Vauxhall Predator Hunted

Two woman were attacked in Vauxhall within a six week period earlier this year and police suspect the same unknown male is responsible.

This image of the suspect has been released and the Metropolitan Police are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying him.

During the first incident a 24 year-old woman’s screams alerted other members of the public when she was followed from Vauxhall Station to Fentiman Road at 11.50pm on January 16.

A man grabbed her from behind, assaulted her and pulled her to the ground and fortunately members of the public chased him away.

Shortly afterwards, police believe the same suspect was seen exposing himself and committing an indecent act in Exchange Square.

He is described as a heavy set male, wearing a black puffer jacket, grey jogging bottoms and a black and white face mask.

The second incident was at 7.05am on Monday, March 1 when a 28 year-old woman was pushed to the ground by a man as she walked through Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens.

The suspect assaulted the victim before she managed to flee.

At the time he was wearing a black puffer jacket with white Versace lettering, black trousers and Nike Airmax trainers.

Anyone who can name the suspect are asked to call the police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting 7946/16JAN.

To remain 100% anonymous contact Crimestoppers_uk.org or call 0800 555 111.

OAP Banned From Local Park After Sexual Assault

Grange Park

An octogenarian has been banned from his local park after admitting he sexually assaulted a woman.

Brian Roberts, 83, cannot go within fifty metres of Grange Park, Coulsdon for the next twelve months.

At Croydon Magistrates' Court he pleaded guilty to intentionally sexually touching a woman at the park on August 16, last year.

The court bailed him for a Probation Service interview and preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Pensioner Roberts, of Forge Avenue, Coulsdon was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which carries the requirement that he cannot go within fifty metres of the park.

He was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to the victim, plus £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

"Odious" Train Pervert Locked-Up For Five-Year Exposure Campaign

A man has been jailed for multiple counts of exposing himself in front of women on the railway network, following an extensive British Transport Police investigation.

Tajinder Sabherwal, 40, of High Street, Bedford, was found guilty of seven counts of outraging public decency, and one count of assault against an emergency service worker, between 2016 and 2021 at stations and on trains around London and Surrey.

He was sentenced to a total of 18 months in prison and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) at Inner London Crown Court.

The court heard of multiple cases of women reporting Sabherwal touching himself inappropriately or exposing his genitals while sat opposite them on a train or at a station.

CCTV footage showed him changing into a different set of clothes halfway through his journeys to change his appearance after committing an offence.

On April 3 Sabherwal was arrested at St Pancras station after a woman travelling on a service from London Bridge to Cambridge reported that he sat opposite her on an empty carriage and began touching himself indecently while looking at her. 

After she challenged him, an off-duty officer stepped in and took him off the train. 

Upon his arrest, officers found he was carrying several items of clothing, including different outfits and hats that matched CCTV stills from previous incidents.

Nine weeks earlier on Saturday January 30, an off-duty WPC boarded a train from Redhill to London Bridge. 

As she sat down, Sabherwal moved from a different carriage to sit across the aisle from her. 

She noticed him touching the inside of his shorts and pointing his phone towards her. 

She challenged him and told him she had called 999. 

When the train arrived at Coulsdon South station he got off and the officer followed, he then violently pushed the officer away and ran out of the station.

Investigating officer in the case, Detective Constable Olivia Hill, said: “Sabherwal’s odious actions were evidently pre-meditated and for his own sexual gratification.

“These incidents will have had a serious impact on the victims’ lives, and we believe no one should be subject to such vile behaviour on the railway.

“I’m pleased to see he’ll have plenty of time to reflect on this in prison.

“I would urge anyone who witnesses or experiences sexual harassment on the railway to report it to us – no report is too small or insignificant and we will always take you seriously. 

Text us on 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency, always dial 999.”

Police And Westminster Fail To Ban Troublemaker Great-Great Grandson Of King George V

Police and Westminster council have tried to ban an aristocrat, who is 65th in line to the British throne, from the borough after years of violence, threats, criminal damage and racist behaviour.

