NOT GUILTY: Man Cleared Of 'Rape' That Never Was Of Internet Date Who Encouraged Rough Sex

A brand and marketing specialist has been cleared of raping his internet date after telling a jury she introduced him to dominant role-playing, which he acted out that night.

Max Lawrie, 38, spent seven hours in a police cell and had the serious allegations hanging over him for nearly two years until he was unanimously acquitted by a jury yesterday.

He hooked-up with the 27 year-old woman after they communicated on an internet dating site and she began sending him sexually-explicit clips involving dominant males and submissive females.

However, she told Blackfriars Crown Court Lawrie - who has never been in trouble before - repeatedly raped her after texting: “I want you,” at 1am on St. Valentine’s Day, last year.

“The type of sex she was describing was the norm for them as a couple. It was the sort of sex she was into,” Aisling Byrnes, defending, told the jury.

“We have seen the type of stuff she introduced Mr. Lawrie to and he was trying to show her he was willing to take part in this type of sex.”

The woman even had a blog containing multiple images depicting dominant and submissive sexual activity and exchanged explicit WhatsApp messages with Lawrie.

“Throughout her messages are references to grabbing her hair and grabbing her throat,” added Miss Byrnes, adding the woman replied: “Yes please,” to the prospect of being bitten.

She told the jury a drunken Lawrie, who had been celebrating his birthday, arrived at her £600,000 Belsize Park flat in the early hours of February 14, last year and forced himself on her.

“He said: ‘You’re f***ing mine, mine,’ like he owned me.

“He took my trousers off and moved my pants to the side and was holding my legs up in the air and slapped me around the face and put his hand around my neck.

“He sort of grabbed my hair and pulled me and slapped me across the face again.

“He pulled me down on my knees in front of him. He was slapping my arse and grabbing me.

“He had sex with me again and was holding me around the neck really tight and grabbed my hair and he spat on me.”

However, during her video-recorded interview with police the young woman failed to reveal the couple were enjoying a dominant/submissive relationship, which she had encouraged.

Lawrie told the jury it was the first time he had ever been in such a relationship and found it very exciting.

Prosecutor Miss Catherine Milsom said: “The defendant was determined to have sex with her that night.

“She did not consent and just wanted to go to sleep and was moving away from him, wriggling away from him.

“She was telling him: ’No’”

The following morning the couple went out for breakfast and kissed goodbye at the train station, but the woman says this was just to get Lawrie out of her flat.

Lawrie, of Northwold Road, Hackney was found not guilty of three counts of rape and one count of attempted rape.

Jury Split In Scot's City Worker Hotel Rape Trial

A Glasgow businessman faces a potential retrial after a jury failed to reach a verdict on a charge he raped a drunken young woman during a trip to London. 

Privately-educated graduate William Paton, 30, was accused of taking advantage of the 26 year-old City worker in his hotel room on March 4, last year after she downed brandy and wine all evening.

Paton, of Fruin Avenue, Newton Mearns, who attended £12,00 a-year Hutcheson’s Grammar School and is a mathematics graduate of the University of Strathclyde was attending a black-tie event at a City of London livery company.

Yesterday a Blackfriars Crown Court jury announced they were split and the Crown Prosecution Service will announce on October 20 if they are pursuing a retrial.

Paton, whose family run a nationwide company involved in the insurance and maintenance of taxis and private-hire vehicles, had denied one count of rape.

Both Paton and the complainant told the court they had little recollection of the evening, but the woman claims she woke up at the Holiday Inn, Cavell Street, Whitechapel to find the defendant having sex with her.

“The next thing I remember was being rocked and seeing someone there, I freaked out,” she told the jury. “I did not know if it was real or not and I remember crying in the toilet. I scared myself that I could drink that much.”

She told the court she was “eight out of ten” on a scale of total inebriation, having started on cranberry juice at noon and progressing to double brandy and coke, plus wine.

Paton told the jury he had little recollection of the evening, but stressed: “I would never, ever take advantage of a woman. There’s absolutely no way that I would rape any woman.”

Gang Cops Catch Dealer With £200,000 Cocaine Cache

A BMW-driving cocaine dealer, caught with £200,000 worth of the drug after undercover police observed a transaction, has been locked-up for five years.

Kledian Semaj, 30, was watched by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Organised Crime Command as he collected two kilos of cocaine.

