Council's Hardship Fund Boss Jailed For Nicking £94K

A council boss, who fled to the USA after taking nearly £94,000 from a taxpayer-funded hardship fund for vulnerable residents, has been jailed for two years.

William Rossetti, 32, supervised the Surrey Crisis Fund while employed by the county council, which helped needy locals with emergency cash for essentials such as food and heating.

However, over three years the married university graduate, of Colburn Crescent, Guildford topped-up 37 bogus cards with money on 316 occasions, Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard.

Rossetti claims he was haunted by debt and a need to keep his wife Rebecca happy with treats and investigators found multiple card usages in restaurants near the matrimonial home.

He pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between June, 2014 and April, 2017; fraudulently misusing a computer and possessing articles for use in fraud, namely blank ALLPAY cards.

Prosecutor Mr. Stephen Apted told the court Rossetti was employed at the council’s county hall HQ in Kingston-upon-Thames as the scheme’s supervisor a year before the fraud began.

When a promotion took him to a new role based at Guildford Police Station the swindle was exposed and Rossetti was suspended on April 24, 2017.

He disappeared to Philadelphia, where he claims he contemplated suicide, but was persuaded to return by his wife, who flew out to him and was arrested at Heathrow Airport on May 16, 2017.

As an official ‘superuser’ Rossetti had full access to the scheme and loaded cards he created with up to £2,000 a time, even though the usual legitimate amount were £50-£60.

The scheme was administered by finance company ALLPAY and 12 of the cards were discovered in his police station desk.

Rossetti even abused the usernames of two council colleagues to obtain more money when one was on Easter holiday and the other had left their role.

“He is thoroughly ashamed and disgusted with what he has done, letting down his colleagues and nearest and dearest,” said Mr. Abdullah Al-Yunusi, defending.

“He was burdened by much debt from his student days due to misspending and miscalculations and via a personality disorder a desire to buy gifts for his wife, driven by a sense of paranoia of abandonment.

“He saw the ease with which transactions occurred and did a test transaction and got away with it.

“Much of the spending was in local restaurants and on railway tickets.

“He fled to the USA when confronted by the reality of what he had done and his life effectively came to and end.

“He ended his relationship with his wife and wrote her a pack of lies that he was going to Europe and there were thoughts of self-harm and ending his life.”

Judge Anne Brown said: “The taxpayers paid their taxes expecting this fund would be there for welfare purposes.”

Naked Shower Video Publisher Must Remain Behind Bars

Dobla: Appeal

An accountant jailed for tricking a love rival into sending her a naked show video, which she posted online, will remain behind bars while she fights the sentence.

Convent-educated Blerina Dobla, 26, has lodged an appeal against the four-month jail term imposed a week ago, but was denied bail pending the outcome.

“I cannot predict what the outcome will be even though many such custodial sentences are suspended,” announced Inner London Crown Court Judge Freya Newbery.

Dobla, of Melliss Avenue, Richmond-upon-Thames is currently incarcerated at HMP Bronzefield and her full appeal hearing is scheduled for the end of next week.

“One of my concerns is that if I release her on bail there is the additional anxiety of being readmitted to custody after her release,” added the judge.

“I am not prepared to grant bail. She will remain in custody until the appeal is heard next Friday.”

Dobla adopted the fake identity of a male model during internet exchanges with her ex’s new 23 year-old girlfriend and persuaded her to send revealing pictures and videos.

She then published them online and deliberately tagged her friends and family in the embarrassing Instagram posts.

Judge Newbery noted the probation service had compiled a supportive report regarding Dobla, who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Dobla pleaded guilty to sending a communication of an indecent or offensive nature on January 30, 2017, namely an Instagram video of the victim naked in the shower.

She also admitted a similar charge of sending the same shower video to the victims’ friends and family via Instagram on November 1, 2017, plus additional images of the young woman in various states of undress.

The victim was persuaded to send them via Snapchat, believing the material would be only visible for a few seconds and could not be saved by the recipient.

In a lengthy victim impact statement the victim said: “I am a shell of the person I once was. This has taken a toll on my physical and mental health with attacks of anxiety and depression.

