Sex Pest Who Breached Suspended Sentence Goes Unpunished

Isleworth Crown Court

A betting shop sex pest, caught by police with cannabis in a bookies while under a suspended prison sentence, has completed no rehab for molesting a female employee a court heard today.

Feisal Khan, 37, was arrested on October 9 in an Ealing branch of Paddy Power, from which he was barred, and pleaded guilty to possessing a small quantity of the drug.

He was sent to Isleworth Crown Court for sentencing because the offence placed him in breach of a six month suspended prison sentence imposed a fortnight earlier on August 23.

Khan had to keep out of trouble for two years after he was convicted of sexually assaulting the female betting shop employee he kissed and attempted to hug as she left work.

The court heard as he was questioned by police just 19 days after that sentencing he dropped a small wrap of cannabis.

Today, Judge Jonathan Ferris asked why Khan had failed to complete any of the 60 days rehabilitation he was ordered to after the sex assault conviction.

“It is just inadequate, full stop. He has only been required to attend one out of sixty occasions and my question is with the probation service.

“He does not have much to comply with,” added the judge, who was told the rehab programme was too “overcrowded” for Khan to attend.

“He's got a poor record,” said Judge Ferris, who heard Khan has two previous drug convictions, plus another sexual assault conviction for touching a male.

The suspended sentence was not activated and Khan was ordered to pay just a £25 fine for breaching it.

He remains on the sex offenders register for seven years.

Natural Born Giller: Boyfriend Wipes Out Partner's Koi Carp

A “mean and nasty” boyfriend cruelly killed his partner’s cherished collection of koi carp by emptying five litres of toxic cleaning fluid into her garden pond.

The distraught woman, 63, and her shocked daughter, 29, desperately tried to save the expensive fish, which were bleeding heavily from their mouths and gills, by carrying them up to their bathtub.

Only six of the thirty fish - some of which she owned for three decades - were saved and they have been left blinded by the attack.

Bicycle mechanic Ian Perkins, 53, pleaded guilty to causing approximately £10,000 worth of criminal damage to Diane Kenton’s koi collection.

On Tuesday he received four months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and must undergo 29 behavioural therapy sessions and a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

“This was a mean and nasty offence,” Isleworth Crown Court Judge Robin Johnson told Perkins. “Not only were you cruel to these animals, but to your partner of many years, knowing the affection she held for them.”

The court heard Perkins, who is now living with pals in The Parade, High Street, Cowley, returned to Ms Kenton’s home in Bourne Avenue, Hayes on June 17 after they enjoyed a night out.

She was annoyed at him texting in the back garden and said she would not join him the next day for the annual British Heart Foundation London to Brighton Bike Ride.

“He went to the garden shed and came back with a five-litre container of cleaning fluid and poured the whole contents into the pond,” said prosecutor Mrs Sue Obeney.

“The fish are considered part of the family and Ms Kenton’s son has a business off the back of it.

“There was a panic and Ms Kenton called her daughter Charlie Kenton-O’Neill and with the help of neighbours they tried to transfer the fish into their bath.”

Afterwards Ms Kenton said: “That night Ian destroyed the pool lives heavily with me. I’m still reduced to tears when I think about it.

“There was blood everywhere, from their mouths and gills, and it is terrible to think about.

“I believe my six surviving fish are blind, their eyes are white. I have been left feeling vulnerable, lonely and very hurt.

“It’s unforgivable and has destroyed a big part of me.”

Her daughter Charlie said: “On the night and for weeks after it was horrendous. The initial shock is still sickening.

“It was like losing a family member, we have shed tears and people have brought us flowers.

“My mother was screaming and crying like I’ve never seen before as the bath filled with blood. We have not had a bath since that night.

“I was in the pitch black, in foam desperately trying to save the fish an since I have been cleaning blood off the stained walls and floors.

“The stairs and landing carpet is still bloodstained and there was a terrible smell of dead fish. It’s upsetting, cruel and shocking.”

