THEGAYUK

Tag: London News

All the latest from London, the capital of the UK, home to the UK’s largest gay community.

  • Protesters at the Bohemian Rhapsody over cuts in the NHS

    Protesters at the Bohemian Rhapsody over cuts in the NHS

    Protesters from ACT UP and the NHS Anti-Swindle Team have protested at the Bohemian Rhapsody premier today

    (C) Levi Hinds

    Protesters from two pressure groups have disrupted the Bohemian Rhapsody launch calling for HIV treatment that is “comprehensive and easily accessible treatment for all people, in all countries”.

    The film, which features Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury has also attracted criticism for its “pacification and sanitisation” of the singer’s life. Freddie Mercury died in 1991 from complications from AIDS just days after he announced that he was living with the disease.

    The film and particularly the trailer has received a great deal of attention for its meagre perception of the huge contribution that sexuality, the AIDS crisis and the stigma associated had on Freddie Mercury’s life.

    Speaking about the decision to protest, Hywel ap Dafydd said, “Queen was the soundtrack of my childhood. Freddie died when I was twelve, it was the first time I heard of AIDS and HIV.

    “I’ve been living with HIV for the past eight years thanks to medication that came too late to safe Freddie and the millions of people who died because of AIDS.

    “There’s a drug called PrEP which stops people from catching HIV but the NHS rations it so not everyone who needs it can get it. “It’s disgraceful that the NHS denies people this opportunity that neither I nor Freddie had.”

    Jeremy Goldstein from ACT UP LONDON said, “Freddie ‘Killer Queen’ Mercury was a migrant who died from AIDS and today HIV+ migrants are some of the most oppressed in the HIV / AIDS community. We are here today to highlight the ongoing crisis. Farrokh Bulsara was professionally known as Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar in 1946. The son of Parsis, he spent most of his childhood at boarding school in India. At seventeen he and his family became refugees fleeing from the Zanzibar revolution. After an epic career with Queen Freddie sadly died in 1991 his home in Kensington the day after he publicly announced he was living with HIV. We demand that all HIV+ migrants are treated with upmost dignity, that HIV services stop being closed down and an end to all illegal detention of HIV+ migrants.”

    (C) Levi Hinds

    “Greedy pharmaceutical”

    Han Smith from ACT UP LONDON said, “Much has changed since then but our sexual health is still under pressure. Due to price gouging by greedy pharmaceutical companies, our NHS rations access to new medication for Hep C and HIV while yet another sexual health service bites the dust. We want access to HIV and Hep C drugs for all. We want stigma education for all. We want sexual health clinics for all. We want it all and we want it now.”

    Kenza Simon from  ACT UP LONDON added, “I am eighteen and I am involved in Act Up London because it is very important for me to fight for our rights. As an LGBT woman who was born in a century where AIDS medicine is more accessible for people, I feel lucky but I realise that we still have a lot to do even in 2018. Our aims changed, AIDS not. This is the reason why I want to be dedicated to this struggle. Activism change the world, let’s do this.”

    Four decades on and we’re still fighting

    dan glass, ACT UP reminded us, “In the fourth decade of this crisis, ACT UP LONDON fight to ensure comprehensive and easily accessible treatment for all people, in all countries.  This includes not only medications but also mental and social health services as well as housing and economic equality. Here in the UK, we are united with the coalition of activists fighting to keep our National Health Service free, publicly run, and fully funded. In a time of continuing stigma, silence, and isolation, we combat discrimination against and promote the visibility and leadership of those living with HIV and AIDS – including this hugely important biography of our icon Freddie Mercury.”

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW | 42nd Street, Theatre Royal Drury Lane

    ★★★★★ | 42nd Street –Theatre Royal Drury Lane

    Seventeen months ago 42nd Street opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane to rave reviews. And it’s still going strong – with a new lead!

    Bonnie Langford ably takes the lead (Dorothy Brock) previously held by Sheena Easton, Lulu and Steph Parry in the role as Dorothy Brock – a semi-ageing theatre star who, due to an injury (intentional or otherwise), is unable to go on with the show. So in comes Peggy Sawyer (a still amazing and wonderful Clare Halse, who is, lucky for us, still in this show) – straight off the bus from a small town and looking for a break, and she gets it! Unfortunately, it’s at Brock’s expense.

