IT Exec Spied On Changing Cubicle Woman During Lunchhour

A globetrotting financial services IT boss fears his career may be over after he was caught spying on a woman changing in a boutique cubicle.

Neil Smyth, 43, used his phone as a periscope to ogle the woman over the changing-rooms divider as she fitted on a t-shirt and two pairs of trousers.

The married dad, who has a Master’s Degree in Multimedia Technology and sits on the Executive Board of Wimbledon-based StatPro, was on his lunch hour when he wandered into the shop.

Smyth, of Howard Road, Dorking pleaded guilty to observing a person doing a private act for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification at Uniqlo, The Broadway on June 11.

He was hoping to avoid signing the sex offenders register, but will have to for five years and must also complete 100 hours community service and 20 days rehabilitation.

Prosecutor Mr. Brinkman May told Wimbledon Magistrates Court: “The complainant removed her dress and was in her underwear as she fitted-on the clothing.

“She saw the top-half of a mobile phone over the cubicle divider and says: ‘I don’t know how long the person holding it there.

‘I was shocked and said loudly: ‘Someone is taking a pictured of me.’

“A security guard was called and waited for whoever was in the changing cubicle to come out,” explained Mr. May. “Eventually a man, Mr. Smyth, came out.”

When confronted in the store Smyth said: “It isn’t me, it’s ridiculous. I have a wife and child.”

Afterwards the victim said: “I am worried he may have sent the footage to someone else or uploaded it somewhere.”

However, Smyth insists he did not record the woman and was simply viewing her via the screen and a police examination of the phone found no recordings.

Smyth’s lawyer Mr. Richard Evans told the court: “He only watched for six to eight seconds and was not recording anything. He was looking at the image on the phone as if it was a mirror.

“He maintains he never saw the complainant in any state of undress at all. 

“He admits looking over the partition was a measure of excitedness, a measure of naughtiness, a thrill. 

“When he was arrested he was mortified, embarrassed, ashamed and did not feel any thrill or pleasure in doing this.

“It was triggered by stress and anxiety. He is an IT and marketing manager and has twenty-nine employees below him and a six million pound budget.

“He travels globally eight to ten times a year to the USA, Canada, South Africa and Europe and he found it difficult to manage his peaks of stress.”

Smyth was scheduled to address 150 people at a conference the day after his arrest. “He felt the pressure build and that led to what happened.

“He has not coped with the stress of job, but buried it even though to some he has an enviable life.”

His employers are aware of his arrest and have funded cognitive behaviour therapy courses and Smyth himself has paid for psychotherapy sessions.

However, Smyth fears being placed on the sex offenders register could be the end of his twenty-one years with the company.  

Deputy District Judge Claire Jackson told Smyth, who was supported in court by wife Chloe: “You used a phone in the hope of seeing a female in a state of undress.

“There is not an excuse for that really. It has done damage to the victim, who is now scared to undress in changing rooms.

“To cause such distress to someone for a few seconds of your own sexual gratification is worrying.

“No regard was taken for her or how she would feel or for your wife who’s been extremely supportive.’

Smyth was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to the victim, plus £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Woman Sentenced For HMP Wandsworth Cannabis Charge

A young woman who took drugs into a top-security London mens' prison has received a suspended sentence.

Lillian Baker, 22, of 25 Clifford Drive, Heathfield, Newton Abbot, Devon was originally charged with possessing cannabis resin at HMP Wandsworth on May 26.

She was also charged with one count of giving a prisoner, Nicholas little, a prohibited article, namely herbal cannabis.

At Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Baker was sentenced to two months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

She was also ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge and an order was made to destroy the drugs. 

Sex-Starved Hair Stylist's Secret Party Toilet Camera

A love-starved hair stylist with industry giants ASOS planted a secret camera in the gents’ toilet of their huge 2,000-guest summer party.