At Harrow Crown Court he pleaded guilty to possessing drugs, with intent to supply, and possessing false identity documents.

On June 26 Semaj was observed collecting two kilos of cocaine in Brentmead Gardens, Harlesden.

When stopped by police he immediately admitted drugs were in the car.

Each one kilo package was tested and contained cocaine at 92% and 86% purity respectively.

Detective Constable Paul Fuller said: “The sentence reflects the level of criminality involved and should be seen as a deterrent for others who think they can supply drugs without consequences.

“A huge amount of cocaine is now off the streets where it cannot damage local communities.”

Canal Tow Path Sex Attack: Two Suspects Hunted

Police are hunting these two suspected sexual predators after a woman in her fifties was targeted on a canal tow path just after midnight.

The cries of the partially-undressed woman were heard by a witness, who found her in bushes after the two suspects ran away.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command are appealing for members of the public to identify the men.

They are also seeking witnesses to the incident, which occurred by the Grand Union Canal, Ealing Road, Wembley at thirty-eight minutes after midnight on September 10.

The woman had been walking alone prior to being approached by two men, forced into the bushes and sexually assaulted.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call detectives on 101 or use twitter @MetCC.

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 11 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Rave Festival Goer Accused Of Sharing Secret Sex Recording

A Bishop’s Stortford man, accused of secretly filming himself having sex with a woman and showing the footage to her ex-boyfriend at a Summer rave, appeared in court yesterday.

Ross Hollyoake, 37, of Nightingales is said to have made the recording on his tablet without the woman knowing.

He is also accused of sharing the footage at the Summer Gathering Festival: Zoo Forest in Donington Forest, Leicestershire with her ex and other people.

He is charged with voyeurism, namely recording a private act on an unknown date and location for sexual gratification and disclosing a private sexual film, with intent to cause distress, on July 29.

Hollyoake gave no indication as to plea and the magistrates declined jurisdiction due to the seriousness of the charges.

He was bailed to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on November 3.

Polish Nut Told Police: "I Want To Kill An MP"

Back On Streets: Gajowniczek

A mentally-deranged knifeman, who threatened Downing Street Chief of Staff Gavin Barwell, told police: “I want to kill an MP,” when removed from the politician’s constituency surgery before the last election.

Pole Andrzej Gajowniczek, 25, was obsessed with issues of government corruption in his homeland and attended the 45 year-old former Croydon Central MP’s office last year.

Nobody knew he had a black-handled kitchen knife in his rucksack at the time and Gajowniczek even re-entered the UK after escaping a psychiatric hospital and was arrested trying to enter the Houses of Parliament.

Yesterday he received 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years and was also made subject to a two-year exclusion order, banning him from the country.

As a consequence Barwell had new locks fitted at his home, plus a panic alarm, CCTV, changed his routine a began taking a ministerial car rather than walking.

During a rant at Barwell’s Wickham Road, Shirley office Gajowniczek told the MP: “I could attack you, I could kill you,” and: “Your wife is being f***** by those Jamaican n******.”

This was a reference to his language therapist wife Karen McKenzie, the mother of the couple’s three sons.

Gajowniczek pleaded guilty to the racially aggravated harassment of Barwell at the office and possessing a bladed article at Croydon Police Station on June 3, last year.

Barwell lost his seat in June’s General Election, but was quickly appointed to the senior Number 10 role by PM Theresa May within days.

"Kill" Threat: Barwell

Prosecutor Mr. Graeme Molloy told the court Barwell had an “open door” surgery policy and an appointment with Gajowniczek, who was asked to leave after ranting about corruption and pay-offs.

The MP asked two female staff members to call the police when Gajowniczek refused to leave. “He was pacing up and down making wild allegations, asking Mr. Barwell if he’d been paid.”

Officers removed Gajowniczek, who told them: “I want to kill an MP. Yes, I will come back and kill that MP.”

Police failed to find the blade and the still-packaged knife was only discovered in his rucksack during a more thorough search at the station.

He was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and returned to Poland for treatment, but after escaping flew into Luton Airport on March 27, this year.

“Later that day he tried to gain entry to the Houses of Parliament and was stopped,” said Mr. Molloy. 

Recorder David Brock announced: “Public figures like MP’s must be protected, but to simply lock this defendant up doesn’t achieve that.

