Rogue Scrap Dealer Convicted Of Dealing In Stolen Memorial Plaques Nicked From Cemeteries

 A rogue scrap metal dealer, who ran a "no questions asked" business and paid cash for stolen bronze memorial plaques heartless thieves swiped from five cemeteries has been convicted.

Over 723 plaques were stolen overnight from Croydon, Beckenham, Tonbridge & Malling, West Norwood and Putney Vale cemeteries and evidence of all of them were discovered during a police operation, which targeted DSM scrap yard.

It's boss, Joseph Collier, 72, of Woodhall Drive, Southwark cut the £75 plaques into tiny unidentifiable pieces and also bought an £1800 bronze sacred heart of Jesus statue stolen from a grave in Putney Vale, Croydon Crown Court heard.

He will be sentenced on November 3.

During the police raid, which was the culmination of 'Operation Ferris', officers also seized a Thai bronze dragon statue, stolen from a front garden in Teddington, and Collier is also accused of trying to buy eight reels of copper belonging to UK Power Networks.

"They included memorial plaques from 2010, 2011 and 2012," explained prosecutor Mr. James Lofthouse. "These were not old, unwanted, unvisited memorials.

"Some had been recently visited and could not be said to be scrap metal and Mr. Collier would have known this as well.

"Various memorial plaques were pieced back together and shown to staff at the cemeteries and in all five instances they identified them."

The first cemetery targeted by thieves was Croydon in September, 2011. "Staff reported the theft of a large amount of memorial plaques from their garden.

"They are all four inches by three inches and are secured to the ground by a twelve-inch metal spike and sixty-six were stolen."

Over 200 were then stolen from Beckenham, 148 from Tonbridge & Malling, 300 from West Norwood and 9 from Putney Vale.

DSM, of Bensham Lane, Croydon was searched on March 14, 2012 and Collier arrested on the premises.

"Officers found a number of plaques and fragments of plaques and Mr. Collier ran the business, he decided what to pay and accepted metal on a no questions asked basis," added Mr. Lofthouse.

"In several bags in the yard were found these bronze memorial plaques, with the names of the deceased, details and personal messages on them.

"some had been cut into small pieces rendering them unrecognisable. You would not have known what they were."

A member of Collier's staff was operating a cutting machine in one of the buildings.

"There was a memorial plaque with the corner cut off on the machine and a basket beside it containing plaques already chopped up.

"The bronze sacred heart of Jesus statue was found nearby along with the ornamental dragon."

Beckenham Cemetery had coated their plaques in identifiable 'Smart Water' and traces of it were found on the cutting machine.

The jury were also shown undercover surveillance footage of Collier buying the stolen items and handing over cash.

He was found guilty of two counts of possessing criminal property on May 14, 2012, namely the memorial plaques and sacred heart statue and the ornamental dragon figure.

Collier was also convicted of disguising criminal property, namely a quantity of memorial plaques, on the same date and attempting to receive stolen goods, namely eight reels of copper on March 27, last year.

Guilty: Decades-Old Sex Crimes Come Back To Haunt Perp

A teenager, who encouraged his younger neighbour to visit him alone to play Scalextric and other games over three decades ago and sexually abusing him by copying a Kama Sutra-style calender, will be sentenced at the end of the month.

Barry Rosamond, 50, of Great Tree Farm, Looe, Cornwall was aged fifteen to sixteen years-old and the young boy between nine and ten during the period he preyed upon the youngster, Croydon Crown Court was told.

Rosamond was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault; one count of attempted buggery and one count of indecency with a child, occurred in Beckenham, Kent between 1978 and 1980.

He will return to court on October 31.

“He said: 'Come around on your own to play, don't bring the others,' “ the 44 year-old complainant told the jury.

The defendant initially encouraged the youngster to touch him intimately, promising to give him £5.00 on the first occasion, but afterwards handed over £3.00 in change, the court heard.

“I went round there and and he abused me many times. I use'd to see him as a father-figure. Maybe that's why I never said anything.

“I've managed to keep my head up, but it's been difficult. He did this to me and I crumbled mentally and I do not want to carry it anymore.

“I'm sick and tired of it. It's draining. He abused me many times.

