Roma Gypsy Family Exploited Fellow Poles To Work, Beg And Steal

Ana & Dawid Gil

A family of Roma gypsies tricked three fellow-Poles into moving to London, where one was forced into slavery and subjected to brutal beatings and all had their national insurance numbers used to rip-off the benefits system, a court heard.

One female victim was constantly sexually molested and forced to shoplift and beg with her two children and the two men had to collect scrap metal for up to twenty hours per day and hand all their money over to the family.

The family are: Ana Gill, 48, and her boyfriend Jan Majewski, 48, both of High Road, Romford.

Her four son's: Wladyslaw Gil, 32, of Budock Court, Budock Drive, Ilford; Dawid Gil, 30, and Mateusz Gil, 19, both of Field Road, Forest Gate and Fabien Gil, 27, and his wife Bogumila Mirga, 30, both of Salisbury Road, Forest Gate.

"The defendants are all members of a family originating in Poland who conspired or agreed to traffic three fellow Polish nationals and exploit them," prosecutor Mr. Tim Hunter told the Croydon Crown Court jury.

"Their identity documents were confiscated and they were made to work under conditions of bonded labour and violence was routinely deployed.

Jan Majewski & Wladyslaw Gil

"They used their identities to obtain tax credits and to apply for bank loans, vehicles and other goods and all the money would be paid into accounts controlled by these defendants."

One Polish couple and their two children were brought to the UK and kept under the control of Fabien Gil, the court was told.

While the husband was sent to work at a banana-packing plant in Stanstead and surrender 70% of his wages his wife and two children were kept locked in a room for a year.

When that job ended he was forced to collect scrap metal and hand all the proceeds over, purportedly in exchange for food and lodging.

Bogumila Mirga & Fabien Gil

"The defendants were claiming child tax credits for those two children and when the mother was allowed out she was forced to shoplift and beg," explained Mr. Hunter.

"Fabien and Ana Gil threatened to beat up the children and Mateusz Gil also subjected the woman to repeated sexual assaults.

"He would follow her into the bathroom and pester her for sex. He would grab her breasts, buttocks and vagina both above and beneath her clothing."

The family escaped after the husband got Fabien Gil drunk one night, snatched his identity documents from the defendant's wallet, and fled to Wales.

They later told the police of Majewski: "He was the brains behind the operation….The boss of the whole family."

The couple had seen another Pole under the control of the family, Robert Wylezol, who also came from the town of Nysa, near the Czech border and was used to break into squats for the defendants.

Mateusz Gil

"He worked twenty hours a day collecting scrap metal in a pram and Fabien Gil kept all the proceeds and he was told to work or there would be no food.

"He received daily beatings from Wladyslaw Gil and on one occasion was beaten unconscious and suffered fractured ribs," added Mr. Hunter.

"The victim was also beaten with a metal pipe and urinated blood for a week and after escaping for one night and sleeping in a park was beaten unconscious, with ribs broken on both sides."

The jury were told the severity of the beatings were influenced by the amount of money Mr. Wylezol made for the family and he was kept under their control by threats to kill his son and family living in Poland.

He was moved to Wladyslaw's new address in Ilford, where he slept in a locked storage room with no bed, until he escaped and slept rough for four months until assisted by a charity.

Ana Gil, Wladyslaw, Dawid and Fabien are charged with conspiring to hold a person in slavery or servitude, in relation to Robert Wylezol and all four are also charged with conspiring to traffic him into and within the UK for exploitation.

Ana Gil, Wladyslaw, Dawid, Fabien and Jan Majewski are charged with conspiring to traffic the husband of the couple into and within the UK for exploitation.

All five, plus Bogumila Mirga, face two identical counts in relation to the wife.

Wladyslaw Gil is charged with four counts of actual bodily harm against Mr. Wylezol and Mateusz Gil is charged with four counts of sexual assault against the wife.

They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges, which date from January 1, 2009 until September 30, 2010 and the trial is expected to last six weeks.

Trial continues………..

Ex-Met Police Manager Impersonated Cop On Train

Stephen Morgan

A former Metropolitan Police 'Safer Neighbourhoods Project Manager' - suspected of filming up a fellow train passenger's dress during his regular morning commute - tried to dupe witnesses into believing he was a policeman when confronted.

Stephen Morgan, 44, of Christie Avenue, Stafford - the brother of a serving cop - lost his good character and was conditionally discharged for six months, after being convicted of impersonating a police officer, with intent to deceive.