However, today a judge ruled 43 year-old Rowan Nash Lascelles, the son of The Hon. James Lascelles, The Queen’s first cousin, once removed would simply ignore the order and take his offending to other neighbourhoods.

Refusing the Criminal Behaviour Order application - commonly known as a ‘Crimbo’ - Deputy District Judge Olwen Davies ruled: “An order will not deter him due to his entrenched criminality.”

Lascelles, whose great grandmother was the daughter of George VI, fled City of London Magistrates’ Court minutes before the hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

“He is plainly a persistent offender, who leaves misery in his wake,” announced Judge Davies. “He is either unable or unwilling to change and ignores the criminal law.

“An order excluding him from Westminster would simply be ignored. If he does not obey the law he will not obey a Criminal Behaviour Order and simply offend in other London boroughs and transfer his misery to Camden or Wandsworth.

“I doubt Mr Lascelles gives consideration to his behaviour and it seems to be spontaneous, possibly associated with ADHD.

Earlier, Westminster’s rough-sleeping co-ordinator George Bossman, told the court he has tried to house Lascelles since August, 2016. “He has always ended up losing his accommodation due to his inappropriate behaviour and has now exhausted all of his options.

“Support has not worked and placement in hotels has not worked. It costs a lot of money to place him in a hotel, but there was constant anti-social behaviour and criminal damage.

“There have been frightening aggressive outbursts and racist behaviour and he has been engaging in the illicit use of substances and buying it in Westminster. 

“I have engaged with his father, who has now accommodated him in a hotel in Victoria.”

The court heard  Lascelles is addicted to powerful synthetic marijuana ’Spice’ and mixes with the users and dealers who congregate in Westminster, particularly around The Strand.

“If this behaviour continues in Westminster there could be a fatality,” added Mr Bossman. “He engages with rough sleepers, resulting in fights and he has caused a number of incidents at the drug and alcohol treatment centre in Wardour Street, Soho.

“We have tried everything in the book to contain his behaviour, with mental health and drug and alcohol teams attempting to help him.”

The only break Westminster gets from  Lascelles are his occasional trips to France. “His parents have a very, very big farm there and when he works there it calms him down.

“However, when he does not like something he gets extremely angry and abuses people and we need to put boundaries in his place to control his behaviour.”

Lascelles has multiple convictions for racially-aggravated criminal offences and was once banned from Sainsbury’s in The Strand for telling staff: “Go back to where you come from. I’m going to kick you out of the country. You’re not English.”

He recently lost his accommodation at the King George’s Hostel in Great Peter Street, Victoria - ironically named after his great-great grandfather King George V.

The ‘Crimbo’ application was supported by Westminster’s anti-social behaviour officer Anna Hows, who told the court: “There is a history of Mr  Lascelles returning to places he has once engaged with and causing harassment, alarm and distress to the people, residents and businesses.

“He says he is not happy with the support he has been offered regarding housing and removal from the borough would give him a fresh start.

“Westminster is the hub of rough sleeping and Spice use and it is in his best interests to be removed from the borough and for the respite of the community.”

The Metropolitan Police also threw their weight behind the application to ban Lascelles and PC Zak Ali told the court: “It is quite a lengthy history when it comes to his offending pattern.

“We are seeking an order on behalf of the businesses and residents of Westminster to offer respite from this individual, who has convictions for anti-social acts and criminal damage.”

The officer said on August 10 police were called to a fight outside Italian restaurant Prezzo in the West End. “One of the individuals was Mr  Lascelles and he threw a bar stool, causing significant injury and was arrested for grievous bodily harm.

“That is just one. There are others and he would commit a number of offences on the same day and be arrested numerous times in one week.

“He is a burden on the Metropolitan Police and many violent incidents are not reported to the police, particularly from outreach services and the council.

“He is a Spice addict and Westminster is the epicentre of Spice dealing. This order would prevent him legally from doing that.”

However, Judge Davies ruled the ‘Crimbo’ could not be used as an additional punishment and would not control Lascelles.

“My reservation is that it is not going to stop him coming back to Westminster. He is not going to be deterred.”