She said Perkins: “Reluctantly carried fish upstairs slowly and carelessly,” and the family considered installing CCTV out of fear of him returning to injure more family pets.

Perkins, who begged his ex to drop the case and was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation, told the court: “I’m sorry for it all happening. I’m here to admit my guilt.”

NOT GUILTY: Humanitarian Entrepreneur Cleared Of Historic Sex Abuse

A globetrotting humanitarian entrepreneur, who has worked with the Red Cross and Save the Children, has been cleared of molesting a 14 year-old boy in a grotty King’s Cross hotel room three decades ago.

Former Scarborough resident Jeff Eames, 74, the CEO of non-profit travel organisation TARA International, says nothing happened during the trip.

He was eventually found not guilty of indecently assaulting the teenager and procuring an act of gross indecency on August 6, 1983 while sharing a hotel room bed.

The verdicts came after two contested jury trials at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Eames, of Bradley Avenue, London, Ontario, Canada had travelled from North Yorkshire that day for the NFL’s first-ever Wembley Stadium game, a pre-season clash between the Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Cardinals.

Prosecutor Mr. John Livingstone told the jury during the first trial: “The boy was very reluctant to get into bed at all and Mr. Eames told him not to worry.

“He says he was anxious and scared and positioned himself as close to the edge of the bed as he could.

“The defendant brought his body close to him and kissed him and the defendant then performed oral sex on him.

“That was something the boy did not want to do.”

Eames then encouraged the youngster to perform as sex act on him, the court heard.

“He was petrified by what had happened and didn’t know what to do and did not report it at the time.”

The complainant, now aged 48, told the jury: “Every time I travel to King’s Cross from Yorkshire there’s a fear, it’s terrible, even yesterday.”

Fighting back the tears he said: “It was so surreal, he got closer and closer to me and I’m thinking: ‘What’s going on here?’

“I remember feeling his horrible hairy chest on me. I remember being turned on to my back and it is a trigger I have to this day.

“It was like a paralysis and he did it in a coaxing way, not a violent way.

“Afterwards he said: ‘There you go. Welcome to my world. You can now enjoy having sex with boys as well as girls.’

“That has damaged me more than most. It has had a lasting impact and he said it was like an initiation.”

Years later the complainant heard Eames was visiting the UK for a short time. “I’d heard he had cancer and hoped he’d died.

“How dare he just walk back into Scarborough. I’d just had it, I couldn’t take it anymore, couldn’t run away anymore and reported him to North Yorkshire Police.”

The witness said he even feared for his own son’s safety while Eames was in town.

When arrested he confirmed they stayed in a hotel, but denied anything happened apart from the complainant asking for a “cuddle” which Eames refused.

Eames was Past President of the Canadian Red Cross’s London, Ontario branch from May, 2010 to May, 2013 and a consultant to the Pathy Family Foundation from 2009 to 2012.

He was an advisor to CARE International UK between 1997 and 1999 and to Save the Children between 2004 and 2006 and in August, 2012 received the queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Governor General of Canada.

Suspended Sentence For Abuse

A Suffolk man has received a suspended prison sentence after he admitted verbally abusing a victim he is now banned from contacting.

Brett O'Leary, 46, of Hermitage Close, Clare, Sudbury, who is no stranger to the police, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on Friday.

He had already admitted the offence when he appeared at Hendon Magistrates Court, which committed him to the Crown Court.

O'Leary pleaded guilty to the racially/religiously aggravated harassment, without violence, of Robert Austin at an address in Southway, Southgate on May. 19.

He was sentenced to thirty-two weeks imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months.

O'Leary must also complete two Probation Service rehabilitation programmes, one lasting twenty-five days and the other fifty days.

He was also made subject to a restraining order, prohibiting contact with Mr. Austin. 

Footballer Guilty Of Nightclub Punch That Left Passer-By With Bleed On Brain

Chichester City FC star Josh Clack was convicted yesterday of delivering a devastating KO punch outside a nightclub when a lone passer-by was picked-on by his pals.

