Veteran Actor Steve Berkoff Denies Careless Driving

Going Underground: Actor Berkoff

Actor Steven Berkoff has denied driving his VW Beetle without due care and attention when he struck a female pedestrian crossing the road in the busy West End.

The 75 year-old veteran of stage, screen and television appeared at City of London Magistrates' Court, where the case was adjourned for a trial on August 27.

Berkoff, of Narrow Street, Canary Wharf, who recently appeared in lavish  television costume drama 'The Borgias' and hit movie 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' told the court the pedestrian was to blame.

However, he did plead guilty to driving in Oxford Street last New Year's Eve without a valid licence because he was using a United States licence, which is only valid for one year and will be sentenced for the offence at the conclusion of his trial.

He was not represented in court and pleaded not guilty to driving without due care and attention, in Oxford Street at 6pm on December 31, last year by stopping and signalling for a pedestrian to cross, but then overtaking a small car and hitting the pedestrian's leg.

Berkoff told the court: "I was driving along Oxford Street, it is a very, very slow journey, a very busy shopping area and the car in front of me slowed down and stopped.

"I signalled and slowly overtook the car and as I was overtaking at five to seven miles per hour two women dashed across the road at enormous speed.

"I braked, but accidentally just nipped one of the ladies on the leg.

"Where they crossed the road, there was no zebra, no lights in busy Oxford Street.

"They thought they would make a quick dash. I think that they were totally responsible.

"My driving is reasonable and competent and in thirty years of driving I haven't had one accident, just maybe gone through traffic lights once or twice.

"My driving was competent and always is."

After initially denying the licence charge Berkoff admitted ignorance was no defence, adding: "I have an american licence as I have been living in LA, coming back and forth for many years and i was told that it was valid, but now I have been told it is valid for only one year.

"I am flying back and forth between La and London, a lot of my work takes place in America, where I was last week."

The prosecution will call one police officer and two civilian witnesses and Berkoff told the court he had no witnesses.

'Commuter Rage' Case: Charges Dropped

A Milton Keynes commuter, who denied aggressively calling a ticket inspector a “fucking dickhead” while grabbing his jacket, looked pleased after accepting a bindover yesterday.

Father-of-three Stephen Archer, 41, of Church Road, Brickhill was accused of queue-jumping at busy Euston station during the evening rush-hour.

A ticket inspector who challenged him told police the defendant was verbally abusive and grabbed him, but the charges were dropped after Archer conceded his behaviour was out of line.

He was found not guilty at City of London Magistrates' Court of assaulting Benjamin Johnson and using threatening behaviour on November 16, last year and was boundover in the sum of £200 for twelve months.

“The defendant was walking down the ramp to platform six, where there was a queue forming and the defendant was seen walking to the side by a ticket inspector,” explained prosecutor Mr. Satya Chotalia.

“When he asked to see his ticket Mr. Archer aggressively called him a: 'Fucking dickhead,' ansd grabbed the ticket inspector's jacket.

“It turned out Mr. Archer did have a valid ticket for travel and it was a minor assault, a grabbing of the jacket.

“He was not trying to fare evade, but just get to his train quicker.”

Archer's lawyer Mr. James Lester said: “He is a professional man with a young family and had never been arrested before.

“He wished to apologise at the time for his conduct, his behaviour fell well short of the standards he sets himself in his life that evening.

“He wishes to apologise in open court for his behaviour.

“There was no intent to fare evade and there was no obligation to queue because there were other entrances to that concourse.

“He has caused embarrasment to himself, his family and his employers as a result of this incident.

“He did have a couple of alcoholic drinks that evening and that may have had an effect.”

Archer, who maintains his good character, was ordered to pay £500 costs.

Convicted Rapist Cleared Of Molesting Nine Year-Old Girl

A convicted rapist, who attacked a woman in an alleyway twenty years ago, has been cleared of molesting a nine year-old girl.

Daniel Borgers, 41, (pictured) of Napier Crescent, Scarborough was arrested and charged after the girl's step-father read about the rape conviction in a local newspaper.

