Friday, March 01, 2013

Breaking News - Sandy Bagged!

My spies (er, everyone on Twatter that is), are reporting that the jury at Maidstone Crown Court has found Our Sandy (former Tory TDC leader Sandy Ezekiel) guilty on all four charges of misconduct whilst holding a public office, with his co-accused Phillip Emanuel found guilty of aiding and abetting. The charges related to iffy property dealings in Margate Old Town, and failure to disclose his property interests to the council.

Not that anyone who overheard Sandy's frequent boasts about how he was 'going to make a fucking mint' by buying up property in the Old Town once the Turnip Centre had been given the green light can be in the least bit surprised.

Full details are now running on the Isle of Thanet Gazunder website. Including a quote from Will Scobie, the Mayor of Margate, saying he is 'shocked' and can't remember a councillor being found guilty of misconduct in public office 'in his lifetime'. Bless. He's only 14.

By the way, full marks and a bottle of bubbly to the dauntless Louise Oldfield for sitting through the entire trial and keeping us all up to date via Twitter. Margate doesn't deserve you Louise! Hurry up and defect to the sunny side of the island!

Right, I'm currently redeveloping the old cliff top mansion into 497 luxury apartments, so I'm off to buy some carpets I can afford from Cyril Fraud (one for the oldies there!). Pip pip!

Update: Shagpile's been sentenced to 18 months of Her Majesty's Porridge for each offence, to run concurrently. So that'll be his second all expenses paid trip to somewhere with a big wall in just a few short years! No word yet on whether he's appealing (insert your own joke here).

63 comments:

Anonymous said...

It would not surprise me if he appeals. But assuming that he is still guilty, bearing in mind that 2 Margate citizens lost out, what happens to the two properties?

Gypsy Jack said...

What's the story Thanet tory ?

Aitken, Hoser, Maison, Watt Ruffell and Ezekiel all copped guilty verdicts in their time.

Daly on downloading porn in the most serious category result not known.

Wonder how the latest verdict will fly on Thanet Life blog ?

Gypsy Jack said...

Proceeds of Crime recovery action CPS and Kent Police ??

Anonymous said...

I should imagine that the North Thanet Tories will be having a fun filled day of soul searching ( and back stabbing ) and trying to remember exactly what was in that famous Tesco bag. Bet Kent's finest are also having a second rummage through that as well!

Anonymous said...

Surely he can only appeal the sentence unless he can prove the case wasn't conducted properly?

Richard Eastcliff said...

I can confirm that Kent's finest are certainly having a jolly good old ferret around, anon 2:24! Watch this space!

Peter C said...

Let's hope they investigate some doctors too!

Richard Eastcliff said...

Oooh! Don't get me started on doctors!

Anonymous said...

It was nice to see the very kind and selfless Roger Latchord supporting his close friend

Anonymous said...

Evil

Richard Eastcliff said...

Yes, old OBE was apparently there throughout lending, er, moral support.

derick97 said...

Sandy got 18 months

Readit said...

Someone should direct plod to SFP

Peter C said...

http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2013-03-01/breaking-news-former-council-leader-jailed-for-18-months/

Richard Eastcliff said...

So, it's the Scrubs for Our Sand! Or more likely one of those 'Oooh, do pop in if you get a mo and we'll make you a nice cup of Earl Grey' places in the country!

derick97 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
derick97 said...

Bellend or something like that

Richard Eastcliff said...

Concise and to the point as ever, Mr Derrick!

Richard Eastcliff said...

Oh, you mean Bellmarsh!

Retired Chep said...

ECR If Kent Plod do ask you for guidance, would you suggest they look at TDC refusal to investigate a decade of alleged housing benefits fraud that arose in evidence in the David O'Leary murder case (Five year anniversary today)

They will need to familiarize with the benefits fraud of collusive separation. And question whether there are BTL landlords amongst Thanet tory party who would rather certain housing benefits fraud inquiries never get off the ground.

Plod might also benefit from obtaining the minutes of Margate Cemetery Group meetings. Did 3 tory cllrs stand to thank Margaret Mortlock for her financial assistance in their property purchases ? Not reflected in cllr declarations of interest.



Anonymous said...

Which 3 tory cllrs?

Richard Eastcliff said...

Lumme! I'm not Sherlock Bleeding Holmes, y'know!

Bertie Biggles said...