“You bury this in alcohol, in drugs to block these images out of your head,” explained the complainant, denying suggestions he invented the accusations to blame someone for difficulties in his own life.

“That's rubbish, absolute rubbish,” he said, adding it was very difficult to come forward at the time.

“At that age you don't know what is going on. You think you're just mucking around, but later I felt dirty, so dirty and foolish.”

He said Rosamond would produce a wall calendar, which depicted silhouetted figures in various sexual poses, which he would copy with the youngster.

Five years ago the complainant suddenly spotted Rosamond, who was visiting the area, as he walked to his mother's home.

“He smiled at me and when I went into the house I was pacing up and down wondering what to do, but not wanting to do anything crazy.

“I put a note on his camper van windscreen, which said: 'I don't want to see you again.' “

Sperm Donor Prof Sentenced For Groping Recipient Of 'AI-Plus'

A University College London professor, who has fathered 58 children via his "one stop shop" insemination service, received a suspended prison sentence yesterday for molesting a wannabe single mum during his donations.

Professor Gennadij Raivich, 52, a perinatal neuroscientist - who also has three children of his own - coined the phrase 'Artificial Insemination Plus', which promised 'extras' to donors - namely oral sex.

The victim, 31, travelled from her Cambridgeshire village to his London home and agreed to repeatedly perform oral sex on him to obtain the samples she craved, Blackfriars Crown Court heard during the two-week trial.

Raivich, of Rashleigh House, Thanet Street, St. Pancras was convicted of two counts of sexually assaulting the woman, who was groped between the legs and had her breasts touched.

He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years, ordered to pay £5,000 costs and to sign the sex offenders register for ten years and is subject to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order banning him from being a  sperm donor or carrying a speculum.

Two other complainants, both 26 year-old lesbians, also told the court the defendant abused them, but the jury were unable to reach verdicts in relation to one count against the first and seven counts against the second.

Raivich carried a "donation kit" containing a dvd player, which he watched pornography on, rubber gloves and a speculum and pipette and was happy to carry-out home visits.

Fifteen satisfied female 'customers' from all over the country spoke in his defence, including a police officer, a maths teacher and a lecturer, some of whom had two and in one case three of his children via Artificial Insemination (AI).

Workplace Arrest: Institute For Woman's Health

Judge Deva Pillay told him: "Publicly it is said you were an internationally recognised and respected scientific researcher, however in private you led a more questionable lifestyle.

"Using the pseudonym Frank Qualman you surfed the internet offering your services as a sperm donor  to women desperate to conceive.

"These were informal and devoid of the usual regulations and safeguards and the Crown say you exploited your anonymity and your clients' desperation to conceive to obtain sexual gratification."

Raivich first me the victim on September 5, 2012. "You spoke to her about a procedure known as AI-plus whereby the recipient of the sperm would physically stimulate you, the donor, to produce sperm.

"You made it plain to her that if she did not provide AI-plus she would not receive a donation of sperm and therefore she agreed to do so."

However, Raivich ignored the victim's insistence not to touch or fondle her elsewhere during the sessions. "You were found to have sexually rubbed her clitoris and grabbed her breast.

"I find there was a breach of trust her and the complainant was a vulnerable woman in that she was desperate to conceive.

'IV-Plus' HQ: Rashleigh House

"There were also elements of exploitation, you implying you were a registered medical practitioner within the jurisdiction.

"Having regard  to the fact the complainant consented to oral sex and having regard to the loss of your reputation and employment in my judgement I am able to suspend the sentence."

Raivich's lawyer William Clegg QC said: "The victim was engaging in consensual oral sex with the defendant at the time. She was a lady that had agreed full intercourse with donors in attempts to become pregnant."

He showed Judge Deva Pillay an article from magazine 'Take a Break' which the victim sold her story to. "She's abandoned her anonymity and made what capital she can out of her position.

"He's been forced to resign his chair at UCH and is unemployed. He lost a well paid and prestigious job. That indeed is a tragedy in itself.

"He is acknowledged as a world authority on trauma to the brain in children and in lesser respects adults and intends to return to his family in Germany when these proceedings are concluded and re-train in another area.

"She was clearly a very willing participant in oral sex, which reduces, to some extent, the gravity of the offence."