However, a Blackfriars Crown Court jury acquitted the serving prisoner of sexually assaulting the girl, then aged nine, at an address in Monklands, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire in March, 2007.

Borgers, who is serving seven-and-a-half years, breathed a noticable sigh of relief and nodded his head in affirmation of the jury's verdict.

His parents, who supported him throughout the trial, were also visably relieved and his mother broke down in tears.

He raped a woman in her 40's in a Stotfold, Bedfordshire, alleyway in October, 1992 as she walked home from a relative's house on a footpath between Arlesey Road and Mixies one evening.

Borgers grabbed her from behind and forced her to the floor, raped her and ran away, threatening to slit her throat.

He was arrested when DNA taken by North Yorkshire Police after a minor drugs offence matched the rapist's semen sample.

The case was widely reported and the Letchworth Garden City girl's step-father, knowing the family had contact with Borgers several years earlier, quizzed her about him.

She said Borgers had toucher her one night as she shared a bed with her step-brother, but had kept most of the intimate details secret out of embarrasment.

“One night she was asleep in her brother's bed when she was awoken by a shadow passing across her face,” prosecutor Miss Isabel Dellamere told the jury.

“She saw the defendant there and he was touching her softly up and down her legs and touched her chest.

“She describes a circular motion and Mr. Borgers grabbing her breasts and she says he was trying to move the nightdress up.

“Using his palms he touched her thighs and then touched the inside of her thighs and she describes him breathing heavily.

“She shouted for her mum who came to the door and asked what Mr. Borgers was doing there and the defendant said he was just talking.”

The jury was told that sometimes Borgers would sleep with the girl's mother and sometimes sleep in the girl's bed alone when he arrived drunk, while she shared with her brother.

“She describes the defendant as someone who gave her cuddles and tickles a lot,” added Miss Dellamere.”

The jury were shown a videoed police interview in which the girl told officers: “I woke up and Dan was crouched down on the floor and was touching me softly, rubbing up and down my leg and my breasts and I could hear heavy breathing.

“I was frightened to say anything, because I was only nine.

“I was shocked and uncomfortable.

“I think that was the whole thing, he was trying to move the nightie up.

'There was deep heavy breathing and I could feel it down my neck, that was while he was touching my boob with one hand first of all.”

After three or four minutes her mother came to the bedroom door and Borgers left, but even though this was a one-off the witness said his behaviour on other occasions was inappropriate.

“When he came in he would want to cuddle me and tickle my side. I thought it was a bit weird for mum's boyfriend to do that kind of thing.

“It was about a week later that I told my mum, but I don't think she believed me.

“I felt embarrassed about telling me mum about the touching of the breasts.”

The court heard the girl's new step-father asked her about Borgers when he read a newspaper report in August, last year that named him.

She revealed to the family for the first time: “He touched my boobs.”

Borgers was arrested on August 24, last year and told police he was confused about the lay-out of the three-bedroom house after drinking heavily and smoking cannabis.

“He said in a 'fuzzy' state he got into the wrong bedroom and got into the kids' bed,” explained Miss Dellamere.

“He said when he realised it was not their mother's bed he got up and curled up on the floor.

“He denied touching her in any way at all.”

"Charming" Serial Rapist Gets Extra Prison Time For Three More Attacks

An "arrogant sexual predator" is starting a new life sentence for three more rapes, after his traumatised victims came forward - prompted by the notoriety surrounding his attacks on four other victims.

Serial rapist Brian Witty, 42, a former Territorial Army captain with the Parachute Regiment and City banker - described as "charming" by many of his victims - was already behind bars, but yesterday's sentencing increases his minimum term by four years.

He raped the professional women when they were all 19 year-old students - beating one severely and smirking with a smug look on his face after raping another.

"They describe him as somebody who is charming, confident on the verge of arrogance, violent and takes sex by force, using his physical strength if he is refused," prosecutor Mr. Edmund Gritt told the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury.

