BUCKINGHAM PALACE PROTECTION COPs WORE NO I.Ds. WHILE SITTING ON THRONE.
Queen's police 'posed for photos on throne, traded porn and used guns while drunk'
DAILY MAIL - Stephen Wright 22nd April 2009
Royal protection officers posed for 'comical' photographs on the Queen's throne, traded hardcore pornography in locker rooms and handled firearms while drunk, a court heard yesterday.
-----------------------
Members of Scotland Yard's Royalty Protection Command based at Buckingham and St James's Palaces also sold steroids, fell asleep on duty and ran gambling rings, it was claimed.
Members of Scotland Yard's Royalty Protection Command based at Buckingham and St James's Palaces also sold steroids, fell asleep on duty and ran gambling rings, it was claimed.
-----------------------
On other occasions they smuggled friends into royal garden parties and offered them free Palace parking for shopping sprees, it was alleged.
-------------------------
'Life of luxury' Royalty Protection Officer Paul Page and his wife Laura, seen leaving court, are accused of running a £3million property scam.
On other occasions they smuggled friends into royal garden parties and offered them free Palace parking for shopping sprees, it was alleged.
-------------------------
'Life of luxury' Royalty Protection Officer Paul Page and his wife Laura, seen leaving court, are accused of running a £3million property scam.
------------------
The sensational claims were made at the trial of former Royal Protection Officer Paul Page, 37, accused of masterminding a £3million swindle from the Palace.
The sensational claims were made at the trial of former Royal Protection Officer Paul Page, 37, accused of masterminding a £3million swindle from the Palace.
-------------------
He set up a fake company and convinced 57 victims to plough their money into non-existent property developments, it is said.
He set up a fake company and convinced 57 victims to plough their money into non-existent property developments, it is said.
------------------
He allegedly spent the money on gambling and maintaining a fabulous lifestyle, Southwark Crown Court has heard.
He allegedly spent the money on gambling and maintaining a fabulous lifestyle, Southwark Crown Court has heard.
--------------------
The ex-officer, who drove a fleet of luxury cars including a Porsche, started the scheme to recoup losses from the failed 'currency club', a spread-betting syndicate he ran from the Palace, it is claimed.
The ex-officer, who drove a fleet of luxury cars including a Porsche, started the scheme to recoup losses from the failed 'currency club', a spread-betting syndicate he ran from the Palace, it is claimed.
----------------------
His wife of 12 years Laura, 42, is accused of channelling the money through her bank accounts over four years.
His wife of 12 years Laura, 42, is accused of channelling the money through her bank accounts over four years.
----------------------
The pair are also said to have threatened to kill a childhood friend after he told police he had lost thousands of pounds in the alleged scam.
The pair are also said to have threatened to kill a childhood friend after he told police he had lost thousands of pounds in the alleged scam.
-------------------
Some 20 officers parted with a total of at least £1.3million after being duped by Mr Page, jurors have heard.
Some 20 officers parted with a total of at least £1.3million after being duped by Mr Page, jurors have heard.
----------------
John Cooper, defending Mr Page, suggested there was a 'culture of breaking the rules and stretching the limits' among Royal Protection Officers.
John Cooper, defending Mr Page, suggested there was a 'culture of breaking the rules and stretching the limits' among Royal Protection Officers.
--------------------
Cross-examining Sergeant Adam McGregor, who claims to have poured £150,000 into the swindle, Mr Cooper asked: 'Would you consider it serious if a police officer serving in royal protection got access to the thrones of the Queen and Prince Philip, sat on them with their feet up, putting their thumbs up in a comical pose and having their photographs taken?
'Would that be a bad thing? That's just what you have done, isn't it?'
----------------------------
Sergeant McGregor, who now works in Westminster, replied: 'I don't recall doing anything like that.'
----------------------------
Mr Cooper continued: 'You would certainly recall
Mr Cooper continued: 'You would certainly recall
it if you had sat on one of the thrones of the Queen and Prince Philip?'
-------------------------------
Sergeant McGregor replied: 'I may have sat on one of the thrones, but I don't recall doing any comical poses.
Sergeant McGregor replied: 'I may have sat on one of the thrones, but I don't recall doing any comical poses.
--------------------------
'We're not talking about criminal damage.
'We're not talking about criminal damage.
'Sitting on the Queen's throne is perhaps something to say you've done in your life to tell your grandkids about.'
-----------------------------
Asked if he thought it was 'disrespectful', he replied: 'It's not an ideal scenario.' Mr Cooper said it was an example of 'total disregard for the rules'. Sergeant McGregor also admitted he had 'nodded off' during a shift guarding the Queen. But he denied officers were routinely sleeping and covering for each other.
--------------------------
He also described as ' ridiculous' the lawyer's suggestion he had used his police car for 'ferrying
He also described as ' ridiculous' the lawyer's suggestion he had used his police car for 'ferrying
monies and gifts' generated by the currency club.
------------------------
Referring to a supposed drugs racket, Mr Cooper said: 'Are you aware whether any officers you worked with have been involved with any other illicit, illegal dealings, such as the selling of steroids?'
--------------------
Sergeant McGregor denied knowledge of this and another allegation of officers 'selling hardcore pornography' in locker rooms.
Sergeant McGregor denied knowledge of this and another allegation of officers 'selling hardcore pornography' in locker rooms.
------------------------
Mr Cooper also accused Sergeant McGregor of using his privileged access to garden parties 'where members of the Royal Family were present' to schmooze investors.
He asked: 'Have you ever arranged for investors to illicitly attend, slip them in through the back door, uninvited and unvetted?'
--------------------------
Sergeant McGregor denied this. He also denied offering parking spaces at Buckingham Palace, The Mall, and other royal households for friends on shopping trips.
The barrister also suggested officers had been both drunk and hungover at work and some were even handed guns while under the influence.
----------------------------------
'I'm not aware of that at all,' said Sergeant McGregor.
-----------------------
Mr Page denies intimidation, threatening to take revenge, making a threat to kill and two counts of fraudulent trading - between January 1, 2003, and March 30, 2007.
---------------------
His wife pleaded not guilty to 'being concerned in an arrangement facilitating dealings with criminal property', intimidation and threatening to kill.
-------------------
The trial continues.
BUTTER WOULDN'T MELT IN THEIR G20 MOUTHS.
posted by Ian Cameron aka KILROY WAS-A-HERO @ 02:41
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home