"Noxious" Fluid Attacker Jailed For Dousing Clubbers

"Tough Guy": Jonathan Lynn

A drunken thug, who splashed a mystery noxious fluid over six strangers during an early hours attack outside a gay nightclub - leaving some of the victims, including a male model, fearing they were blinded and disfigured for life -  was jailed for two years and four months yesterday.

Roofer Jonathan William Lynn, 31, of Dorking Close, Worcester Park emptied the contents of an Evian bottle over a group of young gay friends, who thought their faces were "burning and melting", just after 4am in Vauxhall.

However, Recorder David Etherington QC ruled it was not a hate-crime, but told Lynn: "This takes nothing away from the fact this is a vicious, vile, cowardly and disgraceful attack by you."

He pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to assaulting the four, causing three of them actual bodily harm, outside the Lightbox nightclub on June 7 and possessing an offensive weapon, namely a noxious fluid.

He also admitted assaulting a woman passer-by, twenty-something Melissa Thompson, who was also splashed in the eyes and twenty minutes later, Ashgar Jafi, also in his 20's, who was sprayed with the liquid after the defendant stepped on his foot as he waited in the nightclub queue.

On CCTV: Jonathan Lynn

"You wrecked a number of people's lives," Recorder Etherington told heavily-built shaven-headed Lynn. "You decided to go out armed with a plastic bottle containing an unpleasant and potentially dangerous liquid.

"I think you took it out in case anyone got in your face…….You look quite a touch guy so anyone meeting you in the street and not knowing what you are going to do, then reaching for a bottle and throwing something in their face is going to scar someone mentally for life."

Model Parish Frith, 23, was involved in a verbal exchange with Lynn at 4.27am after the victim approached two girls outside the club and was challenged by the defendant, who said: "This is my bird."

They were, in fact, strangers, who did not know Lynn and Mr. Frith says one girl told him: "We don't really get on with gays. F*** off."

Both young women deny saying anything homophobic and explained to police Lynn said: "I don't care," when Mr. Frith, who they described as: "cocky and displaying an attitude", revealed his sexuality. 

He was splashed with the contents of the bottle along with his friends, Benjamin Moore, 21, and pals Yousef Khan and Ryan Cleary, also aged in their early twenties.

Prosecutor Mr. James Keeley classed the offences as homophobic and explained: "The defendant called Mr. Frith back and as he approached he was at arm's length distance when the defendant produced a bottle and splashed the contents in Mr. Frith's face, which went into his eyes, nose, mouth and throat," explained Mr. Keeley.

Ladies Man: Jonathan Lynn

"He said it tasted disgusting, he was inhaling fumes, couldn't breath and felt his face was burning and melting. He did not know if he was going to die or end up with no face."

Mr. Frith suffered painful ulcers to his tongue and to the back of his throat and a month later had no sense of taste and difficulty eating and continues to take anti-depressants to deal with his loss of self-worth.

His friend Mr. Moore also suffered injuries. "The liquid hit Mr. Moore full in the face, it went into his eyes, he panicked, his eyes were streaming and his face felt like it was on fire.

"He describes it as the worst moment of his life," said Mr. Keeley, adding the young man was left with an ulcer in the cornea of his left eye and continues to receive treatment at Moorfields Eye Hospital for blurred vision and burns in his cornea.

"The liquid went into Mr. Khan's face and eyes. It was burning the right side of his face. Mr. Khan believes this was a homophobic attack on him and his friends."

The asthmatic victim did not seek medical treatment as he tried unsuccessfully to keep his sexuality a secret from his family, who he now feels have "disowned him."

The fourth friend was the subject of the less serious charge of common assault. "A small amount of fluid hit Mr. Cleary's eye. It stung Mr. Cleary's eye.

"The defendant is described as vicious in his actions in that he wanted to hurt both men and then walked away with no remorse."

Passer-by Miss Thompson was leaving the club at the time. "She felt a splash in her right eye and felt pain in the back of her left eye. She was panicking and thought she was going blind."

Mr. Jafi had a verbal exchange with Lynn after the defendant stepped on his foot twenty minutes later. "The defendant sprayed him in the face with the contents of what looked like a Sprite bottle."

