Latest news with #CrownCourt
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How a mother-of-two mysteriously disappeared from her £1m home on the day of a family holiday... the truth was 'devastating'
Mr Jayaprakash visibly shakes as he relives the moment he found out why his wife Hemalatha had suddenly disappeared on the day of a family holiday. The couple had been due to travel to a Manchester Airport hotel for an overnight stay ahead of catching a flight the following morning to visit relatives in their native India. But as they busily packed their suitcases at their £1m detached home in Great Barr, on the outskirts of Birmingham, Hemalatha told him she needed to go out. She drove off in her Land Rover saying she was going to view offices of a new workplace, as she had previously been made redundant from her job but had told her husband she had secure a new one. But the mother-of-two was not driving to meet new work colleagues, she was rushing to attend a crown court trial - her own. Unknown to her loving husband and two adult children, Hemalatha had stolen £166k from her boss in a long-term fraud. But while Mr Jayaprakash prepared for their holiday, his wife had been appearing in the dock at Birmingham Crown Court where she pleaded guilty to fraud and abuse of position. Hemalatha seemed to be hoping she could avoid a custodial sentence without ever having to tell her family. But she was wrong. The fraudster office worker was jailed for two years and three months and was heard 'wailing' as she was led to the cells. Meanwhile her frantic family were out searching for her, fearing she may have been involved in a road accident. Speaking on the doorstep of his home this week, Mr Jayaprakash told MailOnline: 'It is beyond belief and we are absolutely shattered. 'It is devastating to all our family and friends.' Mr Jayaprakash revealed how the family searched local areas and even visited hospitals looking for Hemalatha. They eventually dialled police in desperation, reporting her as a missing person. The family only found out she had been jailed later that night at 10.30pm - more than 12 hours after she had vanished - when her former boss posted news of her conviction and sentence on a community Facebook page. Distraught Mr Jayaprakash said: 'We weren't aware of any of this, it is such a difficult time for the family. We had absolutely no idea. 'My wife didn't need the money and we are trying to find out what really happened, and maybe she was coerced by someone. 'We don't have any money issues, we are not struggling financially, so why would she do this. 'We cannot comprehend this, it is beyond belief and we are totally shattered and devastated. It is such a shock.' It was heard in court that Jayaprakash lived in a £1million home and had a rental property empire. The 44-year-old had worked at city centre-based Northwood estate agents for 12 years but made dozens of illegal transfers from business and client accounts to herself. She claimed she used some of the money to pay her child's school fees and help relatives in India who lost their homes due to flooding. Nin Rehal, who founded the business and was managing director, said he had been left devastated by her betrayal, having learned she also took money while he was out of the office caring for his terminally-ill mother. She had been hired in 2012 as an accounts manager before becoming office manager and then a personal assistant to the director. A £26,000 discrepancy was discovered when Mr Rehal sold the business in December 2023 and the accounts were examined. It transpired payments had been made to non-existent landlords to the same bank account, which was revealed as Jayaprakash's account when she submitted an expenses claim. She was suspended in March last year but claimed she had paid £29,000 into the business herself in 2019. Richard Davenport, prosecuting, told the hearing: 'The defendant said she was paying herself back for the money she provided the business in 2019. 'She also said she had stolen £55,000 and offered to repay the money. 'That amount was a vast understatement of the amount she had actually stolen.' It was established Jayaprakash had actually taken £167,062.68 over 158 transactions between January 2021 and March 2024. She was ultimately dismissed. The court was told Jayaprakash had repaid most of the stolen money, but Mr Rehal said he had not received anything himself because funds had been withheld from the sale of the business. In a victim impact statement he drew attention to a £6,480 sum she stole when he was out of office due to his mother dying less than 24 hours earlier. He stated: 'This is the level of greed and deception and betrayal we are dealing with.' He recalled how Jayaprakash turned up to his mother's funeral with 'flowers in hand.' Mr Rehal said her fraud had caused him 'immense' distress and 'devastating' financial losses. He told told the court that he had to release equity from his family home to make ends meet, including supporting his two children at university. He added: 'Meanwhile Mrs Jayaprakash resides in a £1m property, purchased outright in 2018, and benefits from income generated by a portfolio of at least eight rental properties.' Samreen Akhtar, defending, said: 'This wasn't committed by a lady living a lavish lifestyle. 