Salesman Nicked 250 iPhone5's Hours Before Launch

A senior sales consultant, who fled to France with £115,000 worth of stolen fifth generation iPhones he looted from his store just hours before their much-anticipated launch, was jailed for three years yesterday.

Usman Sethi, 24, of Audley Gardens, Ilford sneaked back into the O2 Wimbledon branch late at night and loaded up his car with approximately 250 handsets - wrecking his boss's publicised iPhone 5 sale scheduled to start the next morning.

The first-time offender raced to Dover and caught a ferry to France, where he sold the iPhones for £78,000 and blew all the cash during a drink-fuelled gambling spree.

He pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to stealing a quantity of iPhones, worth £115,790, from the Tandem Centre store on September 20, last year and stealing a quantity of jewellery from his brother Ali and his sister-in-law on September 12.

"You were placed in a position of very significant trust by your employer and you abused that trust in a very cynical manner," Recorder Aiden Christie QC told Sethi.

"Maybe it was a mark of your desperation that you used your own access card to go into the room where there was all these valuable phones and electrical equipment."

Prosecutor Mr. Philip Jones told the court Sethi's brother was pressurising the defendant to return his valuable wedding jewellery, which included necklaces, rings, bangles and pendants, which he believed was being held in a locker at the O2 store.

In reality  Sethi had pawned the valuables for £6,530 while his brother and sister-in-law were on holiday in Turkey to pay off gambling debts.

"He never returned home, but returned to the store after making it secure at 8pm and sending the staff home and locking up.

"He deactivated the alarm, went to the store room and began loading a large quantity of stock, including iPhones, into boxes for about an hour," explained Mr. Jones.

"He left, but returned later and dragged out the boxes he had filled up with very valuable stock, reset the alarm and loaded up his car at the back of the store."

Everything was captured on CCTV and when police were alerted on September 21 a search of Sethi's car registration revealed he had already left for France on a Dover ferry.

Sethi's lawyer Mr. Gary Rutter said: "He has always worked in mobile phone shops since leaving school and has always progressed swiftly. He is a hard worker.

"He started to drink a large amount of alcohol, morning and evening, and tried to keep out of the family home, where his parents were having problems, as much as he could.

"The more he drank the more heavily he became involved in gambling and he says it became an addiction.

"He hoped to re-purchase the jewellery and give it back to his brother and sister-in-law, but he was not able to buy it back and became desperate.

"He saw a way of obtaining money and this is what he did.

"All the money was spent gambling, he lost the lot. He was in France, he knew the writing was on the wall and knew that he was wanted."

Sethi returned and gave himself up at Wimbledon Police Station on December 13.

The jewellery the defendant took from his brother's safe at the family home has been returned and Sethi has been forgiven.

"The family are not happy, but they will take him back and his brother and sister-in-law have visited him in prison," added Mr. Rutter. "The only reason they are not here today is that he told them not to attend."

Killer Ex-Gamekeeper Jailed After Ammo And Drugs Raid

A former gamekeeper and pheasant breeder - cleared of murdering a car thief he shot dead eighteen years ago - received twenty-eight months imprisonment yesterday after police found ammunition and a "sophisticated cannabis-growing operation" at his home.

Officers also seized twelve revolvers and eight rifles during the dawn raid, but a jury found 52 year-old Martin Wise held these as "curiosities or ornaments," and cleared him of illegally possessing firearms.

The jobless father-of-three, of Mount Pleasant, Hildenborough, Kent pleaded guilty to cultivating 48 cannabis plants, with a potential yield of 1.4 kilos, and a street value of £16,000 on June 8, 2011 and possessing nine .44 calibre and two .22 calibre cartridges, without a firearms certificate.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard Wise's life "unravelled" after he shot Matthew Hodge, 20, through the heart with a .25 Baby Browning pistol at point-blank range in August 1995 as he tried to break into the defendant's Ford Escort parked outside his home.

"He has had to live with the fact that he has killed a man and become a shadow of himself," said Mr. Mark Dacy, defending. "He had been confident and gregarious, a man who organised fifty-four shoots a year.