Witty, of Marlow House, Twickenham Road, Teddington was convicted at the same court last year of three rapes and one sexual assault of four victims - prompting the three new victims to come forward after years of silence.

He was convicted of raping the first complainant, who is now a 43 year-old dentist at her Liverpool University hall of residence room in September or October, 1989; raping the second woman, now a 35 year-old nurse, at a Hull address in December, 1997 and raping the third, now a doctor, aged 35 at his former Kensington flat in the early hours of New Year's Day, 1998.

Judge Nicholas Price QC sentenced Witty to life imprisonment, with a twelve year minimum, telling him: "You were bullying, you were controlling, you were manipulative, you traumatised and devastated their lives.

"Your callous indifference to each of these victims speaks volumes about your character and you treated them with utter contempt and with each woman you wore no condom, which in itself was an exacerbating feature.

"You knew that each was telling the truth, but you showed no compassion in your decision to challenge their allegations and I have no doubt you will continue to protest your innocence on these charges."

Witty was warned by the judge to stop shaking his head in mock disbelief when the case was opened to the jury by the prosecution at the start of the trial.

The court heard Witty knew the first woman, who he met at Hull College of Further Education, where she was retaking her A-levels and was angry when she stood him up in Liverpool, where she had moved to study dentistry.

"Her first impression was that he was charming, fun and engaging, but also cocky and very confident," explained Mr. Gritt. "She soon discovered that Mr. Witty's personality had a different side that was intimidating, jealous and violent."

A witness once saw Witty twisting the student's arm until she said sorry to him for a joke he was offended by and he also beat her and parked outside her family's home in Hull to intimidate them, the jury were told.

After she moved to Liverpool he tracked her down and turned up at her lodgings.

"She was terrified, he held the door open, punched her and forced her back into the room," said Mr. Gritt. "He punched her repeatedly all over and she curled herself into a ball to protect herself.

"He sat on top of her, holding her down, and at one point put his hands around her neck.

"He pulled down her lower clothing and raped her. He was very strong and she was very frightened.

"Afterwards he started punching her again and she began screaming. The defendant continued shouting and hitting her and was enraged that she did not meet up with him."

She was left with a bleeding eye and lip and with bruising to her face and body, but only told people Witty had beaten her up.

The jury were told the second victim was staying overnight on a living-room sofa at an address in Hull Witty and a couple were also staying at.

"There in the small hours she was woken by this defendant, pulling her to the floor and he held her down and put his hand over her mouth," said Mr. Gritt.

"He was much stronger and she was frozen with fear and this defendant then raped her.

"He said nothing, but simply looked smug and he stood up with a smirk on his face as if something funny had just happened."

Again the victim did not report the rape and the jury were reminded Witty had raped before this date and was "confident" after being released without charge when arrested and questioned by police.

Days later Witty was celebrating the new year in London and agreed to look after a medical student, who was attending Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospital, and could not get back home to Romford, Essex.

"Her friend fatefully introduced her to Mr. Witty as somebody who would look after her and eliminate the risk of her getting raped on the way home.

"The defendant reassured her that he did not have any ulterior motive, but sex was all that was on his mind and she thought he was the perfect gentleman."

The jury were told his Kensington flat had been the scene of a previous rape and again Witty attacked a lone female once he got her inside.

"He pushed her face-down on the bed, holding her arms above her, spread her legs and raped her," said Mr. Gritt. "She was shocked and scared and did not know what to do."

The young woman told her tutor, doctor and friends about the rape and they noticed bruising to both her arms, the court heard, but again the police were not informed.

Like the other two complainants she only went to the police after learning of Witty's convictions.

In May, last year he received life - with an eight-year minimum - for three rapes and a sexual assault committed between 1996 and 2011 after meeting the four victims on online dating sites or in smart bars.

He was arrested after each of the first three attacks, but was only charged after raping the fourth woman, a 42 year-old he met via DatingDirect.com and shared a drink with at a Richmond pub.

The first woman was raped after bumping into Witty at a Fulham pub, five months after they had a one-night stand, the second was sexually assaulted in a Covent Garden alley and the third raped after meeting him in a Twickenham pub.