Ex-jailbird Lynn, who has served time for robbery and was on licence from prison at the time after receiving seven years in December, 2009 for possessing 1.5 kilos of cocaine and £30,000 in criminal property, was arrested in a pub four days later.

"The act was completely unjustified and unwarranted," Recorder Etherington told Lynn. "It was an unlawful and cowardly act. If this was homophobic the sentence would be doubled.

"You were spoiling for trouble that night with any people that crossed your path in any way you did not like. I've looked at the pictures, I've seen the skin taken off Mr. Frith's tongue.

"He was a model at the time and he didn't know if he was going to end up dead or with no face and he has lost his job."

Remarkably Lynn did not flee the scene, but joined the nightclub queue, where he splashed Mr. Jafi with the fluid. "This is really outrageous in view of what you had already done and you saw the consequences of it."

Lynn's lawyer Mr. Piers Mostyn told the court: "He had previously been a victim of an attack in the area and took it with him for self-defence, a friend having left it at his address. He did not go out intending to use it.

"The defendant vehemently denies having any homophobic views and expressing those views. He was very drunk and remembers very little of what happened."

Mr. Frith told Evening Standard shortly after the attack: "As we walked away I heard a man shout: 'Oi! Come here.' At first I thought it was the doorman saying he'd changed his mind and we could go in.

"Then I saw this white guy with a beard and his hand coming up with a water bottle and he squirted really hard into my face. It went straight into my eyes and it sprayed into my friend's mouth.

"My face was burning so much, I thought it was acid. I thought I would never see again and my face was melting.

"He poured every last drop onto us and then turned around and walked away, like it was mission accomplished.

"The chemical burnt the cornea in my left eye and the vision hasn't cleared since. The doctors said it should hopefully return, but there is no guarantee.

"My friend's tongue was swollen and it looked like someone had scratched part of it away. It was horrible."

Knifeman Locked-Up For Double Murder Attempt

A crazed knifeman, who tried to stab two women to death during seperate horrifying attacks, has been locked up in a top-security mental hospital.

Archibald Reverent Foster, 48, of Tredown Road, Sydenham can only be released from his indefinite hospital order by the Home Secretary.

He was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court of attempting to murder a 26 year-old woman in Bromley Road, Catford on August 22, last year and a 31 year-old in Plumstead Common on September 5.

Police were called at 9:05am on August 22 to reports of a woman stabbed in the street.


She was taken by ambulance to hospital suffering from injuries to her hand, arm and leg.

A knife was recovered from the scene by officers.



The victim was only saved from more serious injuries by her handbag, which she used to shield her stomach as Foster continually stabbed at her, and by the intervention of a 69-year-old passer-by - John Wayre - who grabbed Foster and pulled him off the victim.


Police were called two weeks later at approximately 9:50am on September 5 after the second stabbing.



Foster had approached the victim from behind as she walked across Plumstead Common and slashed her across the throat before stabbing her.

He then continued to attack her as she lay on the ground, before walking off.



She was taken by air ambulance to hospital suffering from five serious stab wounds to her legs.

She also suffered further injuries to her hands, fingers and neck. 



Foster was arrested shortly afterwards on a bus in Plumstead and the knife was found in his bag.



Judge Michael Topolski commended Mr. Wayre's bravery and said it was “breathtaking, helping an innocent person without regard to himself.”

He issued Mr. Wayre with a Judge's commendation for bravery and £750 from the public purse. 



Investigating officer Acting Detective Sergeant Stephanie Chance, said: “I would like to thank the two victims for their courage and the support they’ve given to the investigation throughout.

“This was a horrific, unprovoked attack on them both and I wish them the very best for the future. 



"I would also like to commend the bravery of each of the witnesses who went to the aid of both victims.

“Without their courage and intervention these attacks could well have been fatal. 



"I am very pleased with the sentence, a very dangerous man is now off the streets and is receiving the care and treatment that he requires.”

Gay Pals Doused With 'Noxious' Liquid Outside Nightclub

Mugshot: Jonathan Lynn

A drunken homophobic thug splashed a mystery noxious fluid over six strangers during a horrific attack outside a gay nightclub - leaving some of the victims fearing they were blinded and disfigured for life, a court heard yesterday.