    Sawyer gets a job as a backup dancer in a show called Pretty Lady, and the Pretty Lady in the title is Brock. But Brock breaks her ankle, so after getting fired for causing Brock to break her leg, Sawyer is roped back into the show, this time as it’s lead, and she’s only got 48 hours to learn the part, to learn the dance moves, and is wooed and coddled by director Julian Marsh (Tom Lister – still in the role). But it’s Billy (Ashley Day) who really takes a liking to her. Will she be ready and rehearsed in time to open the show? Will the nerves get the best of her? I’m sure we can all figure out how it plays out – and plays out it does, much to our delight!

    But the storyline pretty much takes a back seat to the musical numbers. Songs such as ‘I Only Have Eyes for you,’ ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ and ‘We’re in the Money’ still have that wonderful toe-tapping feeling. And the sets are superb as well. Act 1 moves us from the stage of the 42nd Street theatre to The Gypsy Tea Kettle Restaurant and then on to Philadelphia, while Act 2 takes us from the dressing rooms to a Philadelphia train station – all realistically cleverly designed. And those dance numbers – wow! There is one amazing scene where a dozen or so female dancers are on the floor while a mirror hovers above them for the audience to see – it’s breathtaking! This cast is definitely the hardest working cast in town – from the opening number where they tap themselves to death to the finale where they all come down the amazing light-up stairs – it’s one singing sensation after another. Halse is superb (with an excellent voice) as the lead, Langford does a good job as Brock, and the rest of the cast is just as good. But it’s Halse, of course, who is the real star of this show, and of the show within the show. And Maggie Jones and Christopher Howell excel in their supporting roles.

    42nd Street is still a must show to see.

    42nd Street is playing at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London and is booking until January 5, 2019.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Only Fools The (cushty) Dining Experience, Touring the UK

    The gang is all here in this new interactive show: Rodney Trotter, his older brother market trader Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter, the elderly and senile granddad, Trigger, and Cassandra. And if you don’t recognize these names, then perhaps this show is not the show for you!

    It’s the Only Fools The (cushty) Dining Experience. And just like the Faulty Towers Dining Experience, you get to spend a meal with a lively, and at times loud, and did I mention lively, group of characters from a highly popular British sitcom that’s still enduring to this day. Only Fools & Horses characters come to life right in front of you the minute you enter their sanctum – the Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton Hotel – the London venue. A market stall, and a cash bar, are the first signs that you are no longer where you thought you were, you have now entered Peckham and the environs of our popular characters. After 15 minutes of ‘getting to know them’ (though if you don’t know them then hopefully you would have brought someone who can explain to you who they are), you are ushered into ‘The Nag’s Head’ where an episode of the show practically unravels right in front of your very eyes.

    And in between all of the cast’s shenanigans, a nice three-course meal is served, including Tomato Soup, a nice and tasty Chicken Kiev with chips, and an Eton Mess for dessert, but the mess starts way before the food is served. In true Only Fools & Horses fashion, it’s Del-Boy who leads the cast, guiding his younger brother through decisions that need to be made. The ‘audience’ is made to be a part of the show by taking part in a ‘quiz’ at The Nag’s Head, with points being given by answering various questions, but my advice is to not volunteer for anything! It’s all good fun at this two-hour show where the actors really make you feel that they are the characters! On the night we saw it, Nick Moon made Del Boy come to life, as did Joshua Plummer who is the spitting image of Rodney. Clare Buckingham and Daniel Hope rounded out the actors.

    For more information on the show, and it’s locations, please go to: http://www.interactivetheatre.com.au/onlyfools/index.html

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | The Jones Family Kitchen, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | The Jones Family Kitchen, London

    ★★★★ | The Jones Family Kitchen, London

    The best Sunday Roast deal in Central London, and perhaps in all of London, can be found at The Jones Family Kitchen and The Jones Family Project. But first things first.

    The Jones Family is two separate restaurants. The Project is in Shoreditch and The Kitchen is in Belgravia. The roast is luckily served in both places.

    For a mere £18.00 for two courses, or £25 for three courses – the offer is amazing. For your money you get a schooner of beer or a glass of house wine, a choice of starter (Soup, Smoked Salmon or Whipped Goats’ Cheese), the choice of Roast (Chicken, and of course Beef, or the vegetarian option of Nut Roast), and the dessert options of Gelato & Sorbet, Anna’s Brownie, or Amalfi Lemon Tart.