Burglary Victim Fatality: Teen In Dock

A 17 year-old boy has appeared in court charged with murder after an 88 year-old pensioner died after a break-in at her east London home.

Margery Gilbey, (pictured) of Sonali Gardens, Sutton Street, Stepney passed away soon after the burglary.

The Romford youth, who is too young to be identified, appeared at Stratford Magistrates' Court charged with the murder of Margery on May 24.

A 23 year-old man, who was also arrested in connection with the death, has been bailed to return to an east London police station pending further enquiries.

Alleged Paedo Denies Groping Nine Year-Old Girl

A drunken child molester groped his girlfriend's nine year-old daughter's breasts and thighs as the youngster slept with her twin brother, a court heard yesterday.

Daniel Borgers, 41, (pictured) of Napier Crescent, Scarborough was dating the girl's mother six years ago and fondled the daughter during one of his regular sleepover's at their home in Monklands, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire.

“One night she was asleep in her brother's bed when she was awoken by a shadow passing across her face,” prosecutor Miss Isabel Dellamere told the Blackfriars Crown Court jury.

“She saw the defendant there and he was touching her softly up and down her legs and touched her chest.

“She describes a circular motion and Mr. Borgers grabbing her breasts and she says he was trying to move the nightdress up.

“Using his palms he touched her thighs and then touched the inside of her thighs and she describes him breathing heavily.

“She shouted for her mum who came to the door and asked what Mr. Borgers was doing there and the defendant said he was just talking.”

The jury was told that sometimes Borgers would sleep with the girl's mother and sometimes sleep in the girl's bed alone when he arrived drunk, while she shared with her brother.

“She describes the defendant as someone who gave her cuddles and tickles a lot,” added Miss Dellamere.”

The jury were shown a videoed police interview in which the girl told officers: “I woke up and Dan was crouched down on the floor and was touching me softly, rubbing up and down my leg and my breasts and I could hear heavy breathing.

“I was frightened to say anything, because I was only nine.

“I was shocked and uncomfortable.

“I think that was the whole thing, he was trying to move the nightie up.

'There was deep heavy breathing and I could feel it down my neck, that was while he was touching my boob with one hand first of all.”

After three or four minutes her mother came to the bedroom door and Borgers left, but even though this was a one-off the witness said his behaviour on other occasions was inappropriate.

“When he came in he would want to cuddle me and tickle my side. I thought it was a bit weird for mum's boyfriend to do that kind of thing.

“It was about a week later that I told my mum, but I don't think she believed me.

“I felt embarrassed about telling me mum about the touching of the breasts.”

The court heard the girl's new step-father asked her about Borgers when he read a newspaper report in August, last year that named him.

She revealed to the family for the first time: “He touched my boobs.”

Borgers was arrested on August 24, last year and told police he was confused about the lay-out of the three-bedroom house after drinking heavily and smoking cannabis.

“He said in a 'fuzzy' state he got into the wrong bedroom and got into the kids' bed,” explained Miss Dellamere.

“He said when he realised it was not their mother's bed he got up and curled up on the floor.

“He denied touching her in any way at all.”

The trial is expected to last three days.

Business Guru Admits Insurance Scam

The CEO of the Miss Nubian Foundation - a community interest company that promotes black entrepreneurship - has been convicted of a £7,800 insurance scam.

Jacqueline Wabara, 43, the former Miss Nigeria Europe beauty queen and boss of Wabara Public Relations lied in an effort to swindle a new engine for her Land Rover Freelander.

She portrayed herself at Wood Green Crown Court as depressed, jobless and penniless, but has been busy promoting what she describes as an "extravaganza" at the Hilton Hotel, Paddington in October when 2013's Miss Nubian Pageant winner will be crowned.

However, she was sentenced to a night-time curfew and must be at home during the event she is the figurehead and spokesperson for and is a highlight on the black social calendar.

