A lawyer was kidnapped and robbed by a prostitute
A lawyer was kidnapped and robbed by a prostitute within minutes of visiting an inmate in a London prison, the Old Bailey heard.
Julian Lee was bundled into his car by Simone Holder 27, and Mark Roberts, 40, just yards from Brixton prison.
The pair robbed the 51-year-old criminal lawyer of pnds stlg 15 and his mobile phone before driving him to a local cash machine.
There Mr Lee shouted for help and the duo fled.
But Holder denied the solicitor’s claims and told police that their relationship was one of ‘punter and prostitute’ rather than ‘kidnapper and victim.
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She maintained Mr Lee had paid her for two sex sessions.
Nick Wood, prosecuting, said after visiting a client in prison on November 16 last year Mr Lee returned to find Holder sitting on the bonnet of his car.
As he approached his vehicle Roberts turned up and ordered him to get in.
‘Mr Lee was threatened,’ said Mr Wood.
‘He felt threatened, frightened and he did get into the car.
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Roberts, sitting in the back, ordered the lawyer to hand over whatever cash he had.
Mr Lee handed over pnds stlg 15, even though he had another pnds stlg 200 in another pocket, the jury heard.
Mr Wood alleged that Roberts told the solicitor his co-defendant ‘needs her gear’ in a reference to drugs.
Mr Lee was then made to drive to a nearby Clapham housing estate where Holder got out.
He then took Roberts to a cashpoint in a shop on Brixton Hill.
‘The man walked into a shop with Mr Lee and told him to take out a ‘ton’ which Mr Lee took to be pnds stlg 100.
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‘But as the money was withdrawn Mr Lee shouted at the shopkeeper he was being kidnapped.
‘At that moment the man ran out of the shop and up Brixton Hill.
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The police were called and Mr Lee was driven round by officers until he spotted Holder in Kings Avenue.
Holder was arrested but in interview ‘painted a different picture’ of events, said Mr Wood.
‘Rather than her and Mr Lee having a relationship of kidnapper and victim their relationship was punter and prostitute.
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Holder claimed she was out begging and was given a pound by the lawyer before she got into his car.
Mr Wood said Holder went onto claim that ‘whilst in the car they discussed a number of matters one of which was drugs and the other was whether for payment she could give him any sexual favours.
‘She said Mr Lee went off and got some drugs from an area near Poynders Road.
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In her interview Holder said Mr Lee told her he had visited someone in prison.
‘She says that they then went to the Tilson Garden Estate and in the car, having given her pnds stg 10 that she performed oral sex on him.
‘She said he then said he wanted to see her again.
‘Later she said they met up again and had (full) sex for 15 pounds.
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Holder then claimed she saw Mr Lee driving off with three men in his car.
‘But Mr Lee denies anything like that happened,’ said Mr Wood.
Roberts was arrested on December 20 but denied in interview any knowledge or involvement in the alleged offences.
The jury was told Mr Lee failed to pick out Roberts at a identity parade.
But the shopkeeper at Uncle Jims in Brixton Hill confirmed Roberts was the man who came into his store with Mr Lee.
Holder, of Camford Court, New Park Road, Brixton, and Roberts of Cambrey Road, Balham both deny kidnapping and robbery.
Roberts alone denies a further charge of attempted robbery.
The trial continues.
ends
