Trial Collapses: Shambles Or Sabotage?

Cleared: Jefferson Alves Brito

A former model agency boss, accused of a naked drunken rampage in a tycoon’s £2m Knightsbridge flat, has been cleared by a judge who condemned the police and Crown Prosecution Service.

Jefferson Alves Brito, 33, was said to have downed vodka direct from the bottle while demanding food from the housekeeper, who was so scared she called her husband to the address.

Brito, of Academy Place, Isleworth always denied shoving the housekeeper and pushing a kitchen table into her husband at the Cadogan Square flat on September 21, last year.

He was found not guilty of assaulting Mrs Dinka Stoyanova and Mr Borislav Stoyanova by District Judge Angus Hamilton, who announced: “This trial has descended into a farce.”

Brazil-born Brito is the former director of a dissolved company called Dashingmodels Ltd.

The alleged victims struggled to understand prosecution questions and gave no incriminating evidence against Brito.

The owner of the property, Elie Taktouk, had originally accused Brito of destroying high-end property at the address, but this was dropped at the defendant's first Crown Court appearance.

Police investigating the complaint confirmed both witnesses had a good grasp of the English language, but there was no evidence of this during the trial.

Both witnesses had no interpreter to assist them and struggled to understand prosecutor Angela O’Dwyer’s questions at Hendon Magistrates Court.

Brito was also originally charged with causing £42,000 worth of damage to 5 paintings; 2 statues; glassware; candle holders; flooring; rugs; clothing and a mattress belonging to businessman Elie Taktouk.    

This charge was dropped at Isleworth Crown Court, but the CPS continued with the assault charges, with the police officer in charge failing to note the complainants had issues with the english language.

“Nothing that has been said would allow me to convict Mr Brito,” said DJ Hamilton after hearing the confused evidence. “The blame lies entirely with the police and prosecution here.

“The questions were met with utter incomprehension. This is totally unsatisfactory that the case is in this state.

“I am never going to be sure two assaults were committed.

“I am very unhappy. This case emphasises everything that is currently wrong with the criminal justice system and that an officer says Mrs Stoyanova’s english is adequate is astonishing.”

Earlier Ms O’Dwyer said: “The defendant pushed a chair and kitchen table into the husband, contacting his chin, chest and stomach and she was later pushed.”

Mr Stoyanova told the court: “He was naked, drunk and threw glass on the floor and was drinking vodka from the bottle and he was so aggressive, swearing all the time.

“He took a picture from the wall, put it on the bed and tried to jump on it,” he added, failing to give any evidence of the assault allegation.

Mrs Stoyanova said trouble continued for 5-6 hours up to around 10pm. “He put pictures on the sofa and wanted to jump on top  and took a knife and wanted to scratch them.”

She claimed Brito pushed her ”two or three times,” but described it as nothing more than gently placing his hands on her shoulders, which DJ Hamilton ruled couldn’t be disproved as self-defence by the defendant.

“I am horrified that people who say they are victims of crime have been let down by the CPS and the police,” said the judge. “This case is a horrifying mess on anyones opinion.

“It is in such a woeful state the only option is to dismiss both matters. I can never be sure these people were assaulted.

“I am complaining that I cannot judge this case on its merits. It is ridiculous that statement was taken in a manner that suggested she spoke english.

“When you get this day in and day out it gets to you after a while and victims of crime are not getting a fair hearing. It is annoying and nobody takes responsibility.”

He asked the prosecutor to communicate his feelings to the CPS.

Movie Man Accepts Police Caution

An award-winning movie industry boss, who has worked on multiple Hollywood films, has received a police caution for assaulting two men at a landmark St. James’s building, a court heard yesterday.

Robin Pizzey, 47, is the director of Soho-based Goldcrest Post Production Facilities and won an award for his work on Margaret Thatcher bio ‘The Iron Lady’ - starring Meryl Streep.

At Westminster Magistrates Court the Crown Prosecution Service announced both charges had been dropped after Pizzey accepted a caution from police, who usually require some degree of admission from the accused. 

Pizzey, of Bridgewater Road, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, was charged with assaulting Samir Tharani and Reece Tharani-Gayton at Carlton House Terrace on December 14.

The building - a Grade I listed Georgian townhouse - is the HQ of the British Academy for Humanities and Social Sciences. 

