Some years ago I was called as a Crown witness in a case involving the man in this article. When initally questioned by the police I explained that I wasn’t sure if I could identify the individual and if I could was not sure if this was from his visit to my office or from his regular appearances on the telly (being convicted for a variety of offences). I was called as a witness and kept in the witness room with the others. After all the witnesses compared stories (all in the interests of justice obviously) I was – to my surprise – called to the witness box. On entering the court room the door had a window of safety glass. Framed in the window was the accused. I instantly recognised him and stared at him as I walked up to the witness box. So intently did I view him I stumbled over a step and fell into the box. I had asked the clerk if I could affirm but was presented with a Bible (I didn’t make a fuss) and was sworn in. Throughout I stared at the accused. His lawyer then asked the sheriff to adjourn and I was escorted into a small cubby hole with a glass door. I was there for two hours. During this time I watched tea and biscuits being taken to the witness room. I watched it being brought back. I watched more going in. And coming back. I was left with a man standing at the door.
By the time I was taken back to the court room the accused had pleaded guilty. I was thanked for my attendance and left.
Is that true? Dare I ask what your job was that involved fake priest sex attacker fraudsters attending your office.
The moral of the story? A steeled stare from loveandgarbage can cause even the moste hardened criminals to crack. Shame you weren’t a witness in the conrad black case…
Mr C came into our office pretending to be a businessman with a matrimonial issue – his intent to spend time with female solicitors. In our office he encountered me: male, 6’5″, grumpy at having to deal with someone when an associate was having a teabreak, and whose knowledge of family law was limited. He left after a couple of minutes.
I have the cold hard stare of PAddington Bear.