"He was heavily involved in the shooting fraternity, took part in organised shoots and was a member of gun clubs and suddenly all that was swept away and since then has hardly worked."

However, the prosecution have assessed Wise's benefit under the Proceeds of Crime Act as £96,000 and prosecutor Miss Wendy Dennis told the court: "From January, 2006 almost daily cash deposits of hundreds of pounds a time have been made into various accounts.

"He has been extraordinarily busy and the cash deposits are in excess of ninety-six thousand pounds."

Wise claims benefits of almost £3,000 per month.

"There seemed to be something of a manufacturing process of ammunition within the premises," added Miss Dennis. 

"Mr Wise says that when the cartridges were found he was looking to dismantle them as soon as possible and as for the cannabis it was for his personal use," explained Mr. Dacy.

"He was a heavy user and the medical reports explain the extent of his mental well-being.

"There were four or five middle-aged men that shared cannabis, it was a very small, social group and the experts agree that the set-up was unsophisticated, there was only one fan, no automatic watering and no electricity by-pass.

"His intention was that this growing would keep him away from people making profits out of cannabis, selling it at the back of pub car parks and mixing with the criminal fraternity.

"His depression and anxiety is now something he has addressed and he has stopped using cannabis," said Mr. Dacy. "He is a determined character and has moved away from this path.

"He has been suicidal, he is on medication and it is likely he and his wife will be evicted. His housing association home is now a skeleton and he is just waiting to move on.

"The family has been tremendously effected by all this and Mr Wise himself feels he is a targeted man because of the nature of the person involved in the 1995 incident."

Recorder Matthew Nicklin announced: "The defendant was deeply effected by the shooting incident and continues to be so, but he knows first-hand the terrible potential consequences of firearms.

"There were guns on the premises that were capable of firing some of the ammunition in Mr. Wise's possession.

"Also found in two separate areas was a sophisticated cannabis-growing operation."

Wise was sentenced to twenty months for cultivating cannabis, plus eight months consecutive for possessing ammunition and will serve half the sentence in custody, minus over seven months credit for obeying a night time bail curfew.

Prison Tonic For £300K Cocaine Courier

A cocaine courier, caught stepping off a Caribbean flight with over £300,000 worth of the drug hidden inside eleven bottles of tonic drinks, has been jailed for six years.

Painter and decorator Peter Mawhinney, 41, of Woden Road, Wolverhampton tried to convince UK Border Agency officers he had spent an innocent week-long holiday in Jamaica to “clear his head” after a suicide bid.

The father-of-two pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to smuggling 578 gms of 100% pure cocaine at Gatwick Airport on December 17, last year.

Prosecutor Miss Cynthia Caiquo told the court Mawhinney was travelling alone on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Montego Bay when he was stopped and quizzed by officers.

“He said he had packed his bag himself and had not been forced to bring anything into the UK.

“Inside his bag were eleven bottles of 'Triple S' tonic vitamin drink, which Mawhinney said he had paid five hundred pounds for and were for himself and his friends.

“The bottles' seals seemed uncommercial and when tested were positive for cocaine.”

Mawhinney's lawyer Mr. Andrew Stephens told the court: “He fell on hard times, work was difficult to find, and he got himself into financial difficulties and borrowed just over two thousand pounds from a loan shark.

“What he had to pay back was increasing day by day and was approaching ten thousand pounds when he was told: 'Pay now or suffer the consequences.'

“Threats were made to him about his physical well-being and the safety of his two girls, aged eighteen and five years-old.

“He was told he could eradicate his debt by flying to Jamaica and picking something up.

“His luggage was taken, items put in, and he couriered them back.”

Judge Stephen Waller told Mawhinney, who received fifty-four months imprisonment in Jersey for previous drugs offences: “Skilfully concealed within the bottles was the cocaine, which would have been recovered once it was smuggled into the country.”

The court also made an order restricting Mawhinney's foreign travel for three years after his release from prison.

Bum Rap For Cocaine Smuggler

A veteran drug-dealer, caught stepping off a Caribbbean flight with nearly £10,000 worth of cocaine concealed in his body, has been jailed for four years.

