Booze And Drugs-Fuelled "Sexual Deviant" Caged For Twenty Years

A sex-obsessed internet pervert, who raped two ex-girlfriends, is starting a twenty-year prison sentence.

Steven Jeanne, 44, of Brent House Road, Homerton, east London was on bail for raping one woman when the second rape case – which had previously been dropped by police – was pursued.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard when police arrested Jeanne for raping a former partner in October, last year they seized extreme pornography and indecent images of children stored on a computer at his address.

He was bailed and attacked the same victim during a row in March, this year and was remanded in custody.

Whilst awaiting trial for those offences, information came to light about another rape of a woman in Newham which Jeanne had committed in February 2011.

The victim, again a former partner of Jeanne's, had made the allegation to police in February 2012 - a year after the incident took place.

At the time of the initial investigation, it was deemed there was not sufficient evidence to proceed with a prosecution.

Officers reviewed the allegation and, after further investigation, Jeanne was charged with this rape.



Detective Constable Kath Watson of the Sexual Exploitation and Child Abuse Command based at Hackney led the investigation.

She said: "Steven Jeanne's offending was fuelled by alcohol, drugs and his obsession with extreme pornography.

“He manipulated and humiliated his female partners for the duration of their relationships with him.

“I am so grateful that they trusted the Police and were able to assist us in incarcerating a dangerous sexual predator."



Detective Inspector Patrick Milford, who heads up the Hackney Team said:

"Steven Jeanne is a very dangerous sexual deviant.

“He preyed on vulnerable women, subjecting them to violent rapes.

“The victims have shown incredible courage throughout the investigative process and I would like to thank them for their support throughout this.”

Chef Starting Life Sentence For Stabbing Ex To Death

A knife-wielding chef, who stabbed his ex to death after initially being refused access to their daughter, is starting a life sentence – with a 17-year minimum.

Delton Coley, 36, (pic.bottom) returned to 30 year-old Daneshia Arthur's east London address with a set of knives and stabbed her several times.

He pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to murdering the fashion design graduate at the cul-de-sac home in Baden Powell Close, Dagenham she shared with her mother and daughter.

Her mother, Colleen Ollivierre, discovered Daneshia's body when she returned home on March 18

Earlier that day Coley had turned up and asked to see his daughter, but Daneshia (pic.top) a graduate of the London College of Fashion, refused.

He returned, and after gaining access to the address murdered Daneshia, leaving her on the floor, where she was pronounced dead later that evening.

Detective Inspector Andy Yeats of the Homicide and Major Crime Command said:

"As a result of Delton Coley's actions the family of Daneshia Arthur have been left devastated. 



"Immediately after attacking Daneshia, Coley had the opportunity to contact the emergency services and potentially save the life of the mother of his child.

He chose not to do this, but instead fled the scene - a despicable act by a cowardly man." 




Colleen Ollivierre said: "Daneshia's death has destroyed our lives and family.

“We are traumatised, broken hearted, emotionally unstable, shocked and finding it hard to accept that we have to experience such a great loss. 



"We have lost a very, very special daughter, mother, sister and friend. A very loving woman, a very caring woman with a good character and sense of humour.

“Daneshia was strong willed, motivated, trustworthy and reliable."



Gregory Arthur, Daneshia's brother, said: "Daneshia was a focused and beautiful individual inside and out and to be taken from us in this manner is devastating and unjust.

“We have to pick up the pieces that this coward has left behind."

Pensioner In Court For Historic Sexual Offences Charges

An Avon pensioner, accused of historic sex offences against a young boy forty years ago, appeared at Croydon Crown Court for the first time this week.

Malcolm Stuart, 75, of High Street, Banwell was bailed until December 4 for a plea and case management hearing.

He has already indicated he will be denying the charges.

Stuart is charged with two counts of gross indecency against the boy when he was aged twelve and thirteen years-old between January 1, 1974 and January 1, 1981.

He is further charged with four counts of indecently assaulting the boy during the same period and committing a further sex act.

BBC Techie's £8K "Revenge" After Job Loss

A bitter BBC technical operations manager, whose contract was cancelled, used the corporations's account to order nearly £8,000 worth of specialist electrical equipment during an act of "revenge" against his manager.