Dominic Henbow Hendy, 28, a graduate of styling and hair design from Truro and Penwith College, Cornwall claims a twelve-month dating drought and lack of intimacy led to him hiding the device behind toilet rolls to film the cubicle’s users.

Hendy, who attended The Roseland Academy, Tregony pleaded guilty to voyeurism, namely installing equipment to observe others for his sexual gratification, at Hawker House, a food and drink mega-market in Canary Wharf on July 12.

“He was without sexual contact for a year and felt stressed and was not thinking straight,” Hendy’s lawyer Mr. Alexander Goscimski told London’s Camberwell Green Magistrates Court.

Prosecutor Mr. Chidi Ikwuakolam said: “A cleaner at the event was routinely cleaning the men’s toilet and came across a small black box on the floor and handed it into a security guard, assuming it was lost property.

“By 2am the manager realised it was a camera that’d been put carefully on the floor of one of the one-person cubicles and purposefully obstructed with toilet rolls.

“It showed full-frontal views of people using the toilet and the defendant was identified as the person who placed the camera in the location.”

Probation Officer Patrick Acres told the court: “Prior to this offence he had been in a relationship and when that ended it sent him into a spiral of anxiety.

“He did look around for casual relationships, but did not find that satisfactory and for the last twelve months has been celibate.

“One way of coping was to self-medicate with drugs, including ketamine and crystal meth.

“These drugs lower inhibitions quite drastically and there was some use of pornography and with the drugs that led him down this route of setting-up the camera.

“He says he now feels quite sick about it and it is something he would never do again, but came about due to his isolation and taking these drugs.”

Mr. Goscimski added: “It is a shame he is here today. He has been struggling with anxiety and depression and is on medication.

“He purchased the camera because things were going missing from his room. He lives in shared accommodation and there were no locks on the doors.”

ASOS placed Hendy, of Bow Road, Bow, east London on suspension while awaiting the outcome of the case.

He was placed on a twelve-month community order, which includes 150 hours community service work and must pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Hendy must also sign the sex offenders register for five years.

Brutal Early-Hours Robbery: Suspect Hunted

Police are seeking this suspect after a middle-aged man was violently attacked in the early-hours and had his wallet snatched.

The victim, aged in his fifties, suffered serious head and facial injuries in Saffron Hill, Clerkenwell just after 3.00am on May 19.

Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 3.45am as they treated the victim.

Officers are working to establish how the man came to sustain his injuries.

He was taken to an east London hospital with serious injuries and has since been discharged.

Officers would like to speak with anyone who recognises the man who was captured on CCTV.

He is described as an Asian man, aged in his late teens to early 20s and of medium build.

He was wearing a distinctive Gucci hat, a dark jacket, blue jeans and Nike Air Max trainers.

Detective Constable Saima Pervez, from the Central-North Command Unit, said: “We are seeking the public’s help to trace the man who was captured on CCTV shortly after the unprovoked assault which left the victim with serious head and facial injuries.

“If you know who this man is, I would urge you to contact us.”

Anyone with information or any witnesses are asked to call police on 07441 686086 or via 101 quoting reference 1145/19May.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Burglar Wanted: Raider Caught On CCTV

Police are hunting this burglar, who was captured on CCTV snatching jewellery during a residential break-in in south-east London.

At approximately 3.25pm on Monday, June 18, officers were called to a burglary at a residential address in Copers Cope Road, Bromley.

Whilst the homeowners were out, a man broke into the property via the downstairs window.

Following a search of the property, the suspect left the scene on foot having stolen some jewellery.

He is described as a white man, wearing a distinctive blue and white Armani top.

No arrests have been made.

Detectives from Bromley CID are investigating.

Detective Constable Chris Taylor, who is leading the investigation, said: "We have today released an image of a man I wish to speak to in connection with this incident and I am appealing for the public's help to identify his whereabouts.

"This ordeal has understandably left the residents shaken and I would urge anyone with information to get in touch."

