Milan Radulovic: Benefit Fraud (Hearing)

Milan Radulovic (Labour Cllr)

The former leader of Broxtowe Borough Council appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court this morning charged with benefit fraud.

In the short hearing Cllr Milan Radulovic – accused of a £45,000 benefit fraud – was told his case is too serious to be heard at Magistrates’ Court.

He will appear at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday March 30.

Cllr Radulovic stepped down from his position as leader when the allegations came to light.

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Peter Cruddas: Cash for Access

Peter Cruddas (Tory party co-treasurer)

Conservative Party co-treasurer Peter Cruddas has resigned after being filmed apparently offering access to Prime Minister David Cameron in return for donations of £250,000 a year.

The senior Tory fundraiser told undercover reporters pretending to be business representatives that 'things will open up for you' if they donated that amount of money to the Tories.

In a meeting secretly recorded by The Sunday Times, he said: 'It will be awesome for your business.'

Mr Cruddas said he only took up the post at the beginning of the month and was 'keen to meet anyone potentially interested in donating'.

He said he had not consulted any politicians or senior party officials before the recorded conversation.

Mr Cruddas told the undercover reporters that 'premier league' donors - those giving £250,000 a year - could lobby Mr Cameron directly and their views were 'fed in' to Downing Street. He said there was no point in 'scratching around' with donations of £10,000.

According to The Sunday Times, he believed that any prospective donations from the reporters - pretending to be wealth fund executives - would come from Liechtenstein and would be ineligible under election law.

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George Lord: Sexual Assault

George Lord (Tory) former head of Worcestershire County Council

Disgraced ex-Tory council leader George Lord on Thursday admitted molesting a teenage girl more than 30 years ago and groping another junior member of staff in the town hall while he was in office.

Dr George Lord, 79, former head of Worcestershire County Council, assaulted the girl – aged either 14 or 15 – between 1977 and 1979 while he was a church preacher.

Lord, from Bromsgrove, Worcs., had already been convicted of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old girl in the council chamber while he was leader in 2010.

Reporting restrictions have only just been lifted to allow the media to report on the latest case.

A previous hearing was told Lord assaulted the girl by ”touching her bottom and vagina” without her consent.

Lord on Thursday pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent assault at Birmingham Crown Court.

Lord, wearing a dark shirt and grey tie, stared straight ahead during the 10-minute hearing.

He admitted indecently assaulting a 14 or 15-year-old girl between September 1977 and 1979.

Lord was remanded into custody for pre-sentence reports and was warned he faces a prison sentence.

Judge Nigel Godsmark QC told him: “You have pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent assault".

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Ross Knowles: Embezzlement

Ross Knowles

Ross Knowles, a 42-year-old boss at Kent County Council, is alleged to have siphoned off funds meant for big energy companies - which he used to buy a Jaguar car and trips abroad.

The respected 'golden boy' of his sector cashed in invoices for as much as £400,000-a-time into his own personal account, a court was told.

A jury heard that British Gas and NPower were two of the companies he defrauded, before being caught out.

Knowles worked with the Local Authority South East Region (Laser) buying energy for Kent County Council in 2007, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Over a 14-month period, Knowles - who earned a salary of £66,000 a year - extracted more than £2million and kept it for himself, the court was told.

Allison Clare, prosecuting, told the jury that the Cambridge graduate was regarded as 'a bit of a star' and a 'golden boy'.

She said: 'He was a huge asset to Laser, everybody thought. That may be why he was able to perpetrate the fraud.

'The essence of the fraud is really very simple.'

Knowles would ask British Gas and NPower to add an extra charge at their end of their dealings as a 'comfort blanket', Miss Clare told the court.

This was meant to be reclaimed by Kent County Council and Laser at the end of the year.

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Stephanie Brookfield: Drunk and Disorderly

Stephanie Brookfield, who is standing for Labour in the Earcroft ward of Darwen in May’s elections, was arrested at Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Molineux stadium on Saturday.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “We can confirm a 50-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly at Molineux football ground on Saturday.

“She was arrested after complaints from ground staff.

“She was taken to Wolverhampton Police Station, where she was given a caution and released.”

Miss Brookfield, who is active among Rovers fans who have been protesting against owners Venky’s, said: “During the match, a large number of people were protesting against Venky’s.

“Unfortunately, some of them were arrested.

“I am a passionate and vocal Rovers supporter and always have been.

“The police kept me at the station before throwing me out after a couple of hours.

