Sunday 19 March 2017

Pensioner Gets Restraining Order For Pestering Local Woman

Osborne Road, Enfield
An octogenarian has been slapped with a restraining order to prevent him talking to a local woman he left notes pinned to a tree for.

Peter Frank Crossman, 84, has been banned from communicating with the lady for twelve months.

He has been conditionally discharged for a year and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Crossman, of Osborne Road, Enfield, pleaded guilty to harassing Carla Morgan in his road on September 28, last year.

Highbury Corner Magistrates Court heard he attempted to speak to her on numerous occasions and left notes pinned to a tree near where she parked her car.

The court decided to pass a lenient sentence due to Crossman's age and his previous good character.

Saturday 18 March 2017

Ex-Public Schoolboy Flouts Court Date For Booze Bender

The ex-public schoolboy son of a retired solicitor had a warrant for his arrest issued on Wednesday after failing to appear in court on a charge of forging a prescription.

Piers Robert Fairweather Edmondson, 34, of Crabbett Wood, Itchingwood Common Road, Oxted had been at a rehab centre in rural Scotland.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard he travelled early for his court date, but suffered an alcohol relapse.

District Judge James Henderson dismissed a suggestion from Edmondson's lawyer that he could possibly be conveyed to court by ambulance

He is charged with one count of fraud by false representation on November 21, last year at Boots, St. John’s Hill, Battersea, namely using a false prescription.

He is also charged with possession or control of an article for use in fraud, namely a false prescription.

It is understood the prescription was a genuine one made out to Edmondson, who is accused of altering the amount to increase the medication he would receive.

His parents live in a six-bedroom £2.75m home and have a restraining order, which prevents him contacting his mother or father or going within 650 feet of their home.

Edmondson is a talented classical guitarist, who has performed at the Savoy on London’s Strand.

His father, James Fairweather Edmondson, a retired solicitor specialising in trusts and wills is head of the Halecat Charitable Trust, based in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Piers attended £35,000-a year The King’s School, Canterbury, whose alumni include Field-Marshal Bernard Montgomery; actor Orlando Bloom; former England cricket captain David Gower and TV chef Antony Worrall Thompson. 

Friday 17 March 2017

Drug Addict Son Of Sir John Fretwell & Lady Fretwell Stole Mother's Credit Card To Fund £10K Drug Binge

Benjamin Fretwell, sister Isobel and Lady Mary Fretwell
The Alpine ski instructor son of Lady Mary Fretwell used her stolen credit card to withdraw nearly £10,000 to support his £300-a day crack and heroin addiction.

Benjamin Fretwell, 50, has been battling a decade-long habit with the assistance of his mother and father - retired diplomat Sir John Emsley Fretwell.

He was staying with his mother at his parents’ £2.5m Kensington apartment in Queens Gate when he secretly stole the card.

Fretwell pleaded guilty to stealing the card on December 17, last year and fraud by false representation between December 22 and January 30, namely making cash withdrawals of £9,484.93.

Lady Fretwell OBE and her daughter attended Hammersmith Magistrates Court to support Benjamin, but there was no sign of Sir John - British Ambassador to France between 1982 and 1987.

This week Fretwell received eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, and was ordered to complete 200 hours community service work. 

Prosecutor Mr. Robert Simpson said: “The charges date back to December, last year and January, this year. The complainant is the defendant’s mother.

“He was staying at her address for a period of time and his mother only realised her card had been used when she received her credit card statement.”

Fretwell: £10K Drugs Binge
Fretwell is currently six weeks into a two-month drug rehab programme financed by his parents at the private Sanctuary Lodge, Halstead, Essex.

“This was an opportunistic act by a man in the grip of an addiction to drugs,” said Mr. Duncan Jones, defending. “He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and realises he is in a precarious position today.

“He made a full admission to the police and for him it was a relief to be arrested and that put a stop to his offending.

“By his actions he has let down his mother and father, who over the years have supported him.