“All of my hard work was knocked down for someone’s entertainment, publicly displaying images without my consent has been like torture to humiliate me.”

When he jailed Dobla last week District Judge Karim Ezzat said: “Her behaviour was well-planned and manipulative over a period of months during which she bullied and coerced these images and published them.

“The impact on the victim has been devastating and says this has ruined her life.” 

Dobla, who attended the Catholic Gumley House Convent School - moto ‘Vive Ut Vivas’ (live that you may live) - founded in 1841 was also made subject to a five-year restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim.

Do You Know These Scumbags? : OAP Has £1K Nicked In Croydon

Police believe these two women acted together to cut open a 93 year-old woman's trolley in Croydon to snatch £1,000 cash she just withdrew from a bank.

At approximately 11.20am on Tuesday, April 2, the pensioner withdrew the cash from a bank on North End.

She placed the money – which was in an envelope – inside her shopping trolley and this transaction was witnessed by one of the female suspects.

The woman left the bank and was followed by the two suspects as she walked along Church Street.

The suspects continued to follow the victim as she visited a number of local shops and made a number of attempts to distract her.

At 11.42am, one of the suspects was captured on CCTV footage bending down next to the woman’s shopping trolley.

A short time later, the victim discovered that the trolley had been cut and the money taken.

Police were contacted and officers from the South Area Command Unit launched an investigation.

CCTV images were secured, and detectives have today released images of the two women they are trying to identify.

Suspect 1 is of slim build with long black hair. She was wearing a grey mid-length coat, black trousers and white trainers. She was carrying a black, over the shoulder handbag.

Suspect 2 is shorter, and of larger build with long black hair. She was wearing a red hooded jumper with blue and white stripes on the upper arm, a black jacket, black trousers and black trainers.

At the time of the theft, they were both wearing headscarves, although officers believe these were put on outside the shop in an attempt to disguise their appearance.

Detective Constable Ciara Riordan, based in Croydon, said: “We believe that the suspects saw the victim at the bank counter as they were passing and deliberately targeted her.

“The victim, who was very independent prior to this crime, is now anxious about leaving her house and will only go shopping with her grandson.

“I would urge anyone who recognises these women to contact us so that we can prevent them from targeting other vulnerable members of our community.”

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Anyone with information about the identity of the two suspects should call DC Ciara Riordan on 020 3276 2217 or by email on ciara.riordan@met.police.uk

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

White Van Man's Acid Attack On Motorist And Passenger

Police have released this e-fit of a white van man after a female pensioner and teenage girl were splashed with sulphuric acid during a road rage incident.

Police were called at around 11.30am on Monday, April 8 to reports of a noxious substance being thrown at a driver and passenger of a vehicle in County Road near the junction of Norbury Avenue in Thornton Heath.

Officers, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) and London Ambulance Service (LAS) attended.

LAS took the two victims – a 63-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl, who are known to each other – to a south London hospital where their injuries were deemed non-life threatening.

The victims and witnesses told police that they had been driving along County Road towards Highbury Avenue when a white van started driving towards them.

Due to the road being too narrow for two cars to pass, the victim tried to move into a space in front of a parked motorbike.

As she was trying to do this, the white van was driven forward so that it was parallel to the victim’s car.

At this point, the victim wound down the driver’s side window to try and engage with the driver of the van, however before she could speak to the male driver, he squirted a liquid from a plastic ‘squeezy’ bottle hitting her and her passenger.

The suspect sped off from the scene along County Road before turning right onto Norbury Avenue.

Detectives are now appealing for anyone who may have been in the area at the time to review any CCTV or dashcam footage they may hold that could help with their investigation.

The victims have described the suspect as a white man, around 40 years old of chubby build, with ginger/grey hair and beard, and brown eyes.

At the time of the offence, he was wearing a black jumper.

Detective Constable Ben Briselden, who is investigating the attack, said: “Luckily, neither victim suffered any long-term damage, however they have been left extremely shaken by this ordeal, and we are committed to pursuing every viable lead to bring the perpetrator to justice.

“I am very keen to hear from anyone who might have been in or around the area of the attack at 11.30am on Monday, 8 April and could be a potential witness.”

