.

Operation Trident officers – who investigate violent black-on-black crime in the capital – are celebrating taking two more lethal weapons off the streets and locking-up this gunman.

Anthony Laretive, 20, of Sunset Gardens, Croydon, received six years imprisonment at the town’s crown court after pleading guilty to the charges.

On January 18 Laretive was seen by police walking through the grounds of a Croydon primary school carrying a bag.

He was stopped by officers after he exited the school grounds by climbing over a fence, no longer with the bag.

The bag was found following a search of the grounds by a police dog and inside was a firearm wrapped in a towel.



Laretive was arrested for possession of a firearm and taken to South Norwood Police Station.

His home address was searched and in his bedroom another firearm was recovered along with 462 rounds of assorted ammunition.



Detective Constable Peter Wood said: “I am pleased with the result of our investigation.

“We will not tolerate people walking through the streets of London with guns and will thoroughly investigate anyone who is suspected to be in possession of illegally held firearms.



“Every time we recover a gun, we potentially save a life.



“I hope the sentence received by Laretive sends a strong message out to those thinking that they are above the law.”

University Experts Help Police Solve Death Riddle

Do you know this unknown suspected vagrant found dead on Mitcham Common, South-West London at the start of the year?

Detectives have released this 3D image compiled by a craniofacial identification expert at the centre of Anatomy & Human Identification at Dundee University.

The partially decomposed body of the man, who is believed to be at least 50 years old, was found by a member of the public on January 17.

Extensive enquiries and previous appeals have been unsuccessful to identify the man – prompting a fresh bid with the help of this image.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Dunne, said: “I would appeal to the public to take a good look at the image and contact the police if they think it resembles anyone who perhaps they haven't seen recently.”



Forensic tests indicate the man probably died in September/October 2010.

A post-mortem examination could not determine a cause of death.



The man is described as white, between 5'7 - 5'9 tall with short dark hair.

He had poor dental health and a number of his teeth were missing.



Detectives believe he may have been a homeless person in the south London area.



Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8721 4906 or to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Illegal African Immigrant Wanted For Rape

Police are hunting this suspect after a 22 year-old woman was raped in a South London house a year ago.

Kohwam Dayoh Adio Agnide, 23, who overstayed his business visa after travelling to the UK from Benin, was a fellow lodger in the property.

The victim claims he raped her when the pair were alone at the house in Upland Road, Dulwich at 8:00pm on July 11, last year.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire Unit believe Agnide may still be in the area – possibly working under a false name.

Detective Constable James Gerrard said: “This man has multiple identities and we believe he may be living and working in the Elephant and Castle area.

“We would like to urge this man to contact us immediately so that we can we can speak to him about this allegation.

“If you think you recognise his photograph or know who and where this man is, we would like to hear from you.”



Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Constable Gerrard or Detective Sergeant May Carpenter on 020 7232 6182 or call crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Forest Hill Murder: Woman Charged

A woman has appeared in court charged with murdering a man in South London.

Lancashire native Shaun Corey, 42, (pictured) died at a house in Stanstead Road, Forest Hill on June 15.

His family said: “Shaun will be remembered as a hard-working, loving son, brother, dad, grandad and friend.

“He was so easy-going, thoughtful and gentle. He is sadly missed.”

An incident room was opened under Detective Chief Inspector Damian Allain of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

Karen Otmani, 40, of 251a Stanstead Road appeared at Greenwich Magistrates' Court on June 17 charged with murder.

Nightclub Doorman Execution: Four Charged

Four men have appeared in court charged with the murder of the head doorman of a top West End club – executed by a motorcycle gunman when returning home in the early hours.

Bogdan ‘Tony’ Paduret, 29, (pictured) of Tillingbourne Gardens, Finchley Central, North London was shot in the head while sitting in the passenger seat at 6:00am on November 27.

The Romanian-born keep-fit enthusiast was driven home by a friend from the Mayfair Club, Dover Street in a silver Vauxhall Corsa after finishing work at 5:30am.

When the car carrying Mr. Paduret arrived at his home a pillion passenger got off a motorbike that had pulled up minutes earlier.

The suspect produced a handgun and shot through the passenger window four times, killing Mr. Paduret, who died at the scene.