University of Wolverhampton graduate Wabara, of Swaythling Close, Upper Edmonton pleaded guilty to fraud, by false representation, in relation to a claim on a Zurich insurance policy on November 12, 2010.

"I take a serious view of this," announced Recorder Robert Rhodes QC. "This was a deliberate fraudulent claim on an insurance company for several thousand pounds and lies were maintained to the last minute.

"Not only did she tell a pack of lies to the police she maintained it in her defence case statement." 

Prosecutor Miss Dianne Chan told the court: "A claim was made that on November the eleventh there had been some criminal damage to her Freelander when a firework had got into the engine and caused it to fail."

The reality was a Green Flag recovery had been called out on November 6 and transported the broken-down vehicle to Wabara's address and two days later it was taken to a repair garage, where it remained for ten days.

It was not even outside the defendant's home when she claimed it had been damaged and the insurer's own engineers inspected the vehicle on November 18.

"It had severe mechanical damage, the oil had completely run out and the piston rods had caused a hole," explained Miss Chan.

"The insurance policy excluded mechanical damage, but the vehicle needed a new engine.

"The defendant said she had last driven it home from a friend's address, parked it outside, and woke up the next day and found fire damage.

"There was no mention to the insurers that it had already broken down."

The court heard Wabara, who has previous convictions - including shoplifting - has health and financial problems and is unable to work.

Her lawyer told the court Wabara is "embarrassed" about the offence and "suffers from depression."

She was described as a "community mentor" helping members of the community find employment.

"This was a deliberate, dishonest attempt to get nearly eight thousand pounds from an insurance company," Recorder Rhodes told Wabara, who the probation service deemed unsuitable for any unpaid community service work.

"You have got no money at all and I make no order for compensation or costs," he added sentencing her to an untagged nine-month curfew, which must be complied with between 8pm and 6am daily.

Bus Perv Hunted By Transport Cops

Police are hunting this bus sex-pest, who has targetted three victims on public transport in the Kingston and Twickenham areas.

This CCTV image taken on a bus had been released in the hope somebody will recognise the pervert and report him to police from the Safer Transport Command Sexual Offences Team.

The first offence occurred on 6 September, last year at approximately 2:20pm on a Route K3 bus in Eden Street, Kingston, Surrey.


The second offence occurred on Wednesday 20 February, this year at approximately 4:00pm also on a Route K3 bus in Wheatfield Way, Kingston.



The third offence occurred on Tuesday 16 April at approximately 4:00pm on a Route R70 bus in King Street, Twickenham.


The suspect is described as a white man with short scruffy dark hair. 



Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Constable Simone Ludlowe who is leading the investigation on 07920 191228 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.



DC Simone Ludlowe said: "I would like to reassure passengers that these types of incidents are rare.

“We do not tolerate unwanted sexual behaviour on the transport network and we take all sexual offences very seriously.

“I would like to remind everyone, but women in particular, to always report incidents of this nature to the police.”

Patient-From-Hell Who Harassed Doctors Reveals Hit List During Trial

An angry patient, who waged a nine-year campaign of harassment against two doctors he claims are incompetant, told magistrates who convicted him he would have them executed.

Disabled Paul O'Callaghan, 37, of Granville Road, Eastbourne ciculated leaflets calling for the “punishment”, “retribution” and “execution” of named medics, who he also secretly recorded and filmed during consultations.

O'Callahan, who receives disability living allowance for his chronic vestibular disorder, which effects his balance, was bailed until July 3 for sentencing.

He was convicted at Greenwich Magistrates' Court of two counts of harassment against Dr. Jennifer Quirke and Dr. David Golding-Wood between August 19, 2003 and November 20, last year.

O'Callaghan, the self-styled founder of the 'British Unicorn Party' was also convicted of two counts of communicating threatening messages between October 1, 2004 and November 20, last year and November 16 and 20, last year.

“I'm going to have you executed. I am going to have the three of you killed when I seize contol of this country,” he screamed from the dock when told the four charges were proved by the magistrates.