The 24 year-old winger was told by the judge it was “only good luck” that the victim, who suffered bleeding on the brain and two facial fractures, survived.

Semi-pro Clack, of Oakwood Close, Midhurst, West Sussex was convicted by a Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm on 20 year-old Kieran Smithers.

Bailing him until sentencing on January 17 Judge Stephen John told him: “I’m adjourning sentencing for a pre-sentence report.

“The fact I am doing so and renewing your bail is not an indication of sentence. Custody is not only uppermost in my mind, but it is almost inevitable you are going to prison.

“This was a serious offence and at no stage have you expressed any remorse for this offence.”

The jury returned an 11-1 majority verdict that Clack was not defending himself when he struck the blow just after 3am outside Guildford’s Casino nightclub on October 18, 2015.

He had already consumed a beer, two vodkas and two other drinks during a night out with a group of pals, one of whom playfully startled Mr. Smithers.

The complainant pushed back in surprise and was backed-up by two concerned off-duty soldiers as the incident escalated. 

“In the second incident the prosecution say Josh Clack deliberately punched Kieran Smithers in the face or head, causing really serious harm,” said prosecutor Mr. John Coates.

“He had a fracture above his left eye and a fracture of his nasal bone and a blood-filled swelling to the back of his head.”

Mr. Smithers spent 9-10 days in hospital, where a CT scan showed he also had bleeding inside the brain.

Clack fractured his hand delivering the punch and it was still in a cast when he was questioned by police.

Clack hid the truth from medical staff at Chichester’s St. Richard’s Hospital, claiming that he suffered the injury when punching a wall.

He told officers. “I said I punched a wall. I did not want to look bad, I know a lot of people in Chichester, I play football for Chichester.”

“I’ll let him go home for Christmas,” announced Judge John after the verdict. “It’s only good luck this man did not die.

“He had bleeding on the brain and if he had died this would have been a verdict of manslaughter.

“He’s almost inevitably going inside.”

Clack told the jury he is not a violent person or a heavy drinker, yet has a police caution for assault and a drink-drive conviction.

His lawyer Piers Power said: “I ask your Honour to consider all sentencing options. I accept this case crosses the custodial threshold.

“Two years have passed without any misbehaviour and there may be room to avoid a custodial sentence.”

Somalian Refugee Swindled £39K In Benefits While Living In Sunny Homeland

£39K Fraud: Qoomaal

A Somalian refugee, who continued receiving nearly £39,000 in benefits after returning to his homeland because he missed the sunshine, was jailed for fifteen months yesterday.

Pensioner Mohamed Qoomaal, 72, had pension credit payments sent to him for two-and-a-half years and a mystery person enjoyed rent-free living in his council-funded home.

He is a well-known entertainer in his homeland and spent some of his time there singing.

He even forged an immigration stamp on his British passport in a failed attempt to trick investigators into accepting he had been residing in the UK.

Qoomaal pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances regarding Pension Credit and Housing Benefit between August 20, 2013 and February 22, 2016.

Incredibly Qoomaal, of Archery Close, Harrow continued to receive benefits, minus a £44 per-week deduction to compensate the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

At that rate it would have taken Qoomaal, who also burdens the NHS with heart and renal issues, seventeen years to repay the £38,869.97p total.

Despite arriving in the this country fifteen years ago he also needed a taxpayer-funded interpreter during eight court hearings.

“Why does he live here? Why is he entitled to benefits? What’s he doing here?” asked Isleworth Crown Court Judge Jonathan Ferris.

“He can’t have made much of a contribution to the pension credit he is receiving.”

“He failed to notify the fact he was living abroad in Somalia and in order to mislead investigators he fabricated an immigration stamp in his passport,” said prosecutor Miss Lisa Matthews.