Lascelles was also due to be sentenced for an offence of criminal damage after pleading guilty to vandalising a door on April 27 at Look Ahead Housing & Care in Vauxhall Bridge Road, Victoria and this will be dealt with when he is arrested.

Train Passengers Attacked With Glass Bottles

Passengers onboard different trains are suspected to have been violently attacked by the same group within hours of each other.

British Transport Police (BTP) are investigating and have released these images of their suspects.

They are appealing to the public for assistance in identifying them.

The first violent incident occurred on Saturday, September 11 on a train travelling from Dartford, Kent to Charing Cross in central London.

At approximately 5.45pm the female victim and a separate group boarded the train in Slade Green, south London.

Individuals within that group began yelling at one another and causing a disturbance on the train.

The victim asked them to quieten down a little, but in response was threatened by one member of the group, who also deliberately barged into her.

The victim fled to another carriage, but was pursued by the group, who then started attacking her – kicking her in the head and hitting her with glass bottles.

She managed to get off the train at Erith station with other passengers, who provided first aid before she was treated at hospital.

The group stayed on the London-bound train.

In the second incident, at approximately 7pm, the victims, a couple, were on a Charing Cross to Dartford train when a group of people they didn’t know started verbally abusing them.

One girl from the group started attacking the female victim with a wine bottle before the rest of the group attacked them both.

Both victims were pulled to safety by other passengers, who were also assaulted by the group. 

The victims got off the train at Belvedere station and the group stayed on the train.

The victims were treated for facial and head injuries at a local hospital.

Officers believe those in the images may have information which could help their investigation.

If you recognise them, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 492 of 11/09/21.

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

Police Hunt Four-Times-Flasher

Transport cops are hunting a tube train sex pest, who flashed four victims within a few hours.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this CCTV image of their suspect and are appealing for the public's help in identifying him.

The offences all occurred on the London Underground.

On Friday, September 10 between 1pm and 8pm a man on-board a Piccadilly Line train exposed himself inappropriately to victims on four separate occasions.

On each occasion he rustled a carrier bag and made noises so the victims would look at him.

If you recognise the suspect or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 2100068053.

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

Boozy Train Sex Pest Hunted

A lone female passenger was quizzed about her love life by a lager-swilling train sex pest, who then exposed himself to her.

British Transport Police are investigating and have released these images CCTV of their suspect.

At just before 7pm on Saturday, September 11 the victim boarded a train at Staines railway station, Surrey, travelling towards Chertsey and sat down.

A short while later, a man came and sat in a seat nearby and started looking at the victim and laughing repeatedly. 

He then asked her if she had a boyfriend.

She ignored him and looked out the window before the man exposed himself to her. 

The victim then got up and walked away from the man.

Officers believe the man in the images may have information which could help their investigation.

If you recognise him, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 631 of 11/09/21.

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

Eight Years For Party Predator Trainee Lawyer

A trainee solicitor at one of the world’s largest law firms, who sexually assaulted two sleeping graduate women at a work colleague’s house-warming party, was jailed for eight years today.

Tom Hagyard, 29, had just started at the City of London commercial law practice when he molested a “nine or ten out of ten” drunken law student in the party host’s bed.

However, he told the jury the sexual activity was consensual: “I was enjoying this moment because she was enjoying it. I would not have continued for a moment if she wasn’t.”

Minutes later Hagyard, who graduated with a First Class philosophy degree, groped a medical student, who was asleep on the living-room couch, telling the jury: “She seemed to be enjoying it.”

Recorder Simon Russell Flint QC told him: “Nobody thought it was going to be anything other than a normal party for young people to get to know each other with drinking and dancing and fun until your actions brought to an end how that night would be remembered.

“The first victim had a lot to drink and was put into bed and out of kindness and regard for your comfort you also were invited to sleep in the bed, although why you were still there at 5am when others had left has not been explained.

“You almost immediately started to touch her. This young lady was sound asleep when you began to touch her sexually and she did not kiss you or give you any encouragement.

“She had no idea what was happening to her and could not identify who it was. You were a stranger to her and she did not consent to what you were doing and neither did you believe she was consenting.