    A friend from NYC and I drifted in for a late Sunday lunch (3:00 p.m.) at the Kitchen (Victoria) in the recently renovated historic and hidden enclave that is the Eccleston Yards, a short walk to Victoria Station and an even shorter walk to the bus station. Luckily the location in the yards makes the bus station and the throngs of rolling suitcase tourists seem far away. We were greeted by the fabulous Olivia, who remembered me from my visit to The Project (Shoreditch – remember?) a few weeks before. She showed us to our elegant table in the back section of the restaurant which can only be described as industrial meets contemporary. With floor to ceiling windows overlooking the yards, there is plenty of light and character in the place.

    Now to the food. My starter of choice, the soup, turned out to be pumpkin – I really love pumpkin in any shape or form. And their pumpkin soup, very seasonal, was just divine. Thick but not too much, a bit puree-ey, served in an earth tone bowl, and just about perfect! My friend went for the Salmon starter – which came with pickles and sourdough, served on a bed of rocket lettuce and accompanied with tomatoes and peppers – nothing to rave about but good enough. However, when we saw, and tasted, the Roast – boy were we raving.

    Talk about an abundance of food. The portion was enormous! The Yorkshire pudding just about took half the plate (see photo), and it was warm and baked to absolute perfection. And the beef was superb. I asked for mine well done – and it was! Topped with a luscious BBQ sauce (and smelling delicious), the dish included roast potatoes, honey roast parsnips and carrots, greens, cabbage, broccolini, and some mash – we both thought Thanksgiving had arrived early at our table as these types of portions are served at Thanksgiving dinners. Needless to say, my friend could not finish his though I am happy to report I ate everything on my plate, and it was absolutely delicious.

    Dessert really had to be done, and I was very satisfied with my choice of the Amalfi Lemon Tart with créme fraiche. Small, yet deliciously sweet, and I enjoyed it. My lunch companion was semi-happy with his Anna’s Brownie. Nice tasting sorbet and the chunks of brownie were good but the bed of rice pudding had no taste and was not really necessary. He did, however, have an amazing Bloody Mary (for an extra £8), while I thought their coffee was just right. Mimosa’s are also £8 extra, or perhaps an Aperol Spritz (£7.50) or a Lost Negroni (£10). I had decided to have the Sangria Sunshine, which was white, and included Soave, orange and peach, and was just so refreshing, and my friend also had to have one! It was actually hard to choose a cocktail as there were so so many choices on the menu.

    Everything was just about perfect about our lunch, except for the service. It started out very very good, but since we had arrived at the near end of the Sunday lunchtime, as the time went on we noticed most of the wait staff tucking into their own Sunday Roast in the corner, which left one girl on the floor to wait on the quite a few tables finishing their meals.

    Needless to say, our dessert took quite some time to be delivered, while a table of 8 which sat down after us received their dessert much much quicker. But this is a minor quibble to a restaurant that’s got pretty much everything going for it; location (either Belgravia or Shoreditch), great value, and excellent food. Thumbs up to the Jones Family – think they will adopt me?

     

    The Jones Family Kitchen:

    RESTAURANT

    Monday– Saturday
    Noon – midnight
    Serving lunch: noon – 4.00pm
    Serving our pre-theatre menu: 5.00pm – 6.15pm
    Serving dinner: 6.00pm – 10.30pm
    Sunday
    Noon – 8.00pm
    Serving roasts and other dishes: noon – 6.00pm
    BAR

    Monday – Saturday
    11.00am – midnight
    Serving brunch & lunch: 11.00am – 4.00pm
    evening & bar snacks: 5.00pm – 10.30pm
    Sunday
    11 am – 8 pm
    Serving roasts and other dishes: noon – 6.00pm

     

  • Owen Jones calls the Natural History Museum to cancel Saudi Embassy event

    In a tweet, Owen Jones has called upon the Natural History Museum to cancel an event hosted by the Saudi Embassy.

    (C) National History Musemn

    According to Guardian Journalist, Owen Jones, the Saudi Embassy is to hold an event at the Natural History Museum tonight. He called upon the museum to cancel the event saying, “The Saudi dictatorship is massacring thousands in Yemen and is currently accused of kidnapping and murdering a journalist.”

    Saudi Arabia is also one of the countries where being gay can still attract the death penalty for those found guilty.

    The Natural History Museum, which sees 5.2 million people pass through its doors every year, is often used to host charity and gala events in its iconic building in London.