Prosecutor Mr. Tom Wilkins told the jury at the start of the trial: "You have to ask yourselves what kind of woman agrees to meet a complete stranger, they do not even know his real name, for AI.

"Someone who is desperate and is prepared to put up with the potential embarrassment and humiliation and who have kept the details from their friends and families.

"A perfect victim for sexual assault, someone unlikely to complain.

"Compare the women to this defendant, someone who has traded on the fact he is a doctor and paraded his scientific knowledge, impressing them with his apparent expertise.

"What kind of man embarks on a breeding programme to have as many children as possible?

"You will have to ask yourselves if he knows as much as he claims.

"You may feel there is a high degree of narcism in what he has done and is sexually motivated in some of these transactions.

"He provided a one stop shop for women who wanted semen. All were desperate to have a baby."

Raivich's service was informal and did not conform to the guidelines of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and he often used the pseudonym 'Frank Qualman'.

Raivich told the victim that her chances of becoming pregnant were increased if she orgasmed during the insemination process.

The prosecution accept Raivich is a qualified doctor in Germany, but has always been an academic scientist and has never practiced medicine and is not registered with the General Medical Council.

"On the websites he advertises his services as a sperm diner and represents himself as a: 'Medical doctor based in Central London' providing a service called Intra-Cervical Insemination or ICI."

In a video-recorded police interview played to the jury the woman said: "He kept asking for AI Plus because it would make things quicker.

"He laid sofa cushions on the floor and was taking his trousers off and said he wanted AI Plus because it would be quick and he did not have time to provide the sample himself.

"With my baby brain I agreed to AI Plus and he took his underwear off and lay on the floor and I performed AI Plus and the donation was ready in thirty seconds.

"While I was doing AI Plus he asked me to take my clothes off so he could touch me.

"I said I did not mind doing AI Plus, but did not want to do anything else, but he put his hand on my bottom over my jeans then kept trying to put his hands down my waistband and up my top." 

Raivich also groped her between her legs during the sessions. "He told her an orgasm would help her conceive," added Mr. Wilkins.

"She told him three or four times not to touch her there, but he went ahead regardless and now he says he can't recall stimulating her in this way.

"He was not the altruistic donor, but someone who is sexually-motivated. 

"She was desperate for a baby and returned a week later for a donation in return for performing oral sex on him and felt she had to put up with it, she had been trying for a baby for a year."

Record Co. Exec Gets Three Years For Fiddling Over £660K

Guilty: Schwier After His Plea

The former head of global production at record label giant Universal Music was jailed for three years today for stealing over £660,000 from the company, which he claims was mostly given away to his staff and to charity.

Duncan Schwier, 52, of Clifden Road, Twickenham left behind a paper trail when promoted, which revealed multiple invoice payments to non-existent companies for over a decade, which had been set-up by him.

The American-based French-owned multinational is the largest music corporation in the world and its artists include U2, Eminem, 50 Cent and Jennifer Lopez.

He pleaded guilty to one count of stealing £643,697.35 between December 31, 2001 and December 31, last year from his Kensington-based employers.

Prosecutor Mr. Olu Phillips told Isleworth Crown Court: "The defendant had in fact been employed by 'Atmosphere' music company going back to 1984 and over a series of acquisitions and name changes that company came to be the Universal Music Group.

"In that company, at at the end of June 2013, the defendant was the global head of production with Universal Music Group.

'He was promoted or moved from that position in early 2013 and another member of staff took over that position and that member of staff, seeking to familiarise himself with the financial system came across what appeared to be suspect invoices.

"There followed an enquiry and investigation and over that period the defendant had stolen £643,697.35p and that was by way of him submitting to the company invoices in the name of Bar Music and FF Music.

"These companies were fictitious and once the transactions were authorised the payments were made and funds went into one of his bank accounts."

There were three in-house interviews between Schwier and his bosses from July. "He straight away made admissions that it was him. He had created these companies and he had authorised and and arranged these invoices and taken payment."

Schwier Minutes After Pleading Guilty

Married Schwier, who has at least one daughter, put his six-bedroom detached Edwardian house on the market for £1.75m on August 1, last year, has repaid the stolen money in full.

He claims to have given away, due to his medical condition, £400,000 on his own staff in gifts and bonuses and £100,000 to various charities.