“You went ahead and did what you wanted to do to this woman and getting little or no satisfaction went looking for another victim.

“You went into the living-room, where the second woman was asleep on the couch and you pushed aside her shirt and bra and touched her breast. You woke her up by your hand being on her breast.” 

Earlier that same night Hagyard treated his parents and two sisters to a celebratory three-course meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant with his first pay cheque in the legal profession before making his way to the £700,000 Fulham Road flat in west London.

Hagyard, of Fylde Road, Southport was convicted of two counts of assault by penetration in relation to the first woman and two counts of sexual assault in relation to the second woman.

The jury failed to reach a verdict on one count of raping the first women and were discharged.

In her victim impact statement the first woman said: “I cannot unhear the claims made by his defence during the trial that I consented even though I was unconscious. This is re-traumatising and haunting.”

She said the night left her “with chronic stress, anxiety, insomnia and panic attacks,” adding: “The nightmares I have in relation to the assaults are impossible to shake off.

“The defendant’s actions have destroyed my trust and personal faith in other people. I have felt ashamed that I did not fight back and still berate myself about it.”

The second woman, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, said: “Tom Hagyard, I don’t hate you. You are a stranger to me.

“I hope you can explore why you are the way you are and seek resolution so you do not harm anyone else. I am grieving for the loss of my old self, I miss her deeply.”

She revealed that she stared at a train station’s railway tracks and was treated for a paracetamol overdose at the very hospital where she trained as the trial date approached.

“The last four years have been torture with the anticipation of being in court.”

Isleworth Crown Court heard he arrived at the party with a bottle of wine, which consumed, on October 15, 2017 and in the early hours the first 26 year-old victim woke with Hagyard on top of her.

“We got very drunk and I don’t remember a lot. I took myself to bed and I woke up and there was a boy sort of on top of me,” she told the trial.

Now working for an intellectual property-specialist law firm the woman added: “I was going in and out of consciousness and did not think I could move. I froze a bit, I didn’t fight him off or anything.

“I remember trying to push him away. I was staring at the wall for a while.

“I felt very drunk, nine or ten out of ten drunk. I kept my eyes closed for a bit and I remember feeling confused.

“He was on top of me and I was in pain. I felt like I could not move or fight him off and my memory goes in and out, I have flashes.”

Hagyard claimed the second woman, also 26 and now a fully-qualified doctor, who attended the same £15,000 a year south coast private school as the first victim invited him onto the sofa, where he began massaging her chest.

“She seemed to be enjoying it and was breathing pleasurably and I slipped my hand under her top and unbuckled her belt,” Hagyard told the jury.

However, prosecutor Richard Job said: “She had also had a bit to drink and was sleeping in her clothes. She was woken at 5.30am by someone touching her chest.

“The top of her bra had been pulled to one side and a man’s hand was on her breast. She felt his mouth next to her ear and the words: ’Shush. It’s okay.’

“He was crouched by her and having touched her breast he moved his hand to her belt and began to undo the buckle.

“She was scared and she got up and went quickly to the host’s bedroom.”

Recorder Russell Flint told Hagyard: “You have concocted an account you hoped would be accepted and you have caused each of them severe psychological harm, plus harm to your more than loving supportive family.

“Your family will have to face the reality their son, who was destined to be a highly successful solicitor, is a sex offender, who preyed on two young women.

“You have ruined your professional ambitions. You passed your exams, got your First Class degree and passed your law course and despite enormous competition secured this training contract.

“This has all gone, due to your conduct in that hour that has caused so much devastation to peoples lives.

“This is a tragic case for those two ladies and tragic for what you have brought on your family.”

Hagyard complained about how his potentially “distinguished career” was destroyed before it even started. “It has been difficult. I lost my job at the law firm.

“I told the senior partner I had been arrested, but did nothing wrong and I had no idea it would take this long.

“They suspended me on full pay and after a few months asked me to resign,” added Hagyard, who also told his parents and two sisters what happened.