“He is addicted to crack cocaine and heroin and has been for the last ten years and there was an overwhelming temptation when he saw his mother’s bank card.

“His addiction consumed his thoughts and actions and he descended into a three hundred pounds-a day drug addiction.

“It was his worst ever relapse and he could not control it while these cards, for those weeks, were usable.

“In the past he has controlled his drug addiction and during the winter he is usually working in the Alps as a ski instructor and then goes to France and Spain to look after his family’s houses.

“There, he doesn’t take drugs. The problems are when he is here, in London under bad influences.

“In her statement his mother said she phoned the police to get help for her son, not to see him prosecuted or sent to prison.

“His therapist says Mr. Fretwell is looking at his run of destructive patterns.

“The desire of the family is that Mr. Fretwell is allowed to continue that privately-funded therapy and not be a drain on public funds.

“He is at low-risk of reoffending and the probation service say he does not need rehabilitation from them.

“His intention is to sell his flat in Pimlico and use the proceeds to repay his mother. It is worth a substantial sum and is on the market.

“His mother has Power of Attorney over the flat and his bank accounts as a result of previous problems.

Card Nicked From Lady Fretwell's Home
“He has shown, notwithstanding his addiction, he can be a productive member of society.

“He is clearly talented in his role of a ski instructor and that occupation keeps him clean for the majority of the year.

“Because of this drug binge he went on he did not go to work this season and his mother told his employers he was unwell.

“Next year he intends to continue with his ski instruction and is at Level Two. 

“These are high-level qualifications and he teaches children and those with special needs to more advanced skiers and has a lot to offer, despite this drug addiction.

“This was an opportunistic offence and he had no prospect of getting away with it and knew his mother would put a stop to the card.

“I ask for a sentence to be passed that will allow him to continue to repair his relationship with his parents.

“After rehab he will be looked after by his family, the best place for him.”

Fretwell was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge and told the court: “My mother will pay that and I’ll pay her back.”

Lady Fretwell, founder of the Passport for Pets pressure group, which campaigns for an alternative to our quarantine laws, said from the public gallery: “It will come out of the flat cash, I’ve got a book.”

Magistrate Mr. Robert Westlake told Fretwell: “This is a case aggravated by the amount involved.

“If you are convicted of an offence in the next twelve months it’s highly likely you will go to prison these eight weeks. 

“Your mother wants to help you and we are really pleased you are doing something to help yourself at Sanctuary Lodge.

“It’s hanging over your head. That’s why we are doing it and it will be disastrous for you if you are back.”

Thursday 16 March 2017

Schoolgirl Stalker Spied On Teenager From Car

A creepy stalker was caught after his 14 year-old girl victim woke from a nightmare and told her mother about him staring at her from his car as she walked to school.

Palbin Gurung, 31, spent months parking his vehicle on her Twickenham route, driving from junction to junction to get ahead of her and watch as she passed by.

Gurung, of Harlington Road East, Feltham pleaded guilty to stalking, which involved serious harm or distress, between June 1 and November 30, last year.

This week at Wimbledon Magistrates Court he received 18 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months and was ordered to complete 100 hours community service.

He must also pay the victim £200 compensation and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Miss Mary Atere told the court: “This relates to the stalking of the victim, who was fourteen years-old at the time.

“She says she noticed the defendant following her in his car on her normal route to and from school.

“She was wearing school uniform and it was obvious she was of school age.

“The defendant would drive up to the next junction and park his vehicle and constantly stare and follow her with his eyes.

“He did not get out of the vehicle and he would smile at her on some occasions.

“She changed her route to school to avoid certain roads and there were times she did not want to go to school or leave the house.

“It only came to light when she had a nightmare about the defendant and woke at 2am and told her mother.

“Her step-father then followed her to school and took the vehicle’s registration number.”

This helped police trace and arrest Gurung, who told them: “I admit I have been waiting along the route. I have no intention of scaring her or her family or doing it again.”

Miss Atere added: “He ignores the obvious distress to the victim and the fact she changes her normal route.