First Court Date: Qoomaal

The court heard Qoomaal wanted to live in a warmer climate for health benefits and only returned to the UK when he heard he was wanted for questioning.

“He left the UK on an open ticket and did not return. He gave the keys to his privately-rented flat to a third party, who lived there while he was abroad,” added the prosecutor.

When quizzed Qoomaal tried to lie his way out of trouble, but finally confessed when his legal representative informed him the evidence was overwhelming.

He currently receives a large quantity of free prescription medication and has a series of hospital appointments with departments specialising in cardiology, dialysis and infectious diseases.

“He also has problems with his legs,” said Qoomaal’s lawyer Miss Mariska Van Leeuwen. “He had a heart attack last year and another this year and he has a vast amount of medication with him.”

Qoomaal claimed asylum on the basis he was in danger in his homeland, but this did not prevent his return trip, where he received his benefit money via Western Union transfers from an accomplice.

“He’s just gone back there, how does that work?” asked Judge Ferris. “He came here as a refugee fifteen years ago and then goes back to Somalia to enjoy the nice weather.

“Someone was living in his flat that the public purse paid for or it was rented out.

“I don’t see why a person who took nearly thirty-nine thousand pounds and went to another country and fabricated an immigration stamp on his passport should not go to prison immediately.

“What ties does he have in this country apart from the benefits system.” 

The judge told Qoomaal: “You came to this country as a refugee and enjoyed the benefits of this country as a British citizen, which you became.

Long Way From 'Home': Archery Close

“With that comes certain responsibilities and certain consequences for someone who breaks the law as you have done.”

In a desperate attempt to avoid imprisonment Qoomaal applied to change his plea to not guilty, resulting in several more costly court hearings.

“I was in the country, I was paying bills,” he claimed. “I’m not lying. It’s not an illusion, it’s not a made-up story.

“At the DWP the Somalian interpreter was not in my dialect. I did not understand and they were not saying what I was saying.

“The lawyer pressured me to plead guilty and I did not understand ‘guilty’. I thought it was something that makes you free.”

Judge Ferris told him: “The offences are aggravated by your attempt to avoid responsibility by the false stamp on your British passport.

“You have also made an elaborate and utterly hopeless application to change your plea, which has resulted in at least four additional court hearings.” 

Transgender Model Threatened Heathrow Security During "Ma'am" Row

Guilty: Camicia

A sex-change model, who mistakenly believed muslim Heathrow security staff called her: “Man” got in the face of one officer and shouted: “This guy hates transgenders and wishes me dead.”

Frequent flyer Francesca Camicia, 23, who was travelling to Italy for breast augmentation shouted: “You’re the terrorist,” during a two-hour meltdown.

Camicia, of Lanark Road, Hammersmith, who is identified as female on both her British and Italian passports, told Ealing Magistrates Court yesterday: “When someone calls me ‘man’ I feel so desolated.”

She was convicted of using threatening behaviour towards Mustafa Abbas and supervisor Fahad Arshad on September 17 and was conditionally discharged for two years.

Camicia, who was the subject of an extensive shoot in photography magazine Lens, was also ordered to pay each victim £50 compensation and £750 costs.

Mr. Abbas insisted he addressed Camicia as “ma’am” during secondary security checks in busy Terminal 4. “That’s when the abuse began,” he told the trial.

“She said: ‘Don’t talk to me like a dog, you need to learn some education, you f***ing idiot.’

“She said it with disgust and was looking down at me and made me feel worthless, like I am nothing as if I am a peasant.

“She said: ‘You earn six pounds an hour and you think you are God.’

“She had a bit of an attitude on her. Stroppy.”

He reported the incident to supervisor Mr. Arshad, who told the court: “She refused to stop and completely lost control. Just mad, I couldn’t speak to her.

“She completely lost the plot, saying that she was transgender and that I wished death on all transgenders. She was in a blind rage.

“She pointed at my beard and said: ‘I should be afraid of you. You are the terrorist’

“She said I was homosexual and made an oral sex gesture with her hand.