Pizzey has 92 credits for visual effects in films and television shows, including ’Stan & Ollie’; Murder on the Orient Express’; ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’; ‘Jason Bourne’; both Inbetweeners movies; ‘Quantum of Solace and Eddie the Eagle.

He has 52 credits for Editorial Department, including ‘Captain Philips’ and ‘Alpha Papa’.

In 2012 the Hollywood Post Alliance gave him the award for outstanding colour grading for ‘The Iron Lady’.

Jockey Saddled With Penalty Points

A flat-race jockey has been found guilty of being in charge of his silver Mercedes car while over the drinks limit at Heathrow Airport.

Slade O'Hara, 36, was not driving the five-door hatchback at the time so avoided an automatic disqualification, but was hit with ten penalty points on his driving licence.

The winner of fifty-three horse races, of Church Road, King's Lynn, Wolferton, Norfolk was fined £261, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge.

He pleaded guilty to being in charge of the vehicle, while unfit through drink, on the Terminal Two forecourt on January 26.

The biggest win of O'Hara's racing career was the Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock Park in 2009 when he rode Look Busy to victory.

Between 2002 and 2016 he secured 53 victories, netting prize money of approximately £440,000.

Chelsea Man Guilty Of Assault

A Chelsea man, who fought a charge of assaulting woman in west London, has been banned from contacting her after being convicted.

Oliver Spitzer, 28, of Daska House, King's Road was found guilty of assaulting Erika Toth in nearby Ealing on October 5, last year.

He protested his innocence and stood trial at Uxbridge Magistrates Court.

After being convicted he was bailed to return for a pre-sentence report.

Spitzer was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes 150 hours community service.

He was also ordered to pay £120 compensation to the victim, £620 costs and a £90 victim surcharge.

The Crown Prosecution Service also successfully applied for a two-year restraining order prohibiting Spitzer contacting Erika Toth.

HOWZAT!: Ex-Cricketer Caught Out By Cops

Court In The Slips: Malcolm-Hansen

A former county cricketer caught driving his BMW while over double the drinks limit has been fined and banned from the roads.

English-born Danish cricketer Richard Johan Anders Malcolm-Hansen, 33, played internationally and for Loughborough University and Leicestershire.

He represented Denmark between 2005 and 2008, including their 2005 ICC trophy campaign.

Malcolm-Hansen, of Caroline House, Dorset Road, Beckenham fought the charge, but was convicted of driving the black BMW 325 in nearby Kent House Road on September 8, last year with excess alcohol in his breath.

He gave a reading of 85 microgrammes of alcohol – the legal limit is 35.

At Bexley Magistrates Court he was fined £1500, with £310 costs, ordered to pay a £150 victim surcharge and was disqualified from driving for twenty months.

Malcolm-Hansen batted right-hand and bowled right-arm offbreak during a career that also included stints with Kent and Beckenham Cricket Club.

Bank Intern Harassed Boss She Had Affair With

A graduate trainee, who fell in love with a HSBC manager thirty years her senior, bombarded him and his teenage daughter with disturbing and insulting messages when they split-up, a court heard.

Emily Salt, 26, who has a degree in International Business, Finance and Economics joined the banking giant as a Graduate Management Trainee, where she met the middle-aged boss.

However, when their relationship fell apart she messaged the father, 56, 89 times over four weeks, threatening: “I will destroy your daughter and your career.”

She told his 16 year-old daughter: “You look like a slut, your eyebrows are halfway up our head. Your dad makes enough money to get a nose job for you.”

Insults aimed at the girl’s mother were also included.

Salt, of Elmhurst Cottage, Lyme Park, Disley, Stockport - who attended the local Poynton High School Sixth Form - was sentenced to an eighteen month community order.

She appeared at south London’s Croydon Magistrates Court as her offending continued during a period living in the capital.

Salt pleaded guilty to causing her ex harassment between April 15 and May 19, last year and his daughter harassment between November 1, 2018 and August 1, 2019.

She was also ordered to complete up to 25 days probation-ordered rehabilitation and 100 hours community service work.

Salt was made subject to an 18-month restraining order, prohibiting contact with the two victims or visiting their addresses in Old Coppice, York and nearby Ploughmans Lane, Haxby.