“I missed my coach home as a result.”

Miss Brookfield will still be standing at the forthcoming elections.

Labour councillor for Earcroft Trevor Maxfield said: “Stephanie is a passionate Blackburn Rovers fan and is down at Ewood week in week out. We are fully behind her.”

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Warren Bradley: Perjury

Warren Bradley (Liberal Democrat cllr)

Ex-Liberal Democrat leader of Liverpool City Council Warren Bradley pleaded guilty to one count of perjury at Liverpool Magistrates' Court and was ordered by District Judge Miriam Shelvey to pay a £1,000 fine, £75 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge. It follows a 10-month police investigation into how his son, Daniel, came to be nominated to stand in last year's local elections.

Bradley signed Daniel's nomination form to stand in the May 5 contest as a witness although his son was not present and had not yet signed the form agreeing to put himself forward as a candidate.

The 19-year-old subsequently claimed that his signature was a "fake" and that he did not want to stand. Section 5 of the Perjury Act forbids any person from making a false statutory declaration.

The serving firefighter and councillor for Liverpool's Wavertree ward on Friday admitted signing the consent of nomination form as a witness when his son was not present. It also emerged that Bradley's mother, Pam, had been cautioned by police for forging Daniel's signature.

However Bradley's lawyer, James Murray, denied that his client's teenage son had been put forward as a candidate without his knowledge and claimed that Daniel's statement to police came in the midst of an "acrimonious divorce" between Bradley and his wife, Pauline.

Simon Orme, for the prosecution, told the court that in March last year Pauline Bradley contacted an electoral officer and asked him to inspect the nomination papers as her son "knew nothing" about them. Local newspapers the Daily Post and the Liverpool Echo subsequently ran stories on the matter and this was later followed by a police investigation.

Mr Orme said Daniel told police: "I can confirm I did not agree to be a candidate, I am not prepared to lie for anybody", as he was interested in pursuing a career in the Royal Air Force rather than politics.

James Murray, mitigating, said his client had already made a "full and frank admission" to signing the nomination form without his son being present, which he described as the "essential mischief" in the case.

District Judge Shelvey said she had seen "little remorse" from Bradley, who shook his head as he was sentenced. She said: "You have chosen to lay the blame on others rather than accept you were in the wrong or just apologise and simply say you were sorry."

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Christine Channon: Drunk driving

Christine Channon (Tory cllr)

Conservative Christine Channon – portfolio holder for education and schools at Devon County Council – has been charged with driving under the influence of excess alcohol.

Channon, of Cricket Field Lane, Budleigh Salterton, was breathalysed by police officers following an alleged collision with a parked car.

The alleged incident took place on Saturday, February 25, at 6.40pm. Police were alerted by a member of the public.

Channon, who represents Budleigh Salterton, was subsequently arrested following a roadside breath test.

A police spokesman said: "The arrest followed a roadside breath test which was undertaken following a minor road traffic collision with the suspect's vehicle and a parked car."

She will appear at Exeter Magistrates' Court today, charged with driving with excess alcohol. The reading taken was 61mcg in 100ml of breath, police said. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Channon is one of Devon's best known councillors. She is chair of the county's Children's Trust Board, the Devon Local Admissions Forum and is the Teachers Joint Consultative chair. She is also on the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education.

The councillor has since been banned from driving for 14 months by Exeter magistrates and must take a driving rehabilitation course.

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Kyle-Noel Taylor: Woman beater

Labour Ex-councillor Kyle-Noel Taylor

Kyle-Noel Taylor was convicted in December of four counts of assault by beating 19-year-old Rebecca Jackson following a trial at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court.

The 20-year-old is today starting a six-month jail term after a judge yesterday threw out his appeal, ruling that Taylor had not been truthful.

Earlier, a magistrate who had sat in Taylor's previous trial was told to leave the court's public gallery by the judge because the defendant argued he would not get a fair hearing.

Following the verdict, Taylor, who has always denied the charges, was axed from his position as Kidsgrove ward councillor on Newcastle Borough Council with immediate effect.

Sentencing Taylor, of Victoria Avenue, Kidsgrove, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said: "We are of the view that the claimant has told the truth to the court and has been the victim of repeated assaults at the hands of the appellant."

Taylor first met Miss Jackson when the pair were at high school together and they were in an "on and off" and "volatile" relationship for around three-and-a-half years, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard yesterday.

The attacks related to incidents on January 6, January 22, January 25 and March 24 last year.