Threatened: Arshad

“I have never come across anyone that angry or unpredictable in seven years at Heathrow. I felt intimidated when she came close to my face and poked my shoulder with her fingers.

“She said: ‘You’re peasants. I’ll buy this f***ing airport, this f***ing plane.’

“To be called a terrorist because of how I look is disgusting and she lost control with the police as well.”

The court heard Camicia also shouted: “I’ve been a woman for twenty years. To call me ’Sir’ is a crime. I’ve got a diplomatic passport, you can’t do anything to me, I know my rights.”

Camicia, who has a PhD in law, was upset there was no Jewish Torah on which to swear an oath. “It’s okay. My rights are breached everyday,” she told the court.

“Since I was born I felt like a woman and it has been a real struggle, it has been hell, but I’ve been so strong.

“I am here today, but I shouldn’t be. I’m proud to be a woman, proud to be a transexual woman.”

The court heard Camicia has undergone fifteen gender reassignment surgical procedures and she claims to be insulted by Heathrow staff whenever she passes through.

“Every time I walk past they insult me. I have been travelling ten years through the same airport with the same people, I know them.

“They laugh at me, they hate me, you can feel it. 

“I did not insult anybody. I felt so harassed and threatened. I’m not dangerous, I’m not a threat.”

Chichester City Star On Trial For Nightclub Punch: "It Was Self-Defence"

A semi-professional footballer with Chichester City, who landed a KO punch outside a nightclub, told a jury today: “I was protecting myself. It was self-defence.”

Josh Clack, 24, a winger with the Southern Combination Premier Division club punched 20 year-old Kieran Smithers unconscious outside Guildford’s Casino club.

“I might have been hurt myself. I did not think I had any other options,” he told Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

Clack, of Oakwood Close, Midhurst, West Sussex has pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm in the early hours of October 18, 2015.

He had already consumed a beer, two vodkas and two other drinks during a night out with a group of pals, who got involved with lone passer-by Mr. Smithers at 3.40am.

The complainant was backed-up by two concerned off-duty soldiers and the incident escalated. “There was a slight argument with three random people I’d never seen and some of my friends,” explained Clack.

“I saw Kieran swing out and punch my friend Tyler straight in the face. I wanted to break-up the situation, I didn’t want to see my friend in a fight.

“I got in the middle of them to break it up, but it didn’t really help and that’s when Kieran started running towards me.

“He seemed pretty drunk and started throwing punches at me that I managed to avoid as I moved backwards away from him.”

Clack told the jury the soldiers had a threatening manner. “They were aggressive, asking why we were picking on Kieran.”

He denied saying: “I’m going to f***ing smash him,” and told the jury he walked away from the confrontation.

“I saw Kieran approach me, follow me and he seemed very aggressive and intoxicated and I tried telling him I didn’t want to fight.

“He pushed me in the chest with both hands and I punched him as soon as he put his hands on me.

“I was trying to protect myself and just did what I thought was necessary at the time.

“It was a split-second decision in an instant.”

Mr. Smithers suffered fractures to his nose and eye socket as well as bleeding to the brain and spent 9-10 days in hospital.

Clack fractured his hand and it was still in a cast when he was questioned by police after he received treatment at Chichester’s St. Richard’s Hospital.

He told officers. “I said I punched a wall. I did not want to look bad, I know a lot of people in Chichester, I play football for Chichester.”

Clack told police he was 2/10 drunk and the punch was a 5/10 in force. 

“I tapped him on the face and asked him if he was okay and he said: ‘Yeah.’ I just used reasonable force to get out of the situation, I wouldn’t say it was that hard.

“I did not intend to hurt anybody. I’m not an aggressive person.”

Trial continues…………

Chichester City Footballer Decked Passer-By Outside Nightclub

A semi-professional footballer with Chichester City landed a knockout-blow outside a nightclub, which hospitalised a young man with bleeding on the brain and facial fractures, a court heard yesterday.