“He has frightened her and has had an impact on her. She has had nightmares about this defendant.”

Gurung, who has lost his job at Heathrow Airport as a result of his first conviction, told the probation service he was going through a difficult time last year.

He felt the schoolgirl, who he first spotted by chance, represented the only pleasant thing in his life.

Gurung must also complete a probation service-ordered rehabilitation activity requirement of up to forty days and a restraining order was made prohibiting him going to the girl’s school or within 500 metres of her family’s home.

Wednesday 15 March 2017

Jemima Goldsmith Stalker Bombarded Her With Tweets And Sent Taxi For Date

O'Mahoney leaving court
An obsessed stalker, who bombarded journalist and millionaire’s daughter Jemima Goldsmith with tweets and sent a mini-cab to her door for a date, has been sentenced.

Conor Donal O’Mahoney, 60, of Pittock House, Freemens Way, Deal, Kent, was placed on a year’s probation by Hammersmith Magistrates Court.

He pleaded guilty to one count of harassing Jemima - identified in the charge as Mrs Khan - on September 27, last year and is now banned from contacting her and going within 200m of her Chelsea home or visiting her Marylebone office.

“That taxi arrived with the intention of taking her to a restaurant and must have made Mrs Khan extremely concerned about you, someone who keeps persistently tweeting her and wondering what would come next,” Deputy District Judge Adrian Turner told him.

“That’s the harm this offence causes. She had no way of knowing about your problems that lay behind the behaviour.

“The tweeting has stopped, you are receiving treatment and I hope this has allayed her fears and concerns.”

He had an adverse effect on the 42 year-old mother-of-two’s usual day-today activities by contacting her on social media and sending the Addison Lee taxi to her home address.

He sent the cab so she could meet him at a restaurant and hand-delivered letters to her home and tried to talk to her over the intercom.

O’Mahoney also bombarded Jemima and her friends with Twitter and Instagram messages.

In 2015 he was cautioned by the police for tweeting her five times a day and approaching her outside a hotel and asking her out to dinner.


His bipolar disorder was diagnosed in 1999, but worsened by five years of skin cancer treatment and extensive dental surgery.

Prosecutor Miss Kerry McNulty told the court today: “Mr. O’Mahoney ordered an Addison Lee taxi to her home address, which was given instructions to drive her to a restaurant in central London.

“He sent her messages via twitter to meet him at this restaurant.

“She was particularly concerned he ordered a taxi to her address because it shows he knew where she lives.”

DDJ Turner added: “This is one of the most comprehensive pre-sentence reports I’ve ever read. It runs into twelve pages.

“You have been diagnosed and it is a condition you’ve had for a very long time. It has not resulted in violence.

“There is little risk of this ever turning into something more menacing or risk of physical harm, but she was not to know.

“All she knew was you were tweeting obsessively and sending the taxi.”

The probation order includes a mental health treatment requirement 
and thirty-day activity requirement and O’Mahoney must also pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

If jobless O’Mahoney, who lives on benefits, breaches the restraining order he faces a maximum of five years imprisonment.

Westminster-born Jemima was married to Pakistani cricket legend Imran Khan between 1995 and 2004 and is identified in the charge under her married name.

Her parents are millionaire financier Sir James Goldsmith and Lady Annabel Goldsmith.

Her brother, Conservative politician Zac Goldsmith, 42, recently lost his Richmond Park seat and failed in a bid to become Mayor of London.

Tuesday 14 March 2017

Jailed: Mother & Daughter Ringleaders Of £315K Lithuanian Brides Sham Marriage Plot

Jailed: Lina Kezelyte & Valentina Kezeliene
The mother and daughter ringleaders of a gang of Lithuanian women, who organised sham marriages so foreign men could remain in the UK, have been jailed. 

They flew in brides from the Baltic state to marry Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Nigerian and Nepalese men in a £315,000 visa plot.

A total of twenty-six bogus marriages were identified in which young Lithuanian women were booked on flights with budget airline Wizz Air and flown to Luton Airport from Vilnius.