The court heard Schwier was unaware he had autoimmune condition Graves disease, plus other ailments, including a cancer scare, and stole to combat stress and worsening relationship with his staff.    

His lawyer, Mr. Lawrence Selby said: "He makes no criticism of Universal. They were completely in the dark as to his medical condition.

"Mr. Schwier himself was almost unaware of the medical condition he was suffering from, it took a considerable time to diagnose. He was unaware his behaviour had changed so dramatically.

"The person who behaved the way he did is not the Duncan Schwier people liked, respected and loved and that is a real tragedy.

"You have heard a large portion of the money stolen from Universal Music was for charity. That was a misguided sense of what was right and wrong at the time.

Schwier Worked At Beaumont House, Kensington Village

"He did glean some comfort from being in a position to assist others at the time he was suffering and enduring."

A music executive colleague at Zomba music described Schwier as having: "mood swings that were frequent and unpalatable" and that his: "behaviour, judgment and decision-making were impaired."

"Throughout this he was working in a pressure-cooker industry," added Mr. Selby. "Unable to cry for help and these thefts offered respite for his depression and suffering."

The first staff gift was an expensive guitar for a colleague who was leaving and the bonuses, parties and dinners followed.

He continued to drive his 15 year-old Volvo, which broke down as the weekend, the court heard and there was no evidence of an "extravagant" lifestyle and his daughter is now suffering one of his conditions.

"It's dishonesty over a period longer than a decade, dishonestly partly to reward your staff, but there was also significant financial gain for yourself," Judge Aidan Marron QC told the first-time offender.

"I accept throughout this period you were suffering serious medical difficulties that effected your judgement and predictability. I'm afraid a custodial sentence is inevitable."

Armed Robber Hunted For Lido Hold-Up

Police have released this CCTV image of a robbery suspect they are hunting after an early-morning hold-up at an open-air swimming pool in south-east London.

The robbery ocurred at approximately 6:15am on Monday July 28 at Charlton Lido, in Charlton Park.

The suspect entered the reception area, where he threatened staff with a firearm and made off with cash from the till.



Detectives from the Met’s Flying Squad are investigating the robbery and are releasing a CCTV image of a man they would like to identify.



Anyone who recognises the man featured, or with information should contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Ex-Teacher Jailed For Abusing Young Teen He Picked-Up On 'Grindr'

A former schoolteacher, who picked up a 14 year-old boy on social networking app 'Grindr' and took him home for sex, has been jailed for five years.

Gary Pearce, 40, of Ellenborough Road, Sidcup met the youth in a supermarket car park and returned him to the same location after taking the teen to his address.

He was convicted at Inner London Crown Court of one count of grooming a child and once count of sexual activity with a child.

Police were contacted by the parents of the victim after they found messages of a sexual nature on his phone.

Officers were told that in the summer of 2012 the victim had been in contact with Pearce through 'Grindr' and despite the victim informing the defendant of his age, they met.

Under police interview Pearce claimed his victim had told him he was of the age of consent but made no comment to all other questions put to him.

Detective Constable Chris Hammond said: "Despite being in a position of trust as a teacher Gary Pearce met the fourteen year-old victim through the internet, then arranged and proceeded to meet him in person.

"The Metropolitan Police is dedicated to protecting young and vulnerable people and encourage victims to come forward where they will be fully supported by specially trained officers."

Detective Inspector Neal Burton from the Sapphire Command said: "Pearce utilised the internet to manipulate the child into meeting him.

“This crime again shows the vulnerability of the internet and social media, which is used by paedophiles to meet their victims.

“This conviction will provide reassurance that we will relentlessly pursue those who commit these dreadful crimes against children."

Rapist Who Imprisoned Woman In Her Own Home Gets 14 Years

A rapist, who held a woman hostage in her own home and repeatedly attacked her, has been jailed for fourteen years.

Patrick Healy, 48, of Upper Brockley Road, Brockley was convicted of five counts of raping the woman, whose keys he snatched and threatened to kill.

Croydon Crown Court heard Healy first raped the victim at her home in early December last year, but this was not reported to police and he returned to the address on the 22^nd day of that month.

Healy pushed the woman inside and threatened to kill her, stole her keys and left the address, locking her inside. 



