Saturday, May 9, 2009

Suspended Sentence!

Yes, it gives me truly immense pleasure to report that the TEFL charlatan and parasite known as Paul Lowe, a.k.a. 'The Windsor Swindler', has been given his just desserts at a court in Reading. In fact, I'm almost speechless with uncontainable joy, knowing that the cheating bastard has finally gotten himself nailed, so I'll detain you no further and leave you with the facts below!

College Owner Learns a Lesson
(from official press release)

The owner of a Windsor adult education college has been given a 40 week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and along with the General Manager of the college a combined total of 450 hours community work, ordered to pay a total of £5,000 prosecution costs and £900 compensation related to making false statements about the courses offered.

Paul Lowe, owner of Windsor Schools in Osborne Road , was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Friday 8 May for 15 offences under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and Fraud Act 2006 to which he had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing in August 2008.

The school’s general manager, Ashley Arnold, was sentenced for five offences under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 following guilty pleas at an earlier hearing in March 2009.

All the offences relate to making false claims about a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) teacher training course. The men claimed their college was validated by Trinity College London, a recognised and respected provider of TEFL courses.

The court heard how students signed up to courses after seeing glossy brochures and a slick website, meeting for pre-course interviews and sitting entrance exams, only to discover once they were on the course that it was a sham as official validation had already been taken away.

The prosecution was brought by Royal Borough trading standards service following a lengthy and involved investigation into Windsor Schools’ trading practices, with a total of 17 statements being taken from students, former tutors and representatives of Trinity College London.

The students’ suspicions were first alerted when their tutors began raising concerns about the value of the qualifications, at which point they involved trading standards. Trading Standards began investigating in January 2007, after beginning to receive complaints which eventually totalled 16 individual complaints. This is the third Crown court hearing for this case on top of three earlier Magistrates Court hearings.

Cllr Phil Bicknell, lead member for public protection, said: “The Royal Borough does not take formal action like this lightly. However, where businesses fail to have regard for trading laws and deliberately or recklessly mislead the public we will have no hesitation in prosecuting them.”

Steve Johnson, trading standards manager, added: “This has been a long, complicated and thorough investigation and credit should go to the officers involved. I hope this will be a warning to other institutions offering qualifications, diplomas and degrees – they must not make claims about their businesses or the courses which are untrue or misleading.“

Mr Lowe was given a 40 week prison custodial sentence that is suspended for 18 months and ordered to undertake 200 hours of community work, to pay £450 compensation to one of the consumers still left out of pocket, and £3000 of prosecution costs. Mr Arnold was sentenced to 250 hours community work, to pay £450 compensation to the consumer and £2000 prosecution costs.

In mitigation, and asking for a non custodial sentence, Mr Lowe's barrister claimed that his client suffers from a heart condition, depression, and has been diagnosed with depersonalization since he was 22. It is unclear as to whether the barrister was referring to depersonalization disorder, which is an accepted psychiatric diagnosis.

In summing up His Honour Judge Reddihough said “Students put their trust in each of you. You both knew the Trinity accreditation was of importance to students. You took their money knowing the accreditation was not available to them. This was a breach of trust in respect of those various students.”

After delivering the sentencing he went on to say ”I hope you have both learnt your lesson not to do anything dishonest or stupid like this again”.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

And what a pitiful sight they presented to the judge yesterday.

Paul was obese and unkempt, wearing the same greasy business suit he's had since 1998, saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth, his glasses fogged with sweat.

Ashley was pale and trembling, looking even older than his intimate friend Paul, his notorious body odour filling the court room, to the disgust of the public gallery.

Even the experienced prison guards grimaced as these two degenerates shuffled and limped into the dock to hear their fate.

When the sentence was announced, Paul smirked - and Ashley shed a few tears and giggled. But when they were given orange jackets with 'COMMUNITY OFFENDER' on the back, and told to clean the gutters of Berkshire, the two old amigos lost their cheery smiles.