Sometimes the marriage ceremony at a London-area registry office would take place the following day, with the bride returning home alone shortly after.

The grooms were often illegal overstayers, who had exhausted every legal means to remain and should have returned to their home countries.

Lina Kezelyte, 32, of  Warmwell Avenue, Colindale received four-and-a-half years imprisonment and her mother Valentina Kezeliene, 53, two-and-a-half years.

Beata Jarmolovic, 28, of Park Barn Drive, Guildford was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and ordered to complete 200 hours community service.

Ruta Sperskaite, 25, of Vanderville Gardens, East Finchley received two years imprisonment, suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 200 hours community service work.

All four were convicted of conspiring together between February 1, 2012 and August 28, 2014 to assist unlawful immigration by arranging the marriages and assisting the grooms.

Suspended Sentences: Jarmolovic & Sperskaite
Renata Semasko, 29, of The Oaks, Aldershot Road, Guildford was convicted of helping launder the criminal proceeds and was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and ordered to complete 200 hours community service.

A sixth absent defendant, Mohemmed Jemaldeen, 33, of Turner Road, Edgware, who providing the grooms, received four years for conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Polnay told Croydon Crown Court that as members of the EU spouses of Lithuanian nationals have the right to permanently live and work in the UK.

“This case is about the subversion of that right for profit, to the detriment of those that play by the rules, by arranging sham marriages to fool the authorities into allowing the grooms to remain in the UK.

“This conspiracy was to help non-EU national men to live and work in the UK via a sham marriage.

“They managed, in some cases, to fool the Home Office and other public bodies the marriages were genuine.”

Even when a visa application was rightly denied, the jury heard appeals to the Home Office were successful, with the grooms being allowed to stay as a legal spouse.

“These six defendants were involved in arranging these marriages, setting them up and running the show.

Money Launderer: Semasko
“Many of the grooms were desperate. They had already tried and failed to stay in the UK.”

The bogus brides were paid a fee and shown how to apply for a National Insurance number as soon as they arrived, which proved they were exercising their EU treaty rights.

The jury were told Lina Kezelyte was the “ringleader” who recruited most of the brides and her mother booked flights and helped launder the profits.

“The other defendants assisted in moving around the money and helped out at the weddings themselves,” explained Mr. Polnay.

Ceremonies took place in registry offices from Camberley, Surrey to Enfield, north London.

Investigators discovered that during the period of the conspiracy Lina received £315,376 into her five bank accounts, with £99,496 of it in cash.

She declared to HMRC she was earning an annual salary of £36,000.

“There is cash swilling around, a lot of it.”

Monday 13 March 2017

"Heartbroken" Musician Flouted Court Ban In Bid To Contact Ex


Court Date: Marc Eden 
A well-known Kent musician, left “heartbroken” after his younger model fiancé left him, persistently broke a non-contact court order as he sought an explanation.

Marc Eden, 47, frontman of The Peckham Cowboys, did not know his ex had booked herself into a drug rehabilitation clinic when she suddenly disappeared in April, last year.


On October 7 Croydon Family Court granted 27 year-old Georgia Seager-Hillier a non-molestation order, which prohibited the Margate-born singer contacting her.


Eden, of Granville House, Victoria Parade, Ramsgate pleaded guilty to five counts of breaching the order between December 1, last year and January 29.


He also admitted one count of harassing his ex's mother, 48 year-old Redhill sales executive Lynda Seager-Hillier between December 1, last year and January 30.


Last Friday 
at Croydon Magistrates Court he was placed on a community order for six months and ordered to complete 60 hours community service work.

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


The court heard Eden breached the order by trying to contact Georgia via her mother by sending her texts, a voicemail and a facebook messages.


He also posted pictures of Georgia on his facebook account, which was prohibited and harassed her mother by sending multiple unwanted facebook messages.


As Eden arrived at court he was served with a new two-year non-molestation order.