Jonathan William Lynn, 31, of Dorking Close, Worcester Park emptied the contents of an Evian bottle over a group of young gay friends - including a male model - just after 4am in Vauxhall.

He pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to assaulting the four, causing three of them actual bodily harm, outside the Lightbox nightclub on June 7 and possessing an offensive weapon, namely a noxious fluid.

He also admitted assaulting a woman passer-by, twenty-something Melissa Thompson, who was also splashed in the eyes and twenty minutes later, Ashgar Jafi, also in his 20's, who was sprayed with the liquid after the defendant stepped on his foot as he waited in the nightclub queue.

Model Parish Frith, 23, was involved in a verbal exchange with Lynn at 4.27am after the victim approached two girls outside the club and was challenged by the defendant, who said: "This is my bird."

They were, in fact, strangers, who did not know Lynn and one girl told the victim: "We don't really get on with gays. F*** off."

He was splashed with the contents of the bottle along with his friends, Benjamin Moore, 21, and pals Yousef Khan and Ryan Cleary, also aged in their early twenties.

"The defendant has carried out a serious unprovoked homophobic assault on gay men," explained prosecutor Mr. James Keeley yesterday. "Mr. Frith replied that he was not interested in women and that he was gay."

Lynn: On CCTV

Lynn replied: "We don't like gays," and as Mr. Frith walked away shouted: "Oi! Come here."

"The defendant called Mr. Frith back and as he approached he was at arm's length distance when the defendant produced a bottle and splashed the contents in Mr. Frith's face, which went into his eyes, nose, mouth and throat," explained Mr. Keeley.

"He said it tasted disgusting, he was inhaling fumes, couldn't breath and felt his face was burning and melting. He did not know if he was going to die or end up with no face."

Mr. Frith suffered painful ulcers to his tongue and to the back of his throat and a month later had no sense of taste and difficulty eating and continues to take anti-depressants to deal with his loss of seal-worth.

His friend Mr. Moore also suffered injuries. "The liquid hit Mr. Moore full in the face, it went into his eyes, he panicked, his eyes were streaming and his face felt like it was on fire.

"He describes it as the worst moment of his life," said Mr. Keeley, adding the young man was left with an ulcer in the cornea of his left eye and continues to receive treatment at Moorfields Eye Hospital for blurred vision and burns in his cornea.

"The liquid went into Mr. Khan's face and eyes. It was burning the right side of his face. Mr. Khan believes this was a homophobic attack on him and his friends."

The asthmatic victim did not seek medical treatment as he tried unsuccessfully to keep his sexuality a secret from his family, who he now feels have "disowned him."

The fourth friend was the subject of the less serious charge of common assault. "A small amount of fluid hit Mr. Cleary's eye. It stung Mr. Cleary's eye.

Hanging With The Girls: Lynn

"The defendant is described as vicious in his actions in that he wanted to hurt both men and then walked away with no remorse."

Passer-by Miss Thompson was leaving the club at the time. "She felt a splash in her right eye and felt pain in the back of her left eye. She was panicking and thought she was going blind."

Mr. Jafi had a verbal exchange with Lynn after the defendant stepped on his foot twenty minutes later. "The defendant sprayed him in the face with the contents of what looked like a Sprite bottle."

Ex-jailbird Lynn, who has served time for robbery and was on licence from prison at the time after receiving seven years in December, 2009 for possessing 1.5 kilos of cocaine and £30,000 in criminal property, was arrested in  pub four days later.

Lightbox entrance

His lawyer Mr. Piers Mostyn told the court: "He had previously been a victim of an attack in the area and took it with him for self-defence, a friend having left it at his address. He did not go out intending to use it.

"The defendant vehemently denies having any homophobic views and expressing those views. He was very drunk and remembers very little of what happened."

Lynn was remanded in custody until Thursday when he will be sentenced.

Mr. Frith told Evening Standard shortly after the attack: "As we walked away I heard a man shout: 'Oi! Come here.' At first I thought it was the doorman saying he'd changed his mind and we could go in.

