Bargain Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri arrives at court charged with terror offence following police probe
BARGAIN Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri has arrived at court after he was charged with a terror offence.
The 53-year-old art dealer - real name Oghenochuko Ojiri - was held following a
Advertisement
4
Ochuko Ojiri has been charged with a terror offence
Credit: Getty
4
The star is known for his work on Bargain Hunt
Credit: BBC
Ojiri has arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a first appearance.
The TV star, who has also appeared on Antiques Road Trip, is charged with eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector.
The offences allegedly took place between October 2020 to December 2021.
Ojiri is the first person to be charged with a specific offence under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Advertisement
It came following an investigation into terrorist financing by officers from the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU), part of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command.
The Treasury, HMRC and the Met's Arts & Antiques Unit were all also involved in the probe.
Ojiri was previously the owner of an art gallery called Pelicans and Parrots that was dubbed "the coolest place in London".
He sold a curated selection of contemporary furniture, houseware, and gifts until the store closed in 2021.
Advertisement
Most read in Showbiz
The antiques expert first appeared on screens on BBC show Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.
He then became a regular on popular daytime show Bargain Hunt, where he lends his expert advice to budding antique buyers.
Ojiri has also appeared on Antiques Road Show - travelling across the country as he attempts to make a profit on forgotten items.
Away from the screen, he is an avid collector of contemporary art and helped launch the London-based Ramp Gallery, which champions emerging artists.
Advertisement
He previously told the BBC: "Contemporary art, paintings, prints, sculpture and drawings.
"I'm absolutely obsessed, in love and infatuated."
In a statement the BBC said: "It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings."
4
Ojiri started his career as an art dealer
Advertisement
4
He has also appeared on Antiques Road Trip
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Joy for Wynne Evans as he gets engaged after months of hell following Strictly drama
STRICTLY star Wynne Evans is to marry his girlfriend after proposing on holiday in Morocco. The opera singer, 53, got down on one knee in Marrakesh on Saturday to propose to Liz Brookes who has loyally stood by him following his axing by the BBC. Advertisement 2 Wynne Evans has got engaged to his partner Liz Credit: Instagram 2 The singer shared his happy news with fans Credit: Instagram The happy couple are expected to wed next year. Wynne shared snaps of the happy occasion and told fans: "Big news… I got engaged! "This weekend in Morocco, somewhere between the couscous, the camels, and me limping around the souks like a man with no spatial awareness, I proposed to Liz — and she said yes! (No take-backs, I've checked.) "She's clever, she's kind, she's got excellent taste in men. Absolutely no idea how I pulled that off, but here we are! Advertisement Read More on Wynne Evans "Feeling very lucky, very happy, and just a tiny bit smug." A source told The Sun: "It has been a tumultuous six months for Wynne but Liz has been his absolute rock throughout. "Finally some wonderful news for Wynne and his inner circle to celibate and everyone is chuffed for them both. "He secretly bought an engagement ring and squirrelled it away for their holiday, and then popped the question over champagne. Advertisement Most read in TV "Liz has been incredible over the past few months, supporting him through thick and thin, and had his back throughout, but obviously Wynne is telling everyone she's a lucky girl!" Liz, 50, who runs her own successful events company in Cardiff, met the star at one of her do's in Wales. He asked her out for a coffee the next day, and they have been together for the past 18 months. Wynne Evans confirms he's been AXED by the BBC after probe as he shares emotional statement News of the engagement comes after the BBC confirmed it would not be renewing the Go Compare frontman's rolling contract. It followed a protracted internal investigation into claims he used an inappropriate sexual term at the official photocall of the Strictly tour in January. Advertisement Wynne was previously married to wife of 16 years, Tanwen, with whom he has two kids. They divorced in 2016 which, he later revealed, saw his mental health plummet and left him feeling suicidal. Wynne, who was partnered with Katya Jones on Strictly, was seen being cheered on by Liz in the audience. Speaking about his disappointment about being dropped by the Beeb, the 2023 Celebrity Masterchef winner said: 'My beloved Wynners, From the very depths of my heart — thank you. Advertisement 'These past few months, your love has been the light in my darkest days. Every message, every word of encouragement, every moment you stood by me has carried me through more than you could ever know. 'It breaks my heart to say the BBC has decided not to renew my contract so I won't be returning to my radio show. I'm gutted.' Wynne has now copyrighted his name and will be launching his own radio show. Wynne Evans' Strictly scandals 'Grope' Wynne encountered a backlash after his Strictly pro partner Fans insisted she looked uncomfortable as she moved it away – but Katya later insisted there was no problem. In joke They then sparked further fury, when she was seen The duo were Crude joke Wynne came under fire for allegedly telling a "crude" joke to one of the show's make-up artists. Insiders claim the opera star made a joke that the folds of his double chin "looked like a vagina". A source said: 'It was a bit of a vulgar dad joke.' Vile comment Wynne was recorded suggesting a three-way sex session with presenter His remark came at a photocall to launch the Strictly live tour, which pro Janette, 41, is hosting. He reportedly pulled a suggestive face at actor Jamie Borthwick as Janette moved between them — which is when Evans allegedly made the joke. Wynne has apologised saying: "My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologise."