'The money stolen was used to pay for her child's school fees and sent to relatives in India who had lost their livelihoods (due to flooding). 'Nevertheless she doesn't seek to minimise the offences and she is aware the victim is in the public gallery and wishes me to apologise to them through me today.' She told the court Jayaprakash had a computer science degree and hoped to get a job in the IT industry, having resigned from another estate agent job that morning due to the 'stress of these proceedings'. Ms Akhtar added: 'She resides with her husband and two children, both adults. 'Her family members are regrettably unaware (of her conviction). She has had no support in terms of these proceedings.' But Recorder Amy Jackson expressed 'scepticism' at being told Jayaprakash had managed to swiftly repay £126,000 of the stolen money through sales of land and property in India. She said: 'Everything I have read about this lady takes me to the belief she is from an affluent background where she ought not to need to steal to fund a lifestyle and effectively does lead a lavish lifestyle. 'This was pure greed.' Passing sentence the judge said: 'This was a long-running and significant fraud and abuse of trust.' Jayaprakash remained motionless as she was told she was being jailed immediately and would serve up to 40 per cent of the 27-month term in custody. But she was heard crying in anguish after being led out of the dock and down to the cells. A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing to determine confiscation, costs and compensation was adjourned until August 26. Mr Jayaprakash told MailOnline that his wife was a 'respectable lady' who didn't need any extra money, and the family was now having 'such a difficult time.' He doubted she was leading a double life. On the day of her court hearings he explained: 'We were doing our packing, 'I was aware my wife had applied for another job and she said she had got it. 'If I knew my wife was in any financial difficultly and needed any money I would have helped her. 'We have not been struggling financially.' Mr Jayaprakash told how they had bought their home for £540,000 seven years ago. The large property, adorned with garden sculptures, is named Gleneagles after the renewed luxury Scottish county, golfing and spa retreat. Asked if his wife had spent the stolen money on private school fees, he replied: 'No, my daughter went to a fee paying school and I paid for that.' Quizzed if she had given cash to struggling relatives in India, as she had suggested, he responded: 'We checked with family and they have not received a penny from her.' He admitted the case was 'baffling' as well as distressing. Asked if his wife may have been hiding a secret health battle, which she could have needed funding for, he said: 'No, not that I aware of. She was physically and mentally well and in a good state of health. 'It there was any problem I would have helped her.' He believes she may have been 'coerced' into illegal activity. Mr Jayaprakash told how his wife had been suspended from her star agent Jon in around 2014/2015 with her boss saying she was 'not fit for purpose.' He said: 'It appears she was not doing her job properly but within in a few weeks he took her back, the same post but with a bigger salary. 'She was accounts manager.' On the day she disappeared, he told how he rang the police to report his wife missing. Unbeknown to him she had driven her car into the city centre to attend her court hearing. Her vehicle, more than a week later, is still parked up with her husband not being able to retrieve it becaue her keys have been retained by the prison and have not yet been returned to him for removal. Mr Jayaprakash told how family and friends were helping him support him through this 'horrendous' ordeal. He said his wife was not coping well in prison and during brief phone calls to her she kept saying 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry;' but with no explanation and cannot say why. 'She's not in a good place, the court case and sentence has taken its toll on her, and her family. 'It has had such an impact on all our lives. 'Friends and neighbours who are now aware are trying tio be supportive but it is such a difficult time.' The traumatised husband is due to visit his caged wife for the first time this week, saying: 'I've not seem her since she left our house when I thought we were going in holiday, and still all our packed bags are left in the house. 'Her sentence was very harsh, and I think charges against her may have been spiced up. 'If anything she should have been given a suspended sentence and not jailed. 'She's not a killer!' He continued: 'We are trying to piece together what happened, because we are shattered. 'Her former boss was a bit of a character and I have a strong feeling he may be involved if there was any wrong doing and spiced things up 'I have my suspicions.' Shocked neighbours also had 'no idea' of her jailing. A woman living next door, who declined to be named, told MailOnline: 'I am absolutely shocked, God, I had no idea. 'She was a very kind person and she cooked me meals at times, she was so kind, 'I have been around to her house, we were not close friends but good neighbours.' She added: 'On reflection she hadn't been in the best of health, she hadn't been very unwell but she has the cough-cold virus, as we all do.