Stabbing: Suspect Identified

Police investigating a stabbing in north-west London have released this picture of their main suspect.

Detectives on Brent borough are trying to locate Amari Reed, 29, in relation to an attack on a 20 year-old male.

The victim was stabbed in the arm in Hirst Crescent, Wembley at around 7.40pm on June 20.

Police and the London Ambulance Service were called to the scene.

The male was suffering a stab injury to his left forearm.

He was taken to a central London hospital for treatment and his condition is not believed to be life threatening or life changing.

Anyone with information on Reed's whereabouts is asked to call 07747476161 quoting CRIS 1915449/18.

Russian Mobile Phone Tycoon Cleared Of Punching Uber Cab

A Russian mobile phone tycoon - once reportedly worth £1.2 billion - arrested for allegedly denting an Uber driver’s bonnet with a drunken angry punch during an evening out with friends in Soho, walked free today.

Evgeny Chichvarkin, 43, who sold retail chain Yevroset for approximately £280m in September, 2008 always denied punching the white BMW, which he had booked.

He appeared at City of London Magistrates Court, where prosecutor Mr. Edward Cohen announced no evidence would be offered because the driver had failed to turn up.

The driver’s evidence was required to establish what damage, if any, had been caused.

Chichvarkin lives in exile at a £6.6m apartment in The Little Boltons, West Brompton and in August, 2012 he launched new venture, award-winning Hedonism Wines in Davies Street, Mayfair. 

He pleaded not guilty to causing criminal damage to the three-litre vehicle, belonging to Lefter Petronel-Sebastian in Rupert Street on December 9, last year.

At an earlier hearing prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Bryan said: “The complainant is an Uber driver booked to take the defendant. The defendant didn’t arrive on time so the Uber driver drove off and stopped at the lights.

“The defendant tried to stop him and when he was told the booking had been cancelled in anger and frustration he bangs his fist down on the bonnet causing the dent.

“Two police officers did not see the incident, but one of them says he did hear a bang. The officers give evidence that he is drunk at the time.

“The complainant can say there is a dent there that was not there before.”

There are no pictures of the alleged damage and Chichvarkin can be heard on the officers’ body-worn cameras asking: “Where is the damage? I haven’t damaged the vehicle. Where’s the damage?”

He was arrested that evening and held in police custody overnight and questioned by police the next day.

The court heard Chichvarkin runs businesses and “invests heavily” in the UK and a criminal conviction would be “very damaging.”

He is the founder of Russia’s largest mobile phone retailer Yevroset and at one time was the richest man under thirty-five years-old in his country.

He was the winner of Ernst & Young’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year 2005 and also received Russian awards including the ‘Order of Glory of Russia’ and ‘Order of glory of the Fatherland.’

Chichvarkin has lived in exile in London for the past decade, campaigning against Russian corruption and Vladimir Putin as a member of the Right Cause political party.

Policewoman's Drunken Assaults On Fellow-Officers And Boyfriend

A drunken policewoman attacked two fellow-WPC’s in her home while screaming: “Where’s my f***ing Jack Daniels?” 

Police Constable Sarinda Trudy Welsh, 39, hurled her glass tumbler across the room, smashing it against a wall and had to be pulled away from a rack of knives.

Her twelve-year career with the Metropolitan Police is now in tatters and Bexley Magistrates Court heard yesterday she has tendered her resignation before an inevitable sacking.

Welsh, of Parkside Road, Belvedere, pleaded guilty to assaulting WPC’s Emma Cross and Amanda MacKerill on January 9.

She denied, but was convicted assaulting estranged long-term boyfriend Shane Gibson by clawing his wrist at the address on April 16.

Welsh also pleaded guilty to communicating false information to the police on June 5, namely that Mr. Gibson had punched her in the head.

Prosecutor Denise Clewes told the court: “Ms Welsh is currently still a serving police officer and has tendered her resignation, although she is suspended.