"Then I saw this white guy with a beard and his hand coming up with a water bottle and he squirted really hard into my face. It went straight into my eyes and it sprayed into my friend's mouth.

"My face was burning so much, I thought it was acid. I thought I would never see again and my face was melting.

"He poured every last drop onto us and then turned around and walked away, like it was mission accomplished.

"The chemical burnt the cornea in my left eye and the vision hasn't cleared since. The doctors said it should hopefully return, but there is no guarantee.

"My friend's tongue was swollen and it looked like someone had scratched part of it away. It was horrible."

Christening Party Guest Cleared Of Broken Bottle Attack

Not Guilty: Steven Beckford

A christening party guest, accused of slashing his former best man's neck with a broken lager bottle – inflicting a wound requiring 42 stitches – has today been cleared of all charges by a jury.

Steven Beckford, 24, of Skipper Close, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire was said to have pursued one-time friend Neil Thompson from The Palace community centre in south London and attacked him from behind with a broken Heineken bottle.

However, Beckford claimed Mr. Thompson was the aggressor and threw the bottle through the window of his car and fell on the shattered glass as the pair wrestled on the ground.

He was found not guilty at Southwark Crown Court of inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, and possessing an offensive weapon in Coburg Crescent, Tulse Hill on July 28, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. John Evison told the court the happy occasion, which began on a warm Sunday afternoon, turned sour when an argument erupted between Beckford's wife Keisha and Mr. Thompson's girlfriend Monique Hutchinson.

“Neil and Monique decided to leave, they had their young son with them, and thereafter the assault took place.

“This defendant and Keisha ran after them and the defendant grabbed an expensive gold chain Mr. Thompson was wearing around his neck and wouldn't hand it back.

“The defendant, who had a Heineken bottle, smashed it on the ground and ran after Neil and stabbed him in the neck and back as Neil was running away.”

As well as the neck wound Mr. Thompson also received six separate injuries to his back, which also required stitches.

Fellow party-goers pulled the defendant off and he left with Keisha and their child and an ambulance rushed Mr. Thompson to Kings College Hospital, where he remained for twenty-four hours.

Police traced Beckford to his Aylesbury home and he was quizzed at Peckham Police Station the next day, where he claimed Mr. Thompson and Monique were the aggressors.

“He said Neil punched him in the mouth, causing bleeding and said Neil picked up the Heineken bottle and flung it at his red Fiesta car, smashing the driver's side window.

“The defendant said Neil kicked him in the head and there was a tussle between them on the ground for the bottle, which had fallen to the floor.”

Designer Bag Raider Jailed For £100,000-Plus Snatch

A masked raider, who snatched over £100,000 worth of designer handbags from a Chelsea boutique, has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Christopher Gibbs, 31, and two others struck at the Designer Exchange, Egerton Terrace on May 24 taking luxury brands including Hermes Birkin, Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton.

They even helped themselves to a customer's £1,600 handbag, which was snatched from the woman as she shopped with her twelve year-old son, during the surprise raid.

He pleaded guilty to burgling the store, taking twenty-five handbags, when he appeared at Isleworth Crown Court.

Staff managed to activate an alarm which filled the shop with thick smoke forcing the suspects to flee the premises.



Although Gibbs had his face covered with a mask during the raid it slipped as he fled the shop and he was captured on CCTV.

Officers were able to identify him and he was arrested on July 17.

Detective Constable Neil Webb from Kensington and Chelsea police, said: "The suspects, one of which was Gibbs, put the female staff, the customer and her twelve-year-old son in fear of attack.

“They were shouting to everyone to 'shut up' causing immense distress. 



"Gibbs has refused to name his accomplices and we have not recovered the stolen bags which are valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.



"If you have any information which could help us identify the other suspects or recover the bags then please contact police."



Any witnesses should call Kensington and Chelsea CID on 020 8246 0173 or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Drug Dealer Locked-Up

A drug dealer is starting a twenty-seven month prison sentence after his arrest during a police raid on his home.

Paul Luke, 43, of Holloway Road, Upper Holloway, north London was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court.

He was arrested when police searched his home on May 31, last year.