“They were devastated of course. I told them all that had happened. I do believe I was innocent and had done nothing wrong.”

Hagyard claimed the party host invited him to sleep in her bed, where the first woman was already passed out and the host remained asleep during the consensual sexual activity instigated by the victim.

“She was moving with excitement and anticipation and I put my hand between her legs,” he told the trial, believing there was mutual physical attraction. “She was moving with excitement and anticipation and I put my hand between her legs.”

Hagyard always insisted full sex never occurred. “I was fully-clothed for the whole thing.”

He said the second woman caught his eye when he crashed out in the living room. She said: ‘You can share the sofa with me.’ It was a very small sofa and I got on as best I could.”

Hagyard’s lawyer Karina Arden told the court: “This is a terrible tragedy not just for the complainants, but for the defendant and his family, who have accompanied him throughout the trial.

“His mother and father have been in tears much of the time and his girlfriend intends to stay by him during his time in prison.

“His professional life that he worked so hard for is over. He has changed from being a confident young trainee solicitor who was ambitious and dreamed of a career in commercial law.

“For the last year he has worked in a cycling business and he has suffered everyday for the last four years and regrets the incident that night in that flat and it will remain with him for the rest of his life.”  

Hagyard will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely and must serve two thirds of the sentence before he can be considered for parole.

Trainee Solicitor Guilty Of Party Sex Assaults

A former trainee solicitor was today convicted of early hours sexual assaults on two sleeping women after a house-warming party.

Graduate Tom Hagyard, 29, muttered to himself after the Isleworth Crown Court jury returned their verdicts after two days of deliberation.

He struck at the £700,000 two-bedroom west London flat in Fulham Road, where he was invited by another trainee solicitor at the world-renowned City of London corporate law practice. 

Merseyside native Hagyard, of Fylde Road, Southport was found guilty of two counts of assault by penetration in relation to a 26 year-old student, who had passed out fully-clothed on the host’s bed.

The jury convicted him by an 11-1 majority on both charges.

He was also found guilty of two counts of sexually assaulting another 26 year-old student, who was sleeping on the living-room couch.

The jury convicted him by a 10-2 majority on both charges.

They failed to reach a verdict on a charge Hagyard raped the first woman and the jury were discharged on that count.

As the jurors left the courtroom and filed past the defendant he shook his head slightly towards them.

Hagyard was questioned by the police on October 17, 2017, just two days after the party and throughout the two-week trial insisted the sexual activity was consensual.

Regarding the first woman Hagyard said in evidence: “She was actively participating the whole time,” and regarding the second he said: “She invited me to join her on the sofa.”  

Recorder Simon Russell Flint QC announced: “This clearly serious offending, passing the custody threshold.”

He bailed Hagyard overnight to be sentenced the following day.

“He will understand he can be sentenced in his absence if he did not attend and a warrant would be issued for his arrest and he would be on the run.

“The whole thing is a tragedy for all those concerned, but I will deal with sentence tomorrow.

“Others will have suffered, sadly. There was a trial and the jury returned a verdict and there can be no credit for a plea of guilty.” 

Teenage Sexual Predator Strikes Three Times In Three Hours: E-Fit Released

Three women were sexually assaulted in as many hours by a teenage boy in south-east London.

The victims have assisted in compiling this e-fit of the suspect, who is being hunted by police.

All the incidents took place in the Lewisham area between 5pm and 8pm on Thursday, September 2.

The first victim was walking in Malyons Road and was followed by a young male into the communal area of a block of flats.

Inside he grabbed her jacket, sexually assaulted her and ran off.

At 7.45pm in Chudleigh Road the second woman was approached from behind and subjected to sexually-explicit comments.

The suspect intimated he was armed with a knife and sexually assaulted her.

Shortly afterwards in Malyons Road the suspect approached the third woman and sexually assaulted her and when she resisted he pulled her hair, ripping some out, and walked off towards Ladywell Road.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned black male, aged around 13-15 years-old and of average build.

He has short black hair, with waves on top and was wearing a knee-length dark grey puffer jacket.