Hammersmith Magistrates Court heard Morgan was accused of filming several short clips on his iPhone up the dress of Gillian Gil as their Virgin train approached Euston Railway Station on August 6, last year.

However, magistrates cleared him of threatening, abusive or insulting words of behaviour in relation to that allegation.

Prosecutor Miss Jessica Deuchar told the court: "He tried to give Miss Gil his business card, saying: 'I work for the police'."

The card carried the address of Edinburgh House, Lambeth - a police building - and Morgan told the train manager: "Yes. I'm with the Met."

Morgan told the court it was an old business card and he was trying to assist by leaving contact details, insisting he did not claim to be a serving police officer.

He did not tell the court what his job was on the day of the offence, adding: "Under oath, I can't."

Miss Gill, who gave evidence behind a curtain, said she awoke from a nap as the 7.14am train approached Euston and noticed the man sitting next to her, Morgan, watching video clips on his phone.

"I recognised my trainers and my dress and there were more video's from my trainers to my legs to inside my dress. I could see my underwear colour as well.

Gillian Gil

"I said: 'What's this? What are you doing?' He said: 'I'm deleting it.'

"I saw three or four, all of me, and I was shouting: 'Can anyone help me?' I was panicked and so nervous.

"I felt absolutely awful. It still makes me feel shaky and angry."

Miss Deuchar said a witness overheard the word "deleted" before Morgan turned to the carriage and said: "Sorry. It's an honest mistake. I touched her leg with my phone."

The father-of-two left the station, but British Transport Police tried to find him, first by visiting Edinburgh House and then successfully by watching CCTV of morning commuters at Euston. 

Officers searched his family home, seizing a large quantity of computer equipment, but it did not result in any more charges.

Morgan, who was supported in court by his wife and police officer brother, who gave a character reference, was also ordered to pay £250 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

"Dangerous Criminal" Harassed Attractive Lawyer With Luxury Gifts After Prison Release

Brett-Deans: "Dangerous Criminal"

An ex-jailbird and Broadmoor patient – described by police as a “dangerous criminal” - harassed his solicitor with unwanted luxury gifts including Chanel handbags and Christian Dior luxuries after his release from prison.

Wannabe businessman Robert Brett-Deans, 39, an East Grinstead native, of Egmont House, Hurley Close, Banstead, Surrey received a suspended prison sentence and an indefinite ban from contacting mental health specialist Andrea Spyrou.

He received seven years imprisonment in January 2010 after police stopped his hired Ferrari in Purley, which contained £20,000 cash, and a search of his hotel room revealed three bin liners containing £351,125 and €30,284.

His parents' home in Lewes Road, East Grinstead was also searched and £70,985 and €50,000 cash stashed inside a Porsche car was seized, resulting in five counts of money laundering, which Brett-Deans admitted.

Detective Supt Fran Smith said at the time: "The result is that a dangerous criminal is behind bars and the sentence sends a message to those involved in similar activity and are caught that they can expect to face a long time in jail."

Harassed: Andrea Spyrou

At Bromley Magistrates' Court last Thursday Brett-Deans was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, with a mental health treatment requirement.

A restraining order for an indefinite period was also made, prohibiting him from contacting Miss Spyrou and visiting any office of Duncan Lewis Solicitors.

Brett-Deans was convicted of harassing the solicitor between November 1, 2012 and November 7, last year by sending unsolicited gifts and unwanted correspondence.

The court heard Miss Spyrou, who had professional dealings with the defendant and counter-signed his passport application, begged to be left alone during the year-long campaign and Brett-Deans did back off for a period of time.

“He had a fixation with her,” commented District Judge Nigel Dean. “He was not opening his eyes to the effect it was having on her.

“He was sending her a lot of material, which was rambling in nature and he was showering her with expensive gifts.

“It was a professional relationship and there was a police warning, but the defendant went to her office and it caused her to become very distressed,” added the judge ordering the defendant to pay £300 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Brett-Deans made headlines in May, 2009 when he climbed onto the roof of Broadmoor top-security hospital and threatened to jump off, claiming he would rather die than spend the rest of his life locked-up.

He has previously described himself as simply “The Jason” and a suspected escape bid from custody at Croydon Crown Court in June, 2008 was thwarted by armed police, backed-up with a helicopter.