Hey, Paul, how's life on the chain gang? Mended any roads yet? It's going to be a hot summer - and those 200 hours are going to feel like hell.

The TEFL Tradesman said...

Nice little portrait of the the two slugs, Anon. Did you manage to capture the proceedings on your phone? Can we look forward to PL's YouTube debut soon?

Anonymous said...

Well if this is true, congratulations, and the end to the PL saga...

Meanwhile secret-dubai.blog-speck.com [without the dashes, and blocked from within] is a treasure chest of insanity. 119 comments on the released tape of I,S,S,A on the US ABC news alone... apparently report of multiple visa for property and minimum income in the Camel News is a scam--only income from outside, not inside to cut down the winds of the great, loooong summer holiday.

Anonymous said...

Yee-hah! i bet he kacked his trousers,Sandy-i'm going to break out the cigars,strong lager and 'phone that Thai lady-boy who looks like Amy Winehouse [u can hang onto the beehive hairdo and wipe yer knob on the hair hanging below it if u don't want to keep shit off yer hands while on the job!]
Talking of 'rectumming',Paul Lowe changes his name to 'P.Lo' for a gay porn film-he'll be biting a few bedding items of that name when the lads initiate him into the general population of whatever nick he lands up in!To stifle his screams...

William Frederickson

Your Probation Officer said...

A prize for the first pic of Paul or Ashley cleaning a gutter/sweeping the streets/unblocking public drains/taking the chief constable's dog for a walk.

The TEFL Tradesman said...

Hey there - that's my job, dishing out the prizes (and the brickbats)! Get off my patch, you poncey interloper!

Anyway, as a Probation Officer, shouldn't you be looking after PL's interests and pretending to be his friend? Or is this just another example of the sleazy nature of our public servants these day?

Tut-tut - bloody country's gone to the dogs!!

PERFECT BEING said...

Photosnap ME?? WTF? WTF? Your pitiful tinpot apparatus would EXPLODE it could NOT tolerate my BRILLIANT LIGHT, the only TRUE effulgent S P A R K of the YOONYVERSE. I'm LARFING at what they handed out LARFING at my LUCK cos yer no wot, chavvy boy? MEANS I CAN KEEP my eye eye eye on YOU KNOW WHO. I AM IMPORTANT I WILL NOT BE SILENCED I wear the hat and coat of an almighty ARCHDUKE tho the minions of the UNDERWORLD pluck at my breeches I AM SELF/ SELF IS GOOD/ GOOD IS ME/ ME IS I/ I AM SELF/ SELF IS GOOD/

Anonymous said...

this is a violation of the court. send paula to prison...

Anonymous said...

"Paula"? You don't mean our dear little Paulie, do you? You mean ... he DOES have an extra personality?! And it's female?!

So, it's no wonder I had trouble recognising him in court the other day. I thought she was his 'au-pair'!

Anonymous said...

i meant if he's sent to prison then he'll be someone's paula

Anonymous said...

Couldn't find a Roman Candle big enough to stick up the lady-boy's butt and light to celebrate-all good,as the bastard won't be going to prison...BUGGER!

William Frederickson

LunchMaster said...

William Frederickson,I AM the RULER of all P-O-W-E-R!!!!!!! Take your ROMAN Candle and set alight DEEEP in YOOOURR BUTT now!!!!!

I am the LunchMaster!!!!!

Power of shadow... APPPEAAARR!!!!!!


ROOOOAAAARRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The TEFL Tradesman said...

Erm, steady on lads! I don't want anybody to think I actually encourage nutters around here...

LunchMaster's PA said...

Mr Frederickson,

On behalf of the LunchMaster, we would like to offer our deepest apologies. To show our regret and our respect, we would like to offer you an all-expense paid trip to magical Dubai! Fun in the sun for you!