Luke was bailed until October 2 while the drugs were analysed and charged and remanded in custody when he surrendered himself.

He pleaded guilty to possessing a quantity of class A and B drugs, with intent to supply.

Bus Driver Spat On And Beaten: Four Thugs Wanted

Police are hunting these four suspects, wanted for punching and kicking a bus driver in east London.

Officers from the joint Transport for London and Metropolitan Police Service Workplace Violence Unit are appealing for help in identifying them.

At 1.50pm on Sunday, April 27 an altercation broke out on board the Route 25 bus in Stratford Bus station between the suspects and the driver.

All four passengers got off the bus before one of them spat at the driver through his open cab window.



The driver was then attacked by all four suspects - who punched and kicked him - before leaving the scene.



The driver was taken to hospital with concussion.



The suspects are described as:



Suspect 1 - A black woman aged approximatly 18-20 years old and of slim build.

Suspect 2 - A black man aged approximate 20-25 years old of medium build.

Suspect 3 - A black man aged approximatly 20-25 years old of medium build and wearing glasses.


Suspect 4 - A man of mixed race and slim build.



Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Constable Annie Garrard, who is leading the investigation for the Workplace Violence Unit on 07766 248505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Christening Party Guest Accused Of Slashing Ex-Pal's Neck With Lager Bottle

A christening party guest slashed his former best man's neck with a broken lager bottle – inflicting a wound requiring 42 stitches – when a row broke out between their respective partners, a jury have been told.

Steven Beckford, 24, of Skipper Close, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire is accused of pursuing life-long friend Neil Thompson from The Palace community centre in south London and attacking him from behind with a broken Heineken bottle.

He has pleaded not guilty at Southwark Crown Court to inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, and possessing an offensive weapon in Coburg Crescent, Tulse Hill on July 28, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. John Evison told the court the happy occasion, which began on a warm Sunday afternoon, turned sour when an argument erupted between Beckford's wife Keisha and Mr. Thompson's girlfriend Monique Hutchinson.

“Neil and Monique decided to leave, they had their young son with them, and thereafter the assault took place.

“This defendant and Keisha ran after them and the defendant grabbed an expensive gold chain Mr. Thompson was wearing around his neck and wouldn't hand it back.

“The defendant, who had a Heineken bottle, smashed it on the ground and ran after Neil and stabbed him in the neck and back as Neil was running away.”

As well as the neck wound Mr. Thompson also received six separate injuries to his back, which also required stitches.

Fellow party-goers pulled the defendant off and he left with Keisha and their child and an ambulance rushed Mr. Thompson to Kings College Hospital, where he remained for twenty-four hours.

Police traced Beckford to his Aylesbury home and he was quizzed at Peckham Police Station the next day, where he claimed Mr. Thompson and Monique were the aggressors.

“He said Neil punched him in the mouth, causing bleeding and said Neil picked up the Heineken bottle and flung it at his red Fiesta car, smashing the driver's side window.

“The defendant said Neil kicked him in the head and there was a tussle between them on the ground for the bottle, which had fallen to the floor.”

Company Boss And Pharmaceutical Dealer Deny £1.1m Stolen Pills Charges

Vincent Quigley: Old Bailey Date

A company director and a pharmaceutical dealer, accused of handling £1.1 million worth of medicinal drugs stolen from a lorry nine years ago, denied the charges when they both appeared at the Old Bailey.

Vincent Quigley, 67, of Daleside, Thornhill, Dewsbury and Kenyan-born Mahmoud Azizi, 56, of Princess Court, Bryanston Place, Mayfair will return for a trial on November 24.

Quigley pleaded not guilty to one count of handling and one count of receiving stolen goods on or before October 16, 2007, namely 1,620,000 Comtan tablets; 510,000 Lopressor tablets and 480,000 Femara tablets.

The tablets, which had been stolen in 2005, were traced to a warehouse in Yorkshire on October 16, 2007 by a private detective hired by the loser, Swiss-based Norvartis International.

Comtan is prescribed to patients with Parkinson's Disease; Lopressor is for the treatment of high blood pressure and Femara is for breast cancer patients.