“She had been off work for a period of time because of problems she was having. She had been in rehab and was released the day before the first assaults.

“Police officers visited her to carry out a welfare check and when they arrived they found she had been drinking.

“She threw a glass tumbler that smashed against a wall and PC MacKerill says: ’She was shouting and swearing.’

“She reached for a knife rack and one of the officers pulled her back, fearing she would cut herself or someone else.

“She swung a baking tray in the direction of the officer that did not hit the officer.”

They attempted to put pyjama bottoms on Welsh before taking her to the police station, but she resisted. 

“She kicked PC Cross, causing minor tenderness to her left shin.”

Police were at the address again three months later. “Ms Welsh called them, saying her partner hit her in the face.

“Mr. Gibson answered the door and said she was drunk upstairs and had assaulted him while he was asleep.

“He said he pushed her when she tried to wake him up and she fell to the floor. She then dug her nails into his wrist, causing a number of small scratches.

“She said she had been punched in the head by Mr. Gibson because she was drunk and had been drinking vodka and whiskey the night before and had been an alcoholic for a long time.

“She said she woke him for work because he was lazy and he pushed her away and she fell to the floor and then called the police.”

Two months later Welsh called the police again, claiming her boyfriend was banging on her front door.

“When officers arrived her front door was open and Ms Welsh was asleep on the sofa and there was a strong smell of alcohol.

“She was very confused and said Mr. Gibson had punched her to the head and left.”

An ambulance was called and Welsh did not make a statement against her boyfriend to police, who became increasingly suspicious about her claim.

“Mr. Gibson was able to prove he was in Bristol all day and showed a receipt for coffee he bought on the M4 half an hour before the police were called.”

Her lawyer Heather Oliver told the court: “She is a woman of impeccable character, having served twelve years with the police and before that was a legal secretary.

“She has expressed remorse and embarrassment and accepts she was reckless rather than having an intention to hurt the officers.

“On officer was trying to put her pyjama bottoms on and she was lashing out and caught her with her bare foot.”

Welsh was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which includes a 60-day alcohol treatment requirement and a 15-day rehabilitation requirement.

She must also pay £300 costs and an £85 victim surcharge and was made subject to an indefinite restraining order prohibiting contact with Mr. Gibson.

Policewoman Throttled Female Detective Lover During Salt Row

Two female Metropolitan Police Detectives’ intense affair came to a violent end when one throttled the other and banged her head against a wall for putting salt on the meal she had prepared.

Detective Constable Asweina Gutty, 34, screamed: “Are you for real? I’ve spent hours making f***ing dinner and you’ve put f***ing salt in it.”

She and her Detective Constable girlfriend - a married mum -  then ate in silence until Gutty attacked her as she left to return home, a court heard.

“Just walk away and do what you do best, go back to your nice house and f*** your husband,” shouted Gutty.

Prosecutor Mr. Edward Cohen told Westminster Magistrates Court: “The defendant then grabbed her around the throat and pushed her back, causing the complainant to bang her head against the wall.

“She tried to grab the defendant’s wrist and pull it away and was in a state of shock and her head banged against the wall for a second time.”

Both officers are attached to the borough of Tower Hamlets and met last September, while serving on Bethnal Green’s Community Safety Unit.

Gutty, of Elder Court, Saw Mill Way, Stoke Newington pleaded guilty to assaulting her ex at the address on May 27 and will return to court for sentencing on September 21.

District Judge Nina Tempia announced: “The controlling behaviour was a feature of the relationship, stopping the complainant seeing her friends.

“What concerns me is she is a serving police officer prone to anger outbursts and she is dealing with members of the public.”

Mr. Cohen explained: “Both the defendant and the complainant are females in a same-sex relationship. The complainant is married with children and living partly with her family.

“They met at work, where they are both serving police officers and the complainant came to Ms Gutty’s flat on the day of the assault.