“The best thing is for him to leave the UK as soon as possible.”

He told Gajowniczek: “MP’s going about their public duties should be protected from the likes of you. 

“Those who work in public office must be safe to go about their duties and meet members of the public one-on-one without fear of being abused and threatened with attack in this way.

“This is on the strict understanding that you leave the country and don’t return in the forceable future. If that’s not the case I’ll have you back here to consider sentencing you in another way.

“I’m firmly of the view you should be deported as soon as reasonably practicable, but that’s out of my control.”

"We Had Consensual Sex" Accused Rapist Tells Jury

A Scottish businessman has denied raping a drunken City worker in his hotel room, insisting the pair had consensual sex.

The 26 year-old woman, who enjoyed an all-day brandy and wine celebration with office colleagues, claims she was raped by graduate William Paton, 30.

Privately-educated Paton, who attended £12,00 a-year Hutcheson’s Grammar School and the University of Strathclyde told a jury he had little memory of the night.

He had travelled down from his home in Fruin Avenue, Newton Mearns to attend an event hosted by a City of London livery company and met the woman while out drinking afterwards.

Paton told Blackfriars Crown Court: “I would never, ever take advantage of a woman. There’s absolutely no way that I would rape any woman.”

The mathematics grad, who works for his family’s nationwide taxi insurance and maintenance company, said: “She didn’t wake up with me on top of her. We had consensual sex.”

Three days later he was arrested on the front driveway of his family’s £400,000 house by four waiting police officers.

“When they said rape I took a few steps back and thought: ‘There’s something not right here. They’ve got the wrong guy.’

“In the journey in the police car I thought there must have been some mistake and was later told I’d been id’d forensically, but couldn’t remember being with a girl.”

He later retraced his steps that night with his father in an attempt to jog his memory.

“The one thing I can remember is her getting out of bed and leaving quietly. She did not wake up having sex with me.”

Paton told the jury even though he had no recollection of being with the complainant there must have been consent because he is not a rapist.

He has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape on March 4, last year.

The trial continues……….

Scot Denies Raping Drunken City Worker In Hotel Room After London Black-Tie Function

Paton Arriving At Blackfriars Crown Court

A City worker, who enjoyed an all-day brandy and wine celebration with office colleagues, claims she was raped in a visiting Scotsman’s hotel room at the end of the night, a court heard.

The 26 year-old claims she woke from the pub crawl to find Glasgow graduate William Paton, 30, having sex with her in his Holiday Inn room on March 4, last year.

Privately-educated Paton, who attended £12,00 a-year Hutcheson’s Grammar School and the University of Strathclyde, says the woman consented.

He has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape.

He had travelled down from his home in Fruin Avenue, Newton Mearns to attend an event hosted by a City of London livery company and met the woman while out drinking afterwards.

“The next thing I remember was being rocked and seeing someone there, I freaked out,” she told the Blackfriars Crown Court jury.

“I did not know if it was real or not and I remember crying in the toilet,” she added. “I scared myself that I could drink that much.”

She told the court she was “eight out of ten” on a scale of total inebriation, having started on cranberry juice at noon and progressing to double brandy and coke, plus wine.

“I know what I get like when I start too early,” agreeing she was ‘binge drinking’ that day. “I think a lot of people do my age, I don’t think I’m alone there.

“Before this happened and I was out I never wanted to go home. I just wanted to enjoy myself.”

Prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Loades told the jury after the lunchtime celebration the complainant continued drinking at The Dickens Inn, St. Katherine’s Dock and met Paton at The Dirty Martini, Bishopsgate.

She told the jury she regrets not catching the train opposite the bar and returning home to her long-term boyfriend.

The pair continued partying at Whites strip club, Aldgate, before going to Paton’s Whitechapel hotel, where they were filmed on CCTV.

“Exiting the lift she nearly falls into the flower pot. It is the Crown’s case she was very drunk at this point,” explained Mr. Loades.

“She next thing she remembers is being in her words: ‘Rocked.’ She felt herself rocking backwards and forwards as Mr. Paton was having sex with her.

“She did not know how he got there or what was going on and had one leg of her tights and one of her boots off.

“She pushed him off and went downstairs and bumped into a stranger, who seeing her distress call the police.”

Paton was arrested in Scotland, questioned in Carlisle and DNA linked him with the woman.

Trial continues………..