Break-Up: Georgia Seager-Hillier

“If he breaches it he faces up to five years in prison,” said his lawyer Mr. Oliver Kirk. “He was approached by a bailiff as he walked into court and was served with it today.


“He is an older man that fell in love with a younger woman and is heartbroken.


“She disappeared in April, last year and he did not know where she was until he discovered she was in drug rehabilitation while they were engaged.”


The court heard Georgia sent a message to Eden, which read: 'I'll be out of rehab and we will be back together soon.'


“The next thing he knew there was a non-molestation order and he wanted to hear form the horse's mouth why it was all over and knows he's been a pain in the neck.


“There has been no reocurrance since and he will go away with a flea in his ear knowing there is a new beefed-up order until 2019.

“He is currently on sick pay because he has been off work with stress and anxiety.


“He has never been before a court before and this, his first experience of the criminal justice system has been a salutary one indeed.


“When he surrendered himself at Croydon Police Station he found himself held in custody until appearing in court on Saturday morning.


“He has had quite a significant career as a musician and now works for MENCAP.


“As a result of this conviction conviction his employment may be reviewed because he works with vulnerable adults, teaching them music.


It may effect travel to the USA, where he has gone in the past to record with household names and under the current regime there may not be allowed in.”

Sunday 12 March 2017

EastEnders Star Beats Supercar Road Ban

EastEnders star Richard Blackwood has appeared in court and successfully overturned a ban after his £100,000 eco-friendly supercar was caught speeding on the M6.

The 44 year-old comedian, television presenter and musician, who plays Vincent Hubbard in the BBC soap, was found guilty last month of failing to say who was driving his white BMW i8.

On February 28 Birmingham Magistrates Court fined him £660, with £80 costs and ordered him to pay a £66 victim surcharge.

He was also disqualified from driving for six months after the vehicle was caught on camera on August 7, last year.

Blackwood, of Cavendish Road, Colliers Wood appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court to swear on oath he was unaware of the prosecution.

It will now be heard again on April 4 at Birmingham Magistrates Court.

Saturday 11 March 2017

Lorry Crash BMW Driver In Court On Cocaine Charge

A motorist accused of crashing head-on into a 7.5 ton lorry while four times the cocaine driving limit has appeared in court.

Duane Brown, 37, arrived in a wheelchair as he continues to recover from hip fractures and a serious injury to his left foot.

Brown, of 52 Haycroft Road, Surbiton is charged with driving his BMW with excess cocaine in his blood on September 17, last year in Leatherhead Road, Chessington.

He is also charged with driving dangerously and driving unfit through drugs at the same time.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court declined jurisdiction due to the seriousness of the case and Brown was bailed to appear at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on April 5.

Prosecutor Mr. Simon Maughan said it was 8.30am when a witness driving behind Brown saw him on the wrong side of the road.

After colliding with the Champion Timber lorry Brown was transferred to St. George’s Hospital, Tooting via helicopter air ambulance.

He had broken both hips and his left ankle.

The road was closed eight-and-a-half hours after the collision and police found a small snap-bag containing a white powder, which tested positive for cocaine.

Traces of morphine and ketamine were also found in his bloodstream, but may have been for medical reasons.

Brown has previous convictions for driving while disqualified and without insurance. 

Friday 10 March 2017

Waitrose Overtime Scam: Employee Sentenced

Isleworth Crown Court
A Waitrose supermarket employee charged with fraudulently awarding £33,000 in overtime payments has received a suspended sentence.

Sanjay Bhatti, 27, of Greenford Road, Greenford was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty when he initially appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court to one count of fraud by false representation between March 1 and September 30, 2015.

Namely fraudulently authorising overtime payments at Waitrose with the intention of making a gain of £33,409.39.

Bhatti was committed to the crown court for sentencing due to the seriousness of the offence.

He received ten months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and was ordered to complete 200 hours community service work. 

Thursday 9 March 2017

Ex-Maths Teacher Convicted Of Molesting Schoolgirl In 1990's

A former maths teacher has been convicted of molesting a 15 year-old schoolgirl over two decades ago.