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton's romance heats up as they're spotted ‘all over each other' on spa trip
GETHIN Jones and Helen Skelton's relationship has heated up in recent weeks as they continue to grow close off screen. The Morning Live presenters were spotted looking loved up as they headed to a country club and spa on Monday. Advertisement 5 Helen Skelton -pictured here leaving work - was seen at a spa with Gethin Jones Credit: Splash 5 The pair have been spending lots of time together away from the studio Credit: Instagram 5 Helen and Gethin have a very close working relationship Credit: BBC Gethin, 47, took Helen, 41, to the venue near his home - surprising onlookers with their flirty antics. An insider said: 'Gethin and Helen were all over each other. They are clearly super comfortable with each other and it wasn't just like two friends hanging out. 'Helen was really laughing and smiling as they spent time together before heading off in the late afternoon.' They both appear on the BBC show on week day mornings, which is based in Manchester. Advertisement Read More on Helen Skelton But they have been spending an increasing amount of time together outside of the studio. Helen is based in Cornwall with her children Ernie, nine, Louis, eight, and Elsie, three, who she shares with her ex-husband Richie Myler. It was first reported last month how their relationship had turned more than just platonic. They were pictured close at the Baftas and last year were spotted at a charity ball set up by Advertisement Most read in TV "They were with close friends of Helen's and their connection was undeniable." Helen's husband Watch touching moment Helen Skelton breaks down in tears as she's reunited with her kids during gruelling Comic Relief challenge The Strictly star faced further heartbreak when her rugby player ex went on to have Gethin, who has Advertisement He said he was struck off the popular dating app Hinge because women didn't believe his profile was really him. Helen and Gethin took part in an Helen said on social media: "I don't publicly say often enough how much love and respect I have for you my friend because I assume it is well known. "But for the record you're a legend and I am beyond grateful to have you by my side on the rink, the sofa and beyond. Advertisement "I can gush.. he doesn't read beyond one paragraph on an insta post." Helen and Gethin's reps have been contacted for comment. 5 Helen and Gethin have spoken about how much they get on Credit: Instagram 5 Gethin has called Helen a 'superwoman' in the past Credit: Getty Advertisement
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
I was 15 when my nude pics were leaked – grown men sent them around at the football club & everyone blamed ME
LIKE many young girls, Jess Davies wanted to impress her school crush and decided to send him an explicit photo of herself. Little did the 15-year-old know that he would send it around the school and she would become a victim of image abuse. 2 Jess Davies revealed her nude photo was leaked at just 15-years-old Credit: Instagram/jessdavies "That image got bluetoothed around my school, and then it got shared around my hometown, which was a small hometown in Wales, everyone knows everyone," she explained on the Image-based sexual abuse is a criminal offence, it's when someone takes, shares, or threatens to share sexually explicit images or videos of a person without their knowledge or consent, and with the aim of causing them distress or harm. This can include digitally altered images, also known as 'deepfakes' - something Jess has gone on to lobby the government to include in the Online Harms Safety Bill. Now 32, Jess has opened up about the trauma it caused and more shockingly, how she was blamed for the abuse. READ MORE REAL LIFE STORIES She revealed that once the photo had circulated in her hometown, it was then shared to grown adult men on the local football team. Instead of seeing Jess as a victim, whose private photo was shared without her consent, people blamed her. "Everyone knew my age because it was a small town, and yet, the whole narrative was around how it was my fault," Jess added. "That I shouldn't have sent it, what kind of girl are you? Most read in Fabulous "There was never any conversation around why are men in their twenties and thirties passing around a child's image?" Jess was left as a teenage girl worrying about how to navigate the situation, and she decided she had to laugh it off. 2 Now, she advocates for sexual abuse victims Credit: Instagram/jessdavies Vicky Pattison shares deepfake porn clip of herself as she warns of dangers on C4 doc She revealed that boys in year 7 would run up and ask for a hug as they had seen the image as well. "I was laughing but secretly, this was humiliating," she said. In the end, her parents also found out about the image, as her nan was told about it from one of the men on the football team, where the image was being circulated. Now, as Jess has gotten older, she realises that the way people treated her for the image was not okay and that she was held more accountable than the grown men sharing the image. It has now led Jess to become an advocate for female rights and sexual abuse. Her BBC documentary 'Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next' was used to lobby the UK government to criminalise deepfake porn. Jess also has a new book, No One Wants To See Your Dick, a guide for surviving the digital age to help us understand and tackle online misogyny and question society's understanding of consent. Sexual abuse in numbers 669,000 adults are sexually assaulted in England and Wales every year 1 in 5 women (8m) in the UK have been sexually abused 1 in 6 men (5m) in the UK have been sexually abused 1 in 20 children in the UK have been sexually abused Sexual abuse has been attributed to : 15% of all suicides in the UK 11% of all common mental health disorders in the UK 7% of alcohol dependence disorders 10% of drug dependence disorders 15% of eating disorders 17% of post-traumatic stress disorders (Source: Safeline)