Former BBC News team leader Dominic Di Chiera, 50, claims he sought to blow his boss's budget to embarrass him during staffing cuts, but he ended up being arrested and having his home searched by police.

Di Chiera, who joined the beeb in January, last year after fourteen years at Channel 4, was sentenced yesterday to a twelve-month community order with 200 hours community service work and must pay £1,000 compensation to the BBC.

He ordered  a 3D Blu-ray player, LED televisions, a mobile phone, camera drive and other electrical items as his contract neared its end and four items were recovered by police when they searched his matrimonial home in Battersea Bridge Road, Battersea.

Australian-born Di Chiera pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud by false representation, namely fraudulently using a BBC account to make purchase orders totalling £7,773.63p between June 4 and 26.

Prosecutor Miss Louise Burnell told Hammersmith Magistrates' Court: "Mr. Di Chiera was making fraudulent purchase orders for electrical equipment using the BBC account and having many of the items delivered to his home address."

His employment was due to terminate on June 30 and on June 26 his manager, Huw Davies, noticed a suspicious order made on the BBC account.

"It was reported to an investigating manager and the purchase order history revealed Mr. Di Chiera had used the account on behalf of the BBC and many orders were delivered to his home address."

On June 27 the defendant was called in to explain himself.

"He said he was very stressed about his contract coming to an end and said he acted in a silly fashion and admitted items were delivered to his address," explained Miss Burnell.

The police were called and Di Chiera's home was searched the same day and he was later questioned by officers.

"He said he had hidden many of the items within the BBC, but it is a mammoth task to search the building for them and the items have not been recovered."

Di Chiera told the probation service Mr. Davies had put him under huge pressure and he was working sixteen-hour days at the BBC.

He felt whatever he did was not sufficient to satisfy management and said the frauds were an act of "revenge" to make his boss look bad by going over budget.

Di Chiera's lawyer Mr. Juleun Lim told the court: "None of these items were retained by him. He's ordered them and they have been put back into circulation in the BBC stock.

"His motivation was to effect negatively his manager over the budget and make him look bad so that when the budget was reviewed there would be an overspend.

"His manager was treating him very unfairly and putting a tremendous amount of pressure on him and he likens it to being bullied.

"His work was good and when he was told his contract would not be renewed the pressure got to him and to use his words: 'I suffered a mental breakdown.'

"He is sorry he acted in the way that he did and he does wish to make amends.

"He is unemployed and actively seeking work in the same field and has an interview tomorrow."

Bench chairman Mr. Mike Cartwright announced: "This is a serious matter. There is no evidence that these items are back in the stock at the BBC."

Di Chiera was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

He was employed at a variety of BBC sites and has also worked for Channel 4 and BSkyB.

Angry Ex Punches Former Girlfriend's New Squeeze For Smooching On Dancefloor

A jealous former-jailbird punched a love-rival, who was dancing with his ex-girlfriend, to the floor of a packed nightclub and spoiled for a fight when chased on to the fire escape.

Steel erector Kurt Tarbuck, 27, of Honeybourne, Belgrave, Tamworth, Staffordshire had travelled down to London for the We Are FSTVL and bumped into his ex at the landmark club the following evening.

He was convicted at Croydon Magistrates' Court yesterday of assaulting Federico Paiato at the Ministry of Sound, Elephant and Castle, on May 27.

Tarbuck had recently been released from a twelve-month prison sentence imposed on October, last year for smuggling three taser-like stun guns into Heathrow Airport from Bangkok.

He was fined £150, with £300 costs, ordered to pay Mr. Paiato £125 compensation and a £20 victim surcharge.

The court heard Tarbuck (pictured) approached his ex of one week, Kelly Wood, just after 11pm as she danced with and kissed Mr. Paiato.

He was seen to suddenly punch the victim once to the right side of his face, knocking him to the floor, and as Tarbuck was pursued from the club a member of staff said he continued to be aggressive on the fire escape.

Tarbuck denied the charge and told the court: “I had come down for a festival the day before in Upminster and was at the club with a friend and on soft drinks.”

Tarbuck claimed he had been dating Miss Wood for nine months, but ended their relationship a week earlier, and only approached her because he had heard she was upset about the break-up.

“As I approached to clear the air they started kissing and I was pretty disappointed that she would do it in front of me. It was not an appropriate time.