Anthony John Pryor, 73, of Maybank Gardens, Pinner taught at the local Northwood High School, Potter Street, Northwood.

He was convicted after a four-day trial at Isleworth Crown Court of one count of indecent assault in the early 1990's.


Pryor was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and ordered to pay £1,200 costs.


He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for seven years.


The former pupil came forward in 2014 and the offence was investigated by the Child Abuse Investigation Team from Hillingdon and Ealing boroughs.

Wednesday 8 March 2017

Man Jailed For Heathrow Hotel Attack

Attack: Holiday Inn, Heathrow
A Mid Glamorgan man has been jailed for ten months after a violent attack at a Heathrow hotel.

Max James Patrick Kelly, 31, of Llwybr Y Coetir, Caerphilly was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court.

He was convicted of assault, causing actual bodily harm, to Sam O'Brien at Holiday Inn, Sipson Road,Sipson, West Drayton on April 6, last year.

Kelly pleaded guilty to the offence and the original more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Tuesday 7 March 2017

Benefit Fraud Couple Enjoyed Secret "Dream" Life Of Luxury Cruises

Lisa & Andrew White 
A former civil service couple enjoyed luxury cruises to the Med and Caribbean during their “dream” life funded by a six-year £152,000 benefit fraud.

Ex-local government employees Lisa Annette White, 56, and Andrew Mark White, 56, ran two cafe’s and had a secret seafront apartment in Broadstairs, Kent, which they boasted of in a local magazine.

Investigators from the Royal Borough of Greenwich found footage of Mrs White dancing around The White House cafe to Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You.’

She was receiving disability payments after telling the council she needed oxygen tanks to aid her breathing, needed help dressing and a walking-stick indoors and a wheelchair outside.

Last week at Inner London Crown Court she sobbed throughout the thee-hour hearing and received 18 months imprisonment and her husband received nine months, suspended for two years.

“She’s dancing around. I can see why she’s happy, if I was getting money for nothing, I’d be happy,” said Judge Tudor Owen. 

White was captured on CCTV struggling with a walking stick when applying for a new council house at the council’s Woolwich Centre, but was enjoying her secret life on the south coast.

The couple own 30 Grand Mansions, 30 Queen’s Gardens, but Mrs White swindled the borough by claiming she shared a council flat with her 84 year-old mother in Teynham House, Alderwood Road, Eltham.

Mrs White pleaded guilty to nine counts of fraud; three of failing to notify a change in her medical circumstances and one count of money laundering.

Mr. White admitted one count of aiding and abetting his wife make a false representation to get on the council’s housing waiting list and laundering £12,800.

She claimed disability, based on obesity, in 1995, but after a gastric band op in 2005 her weight plunged from 27 stone to 13 stone.

However, she kept claiming Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Employment Support Allowance and her husband and sister Karen Taylor, 62, were her paid carers, with the council even giving her a disabled parking permit.

Her mother, Angela Dempsey, and Karen, of 49 Queen’s Head Street, Islington were charged with aiding and abetting fraud and money laundering respectively, but the prosecution offered no evidence against them.   

The couple bought the mansion block flat in 2007 and in 2009 Lisa was the highest bidder to take over the seafront Bandstand Kiosk, a cafe called ‘Beyond The Sea.’

“My dream by the age of fifty was to live in Grand Mansions and own the Bandstand Kiosk,” she cooed in a local magazine. “Both dreams have come true and I love it.”

An investigation was launched in June, 2014 because Andrew, her full-time carer, lived in Broadstairs, while Lisa claimed to reside in Eltham.

However, the council’s surveillance team filmed her loading up cafe stock from wholesalers, carrying shopping bags in Bluewater, carrying suitcases, serving customers and walking unaided.

Living The Dream: Secret Beachfront Apartment
The couple enjoyed five nights on the QE2 cruise liner; a 21-day Mediterranean cruise on the Queen Victoria; a £5,500 26-night Caribbean cruise on the Oceana and after their arrest a 28-night £9,000 New York and Caribbean cruise on the Queen Mary 2.