Canadian citizen Azizi, who was extradited from Vancouver, pleaded not guilty to one count of receiving stolen goods on October 16, 2007, namely medicinal products belonging to Norvartis International.

Eurostar Heroin Smuggler Had Swallowed Drugs

Isleworth Crown Court

A heroin smuggler, who swallowed sixty-five packets of the drug before boarding a Eurostar train from Brussels to London, had been jailed for three years.

William Sowersby, 46, of High View Road, Crystal Palace was stopped by Border Force officers at St. Pancras International.

He pleaded guilty to unlawfully importing 749 gms of 15-16% pure heroin on June 24.

Prosecutor Mr. Douglas Adams told Isleworth Crown Crown two suspicious packets fell to the floor from Sowersby's groin area when he was stopped.

A further nine packets containing white powder and one packet containing brown powder were discovered and the defendant admited to the officer he was a heroin user.

He claimed he had travelled to Belgium to lay flowers at the roadside where his daughter died in an accident two years ago, but later conceded this was a lie.

Sowersby admitted swallowing more packets and later passed sixty-five of them while in custody.

He showed officers marks on his arm indicting intravenous heroin use and agreed his trip to Brussels was simply to collect the drug.

Sowersby, who lives on disability benefit and housing benefit, said he owed a drug dealer £1200 and £1500 in other debts.

The dealer bought the ticket so he could wipe out the debt, said the defendant. 

Prison For National Lottery And Oyster "Confidence Trickster"

Southwark Crown Court

A “confidence trickster”, who duped small shopkeepers into handing over nearly £11,500 by posing as a Camelot and Transport For London agent who could install lucrative terminals in their store's, has been jailed for twenty-seven months.

Jobless James Anthony Keane, 38, of Cause End Road, Wootton, Bedford was described as “selfish” by a judge and motivated by “pure greed.”

He pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation between April 15 and and August 8, 2012.

Seven different London area shopkeepers paid him between £350 and £700 for National Lottery terminals and and eighteen paid similar sums for Oyster terminals.

Southwark Crown Court heard Keane, who was convicted of a scam involving second-hand cars seven years ago, researched which shops did not have terminals then telephoned them posing as a representative of the relevant organisation.

The victims were eager to pay a fee to speed up the process of installation and Keane had opened four different business accounts with convincing names, which the monies were paid into.

Judge Michael Gledhill QC told him: “Small shopkeepers are keen to have on their premises facilities to sell National Lottery tickets and Oyster cards and you knew more than anyone they face difficult times and making a profit is very difficult.

“If they are offered an opportunity to have these machines they will take it and you knew that and you knew it was not always easy for them to get machines in.

“It depends on whether other shops in the area have facilities or if the shops are suitable to Camelot or tfl.

“It takes time to apply for and get the machines and you took advantage of that with your knowledge, your experience and research.

“You contacted them and made out convincingly you were an agent of Camelot or tfl and could arrange for the facilities to be installed and expedited for a fee that was refundable.

“You were addicted to a lifestyle that you could not afford and that is another way of saying it was sheer greed.

“You are a confidence trickster. If you want money and can't earn it you persuade people, by criminal methods, to pass it over.

“You needed money for selfish reasons, to live a lifestyle you thought you were entitled to and committed this offence with a great deal of preparation and sophistication.”

Train Ticket Inspector Jailed For £90K Eighteen-Year Disability Benefit Swindle

A London Underground ticket inspector has been jailed for forty weeks for a £90,000-plus eighteen-year benefit scam, during which he claimed he could hardly walk and was paid at the highest-rate in mobility an care allowances.

Dean Shulton, 48, of Ryecroft Road, Streatham was employed throughout the claim and was expected to travel all over the network, hop on and off tube trains, and even descend to the tracks in an emergency.

"This is a really serious class of offence because of the extended period of time," said Inner London Crown Court Judge Michael Wood QC. "This has been going on year after year, claiming benefit on the basis of not being able to work while holding down a job."

Shulton pleaded guilty to obtaining property by deception from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) between June 8, 1995 and January 29, last year, namely Disability Living Allowance (DLA) totalling £93,485.35p.