Boyfriend Cuts Up Rough During Romantic Valentine Hotel Break

Rough Stuff: Defendant Robert

A Peterborough man, who whisked his girlfriend off to London for a romantic St. Valentine's Day stay at a Hyde Park hotel, attacked her in their room after quizzing her about her behaviour last Christmas.

Robert Hugh Rough, 30, of Crowhurst pleaded guilty to assaulting Rebecca Slater, by beating, at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel, Bayswater Road in the early hours of February 15.

She told Hammersmith Magistrates Court on friday the couple had enjoyed a meal and were drinking afterwards when the mood turned sour with Rough later questioned her about the events at a Christmas party a month and a half earlier.

“He was becoming aggressive in the foyer and I did not know why and he followed me up to the room screaming and shouting and calling me names.

He was calling me: 'slag' and everything and he was questioning me about my Christmas party and what time I got in.

“Rob attacked me, he smashed my head against the wardrobe. It was quite forceful.

“I had roses that Rob threw all over the room.

“He shoved me onto the bed and then shoved me onto the floor by force. He was on top of me, holding me down.

Double Tree Hilton, Hyde Park

“He was manhandling me, he's a lot bigger than me. He was abusing me, spiting in my face, calling me names.

“He's then kicked me twice in the face,” added the tearful and petite Miss Slater.

Rough admitted pushing his girlfriend, resulting in her falling to the floor, but insisted it was an acident when he caught her in the face with his knee.

He was bailed until May 14 for a pre-sentence report.

Pervert Sniffed Female Shoppers' Rears For Sex Thrills

A pervert was caught on a store's CCTV getting down on his hands and knees to sniff the bottom's of female shoppers for sexual kicks.

Jobless Adrian Joel Simpson, 26, was monitored at a branch of TK Maxx sneaking up on four women - one of whom was pushing her baby in a pram when freaked-out by the convicted sex offender.

Simpson, of Glenforth Street, Greenwich pleaded guilty to outraging public decency at the Bugsby Way, Charlton store on March 3 and was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months.

Prosecutor Mrs Remi Ogunfowora told Bromley Magistrates Court: "He was kept under observation on CCTV and was seen going to the female clothing area and looking around him.

"He was paying attention to females and crouched down on the floor next to one and seemed to sniff her bottom.

"The CCTV operators saw him do that with other females, crouching down on his knees, putting his nose very close and sniffing around their bottom's."

Police were called and Simpson, who had recently been released from a ten-month prison sentence for sexual assault and beating, claimed: "I wasn't smelling them. I wanted to get very close to them."

He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for seven years in 2011 and and is subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which expires in 2018.

The defence claim only one of the four women were even aware of Simpson, but one said: "The male didn't talk to me, but made me feel uneasy and uncomfortable."

Mrs Ogunfowora added: "Another woman had to push her pram away because she was concerned."

District Judge Mr. Nigel Dean said: "His motivation was sexual, he obtained sexual gratification from it.

"The psychologist says this was planned behaviour, it was not spontaneous and it is aggravated by his previous offending."

Simpson's defence said there had been an element of punishment because the defendant had spent three days in custody after his arrest.

Mr. Dean told Simpson: "This offence is made more serious because of your record of offending and is so serious a custodial sentence is appropriate."

The defendant was also placed on probation for twelve months, with a mental health treatment requirement, and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Boss Of "Blagging" Private Eye Firm Must Hand Over £69,000 Or Go To Prison

Hungry For Info: Spencer

The boss of a private investigation company, which illegally 'blagged' sensitive, personal information from GP surgeries, utility companies, banks and other institutions on 1,900 occasions, was yesterday fined and ordered to hand over his illicit profits.

While tracing individuals who owed unpaid bills, community charges and other debts staff lied and posed as other people during phone calls to extract information on behalf of ICU Investigations Ltd and their 330 clients.

ICU's named clients included Leeds Building Society; Allianz Insurance; Dee Valley Water; Brighton and Hove City Council and Mint Credit.

The identities of other institutions and companies are shielded behind the many solicitor's firms who instructed ICU on their behalf.

Yesterday the company's director and sole shareholder, Barry Spencer, 41, of Hook Common, Hook, Hampshire was fined £12,000 with £8,000 costs and must hand over £69,327.32 or go to prison for twenty months.

He was also disqualified from being a company director for eight years.

The firm's former company secretary Adrian Stanton, 40, of Vicarage Road, Sunbury-on-Thames was previously fined £7,500, with £6,107 costs.

