IN THE NEWS
MIDDLESBROUGH CABBIE ACCUSED OF SEX ATTACK ON TEENAGER ESCAPES JAIL
A cabbie accused of taking advantage of a “very drunk” teenager has been found not guilty. GazetteLive reports that the prosecution had claimed Arfan Ali, 30, took advan- tage of the “very vulnerable” woman without her consent after picking her up in Yarm on Christmas Eve in 2017. He stood trial at Teesside Crown Court charged with engaging in sexual activ- ity without her consent. But after the case was heard, Judge Howard Crowson directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict on 11 May. The woman, who was 19 at the time, had been socialising with friends when she was put in a taxi, driven by Ali, to be taken home.
She couldn’t recall the journey but contacted the police after discov- ering bruising and scratches on her body. Ali’s DNA was found in the woman’s underwear and on her clothing, the court heard. On Thursday, the jury heard evidence from the alleged victim, who said she had “no recollection” of the night and said she was “unsure” as to whether one of her drinks may have been spiked while out.
The jury heard that she received a text message from Ali the next day at around 1pm and that they exchanged messages. The woman told the jury that she was “embarrassed and mortified” after Ali told her she had “touched” him a “cou- ple of times”. When asked about the messages, she said: “I didn’t realise what had actually happened to me. At the time I didn’t know. The taxi driver said I touched him. I was asking these questions as I didn’t have any recollection.” The prosecution had claimed Ali abused his position of trust. A not guilty verdict has now been recorded against Ali, of Middlesbrough.
WELSH CABBIE WHO SOLD ‘DANGEROUS’ COSMETICS AND FAKE JEWELLERY MUST PAY BACK £130,000
A cabbie who sold counterfeit acces- sories and potentially dangerous cosmetics imported from China on eBay has been ordered to pay back £130,000. According to WalesOnline, Sean Payter, 54, and his co-defendant Stefan Hodg- son, 57, made more than £40,000 through their website gems2gems45. But the products they sold, including lipstick and eye shadow, failed safety tests having contained too much lead and other substances. A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hear- ing at Cardiff Crown Court saw Payter ordered to pay back £130,000, the total benefit figure, within three months or serve 12 months' imprison- ment in default. The court previously heard the Assay office – which hallmarks silver, gold and platinum – told Trading Standards of concerns about the defendants’ prod- ucts. Analysis showed the items were mass-produced and not handmade as stated online.
JUNE 2021
Lipsticks advertised as “organic” failed a safety test due to the levels of heavy metals, including lead, they contained. A pair of gold Jaguar cuff links and a black leather belt with a silver Bentley buckle were sold using the trademarks without consent. Mr Reynolds said there were com- plaints from “disgruntled customers” but refunds were not given. Following his arrest Payter said they bought the items from a Chinese web- site called Ali Express and copied the product descriptions without thinking to check whether they were correct or complied with UK and EU laws. He said things got “out of control” and claimed they did not make any profit, adding he invested £7,000 of his own money to try and make it work. But they had more than 3,000 items listed, 92,000 items described as “available”, and made more than £42,000 sales. Payter, from Penarth, and Hodgson, from Newport, were each given a 14-
month jail term, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay a £140 vic- tim surcharge, on July 31, 2019. Following the POCA hearing Eddie Williams, Vale of Glamorgan Council cabinet member for legal, regulatory, and planning services, said: “This was a despicable operation that took money from members of the public for items that were not what they purported to be. “Great work by Shared Regulatory Ser- vices has led to this prosecution, which ensures that no more people will fall victim to this company. “I welcome the significant sum Mr Payter has been told to repay, which reflects the amount of money he made from the operation. “This case should serve as a warning to others operating illegally within our community. The council will actively look to protect our residents and will not hesitate to take action if we find people are not operating within the parameters of the law.”
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