Ladbrokes Employee Nicked £1300 In Winning Wagers

Ladbrokes, Northolt Road

A betting-shop employee ripped off lucky punters by cashing in their winning tickets for himself.

Sabeshan Karunasegaram, 22, worked for high street gambling giants Ladbrokes at their branch in Northolt Road, South Harrow.

He pocketed £1,300 in winning wagers after taking the tickets to another Ladbrokes and passing himself off as a successful punter.

Karunasegaram, of Padda Court, Northolt Road, Harrow was bailed by Uxbridge Magistrates Court for a pre-sentence report.

He pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation, namely cashing in tickets from several different customers, on July 14.

Karunasegaram was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months.

He was also ordered to perform 250 hours community service work, pay £1300 compensation to Ladbrokes and £85 costs.

High-Living Cheat Nicked £50K Porsche

A mum-of-three with a taste for the high life has been sentenced for nicking a £50,000 Porsche Cayenne she obtained with finance.

Tania Stultz, 30, was claiming benefits when a £14,000 deposit was paid on the black 3-litre vehicle and ten £756.69 monthly payments were made.

However, the payments stopped and Stultz, of Albany Road, Chislehurst continued driving around in the prestige car until a police officer discovered it parked in Bexleyheath.

She was convicted by a Croydon Crown Court jury of stealing the vehicle from finance company Money Barn Ltd. on October 7, 2014.

On Friday she was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

In July, 2015 she received a suspended prison sentence for a four-year £21,000 benefit fraud during which she failed to declare £375,000 in 15 bank accounts.

During this period she spent thousands of pounds on designer goods and enjoyed luxury holidays in Barbados, Jamaica, Disney World and Egypt.

She sent her two eldest daughters to an £8,000 a-year private school, but on Friday the court heard she is now heavily in debt.

She continues to have her benefit payments deducted to compensate the earlier fraud and says she owes her dad £7,000.

The court heard Stultz, who was using a crutch for mobility, has now split with her previous partner, who received five years imprisonment for a £3.3m fraud on his employers.

Judge Adam Hiddleston told her: “At a time you appear to have had the necessary means you took out finance for this prestige motor vehicle, a Porsche.

“A time came when you could not afford to keep up the payments and your action amounted to a theft.”

Paedo Tempted Boy Victim With Free Fags

A former employee of the world’s largest tobacco company, who groomed a young boy he abused in the 1970’s with free cigarettes, has been locked-up for seven years.

Pensioner Graham Saunders, 78, of Town Lane, Charlesworth, Glossop, Derbyshire began preying on the youngster when the boy was approximately eleven or twelve years-old.

He was unanimously convicted by a Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury of three counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child.

The court heard Saunders worked for British American Tobacco and went on to work at Manchester Polytechnic and took up other teaching roles.

Some of the abuse occurred during trips to the Lake District and in south-west London and the victim continues to be haunted by the abuse to this day.

Judge Timothy Lamb QC told him: “I have to recognise the psychological effect is still there. This was predatory behaviour upon a boy aged as young as eleven years-old.”

Sentencing had been delayed to allow Saunders to undergo heart by-pass surgery and his lawyer Mr. Mark Watson said: “His health is poor, but improving.”

The boy was abused between the ages of eleven and fourteen, when he was touched intimately by Saunders and forced to perform sex acts on the defendant.

“Since that time there has been no further offending,” added Mr. Watson. “He has done a world of good for many, many people.

“He is under no illusions as to the sentence that will be passed and that has weighed very heavily upon him.

“This is an elderly man with age and regret.”

Fatal Cannabis Factory Fire: Suspected Grower Charged With Manslaughter

Fire Charge: Bowen

A suspected cannabis grower, accused of starting a fatal fire which claimed a man’s life, has appeared in court for the first time charged with manslaughter.

Ricky Bowen, 30, of Nunhead Grove, Peckham is charged with unlawfully killing 25 year-old Grant Fenn, who spent three months in a coma after the explosion.

He reportedly suffered 98% burns and was placed in an induced coma at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, where he passed away on August 2, last year.

In the early hours of April 11 the caretaker’s room at Coniston House, Wyndham Road, Camberwell burst into flames.

Father-of-one Mr. Fenn was airlifted to hospital with another man, who was also treated for injuries and discharged.

Afterwards police revealed the room was being used to cultivate cannabis.