Both men were found guilty by an Isleworth Crown Court jury of conspiring to illegally obtain data, without consent, between April 1, 2009 and May 13, 2010.

They claim the company profited by no more than £29,000 from making illegal traces.

Five ex-employees pleaded guilty to the same charge and were all fined and ordered to pay costs.

They are: Robert Sparling, 38, fined £4,000, with £3,000 costs; Joel Jones, 43, fined £3,000, with £2,500 costs; Michael Sparling, 41, fined £2,000, with £2,000 costs; Neil Sturton, 43, fined £1,000, with £1,000 costs and Lee Humphreys, who was fined £1,000, with £1,000 costs.

The company, of Legacy Centre, Hanworth Trading Estate, Hampton Road West, Feltham was also convicted on the same summons brought under the Data Protection Act and fined a nominal sum of £100.

Even though MP's have voted for a two-year maximum sentence for the offence it has not been enacted and the only penalty available to Judge Phillip Matthews was an unlimited fine.

He told Stanton and the five employees at a previous hearing: "You made blagging phone calls to data controllers with the TV licensing authority, utility companies and health providers, such as doctors surgeries.

"Blagging means misrepresenting your identity and the real purpose of your call, which was to seek confirmation of an address, say with TV licensing and that person's method of payment, date of last payment, the expiry date of the licence and sometimes people's telephone numbers.

"Another favourite was to call a hospital local to the target, obtain some information and then call the target's surgery and blah information, pretending you were from the local hospital.

"Utility companies were frequently used because they had huge databases.

"There was no legitimate reason for you to ring TV licensing, utility companies or doctor's surgeries. You were seeking personal information, which in your guise you were not entitled to, misrepresenting who you were."

The staff were known as "tracers" and the company operated a highly-incentivised 'no trace, no fee' policy, offering such prizes as George Foreman grills when targets were met.

Prosecutor Mr. Ben Summers told the court: "This case is unique in that it is the first time conspiracy has been charged.

"They would trick the people they were calling at utility companies and the television licensing authority etc into disclosing information that involved personal data.

"That information would be used to complete reports on people they were trying to trace and then sent to ICU's clients.

"This case is about blagging, getting information about people by deceiving others and both Spencer and Stanton and ICU were involved in this practise.

"All three agreed to systematically commit offences under the Data Protection Act as part of the business they provided as a tracing agent."

Companies contacted for information include Vision Express; npower; E.ON; British Gas as well as GP surgeries.

"During the period somewhere in the order of nineteen hundred separate offences were committed with blagging phone calls being made," explained Mr. Summer.

"Personal details were blagged out of the people who were contacted."

A favourite method employed was to call an organisation, posing as the person they were trying to trace, and confirm details such as addresses and contact numbers.

"The defendants were involved in agreeing these calls should be made and through them the company is also responsible.

"They ran and administered the company and its day to day operation.

"Telephone calls were routinely made that did breach the Data Protection Act because they were blagging information from people by misrepresenting who they were and what they were after.

"It is inconceivable the offences could have been committed without Mr. Spencer and Mr. Stanton knowing what was going on," added Mr. Summers.

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) Head of Enforcement Stephen Eckersley said after Spencer's sentencing hearing: “This fine and confiscation order is not only a justified punishment for Mr. Spencer, but also a powerful deterrent to anyone thinking they can profit from illegally blagging personal data.

“People have the right to have their personal data kept securely.

“The ICO will do everything in its power to bring unscrupulous private investigators, such as ICU Investigations Ltd, to justice, including pursuing confiscation where appropriate to remove the benefit made by offenders from their offending.”

East Anglia Duo Accused Of Returning From Africa With Crystal Meth

Africa Trip: Cattermole

Two drug couriers were caught on consecutive days smuggling 5.89 kilos of crystal methylamphetamine concealed in their luggage after similar trips to west Africa, a jury have been told.

They are: Builder Darren Cattermole, 41, of Meadowcroft, Hollow Lane, Mendham, Harleston, Norfolk and Christopher Thrower, 37, of Station Road, Geldeston, Suffolk.

Both were stopped by Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport's Terminal Four after stepping off flights from Casablanca, Morocco last summer with drugs worth approximately £320,000.

Both have pleaded not guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to importing the drugs between June 7 and 10, last year.