“They had an argument because the complainant put some salt in her dinner.

“The atmosphere soured and they ate in silence and the victim went into the bedroom to get her things.”

The court heard this angered Gutty, who shouted: “That’s it. Run away like you always do. You’re a coward.”

She told Gutty her behaviour was “not acceptable” and left with her keys in her hand.

“The defendant kept trying to pull the keyring from her hand and they had a struggle over the keys,” added Mr. Cohen.

“As she walked to the car park the complainant looked back and saw the defendant following her.

“The defendant said: ‘If you try and do me over I’ll come and find you.’

“Ten minutes later she started bombarding the complainant with texts, phone calls and WhatsApp messages.”

She reported Gutty to the police and made a statement. “She said during the relationship the defendant was very volatile and would go off over trivial things.”

Afterwards the victim said: “I cannot tell you how difficult this is. It is breaking my heart, but Asweina needs to know how much she hurt me.

“We had an extreme connection, we became inseparable, being with her was amazing. I loved her so much.

“When my family found out I lost them, but if being with Asweina meant losing my family then so be it.

“We were going to live together, have a family, have adventures, travel and live life to the full.

“I look at our photographs together and they remind me of great times, but there is a dark shadow.

“Asweina screamed at me because I couldn’t put stuff in a bag at the supermarket and because I left a used tissue near the bed.

“She did not want me to see my friends because of her jealousy.

“Her reactions were like a volcano, shouting at me and I’d apologise just to keep her calm.

“There were also insults like: ‘Whore, slag’ and: ‘You white people.’

“Asweina became angry because I put salt in the dinner, like I was a small child that had done something dangerous. I felt belittled.

“She followed this with anger and a rage in her eyes. Asweina became someone else and I feared for my safety.

“I saw then that this surely could not be love.

“Asweina destroyed us and our future and everything that we had fought so hard for.

“She made me feel weak, embarrassed and ashamed.

“I never in a million years expected to be the victim of domestic abuse. I always thought it was something that happened to other people, not people like me.

“I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster, taken to black places and feel hollow inside. 

“I am grieving the loss of Asweina and feel lost without her. It breaks my heart that we are where we are now.”

“I loved her so much, but the monster within her is more dominant than the loving woman I fell in love with.”

Gutty claims her behaviour is the result of PTSD after being exposed to disturbing incidents in her police work.

She says a training course in March, last year “triggered” her behaviour, which contributed to the end of her previous three-year relationship.

Gutty is currently on restricted part-time duties with the Met.

Rotary Club Swindler Jailed For Kids' Hospital Scam

A new Rotary Club member, who organised a charity skydive and gala dinner to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, but pocketed £7,500 for himself, was jailed today.

Ex-stockbroker Akbar Siddiqi, 29, was given a six-month deadline to get himself a job and return a chunk of the money, but failed miserably.

He pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between April 27, 2014 and August 3, 2015 while a member of the Tooting club and named on a bank account to be used for charitable purposes.

Siddiqi, of Nutfield Road, Thornton Heath was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment by Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Judge Judith Coello.

“It has been very damaging to the reputation of the Rotary Club and very embarrassing,” she told him. “It was a mean, despicable and devious offence.

“There is little evidence of trying to find work, any work. You have not made sufficient efforts to meet these objectives.”

She rejected Siddiqi’s request for two more months to start paying compensation. “I consider that you have made half-hearted attempts in that regard.”

Prosecutor Alexander Boshell told the court: “He needed the Rotary Club for their global reputation and had a meeting with the club’s President Len Saker.”

Siddiqi joined the club in 2014, having been a regular guest for some months and proposed a sky-dive and gala dinner fundraiser.

Participants collected sponsorship for the sky-dive and tickets were expensive for the Central London dinner at the Connaught Rooms.

Both Siddiqi and Mr. Saker, who were the account signatories, promoted the sky-dive on Radio Jackie and £15,725 was made from both events.