Josh Clack, 24, a winger with the Southern Combination Premier Division club punched 20 year-old Kieran Smithers unconscious outside Guildford’s Casino club.

Clack, of Oakwood Close, Midhurst, West Sussex has pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm in the early hours of October 18, 2015.

He claims throwing the single-punch was an act of self-defence, fearing Mr. Smithers was about to attack him as two groups faced each other after 3am.

Prosecutor Mr. John Coates told the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury Mr. Smithers was walking alone after a night’s drinking when he was involved in an incident with Clack’s friends outside the club.

Two witnesses, who were waiting for a lift, were concerned for Mr. Smithers’ safety and they and the complainant approached a group, which included Clack.

“In the second incident the prosecution say Josh Clack deliberately punched Kieran Smithers in the face or head, causing really serious harm.

“He had a fracture above his left eye and a fracture of his nasal bone and a blood-filled swelling to the back of his head.”

Mr. Smithers spent 9-10 days in hospital, where a CT scan showed he also had bleeding inside the brain.

Earlier that evening he had dined with his parents in Woking before joining a pal at a pub and bar in Guildford. “He remembers he was fairly drunk,” said Mr. Coates.

“A male, part of this defendant’s group lunges towards him and this causes the startled Mr. Smithers to react quite naturally and he pushes his arms out.”

Door staff tried to calm the situation, which was captured on CCTV and Mr. Smithers crossed the road, but returned with the two witnesses.

“This defendant deliberately punches him in the face, but that is not caught on CCTV.

“He squared up to get in Kieran Smithers’ face and was swinging for him and that punch knocked him out.

“Kieran Smithers fell to the ground like a tree. He was out cold and fell backward and hit the back of his head on the concrete. 

“This defendant then walked off across the bridge and disappeared.”

Clack gave himself up to police on October 30 after learning of the investigation.

“He said he thought he was going to be attacked and delivered a punch in self-defence.”

Mr. Smithers remembers nothing of the evening, but watched CCTV of the first incident and told the jury: “It appears they’ve swung for me as I walked past.

“It looks like he’s got me by the collar of my shirt,” he added, referring to a man in Clack’s group.

“I can’t remember anything, even from watching the footage.”

Trial continues…………

Washing Line Wars: Pensioner Cleared Of Assaulting Neighbour

Not Guilty: Fitanushi Avakyan

A pensioner has been cleared of attacking her neighbour while allegedly shouting: “I will kill you,” during a washing line row in the back garden of a senior community.

Fitanushi Avakyan, 85, always denied the claim, insisting her neighbour misunderstood her. 

She maintains she was simply saying: “I'm telling you,” in her thick Armenian accent.

She found herself charged with assaulting Sandra Allardyce, 59, who lives four doors away at Somerset Lodge, Somerset Road, Brentford, on August 27, last year.

The complainant told Ealing Magistrates Court last Friday she was re-attaching the communal washing-line in the shared rear garden when Avakyan came out.

“I was hanging washing out and the resident came out and started abusing me verbally,” explained Ms Allardyce. “She was shouting at me, she became more aggressive.

“She was shouting loudly: 'I will kill you, I will kill you.'

“I was trying to take a video on my phone and the lady snatched the phone out of my hand, scratching me as she got hold of my phone and pulled my top down and scartched my breast.

“She pulled me off the stool I was standing on and laughed. Had she not intended to do it she would not have laughed.

“Fortunately I did not fall back and bang my head.

Neighbour: Sandra Allardyce

“She was telling me I shouldn't hang it where I was putting it and that's when she got violent and threatened to kill me.”

Avakyan insists she was only telling Ms Allardyce that she was re-attaching the washing line in the wrong place, but the witness said: “That's rubbish.”

There had been previous incidents at Somerset Lodge involving disputes over the washing line and Ms Allardyce had called the police and Avakyan says she has also been forced to complain about her neighbour's behaviour.