“I asked her why she would do that in front of me and she looked a bit bewildered.

“He interrupted and told me to: 'fuck off' and I told him it had nothing to do with him and he stepped towards me in an aggressive manner.

“He was leaning forward as if he was about to hit me and I hit him first. He had his arms out, fists clenched, it was menacing.

“He was almost in my face and that is when I threw the punch and he fell to the floor.

“He got up and looked angry and chased me. I went for the fire exit.”

Tarbuck denied a prosecution suggestion that he was in a “jealous rage” or that he had been staring at his ex for forty-five minutes as she danced with the victim.

However, a staff member confirmed Tarbuck was the aggressor and the punch came “out of the blue” without any provocation.

Sham Marriage Couple Sentenced For Scam

A bogus South African bride reported her sham marriage with a Nigerian student after only receiving £1,000 of her promised £5,000 fee - resulting in both of them being arrested and prosecuted.

Single-mum Bonga Mnisi, 26, who was granted leave to remain in the UK in 2002, married Felix Arifalo, 27, at the Holy Pentecostal Church, Peckham and his temporary spousal residency application was successful.

However, two days before it was due to expire last year he made a false domestic violence complaint, hoping this would result in him being granted permanent leave to remain.

Croydon Crown Court heard the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) had already been tipped-off by Mnisi the marriage was false, with Arifalo insisting it was genuine.

Mnisi, of Hawkesley Road, Birmingham pleaded guilty to doing an act to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law, namely entering into a sham marriage on September 26, 2009.

The first-time offender, who has been housed by her local council, was sentenced today to eight months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and ordered to complete 100 hours community service.

Cleaner Arifalo, of Poplar Place, Thamesmead pleaded guilty to seeking leave to remain in the UK by deception on February 10, last year and was sentenced to ten months imprisonment.

Prosecutor Mr. Guy Russell told the court: "Miss Mnisi claimed she had an attack of conscience when her daughter was three months-old and reported that she had gone through a sham marriage, which kick-started this process.

"She said: 'I put my hands up for committing this crime. I married Felix Arifalo to do a friend a favour.

'Recently he repeatedly made threats to me and said I would lose my right to live in the UK'."

The court heard Arifalo, whose entire immediate family are resident in this country, entered the UK on a two-year student visa, which was extended and he married Mnisi a month before it was due to expire.

"Last year he applied for indefinite leave to remain on the basis he was the victim of domestic violence. That was entirely false," added Mr. Russell.

Mnisi's lawyer Mr. Shahnawaz Khan said: "She could not sustain this fraud against the state and after becoming a mother felt guilty.

"Money was not her motivating factor and she says she never had a relationship with Mr. Arifalo."

Arifalo's lawyer Mr. Shuyeb Muquit told the court: "He maintains that it was a genuine marriage and she left the matrimonial home and became pregnant by someone else."

The defendant suggested his parents went behind his back and agreed the £5,000 fee with his new bride, but only paid her £1,000.

The lawyer described Arifalo's bogus domestic violence claim as a "tick-box" application, adding: "His family are all resident in the UK and he simply panicked."

Recorder Barry Kogan announced: "This is not tick-box. It goes into quite a lot of detail. This was a cynical attempt to gain leave, based on domestic violence.

"The purpose of the marriage was clearly aimed at giving you, Felix Arifalo, the right to remain in this country and for you Bonga Mnisi it was a favour for a friend although you were to be paid five thousand pounds.

"You, Arifalo, then came up with another scheme, the cynical pretence that you were a victim of domestic violence, including a lengthy statement with assertions that were all wholly false."

Essex's Most Wanted Man On The Run After Double Shooting

A traveller is on the run – wanted for the shotgun attempted murder of two of his neighbours, who were blasted in the chest and legs.

Francis O'Donoghue, 27, fled his traveller's site in Goatswood Lane, Navestock, Essex on August 27 after the double shooting.

The two victim, both in their twenties, are currently recovering after hospital treatment.

Police are focussing their attention on traveller sites in Essex, Hertfordshire and London, but know O'Donoghue could be anywhere in the country.

People should avoid any physical contact with him as he may be in possession of a handgun and anyone coming into contact with him is urged to call the police immediately.

However, there is nothing to suggest that people in the wider community are at risk of being injured.