However, Siddiqi secretly obtained a cash card and made 65 withdrawals totalling £4,105 and used the card to buy alcohol clothes, shoes, pay restaurant and hotel bills, a £638 internet dating site bill and top-up his Oyster card.

Two members even gifted him £250 awards they each received for services to the Rotary Club to cover his admin and time organising the events.

Immediately after the events Siddiqi stopped attending the club and constantly made excuses for not paying the money. 

The club’s treasurer described the fraud as “traumatic” and the cause of a “great deal of distress” saying he felt “let-down and cheated.”

Mr. Saker said: “My initial reaction was amazement and confusion. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Akbar had been a trusted member of the club.”

Siddiqi’s lawyer Gudrun Fama told the court: “He’s a troubled young man and solved his problems with alcohol. Once he started drinking he couldn’t stop.

“He is aware how what he did was wrong. He was an alcoholic and did take the money during a difficult time in his private life, but he no longer drinks. He is able to redeem himself.” 

Judge Coello said: “I gave him a chance six months ago to get his life back together and more importantly to pay back the organisation he defrauded, an organisation that can’t afford to lose any money.

“He knew he was at risk of an immediate custodial sentence and I put it off to repay the money. He knew he had to make every effort to show he met these objectives.

“He also had to show evidence of abstinence and he’s done absolutely nothing.”

The judge told Siddiqi: “You persuaded other members of the club to fundraise for charity, but unbeknownst to the other signatories and members you obtained a cash card for that account and took money destined for charitable purposes.

“Some of it, at least, was spent on your alcohol habit of the time. No real effort was ever made to pay back the money and it was a classic case of avoiding what you had done.” 

Commuter Violently Attacked And Robbed: CCTV Image Released

A train passenger was violently struck to the back of his head and robbed after departing north London's Tottenham Hale station.

Detectives from Haringey have released this CCTV image of their suspect, who they wish to trace.

On Friday, May 18, the 26 year-old male victim was attacked in Markfield Recreation Ground, Tottenham.

He had just got off a train and was walking through the recreation ground at around 8.20pm when he was hit with an object from behind, sustaining a serious head injury.

His phone, wallet, bank cards and a silver neck chain were stolen.

The man managed to walk home, from where police and London Ambulance Service were called.

He was taken to hospital where he was treated for head injuries and discharged.

Detective Constable Mark Nicholls from Haringey CID is investigating.

They have released an image of a man they wish to speak with in connection with the investigation, caught on CCTV at a local shop.

Anyone who can identify the man, or who has information that may assist the investigation, is asked to call Haringey CID via 101 quoting reference 8312/18may.

To give information anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

There has been no arrest at this stage and enquiries continue.

Passenger Bit Chunk Out Of Mini-Cabbie's Nose After Refusing To Pay

A passenger bit off part of a mini-cab driver's nose during a late-night fare dispute in east London.

Police have released this image of the suspect, wanted for the “brutal” attack in Benskins Lane, near Church Road, Romford just before midnight on May 26.

The 51 year-old driver suffered serious facial injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

He had collected the suspect in South Street, shortly before the incident and was due to take him to Noak Hill Road.

During the journey, the suspect asked to change the destination to Benskins Lane, which was further.

The driver explained this would cost more and the suspect agreed.

Upon arrival, the suspect stated he was not going to pay and that he was going to fight the victim.

The suspect attacked the driver by repeatedly hitting him in the face before biting his nose.

Following the attack, the suspect grabbed the mini-cab’s rear facing dash cam as well as cash and documents.

He then fled the scene down a footpath.

Detective Constable Gill Garrett, the investigating officer from the East Area Command Unit’s CID, said: "This was a brutal unprovoked attack that has left the victim extremely distressed and too shaken to return to work.

“He is still receiving medical treatment and has already undergone numerous surgical procedures.

"We have released an image of a man we would like to speak to in connection with this assault.