St. Lucia-born UK resident Felix Anerville, 64, of Rockwood Close, Huddersfield held out for two days in custody before eventually confessing and producing two packages of the drug.

The father-of-ninteen pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to smuggling 31.2 gms of 100% cocaine, with a street value of £9,700, at Gatwick Airport on November 21, last year.

Prosecutor Miss Cynthia Caiquo told the court Anerville, who received five years in 1998 for dealing in class A drugs, was stopped by the UK Border Agency after flying in from his native island.

“He said he was in St. Lucia to clear customs on a car he had exported there, but a swab taken of his bag gave a positive test for cocaine and heroin.

“A rub-down search and swab of his shoes also gave a positive test for cocaine, but the defendant refused to consent to an x-ray body scan and demanded to see a solicitor.”

Officers suspected Anerville was a 'mule' concealing drugs within his body and two days later he consented to the scan, which detected the two packages, and the defedant then produced them.

“He told the officers that while he was in St. Lucia he was approached by two men, who asked him to take the packages back to the U.K.,” explained Miss Caiquo.

“He said that threats were made to him that he would be killed and the lives of his girlfriend and fifteen month-old youngest child were in danger.

“He said he intended to pass the packages on board the flight and pay the men back from his funds, insisting he had not been paid and did not take drugs.”

Anerville's lawyer Miss Laura Plant said: “He is deeply ashamed at being before the courts again.

“This is not a man who voluntarily got involved in the importation of drugs and did not know what to do once he was in custody.

“He did not swallow the drugs, but stuck them in his rectum.”

Judge Stephen Waller said: “It is a long time since he was in trouble, but it was drugs. There are a lot of misguided people willing to go out to the West Indies and take a risk.

“I regard the argument of duress with some scepticism,” the judge told Anerville.

“I regard you as a man willing to take the risk by concealing these drugs inside your body and there must have been some financial advantage.

“You have done your best to keep out of crime, but unhappily you have fallen back into temptation on this occasion.”

Fake-Cancer Conwoman Facing Jail For £20K Swindle

A primary school teaching assistant, who tricked her friends and work colleagues into believing she had terminal brain cancer in a £20,000 scam, has been convicted by a jury.

Mother-of-four Ursula Rose, 42, was warned prison was a "likelihood" by the trial judge, who condemned the "audacity" of her defence, in which she made a point-blank denial of faking serious illness. 

Croydon Crown Court heard a fundraiser was held to finance private Harley Street treatment and concerned colleagues plunged themselves into debt by taking out loans or withdrawing money from their own childrens' accounts to help.

Rose, (pic.top) of Westgate Road, South Norwood - who worked at the local Saint Thomas Becket school - denied she invented the illness, claiming the victims volunteered to help her through money troubles, even describing her self as the victim of a "witch hunt."

"You have been convicted of these serious offences on overwhelming evidence," Judge Jeremy Gold QC told the first-time offender. "The most surprising aspect of this case is the audacity of your defence. It was doomed to fail.

"That is history, but you will not receive any credit for showing remorse and admitting these offences."

Rose was bailed until April 18 for probation reports, but Judge Gold added: "All options, including the possibility, if not likelihood of a custodial sentence remain open."

Prosecutor Miss claire Robinson told the court: "The Crown allege that Ursula Rose repeatedly made false representations to friends and work colleagues that she was suffering from cancer, that she had tumours in her head.

"She did this to get their sympathy, to get loans of money from them. This was dishonest and calculated to make people feel sorry for her.

"Over a number of years she repeatedly told friends and colleagues that she was severely ill with cancer and she was doing it in order to gain money from people."

Fellow teaching assistant Gillian Trype (pic.mid.) gave the defendant £3,000 after Rose convinced her she feared dying on the operating theatre table during a £37,000 private operation and felt her husband would not cope financially.

"She told her and others that the brain tumours were growing aggressively and she was going for daily chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

"She was told by Ursula Rose that one of the tumours was wrapped around a main artery near her temple and it could kill her at any moment.

