CPS News Brief

Ex-UKIP MEP Ashley Mote convicted of 11 counts of false accounting, fraud and related offences

On 15 May at Southwark Crown Court Ashley Mote was convicted of four counts of obtaining money transfer by deception, three counts of false accounting, two counts of fraud and two counts of money laundering. These offences, which involved over £400,000 worth of false claims to the European Parliament, occurred between 2004 and 2009 whilst Mr Mote was an independent MEP for South East of England. He has today been sentenced to five years. 

Zoe Martin, specialist prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service said: 

"Ashley Mote purported to expose fraud and promote accountability within the European Parliament. However, these values were not applied to his own blatantly dishonest actions as an MEP. 

"Over a period of five years, Mr Mote misused his allowances as a member of the European Parliament to fund his personal expenses. This included paying off part of a bridging loan and the mortgage on his home. He also used the European Parliament funds to pay his legal bills in connection with his previous fraud trial and a related civil action."

Chelsea Pensioner convicted of sexual assault

Patrick Teegan, 71, was convicted today at Isleworth Crown Court of sexual assault of a 29-year-old woman on 24th May 2014. The attack occurred following the Royal Chelsea Flower Show which had taken place in the grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital that day.

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

“Patrick Teegan took advantage of the victim in this case when she was vulnerable through drink.

“The victim had agreed to have a drink with Teegan and some others following the Royal Chelsea Flower Show event but soon became intoxicated.

“Teegan took her back to his room and when she woke up in the early hours of the morning she was naked and being assaulted. She had no recollection of how she got there and immediately left to go home.

“This was a hugely traumatic experience for the victim and I would like to thank her for giving evidence in court. We were able to support her in giving evidence by playing her video recorded interviews and enabling her to give evidence from behind a screen in court.

“Tackling rape and serious sexual assaults is a key priority for CPS London and we will continue to work closely with our police partners to support victims and bring offenders to justice.”

CPS authorises charge in relation to the death of Lorraine Barwell

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

"The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Humphrey Kevin Burke, 22, with the murder of Lorraine Barwell. Ms Barwell was attacked in Blackfriars Crown Court on 29 June 2015 while working as a custody officer.

"This decision was made under the Full Code Test of the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

"Burke appeared before Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court via video link today (10 July).

"Burke now stands charged with a criminal offence and has the 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."

Robert Ewing and Gareth Dewhurst found guilty in the case of missing schoolgirl, Paige Chivers

Paige Chivers was 15 when she went missing in Blackpool at around the time of the Bank Holiday weekend in August 2007.  She was a vulnerable teenager whose mother had died only six months earlier.

Today, a jury at Preston Crown Court have found Robert Ewing guilty of her murder and have found Gareth Dewhurst guilty of assisting Ewing to dispose of her body.  Her body has never been found.  Both men have also been found guilty of perverting the course of justice. 

Joanne Cunliffe, from CPS North West Complex Casework Unit said:

“At the time of her disappearance Paige had very little stability in her life and Robert Ewing took advantage of this.  He was a middle-aged man who befriended her, not for any charitable reasons, but because he had an inappropriate sexual interest in her.  Although we will never know the exact circumstances, the jury in delivering their guilty verdict have found that soon after Paige went missing he killed her in his flat.  Gareth Dewhurst knew about the murder and helped Robert Ewing dispose of her body.

“Neither of the defendants has ever shown any remorse and over the years since Paige went missing they have done everything they could to cover their tracks, to divert enquiries away from them and try to put the blame on other people.  Robert Ewing in particular has attempted to lay false trails and obstruct the police investigations through a series of concocted explanations about the evidence. 

“The CPS and the police have remained determined throughout to uncover the truth and to bring justice for Paige.  We have worked closely from the outset of this investigation, painstakingly piecing together hundreds of items of evidence and hundreds of witness statements to build a strong case and enable the jury to see through the defendants’ lies.  

“Because Paige’s body has never been found this has been a very complex case, firstly to prove that Paige was dead, not just missing, and then to prove that Robert Ewing murdered her.

“My sincere sympathies are with the family of Paige Chivers.  Despite the outcome today the trial has been a difficult and painful time for them.  I hope they can take some comfort in knowing that Robert Ewing and Gareth Dewhurst will now receive justice.”