One of the attacks took place just hours after Taylor, who had no previous convictions, returned home from a Newcastle Borough Council meeting.

On January 6, Taylor butted and struck Miss Jackson in the face following an argument over ex-partners, which left Miss Jackson with a chipped front tooth.

Then on January 22, Taylor attacked Miss Jackson by punching her in the head, grabbing her round the neck and banging her head on a kitchen counter.

In an incident on January 25, Taylor bit Miss Jackson's finger when she confronted him about cheating on her and punched her in the stomach when she told him she might be pregnant.

And on March 24, Taylor butted Miss Jackson three times, punched her in the face and bit her on the cheek.

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Eric Joyce: Spared Jail

Eric Joyce (Labour MP)

Labour MP Eric Joyce was today spared jail after pleading guilty to four counts of assault following his brawl in a House of Commons bar last month but refused to step down from Parliament.

However the shamed MP has been fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £1,400 to victims at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

He has also been given a twelve-month community order - which includes banning him from entering pubs and licensed premises for three months - and the court also gave him a curfew order from Friday to Sunday.

In a statement after sentencing, Joyce said he was 'lucky' to avoid prison, but said he did not intend to stand down as an MP before the next election.

The 51-year-old was charged with assaulting Tory MP Stuart Andrew following a row in the Strangers Bar on February 22.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court this morning and entered guilty pleas to three charges of common assault and one of assault by beating.

Joyce admitted assaulting four people during the attack. Wearing a black suit, white shirt and blue tie, he entered the four guilty pleas in a clear voice.

The court heard Joyce first attacked MP Stuart Andrew, before lashing out at political aides Luke Mackenzie and Ben Maney and then Labour Whip Phillip Wilson.

Joyce - who had been drinking with friends at a table in the bar - flew into a rage when Mr Andrews said: 'You do not treat an MP like that in a place like this.'

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Manish Sood: Sexual harassment

 Manish Sood (Ex-labour cllr)

Divorced Sood (40), of Roundhill Road, Leicester, appeared at the city's Crown Court to be sentenced for the offences, which he admitted.

Sood was Labour councillor for Leicester's Fosse Ward and Parliamentary candidate for Norfolk North West when he criticised Gordon Brown two years ago, making national headlines and damaging Labour's 2010 election campaign.

He was suspended from the party but readmitted in January last year. He remained Fosse councillor until the local elections last May, when he did not seek re-election.

The Crown Court hearing was told that on February 6 last year that Sood phoned one of the teenage victims after she posted an advert on the Gumtree website seeking a part-time job.

Prosecutor Sian Cutter said Sood offered to pay her £20 to lie down on a couch and have a massage, which she refused.

He continued to contact her, urging her to meet him at his home. Sood rang her 27 times and sent 15 texts.

The girl complained to a 15-year-old friend at school, who rang Sood and told him to leave her friend alone.

But Sood then directed his attention to the friend, asking if she was interested in "therapy", and sending 26 texts and phoning 152 times in three days, suggesting she visit for "physical tantra".

He told her to bring "toe rings and condoms", the court heard.

Sood suggested picking her up from school, which worried her as she had not told him where it was.

In front of a teacher, she told Sood to stop bothering her on the phone, to which he replied: "Even for £200? Let me know if you change her mind."

He was then reported to the police. When arrested, he accepted he had "sexual motives" towards the schoolgirls and claimed his medication made him "forgetful".

Ms Cutter told the court that Sood had met the 22-year-old woman through Gumtree in January last year, and she went to his home genuinely believing he was a therapist.

Sood took her to his bedroom to demonstrate relief of "aroma and tantra".

He massaged over her clothes, touching her inappropriately and kissing her stomach, causing her to freeze in fear.

Sood massaged her back, pulled down her leggings and underwear and kissed her bottom. She was too scared and uncomfortable to say anything and left, the court heard.

Sood admitted causing or inciting the two teenagers to engage in sexual activity, and to sexually assaulting the 22-year-old.

Judge Michael Pert QC said: "It's conduct of a dirty old man, and you're not even old."

Robert Underwood, mitigating, said Sood began suffering mental health difficulties in 2008, starting with thoughts someone was out to kill him. He has received psychiatric treatment and is on medication.

However, the judge told Sood: "The psychiatric report makes it plain there's no connection between this and your mental health problems."

Sood was given a three-year community order with supervision. He must attend a sex offender group work programme.