"She said it was terminal and at level four and she needed an operation that was too dangerous for the NHS so was paying thirty-seven thousand pounds to go private.

"Mrs Trype's two daughters had money in their savings and she borrowed that, intending to repay it with a lump sum from her pension," explained Miss Robinson.

Rose took time off work for the non-existent 'operation' and when she returned told colleagues it had been partially successful, but a £7,000 American wonder drug could combat the remaining life-threatening tumour.

In June, 2009 staff attended a fundraiser at Croydon's Bar Txt, contributing to a collection aimed at raising money for the new drug.

Another member of staff, Allison Patmore, gave Rose £6,500 as a deposit on a £40,000 private Harley Street operation - again claiming it was too dangerous for the NHS.

Mrs Patmore took out a £6,200 loan, plus £300 cash from her bank account, accepting Rose's claim she would be repaid when her home was remortgaged.

Rose told long-time friend Michelle Willis she had only six months to live and needed a strong dose of radiotherapy - knowing her pal had money remaining from a recent house sale.

Mrs Willis gave her £5,000 and a few weeks later Rose asked for another £5,500 to avoid her home being repossessed. The friend convinced her own daughter, Sarah, to give Rose the money.

Eventually the school's (pic.bottom) headmaster, Noel Campbell, received confirmation from Rose's doctor at Mayday University hospital that she never had cancer.

"He said she did not, and never had, brain tumours, but suffered from tension-like headaches."

Rose then resigned in February, 2010, telling the headmaster she had been given the cancer all-clear and was cured.

During the trial Rose stuck by her denials, telling the jury: "I never said I needed an operation or that I needed money for a special operation in America. I don't know why my work colleagues would say that.

"It seemed like a bit of a witch hunt," complained Rose. "I never sent texts to anyone, saying my cancer was terminal."

The court heard Rose had serious financial problems and after remortgaging her family home in 2007 was left with monthly payments that increased from £800 to £2,000 per month.

She was convicted of four counts of fraud, by falsely representing that she had a life-threatening illness, on various dates between September 30, 2008 and July 31, 2009.

Range Rover Man Jailed

A man accused of stealing a £15,000 Range Rover then trying to sell it over 200 miles away to an unsuspecting customer was jailed at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) for two years today.

Luke Irving, 22, of Arran Walk, Islington, North London was arrested and charged with stealing the prestige vehicle on or before February 7, last year in Stockport, Lancashre.

He was also charged with fraud by false representation on July 8, last year, namely claiming he was the lawful owner of the vehicle, with intent to sell it for £12,770 in Oldfields Road, Sutton.

Irving was also accused of possessing an identity document, with intent, between February 2 and 8, last year, namely a false driving licence.

Stuffed Tiger: Charges Dropped

An animal expert, who supplies stuffed and live specimens to movies and photo-shoots, walked free from court today after illegal trading charges against him were dropped.

Simon Wilson, 50, of Canterbury Way, Croxley Green, Hertfordshire - boss of Animatronic Animals - was arrested after police from Scotland Yard's Wildlife Crime Unit raided a Mayfair studio in March, 2009 and seized a £75,000 stuffed tiger, which was being used in a fashion shoot for late designer Alexander McQueen.

His workshop in nearby Bovingdon was searched and officers found more animals, including a Himalayan black bear, an orang-utan, a peregrine falcon, an Asian arowana fish, the skeleton of a mandrill monkey and a leopard skin.

The company has been involved in films including the Harry Potter franchise, Casino Royals and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The Croydon Crown Court trial had been due to start last monday, but after a series of difficulties the prosecution, who were relying on a substantial amount of evidence from abroad, offered no evidence.

It is believed too many questions were raised concerning the credibility of a key witness.

Wilson had pleaded not guilty to using a specimen of an endangered species for commercial gain; keeping a specimen of an endangered species for sale; knowing or recklessly making a false statement to obtain a certificate or permit; using a certificate or permit for a purpose other than what it was issued for; dishonestly making a false representation and concealing criminal property.