O'Donoghue is described as white, approximately 5ft 11ins tall, of medium build, has short-brown hair, has protruding ears and speaks with an Irish accent.



Anyone with information in connection with this shooting is urged to contact Essex Police on 101, email on SCDappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Anyone who knows of the man's whereabouts is urged to call 999.

"Sexual Predator" Jailed For Hotel Room Rape

A rapist, who enticed his victim to a hotel on the promise of seeing 'The Saturdays' in concert - plying her with drink and a mystery pill – has been locked-up for eleven years.

Lloyd Phillips, 48, of Portland Street, Southampton, Hampshire gave the 24 year-old woman a can of super-strength lager during the car journey, plus the pill and bag of powder he said was for the concert.

She later told police things became “hazy” and she suffered hallucinogenic effects in the vehicle, suffering a fit, requiring Phillips to need a wheelchair to transport her to a north-west London hotel room.

Police eventually traced the Wembley hotel, where the defendant took the victim on December 16, 2011, from vague details she was able to recall.

Phillips picked her up from her Southampton home and encouraged her to consume the can of 'Crunk' during the journey.

She recalled parts of the trip and her next memory was waking up in the hotel room twelve hours later, feeling unwell and suffering injuries.

Phillips told her they did not go to the concert and instead had consensual sex.

She later visited a Hampshire hospital and her complaint was passed onto the Metropolitan Police's Sapphire Command

Detective Inspector Jodie Tuff said: "Phillips is clearly a sexual predator who preyed on a vulnerable female, encouraging her to drink alcohol to the point where she was incapacitated before carrying out a sustained sexual attack on her.

“It is highly likely he has committed further offences therefore I would ask anyone with information or who wishes to report an offence to contact 020 8733 3773" 



At Harrow Crown Court Phillips was convicted of two counts of
rape; four counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault.

Alleged Paedophile Denies Abusing Autistic Teenage Boy

A man repeatedly sexually-abused a severely autistic teenage boy, believing he would not complain or be taken seriously if he ever did, a jury were told today.

Christopher Williams, 62, of Selhurst Road, South Norwood denies the claims, insisting the allegations against him have been fabricated.

The complainant says he was aged between fourteen and sixteen years-old when abused at the hands of Williams several years ago at the defendant's flat.

Williams had pleaded not guilty at Croydon Crown Court to five counts of sexual activity with a mentally disordered male between September 10, 2004 and September 11, 2008.

“He has been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder and learning difficulties and experiences high levels of anxiety,” said prosecutor Mr. Mark Gadsen.

“Because of his mental disorder he was not able to give informed consent to the sexual activity that occurred.

“The defendant knew all about him and his learning difficulties, but says nothing improper ever happened.”

The jury were told Williams had sex with the boy, touched him intimately and made the complainant touch him.

“He says sexual activity occurred on a number of occasions and took different forms,” added Mr. Gadesen.

“The defendant took advantage of him, knowing he had autism and learning difficulties, believing he would get away with it and that it was unlikely the complainant would tell anyone or be believed.”

In April, 2009 the complainant reported the allegations to a relative, who informed the police and Williams was quizzed.

“He flatly denied the allegations. He said the complainant had come to his house three times, but nothing sexual had occurred.

“The defendant says he has made it up for whatever reason.”

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

Tights-Fetish Rapist Begins A Stretch

A sexual predator with a fetish for women's tights – who pounced on two lone women in west London – has been caged for nine years.

Myles Thompson-Edwards, 25, was eventually tracked-down by police, who found a large collection of tights in the bedroom of his home in Murray Road, Ealing.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to raping a 36 year-old woman in the early hours of January 22, last year as she walked near his home in Blondin Park, Windmill Road.

He also admitted sexually assaulting a 27 year-old woman, who he grabbed in an alleyway off nearby Swyncombe Avenue on November 3, last year.

Detectives from the Met's Complex Case Team investigated the incidents and arrested Thompson-Edwards on November 4, last year.

He was bailed while forensic enquiries were carried out and charged on February 8, this year.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Lowe of the Complex Case Team within the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, led the investigation. 



He said: "The evidence recovered identified Thompson-Edwards as having a fetish for women's tights and he clearly acted on this fetish when he attacked his victims.



"The streets of west London are safer without him.

“The offences he has been linked to span a twenty-month period and it is possible that others have been the victim of this man. 