O'Callaghan has been receiving treatment at the Princess Royal University Hospital, Orpington and claimed the leaflets were not threatening, but merely outlined the aims of the British Unicorn Party.

Some were titled: “Doctors of Evil”, “Fifteen Year Wait For Treatment” and “We Make Complete Cock-Ups On A Regular Basis.”


Leaflets were pushed through Dr. Quirke's front door and the letterboxes of other hospital staff, who told police they found them: “Extremely nasty, extremely malicious and extremely slanderous.”

They included images of Dr. Quirke the defendant had secretly recorded during appointments and included false claims against both doctors.

“I was a bit shocked at first and upset by what I saw in the leaflets and was concerned,” Dr. Quirke told the court from behind a screen. “In 2004 the police had spoken to him and I hoped there would be no further problems.”

Ear, Nose and Throat specialist Dr. Golding-Wood only saw O'Callaghan once ten years ago and referred him to the world-leading National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

“I received everything from a single sheet A4 document to thirty-two pages, some of which contained somewhat threatening and disparaging material,” he told the court, also from behind a screen.

“The author became more robust and used the words punishment, retribution and execution. I was extremely concerned and threatened.”

O'Callaghan told the court he did not know the addresses of hospital employees, but had delivered leaflets in 200 London Borough of Bromley roads because the hospital was within that local authority.

“They were not harassment, they were political party leaflets delivered across the borough to boost our numbers and take over the council and set up a health centre to help the victims.

“I didn't know who lived in which house. We were just leafleting every road.

“The reason I recorded the doctors is to show them cover up the mistakes of other doctors.

“The doctors did not like the leaflets, but they were true. Those policy sheets did not carry any threats.”

O'Callaghan claims he quit a promosing media career in television production, and his ambition to join the Metropolitan Police was ruined by his medical condition.

He told the court the General Medical Council were not interested in his complaints.

“When my party takes power we will take care of these bodies and these people and lock them up for a very long time.”

Asked by prosecutor Mr. William Chipperfield if he would want those people executed O'Callaghan replied: “I wouldn't rule it out.”

“We also have a policy to execute Keir Starmer the head of the Crown Prosecution Service and I am going to demolish Hendon if I do not get in.

“If anything happens to me all the audio and video recordings are going on the intenet.”

Benefit Fraudster In Court Again For Secret Stash

A Peckham benefits claimant, accused of secretly having savings that would disqualify her from hand-outs, left court with an absolute discharge yesterday.

Adeyemi Aroloye, 40, (pictured) of Medina House, Rye Hill Park appeared at Camberwell Magistrates' Court, but had already been prosecuted by the Department of work and Pensions.

It is suspected friends working illegally used her identity and bank account for wages to be paid into – pushing her over the £16,000 benefits threshold.

She was charged with two counts of failing to notify the London Borough of Southwark of a change in circumstances between April 1, 2008 and January 22, last year, namely that she had excess funds in a Lloyds TSB bank account.

Benefit Fraudster Sentenced For £8K Scam

A benefit fraudster, who held down four different jobs while illegally claiming a raft of hand-out's during an £8,234 swindle, has been sentenced.

Mother-of-two Abiola Adebiyi, 32, of Inwell Estate, Neptune Street, South Bermondsey kept her employment a secret while making a series of claims.

She received housing benefit and council tax benefit from the London Borough of Southwark and income support from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

At Camberwell Magistrates' Court yesterday (pictured) she was placed on a twelve-month community order, which includes 100 hours community service work.

Adebiyi, who is heavily pregnant with her third child, worked for London Care plc; Anchor Housing Trust; Care UK Community Partnership and Dynamic Clearing.

She pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly making a false statement to obtain housing benefit; two counts of dishonestly making a false statement to obtain council tax benefit and two counts of making a false statement to obtain income support on or about October 15, 2008.

Adebiyi also admitted six counts of dishonestly failing to declare a change of circumstances in relation to the claims on or around December 12, 2008 and August 17, 2009, namely that she was in paid employment.

When the first-time offender was quizzed by investigators she claimed a former friend had worked using her name and her Nat West bank account without her knowledge.