Attempted Jewellery Snatch: CCTV Released

Police have released these CCTV images of two wannabe robbers, who tried to snatch expensive earrings from a North London jewellery store.

The duo struck in busy Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill at 5.15pm on November 7, last year.

They entered the store and asked a member of staff if they could have a closer look at a pair of earrings in the window display.

As the employee took them from the display one of the men tried to grab the earrings and the display cone they were mounted on as his accomplice held the door open.

Despite numerous enquiries police have been unsuccessful in identifying the suspects.

Haringey Police are requesting that anyone who can identify the men should contact them on 020 3276 0104 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Trigger-Happy Gunman Caged For Execution

A gunman is starting a life sentence – with a 35-year minimum – after fatally shooting an associate in the head soon after firing shots through his girlfriend's letterbox.

Local hoodlum Dwayne Fulgence, 28, (pictured) shot 23 year-old Marlon Campbell in Lushington Road, Catford on 9.15pm on June 16, last year.

The Lewisham victim was rushed to Kings College Hospital, but died the following afternoon.

He had been with two other men when an argument with Fulgence broke out and was shot once.

Earlier, the defendant rowed with his girlfriend at her address in Oslac Road, Lewisham when he was denied entry and fired three or four shots through the letterbox.

He was convicted at the Old Bailey of murder plus two counts of posssession of a firearm, with intent to endanger life and possession of a firearm and ammunition

Detective Inspector James Gerty, of Trident Gang Crime Command, which investigates violent black-on-black crime said: "Dwayne Fulgence is well known in the community for his criminal activities.

“The Metropolitan Police Service takes offences of this nature seriously and will take robust action to send a clear message to those concerned in gun crime that if they are involved, in any way, they can expect to be identified and convicted for the offence." 


Tooled-Up Robbers Caught By Have-A-Goes

Two teenage robbers, caught by a posse of have-a-go heroes after raiding a North London jeweller's, have been caged.

The youngsters, armed with a hammer, stun gun and blank firing pistol, were challenged after smashing a display window and pursued by local shop workers and members of the public.

Momin Hassan, 17, (pic.top) of Devonshire Road, Mill Hill received four years and 16 year-old Tajwar Shah, (pic.bottom) of St. Edmund's Drive, Stanmore three and a half years.

Both pleaded guilty to robbing Vinsons Jewellers in Station Road, Edgware on November 16, last year and possession of an imitation firearm.

Hassan also pleaded guilty to possession of a stun gun.

Wood Green Crown Court heard it was 11.20am when the defendants began smashing the display window with a hammer and tried to empty the jewellery inside.

They were challenged by a female member of staff and Shah shot a blank round into the air as a warning.

Passers-by and other shop workers were alerted to the struggle and pursued them down Station Road.

During this chase, Shah fired the gun in the direction of his pursuers, but they contiued to follow the pair.

The robbers were seen trying to change their clothes in the car park of a block of flats and were detained as they tried to flee back along Station Road.

Police found a bag, which contained a stun gun and a key to a blue Mercedes getaway car with false number plates, which was parked nearby.

Detective Constable Tim Fines, from the Flying Squad based at Finchley, said: "The judge has commended the bravery of those members of the public who pursued and detained these two males - I would like to reiterate this praise.



"Thanks to their efforts, and the efforts of officers who attended the scene, two dangerous males are behind bars."

Teaching Assistant Faked Brain Cancer In £20K Fraud, Court Told

A primary school teaching assistant tricked her friends and work colleagues into believing she had terminal brain cancer in a £20,000 scam, a jury have heard.

A fundraiser was held to finance private Harley Street treatment and concerned colleagues plunged themselves into debt by taking out loans or withdrawing money from their own childrens' accounts to help.

Mother-of-four Ursula Rose, 42, (pic.top) of Westgate Road, South Norwood - who worked at the local Saint Thomas Becket school (pic.bottom) - denies she invented the illness, claiming the victims volunteered to help her through money troubles.

"The Crown allege that Ursula Rose repeatedly made false representations to friends and work colleagues that she was suffering from cancer, that she had tumours in her head," prosecutor Miss Claire Robinson told Croydon Crown Court.