She must also pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

“The offences clearly cross the custody threshold. The young victim was forced to endure nearly a year of your sustained abuse and harassment,” District Judge Nigel McLean told the first-time offender.

“It was designed to cause her maximum distress at a time she was sitting exams.

“Your actions in relation to the father were designed to cause him distress by subjecting him to harassment and abusing his daughter as well.

“The abuse they are subject to was sinister.”

Prosecutor Julie Idowu said: “The former partner told the defendant not to contact him or his family and threatened to report her to the police as there had been other incidents.

“There was also an attempt to hack into the ISA account of the daughter. He received a text from the defendant notifying him of an attempt to liquidate the investment in his daughter’s Junior ISA account.”

Salt was also originally charged with a £9,000 fraud regarding the ISA, but this was dropped at Inner London Crown Court.

“Facebook and Instagram accounts were set up in the name of the male complainant and friends and family of his received requests, but the accounts belonged to this defendant,” added Ms Idowu.

Salt’s lawyer Marina Williamson told the court: “She met the victim during a six-month internship at the bank and little did she know it would end up in the terrible ordeal that has ended here.

“He was senior at the bank, thirty years older than her and she was quite vulnerable, quite young.

“She fell deeply in love with him and that is part of the reason she behaved so badly at the end.

“She was a victim of psychological manipulation, domestic violence at the hands of the complainant who lied and made false promises.”

However, District Judge McLean announced: “This is victim blaming. We have to be very careful here.

“The second victim, the daughter, was an innocent party in all of this and it went on for almost a year against her.”

Ministry Of Justice Civil Servant Nicked £1.7m

A senior Ministry of Justice civil servant is starting a three-and-a-half year prison sentence for defrauding taxpayers of £1.7m to fund his luxury lifestyle.

Allan Huw Williams, 37, was a manager in the MoJ's financial and control sector. 

He diverted payments from the department to a fictitious company he controlled.

He was exposed when a fellow employee became suspicious about money transfers.

Williams, a Grade Seven civil servant, who was paid £50,000-£60,000 a year treated himself to a five-bedroom manor house siting in 1.1 acres of Hampshire countryside and Audi SQ5 and Audi A3.

Now living in Ravens Clough, Heath Mill Lane, Worplesdon, Guildford, Surrey he pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between August 3, 2017 and July 5, last year and transferring £1,738,000 in criminal property.

Southwark Crown Court heard Williams created a £7m purchase order for a bogus 'IT services contract' from a company he created – 'Sopra Business Consulting' – and set up a monthly payment.

When he was caught Williams had already transferred £1.4m from the fake company's account to his own and the firm had £400,000 in the bank.

Judge Joanna Korner QC told him: You conceived of this plan to make yourself richer. It was both sophisticated and greedy.”

The MoJ has recovered £900,000 and is pursuing the remainder.

Parked Motorist Fined For Late-Night Whiskey Session In Car

A motorist caught by police sitting in the driver's seat enjoying a bottle of whiskey with a drinking buddy has been fined.

Satpal Singh Nandra, 37, of Watery Lane, Northolt had been sipping from a plastic cup and an empty bottle of booze was found by officers in the car's footwell.

He was not banned from driving because the engine was not running, although the keys were in the ignition.

Nandra pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates Court today for being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle in Popular Avenue, Southall on February 3.

The court heard that at approx 10.35pm, Police Constable Jaz Alangh and Police Sergeant Guy Rooney from Southall Green Safer Neighbourhood Team were on patrol.

Their attention was drawn to a parked vehicle and as the officers approached the vehicle, they saw the driver Nandra and his passenger were both holding plastic cups. 

It was also noticed that there was an empty bottle of whiskey in the passenger foot well.

PS Rooney established from Nandra that he had been drinking whiskey for a few hours, whilst sitting in the driver’s seat with the keys in the ignition of the vehicle.

Nandra was arrested for being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle and taken to a west London Police Station. 

He was charged with consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his breath was 59 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The drink drive legal limit for drivers is 35 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath.

PC Jaz Alangh, Dedicated Ward Officer, Southall Green said “Drinking and driving kills lives, there are no excuses, even if your sat in the car whilst not driving it! If you want a drink, leave the car at home.”

Nandra's driving licence was endorsed with 10 penalty points and he was fined £423. 