Anyone who has any footage or information that they believe could help with the investigation is asked to call police on 101 and quote CAD 2677/09APR.

Alternatively, please tweet @MetCC or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Air Hostess Says BBQ Host Raped Her On Sofa

Court Date: Nico Van Der Linde

An exhausted and tipsy air hostess woke up in the early hours to discover her BBQ host had stripped her of her clothes and was having sex with her, a court heard.

Plumbing and heating engineer Nico Van Der Linde, 42, claims the pair had consensual sex after drinking red wine all night as his common-law wife slept nearby.

“I woke up and he had my shoes off, pants off, underwear off, my legs open and was moving back and forth,” the 36 year-old Emirates employee told the jury.

“I shouted: ‘What the f***, what the f***’ quite loud and his eyes went big. He couldn’t believe it,” she told Harrow Crown Court.

Van Der Linde, of Roxeth Green Avenue, South Harrow has pleaded not guilty to one count of raping the woman at his address on October 15, 2016.

“I saw my underwear, shoes, everything scattered around the lounge floor and got dressed in the bathroom and ran out the door and was crying hysterically all the way.

“I got on the bus crying hysterically and people were staring at me. My brain couldn’t understand what just happened.”

She estimated drinking 5-6 glasses of wine that night and had to stop Van Der Linde repeatedly topping up her glass.

“I even called him a gentleman,” she recalled. “We all had a fair amount to drink and Nico took off my shoes and put my legs on the sofa to make me more comfortable.”

Earlier prosecutor Mr. Steven Talbot Hadley told the jury there had been an incident in 2014 when the woman slept over at Van Der Linde’s flat.

“Both had consumed alcohol and the complainant was sleeping on the sofa when she awoke with this defendant behind her in the ‘spoon’ position and she remonstrated with him.”

Nico Van Der Linde

Three months later the woman told Van Der Linde’s partner and the defendant confessed, saying he often felt “cuddly” after a few drinks.

Despite this the woman was invited to sleepover again. 

“When she woke up the defendant had slipped off her jeans and pants and pulled down his own underwear below his knees and was thrusting,” said Mr. Talbot Hadley.

Van Der Linde was questioned by police on October 26. “He said she complained of sore feet and he began massaging her feet and she liked this and he began rubbing her leg.

“He found himself pulling off her jeans and she assisted in this and removed her underwear and all this was completely with consent.

“He said when sex concluded she got really funny with him and stormed off and left the premises.”

Police seized his phone and found one message Van Der Linde sent to a friend afterwards, which read: “You got a good lawyer to represent me on rape charges?”

Trial continues………….. 

Romanian Rapists Attacked Middle-Aged Woman

Cojorcaru & Bejinariu

Two Romanians, who raped a lone middle-aged woman the day after meeting up at Victoria Coach Station, have been locked-up.

Radian Cojorcaru, 32, and Gabriel Bejinariu, 20, pounced on the 53 year-old woman after travelling from central London to Carshalton, Surrey.

The homeless duo were both convicted at Croydon Crown Court of raping her on October 14, last year.

Cojocaru pleaded guilty to rape and aiding and abetting rape and received 12 years imprisonment.

Bejinariu denied the charge, forcing the victim to give evidence, but was found guilty by a jury of rape; attempted rape and aiding and abetting rape.

He received 17 years imprisonment.

The court heard the two men met at the coach station on October 13, last year.

They travelled to the Carshalton area the next day and then, at 3.00pm, attacked the woman as she approached an alleyway near to Shorts Road.

A member of the public - who saw what was happening - challenged the two men and then ran after them.

Cojocaru was detained on the car port roof of a nearby house until officers arrived.

Bejinariu was arrested a week later after he was identified on CCTV footage from the coach station.

Detective Inspector Keith Ward, of the Metropolitan Police's Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Unit, said: “This was a shocking assault by two strangers on a lone woman in broad daylight.

“The courage of a member of the public enabled us to arrest one man and I would like to thank him for his brave actions.

“The victim has also shown considerable courage to give evidence during Bejinariu’s trial.

“I’m glad that the prison sentences given to these two men means they will be off the streets of London for a considerable period of time.