The four are: Errol Jeffrey, 28, of Cressall House, Tiller Road; Troy Shaw, 19, of Wharfside Point North, Poplar High Street and Christopher N'Jie, 19, of Elderfield House, Pennyfields, Poplar, East London and
John Otugade, 19, of Stanford Road, Friern Barnet.

They appeared in custody at Waltham Forest Magistrates’ Court.

Three other men arrested on June 15 have been bailed pending further enquiries and will return in late July.

The victim's mother, Mariana Paduret, flew into London from her home in Romania to formally identify her son.

She said: “To me Tony meant everything. He had such tremendous love for people, he would call his friends and relatives brothers and sisters.

“He was incredibly generous and forgiving and at the same time very modest about it.

“He had an acute sense of justice and he took pride in everything he did.

“I have this great sense of loss. Words cannot express how dearly he is going to be missed by all of us.”

Killer Hit And Run Driver Jailed For Eight Months

A speeding hit-and-run driver who killed student Lizzie Beach-MacGeagh was sentenced to eight months imprisonment today by a judge who described the victim as: "A truly extraordinary young woman."

Bristol University history student Lizzie, 20, was "catapulted into the air" and suffered a fatal brain injury while crossing Netherlands Road, East Barnet, North London at 8:08pm on June 16, last year.

Privately-educated Kensington-born Lizzie spent the early part of her life in Claygate, Surrey before her family moved to Marlbrough, Wiltshire.

Lizzie had only arrived in London two days earlier for work experience with Italian fashion house Moschino.

"Cases of this kind are truly tragic and nothing this court does will mitigate the pain and anguish suffered by Elizabeth's family," said Wood Green Crown Court Judge Simon Carr.

"It is obvious from everything I have read that Elizabeth Beach-MacGeagh was a truly extraordinary young woman, who was only twenty years-old and in her second year at Bristol University.

"She was London for an internship and was out jogging on a beautiful sunset night as part of her normal routine.

"I did read on the internet after the trial many references by many people to Miss Beach-MacGeagh and her obviously promising future."

Driver Aryeris Angelis, 26, of Tewkesbury Terrace, New Southgate, North London, an amateur bodybuilder employed in his family's catering business denied, but was convicted of causing death by careless driving.

He also admitted failing to stop at the scene of an accident, but the jury failed to reach a verdict on one count of perverting the course of justice in relation to him repairing his blue BMW and the CPS will not seek a retrial.

The first-time offender was also disqualified from driving for two years and will have to pass an extended driving test before receiving his licence back.

Detective Sergeant Cheryl Frost of the Road Death Investigation Unit said: "Angelis has demonstrated a complete lack of morals, running a young woman over and just driving off.

"By working with the media and the public we were able to ensure that Angelis was identified, the evidence was available to put before the courts and Angelis has been held to account."

Judge Carr added: "This is a true blind bend, it turns at almost ninety degrees. It is impossible to see around that corner and the road signs indicate that.

"Having approached that turning too fast he did not brake, but accelerated and was travelling in excess of the speed limit.

"He failed to see her even when she was in the road, but for a prudent driver she was there to be seen.

"He must have been aware he suffered a significant impact, but I accept he did not know it was a person and then he drove off."

The Judge also criticised the defendant's decision to fight the charge. "The family of Elizabeth Beach-MacGeagh were put through another year of not knowing the conclusion and being unable to have closure.

"I find the argument that he had sunlight in his eyes nothing to do with the accident. I think it is something Mr. Angelis has latched onto to explain the inexplicable."

Angelis' lawyer Mr. Pavlos Panayi urged the court not to imprison his client explaining: "He has overwhelming shock and sadness at what he has done. His remorse is genuine and real and the victim herself would not want retribution.

"This is quite obviously a most tragic case that involved sad and dreadful circumstances.

"Had he seen her the smallest deviation could have resulted in avoiding her, only a foot or two would have avoided an accident."

Mobile phone records prove Angelis was in the area after the collision and had driven past witness appeal signs confirming the fatality.

He eventually surrendered himself to police after promptings from his father and the vehicle body-shop that repaired his badly-damaged car also raised the alarm.