He must also pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £42 and costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Rabbi Mowed Down Two Pedestrians While Parking Jag

Rabbi Berisch Arriving At Court

A helpful Rabbi, assisting a woman park her powerful Jaguar car, mowed down two pedestrians and demolished a pharmacy when the vehicle suddenly took off, a court heard today.

Ralph Berisch, 75, was caught on CCTV carrying one terrified man, 44, who thought he was going to die, on the bonnet and colliding with an OAP with a walking stick.

Both victims ended up in the front of the destroyed shop, with the OAP, 79, suffering a broken leg and toe and the other man 13 fractures to his left leg and a lacerated right arm.

Berisch, of Woodstock Avenue, Golders Green has pleaded not guilty to two counts of causing serious injury while driving dangerously in Golders Green Road on March 28, 2018.

He claims he simply got the brake and accelerator pedals mixed up in the unfamiliar automatic car, which reached 20mph on the pavement, also demolishing a bin and bending a metal bollard.

Prosecutor Mr. Nicholas Alexander told Harrow Crown Court: “There are people going about their business, including David Richards, who had just visited his children at a local nursery.

“He describes hearing an extremely loud revving of an engine and being struck from behind and on the bonnet of the car and thinking he was going to die.”

In his statement the kosher butcher said: “I heard a really, really loud excessive revving behind me and the next thing I was on the bonnet, hurtling at speed.

David Richard carried on bonnet before Jag collided with Simon Elkouby

“I thought I was going to die and at the last second it swerved into a pharmacy. I realised my leg was broken and everything was blurry.

“I know the Rabbi behind the wheel, he is a good man it was one hundred per cent and accident and he will be suffering. It has effected my life, but I’m happy to be alive.”

Pedestrian Simon Elkouby saw the car coming toward him, but did not have time to avoid being struck and carried into the pharmacy.

“You will see on the CCTV he tried to move out of the way, but the car is moving at speed,” the prosecutor told the jury. “The car collides with him and he is carried into the front window of the pharmacy.”

He later told police: “A car came across the pavement and hit me directly as I tried to escape. I lost consciousness and woke up under the car and said a prayer as I thought I was going to die.”

An obviously distressed Berisch told police on the scene: “I put the car in drive, I don’t know what happened. It took off, I couldn’t control it.”

The horsepower of the X-type Jag was over twice that of the rabbi’s Toyota Yaris.

Mr. Alexander told the court: “Two people suffered serious injury as the result of the way Rabbi Berisch drove that day.”

He had agreed to assist a woman he knew park her car in a side road. “The next thing the car suddenly reversed backwards into the car parked behind it in a matter of seconds.

“The next thing the car moved forward and accelerated, mounting the pavement and turned left onto Golders Green Road and he next thing she heard was a big crash.”

Eye-witness Dick Segal, 74, a retired designer watched Berisch struggle to park the Jag. “To my amazement it reversed at quick speed into the car behind.

“There was an almighty crash and then the Jag turned left and mounted the pavement and to my absolute horror smashed into a parked car and I saw the door window disintegrate.

“Before that he had looked up and down Beverley Gardens in what I thought was odd behaviour. It was very peculiar.” 

The glass-fronted Victoria Pharmacy was destroyed and boss Abbas Dosa recalled: “I heard a very loud crash as the car came crashing through the window of my shop.

“I could see someone was pinned by the car and someone on the bonnet was screaming. This man had injuries to his leg and there was blood everywhere.

“The shop suffered catastrophic damage.”

Trial continues………..

BTP Cop Meets His Career Waterloo

An off-duty British Transport Police Officer assaulted a woman at Waterloo railway station.

Police Constable Andrew Smith, 48, was hit with a £1,680 bill in fines and court costs.

Ironically, as a BTP officer his day-to-day responsibility is maintaining law and order on the country's railway and transport networks.

He was convicted at Hendon Magistrates Court of one count of common assault.

The court heard PC Smith assaulted the victim after an argument at the station on March 14, last year.

PC Smith remains on restricted administrative duties.

Now he has been convicted of a criminal offence PC Smith will be subject to misconduct proceedings.

If misconduct is proved he faces dismissal from the force.

Tram Bag-Snatch Bid: CCTV Image Released

Police are hunting this suspected bag snatcher after a tram commuter suffered broken teeth when she was dragged to the ground.