If anyone can identify this male they are asked to contact police on 101 or tweet @MetCC, quoting CAD6855/21SEP.

Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Kilburn OAP Fought For Her Handbag

An 80 year-old pensioner fought for her bag during a “cowardly” street mugging in Kilburn.

The elderly woman hung on until her bag's strap broke and the snatcher fled in a getaway car driven by an accomplice.

Police are investigating the robbery and have released these CCTV images of their main suspects.

The images were captured in two shops where the woman's bank cards were used to buy items shortly after the mugging.

The victim was approached by a man at 1.10pm in Brondesbury Road on Sunday, May 30.

After the tussle for her bag the man ran off towards Christchurch Road, where he escaped in a blue car containing two further suspects and a teenage boy.

The CCTV images were captured at retail shops in Church Street, Harlesden.

Detective Constable Goran Divkovic, of Brent police said: “This was a cowardly crime committed against an innocent woman who was going about her day.

“Although she didn't suffer any serious injuries, the effects of being a victim of robbery run far deeper than the loss of cash or personal belongings, which in this case included items of deep sentimental value.

“I urge anyone who can name these men to contact police without delay.”

Anyone with information are asked to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting 391/30May.

To remain 100% anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Forest Gate Rape: Do You Know This Suspect?

Police in east London have released this bus CCTV image of a suspect they are hunting after the report of a rape.

Investigating officers are appealing to the public for assistance in identifying the suspect.

Police were called on September 20, last year regarding an allegation of rape in Sprowston Mews, Forest Gate.

Officers spoke to the complainant, who continues to be supported by specialist officers.

Detective Constable Murad Talat said: We are releasing this image in the hope that someone will recognise this man and let us know who he is.

“Please take a careful look at the photo and if you think you can help, get in touch as soon as possible.

“Any information you have could be vital for our investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting reference CAD 7877/200CT20.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 

Camden Alleyway Rape: Suspect Hunted

Police are hunting this suspect after a woman was pestered by a stranger in a kebab takeaway and raped in a nearby alleyway after she left a nightclub.

The 24 year-old victim was groped in the takeaway and tried to move away from the man's unwelcome advances several times, but he persisted.

On Saturday, October 2 the woman left the nightclub in Camden before 11.30pm and was followed by the man when she went to get something to eat.

He followed her down an alleyway off Camden High Street and raped her.

The woman was supported by specially-trained officers after reporting the crime the following day.

Detective Constable Max Orange said: “We urgently need to trace the man pictured and I would ask anyone who recognises him to contact police immediately.

“I know that there are heightened concerns about violence against women in our city and we are working tirelessly to solve this crime.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting reference CAD 5088/3Oct.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111. 

Pensioner, 91, Targeted For £300 Cash

A 91 year-old pensioner was followed home to her sheltered accommodation and £300 cash stolen, which she had withdrawn earlier that day.

Police investigating the theft have released this image of their two suspects.

Just before 1.00pm on Tuesday, July 13 the elderly woman withdrew the money in Long Lane, Hillingdon then caught the U2 bus from Hillingdon Circus towards Brunel University.

While travelling on the bus she noticed the two women in this image.

She spotted the pair again at her sheltered accommodation, where they followed her into the lift,
despite having no genuine reason to be there.

When the pensioner checked her bag once inside her flat she realised her money was missing.

Detective Chief Inspector Michael Dougall of the Roads and Transport Policing Command said: “The elderly victim of this theft was understandably shaken by this experience.

“If there is any suggestion that an elderly victim has been specifically targeted after withdrawing money in our community we will do our utmost to identify the person or people responsible.

“We are very keen to speak to the woman in these photos and would urge the public to come forward if they can help us to identify them.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or can identify the women should call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Cycling Pro Alexander Richardson Attacked For Bike In Richmond Park

Professional cyclist Alexander Richardson has been left bloodied after a masked machete-wielding motorcycle gang robbed him of his £6,000 bike in Richmond Park.

The four robbers rammed into the 31 year-old, who rides for UCI ProTeam Alpecin-Fenix, at nearly 40 mph and dragged him along the ground for 100 metres, injuring his leg.