She denied working while receiving benefits and claimed payments she received were from a £3,500 loan she had made to another friend.

Adebiyi, who legally receives child benefit and tax credits, is currently repaying the money from her current job.

Dutchman And Jamaican Overstayer Jailed For Sham Marriage

Union Of The Snakes: Tsahai & Rudy

A Dutch national and Jamaican overstayer, who participated in a "sham marriage" at a notorious church suspected of conducting hundreds of bogus ceremonies, were each jailed for fifteen months yesterday.

The 'couple' were married at Thornton Heath's St.Jude with St.Aidan, Thornton Road, Thornton Heath, where the UK Border Agency (UKBA) suspect 492 sham marriages took place between December, 2009 and March, 2011.

Croydon Crown Court heard the UKBA discovered it was a fake union and the pair were not even living together and the spousal visa application was supported by fake documentation.

Dutch national Rudy Richard Puljhun, 55, of Lant Street, Borough married Tsahai Deacon-Puljhun, 36, of Fordington House, Sydenham Hill, Sydenham on February 6, 2010.

"We are dealing here with a sham marriage," said prosecutor Mr. Dennis Kavanagh. "That is the nub of the allegation.

"That marriage was investigated by immigration officials and it was inherently suspicious, a false marriage that was a device to allow Mrs Deacon-Puljhun to stay in this country.

"She arrived in this country in 2001 as a visitor and applied for leave to remain as a student and by the time of the marriage she was an overstayer with no immigration status and in danger of being removed.

"She tried to secure a way to stay in this country by deception."

Nineteen months after the marriage Deacon-Puljhun applied for leave to remain and provided supporting documents, claiming Puljhun was employed as a handyman.

However, on his marriage certificate Puljhun described himself as a driver.

On June 14, last year Deacon-Puljhun was arrested during a raid on a Stockwell address.

"It was clear she was in a relationship with a gentleman apart from Mr. Puljhun. That gentleman's photograph was under her bed and there were text messages from him on her phone," explained Mr. Kavanagh.

"Puljhun was not there, he was in Holland where he lives his life and has children and has no connection with this country whatsoever."

Deacon-Puljhun, who had been signing at an immigration office for several years, "came clean" suggested the prosecutor.

She is said to have told immigration officers: "I was signing-on for four-and-a-half years and it would be unfair if I did not sort myself out.

"We met at a wedding, I told him of my predicament, and he offered to help me out by marrying me. We were dating, we really were."

Puljhun was convicted of doing an act to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law and Deacon-Puljhun was convicted of seeking to remain in the UK by deception.

Paedo Arrested After Police Raid Found Thousands Of Indecent Images

A paedophile, who downloaded nearly 4,000 sickening sexually-explicit images of children, dodged jail with a suspended sentence today.

Retired Alistair Ledingham, 66, of Arthur Court, Charlotte Despard Avenue, Battersea was arrested after a police raid at the flat he shares.

Most of the images were of boys and depicted children as young as twelve months-old.

He pleaded guilty to ten charges of making indecent images of children ranging from Level One – the lowest - to Level Five – the highest on or before October 22, last year.

Ledingham was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court (pictured) to ten months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was placed on an eighteen-month community order, which includes a 'One to One' sex offender programme.

The court heard officers executed a search warrant at his address and in his bedroom two laptops, eight USB sticks and two discs were seized, which contained 3,889 images, including 101 video clips.

Most featured boys aged between ten and fifteen years-old, but 10% of the sexually-abused victims were under ten and some were girls.

Ledingham told police he had been viewing the material for four years after initially searching the internet for adult pornography.

The court was told the defendant, who has a thirty year-old gross indecency conviction, was “ashamed” of the offence.

There were 1,861 Level One images; 711 at Level Two; 347 at Level Three; 946 at Level Four and 24 at Level Five.

Ledingham will have to sign the sex offenders register and a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was made prohibiting him using the internet, without saving his searches, and he is banned from unsupervised contact with children aged under sixteen years-old.