Category Archives: Criminal

Stratford Youth Court: Tower Hamlets drug dealer found guilty of assaulting police officers

In court the teenager sat slumped in his seat, eyes fixed on his feet. In June 2024 he had been a different figure entirely: shouting abuse, thrashing against officers and, according to them, lashing out with kicks and a deliberate stamp.

Charge dropped as police no-show and 14-point-licence-holder avoids disqualification

A trial for alleged careless driving is cancelled at Stratford Magistrates’ Court after the only witness, a police officer, fails to attend court, whilst a man with dodgy brakes avoids disqualification after pleading exceptional hardship.

Judge tells jury: The FCA are not on trial [Day 18]

The judge in the Collateral trial that alleges two brothers misled thousands of investors by claiming to be authorised by the FCA has told jurors the authority is not on trial, a court heard. Accusations levelled at the Financial Conduct Authority suggested they engaged in a “face-saving exercise” as they failed to adopt a “robustContinue reading “Judge tells jury: The FCA are not on trial [Day 18]”

FCA admits they “left the window to the car open and someone was able to reach in”, jury hears [Day 17]

Any FCA case worker who “knew their onions” should have spotted Collateral’s name change on the interim permission register, jurors were told.  The 12 men and women deciding the fate of the former Collateral brothers were told their excuses were “nonsense” and “invented”, according to the prosecution. While the two defendants’ representatives tried to convinceContinue reading “FCA admits they “left the window to the car open and someone was able to reach in”, jury hears [Day 17]”

Jurors given ‘route to verdict’ in Collateral Fraud trial [Day 16]

The younger brother and former director of Collateral was the “driving force” and is as responsible for fraud as his eldest brother who changed the company’s name on the Financial Conduct Authority’s interim permission register, a court heard. Jurors will be asked to consider “family dynamics” and the relationship between the two brothers as theyContinue reading “Jurors given ‘route to verdict’ in Collateral Fraud trial [Day 16]”

Criminal Procedure Rule Committee change rules promoting open justice

In the same month that the Ministry Of Justice wants “to hear your ideas on how the government can reinforce and enhance open justice in today’s era” the procedure rule committee responsible for the criminal jurisdiction is removing rules allowing note-taking by laptops and live-tweeting by legal commentators.

Peter Currie – “I wanted everything to be correct, above board.” [Day 15]

The director of the failed peer to peer lending firm Collateral, accused of fraudulently changing the name of his company on the FCA interim permissions register, has told jurors that he “never thought for a minute what I’d done was wrong” adding that “what I’d done has traumatised me“

The FCA “don’t fully understand P2P as a market”, jurors hear [Day 14]

As one of the Currie brothers enters the witness box it’s revealed that as early as October 2016 the FCA had concerns that the peer-to-peer finance firm Collateral was being “potentially misleading” in aspects of its work. Jurors also heard of Peter Currie’s “devastation” when the FCA finally took action in January 2018.

Collateral Director tells jury: Rishi Sunak wants compensation for investors [Day 13]

The former director of Collateral has claimed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak complained to the Financial Conduct Authority requesting compensation for investors if the brothers who led the company are not convicted, a court heard. More than 340 letters of complaint and 15 MPs representing their constituents have requested the FCA investigate their handling of theContinue reading “Collateral Director tells jury: Rishi Sunak wants compensation for investors [Day 13]”

Collateral Director: “We are in court now as a bit of deflection of blame from the FCA”, jury hears [Day 12]

One of the directors of Collateral admitted administrators paid him a sum intended for staff wages and he kept it as a “part payment” of what he was owed by the company, a court heard. Andrew Currie, 57, accused of having the company pay out over £370,000 to him before it was forcibly closed, saidContinue reading “Collateral Director: “We are in court now as a bit of deflection of blame from the FCA”, jury hears [Day 12]”

“The FCA was as clear as mud”, Collateral director tells jury [Day 11 PM]

One of the directors of Collateral charged with fraud insists he always wanted the business out of the hands of the FCA, claiming: “I’m not a regulatory person“. Andrew Currie, 57, accused of having the company pay out over £370,000 to him before it was forcibly closed, also claims he lost the invoices for theContinue reading ““The FCA was as clear as mud”, Collateral director tells jury [Day 11 PM]”

Collateral directors took £763k out of company after FCA identified breach, jury told [Day 9]

Collateral paid director Andrew Currie’s girlfriend’s company £275,000 just before the company went into administration which led to purchases of properties in Lancashire and Spain, a court heard. The Financial Conduct Authority investigated bank statements that found where monies went in the days just before lending was officially stopped, jurors were told.