Bowen appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court charged with the manslaughter of Mr. Bowen on August 2.

He will next appear at the Old Bailey on October 5.

Bowen is also charged with arson with intent or recklessness as to whether life was endangered on April 11 and being concerned in the production of cannabis.

Alongside him in the dock was 24 year-old Katherine Granger, of Draper House, Wyndham Estate, Elephant and Castle.

She is charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice by giving a false witness statement to the police on May 13, last year.

Granger is also charged with permitting the supply of cannabis at her home address on April 10 and will also appear at the Old Bailey on the same date.

Kids Nanny Was Prompted To Download Sick Child Pics

Court Date: Ede-Borrett

A children’s nanny, who downloaded child porn images, was bailed for sentencing yesterday.

Elliana Ede-Borrett, 23, of Sumner Road, Croydon says she was prompted by an unknown person to obtain the sick images.

She appeared at Inner London Crown Court, where she will return on October 27 after mental health and probation reports are prepared.

Ede-Borrett had already pleaded guilty at her first appearance at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court to three counts of making indecent images of children between September 23, 2015 and May 3, last year.

These relate to 12 Category A images - the most serious - 18 Category B images and 17 Category C images.

The first-time offender has lived in a hostel for vulnerable adults since her arrest in May, last year.

None of the images relate to the children she was looking after.

“The Crown accept it was at the instigation of another,” said prosecutor Mr. Bill McGivern. “There is nothing to say she has an independent interest in the material.”

First-time offender Ede-Borrett’s lawyer Miss Farah Ahmed said: “There is an application for two reports. The defence solicitors have been trying to obtain either a psychological or psychiatric report.

“She is twenty-three and has no previous convictions. 

“Issues have been raised as to suicide attempts and issues in her childhood.”

The court heard Ede-Borrett no longer has any relationship with the second person, who was not identified.

Judge Stephen Dawson announced: “This is an unusual case. The Crown say that by what the police have gleaned it is not a case where the defendant herself has a proclivity to look at these sort of images and that she was manipulated by another.

“The issue, if there is one, is to protection of the public and herself from being in a situation like this.

“Maybe the probation service do not have much to offer.”

'Starred Up' Actor Catches A Break: Court Drops Strict Driving Condition

A former inmate, who appeared in brutal prison film ‘Starred Up’ and crashed his Mercedes into a wall when chasing two knifemen, will not have to pass an extended driving test after all.

Basil Abdul-Latif, 31, was slashed across the arm during a confrontation with two unknown cycle-riding males and lost control while speeding after them.

However, he was still subject to a driving ban after two motoring offences.

Abdul-Latif, of Damorie House, Sandmere Road, Clapham received 120 hours community service on Friday and must pay £200 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court re-listed the case and ruled he no longer needed to retake an extended driving test before his license can be returned.

He was cast as prisoner Mubarak in the 2013 film - starring Jack O’Connell - after meeting scriptwriter Jonathan Asser in HMP Wandsworth, who he credits with changing his life.

Abdul-Latif pleaded guilty to driving his white two-litre Mercedes Benz E class carelessly in Beechcroft Road, Tooting on February 1.

He also admitted driving while disqualified.

Abdul-Latif was originally disqualified for four years in 2010 when he received a suspended prison sentence for aggravated vehicle-taking.

He flouted the ban 18 months later and received a suspended sentence for driving while disqualified and was ordered to pass an extended driving test before his licence could be returned.

When questioned by police he admitted he “lost control” after the violent confrontation, which involved the two unknown cyclists and his younger cousin.

After appearing on the red carpet for the ‘Starred Up’ premiere Abdul-Latif revealed he was first locked-up, aged sixteen years-old, when he smashed up a mosque.

He has stayed out of prison since his last sentence was completed in 2009.

Croydon Cop Cleared Of GBH

Not Guilty: PC Fackerell

A police officer was finally cleared yesterday of a violent attack while off-duty.

PC Alex Fackerell, 23, had the charge against him dropped when he appeared on bail for trial at Croydon Crown Court.

The Borough of Croydon officer and Bradley Cody, 24, had both been charged with one count of causing grievous bodily harm.

The charge related to an incident in Sutton High Street on November 1, last year.

PC Fackerell was arrested on December 5 and charged on March 10, this year.