British Transport Police have released this CCTV image as they attempt to identify the man.

They are treating the offence as attempted robbery.

The woman was targeted at 11.30am on Tuesday February 4 at Reeves Corner Tram Stop, Croydon.

The suspect is reported to have tried ripping the victim’s bag from her hands. 

This caused her to fall over and suffer injuries to her face and teeth.

Witnesses challenged the man and he ran away empty handed towards West Croydon railway station, where he is believed to have boarded a train.

Officers would like to speak to the man in the image who may have information that can help their investigation.

Anyone who knows him is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40. 

In both cases, quote reference number 208 of 04/02/20.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Couple From Hell Jailed For Brutal Attack On Man

Caged: Cecil Phillips & Tarnia Piasecki

A violent couple, who savagely beat their victim after the female half of the duo invited him back to their place, have been locked-up.

Cecil Phillips, 46, and Tarnia Piasecki, 32, both of Warner Road, Camberwell, were both convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Their victim, aged 42 years-old, who was subjected to a violent twenty-minute beating, was left fighting for his life with severe head injuries.

At Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Phillips received 18 years imprisonment and Piasecki 10 years.

Detective Constable Nicola Barker, from the South Central Command Unit, said:"The victim of this horrific assault fortunately made a full recovery, thanks to the aid administered by the initial responding officers, paramedics and NHS staff.

"But for their efforts the assault inflicted by Phillips and Piasecki could have proved fatal. 

“I hope the sentence we have received will allow the victim some closure as he moves on with his life."

Police in Southwark were called to Warner Road at 05.41am on September 15, 2018, following reports of an assault.

Officers attended and found a man suffering from a serious head injury. 

He was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Both Phillips and Piasecki were arrested the same day in connection with the incident. 

They were charged and remanded in custody.

Enquiries were undertaken to identify the victim immediately after the assault, including the issue of a media appeal. 

However, in late September 2018 the man awoke and identified himself to hospital staff. 

It was established that the victim and the suspects were known to each other.

Piasecki targeted the victim, approaching him in Camberwell, and inviting him back to the address where the assault took place, in order to rob him. 

Phillips followed them and the victim was subjected to a sustained attack.

Judge Rajeev Shetty told the pair their victim as “attacked and beaten savagely,” describing Phillips as a “dangerous offender” and Piasecki as a “fairly manipulative person.”

Multiple Rapist Trapped By His Own Phone Recordings Of Abuse

A dangerous sexual predator, who filmed his repeated abuse of sleeping women, has been jailed for twenty-one years.

The seven victims did not even know they had been sexually abused by 33 year-old Jamie Rogers, who was trapped by his own sordid recordings.

Six foot-plus Rogers, of Vincent Drive, Shepperton pleaded guilty to multiple offences committed over almost a decade between January, 2009 and July, 2017.

At Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Rogers was sentenced as a 'dangerous' offender, who must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before parole is considered.

Once released he will be on licence for an extended period of seven years and and was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

He pleaded guilty to 12 counts of rape; 15 counts of assault by penetration and 19 counts of sexual assault.

Many of the offences involved Rogers penetrating the victims' with objects such as mobile phones; shoes; cigarettes and a baton.

The court heard Rogers carried out the attacks while the victims were asleep.

None of them were aware they had been sexually assaulted until police – who were examining his phone for an unrelated matter – discovered images and videos that Rogers had taken.

Following an investigation by detectives from Specialist Crime he was charged by post to attend Wimbledon Magistrates Court.

Detective Inspector Simon Dowling, said: “Rogers took complete advantage of these women to fulfil his own depraved sexual fantasies.

“The victims in this case were completely unaware of what had happened to them until they were notified by police.

“They were left utterly shocked by what was disclosed and they will have to live with the repercussions of this for the rest of their lives.

“We take all reports of sexual offences very seriously and we hope this shows our commitment to bringing offenders of this nature to justice.”

Detective Constable Kevin Newton, who led the investigation, said: “This has been a long and very challenging investigation and I am pleased Rogers is now behind bars and unable to subject anyone else to this kind of behaviour.

“Our thoughts remain with the victims – many of whom have been left traumatised by their ordeals – and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them for supporting this prosecution.”