Collateral advisor told directors: “We are not going to be able to fob this off”, jury hears [Day 8]

The two directors of a firm accused of lying to their investors to claim they were authorised by the FCA were told by their own lawyer they would have to be “18 years old” to convince anyone they had made an honest mistake, a jury was told.

Register change “would have been obvious to any case officer if the FCA had done their job” jury told [Day 7AM]

Defence silk for Peter Currie grills FCA caseworker Robert Cooper on the regulator’s knowledge of problems with the Collateral (UK) platform, and what’s said to be its failure to act.

Collateral Legal Advisor: The FCA “passed us from pillar to post throughout the process” [Day 7PM]

A compliance director for the failed finance firm Collateral UK Limited took the stand to explain the difficulties the company had when dealing with the Financial Conduct Authority. “There didn’t seem to be a proper handover process when it moved from one caseworker to the next” was one complaint the jury heard.

FCA: We had ‘access’ to the Collateral platform since October 2016 [Day 6]

An FCA case worker, in his first afternoon in the witness box, has confirmed that the FCA was given ‘access’ to the Collateral platform in October 2016, and had been given a copy of the company’s loan book. Concerned were raised that there appeared to be links between borrower companies and the Curries themselves.

FCA failed to pick up on false register entry for 22 months, jury told [Day 5]

A jury at Southwark Crown Court has heard statements from members of the public, including a retired chartered accountant, who say they only invested using the platform because of its apparent FCA authorisation. The FCA claim the platform only appeared on the FCA register after a director fraudulently changed an unrelated company’s entry, a mistakeContinue reading “FCA failed to pick up on false register entry for 22 months, jury told [Day 5]”

Custody Time Limit Extension approved at Snaresbrook

“In case you haven’t been informed I’ve had a notice from both the solicitors and in fact from your counsel, they won’t be attending today, no disrespect to you, they are supporting an action by the CBA in their dispute with the government. “The dispute has nothing to do with the court but to doContinue reading “Custody Time Limit Extension approved at Snaresbrook”

Open Justice at Sheffield’s ‘Fully Remote Court’

One professionally embarrassed barrister, a man sentenced after telling ex-partner he was “going to slice her up” with a machete and a sad notification that a defendant has passed away –  Just a few of the cases the mouseinthecourt observed at Sheffield’s ‘Fully Remote Court’ on a Friday morning.

Police Officer “embarrassed & ashamed at the pathetic and nauseating nature” of e-mails sent to victim

Serving Detective Chief Inspector James Mason, 43, received a final written warning after a Police Misconduct Tribunal found his behaviour towards a victim of crime amounted to gross misconduct.

Soldier has appeal against rape sentence dismissed

A soldier who was serving at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Salisbury has had his appeal against sentence for attempted rape and sexual assault of two women dismissed at the Court of Appeal earlier today. The court was told that between 3-4am on October 25th 2019 Soldier Tevita Raseru Logavatu, 21, had crept through anContinue reading “Soldier has appeal against rape sentence dismissed”

Machete wielding teen involved in fatal Oxford Circus stabbing loses appeal

Court report: 24/08/2021 at Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m in courtroom 4 before His Honour Judge Zeidman QC sitting with two magistrates, Ms C Crampin JP and Ms G Pierre JP. This was an appeal against a 24-month-sentence following the conviction of Mr Ocean Rowe, 18, of Borough at Highbury Magistrates Court in December 2020. TheContinue reading “Machete wielding teen involved in fatal Oxford Circus stabbing loses appeal”

Papa John’s employee who filmed himself assaulting lone females jailed for 9 months

Court Report: 09/12/2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I am in Courtroom 14 before His Honour Judge T Greene for the sentencing of Filip Sedlacek, a 29 year old Czech national. The court is told Mr Sedlacek was working as a Papa John’s delivery driver who on three occasions over the period of a month sexuallyContinue reading “Papa John’s employee who filmed himself assaulting lone females jailed for 9 months”

Defendant given June 2022 Trial date

Court Report: 17/11/2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I am in Courtroom 4 before His Honour Judge M Zeidman QC (The Honorary Recorder of Redbridge) for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing.  The court is told on the 8th June 2019 the defendant was in a car which was subjected to a stop and search byContinue reading “Defendant given June 2022 Trial date”

HHJ Zeidman QC: “I’m keeping you as my project”

Court Report: 12/11/2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m in Courtroom 4 before His Honour Judge M Zeidman QC (The Honorary Recorder of Redbridge) for a 2pm Sentencing hearing.  Readers may recall a previous blog post regarding HHJ Shanks’ attitude to this defendant and the matters concerned, declaring “I won’t be here and I can’t sayContinue reading “HHJ Zeidman QC: “I’m keeping you as my project””