    Amnesty International notes,

    “Women and girls continued to face discrimination in law and practice, despite the government’s promised reforms. Women were required to have permission from a male guardian – their father, husband, brother or son – to enrol in higher education, seek employment, travel or marry. They also remained inadequately protected against sexual and other forms of violence”

    “Courts continued to impose death sentences for a range of crimes, including drug offences or for conduct that under international standards should not be criminalized, such as “sorcery” and “adultery”. Many defendants were sentenced to death after unfair trials by courts that convicted them without adequately investigating allegations of coerced “confessions”, including under torture.”

    Commercial events bring an “important source of external funding”

    Speaking to THEGAYUK.com a spokesperson for the museum said,

    “The Natural History Museum was booked by the Saudi embassy over two months ago as a venue for an external event to celebrate Saudi Arabia Day. No Museum staff are attending as guests or speaking at the event.

    “Enabling commercial events to take place outside of public opening hours in our iconic spaces brings the Museum an important source of external funding, which allows us to maintain our position as a world class scientific research centre and visitor attraction. We hold a wide variety of commercial events and it is made clear to any host that doing so is not an endorsement of their product, service or views.

    “We have an Ethics Policy and a Third Party Engagement Policy. These policies are publicly available on the Museum’s website.”

  • LGBT activism group ACT UP changes “traumatic” AIDs posters

    LGBT activism group ACT UP changes “traumatic” AIDs posters

    If you’ve been around Soho or South London recently you may have seen a  multi-colour poster which states “I’m Too Sexy To Have AIDs”, activist group, ACT UP LONDON have defaced the posters to read something different.

    (SUPPLIED BY ACT UP)

    Members of ACT UP LONDON have taken it upon themselves to change bill-posters designed by the late David McDiarmid and exhibited by Studio Voltaire because of the emotional trauma they may cause some people. The poster, is a multicoloured artwork which reads, I’m Too Sexy To Have AIDs”. According to Studio Voltaire, McDiarmid “produced these works in response to his own, and his community’s, experience of the AIDS crisis, and the multiple forms of devastations it manifests –political, emotional, intellectual and medical”.

    McDiarmid died in 1995 from complications brought on by AIDs.

    However some members of ACT UP LONDON have taken to defacing some of the posters because the message “isn’t helpful to the battles people living with HIV fight today”.

    Cé from ACT UP LONDON explained, “Firstly, I would like to say that the main thrust of the action was never intended to censor the artist or to silence queer voices. Expanding on this, it’s important to point out that although the artwork may have been targeted at those that understand where this it comes from and why it exists, in its current state it is used out of context and isn’t helpful to the battles PLHIV fight today. The use of this piece of art taken so out of context not only takes us backwards in a fight that we are already struggling to win, but it also contributes to the stigma surrounding HIV. On the back of this it has the potential to be traumatic for those living with HIV, particularly for those with new diagnoses and especially for those who don’t have sufficient support networks to speak through the emotions conjured by the text in the artwork.”

    (SUPPLIED BY ACT UP)

    Dani Singer from ACT UP LONDON said “We are incredibly supportive of Studio Voltaire and their decision to curate an exhibition of David McDiarmid’s work – as the second silence of HIV rages on, the more voices speaking out representing those affected by HIV and AIDS, the better. We see this action as a collaboration between ACT UP London and McDiarmid, in keeping with the strong tradition of ACT UP working with radical Queer artists throughout its existence to widen its message of ending the HIV pandemic, stigma, and pharmaceutical greed.

    In a statement to THEGAYUK.com ACT UP London said, that the exhibition was counterproductive, with no supporting literature or context.

    Explaining the works, Studio Voltaire explains on their website that they are displaying, “series of public works” which will be shown intermittently across sites in Clapham and Brixton, in partnership with This is Clapham and Art on the Underground. Studio Voltaire say that they will over the course of a year, publish artworks at various locations including neighbouring LGBTQ+ venue Two Brewers, the façade of Studio Voltaire, Brixton Underground station, and other temporary locations.

    David McDiarmid (1952–1995) was an Australian artist, designer and activist, recognised for his prominent and sustained artistic engagement in issues relating to LGBT+ identity and history. Rainbow Aphorisms are a series of printed multiples, produced from 1993 until the artist’s death in 1995 of AIDS–related illnesses. McDiarmid produced these works in response to his own, and his community’s, experience of the AIDS crisis, and the multiple forms of devastations it manifests –political, emotional, intellectual and medical.