"If you believe that this may be the case, please contact police locally by calling 101 or through my team on 020 8217 6538." 

Serving Cop Groomed 13 Year-Old Girl

A serving police officer, caught canoodling with a 13 year-old girl he groomed on the internet and met for park trysts, will be sentenced at the end of the month.

Andrew Gouge, 34, who was based within the Met's Territorial Policing was caught kissing and fondling the teen in public and reported by a member of the public.

He pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court (pictured) to meeting a child following grooming and sexual activity with a child.

Gouge, of Charing Close, Bromley was arrested on April 24 after he was spotted with the girl in Orpington.

Inquiries established that Gouge had first met the victim, who was aged thirteen years-old at the time, via an internet chatroom.

After exchanging BBM details they met up on a number of occasions, usually in public parks, where they would kiss.



Detective Chief Inspector Pete Thomas, from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "Andrew Gouge has shown himself to be someone who has targeted, groomed and exploited a vulnerable young child for his own sexual needs.

“His conduct has caused significant harm and the investigation highlights the need to remain vigilent to the risks posed by social media and the internet in order to safeguard children.

“The Metropolitan Police Service is committed to protecting children and bringing sexual predators like Gouge to justice."



Commander Allan Gibson, Directorate of Professional Standards, said: "Gouge signed up to protect and serve his community; but seriously failed in that commitment and has caused untold harm to the victim, her family and his own friends and colleagues.

“He has tarnished the reputation of both the organisation and his colleagues.

“All members of the police service are expected to behave impeccably whilst on and off duty. Gouge did no such thing."



He will be sentenced on September 30.

Detention Officer Jailed For Sex Encounter With Burglary Suspect

A police station detention officer, who received oral sex from a female burglary suspect, has been jailed for two years.

Kyle Adams, 24, was employed by the Metropolitan Police Service at east London's Bethnal Green Police Station (pictured).

He pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to misconduct in public office while the suspect was in detention on October 3, last year.

She reported the incident to the on-duty custody sergeant and Adams was arrested the next day.

He was suspended on October 5 and charged on April 10, this year after an investigation by the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards.

Fine Wines Investment Broker Scammed Clients For £25K

A fine wines investment broker funded his own champagne lifestyle with over £25,000 he conned from clients by claiming he could secure them lucrative auction slots for their collections at Sotheby's sales.

Sammy Rooks, 20, of Randolph Road, Bromley was employed by Encarta Fine Wines, who handle valuable wine portfolios for investors, and went behind their back to charge customers extra fees.

He was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to perform 300 hours community service and must obey a six-month night time tagged curfew.

Croydon Crown Court heard he blew all the money during a busy night life, spending the majority to pay a huge bar bill at his favourite club.

Rooks pleaded guilty to defrauding Anthony Gambling of £2,740; John Wear of £10,690; Alistair Campbell of £4,700; David Causton of £4,470 and stealing £3,000 from 80 year-old stroke victim William Jarrett.

“The defendant, without authority, and on his own initiative contacted clients,” said prosecutor Mr. Hamish Reid. “It all seems to have been spent on bar bills etc.”

One of the victims was told by Rooks £500 would get him a preferential auction slot for the sale of his wine collection and gave the details of his own Metro bank account for payment and made follow-up requests for more money.

“All those requests were not legitimate and the clients were contacted personally by Rooks.

“One of the payments was made directly to a nightclub to pay the defendant's bar bill.”

The older victim's money transfer was highlighted by his concerned son, explained Mr. Reid. “Mr. Jarrett may have been targeted due to his age and infirmity and no money was repaid.”

Rooks' lawyer told the court his client has curbed his lifestyle and is determined to repay all of the money with an initial £2,000 lump sum, followed by payments of £300 per month.

Recorder Gregory Mitchell QC said: “There were a number of offences, a breach of trust and one of the offences was against a vulnerable victim.

“Encarta Wines have lost money and it has tarnished their reputation.

“There are particularly bad features to this case, however there are factors in your favour,” the recorder told first-time offender Rooks.

“You have shown remorse and wish to pay off the debt.

“You entertained people at nightclubs and spent large amounts of money on alcohol.”

