Jail for Soho clipper

A woman who posed as a sex worker to rob a would-be client with her accomplice has been jailed for three and a half years.

Tamara Clifton, 40, approached Robert Lynch in Soho and offered him sexual services on 12 October 2019.

She enticed Mr Lynch into an alley behind Piccadilly Circus but John Chalmers, 54, joined them before any sex act had taken place.

Clifton yelled ‘f–king get him’ and ‘give me your f–king money’ as Chalmers swung a bottle of vodka at Mr Lynch.

They beat up the victim and made off with hundreds of pounds in cash, Southwark Crown Court heard.

CCTV footage showed Clifton and Chalmers in a shop purchasing tobacco and alcohol with their stolen money.

Mr Lynch’s stolen phone was later found during a police search in Chalmers’ underwear.

Clifton and Chalmers were charged, remanded in custody and later granted bail.

While on bail Clifton went on to commit a burglary with Chalmers.

Clifton was in regular contact with her ex-boyfriend Ian Boise and would occasionally contact him asking for money.

She went to Mr Boise’s home in Chessington with Chalmers in August 2020 and Clifton said she had money for him.

Upon opening the door Chalmers immediately appeared and punched Mr Boise in the face.

The victim was knocked out and Clifton grabbed three mobile phones, a bank card and £60.

An ambulance was called and Mr Boise suffered significant facial swelling and a nasal burn fracture.

Clifton carried out another theft after she met Duncan Moss in a local shop in Chessington in December 2020.

She explained she was homeless and asked for money, even suggesting she could perform sexual favours for him.

A month later when they recognised each other in the street.

Clifton claimed to be pregnant and attempted to hold Mr Moss’ hand before grabbing his wallet from his bag and ran off.

Mr Moss cancelled his bank cards within the hour, but two of his debit cards had already been used at least seven times to buy alcohol and tobacco worth £140.

The court was told Clifton struggled with a personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse.

Wearing a white Nike top, a grey cardigan and dark leggings, Clifton grinned as prosecutor Olukemi Fapohunda said the assault on Mr Bois ‘has made him very anxious, weak and tired.’

He feels ‘edgy and overprotective’ of his girlfriend.

Reading Mr Moss’ impact statement, Ms Fapohunda said: ‘Mr Moss explains that he spent two days at home as a result of the stress from the theft.

‘He was sick on the Sunday night after the theft and took two days off work with no pay.’

He also had a gastric problem aggravated by the stress of the event.

Mr Moss also claimed to have seen Clifton in a shop after the theft and was so shocked he had to seek assistance from shop assistants.

John Oliver, defending, said: ‘The central mitigating factor is Ms Clifton’s determination to address her addictions.

‘Between 2013 and 2018 Ms Clifton was in a stable relationship with a man.

‘He was instrumental in getting her off the street and they did voluntary work together.

‘This stability came to an end when her partner died of lung cancer and she went into the coping mechanisms of alcohol and drugs.’

‘She was happy to go to jail because it offered the firebreak she wanted.’

Judge Christopher Hehir said: ‘She cannot blame Chalmers for everything.

‘Since she associated with him it was almost inevitable that she would get caught up in the sort of behaviour that Chalmers was involved in.’

Judge Hehir told Clifton: ‘You and Chalmers worked together as part of a team.

‘You were posing as a sex worker but you started talking to [Mr Lynch] and asked him to buy some chocolate.

‘Mr Chalmers threatened the victim with the bottle of vodka and tried to strike him on the head with it.

‘You encouraged Mr Chalmers by both word and deed and £150 was taken.’

In relation to the other offences, Judge Hehir said: ‘You got bail with unfortunate consequences because you went on to commit further crimes.

‘You took advantage of Mr Boise being knocked out.

‘In relation to the theft and fraud, you sought to play on the sympathies of Mr Moss.

‘You caused a scene and snatched his bag around his neck, taking a wallet from it and using the cards to buy numerous items.

‘These offences together are so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence is available.

‘You and John Chalmers were clearly working as a team.

‘I hope you will never again associate with John Chalmers.’

Clifton, of Ladbroke Grove, west London, admitted robbery, theft and burglary.

She was jailed for a total of three and a half years.