    Siobhan Fahey from Rebel Dykes Film said, “The poster I’m Too Sexy to Have AIDS worried me, and I took my concerns to the gallery. When David was making art, in the 1990s, ironic art was much in vogue. It was powerful. But in today’s climate, with Trump and Brexit, we are almost post-irony. Statements like this need careful contextualisation. I support the aim of ACT-UP in repurposing these posters in a way I am sure that David McDiarmid would approve.”

  • Three assaulted in homophobic attack in London

    Three assaulted in homophobic attack in London

    One of the three victims was left with injuries that required hospitalisation.

    (C) MET POLICE

    Cops in London are seeking information that can lead to the identification of two men they wish to speak to in connection with a brutal homophobic assault on three men in their early twenties in North London.

    The attack in Wood Green happened on the 4th October at around 4:30 AM. Haringey police were called to Station Road near the junction with High Road, N22, where three men aged in their 20s had been assaulted by two suspects, according to a police report.

    In a statement from the Met Police, one of the men attacked required hospital treatment, but he was subsequently discharged.

    Detectives from Haringey are investigating. They are releasing images showing two men they wish to trace in connection with the incident. One of the men is seen in both images, the second man is only seen from the back in one of the images.

    There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

    Anyone who knows the identity of either of the men, or has information that may assist the investigation, is asked to call detectives in the Haringey Community Safety Unit via 101 quoting CAD 969/oct04.

    To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Wellbourne Brasserie, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Wellbourne Brasserie, London

    ★★★★★ | Wellbourne Brasserie, London

    There’s a hidden gem of a restaurant right at the doorstep of the old BBC studios in Shepherd’s Bush that’s still a bit undiscovered but well worth the effort to seek out.

    The restaurant is Wellbourne Brasserie, and the food is really really delicious, and very very unique. One look at the menu and you will understand why; you’ll know you’re in for something very different and very satisfying.

    Wellbourne Brasserie is steps away from the White City tube stop of the Central Line, which is also steps away from the western end of Westfield Shopping mall and the new John Lewis megastore. The trendy new Soho House is right down the street, as is the new buzzy Bluebird Cafe. But I recommend you continue walking up Wood Lane, past White City tube station, where you’ll see a small park and just beyond that park is Wellbourne Brasserie in a building complex called Westworks that still houses some BBC offices. There are some other cafes in this complex (Feast is one of them), as well as a Starbucks across the way, but it’s Wellbourne Brasserie that will want to be your destination.

    It’s well worth the visit for the food. I want to go back to re-experience eating the Vol-au-vents. They are small stuffed puff pastries, and for the bargain price of 3 for £6, you can have one each which include broad beans, ewe’s cheese & mint, salt cod brandade, and pulled lamb shoulder with violet mustard. They’re so unlike anything you’ve ever tasted; cooked with care and eaten with love – highly recommended. Me and my dining companion, in between sips of glasses of their refreshing Aperol Spritz (£6), asked each other ‘how can they top this?” Well, they did. The mussels, 15 for a mere £8, were served in a big bowl with two large pieces of sourdough toasted bread with vinaigrette dressing, were a mussels lovers dream. Also very good was the Lyonnaise Salade which came with a hen’s egg, bacon, and a divine dijon mustard vinaigrette – for only £7.50 a delicious starter. We also ordered ‘La Latteria’ burrata with white asparagus – it was a mozzarella and cream blob, and if that’s your thing, you will enjoy it (£8).

    I’m not exaggerating when I say I had the best duck I’ve ever had. Their duck leg confit is smashingly served over crushed apple and green lentils in a large bowl where I absolutely savoured every bite. The dish looked gorgeous and tasted even better. And for only £12, it’s perhaps the best bargain on the menu. My dining companion was very satisfied with her Whole lemon sole, which came with sea vegatables. The sole is boned, its a very light dish, and perhaps a bit pricey (£17), but with delicious and large sides of spinach (£3) and green asparagus (£6), she, and me, were fine. But It was the duck that spoke, not the sole, and it spoke wonderfully!