Man who attacked wife with hammer given 11 Years

Court Report: 27/10/2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m in Courtroom 5 before His Honour Judge L.J West-Knights QC for the sentencing of man who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions.   The court is told that on October 19th 2019 the victim, who had been married to the defendant for some 15 years, was gettingContinue reading “Man who attacked wife with hammer given 11 Years”

‘Cashino’ Robber gets 29 months

Court Report: 26/10/2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m in Courtroom 5 before His Honour Judge L.J West-Knights QC for the sentencing of 39-year-old Mr Ilidio Bacai, a Lisbon national born 03/06/1981. He is being sentenced today for three offences he’s pleaded guilty to including robbery, ABH and a failure to surrender at court.

Judge criticises the “political decision” that has left “listing and admin team … severely depleted”

Court Report: 16th October 2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court Following the adjournment of his previous sentencing (which I covered in part 1) I’m back in Court 20 for the sentencing of 19-year-old Mr HK who has been produced before His Honour Judge A Gordon.

Crown Court Judge: “it seems no one at the CPS can do their job properly”

Court Report: 15/10/2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m in Courtroom 9 before Her Honour Judge Canavan for the sentencing of a case subject to reporting restrictions. The judge asks Ms Jaja of Blackfriars Chambers, prosecuting for the crown, why the court cannot find an Enhanced Draft Restraining Order on the courts electronic digital case system. 

“Persistent” and “Prolific” offender hits 50th conviction

Court Report: 22/09/2020 @ Inner London Crown Court I’m in Courtroom 10 before Her Honour Judge Newbery for the sentencing of 44-year-old Thomas Mockler of no fixed abode. Having previously racked up some 49 convictions for 120 offences this defendant is about to hit the big 5-0.

1-hour in custody for drug user

Court Report: 22/09/2020 @ Inner London Crown Court I’m in Courtroom 10 before Her Honour Judge Newbery for the sentencing of 19-year-old Ali Diakite of Glanville Road SW2 on two counts. The court hears that on June 4th 2020 at around 5pm Mr Diakite was travelling as a passenger on an erratically driven moped aroundContinue reading “1-hour in custody for drug user”

Man who dealt Class A “Party Packs” to friends gets suspended sentence

Court Report: 21/09/2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m in Courtroom 8 before Her Honour Judge G Amakye for the sentencing of Mr Richard Yassin, 50, who has pleaded guilty to two drug related matters at the magistrates’ court. These are before the Crown Court for Sentencing today.

Judge calls for enquiry after police failings

In a rare trip outside London I’m at Maidstone Crown Court before His Honour Judge Gratwicke for the ‘Plea and Trial Preparation’ hearing of Mr Akram Uddin, 27, of HMP Elmley. Readers of the children’s adventure book ‘Sawson’s Quest’ may recognise the Judge’s name as the Author (as previously reported by the BBC).  What transpiresContinue reading “Judge calls for enquiry after police failings”

“Pinnacle of the family” killed by dangerous driver, court told

I am in Court 5 at Snaresbrook Crown Court before His Honour Judge Saunders for a Plea and Sentence hearing of a 22-year-old Mr Karolis Andriukaitis, of Harrow Road. Mr Andriukaitis has been charged with three offences:Count 1 – Causing Death by Dangerous DrivingCount 2 – Failing to StopCount 3 – Failing to Report anContinue reading ““Pinnacle of the family” killed by dangerous driver, court told”

The case of Sergio Esposito and Tobias the Decoy

Court Report: 8th September 2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I am in Court 5 before His Honour Judge M Zeidman QC (The Honorary Recorder of Redbridge) for the 11am sentencing of a 31-year-old Mr Sergio Esposito, (2010 Politics graduate of Queen Mary University).  This is another case where there is one charge of attempted sexualContinue reading “The case of Sergio Esposito and Tobias the Decoy”

One More Chance for ‘ML’

Court Report: 08/09/2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m in Court 11 for the sentencing of a Ms ‘ML’.  It’s a 0945 sitting before His Honour Judge L.J. West-Knights QC. The defendant is a no-show but the court hears this might not be her fault.  The instructing solicitor wrote her a letter after a previous adjournmentContinue reading “One More Chance for ‘ML’”

‘KA’ and the Zombie Knife

Court Report: 07/09/2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m in Court 20 before His Honour Judge A Gordon for a 10am ‘Breach of Order’ hearing involving a Mr ‘KA’. The court hears that he was found to have what was described as a ‘Zombie Knife’ on his person while attending a plumbing course at his localContinue reading “‘KA’ and the Zombie Knife”

Refused to show did he?