"She did this to get their sympathy, to get loans of money from them. This was dishonest and calculated to make people feel sorry for her.

"Over a number of years she repeatedly told friends and colleagues that she was severely ill with cancer and she was doing it in order to gain money from people."

Fellow teaching assistant Gillian Trype (pic.middle) gave the defendant £3,000 after Rose convinced her she feared dying on the operating theatre table during a £37,000 private operation and felt her husband would not cope financially.

"She told her and others that the brain tumours were growing aggressively and she was going for daily chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

"She was told by Ursula Rose that one of the tumours was wrapped around a main artery near her temple and it could kill her at any moment.

"She said it was terminal and at level four and she needed an operation that was too dangerous for the NHS so was paying thirty-seven thousand pounds to go private.

"Mrs Trype's two daughters had money in their savings and she borrowed that, intending to repay it with a lump sum from her pension," explained Miss Robinson.

Rose took time off work for the non-existent 'operation' and when she returned told colleagues it had been partially successful, but a £7,000 American wonder drug could combat the remaining life-threatening tumour.

In June, 2009 staff attended a fundraiser at Croydon's Bar Txt, contributing to a collection aimed at raising money for the new drug.

Another member of staff, Allison Patmore, gave Rose £6,500 as a deposit on a £40,000 private Harley Street operation - again claiming it was too dangerous for the NHS.

Mrs Patmore took out a £6,200 loan, plus £300 cash from her bank account, accepting Rose's claim she would be repaid when her home was remortgaged.

Rose told long-time friend Michelle Willis she had only six months to live and needed a strong dose of radiotherapy - knowing her pal had money remaining from a recent house sale.

Mrs Willis gave her £5,000 and a few weeks later Rose asked for another £5,500 to avoid her home being repossessed. The friend convinced her own daughter, Sarah, to give Rose the money.

Eventually the school's headmaster, Noel Campbell, received confirmation from Rose's doctor at Mayday University hospital that she never had cancer.

"He said she did not, and never had, brain tumours, but suffered from tension-like headaches."

Rose then resigned in February, 2010, telling the headmaster she had been given the cancer all-clear and was cured.

She has pleaded not guilty to four counts of fraud, by falsely representing that she had a life-threatening illness, on various dates between September 30, 2008 and July 31, 2009.

Trial continues………..

Trafficked Domestic "Dogsbody" Used And Abused As "Sexual Toy," Jury Told

An Indian domestic worker was repeatedly raped, scalded with boiling water, burned with a hot iron, beaten and threatened that if she complained her throat would be cut and her body buried in a back garden, a jury have heard.

The 39 year-old vulnerable and illiterate mother-of-four was used and abused as a "sexual toy" and "general dogsbody" by the family, who forced her into virtual slavery for six years despite complaints to the police and other services.

She worked sixteen hours a day, seven days a week, between October 2004 and October 2010, which even at a minimum wage rate should have seen her paid £172,288. In reality she received just £2,364.

Denying the charges at Croydon Crown Court are: butcher Enkarta Balapovi, 53, (pic.top l.) and his partner 57 year-old shop worker Shanaz Begum, (pic.top r.) both of Charlbert Street, St. John's Wood.

Begum's son Aleemuddin Mohammed, 35, (pic.bottom l.) a supermarket manager, of Sefton Avenue, Harrow; his wife, secretary Shamina Yousuf, 33, of Pavilion Way, Edgware and optician Shashi Obhrai, 53, (pic.bottom r.) of Pembroke Road, Northwood.

"Each of these defendants have collectively and severally taken advantage of her," explained prosecutor Miss Caroline Haughey. "Abusing her in their own way and when she either becomes a threat or a nuisance is passed on to the next party until she is no longer wanted.

"Their view of her has resulted in a prolonged and continued abuse of her. 

"Each of the defendants knew of her lack of education, expectation and awareness both in the U.K. and India and used that to get her to comply with their wishes whether as a domestic worker, sexual toy or general dogsbody."