“I find her and her family very intimidating. While walking down the path to the garden they are watching and making snide comments and I was spat at last year.”

The magistrates found Avakyan not guilty of assaulting Ms Allardyce.

Young Woman Escaped Police After Winding Down Squad Car Window

Escape: Roarty

A young woman wound down the window of a locked police car and escaped after she was arrested for damaging a vehicle with a dog lead during an on-going feud.

Honor Roarty, 21, had not been handcuffed when placed into the rear of the squad car and was at large for nearly 24 hours before handing herself into police.

The nightclub promotor had got into a heated row in a Caterham park with Hannah Andrew then damaged the vehicle she spotted her rival travelling in shortly afterwards.

She pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody and causing criminal damage to the car on July 27, last year.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard Roarty has a "history" with Andrew and there was a heated exchange of words between the pair.

Later, after a trip to a local tanning salon, Andrew was a passenger in a car driven by friend Sophie Brett and they spotted Roarty and a male walking towards them at 6.10pm.

They "heard a loud bang" as Roarty passed by and Andrew junped out and fled the scene.

Her friend Sophie drove away feeling "a little scared" and called the police when she saw a number of small dents and scratches to her car, which cost £240 to repair.

Officers had Roarty's description and arrested her the same day, but while sitting in the rear of the police car she wound down the window, jumped out and escaped at around 6.50pm.

She handed herself into police before 3pm the next day.

Roarty was placed on a twelve-month community order, which includes 40 hours community service and must pay £240 compensation and an £85 victim surcharge.

Rogue Trader Preyed On Pensioner Duped Into Leaving Him £540K House In Will

A rogue trader, who persuaded a pensioner to pay him £14,000 for non-existent roof repairs then bequeath the property to an accomplice, has been locked-up.

Robert Vincent, 47, of Sandpiper Way, Orpington received five years and three months for the audacious scam.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation when he appeared at Wood Green Crown Court.

The 68 year-old victim instructed a solicitor to draw up the new will, leaving the £540,000 house to a man Vincent knew because he could not pay for the overcharged work.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Fraud and Linked Crime Online (Falcon) Unit began an investigation in June, 2017 after a report from Bromley Trading Standards.

Officers visited the victim’s address in Haringey and discovered that, near to Christmas 2016, he had been approached by a man calling himself Terry Griffiths, who had told him his roof needed to be replaced.

A police investigation revealed that Terry Griffiths was in fact Robert Vincent, who told the victim work was needed on the entire roof to fix a leak.

The victim handed over cash and cheques totalling £14,000 to Vincent in a two-month period after Christmas.

In March, he told him that he could not afford to pay for the repairs.

Vincent suggested he could leave his house to him in his will to cover the cost.

The victim reluctantly agreed to do this and visited a solicitor who drafted a new will for him naming Terry Griffiths as the sole receiver.

However, Vincent then asked the victim to change the name to someone who police believe was one of his associates.

On Monday, 5 June, the victim received a phone call from Bromley Trading Standards in relation to another building scam that he had almost been the victim of in June 2016.

Whilst on the phone, he mentioned that he was having building work done and the Trading Standards Officer told him she would send someone round to ensure everything was in order.

When the officer attended the address, he found that no work appeared to have been carried out.

Trading Standards then informed police.

Vincent was arrested on Wednesday, 7 June after he was seen exiting the victim’s property.

In his phone, he had the victim’s telephone number.

The man who had been named on the will was interviewed by police but he denied any knowledge of the fraud and said he did not know Vincent.

Detective Constable Alex Falconer, of the Met’s Falcon unit, said: “This was a deceitful crime in which Vincent tricked an elderly man into changing his will after charging him fourteen thousand pounds for non-existent repairs to his roof.

“A swift police investigation established that Vincent had been using a pseudonym in his dealings with the victim and provided a name of his suspected associate.

“As a result of this conviction the fraudulent will has been destroyed.”