On The Run: Convicted Rapist

A convicted rapist is on the run for jumping bail when arrested again for flouting sex offender rules.

Officers from the South East Command Unit are appealing for information to trace Christopher Reid, 44, from the Woolwich area.

He was convicted in 2002 for rape and robbery and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Police do not currently know his whereabouts.

He was arrested by police in mid-December, 2018 for breaching his notification requirements, but was bailed from Bromley Magistrates’ Court and has not been seen since.

Reid is currently wanted for breaching his sex offender notification requirements and failing to surrender to court.

Detectives have conducted a number of enquiries in order to trace his current whereabouts and are now calling on the public’s help.

Due to the nature of the offences he is wanted for, we would ask members of the public not to approach him.

Anyone with information on Reid’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Public Protection Unit at the South East Command Unit on 0208 284 9541 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Four Women Sexually Assaulted: CCTV Image Of Suspect Released

Police are hunting this suspected sex offender, after three lone women were molested within a few hours in north west London.

The separate incidents were reported on the evening of Wednesday, March 6 between 7.30pm and 10.45pm in the Neasden / Dollis Hill area.

In each case, a female victim was walking alone when they were approached from behind and sexually assaulted.

It is believed that the man is of Asian or Mediterranean appearance, of medium build and aged between 25 and 30 years-old.

He was wearing a dark coloured bomber jacket, dark trousers and shoes and a black hat at the time of the attacks.

A fourth incident is reported to have taken place in the same area at around 1.00am on Sunday, March 24.

Detective Sergeant Steve Sussex, who has been leading the investigation, said: “While we are keeping an open mind as to whether these assaults are linked, we are extremely keen to speak to the man identified in these images.

“We would encourage women to be vigilant when walking home in the evenings and where possible to stick to well-lit areas.

“We are working tirelessly to catch the perpetrator/s of these attacks and would urge anyone with information to come forward and speak to us.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 with CAD ref 6820/06Mar or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Jealous Accountant Jailed For Posting Naked Shower Video Of Love-Rival Online

Jailed: Dobla

A convent-educated accountant has been jailed for posting a naked shower video and other semi-nude pics of her ex’s new girlfriend online.

Blerina Dobla, 26, adopted the fake identity of a male model during internet exchanges with the 23 year-old and deliberately tagged her friends and family in the embarrassing Instagram posts.

She was employed as an accountant at Skimlinks between April 2017 and March, last year and from June, 2018 has been a management accountant with the Nicoll Curtin Group.

Today she received four months imprisonment at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court and District Judge Karim Ezzat told her: “These images were displayed twice and long enough for others to know.

“The victim lives with the knowledge these images are out there for all to see. They will be somewhere and have had a significant impact on the victim.”

The victim says her weight plunged two-and-a-half stone and she contemplated suicide while under the grip of the ‘male model’, who tormented her with descriptions including: “frigid”, “boring” and “pathetic.”

Dobla, of Melliss Avenue, Richmond-upon-Thames pleaded guilty to sending a communication of an indecent or offensive nature on January 30, 2017, namely an Instagram video of the victim naked in the shower.

She also admitted a similar charge of sending the same shower video to the victims’ friends and family via Instagram on November 1, 2017, plus additional images of the young woman in various states of undress.

The second post contained a screen shot the victim had unwittingly sent university graduate Dobla, revealing she had been raped, aged sixteen years-old.

Prosecutor Mr Chidi Ikwuakolam told the court: “The defendant befriended the complainant who was the new girlfriend of the defendant’s ex under an alias.

“A relationship formed during which the complainant sent a number of personal videos of a sexual nature and pictures to the defendant.

“She says she was persuaded to send them via Snapchat, believing the material would be only visible for a few seconds and could not be saved by the recipient.

“The defendant then threatened to disclose these videos and images to the complainant’s employer and they were posted on Instagram on two separate dates.

Dobla, who lives in a £1.2m house, was traced by police and arrested at work in February, last year and her phone was seized by officers who were also able to investigate her online history.

When quizzed by officers Dobla said it was nothing to do with her. “She denied the allegations, saying she knew the complainant was someone her on-off boyfriend had seen.”

