CPS News Brief

Woman posed as spiritual healer to con vulnerable victims out of thousands

Juliette D’Souza, 59, (D.O.B 11/09/54) was convicted today of 20 counts of obtaining property by deception and three counts of fraud. She will be sentenced on Friday 30 May at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Baljit Ubhey, CPS London Chief Crown Prosecutor, said:

“D’Souza is a convincing and manipulative liar who preyed on the vulnerability of her victims and completely betrayed their trust.

“She took advantage of their personal circumstances by persuading them that they needed to pay a financial sacrifice to protect themselves, their families and friends from problems including redundancy and serious illness. To increase her credibility, D’Souza told some of her victims she was a barrister.

“She told her victims that the money she took would be used as a spiritual offering but instead used it to fund her lavish lifestyle, purchasing designer handbags, jewellery and antique furniture, renting high value property, and taking luxurious holidays.

“D’Souza had a devastating effect on her vulnerable victims, who put complete faith in her claims that she could improve their lives, and today she has been brought to justice for her crimes.”

Background

Juliette D’Souza was convicted of 20 counts of Obtaining Property by Deception contrary to the Theft Act 1968. She was also convicted of three counts of Fraud.

These convictions relate to 10 victims and the offences occurred between January 1998 and June 2010.

D’Souza took more than £900,000 from her victims during this period.

Juliette D’Souza presented herself as a faith healer or shaman. She told her victims that she also had connections with other shaman figures in Suriname, South America who could help with healing.

Operation Yewtree: Christopher Denning to be charged with 41 offences

Baljit Ubhey, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London, said:

"We have carefully considered the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police Service as part of Operation Yewtree in relation to Christopher Denning, who was initially arrested on 3 June 2013 over allegations of sexual offences. A full file of evidence was passed to the CPS on 6 March 2014.

"Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Denning to be charged with 41 offences, including 34 counts of indecent assault. These date from between 1967 and 1985, and relate to 22 male complainants aged between nine and 16 at the time of the alleged offending."

The charges are:

1. Two offences of indecent assault on a boy aged 12 – 14 between 1967 – 1970
2. One offence of indecency with a child and one offence of indecent assault on a boy aged 9 – 11 between 1969 – 71
3. One offence of indecent assault on a boy aged 14 – 16 between 1971 – 73
4. Two offences of indecent assault on a boy aged 14 – 15 in 1973
5. One offence of indecent assault on a boy and one offence of buggery on a boy aged 13 – 14 between 1973 – 75
6. One offence of indecency with a child and two offences of indecent assault on a boy aged 12 – 14 between 1976 – 77
7. One offence of indecent assault on a boy aged 14 between 1978 – 79
8. One offence of indecent assault on a boy aged 14 between 1978 – 79
9. One offence of buggery and two offences of indecent assault on a boy aged 14 – 15 between 1978 – 79
10. One offence of indecent assault on a boy aged 12 between 1978 – 79
11. Two offences of indecent assault on a boy aged 13 – 15 between 1978 – 80
12. Two offences of indecent assault on a boy aged 12 between 1979 – 80
13. One offence of indecency with child on a boy aged 12 – 14 between 1981 – 82
14. Two offences of indecent assault and one offence of attempted buggery on a boy aged 10 – 13 between 1980 – 83
15. Two offences of indecent assault on a boy aged 10 – 13 between 1980 – 83
16. One offence of indecent assault on a boy aged 12 between 1982 – 83
17. Two offences of indecent assault on a boy aged 13 – 14 between 1982 – 83
18. One offence of indecent assault on a boy aged 14 in 1983
19. One offence of indecent assault and one offence of indecency with a child on a boy aged 11 – 12 in 1982
20. Three offences of indecent assault on a boy aged 12 – 14 between 1983 – 84
21. Two offences of indecent assault on a boy aged 12 – 13 between 1983 – 84
22. Two offences of indecent assault on a boy aged 16 between 1984 – 85

Ms Ubhey said:

"The decision to prosecute has been taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and Crown Prosecution Service legal guidance on rape and child sexual abuse. We have determined that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.

"Mr Denning will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday 23 May 2014. "We have also decided that no further action should be taken in relation to three further allegations against Mr Denning, made by three further complainants, as we determined that there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.

"May I remind all concerned that Mr Denning has a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Freddie Starr – Charging decisions

The Crown Prosecution Service has decided that Freddie Starr should not be prosecuted for any offence.

Baljit Ubhey, the Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS London, said:

“Having carefully reviewed this case, we have decided that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute Freddie Starr in relation to allegations of sexual offences made by 13 individuals. Each allegation was considered on its own merits and we have concluded that the available evidence does not offer a realistic prospect of conviction for any of the alleged offences.

“In relation to one further complainant, we have decided that although there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, according to the Code for Crown Prosecutors, a prosecution would not be in the public interest. It must be remembered that a determination by a prosecutor that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute under the Code does not mean that the suspect is guilty of the offence. Prosecutors have to consider whether there is enough evidence to bring a case to trial but deciding whether an offence has been committed is entirely a matter for courts and juries and every suspect is innocent until proven guilty.

“All of these decisions have been taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and our guidance for prosecutors on cases of sexual offences. The complainants have been informed and we will be writing to them to more fully explain our decision.”

The CPS received initial material from the Metropolitan Police Service regarding these allegations in December 2012. Investigative advice was provided to the police throughout 2013 and the final evidence was submitted to the CPS in March 2014.

DPP statement following Max Clifford sentencing

Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, said: “The prosecution in this case has proved Max Clifford’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt and the jury in this case decided that they were sure Max Clifford was guilty on eight of the eleven counts brought to court. He has rightly been held to account and sentenced today for his crimes.

“The prosecution was built with evidence demonstrating a pattern of behaviour where unconnected victims told of strikingly similar experiences over a number of years. I would like to thank all the victims for coming forward and giving evidence in difficult circumstances.

“Research is clear that sexual offences are severely under-reported and I want to provide reassurance to any victim that the CPS will continue to make decisions based on the evidence and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. We will work with the police and victims to build strong cases which we can put before the court no matter when the alleged offending took place or was reported. I hope this provides other victims with the courage and confidence to come forward and report abuse that may have happened to them, no matter who is alleged to have carried out the abuse or when.

“The CPS regularly gains convictions in non-recent sexual abuse cases up and down the country which go unreported yet this case, alongside a few others, have attracted much more attention. For the CPS there is no difference - we apply the same tests in every case no matter who the defendant is. That is the criminal justice system working effectively.

“The independence of the CPS means that our decision making is at all times fair, impartial and without prejudice and we will pursue such prosecutions resolutely and robustly no matter who the suspect is.”