Rogue Travel Agent Takes Flight: Wanted For £125K Swindle

Police are hunting a suspected rogue travel agent, who flew to the Canary Islands after taking £125,000 from unhappy holiday customers.

Fifty-six victims have been identified that paid Hayley King, 34, money for vacations that were never fully-booked.

The Feltham-based internet travel agent accepted bookings as 'Around The World Travel'.

It is alleged that King was taking money from victims and informing them that their holidays were booked.

However, victims subsequently found out that none, or only a small amount of the holiday had actually been paid for.

At this time officers have identified victims of fraud from across the country.

Police have information that King left the UK and travelled to Fuerteventura, Canary Isles, on March 24, last year and it appears she has not returned.

Detective Constable Ryan Maginnes of the Metropolitan Police's Economic Crime Command, said: “We urgently want to trace King and would ask anyone with information to contact police. 

“If she is abroad you can contact the local force and give them your information.

“We would also ask anyone else who thinks they may have been a victim of this fraud to contact police. 

“It is my fear that there may be other victims who are not yet aware that their holidays have not been paid for. 

“Anyone with information should contact police or Crimestoppers.”

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Please quote CAD 2225/13JAN.

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

Rogue Traders Jailed For Scamming OAP Out Of £1.1m

Greed: Casey

Two rogue builders have each received eight years imprisonment for their plot to swindle an isolated WW2 veteran octogenarian out of his home and savings in a £1.1m scam.

Bachelor Henry James Bennett - known as ‘Jim’ - died aged 88 years-old in the Earlsfield house he had resided all his life and immediately the greedy duo tried to cash in.

Tony Casey, 34, of Brookes Place, Potters Bar and John O’Connor, 37, of Knatts Valley Homes, Sevenoaks, Kent both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud.

They had been employed by Mr. Bennett in the years before his death, with the pensioner withdrawing unexplained cash amounts totalling £32,500 from his bank in 2003.

Neighbours told police Casey and his associates would often take the pensioner, who worked for British manufacturer De La Rue until his retirement, to the bank.

Detective Constable Siobhan Cowlin said afterwards: “This was a truly horrible, calculated and predatory fraud investigation in which two men groomed and took full advantage of a vulnerable elderly man.

King Con: O'Connor

“Had it not been for a family member contacting the police then Casey and O’Connor might very well have got away with this crime.

“Although this investigation has taken years to complete, it was worth it to see these two men behind bars.”

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard Mr. Bennett received £20,000 from O’Connor in 2007 for the freehold in exchange for a 21-year lease that allowed him to continue living at 51 Brookwood Road.

Prosecutor Mr. Nicholas Alexander said a company owned by John O’Connor provided the funds and the property was signed over to his brother Jeremiah before ownership was transferred to Casey.

Now the ‘landlord’ Casey put the property up for sale in June, 2015 for £949,000, with Mr. Bennett a sitting tenant.

Isolated Mr. Bennett, who did not even have a home phone died, on March 23, 2016 and two weeks later Casey had possession of his death certificate and was arranging the cheapest cremation he could find.

He told the funeral directors Mr. Bennett was his uncle, but changed his story and claimed he was his grandfather to locksmiths and a solicitor.

When the solicitor questioned the whereabouts of Casey’s father, potentially the next-of-kin, the defendant said he disappeared to Ireland twenty years ago and had not been seen or heard of since. 

Target: 51 Brookwood Road

Casey insisted on “low key” marketing of the property, but once the estate agents persuaded him to advertise on the internet it was spotted by Mr. Bennett’s second cousin in Dorset.

She began investigating after her Christmas card to Mr. Bennett was returned.

“I found out the house was on the market and I was shocked and surprised and very curious,” Linda Sutton told the jury.

“It was very upsetting the cremation had taken place and the ashes were still with the funeral directors,” added Mrs Sutton, who paid the £2,000 balance Casey had avoided.

She had only met Mr. Bennett once, back in 1990, but exchanged occasional letters with him and sometimes received calls via a public telephone.

“I was seeking to right the wrong,” said Mrs Sutton, who reported the house sale to police and was awarded the property in civil court, a judgement unsuccessfully challenged by Casey.

Casey says he was “treated like a grandson” by Mr. Bennett, who he gave “friendship and emotional support.”

He also claimed Mr. Bennett was of “sound mind” when the freehold was transferred.