Dickie, glad to see you back, old boy. Those North Thanet Conservatives should have listened a few years ago when urged to find a new leader and clean up their act. Now that the chief of that parcel of rogues has been caught out, one wonders who else might soon have questions to answer. Now what did i do with those other tesco bags ................

Richard Eastcliff said...

Bertie old bean! It's been too long! How's your organ?

We should perhaps meet up for a snifter and celebrate The Curse of ECR. (And rummage through those other Tesco bags of yours!)

Tim Clark said...

Bertie as well. Delirious with joy. Welcome back

Anonymous said...

Bertie and ECR both back? I can sense a certain doctor, non-medical, quaking in his virtual boots. You never know, the Creature of the Night might also crawl out to celebrate.

Peter C said...

Now how about blogging regularly again both of you? Apart from Michael's still excellent thanetonline, there's not a decent local blog left (even mine's not decent!)... What with Tony's party political broadcasts on behalf of the Lib-Dems, Simon's constant put-down's of the local press (except this week) & making excuses for his Tory criminal buddies (this week?), Matt's "exclusives" 3 months after everyone else's, etc, etc, etc!

Richard Eastcliff said...

They would have got away with it if it hadn't been for those dastardly bloggers Bertie Biggles and ECR!

Anonymous said...

We just need 'Lucy Mail' back and we'll have a full house :-).

Peter C said...

Oh and Margate Architecture is superb (very well-researched & written), except when Louise witters on about Tesco!

Richard Eastcliff said...

Lucy! Dear Lucy! Where, oh where, is dear Lucy? *weeps uncontrollably*

Anonymous said...

Poor old Roger Latchford OBE is going to feel all alone without his dear Sandy. They went every where together and done eveything together.. they were joint to the hip.. maybe Roger can ask if they will let him stay with Sandy?

Readit said...

Don't think Philip will be sharing a room at Sandy'e any more.

Anonymous said...

Will this mean a bi-election?

Anonymous said...

More than 3 months in side means he is now an ex councillor.
So what brave local person will step forward to stand as a tory?

denplan said...

Perhaps Sister Assumpta could be asked to give us the benefit of her thoughts on the present sorry situation.

Her spiritual "take" on the matter would, I'm sure, be appreciated by many.

Anonymous said...

Disqualification as a councllor does not take effect until 28 days after sentencing to allow for time to appeal.

Tim Clark said...

Given that James Maskell couldn't hold on to the "safe" Westgate seat for the Tories I sense that Clive may get his overall majority fairly soon

Anonymous said...

Great to have you back, we were talking tonight, saying Bertie and you must feel vindicated! Others who stood up to him in past battles also feeling stronger, its hard to be a lone voice. Michael Child last one left on Pleasuramaa term used in Sandy's tenure keep up the fight!
We had "preferred partners" mostly not many trading. Several other local characters got a very negative hearing!
Where are our mps speaking up for justice?
One other matter still unresolved - Coach house in Northdown Park!
Tory Peter Miles has never opened a museum and now his brother running a gun engraving business from there!

Maybe Bradgate will get another airing too?

Anonymous said...

Forgot to say Cllr Sullivan be homeless if Courts take back property subject of a crime as he lives in the house!

Anonymous said...

Bradgate Caravan Park, China Gateway(Tesco bag), Dreamland Fire, hopefully all will now become part of an investigation by Kent's finest into an underlying trend. If in doubt, then have a look at Bertie Biggles, Thanet Strife site to see who was mixing with who! Meeting between Thorley, Wills, Hilton and Ezekiel? Couldn't have just been talking about the flower beds!

Louise Oldfield said...

ah, good to see you back, ECR. I'm fresh from 2 weeks at the trial. I need a long bath.

Graham said...

I am sure that the local dignitaries in Thanet are busy forgetting about Sandy as I write this...the same way that they suddenly couldn't remember the names Cyril Hoser and John Thomas in the late 1970's. It's nice to know that some things never change in my home town...

Anonymous said...

I see Frank Thorley said at the trial that he'd take a bullet for Mr Ezekiel. Given the latter's present predicament are there any prison nasties that Frank would willingly take for Sandy now or will he have to pick up his own soap?

Anonymous said...

Shame Sandy Easy Kill doesn't have access to the internet whilst care of Her Majesty. Would love to see his tweets or facebook messages at the moment.

Out of interest, what do the rest of his family do for a living?

Anonymous said...

What's the name of the family carpet business?

Anonymous said...

Northdown Carpets in Cliftonville.

Anonymous said...

Strong smell of overheating shredders as I drove through north Thanet this morning.