The former stockbroker, who competed in last month’s Tour of Britain, shared a photo of his bloodied leg with his Instagram followers and details of his ordeal.

He had just finished training on his Canyon racing bike at around 3pm in the south-west London park when the robbers targeted him.

“Pretty shocking experience today in Richmond Park,” Richardson wrote yesterday. “Was finishing my training around 3pm when two motorbikes with four men and balaclavas started following me.

“I knew exactly they wanted to take my bike and started to think what the best thing I could so was.”

The sprint specialist tried to reach the safety of a local cafe, but was no match for the motorbikes, one of which deliberately crashed into him at nearly 40mph.

“I turned around at East Sheen roundabout and started riding full speed to the cafe about 500 metres away.

“They simply rode one of the motorbikes into me at 60kph.

“I came off the bike and the first motorbike lost control. I held onto my bike, however the second motorbike then dragged me and the bike along the floor for another 100 metres.

“After this they pulled out a 15 inch machete at which point I thought better and let the bike go.

“I’m pretty cut up and bruised with a swollen hip, but tomorrow is another day.

“Please be careful in the area and note this is becoming a common occurrence in parts of London.

“The police have taken their notes down as armed robbery and hopefully the criminals are found.

“Please raise awareness. At least I got most of the ride in even if no file to show for it!

“Once again the wife to the rescue to pick me up.”

Richardson only started cycling seriously in his mid-twenties and took the bold move to turn his back on a successful career as a stockbroker to follow his dream in the professional ranks.

He shook up the cycling world when as an unsponsored rider and with no team support he won the 2018 Lincoln Grand Prix, leading to professional contracts with Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes and now Alpecin-Fenix.

Richardson has two more wins on his cycling palmares, the Arno Wallaard Memorial in the Netherlands and and a stage of the Tour de la Mirabelle in France.

Train Ticket Inspector Shops Crims To Police

Two 'County Lines' criminals, caught on a train from Cornwall to London with £5,000 in illicit cash, are starting prison sentences.

Ahmed Abdulla, 24, (l) and Mohammed Aden, 27, (r) were investigated by British Transport Police (BTP).

Abdulla, of Anthill Road, Bow, east London and Aden, of Newland Road, Hornsey, north London were also in possession of burner phones they utilised for drug dealing.

At Plymouth Crown Court Abdulla received five years and six months imprisonment for supplying Class A drugs and money laundering.

Aden received four months for money laundering.

On the evening of Thursday February 4, officers from BTP and Devon and Cornwall Police were deployed on a joint operation when they boarded a train at Bodmin Parkway station.

Officers were tipped-off by a ticket inspector, who informed them of two men travelling from Par to London with no luggage, who had paid for their tickets in cash.

The officers approached Abdulla and Aden and they were searched under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Abdulla was in possession of £3,705 in cash and a burner style phone and Aden was in possession of £2,073 and two burner phones.

Messages downloaded from the seized phones included references to a County Line named ‘Rocky’ as well as the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.

One of the messages, sent to 154 recipients, read “on with both guys, 3 for 25. ROCKY”.

Detective Inspector, Graham Moss, said: “This result is an exemplary example of successful partnership working with our policing colleagues in the South West.

“These joint operations are vital to disrupting the County Lines business model and prosecuting those supplying harmful drugs to our communities.

“The hard work of the investigative team after the arrest of Abdulla and Aden has resulted in a deal line being dismantled and two offenders behind bars.

“I would like to thank the ticket inspector for sharing his concerns with our officers on that day.

“We rely on rail staff and the public to be our eyes and ears on the railway, so if you see something that doesn’t look right, report it to us by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40.”

"It Has Been Difficult": Says Trainee Solicitor Accused Of Party Rape And Sex Assaults

A former trainee solicitor, accused of raping a drunken law student at a house-warming hosted by a new work colleague before molesting another young woman snoozing on the couch, today told the jury the accusations have ruined his career.

Graduate Tom Hagyard, 29, had just started at one of the worlds’ largest corporate law practice’s in the City of London and earlier that same night treated his parents and two sisters to a celebratory three-course meal with his first paycheck in the legal profession.