Todros Grynhaus sentenced to 13 years for sexual offences against teenage girls

A religious studies teacher from Salford has today been sentenced to 13 years and 2 months with an extended licence period of 4 years for sexually abusing two teenage girls between 2000 and 2005. 

Todros Grynhaus, 50, a prominent member of the Haredi Jewish community, was found guilty of five counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault after a trial at Manchester Crown Court in June. 

Elizabeth Reed, Head of Crown Court Prosecutions for Greater Manchester said:

“Todros Grynhaus was a respected man in the community and he was a teacher both in the UK and abroad. But behind this public image  he systematically sexually abused two teenage girls over an extended period of time under the guise of showing them love and affection.

“The victims both disclosed the abuse to friends and relatives at the time but at that stage no report was made to the police. However, in 2012, the victims found the courage to report the abuse to the authorities and his past finally caught up with him.

“In an attempt to evade justice, he fled to Israel using a false passport where he remained for a year and a half before he was deported back to the UK to face the charges against him. Grynhaus denied the allegations at trial and suggested they were simply a plot to damage him. At today's sentencing hearing Grynhaus finally admitted his guilt.

"I would like to pay tribute to the two victims for showing immense bravery in coming forward and standing up to their abuser, which has enabled us to bring this man to justice. 

"The CPS and police urge anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse, no matter how long ago the offences took place, to come forward and report it to the police, and we will support them in every way possible throughout the process."

Officer to be charged with perjury following death of Sean Rigg

The CPS will now bring criminal proceedings against police officer Paul White for perjury following the investigation into the evidence given by the officer at the inquest concerning the death of Sean Rigg.

This follows a review of the case under the recently introduced CPS Victims' Right to Review (VRR) scheme.

Sean Rigg died on 21 August 2008 whilst in police custody at Brixton police station. Mr Rigg was initially held in the police van for 11 minutes before being transferred into the police station. Following the investigation into Sean Rigg’s death, Paul White gave evidence at his inquest in July 2012.

Sue Hemming, Head of CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division said: 

“The CPS Victims’ Right to Review scheme allows victims to seek a review of a CPS decision not to prosecute in certain circumstances. In this case the complainant’s bereaved family were eligible to apply and the case was referred to me to decide if the original decision not to prosecute was correct.

“After careful consideration of the evidence, I have decided that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and that it is in the public interest to charge Paul White with one count of perjury which relates to the evidence he gave at Mr Rigg’s inquest and therefore the original decision should be overturned. I also considered evidence against another police officer but agreed with the original decision not to prosecute due to insufficient evidence.

"Proceedings are now active and the defendant has the right to a fair trial. It is very important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."

Paul White will appear before Westminster Magistrates Court on 8 September 2015.

CPS to charge huntsman after case review

Rachael Scott, Head of the CPS South West Complex Casework Unit said: “The CPS Victims’ Right of Review (VRR) scheme allows victims to seek a review of a CPS decision not to prosecute in certain circumstances. In this case the complainant was eligible to apply and the case was referred to me to review it. 

“After careful consideration of all the evidence in this case, including additional new evidence, I have decided that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and that it is in the public interest to charge Mark Doggrell with recklessly causing Grievous Bodily Harm.

“Any decision by the CPS does not imply any finding concerning guilt or criminal conduct; the CPS makes decisions only according to the test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and it is applied in all decisions on whether or not to prosecute.

"Proceedings are now ongoing and the defendant has the right to a fair trial. It is very important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings." 

Mr Doggrell will be ‘summonsed’ to appear before the Magistrates’ Court – at date is yet to be fixed for this hearing.

Former prison officer charged with misconduct in public office

Gregor McGill, a senior lawyer at the Crown Prosecution Service, said, 

“A full file was received from the Metropolitan Police Service on 28 May 2015 and the CPS has today authorised the police to charge Joe De Souza, a former prison officer, with misconduct in public office.

 “Joe De Souza will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 9 July.

“May I remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against Joe De Souza will now be commenced and of his 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.

 “This decision was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the Guidelines for Prosecutors on Assessing the Public Interest in Cases Affecting the Media and the Additional Guidance on Cases Involving Payments made to Corrupt Public Officials by Journalists. We have decided that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.”

Details of the full charge:

Joseph De Souza, between 1^st March 2007 and 12^th June 2009, being a public officer namely a Prison Officer at Her Majesty’s Prison Holloway, and acting as such, without reasonable excuse or justification, wilfully misconducted himself to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust in that office.