Cody also had the GBH charge against him reduced to one of causing actual bodily harm and was bailed to return for trial on October 23.

Pensioner Denies Decades-Old Sexual Abuse Of Two Girls

Isleworth Crown Court

A pensioner repeatedly raped a 14 year-old girl four decades ago and subjected another young girl to a similar ordeal years later, a court heard yesterday.

Joseph Francis, 77, of Stearne Close, Thetford, Norfolk denies the charges, which are alleged to have occurred at his former address in Yeldham Road, Hammersmith.

“He came into her bedroom, pushing the wardrobe towards the door,” prosecutor Mr. Timothy Naik told the Isleworth Crown Court jury. 

“Before this there was a period of what we now call 'grooming' when he made inappropriate advances while telling her how much he cared for her.”

The 14 yer-old fell pregnant as a result and had an abortion just days after her fifteenth birthday in 1973.

“The first time it happened was on the floor. He held her down and told her to open her legs and that continued sometimes two or three times a week,” explained Mr. Naik.

“It became repetitive and familiar to her. She says she tried to stop him, but if she was physical he would beat her and become more physical.”

A complaint was made at the time of the alleged offences, but Francis was never charged.

He was arrested after a second female complained he sexually abused her approximately ten years ago when she was 15 years-old.

“Mr. Francis turned the conversation and said he would teach her what it would be like to be sixteen years-old and proceeded to take his trousers down.”

The prosecution say the young girl was then forced to perform a sex act on the defendant that amounts to rape.

“She complained and he stopped and she ran into the toilet,” said Mr. Naik.

Francis was arrested in September, 2014. “He denied the allegations and said they were totally untrue. He said that it was nonsense.”

He has pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape in relation to the first girl; plus one count of sexual assault and two counts relating to sexual acts he allegedly made her perform on him.

In relation to the second girl he has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape.

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

Boyfriend Denies DIY Umbrella Abortion Attempt

Isleworth Crown Court

An expectant-dad threatened his abused girlfriend with a knife and umbrella as he tried to perform a DIY abortion on their four-month old fetus, a court heard today.

Angry Rakim Dwayne Braithwaite, 27, inserted the knife as his 26 year-old partner screamed then approached her with the umbrella before a worried neighbour called 999, the jury were told.

He has pleaded not guilty to using an instrument, with intent to procure a miscarriage on May 16, last year and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour between December 29, 2015 and November 21, last year.

Isleworth Crown Court heard Braithwaite, of Hicks Avenue, Greenford, threatened to “beat” the baby out of Sara Snoussi and stab her with a bottle.

He donned plastic gloves and played an internet video of a home-abortion on his television while ordering his girlfriend to lie down and remove her trousers, the court was told.

“She screamed out and he put a pillow on her face to stop the screams,” said prosecutor Mr. David Markham. 

“He came at her with an umbrella and then came at her with a kitchen knife, with a condom on it and the tip was inserted into her vagina.”

A neighbour heard her screaming: “Please stop. You’re hurting me,” explained Mr. Markham, but Ms Snoussi refused to talk to officers when they arrived.

Fortunately she gave birth to a healthy baby boy in October,

last year.

The woman says Braithwaite threatened her with violence if she did not contact an abortion clinic; made phone calls in her presence to arrange violent attacks on her and punched her in the face.

She says he also threatened to stab her in the womb; threatened to visit her at work and “smash” her face and “beat the child out of her” and said he would kill her and throw acid in her face.

“His intention at the time, we say, was while in temper to end the pregnancy,” said Mr. Markham. 

“His girlfriend stayed with him throughout the period out of love and loyalty to him. She was scared to lose him, such was the grip he exerted over her.”

They met in 2014 and the court heard Braithwaite vowed to post a video of her performing oral sex on him over the internet.

“He threatened to throw her off a tall building and would hit her across the face, giving her a black eye,” said Mr. Markham.

Braithwaite tried to exploit the pregnancy to obtain a council property for them and concocted the fake eviction of Ms Snoussi from her mother’s home, the trial heard.

Eventually she reported Braithwaite to the police on November 26, last year and he was arrested on December 11.

“He denied trying to harm the unborn child. He said she had a problem with drugs and had been taking drugs and self-harming and said she did not want the baby.

“He said there was a custody battle and the accusations were made to destroy his chances of having his son.”

Trial continues…………..