In a lengthy victim impact statement she said: “Being the survivor of sexual assault, aged sixteen, I thought I was strong, but the person I used to be was taken.

“I am a shell of the person I once was. This has taken a toll on my physical and mental health with attacks of anxiety and depression.

“All of my hard work was knocked down for someone’s entertainment, publicly displaying images without my consent has been like torture to humiliate me.

“At first the control began with having to reply instantly and sending photos of what I was wearing to who I thought was Will Gregor who would decide if my outfit met with his approval.

“I had to say where I was going and prove where I was by sending pictures and send ‘before and after’ pictures of my food because in his words he was ‘disgusted’ with me because of my weight.

“He would tell me my parents did not care for me like he did and I did my best to avoid what made ‘Will’ angry.

“I stayed in my room at weekends and became a social recluse and I gave up on ever getting out of the vicious circle my life was in. 

“The messages were horrible, tearing apart my looks and personality. I had mentally and physically given up.

“I began to think it might be my fault and deserved it and was so weak that suicidal thoughts began.

“Sending the pictures and videos were the result of cruel and manipulative bullying and ‘Will’ only seemed satisfied when I sent him a photo.

“I felt completely ashamed and embarrassed and with no choice as the malicious communication continued and if I dissatisfied ‘Will’ he threatened to send photos to my friends.”

Dobla threatened to send the embarrassing images to the woman’s employers, prompting the victim to reveal all to her bosses.

“I left my job due to the strain. This whole torment was now effecting my family and career and that evening was the first time I tried to take my own life.

“I couldn’t see a way out, my life and body were no longer mine and I wanted to let go. There was no way out, I felt trapped and if it wasn’t for my love for my family I would have done it.”

She was at work when the shower video was first published. “It came out of the blue and I felt victimised and abused all over again.

“The fact someone, anywhere in the world could see me in this vulnerable position made me feel physically sick.

“I’ll never know how many people will see that video as it was public. I was also shamed and mocked for having been sexually assaulted.”

The victim moved out of London for six months to recover. “I still feel the impact on me and will never be the same girl I was before.”

Dobla’s lawyer Emma Goodall said: “She deleted the images because she regretted her behaviour and the entire Instagram account was moved from the system.

“I would ask the court to have a degree of humanity and mercy.”

District Judge Ezzat said: “Her behaviour was well-planned and manipulative over a period of months during which she bullied and coerced these images and published them.

“The impact on the victim has been devastating and says this has ruined her life. 

“The most telling thing was your client saying she was suffering depression and anxiety once she got caught and was worrying about what would happen to her.

“One wonders why she did not engage before and if this is part of a manipulative pattern and she still has the images and has the power to exert power and control.

“Even in the pre-sentence report she puts at arms length her responsibility , saying she didn’t ask for or solicit the images.  

Dobla, who attended the Catholic Gumley House Convent School - moto ‘Vive Ut Vivas’ (live that you may live) - founded in 1841 was also made subject to a five-year restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim.

Judgement Day For Born-Again 'Witchfinders'

Day Of Reckoning: Leonora & Mark Joseph

A born-again Christian mother and son, accused of shouting “death by fire” chants at their upstairs neighbour, will discover their fate on July 10.

Leonora Joseph, 76, and her son Mark Joseph, 56, who claim they are “born again”, targeted 45 year-old Samantha Ginsburg and her 7 year-old autistic daughter, believing they were witches, a court heard.

Yesterday District Judge Andrew Sweet announced at the conclusion of their trial he would deliver his verdict on that date.

The Joseph’s, of Cromwell Road, Wimbledon have both pleaded not guilty to harassing upstairs neighbour Ms Ginsburg between August 27 and November 30, last year.

The charge accuses both Joseph’s of shouting: “Death by fire,” playing their television loudly and calling their neighbour’s young daughter a: “Witch.”

After Ms Ginsburg eventually reported them to the police she logged 38 separate incidents between August 28 and making a second police statement on January 4, this year.

Mrs Joseph told the trial today: “Somebody in witchcraft will not like the name of God and in particular Jesus. I will call her a witch, because that is what she is, that’s not hateful, that’s her occupation.”