Transexual On The Run After Admitting Hate-Campaign Against Doctor

A transexual, who bombarded his consultant plastic surgeon with abusive emails and texts after unsatisfactory treatment, is on the run after fearing he would be sent to a male prison.

Alexandra Charles, 36, of Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff was a patient of leading surgeon Dr. Brian Mayou, founder of the Cadogan Clinic, 120 Sloane Street, Belgravia.

Charles pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to harassing Dr. Mayou between December 16, 2010 and April 14, this year by sending numerous unwanted insulting messages.

The court heard Charles (pictured) made unfounded allegations that Dr. Mayou was a peadophile during a campaign against him that lasted nearly two-and-a-half years.

District Judge Mr. Paul Clarke told Charles the offence crossed the custody threshold and bailed him for a pre-sentence report.

The defendant told the court: "I am halfway through a sex-change and sending me to a male penitentiary would be sexual abuse."

He failed to appear for sentencing and a warrant without bail was issued for his arrest and he remains at large.

Blackmailer Jailed For Sex Pics Threats

A blackmailer, who threatened to stick sexually-explicit images of an internet one-night-stand on local lamp posts and her work colleagues' cars if she didn't pay him £1,000 has been jailed for eighteen months.

Chef Craig Farquhar, 28, told the Tesco's manageress he would have 20,000 copies of intimate pictures she sent him produced and distributed - leaving the young mum "extremely frightened."

Farquhar, of Brighton Road, Purley pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to making an unwarranted demanded for money, with menaces, between April 25 and 30.

Prosecutor Miss Alexandra Boshell told the court Farquhar, who has a three-month old son with his current partner of four years, chatted with the victim on a dating web-site three years ago and they met once for sex.

"It would seem during their brief affair she sent pictures to the defendant's phone of her breasts and vagina.

"He started making demands for money, threatening he would show the pictures and plaster them on every lamp post on her road and every car at her workplace.

"He said he had a friend who owned a printing shop and could have twenty-thousand copies at the end of the day and if she told her current boyfriend he would make sure she went missing.

"She describes herself as being extremely frightened by the messages and was not able to sleep and lost her appetite."

The victim reported Farquhar to police and when arrested he admitted having an "on-off affair" with the woman.

"He said he had no intention of claiming the money and wanted her to leave him alone," explained Miss Boshell. "When told off the effect it had on the complainant he did show some remorse."

Farquhar's lawyer Mr. Derek Barry told the court: "It has had a deep impact on the victim and can be described as wicked and malicious.

"There was no loss to the victim and her face was not on any of the images and the defendant was self-consumed by excess alcohol intake and could be described as stupid."

Recorder Alastair Hammerton rejected the probation service's recommendation of a suspended prison sentence and told Farquhar: "This message caused your victim extreme anxiety and you accepted that you wanted to frighten her in order to leave you alone.

"This was a relatively unsophisticated blackmail, but it was pre-planned and there was a financial motive.

"The courts regard blackmail as a particularly repugnant offence because of the mental anguish caused to the victim."

Angry Farquhar violently kicked the door to the secure dock shouting: "I've got a three-month old son," before he was taken to the cells.

Ten Years Behind Bars For Sex Crimes

A sex offender is starting a ten-year sentence after he was jailed at Croydon Crown Court yesterday.

Daniel Cheesman, 32, of Dunley Drive, New Addington was convicted of offences committed against a woman at a local address in Central Parade.

A large amount of people attended the court (pictured) to see him receive the lengthy sentence.

He was originally charged with four counts of rape against the unknown adult complainant between May 1 and September 21, last year.

Bank Fraudster Cashed OAP's Pension Cheques

A bank fraudster, who cashed £1,000 worth of an 85 year-old woman's stolen pension cheques, dodged prison with a suspended sentence today.

Florist Anna Forrest, 30, of Mayfair Buildings, Durham Road, Sunderland was visiting her mother in Croydon when she became involved in the swindle.

She was convicted at Croydon Magistrates' Court of three charges of fraud by false representation, namely cashing three Department of Work and Pension (DWP) cheques belonging to a Miss E Casedi on November 7, 2011.

The court heard she entered a bank in the town with a man later charged with fraud offences totalling £12,000 and convinced staff she was entitled to cash the cheques on behalf of Miss Casedi, using her own genuine driving licence as proof of identity.