Prosecutor Miss Tamsin Ryder told the court Shulton applied for DLA on August 16, 1994, stating he could not walk 100 yards without becoming "tired and breathless" and was prone to chest infections and suffered depression.

"He said he constantly felt tired, was unable to walk, was very weak when trying to prepare food, he became tired when attempting to get dressed and said his legs felt like they weighed ten tons."

A doctor approved the application and Shulton was awarded the highest rate of mobility benefit and the middle rate of care benefit, which he successfully appealed and began receiving the maximum for both.

"This award meant he was virtually unable to walk," explained Miss Ryder. "He said he could not get out of bed, needed help to go to the toilet and needed massages to get the feeling in his legs."

Shulton also said he needed a paid carer to help turn him in his bed at night.

The DWP received intelligence that since the early 1990's Shulton was a revenue control inspector.

"He had powers of prosecution on the trains and held a 'Safety Critical Licence' which assessed his mobility for the job."

London Underground were concerned about the number of sick days Shulton was taking and a doctor examined him on June 8, 1995. "He was fit for duty and the doctor found him to be extremely well."

When eventually caught he was questioned by investigators. "His discussed his illnesses and disabilities, but admitted he should not have been working and his condition had improved."

Shulton has sold his house, moved in with his parents, and promised to pay compensation in full within seven days.

He remains an employee of Transport for London, but is currently the subject of disciplinary proceedings, which he expects will end his career.

His lawyer Miss Joanne Cecil said: "He spent considerable time on paperwork and administration and essentially had a desk-bound office job.

"He did not effectively travel and check tickets and was based at Oval, where he checked tickets at the barrier.

"This claim was not fraudulent from the outset and even though his condition improved he could not be considered to be a well person."

Judge Wood added: "The dishonesty is to continue to get these benefits that were plainly for someone unable to work and he was in work."

However, he told Shulton: "I accept you did suffer from significant disability and your symptoms did fluctuate. You behaved with tremendous realism once you were caught."

Counter-Demonstrator Who Hurled Object At Chanting English Defence League Supporters Is Sentenced

An anti-fascist demonstrator, who hurled an object towards a group of chanting English Defence League supporters near Downing Street, has been conditionally discharged after he was convicted of threatening behaviour.

James O'Brien, 30, of Eastfield Road, Peterborough was part of a group standing in the central reservation of Whitehall exchanging chants with the EDL protesters, who had gathered outside a pub.

He denied, but was convicted at Hammersmith Magistrates Court, of using threatening behaviour on March 15 and must also pay £325 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

It was a day of multiple planned ptotests in the area and the EDL had been attracted by a gathering of the right-wing English Volunteer Force, which in turn drew counter-demonstrations.

The court heard the EDL group had gathered outside the Red Lion pub and the counter-demonstration – which included O'Brien – stood in the middle of Whitehall separated by a line of British Transport Police.

The opposing groups were chanting and gesticulating at each other and a beer can was thrown from the EDL supporters towards towards O'Brien's demonstrators.

The defendant was then seen hurling an unknown object overarm and with force towards the EDL group.

The object was never identified and it is not known if it struck anybody or caused any damage.

Hooded O'Brien immediately turned and fled, but ran straight into another group of police officers, who had just emerged from a van as the tension between the opposing groups escalated.

He was detained and arrested and the court rejected his defence that the police were incorrect in their identification of him.

Race Charge Following Heathrow Stun Gun And CS Gas Find

Isleworth Crown Court

A Bishop's Stortford man, charged with having an illegal stun gun and CS gas cannister at Heathrow Airport, where he is also charged with racially-motivated threats after getting off an international flight, has appeared in court.

James William Forbes, 28, of Waytemore Road indicated he will fight the case, insisting he did not know the items were in his luggage.

He is charged with importing prohibited weapons at Terminal Five, namely a stun gun and CS spray, both designated as firearms, on February 11.

He is also charged with possession of a firearm, namely a stun gun, disguised as another object, and possessing a weapon designed or adapted to discharge a noxious liquid, namely CS gas.

Forbes also faces one charge of using racially-agravated threatening behaviour towards Manzar Akhtar.

Isleworth Crown Court bailed him to return for a plea and case management hearing on October 30 and scheduled his trial for January next year.