Anonymous said...

Nothing like a self fulfilled prophecy - "About" Cheryl Ezekiel's facebook page says

"Love the early morning when there is no one else up with you"

Lucky for Cheryl she has another 18 months of this. Enjoy it whilst it lasts lol

Anonymous said...

Oh dear, young William Scobie is one of Cheryl Ezekiel's Facebook friends. Also now realise why Academy FM didn't make any mention yesterday afternoon about the Sandy Ezekiel being sentenced. It was because the presenter during the afternoon show is also one of her Facebook friends. And yes, I know Cheryl isn't the one on trial, but I think I know nearly everything my partner gets up to :)

Anonymous said...

Odd. My info was that Cheryl had left him several months ago

Anonymous said...

Odd. My info was that Cheryl had left him several months ago

Anonymous said...

https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.ezekiel/friends?

Anonymous said...

Id like to know what happened to the thanet aquarium back in early 90s. I heard that was council owned then burnt down. Around the same time council had already been raided for fraud. Burning evidence?

Anonymous said...

Yes, of course they were, 7:15, the fish in the tanks had witnessed all kinds of skullduggery and no one could risk them talking.

Just what highly confidential and incriminating papers do you think were kept in an aquarium. The mind boggles at the intellect of some of you people.

Anonymous said...

that was a joke comment about burning evidence, but i happen to know that the aquarium was under investigation to do with fraud and the council and went it burnt down i seem to remember hearing that a councillor had just bought the property a few weeks earlier.

Anonymous said...

What nasty little characters Thanet has from the above comments. 18 months for Sandy is a disgrace. McGonigal, Samuel, Moores and White have done far worse. Jail them.

Anonymous said...

What have they done that's worse?

Retired Chep said...

I heard Luca was in there swimming with the fishes.

ECR there is a question about which 3 tory Cllrs thanked Mrs Mortlock for her past assistance in their house purchases.

I am told that these speeches of thanks occurred at a meeting of Margate Cemetery Group held at Salmestone Grange.

Cllrs who may recall that meeting, as I understand it, would be Willie Whelan, Mick and Shirley Tomlinson.

Perhaps they can recall who there proposed their thanks to Mrs M ?

Anonymous said...


I am wondering if plod will be looking at a certain Hadres St house and the next door developer who wanted it - and the officers and others at TDC who allowed certain things to happen whist in the ownership of A N Other?

Retired Chep said...

ECR I forget if you had bowed out of Thanet blogging when HM Coroner provided a transcript of the David O'Leary inquest. This is embargoed by HM Coroner only for use in crime complaint and complaint against police. Some of it relates now to TDC housing benefits evidence given to Thanet County Court later. And this is a matter Police should be pursuing at TDC. But there is an embargo against publishing the inquest transcript or quoting from it. And I am loathe to quote from the County Court evidence at issue.

In 1998 there was the successful libel case brought by Mrs Mortlock against North Thanet tory cllr and Vice Chair George Maison.

As I understand it Maison represented himself. When asked if he had assaulted Cllr Margaret Mortlock at a TDC Cttee meeting he responded by waving his fist at the jury and saying "Look at these if I had hit her I would have knocked her through the wall"

Mrs M kinda figured the jury were getting a tad more sympathetic to her position as Maison performed.

As I understand it one issue was North Thanet tory funds. And allegedly a missing bit. But in Maison's own libel defence evidence the Judge apparently had to point out to Maison that there was a note on record about the matter.

A note of concern made by Mrs M which had named a North Thanet tory appendage in the matter of the balance anomaly.

As I understand it the Judge forbade publication of the name. But Maison's defence to libel collapsed.

What an example to set by a tory assn to, for example, a young chap allegedly being mentored by Gale with a view to a career as a tory MP. ???

Anonymous said...

There is a wider issue here that is yet again getting lost in the smokescreen being produced by the latest news. Thanet, and Margate in particular, has a long history of corrupt, mostly Tory, politicians. Is it then any wonder that people, large companies, etc are reluctant to invest in the place? Big investors do not like corruption. That is why they are reluctant to invest in places like Uzbekistan, South America etc etc unless there is something they really want, like resources or a huge consumer market. Thanet has neither. No wonder that the only large investment in Margate over the last 30 years has been the £20m+ plus of taxpayers money that has been spent on the Turner.

Anonymous said...

Sorry - forgot to add that by the same token, Thanet's corrupt reputation will likely attract potentially corrupt investors. Witness the Pleasurama debacle.