High-flying student accused of London riot looting on trial
Gaz Corfield, 8:55 am, Monday, 9 January, 2012
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A millionaire’s daughter who is alleged to have taken part in the London riots by looting thousands of pounds of electronic goods is to stand trial today.
The woman in question, an Exeter University student who achieved top marks in her four A-Levels at one of the best state schools in the UK, will appear at Inner London Crown Court today.
Laura Johnson, 19, pleaded not guilty to five counts of burglary following the London riots of August last year. She was said to have been found driving a car, along with two males aged 17 and 18, which contained £5,000 of stolen goods; two TVs, a microwave and several mobile phones.
The goods were allegedly linked to the looting of a Comet branch in Charlton, south-east London.
Johnson’s father, Robert, is a businessman who holds a number of directorships in several companies – including the one which took over the struggling Daily Sport and Sunday Sport newspapers in 2007. He and his wife Lindsay run the direct marketing company Avongate.
As part of her bail conditions, Johnson must wear an electronic tag with a curfew that operates between 7pm and 6am and remain at her parents’ home, a farmhouse in Orpington reportedly valued at over £1 million.
She is also prohibited from entering any London postcode, except to speak to her lawyers or to appear in court, and may not associate with her two co-defendants.
Her curfew conditions have also prevented Johnson from continuing her studies at Exeter University, where she is reading for a degree in English and Italian. Although she remains a student, a university spokesman did not rule out the possibility of internal disciplinary action against her.
A spokesman said: “We can confirm that Laura Johnson is an undergraduate student at the University of Exeter. The university will await the outcome of the court case before deciding on whether to take any action.”
Johnson attended the prestigious St Olave’s grammar school, which prides itself on being in the “top 1%” of schools in the country by exam results. She achieved A* grades in all four of her A-levels.
Image via J@ck, Flickr.
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20 Responses to High-flying student accused of London riot looting on trial
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Andy Stevens
Wednesday, 11 January, 2012 at 7:43 am
What’s happening regarding this trial? I can’t find it in any of the court listings. If she’s standing trial this week why is there a news blackout?
Andy Stevens
Wednesday, 11 January, 2012 at 2:12 pm
What’s happening with this case, it’s not on any of the court lists. Has Daddy paid someone off?
Alan Partridge
Wednesday, 11 January, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Why no media coverage of this at all?
Shawna Ryan
Wednesday, 11 January, 2012 at 6:41 pm
I want to echo previous comments, I live in the area she allegedly looted from…I want to know what’s happening to this woman, I want to see justice. Why no details, is it a closed trial or something?
Gaz Corfield
Wednesday, 11 January, 2012 at 6:51 pm
This story came from one of the newswires – she was due to stand trial this week, but of course it may be that her trial’s been pushed back because of other matters. We’re on it!
- Gaz, editor.
Emma
Sunday, 15 January, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Hi, is there any new news on this story? I am currently taking a social sciences course and would like to use this as an example of the rich/poor divide in this country. i.e. the young lady involved as she is as millionaires daughter, first has to prove her innocence, whereas a young gentleman (on jobseekers) who had £3.50 worth of water given a four month custodial sentence. Would appreciate a reply…
Steve Bennett
Sunday, 15 January, 2012 at 8:17 am
I too was curious about this.
I found this on the LawPages site :-
http://www.thelawpages.com/court-hearings-lists/crown-court-lists-results.php
I dont know if it is the same Laura Johnson, but the case number is T20110780. It really does look that everything is being kept quiet
I cannot find any further information
N Landis
Monday, 16 January, 2012 at 1:02 am
I want to know why this girl isn’t in court?
Bill Oliver
Tuesday, 17 January, 2012 at 7:47 am
It appears she or her solicitor went back to court twice before Christmas, once to ask for a change in her bail conditions, and my guess the second time on 22nd December her solicitor successfully got an adjournment for one reason or another, hence the lack of trial on 9th January. We now have to guess what date her court appearance is because no press were there. Clever move on behalf of her father and solicitor.
steve
Tuesday, 17 January, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Are the court proceedings not a matter of public record.
Can an enquiry be made to the Department of Justice ?
I would have thought he tabloids would have been all over this like a rash
steve
Tuesday, 17 January, 2012 at 2:10 pm
I have sent an email to the court asking what has happened in this case.
I wonder if millionaire daddy has bought some convenient justice.
steve
Tuesday, 17 January, 2012 at 3:33 pm
reply received
Our Case No. T20110780 R-v-Laura Johnson
Further to your enquiry, I can confirm thata trial date has been set for 19/03/12 .
Time estimate for trial is 5 days.
Regards
Donald Low
Inner London Crown Court
Bill Oliver
Wednesday, 18 January, 2012 at 4:10 pm
Good detective work Steve. I’m sure one of her co accused will want to know why he’s been in prison since August while she was bailed. It does seems like you get the justice you can afford.
Alan Partridge
Wednesday, 18 January, 2012 at 6:08 pm
I am so very annoyed at this rich little girl and her father. My sister had a shop damaged in the riots.
I hope she goes to prison.
steve
Monday, 12 March, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Dont forget everybody – one more week till the trial
Gaz Corfield
Tuesday, 13 March, 2012 at 12:21 am
Cheers Steve – this time we’ll be watching closely to make sure there’s no more legal sleight of hand to evade us pesky journalists!
steve
Tuesday, 20 March, 2012 at 11:35 am
Trial started yesterday. Her defence is that she was co-erced into taking part – hmmm
steve
Wednesday, 28 March, 2012 at 10:51 am
for a trial that was only suppoes to last 5 days, it is now well into its second week
steve
Wednesday, 28 March, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Closing speeches now being made
steve
Thursday, 5 April, 2012 at 10:56 am
Found guilty on at least one charge of burglary, aquitted on the second, jury still out on the third.
They are still considering 3 charges of handling stolen goods.
Whats the betting she gets a suspended sentence, community service or heavy fine