On his return he stopped her from leaving the address and repeatedly raped her until she convinced him to allow her to go to work.



Healy escorted the woman to her place of work and once he left she reported her ordeal to the police.



Officers attended the victim's home address where Healy was found hiding in a cupboard and he was arrested.



Detective Constable Keith Tran, from the Metropolitan Police Service's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "Rape is often under-reported and victims can suffer in silence.

“It took tremendous courage from this victim to come forward and report Healy to the police.

“However, once she did she was supported by a specially trained officer until Healy was convicted.

“As a result of her courage a violent offender, who subjected her to a protracted ordeal has been convicted and now faces a lengthy prison term.



"I hope this case gives other victims of rape and abuse the courage to report their offenders to the police with the confidence that they will be believed and they will be supported."


As well as the five rapes Healy was also convicted of false imprisonment, threats to kill, sexual assault and assault.

Drink-Driver Jailed For Battering Policeman With His Own Baton

A drink-driver, who collided with another motorist, headbutted a policeman as he was being arrested and smashed the officer over the head with his own baton.

Tex Baker, 27, of Kingsland, Harlow, Essex was jailed for five years and four months for atacking the 34 year-old officer as he tried to handcuff him in Sewardstone Road, Chingford on October 27, last year.

He was convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court of causing grievous bodly harm, with intent, and driving with excess alcohol and was also banned from driving for two years.

Police were initially called to reports of a damage-only collision involving a suspected drunken driver.

The arresting officer was handcuffing Baker when he launched a sustained attack head-butting him several times and punching him.

He also managed to take the baton out of the officer’s hand and struck him over the head with it, leaving the policeman covered in blood.

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Plumb, from Waltham Forest Borough, said: “Officers on the frontline routinely face danger - it’s the nature of the job.

“However, to attack anyone in this way, including a police officer, is a serious matter and this sentence shows the courts will not tolerate such despicable behaviour.” 

Knife Murder Still Unsolved Over One Year On

Police are appealing for information as they continue to solve the killing of a young man in west London, who was fatally stabbed in the neck over a year ago.

Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC) continue to investigate the death of 23-year-old Surjeet Singh in Southall Park on August 26, last year.

A fight occurred at 8.50pm in the park and Mr. Singh was found injured in nearby Green Drive. He was pronounced dead at 9.57pm.

Police are appealing for anybody who may have witnessed the incident, knew the deceased or has any information that may assist the investigation.



Detective Inspector Tony Lynes said: “I appeal directly to the local community in Southall for information that may lead to the identification of Surjeet's killer.

“I am convinced the answer lies in the heart of the community, however, a year on we, nor Surjeet's family are any closer to knowing who attacked him and we need information from local people to help us.



“Detectives have arrested a number of people believed to have been involved in the fight, however police are appealing for information that may identify Surjeet's killer.

“No one has been has been convicted in relation with the violent disorder.”



Anyone with information is urged to contact the incident room on 020 8721 4868.

Alternatively if you have information and wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

+

Eight people arrested in connection with the murder in August 2013 have now been released.

One man was released with no further action.

Seven others were acquitted on charges of violent disorder and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm at Isleworth Crown Court in April this year.

Alleged Paedophile Invited Youngster To Play Scalextric

Accused: Barry Rosamond

A teenager, who encouraged his younger neighbour to visit him alone to play Scalextric and other games over three decades ago, sexually abused him by copying a Kama Sutra-style calender, a court heard yesterday.

Barry Rosamond, 50, of Great Tree Farm, Looe, Cornwall was aged fifteen to sixteen years-old and the young boy between nine and ten during the period he preyed upon the youngster, Croydon Crown Court was told.

Rosamond has pleaded not guilty to four counts of indecent assault; one count of attempted buggery and one count of indecency with a child said to have occurred in Beckenham, Kent between 1978 and 1980.

“He said: 'Come around on your own to play, don't bring the others,' “ the 44 year-old complainant told the jury.

The defendant initially encouraged the youngster to touch him intimately, promising to give him £5.00 on the first occasion, but afterwards handed over £3.00 in change, the court heard.

“I went round there and and he abused me many times. I use'd to see him as a father-figure. Maybe that's why I never said anything.