The court heard the victim was never paid her promised wage, had her passport confiscated, was fed scraps and leftovers, including food spat out by the defendant Obhrai's children, and slept in a garage and on the floors of various properties.

"Each of these defendants treated her with contempt, ignoring her basic rights and taking advantage of her naivety, her vulnerability and her ignorance," explained Miss Haughey.

"Tragically various state agencies failed her too, ignoring her repeated pleas for help, not adhering to their own investigative practices, and it could be said ignoring the obvious."

The family successfully applied for a visa, allowing the victim to work in the U.K., promised to pay her £480 per month and she moved into the Pavilion Way address with Mohammed, his wife Yousuf and their child.

"She slept in the garage or on the floor of the child's room…..She was expected to wash, cook and clean for the family and be at their beck and call.

"Yousuf was short-tempered and aggressive with her," added Miss Haughey. "She recalls being beaten around the head, causing her ears to bleed, and Yousuf poured boiling water over her hands and forbid her to receive any medical treatment."

When Yousuf threw a cup at the victim, causing a two inch cut to her foot, she was arrested, but Mohammed threatened her into dropping the allegation and the police did not pursue the complaints she made to them.

After two years and eight months with the couple, who paid just £24 for that period, which also included Mohammed groping her and forcing her to touch him, the victim escaped with the help of a Pakistani stranger at a supermarket. 

Desperate to get her passport back she agreed to move in with Balapovi and Begum, where she massaged their legs and feet and was forced to work for £2-per hour at a sandwich shop downstairs.

"It was while at this address she was subjected to a catalogue of sexual assaults by Balapovi," said Miss Haughey, explaining the first incident involved the defendant ripping off the victim's pyjamas and raping her on the only bed in the flat.

"She describes how this happened repeatedly, usually on weekends, Mondays and Tuesdays. She says it happened for: 'As long as I lived in the house'."

After four months with the couple the victim was assisted by a charity and her rape complaints reported to the police, but she was then handed over to Obhrai and her ordeal continued.

Her daily routine included cooking for eight people, washing, cleaning, looking after Obhrai's sick mother and enduring beatings, hair pulling and threats at the hands of the defendant - eventually leaving her no option but to attempt suicide by slashing her wrists.

She was hospitalised after being pushed down a flight of stairs, struck with a rolling pin, burned with a hot iron and suffered stomach cramps and vomiting when forced to eat out of date food, the jury were told.

Again the victim fled and reported the abuse to police, but no action was taken and the beatings continued, with Obhrai threatening to slit her throat and bury her in the back garden.   

Eventually she contacted the charity Kalayaan, which campaigns for justice for migrant workers, who referred her to the U.K. Human Trafficking Centre and an investigation began.

Balapovi has pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and along with his partner Begum two separate counts of arranging travel within the U.K. for exploitation.

Mohammed denies one count of trafficking within the U.K for exploitation and sexually assaulting the victim.

Obhrai and Yousouf deny separate counts of causing actual bodily harm and Obhrai alone denies making threats to kill and trafficking within the U.K. for exploitation.

Trial continues…………

Suspected Paedo Hunted

Police have released this CCTV image of a suspect they are are hunting – wanted for twice approaching different children in West London.

The man approached two girls in Cowley High Road, Uxbridge at 2.15pm on September 8, last year and tried to incite them into committing a sex act.

When they refused the suspect walked away and the girls returned home and informed their parents, who reported the incident to police.


Three hours later a man with the same description approached a group of children in Rockingham Recreation Ground, Rockingham Road, Uxbridge, and tried to coax them to nearby Fassnidge Park.

They refused and left the scene.



An investigation is being carried out by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Sapphire Command.

After the incidents inquiries were conducted with shops in the area and a number of identification leads were pursued with a negative result. 



The man is described as white, aged between 35-45 years, of thin build, with short brown hair featuring a large bald patch on the crown of his head, and wearing a red t-shirt, three-quarter length shorts and carrying a yellow rucksack.



Anyone who recognises the man or has any information they believe may assist police is asked not to approach the man themselves but to contact the Sapphire team on 020 8247 6520 or dial 999.

To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.