Cattermole was stopped on June 8  and Thrower on June 9 and their passports revealed both had travelled from Gambia to Burkina Faso on June 1 before buying one-way tickets back home.

Cattermole was stopped by officer Sid Chadha and ordered to open his blue suitcase.

"I noticed a very strong chemical smell coming from the bag. As soon as you opened the bag it hit you," he told the court.

"The bag felt unusually heavy when emptied and I felt there was a concealment of some sort in the top and bottom of the suitcase.

"I spiked the bag, which revealed a crystalline-like substance."

Thrower was stopped the next day and a similar chemical smell was detected when his brown suitcase was opened.

An x-ray revealed an "unusually large concealment" and a white crystal substance was discovered when the bag was spiked.

African Gold: Thrower

When officers told Thrower they suspected he had imported drugs, the defendant replied: "What drugs?"

Cattermole was questioned and claimed he was a former musician living out of a van parked somewhere in Suffolk.

He said he was: "shocked, devastated," by the allegation and refused to answer any further questions.

Thrower claimed he was a regular visitor to Gambia, often driving cars there to sell, and continued to receive £60-£70 a week from a local bus service he set-up with a mini-bus he drove over.

He travelled there after his driver crashed the vehicle, he said, and was offered the opportunity to make £500 by travelling to Burkina Faso and transporting gold to the UK.

His contacts provided the brown suitcase to transport the gold, explained Thrower, but the plan was scrapped at the last minute with a promise of £250 compensation when he arrived at Heathrow Airport.

Trial continues………….

U.S. Air Force Officer Smashed Ornament During Epic All-Day Booze Bender

Pub Crawl: Mesnard

A drunken United States Air Force officer - thirteen hours into a 26-bar Circle Line pub crawl - smashed a TV dog trainer's expensive canine topiary garden ornament outside her £1.5m mews house.

First Lt. Christopher Mesnard, 26, based at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, began his epic pub crawl at 11.00am and was arrested just after midnight when he became separated from his group.

He pleaded guilty yesterday to causing £995 worth of criminal damage to the fake ivy-type garden ornament, belonging to Lucy Kennedy at in Victoria Grove Mews, Bayswater on March 30.

Mesnard is the 100 ARW Deputy Chief of Public Affairs, a graduate of the University of Texas and George Washington University, where he obtained a masters degree in strategic public relations.

The incident is a PR own-goal for the US Air Force and "ashamed" Mesnard faces further punishment from his employers.

Miss Kennedy, who starred in Sky's 'A Different Breed' with her dog Ted has also appeared on 'The Apprentice', 'The Wright Stuff' and 'It's Me of the Dog.'

Hammersmith Magistrates Court heard that she was woken by Mesnard in her front garden and went down to investigate.

"I made my way downstairs the front door," she told police. "I saw a male pulling my dog statue. I screamed at him and he fell backwards and broke the tail off."

Prosecutor Mr. Manjit Mahal told the court Miss Kennedy and her partner followed Mesnard and called the police, who arrested him in nearby Ossington Street.

"Mr. Mesnard confirmed he was on a pub crawl with his mates, which started in a champagne bar in Paddington Station.

"He was doing a twenty-six pub crawl along the Circle Line, drinking half a pint in each pub and staying there for thirty to forty-five minutes."

At that rate Mesnard would have consumed up to thirteen pints of lager when he smashed the statue.

"He said other friends joined along the way and he got separated and he was texting friends and was drunk, but not incapable.

"He was on his way to meet friends when stopped by the police.

"He was adamant he did not touch or damage a statue in any way."

Mesnard initially fought the charge, but changed his plea to guilty on the day of the trial and told the court: "I just want to start off with my sincerest apologies for causing so much angst over the damage to the property and to my fellow servicemen and women for representing them so badly.

"A apologise for drinking so much.

"After learning how intoxicated I had become I am embarrassed and feel I cannot fight the case.

Pursuit: Kennedy

"I acted out of the norm. It sickens me that I have caused Miss Kennedy so much distress.

"I am ashamed that as an officer I behaved in this way and as an officer I face further punishment."

He insisted he did not have an alcohol problem, confirmed by the US Air Force, and described the incident as a: "Lapse from my normal behaviour.

"I've learned a great lesson from my actions……I failed everyone and myself this time."

District Judge Samantha Bain told Mesnard: "I take into account that your name has been besmirched, which is a serious thing for yourself."

She fined him £250, with £150 costs and a £25 victim surcharge and ordered him to pay £995 compensation to Miss Kennedy.