“I've managed to keep my head up, but it's been difficult. He did this to me and I crumbled mentally and I do not want to carry it anymore.

“I'm sick and tired of it. It's draining. He abused me many times.

“You bury this in alcohol, in drugs to block these images out of your head,” explained the complainant, denying suggestions he invented the accusations to blame someone for difficulties in his own life.

“That's rubbish, absolute rubbish,” he said, adding it was very difficult to come forward at the time.

“At that age you don't know what is going on. You think you're just mucking around, but later I felt dirty, so dirty and foolish.”

He said Rosamond would produce a wall calendar, which depicted silhouetted figures in various sexual poses, which he would copy with the youngster.

Five years ago the complainant suddenly spotted Rosamond, who was visiting the area, as he walked to his mother's home.

“He smiled at me and when I went into the house I was pacing up and down wondering what to do, but not wanting to do anything crazy.

“I put a note on his camper van windscreen, which said: 'I don't want to see you again.' “

Trial continues..........

Scrap Dealer Accused Of Buying Memorial Plaques Nicked From Cemeteries

A rogue scrap metal dealer, who ran a "no questions asked" business, paid cash for stolen bronze memorial plaques heartless thieves swiped from five cemeteries, a jury were told today.

Over 723 plaques were stolen overnight from Croydon, Beckenham, Tonbridge & Malling, West Norwood and Putney Vale cemeteries and evidence of all of them were discovered during a police operation, which targeted DSM scrap yard.

It's boss, Joseph Collier, 72, of Woodhall Drive, Southwark cut the £75 plaques into tiny unidentifiable pieces and also bought an £1800 bronze sacred heart of Jesus statue stolen from a grave in Putney Vale, Croydon Crown Court was told.

During the police raid, which was the culmination of 'Operation Ferris', officers also seized a Thai bronze dragon statue, stolen from a front garden in Teddington, and Collier is also accused of trying to buy eight reels of copper belonging to UK Power Networks.

"They included memorial plaques from 2010, 2011 and 2012," explained prosecutor Mr. James Lofthouse. "These were not old, unwanted, unvisited memorials.

"Some had been recently visited and could not be said to be scrap metal and Mr. Collier would have known this as well.

"Various memorial plaques were pieced back together and shown to staff at the cemeteries and in all five instances they identified them."

Memorial Plaques

The first cemetery targeted by thieves was Croydon in September, 2011. "Staff reported the theft of a large amount of memorial plaques from their garden.

"They are all four inches by three inches and are secured to the ground by a twelve-inch metal spike and sixty-six were stolen."

Over 200 were then stolen from Beckenham, 148 from Tonbridge & Malling, 300 from West Norwood and 9 from Putney Vale.

DSM, of Bensham Lane, Croydon was searched on March 14, 2012 and Collier arrested on the premises.

"Officers found a number of plaques and fragments of plaques and Mr. Collier ran the business, he decided what to pay and accepted metal on a no questions asked basis," added Mr. Lofthouse.

"In several bags in the yard were found these bronze memorial plaques, with the names of the deceased, details and personal messages on them.

"some had been cut into small pieces rendering them unrecognisable. You would not have known what they were."

A member of Collier's staff was operating a cutting machine in one of the buildings.

"There was a memorial plaque with the corner cut off on the machine and a basket beside it containing plaques already chopped up.

Missing Statue: Bronze Dragon

"The bronze sacred heart of Jesus statue was found nearby along with the ornamental dragon."

Beckenham Cemetery had coated their plaques in identifiable 'Smart Water' and traces of it were found on the cutting machine.

The jury were also shown undercover surveillance footage of Collier buying the stolen items and handing over cash.

He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of possessing criminal property on May 14, 2012, namely the memorial plaques  and sacred heart statue and the ornamental dragon figure.

Collier also denies disguising criminal property, namely a quantity of memorial plaques, on the same date and attempting to receive stolen goods, namely eight reels of copper on March 27, last year.

Trial continues…………..  

Property Fraudster's Dodgy Mortgages With Help Of Girlfriend And Mum

Rachel Gledhill & Wayne Stubbs

A Huddersfield sales assistant posed as an IT consultant and a fine arts dealer during two mortgage frauds with her boyfriend, which illegally netted loans totalling £650,000, the Old Bailey heard today.