South Wales Guardian
21 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Burglar ram-raided petrol station for cigarettes and alcohol
Ryan Thomas appeared at Swansea Crown Court after admitting a spree of burglaries in Carmarthenshire which saw him steal cars from two homes before ram-raiding a garage. Thomas broke in to a home on Broad Street in Llandovery in the early hours of April 1, 2023, by reaching through a disused cat flap to open the door, prosecutor Dean Pulling said. He stole a box of Budweiser and the keys to a Toyota Yaris, and a neighbour reported hearing the car driving off at around 1.30am. Thomas drove the car some 18.5 miles, and it was found abandoned in the Llandybie area having sustained 'some damage'. After ditching the car, Thomas broke in to a nearby home on Ammanford Road and stole the keys to a Volvo S80. The court heard Thomas drove the Volvo to Petro Express petrol station on Cwmamman Road in Glanaman, where he committed 'a ram-raid style burglary' at just after 4am. Mr Pulling said Thomas was seen putting what appeared to be plastic bags over his hands and head, before attempting to lift the shutter to the garage's shop. After being unable to lift it, he reversed the car into the shutter 'a number of times', before turning around and driving into it front-on twice. This smashed through the shutter, and Thomas went inside and swiped cigarettes, alcohol, and cash from the tills. After around 40 minutes, the defendant fled in the Volvo. The car was recovered in the Swansea area, Mr Pulling said it had extensive damage and an attempt had been made to set fire to the interior. The ram raid had caused damage worth £17,820 to the petrol station. Thomas' fingerprints were found on the door and cat flap of the first home, as well as on the empty beer bottles left in the abandoned Yaris. He was seen entering the second home on the doorbell camera. However by the time officers were able to link him to the burglaries, he had been jailed for unrelated offences. The defendant, who is currently a serving prisoner at HMP Cardiff, pleaded guilty to three charges of burglary and one of aggravated vehicle taking. The court heard that Thomas, from the Merthyr Tydfil area, had 54 previous convictions and was subject to a suspended sentence and banned from driving at the time of these offences. 'The best mitigation in this case is his credit for a guilty plea,' said Hywel Davies, appearing for Thomas. Mr Davies said it was 'accepted and unavoidable' that the defendant would face a lengthy prison sentence for his offending. He said there had been a year-long delay in the defendant being interviewed, which had also led to a delay in the case coming to court. Mr Davies added that Thomas was now working to address his substance misuse issues in prison and was undergoing weekly drug testing. The judge, Recorder Christopher Felstead, sentenced Thomas to a total of 31 months. He was also banned from driving for five years and three months, and must pass an extended re-test.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
He Was Called the 'Eunuch Maker' — and What He Did With the Body Parts Afterward Was Unthinkable
To Marius Gustavson, it was business. To Britain's Crown Court, Gustavson's 'gruesome and grisly' body manipulation enterprise was criminal. Gustavson, a 46-year-old Norwegian national, was sentenced to life in prison in 2024 in England after he was arrested for running a controversial body manipulation service, which often included live streaming himself while abusing the bodies of other human beings who paid him to do it. According to the BBC, Gustavson's website advertised his unlicensed services to provide castration, the freezing of limbs, and other amateur procedures, such as removing nipples and human tissue. The self-described 'Eunuch maker' even branded some paying victims with his nickname's initials 'EM,' a British court heard in May 2024 when he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 22 years served. During his sentencing hearing, prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC said there was 'clear evidence' of cannibalism, according to The Guardian. She described how Gustavson had prepared human testicles as part of a "salad" and stored various body parts in a refrigerator at his home as "trophies." Six others were sentenced for aiding Gustavson and his haphazard body mutilation practice, which primarily took place in hotel rooms and in front of others who paid to watch online, according to The Crown Prosecution Service. Roughly 20,000 subscribers paid to watch along as Gustavson mutilated his customers without any proper medical training or oversight, sometimes using kitchen knives and tools meant for animals, The Standard reported. Some of Gustavson's victims were as young as 16 years old, according to the outlet. 'Gustavson was involved in at least 22 procedures including the removal of victims' testicles, the amputation of penises, clamping of testicles with burdizzo clips (ordinarily used by vets in the castration of cattle), and the insertion of needles into genitalia,' the CPS said at the time. 