Court Report: 07/09/2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m before His Honour Judge A Gordon for an unsuccessful 11.30 sentencing hearing of a Mr ‘TA’ in Court 20. The defence submit that Mr ‘TA’ was due to be produced but according to reports from the prison he has “refused to attend”.  Counsel recall anecdotes whereby reasonsContinue reading “Refused to show did he?”

A Day at the Magistrates

Those with an interest in Open Justice will be pleased that HMCTS have started to publish Magistrates Lists online and today (Sept 1st) is the first day that the public has been able to remotely access the list by visiting courtserve.net Almost every criminal case passes through the Magistrates Courts either being dealt with hereContinue reading “A Day at the Magistrates”

Judge: “I won’t be here and I can’t say I’m that disappointed”

Court Report: 28/08/2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m before His Honour Judge M Shanks for the sentencing of a rather difficult case.  A case so difficult even the judge doesn’t want to deal with it. Counsel and the defendant are all due to attend remotely using the Skype for Business platform.  Things are not offContinue reading “Judge: “I won’t be here and I can’t say I’m that disappointed””

Suspended Justice

Court Report: 20th and 28th August 2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court Two cases of dangerous driving for consideration here and both were heard on different days before different judges.  There is no doubt that each warranted a custodial sentence but the question that the court had to grapple with is whether that sentence should beContinue reading “Suspended Justice”

HK the iPad Stealer (Part 1)

Court Report: 20th August 2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court Today we have 19-year-old Mr HK who has been produced before His Honour Judge K Inyundo in Court 17 for sentencing.  There are several indictments to be sorted out in this hearing mainly relating to thefts from bags and coats that have been left unguarded inContinue reading “HK the iPad Stealer (Part 1)”

“LS” the Street Robber

Court Report: 18th August 2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m in Court 5 before His Honour Judge M Shanks and there’s a couple of hour-long sentencing hearings lined up. To begin we have Mr ‘LS’ who has pleaded guilty on two indictments: Count 1 occurred at about 6pm on 21/12/2019.  The defendant approached a manContinue reading ““LS” the Street Robber”

Restricted Reporting – The matter of R v TA

Court Report: 2020 @ A London Crown Court Sometimes hearings will be open to the public but will be subject to reporting restrictions.  In the interests of justice an order can be made by the court preventing naming of the victim.  Given the nature of the crime such an order was granted here. The facts:Continue reading “Restricted Reporting – The matter of R v TA”

Sorry Mr DJ – “You’re here by mistake”

Court Report: 6th August 2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m in Court 17 this morning before His Honour Judge T Greene for the 10.30 sentencing of a Mr ‘DJ’.   While waiting for the hearing to begin my eyes are drawn to an object on the Judges bench that readers who have ever ordered cheap sportsContinue reading “Sorry Mr DJ – “You’re here by mistake””

Hapless Hearings in Court 9

Court Report: 3rd + 6th August 2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m in Courtroom 9 before Her Honour Judge S Canavan and first up we have a sentencing to witness in the matter of Mr ‘IS’.  The CPS have requested a behavioral order that would prevent the defendant accessing the entirety of the London BoroughsContinue reading “Hapless Hearings in Court 9”

Delayed Justice: R v ZD

Court Report: 6th August 2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m before His Honour Judge P Southern in Court 5 for the 11am Sentencing of Mr ‘ZD’. At first glance this seems like it’s going to be fairly straightforward.  The case has already been opened and fully mitigated and all parties agree it’s a category 2BContinue reading “Delayed Justice: R v ZD”

The case of ‘RE’ and Dolly the Decoy

Court Report: 3rd August 2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court It is 10am and I’m before His Honour Judge P Southern in Court 5 and the sentencing hearing of a man with the initials ‘RE’ is about to begin – I’ll explain why he’s not being named at the end. The case before me is oneContinue reading “The case of ‘RE’ and Dolly the Decoy”

The Farce of Mr Preda Eugen

Court report: 28/07/2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court I’m at the Sentencing of a Mr Preda Eugen in Courtroom 5 before His Honour Judge P Southern. Readers may recall the issue I had accessing the case of Mr ‘DP’ as the court could only accommodate a maximum of one public observer. Whilst waiting for the courtContinue reading “The Farce of Mr Preda Eugen”

Open Justice at Snaresbrook Crown Court during Covid

Court Report: 28th July 2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court The principle of Open Justice as Lord Chief Justice Hewart infamously described, “…is not merely of some importance but is of fundamental importance that justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done”. With the social distancing measures ofContinue reading “Open Justice at Snaresbrook Crown Court during Covid”