Rachel Gledhill, 39, of Armitage Road, Milnsbridge was working for Harvey Nichols, but lied in mortgage applications that she earned substantially more.

Her ex-boyfriend Wayne Stubbs, 44 and his mother Wendy Stubbs, 62, both of Briarwood House, Orpington Road, Chislehurst, Kent also deny the charges.

Prosecutor Mr. Nick Mather told the court Gledhill purchased 52 Hollyfield Avenue, Huddersfield in 2004 with the help of a £225,000 mortgage granted on the basis she was a £67,000 a year IT consultant.

“That is simply untrue, she is not an IT consultant and she was not earning that money. She was working as a sale assistant in Harvey Nichols.

“This is a lie on the mortgage application and this is part of a pattern of lies that go throughout this case.”

The jury were told Wayne was the mastermind behind the frauds. “This is not something Rachel Gledhill has decided to do off her own bat.”

The second property Gledhill purchased, 4 The Courtyard, Holwood, Keston, Kent, needed a £424,950 mortgage and she claimed to run her own successful fine arts business to obtain the loan in 2005.

“She say's she's a professional and had been doing this since May 1996 and owned one hundred per cent of the business.”

Gledhill claimed to net over £172,000 a year from the non-existent business, added Mr. Mather. “All of that was untrue because we known how much she was earning.”

The last known income for Gledhill was £12,000 in 2004 and from 2005 to 2011 she has no employment or tax records whatsoever.

“You can be confident these are lies in her documentation.”

Wendy Stubbs

4 The Courtyard was rented for £2,000 per month without the permission of the lender and sold in May, 2008 for £472,000, which the prosecution say is criminal property.

The Stubbs' were involved in further frauds on their own, added Mr. Maher. “It's about mortgage fraud and money laundering.

“These three defendants, individually and together, obtained a number of different mortgages and they did this by lying about their employment and income.

“Wayne is behind each and every one of these transactions. His fingerprints, euphemistically speaking, are all over this case.”

Wendy fronted the purchase of one property by claiming to be a £120,000 financial consultant.

“She has never, prior or since, earned that money. She was unemployed and on benefits.”

On another occasion she claimed to be a £75,000 a year interior designer and Wayne himself posed as a £110,000 a year unit trust dealer to obtain a big mortgage.

Wayne has not employment or tax history between 1995 and 2011. “He's a man who has no income at all as far as Revenue and Customs are concerned.

“He's someone seemingly under the radar with no income.”

Gledhill and Wayne are charged with obtaining a £225,000 mortgage on or before April 23, 2004, by deception, in relation to 52 Hollyfield Avenue, Huddersfield.

Gledhill alone is charged with obtaining a £424,950 mortgage, by deception, in relation to 4 The Courtyard, Holwood Estate, Westerham Road, Keston, Kent.

She is also charged with acquiring criminal property, namely rental income, from the address between June 1, 2006 and May 31, 2008 and Wayne is charged with entering into a money laundering arrangement.

Both Stubbs' are charged with obtaining a mortgage by deception, namely £300,000, on or before April 19, 2002 in relation to 166 Crofton Lane, Orpington.

They are similarly charged with obtaining £237,500 on or before August 29, 2003, plus a count of attempting to obtain that sum in relation to Flat 2, 55 Linden Gardens, Paddington.

Wendy is charged with acquiring criminal property, namely rental income from that address between February 4, 2005 and December 31, 2012 and Wayne with entering into a money laundering arrangement.

Wayne faces one count of fraud against Clydesdale Bank on or about March 12, 2008 in relation to the Linden Gardens property and his mother a count of acquiring criminal property and money laundering between 2008 and 2012.

Wayne alone is charged with obtaining a £237,500 mortage, by deception, in relation to Flat 16, Mount Arlington, 37 Park Hill Road, Bromley on or before July 27, 2004.

Both Stubbs' are charged with obtaining a £1,200,399 mortgage, by deception, on or before April 6, 2006 in relation to Briarwood House, Orpington Road, Chislehurst.

That property was rented out for £8,000 per month and Wendy is charged with acquiring criminal property between November 1, 2008 and November 30, 2010 and Wayne with money laundering.

Trial continues...........