We do however advise that for your trip to see all of the wonders, make sure to bring all of your over-the-counter drugs and any prescription drugs you might possibly need. In fact, we'll offer you a 100-pound voucher to cover these expenses as well.

We will also pay for your lunch at Heathrow in an executive lounge, a delicious meal including filet mignon, Caesar's salad, complementary tea or coffee, dessert and poppyseed buns.

Please provide an address or post office box and we'll send you the comps straight away.

We'll even pay to fly your lady-boy there too if you wish. Just please promise to send a snap back of the two of you kissing upon arrival into the airport lounge on your dream vacation to dubai!

LunchMaster's PA said...

LunchMaster is feeling quite generous this evening. In addition, s/he will offer a local credit card and you are welcome to charge as much as you wish up to 10,000 pounds. Just send us your PO box and your drinking and sex-on-the-beach holiday awaits!

LunchMaster's PA said...

Mr Frederickson,

LunchMaster is moving heaven and earth for you. It is a very rare occurance for s/he to be in the wrong. Therefore, as compensation, great things will be coming your way!

LM has arranged for the following opportunities for you!! Would you like to own a villa in Dubai down the street from the one owned by Posh and Becks? Would you like to become the owner of a new language school in Dubai? LM will back you, paying both mortgages, via a special contract.

Our special advisor is waiting for you--in Dubai!

This is your opportunity Frederickson!

The TEFL Tradesman said...

Oh, you'd better go for it, Mister Fred-my-son. Or just go!

LunchMaster said...

Dear SANDY,

Thank Y-O-U for the EN-DORSE-MENT!

ForEVER your B-I-T-C-H,
LunchMaster

Anonymous said...

OTCs? LASH!

Anonymous said...

Prescription drugs?

LASH!!

Anonymous said...

Poppy seeds?

LASH!!!

Anonymous said...

Kissing lady boy in airport?

LASH!!!!

LASH!!!!

LunchMaster said...

Non-payment of mortgages?

LASH!!!!!

LASH!!!!!

I AM the LunchMaster!!!!!!!

I AM Sandy's B-I-T-C-H

Mothafukkas hear me ROOAAARRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry San, getting a little carried away here... I'll disappear into cyberSPAC-E

The TEFL Tradesman said...

Good for you, Lash, LunchMaster, or whover you may be. Don't forget to take your medication, will you? And yer passport!

Anonymous said...

Medication in blood or urine?!

LASH!
LASH!!
LASH!!!

Blog, media law?!

Arms extends backward like pole vault champion---LAAAASHH!!!

Okay, bye!

The TEFL Tradesman said...

Christ, I'm off! This guy scares the pants off me...

Could it be that I'll be haunted by the spirit of the past Paul Lowe ... for the rest of my life?!

I take it all back now. You're a great geezer, Paulie - really. Can't we do a deal or somethin'...?

Anonymous said...

Sandy-i do believe that the Lunchmaster needs to take his medication.Otherwise i will make you all hear him roar when i ram my Kliegenthal former officer's sword up his mentally-ill arse!Now i'm off to Chelsea to dig out that slapper who looks like Amy Winehouse and she won't say 'no no no' to my rampant Jewish-Gypsy-Irish 10'!

Anonymous said...

Sandy, don't worry lad. Don't worry. I'm a fan. If comments are too hot, delete them. And they will disappear into cyber-space q-u-i-c-k-l-y.

The plot has twisted. Lunchmaster now hides behind distant s-t-a-r. HAHA.

William Frederickson, sorry San, has won!!!!

I bow before greatness...

HAHAHA

Homeless Expat Fraudster seeks temp accom, will TRANSLATE texts and legal docs for FREE said...

am not ill sick or insane, merely misunderstood and now the INLAWS throw me out of the HOUSE I'm pushing 60 homeless and UNEMPLOYABLE this is wot you have achieved CURSE YOU

Anonymous said...

You ALL need discipline.

LASH!