Mrs Joseph claimed Ms Ginsburg was exposed as a witch when she “reacted in horror” upon first meeting her, behaviour a local “Godly” woman said was a tell-tale sign.

Samantha Ginsburg

“The woman, who I met in Waitrose, told me: “She sees Jesus in you. No-one will know, only a witch will know you are a follower of Jesus.”

During prayers for her failing health Mrs Joseph said she saw an image of Ms Ginsburg on her bedroom wall and said flatmate Klaudius Barran was also involved.

“How can they say we are chanting? Christians don’t chant. We fight against the spirit, we don’t fight against the human.”

She conceded playing religious Trinity Broadcasting Network and God TV at high volume so the neighbours would hear the words.

Quoting Exodus Mrs Jospeh told the court: “Thou shall not suffer a witch to live. That is the word of God.

“We want to destroy this witchcraft. It doesn’t just attack us, but also non-believers and they wouldn’t be aware.

“It comes to us this witchcraft and it is the work of Satan.”

She confirmed the loud prayers and TV were designed to be heard. “It was intended to upset the spirit in them. These are people dealing with evil, with Satan. They are haters of God.”

Her son Mark told the court: “We are in spiritual warfare. They are practicing witchcraft. This is not something a court or police force can deal with.

“We have had a life of hell with them as neighbours. They are tracking us, eavesdropping, all our activities are monitored.

“They are trying to murder us.”

Neighbour Feared Born Again Christian Mother And Son 'Witchfinders' Would Set Building Ablaze

Leonora & Mark Joseph Today

A full-time mum feared her devout Christian mother and son neighbours - convinced she was a witch - would set their building ablaze after hearing repeated “death by fire” chants, a court heard today. 

Leonora Joseph, 76, and her son Mark Joseph, 56, who claim they are “born again”, targeted 45 year-old Samantha Ginsburg and her 7 year-old autistic daughter, the trial was told.

The Joseph’s, of Cromwell Road, Wimbledon have both pleaded not guilty to harassing upstairs neighbour Ms Ginsburg between August 27 and November 30, last year.

The charge accuses both Joseph’s of shouting: “Death by fire,” playing their television loudly and calling their neighbour’s young daughter a: “Witch.”

After Ms Ginsburg eventually reported them to the police she logged 38 separate incidents between August 28 and making a second police statement on January 4, this year.

She told Wimbledon Magistrates Court: “I think they believe I am a witch and I am teaching my daughter to be the next witch.

“They put crosses in the window every time I pass by as well as Jesus signs.

“Last summer I began hearing chanting asking for an angel to come and slay the witch, who is me, and the landlord was also mentioned.

“They asked for our deaths by fire, to slay us and this went on for some time, louder and louder, angrier and angrier going from room to room.”

Ms Ginsburg shares her flat with a man and they both asked for the chanting to stop, she said. “They ignored us or laughed.”

Samantha Ginsburg

The Josephs also play their favourite Christian tv channel at a loud volume, said Ms Ginsburg, adding the chanting usually starts around midnight.

“Sometimes it starts at 11.30pm, sometimes at 1.00am and lasts forty-five to ninety minutes.

“On occasion I was woken up or my daughter was woken up.

“It was bringing death and destruction, using my name and the landlord’s name. Bringing death by slaying or by fire to me or my flatmate.” 

When asked if she was ever in physical fear Ms Ginsburg replied: “Yes, by fire.”

She added: “I stopped using the garden during the day because someone would be at the window chanting something.

“I did not want to go home. I can’t give my daughter freedom and independence. Was she safe?

“They would point fingers and say: ‘You’re evil. Jesus will punish you.’

“I was afraid, I did not know what to expect. I was mostly concerned for my daughter.

“I was shocked, saddened that people would do that.”

District Judge Andrew Sweet ejected Mrs Joseph from the courtroom after she ignored two warnings to be quiet and he overheard her saying: “….and kill them,” during Ms Ginsburg’s evidence.

However, this did not silence her and she told him: “May God be your judge. You have not done your homework. That’s why you do not know about spiritual matters.”

Prosecutor Mr. Philip Simpson told the court: “The Josephs believe the child is possessed by witches and the people who live in the flat upstairs are possessed by witches.