Tory PR Man Says He Acted In Self-Defence

Public relations spin doctor Adrian Yalland, 44, has released a statement following the Crown Prosecution Service decision not to charge him.

He was arrested on February 20 after an incident outside the home of Fathers 4 Justice founder Matt O'Connor, 46, in Stockbridge, Hampshire.

Mr. Yalland, of Maritime Avenue, Marchwood, Southampton claims he was lawfully serving legal papers at the address.

“The O’Connors have made a number of allegations which deliberately distort accepted facts, and in some cases are pure invention.  

"I was outside their house at all times, and delivering a Letter Before Claim which Mrs O’Connor was refusing to accept via email. 

"The claim I broke into their home and photographed their son is a total fabrication, which I invite anyone to verify by calling Andover CID. 

"I allege Mrs O’Connor sought to use deception to avoid legitimate service of my Letter Before Claim, and have given evidence to support this clam to the Police. 

"I was therefore at her house, alone, under legal advice, staying  outside the home at all times. 

"I took no pictures of their son – as the police can confirm. 

"However, I was assaulted, and acted proportionately, and in self defence, after two attempts were made to steal my phone, and after I was pushed over, punched, held down, and a possible attempt was made to strangle me. 

"That is why the police have confirmed there will be no charges against me"”

Interior Designer Forged Employer's Letter During £10,000 Benefit Scam

An interior designer forged a letter from his employers during a £10,000 benefits scam to cover-up his true earnings.

David Gaunt-Newell, 64, of Ludlow Drive, Thame, Oxfordshire purported to earn just £6.50 per hour, but in reality was pocketing an hourly rate of £16.50 for his freelance services.

He received a total of £8,586.38p in housing benefit payments and £1,600.30p in council tax benefit payments while living at an address in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to one count of fraud and two counts under the Social Security Administration Act of making false representations to the council.

Gaunt-Newell, who was ruled unsuitable for community service work due to prolapsed discs in his spine, was sentenced to a daily three month electronically-tagged curfew between 7pm and 7am and ordered to pay £1,405 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.


Prosecutor Miss Champa Gurnani told the court today that the defendant handed-in a letter to the town hall to support his claim, but the details regarding his length of freelance employment and hourly rate with the company were incorrect.

The council were suspicious of the claim and contacted the company, who confirmed Gaunt-Newell earned more and had worked for them from July, 2007 until May 2010.

“There was a false date in the letter, which stated his employment finished at an earlier date than that,” added Miss Gurnani. “They said the letter was not prepared by them to be shown to anyone.

“It was purportedly signed by the owner, but that person confirmed that is was not her signature.

“The defendant had obtained that letterhead and committed fraud by using that letterhead for the purpose of obtaining benefits.”

Gaunt-Newell was questioned under caution. “He said he could not remember providing the letter and gave no explanation.

“It was pre-meditated from the outset. He knew what he was dong and it was to gain benefits from the local authority.”

The court heard Gaunt-Newell is making regular payments to compensate the council and agreed to repay the court costs at £100 per week.

Police Hunting Street Mugger Who Targeted Celeb's Sister And Mother

CCTV: Suspect

Police have released this CCTV still of a suspect they are hunting after the sister and mother of TV presenter Myleene Klass were hurt during a night time bag-snatch attempt.

Officers on Haringey borough say a 33 year-old woman, who was with a 67 year-old companion in Whittington Road, Wood Green on January 7 was targeted by a street mugger.

She was aproached at 9.20pm and the suspect tried to snatch her handbag, dragging her to the ground and along the pavement.

The older woman tried to hold onto the victim, but was also dragged along during the violent struggle.

Eventually the assailant fled the scene empty-handed.

The woman received minor injuries, but did not require hospital treatment and no items were taken.

Both women were very distressed by the incident.

No arrests have been made and enquiries are continuing.

Detective Constable Pat Dunne from the Haringey Acquisitive Crime Unit said: “This was a terrifying attack on two women on a main road.

Myleene Klass

“I’m confident someone will be able to identify the suspect pictured in the images released today.

“I would urge any witnesses and people with information to contact police on the incident police hotline: 0203 2763070 or crime stoppers on 0800 555 111

Myleene Klass, sister of the victim, has said "I am horrified by what happened to my mum and sister as anyone would be if this were a member of their own family and I urge any person that knows anything or can help in anyway to please come forward."