Forrest (pictured) claims she had spent the afternoon in a local pub with people she did not know very well and her involvement was limited to one visit to one bank and she received no financial reward for carrying out the fraud.

She says she did not know she was associating herself with people, who were “working the area” and involved in a much wider fraud and as unaware of the scale of their offending.

Forrest has been employed as a florist for nine years – the last six with the same firm – and the court heard she has made efforts to “move away from her juvenile behaviour.”

Until recently her partner was on benefits and she was the family's sole breadwinner, supporting her young child.

“We believe these offences are very serious,” bench chairman Mr. James Philips told Forrest. “It was an offence involving an eighty-five year-old lady's pension money and would have caused her a huge amount of distress.

“We considered an immediate custodial sentence to show you how bad these offences were.

“You came perilously close to going straight into custody today.”

Forrest was sentenced to twenty weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, and ordered to complete 180 hours community service work.

She was also ordered to pay £1,002 compensation to the DWP and £300 costs at the rate of £10 per week.

Law Firm's Finance Boss Was £12K Benefit Fraudster

A benefit fraudster, who kept his finance job with a law firm a secret during a £12,000 swindle, was given a deadline by a judge yesterday to find new employment and start paying back his local council.

In a rare move, ex-financial controller Lee Graham, 56, had his sentence deferred for three months after his £10-a-week compensation offer was turned down by Isleworth Crown Court Judge Robert Winstanley.

"The message being conveyed is that Mr. Graham just wants to sit back and feel sorry for himself and say: 'You can't do anything about.'

"It has not come across strongly to me that he wants to make restitution," said the judge bailing first-time offender Graham to return to court on December 20.

Graham, of Warwick Road, Earl's Court pleaded guilty to dishonestly making a false statement on October 19, 2007 to obtain benefit from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

He received £10,655 in housing benefit and £1,325 in council tax benefit while earning up to £2,000 per month on a self-employed basis with Marylebone solicitors Julian Young & Co.

If the court had accepted Graham's offer it would take twenty-three years to repay the money.

"He plainly has skills and works in the middle of London and there are a host of people out there looking to employ people with Mr. Graham's skills so he could pay compensation if he wanted to.

"I am looking for conduct that shows he is willing to make financial reparations," added Judge Winstanley. "I will defer sentence in the expectation that Mr. Graham will find a job and do so in a realistic time."

Prosecutor Mr. Paul Sharkey told the court Graham's jobseekers allowance claim was legitimate when it began in 2004 and the rent and council tax bills on his housing association flat was covered by the local authority.

After learning he was working the council wished to interview the defendant, but he failed to turn up to speak to investigators at the town hall on three separate occasions.

Graham's lawyer Mr. James Dennis said his client returned to work after caring for his now-deceased mother and because his confidence was low did not come off benefits.

"He was not sure how it was going to work out and he decided, very stupidly, not to inform the local authority. It snowballed and he buried his head in the sand.

"The sums earned were relatively modest, but he should have declared them. He was not living an extravagant lifestyle.

"Mr. Graham is not claiming benefits or working anymore and relies in friends to get by. He is a man of very little means.

"He realises this is money that has to be paid back and he wants to pay the money back, but his financial circumstances are what they are."

Drug Dealer Who Operated From Bedroom Of Family Home Is Caged

A young drug-dealer, arrested during a police raid on his father's west London home, which yielded heroin, crack, cocaine and ecstasy was locked-up for two years today.

Rhys Mulikita, 20, of Attewood Road, Northolt, (pictured) was in his bedroom when officers executed a search warrant and found the drugs - with a street value of nearly £1,000.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to four counts of possessing drugs, with intent to supply, on October 11, last year.

There were others in the room when police arrived and all the various amounts of drugs were found in a denim jacket hanging in the wardrobe.

There were 37 wraps of heroin at 53% purity; 14 wraps of crack at 22%; 3 wraps of cocaine at 67% purity and MDMA at 28% purity.

In total there were fifty-nine separate deals ready for sale and £200 cash wrapped in cling film on top of the wardrobe.

At the time Mulikita was on licence from youth custody after serving a sentence for robbery.

He told police the jacket and was not his and must have been left behind by a guest and that the cash was not the proceeds of drug sales.

"This was commercial supply, fulfilling the function of selling drugs to the public," announced Judge Robert Winstanley.