When arrested at a separate rented flat, 25 Grand Mansions, on September 28, 2015 Lisa claimed she did not live there and insisted she needed her walking stick, which was locked in her car a five-minute walk away.

“She was exhibiting extreme difficulty that the crown say was more acting,” said prosecutor Mr. James Fletcher. 

The couple met when working for Camden council and have two children, aged in their twenties and Mr. White has a background in physical education.

Andrew became a governor at St. Joseph’s primary school in Greenwich and they both receive pensions from their long civil service careers.

“Significant sums of money were defrauded from the taxpayer by you, Lisa White,” Judge Owen told her. “You claimed a variety of different benefits, representing you were disabled and needed care and support and were living in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

“The victims are people who pay tax that has been given to the likes of you in the form of benefits.

“You carried on this fraud for six years. You took advantage of the system.

“I am told by you that you are remorseful and I have no doubt you are sorry you were caught. I’m not convinced your remorse is genuine.

“Even after you were arrested you then went on a cruise, you both took a twenty-eight night cruise on the Queen Mary Two.

“You were cruising around the Caribbean, no doubt full of remorse. Of course not.

“You had a liking for the Caribbean. There was no reaction from you that: ‘The games up, let’s put money aside’ no, you were cruising around the Caribbean.

“You carried on this act that you had great difficulty walking, that you need your stick from the car and were struggling to walk, but there’s abundant evidence you weren’t in that condition at all.

“You made out you were much more disabled than you actually are, you seem to be struggling with every step, bravely soldiering on, barely able to walk.

“You were exaggerating your needs to cheat your way up the housing list. You wanted to get in front of other people by saying you had these great needs, everything you did was cheating.”

Monday 6 March 2017

Cyclist Punched By Angry Driver Who Cut Him Up At Lights

Traffic Lights: Scene Of Attack
A road rage thug punched a cyclist who tapped on his window to complain about being cut-up at traffic lights.

James Ainscough, 41, was driving his mother's blue Honda Jazz when he jumped out shouting: “Don't fucking hit my car,” and threw a right-hander.


The punch connected with cyclist Alexander Storie Barr's right eye, injuring him and Ainscough then picked up the bike and shoved it against the cyclist, breaking the chain.


The jobless builder, of Park Crescent, Twickenham pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr. Storie Barr and causing criminal damage to his bike at the junction of Castelnau and Lonsdale Road, Barnes on August 1, last year.


Prosecutor Miss Ann Barrett told Wimbledon Magistrates Court: “The victim, Mr. Storie Barr, was riding his bike home from work and as he approached the junction to turn right the Honda pulled in front and cut him up.


“He tapped on the window and the defendant got out and threw his right fist, which connected with Mr. Storie Barr's right eye and he threw a punch in self-defence, hitting Ainscough on the chin.


“The defendant then picked-up the bike and pushed it against the victim then threw it to the ground, damaging it by breaking the chain.


“As Mr. Storie Barr walked away he was given a hard shove to the back of his left shoulder and was fearful he would be attacked again or run over.


A witness recorded the incident, which left Mr. Storie Barr with a bruised eye and a graze to his leg.”


Ainscough's lawyer claimed his client was not “habitually violent” despite the court hearing he had a conviction for assault in 1999.


“He was not out looking for trouble and had borrowed his mother's vehicle,” added the lawyer.


“There was a loud banging on the back of the vehicle and the cyclist moved the bike alongside the driver's door and was abusive.


“In his own words the red mist descended and he lost it and threw a punch and is ashamed and embarrassed.


“He has depression, is on medication and that day was a particularly low day.”


District Judge James Henderson told Ainscough: “It's an offence of road rage and you caused injury. It was a frightening experience and he was caused distress.”


Ainscough was fined £100, with £30 costs and ordered to pay the victim £100 compensation, plus a £30 victim surcharge.