He was made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order banning unsupervised contact with children under 16 and restrictions placed on his computer use.

Mr Underwood said: "He's aware of the shame he's brought upon his family.

"His mother is in court but his brother no longer wishes to have anything to do with him.

"Another consequence is that he's lost his job.

"He's a hard working man from a caring family who are very active in their civic responsibilities.

"Other than his mental health problems, there's no explanation as to why he behaved so out of character."

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Peter Richards: Shielding Child abusers

Peter Richards (Labour cllr for Baglan Ward, Neath Port Talbot County Council)

Taken from Cllr Kevin Edwards's blog;

"Below is the second email sent to Councillor Richards by a long standing supporter of the Lewis family sent out of frustration.

He has deliberately refused to reply to the first email.

You can see Cllr Richards position within this discredited Council it has already been highlighted by our friend. 

Councillor Richards is not a man to be trusted.  

At the last Council Election up until the close of voting he was a candidate for the Ratepayers of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. 

As soon as the polls closed he betrayed the electorate of Baglan Ward as did his fellow Ratepayer Candidate Mrs Juliet Hopkins and defected to the Labour Party.

Proof 

Ratepayers Councillors defected  and  Election Uproar, but there is more.

If defecting is not bad enough he did it for money !

He became a Head of a Scrutiny Committee at the bequest of the then Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council the corrupt  Derek Vaughan now a Member of the European Parliament  at a salary allegedly in the region of £20,000 a year !

Below is the second email sent to Councillor Richards by a supporter of the " Justice 4 Linda Lewis Campaign."

Just like other Councillor's in Neath Port Talbot his arrogance in not responding unfortunately is common practice.

Here it is.

Original email  

From: T*** V***** (t****v*****@hotmail.co.uk)

Sent: 16 February 2012 14:39:06

To: peter.richards983@ntlworld.com

Second  email

From: T*** V***** (t***v*****@hotmail.co.uk)

Sent: 28 February 2012 21:00:15

To: peter.richards983@ntlworld.com

.

Resent as I do not believe ignorance is a valid reason not to reply.

Dear Peter Denis Richards

Well what a leaflet that was.

Myself and others are amazed to find out that you are Scrutiny Chairman Children Young People and Education  as well as Scrutiny Chairman Children's Sub Committee.

I also note that you have three children and grandchildren. No doubt you flout your " family values, family man " image as a way of hoping to be re elected this May. 

My question to you is a very simple one taking into account the offices that you hold within this rotten and corrupt Council.

Why have you ignored the evidence presented to you by Councillor Kevin Edwards who has broken a "Super Injunction" proving that Neath Port Talbot Council Social Services removed a 12year old girl from a sick bed in America illegally and without proper extradition documentation and with  a false passport.

This is known as the crime of " Kidnapping."

Should you be unaware of Councillor Kevin Edwards blogspot but I am sure you are not then this is it www.cllrkevinedwards.blogspot.com

Today is a particularly sad day for us as it is N@t@sh*'s birthday and as myself, my wife and our family have stood with Linda Lewis from the beginning.

Fourteen years ago this Saturday N@t@sh* was taken from her sick bed in America by the evil Julie Rzezniczek at gunpoint, returned to Britain on a fake passport and has never been returned to her family.

I do not need to elaborate further and ask that you reply to this email with your intentions to end this crime and bring the guilty from within your Council to account.

Should you refuse to reply to this email as seems to  be the case as standard by your Councillor's then perhaps a small delegation of the " Justice 4 Linda Lewis Campaign" should contact you at home for a meeting with you to discuss this issue further.

I would not consider it unreasonable to expect your reply before the weekend is over.

I trust you feel the same.

T***  V****  

End.

Should you feel the need to contact Councillor Richards his email address is  

peter.richards983@ntlworld.com 

Please let him know what you think of him.

Politely of course.

I hope you do.

Kevin"

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Eric Joyce: Indecent relationship

Eric Joyce (left), Meg Lauder (right)

Eric Joyce allegedly met and then romanced Meg Lauder when she was 17 after she helped him with the 2010 General Election campaign by working in his Scottish constituency office in Falkirk.

Miss Lauder, now 19, was still in a local sixth form when she allegedly fell for the 51-year-old former army major, who is separated from his wife Rosemary.    

Mr Joyce has two children of primary school age and his marriage to Rosemary, the headmistress of the prestigious Tonbridge Grammar School in Kent, is said to have collapsed recently.

He is previously divorced.

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