“We would urge anyone who recognises him to contact us as a matter of urgency.

“Any information provided to the police will be treated in confidence, or people can speak to Crimestoppers anonymously.

"We are calling on the public and the media to help us find and bring the person responsible for this heinous crime to justice."

Anyone with any information is asked to call East Area CID on 020 8345 3512 or 101 quoting reference 9391/26May.

People can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Prostitute And Boyfriend Jailed For Mugging 90 Year-Old

A “predatory” couple, who battered a 90 year-old dementia-suffering OAP to the floor, snatching his wallet containing £350, have each been jailed for four years. 

The prostitute and her boyfriend, who have lengthy criminal records, tried to lie their way out of trouble by claiming the victim was looking for early-morning sex at 7.00am.

Sophie McDonnell, 34 and Delaney Foster, 35, were convicted by a jury of robbing Montserrat-born John Buffong on the fourth-floor of his block, Hughenden House, Jerome Cresent, Lisson Grove, near Regent’s Park.

The pair were caught on CCTV at the block on November 22, last year and their images released to the public during the police hunt.

As well as the cash the pair also took Mr. Buffong’s bank card and Post Office card, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Months later, when asked about the sex claim Mr. Buffong told police: “I was not looking for sex, I’m ninety-one now. I’ve never had sex with this woman, everything she says is a lie. I don’t owe her any money.”

Detective Sergeant Jonathan Bradshaw, of Westminster CID said: “This was a horrible crime in which the elderly victim was attacked and robbed of his pension money.

“Luckily he sustained no injuries, but he was left badly shaken by the ordeal. This was a cowardly attack on a vulnerable man who was unable to defend himself.

“Thankfully the two predatory criminals responsible have been brought to justice.

“This was a direct result of the public appeal, which furnished the information we needed.

“I would like to personally thank the public and the media for their support. This case shows what can be achieved by the police and community working together.” 

Mr. Buffong routinely left his fourth-floor flat to buy the daily newspapers at around 7.00am everyday.

Caught On CCTV McDonnell & Foster

He told police: “Two people suddenly approached from behind me and started hitting me around the back of my head with their hands.

“They pushed me to the ground outside the lift and the female took my wallet.”

He heard her shout: “Let’s go,” to her hooded male black accomplice and the pair fled.

Prosecutor Mr. Philip Levy told the jury: “The issue in this case is wether there was robbery or not. It’s slightly unusual in that the complainant, who was robbed, is not in a fit state to give evidence.

“He says he was robbed and was robbed by these two.

‘Mr. Buffong was suffering from dementia, not very severe dementia. He was able to look after himself, but had some problems with memory.”

Neighbour Robert Abdul, who Mr. Buffong was due to have his regular breakfast with that morning and his sister-in-law keep an eye on him.

The defendants were caught on  CCTV entering the block’s lift at 7.09 am and leaving at 7.15am.

“The question is what were they up to?” asked Mr. Levy. “They say she is a sex worker, and she is a sex worker, don’t hold that against her.

“She went up to offer her services and there was some sort of altercation and Mr. Buffong became upset and there was no robbery.”

McDonnell was questioned by police last April. “She claimed he was a punter and she was offering sexual services.

“However, Mr. Buffong is adamant: ‘I don’t need a sex worker at my age,’ he said.

“They probably saw this man going everyday for his newspaper and he was an obvious target.

“That it was something to do with sex at seven am in the morning, you may think is unrealistic.”

The jury was told McDonnell, of Hillersden House, Ebury Bridge Road, Pimlico had “many convictions for dishonesty.”

Mr. Levy said she was arrested in April this year after approaching a male passer-by and offering sex. “While They were talking she grabbed his wallet from his coat pocket and ran off.

‘This is someone who uses her prostitution for theft.”

Foster, of Charlwood Street, Pimlico “has many convictions for dishonesty” the jury were told, plus robbery and assault.