The Josephs Live Below Samantha

“There is a course of behaviour, shouting of abuse and incantations from the bible. 

“Some of these incidents were recorded on a mobile phone.”

Before the trial today Mr. Joseph claimed he and his mother were being persecuted for their religious beliefs. “We have found our Lord Jesus Christ in a new way and we have been true to our faith.

“We believe in our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ and we think it is unfair to be called delusional. It is very unfair that living as christians we have to endure spiritual warfare.”

During a previous court hearing Mrs Joseph said: “We are born-again Christians. This witchcraft is not practised openly and in past times they were burned at the stake. 

“The devil is the deceiver. He does everything in secret.

“They are always accusing the person they have attacked and they now use witchcraft as entertainment, magic.”

Mrs Joseph told the court she was simply quoting Psalm 94 Verse 1 of the Bible to protect herself from witchcraft.

Her son told the court they were living in “relative peace” with Samantha and her partner as neighbours for seven years until mysterious things began happening.

“There was a deterioration in our living standards that we have not experienced before.”

He claimed his mother was struck by a mysterious life-threatening illness in 2016. “Her vital signs were shutting down for a minute or so.

“For the first time in her life she had to go to hospital for a life or death issue.

“Over a period of time she was unable to walk. She was virtually bedridden for months, unable to go to the bathroom because she had becomes weak.

“There were a number of sicknesses and there was no diagnosis.”

Mr. Joseph said his mother spent 18 days in hospital. “They were unable to work out what was wrong with her.

“Now, thanks to God, she is able to move around and had her health.”

Regarding the charges he added: “This is a spiritual matter, not something that can be dealt with by any court of law or the police.

“We had been praying the word of God as our only defence, reading from the word of God. This is our way of dealing with it spiritually.”

Trial continues…………..

Poker Player Denies Molesting Fellow Church-Goer

A professional poker player sexually assaulted a female member of his born-again Christian church congregation when attending her flat to assemble a flat-pack wardrobe, a court heard today.

Daniel James Godwin, 31, picked-up the five-foot tall civil servant and stood her on her bed before pinning her to the living-room wall with her arms stretched above her head, the jury were told.

Afterwards he sent her a WhatsApp message, which read: “Sorry about the rapey incident earlier,” and effectively “confessed” to church elders when investigated by the pastor, say the prosecution.

Godwin, of Newgate Tower, Newgate, Croydon has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexually assaulting the university graduate on June 16, last year.

Both attended Redeemer Church, Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, where two months later Godwin was summonsed to attend a meeting.

“He said he grabbed her by the arm and forced a kiss, dragged her to the bedroom and said his intention was sexual and he left when she fought him off,” prosecutor Mr. Mark Halsey told Croydon Crown Court.

“He tried to justify what he had done, saying all men have this motivation. 

“He said the solution was not to leave him alone with a woman. The Crown say that is a sort of confession.”

The woman, giving evidence from behind a screen, told the jury: “I did think if I didn’t say the right thing he was probably going to rape me.”

She told the court Godwin told her: “Lust came over me,” and advised her in order to avoid similar incidents again she should never be alone with a man.

Godwin visited her Croydon flat to do some odd jobs and they shared an afternoon bottle of wine.

“He asked me to kiss him and I don’t know why I said it, but I said: ‘You kiss me.’ He kissed me on my lips and picked me up and put me on the bed standing up, which I thought was really weird.

“I remember him staring at me and he had his hand around my waist. I took his arm off and walked off the bed and thought that was the end of it.

“That’s when he grabbed me and put his arms around me, around my waist from behind and I took his arms off again.

“He came after me in the living room, pinning me against the wall. He held my wrists above my head.

“I didn’t want him to get angry, it was like his face had changed. I said: ‘We can’t do this now’ and that’s when he let go of me and sighed.

“I think at that point he was kissing my neck. I told him to calm down and he stopped.

“My skin crawled a bit. It was just so gross, the whole thing, it felt disgusting.

“I felt he had violated me in my home and I did not even get the curtain tie backs done.”

When questioned by police Godwin said he stopped when it was obvious the woman did not want to continue kissing.

Trial continues………..