“It has been difficult,” he told the Isleworth Crown Court jury. “I lost my job at the law firm.

“I told the senior partner I had been arrested, but did nothing wrong and I had no idea it would take this long.”

Hagyard was questioned by the police on October 17, 2017, just two days after the party and on December 6, 2017 they told him there would no “no further action” regarding the rape allegation.

However, he was charged with assault by penetration and sexual assault nearly three years later and the rape count was added at his first Crown Court appearance.

“They suspended me on full pay and after a few months asked me to resign,” added Hagyard, who also told his parents and two sisters what happened.

“They were devastated of course. I told them all that had happened. I do believe I was innocent and had done nothing wrong.”

After graduating from university with a First Class philosophy degree he was just six weeks into a two-year training course with the City practice when another trainee at the firm invited him to her Fulham house-warming party.

In the early hours she invited him to sleep alongside her and her old private school friend, 26, who was already passed-out on the bed and claims she was woken by Hagyard raping her.

Now working for an intellectual property-specialist law firm she admits she was “nine or ten out of ten drunk” and did not consent to any sexual activity with the defendant.

“She was wearing black skinny jeans and a black lace top,” Hagyard told the jury. “She immediately rolled towards me and kissed me. It did surprise me, but I did like her and thought she was attractive.

“From our conversation earlier during the party I was not surprised she may have formed the same opinion of me and I kissed her back.

“I began to rub her back gently and she was moving in a way that indicated she was enjoying it. She rolled over so I could reach her and clearly it is what she wanted me to do.

“My hands went lower to her buttocks and legs over her clothing, we did not speak. She moved to allow me to reach the front of her body and I put my hands on her chest and I reached down to her zip fly, her button.

“She was moving with excitement and anticipation and I put my hand between her legs.

“She gasped quite loudly. I tried to give her pleasure and she was moaning.

“I began to take her jeans off and she lifted her hips.

“I was enjoying this moment because she was enjoying it. I would not have continued for a moment if she wasn’t.

“She opened her legs and bent her knees. She pushed my head down to the lower part of her body.”

Hagyard explained a consensual sex act then occurred, but did not lead to intercourse. “I was fully-clothed for the whole thing.

“I believe at some point she had an orgasm. She was tired, satisfied, finished and then I thought she did not want this to continue.”

Hagyard told the trial he decided to sleep on the living-room floor until the trains began running when the second woman, also 26, caught his eye.

“I saw her on the sofa and had got on well with her that evening. She said: ‘You can share the sofa with me.’ It was a very small sofa and I got on as best I could.”

Hagyard started massaging her chest. “She seemed to be enjoying it and was breathing pleasurably and I slipped my hand under her top and unbuckled her belt.

“At that point she said: ‘What are you doing?’ and I thought she was worried because we did not know each other very well and there were other people in the room.

“She was having second thoughts and I sought to reassure her that she did not need to worry and I kissed her ear.”

Prosecutor Richard Job asked Hagyard: “It was your good fortune wasn’t it that she enjoyed being touched by you as much as the first woman you touched-up and was equally as delighted as that first woman?”

Regarding the rape complainant the prosecutor asked: “It might be more accurate to say she had passed out? She was practically comatose, you must have seen that?

“She was in no position to consent to sex with you and you sought to take advantage of the poor state this woman was in.”

Hagyard denied the suggestion, replying: “I would never do that.”

“You gave up having sex with the sleeping woman and looked for another source of sexual relief,” suggested Mr Job. “Did you think these women would wake up to you pawing at their bodies and be delighted by that?”

Regarding the first woman Hagyard replied: “She was actively participating the whole time,” and regarding the second he said: “She invited me to join her on the sofa.”  

Hagyard, of Fylde Road, Southport has pleaded not guilty to one count of raping the law student at the two-bedroom £700,000 Fulham Road address in west London on October 15, 2017, plus two counts of assault by penetration.

He has also pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting the second young woman later that same evening.

Trial continues……………