'He was assisted by another defendant to place his own leg in dry ice which later required amputation meaning he was able to secure disability benefits.' The former Norwegian postal service worker's pay-per-view mutilation website was 'lucrative,' according to prosecutors, who told the British court Gustavson earned nearly 300,000 pounds between 2017 and 2021, when he was forced to close shop and later detained. Gustavson eventually pleaded guilty to 'five counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, making an indecent image of a child, four counts of distributing indecent images of a child, possessing extreme pornographic images, and possessing criminal property,' prosecutors said. In April 2025, his attempt to appeal his conviction was overturned by a London court, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE. In the appeal, Gustavson's attorney argued his sentencing was unfair given the fact that 'those who underwent the modifications consented to what was done to them.' One victim testified during Gustavson's 2024 trial that he was 'mesmerized' by the 'Eunuch Maker' and his streams, but admitted he had regrets after going through with a procedure in which he had his testicles clamped while he was strapped to a bed and subjected to electric shocks before being branded with Gustavson's signature 'EM' marking. "I realize I have trusted a wrong person and Gustavson is in fact a lunatic,' the man said, according to The Standard. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Gustavson's defense attorney argued during his sentencing that in addition to carrying out a paid service, the 'Eunuch Maker' was in some ways making people more comfortable in their bodies having dealt with his own body dysmorphia, which ultimately led him to start the pay-per-view website. "He does say he wished to put a smile on other people's faces - he wanted to help,' Gustavson's attorney said, according to BBC. "He was stuck in a body he wanted to make changes to, and understood there were more people out there who wished to do the same." But British authorities didn't see it that way. CPS London Specialist Prosecutor Kate Mulholland alleged Gustavson carried out the mutilations primarily for 'sexual gratification and financial gain' while ignoring 'the risks of performing unnecessary surgery on vulnerable men.' "He actively recruited participants through his website and was paid to stream the footage of these barbaric procedures,' Mulholland said after Gustavson was sentenced to life in prison. "Performing extreme body modifications is against the law and the CPS won't hesitate to prosecute these horrendous crimes." Read the original article on People
Western Telegraph
2 days ago
- Western Telegraph
Careless driver seriously injured man in Haverfordwest crash
James Puttock, 50, of Chestnut Way in Milford Haven, appeared at Swansea Crown Court charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving. It was alleged that Puttock was driving a Suzuki Splash dangerously on the A4076 Dredgeman Hill at the junction with the Old Hakin Road on December 20, 2022, when he crashed and caused another man serious injuries. For the latest crime and court news for west Wales, you can join our Facebook group here. Puttock denied the offence, but pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of causing serious injuries by careless or inconsiderate driving. Georgia Donohue, appearing for the prosecution, said this plea was acceptable and a trial would not be sought on the dangerous driving charge. Judge Paul Thomas KC adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. 'It will not be an immediate prison sentence,' he told the defendant. Puttock was re-admitted to bail, and will return to be sentenced on July 2. He was handed an interim disqualification after his guilty plea, with the length of his full driving ban to be confirmed at his sentencing hearing.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Blackwood burglar stole watch of sentimental value
Intruder Rhys Colyer, aged 33, from Blackwood broke into a house in the Llanbradach area of Caerphilly, prosecutor Matthew Comer told Newport Crown Court. The homeowner was alerted about the burglary on his mobile phone via the Ring doorbell and CCTV cameras he had installed at his property. The complainant was on the last day of his holiday and had just proposed when the break-in occurred. In a victim impact statement he revealed his devastation at losing the priceless watch and St Christopher necklace. They had been passed down to him from his late father and grandfather. 'This has had a catastrophic effect on me,' he said. 'Some of the items were of sentimental value and can never be replaced.' Footage of the break-in was released on social media and Colyer was recognised by his probation officer and a detective. The defendant handed himself in at Blackwood police station. Colyer, of no fixed abode, admitted burglary on March 10 and asked for a burglary and theft of a Ford Focus car to be taken into consideration. He has 15 previous convictions for 39 offences, including nine for dwelling burglaries. Sophie Jones for Colyer said: 'His best mitigation is his guilty plea and he's ashamed of his actions. Alcohol is his demon.' Judge Celia Hughes told Colyer: 'It's clear that this has been very distressing for the victim. 'Items of great sentimental value were lost forever. 'You have a terrible record of convictions as a burglar.' She added: 'You took these items without any thought for anyone but yourself.' The defendant was jailed for 32 months and told he would serve half of his sentence in custody before being released on licence. He will also have to pay a statutory victim surcharge.