    Wellbourne Brasserie has an amazingly extensive wine list, too large to mention here. However, our courses were paired with the perfect wines. Our first wine was the lively white Australian Berton Vineyard wine – perfectly smooth, see-through – making it very light, and an excellent choice. With our mains, again I was elated with the Rose Groot Constantia from South Africa, as I didn’t fancy red so this rose was a perfect match, as was the Red Colomba Bianca which my dining companion highly enjoyed with her fish. I would be remiss if I left out dessert. We had the amazingly delicious and fresh Lemon Leaf Sorbet (£4) – a nice way to finish off our meal. If you prefer something a bit more substantial I say go for Summer pudding or the Dolce de Leche Ice Cream Sandwich (both £6).

    The team behind Wellbourne Brasserie have over 30 years experience running a restaurant. Ross Gibbens was most recently head chef of the popular Dabbous while Michael Kennedy comes from Bristol’s popular Wallfish Bistro. Between both of them, and an amazingly nice staff, both front and back of house, bring to us a restaurant, while minimalist in decor but at the same time sharp and clean, food that is cooked with care and that tastes absolutely wonderful. Wellbourne Brasserie is a quality dining experience in a relaxed brasserie atmosphere at reasonable prices. I hope the locals, and others, find this hidden gem as it offers an excellent alternative to the many chain and fast food restaurants at the nearby Westfield Shopping Centre.

    https://wellbourne.restaurant/whitecity/

    Westworks Building, 195 Wood Lane,
    London, W12 7FQ
    Telephone 0203 4174865
    Monday – Friday 11.30am-10pm
    Saturday – 11.30am-9pm
    Sunday – Closed

  • Man who tricked four straight men to have sex with him convicted

    Man who tricked four straight men to have sex with him convicted

    A man who tricked four men into having sex with him in the mistaken belief that he was a female has been convicted.

    Duarte Xavier, 34 (11.11.84), of Wandsworth, was convicted at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, 5 October of six counts of causing a male aged 13 or over to engage in penetrative sexual activity.

    He had pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, 16 May. He has been remanded in custody to be sentenced at the same court on Friday, 9 November.

    The court heard that Xavier was a liar and fantasist who carried out his crimes over several years. He would use online dating websites to masquerade as a female named ‘Ana’, entering into conversations and sending provocative pictures to heterosexual men, who were fooled by his online persona into meeting for sex.

    When they agreed to meet for sex ‘Ana’ would set a series of conditions, including that the victim must wear a blindfold for the duration of the encounter and were not allowed to touch in return.

    Communication through a dating app

    On the first reported incident on 17 February 2016, a 45-year-old victim had been communicating with ‘Ana’ through a dating app and arranged to meet at ‘Ana’s’ flat.

    Rules had been set prior to the victim’s arrival so that both apparently knew what would happen; ‘Ana’ told the victim that he would not see her throughout their encounter.

    Upon arrival at an address in Wandsworth, the victim followed the instructions and found a blindfold in the bedroom.

    He heard ‘Ana’ call his name and put the blindfold on. The pair began having sex when the victim realised something was wrong and removed the blindfold when he saw Xavier.

    The victim was enraged and immediately left the address. Xavier sent a message to the victim afterwards saying ‘I got a mental health problem, sorry’. The victim ordered Xavier to delete all record of their communication, to which he replied that he already had.

    Female ‘looking for a bit of fun’.

    On 15 October 2017, a 29-year-old male messaged ‘Ana’ via a dating app and received a response that ‘she’ was a recently single female ‘looking for a bit of fun’.

    The pair talked over WhatsApp, exchanging pictures and even a video call; the victim had no reason to suspect that he was not speaking to a woman.

    They arranged to meet for sex the same day at a flat in Hardwick Square, Wandsworth. Again, the victim arrived at the location and put on a blindfold, as ‘Ana’ had asked.

    He heard what he thought was a female voice saying ‘stay there, don’t take off and don’t move the mask’. A person then approached from behind and tied the blindfold tighter.

    He was led blindfolded into another room where ‘Ana’ began to perform a sexual act. The victim took off the blindfold and saw Xavier.

    He left in disgust immediately having been in the property for minutes.

    Xavier began sending messages to the victim, apologising and saying there must have been a misunderstanding, but continued to message requesting oral sex.

    The victim reported the incident to police and Xavier was arrested on 16 October 2017 on suspicion of causing sexual activity with a person without consent. He was released under investigation.

    A number of mobile phones and masks were also seized.

    Victim had pillowcase stuffed over his head

    The third incident took place on Wednesday, 4 April 2018. The victim, a 26-year-old man, had been looking for sexual relations with females on a website when he received a message from ‘Ana’, advertising herself as a 35-year-old woman.

    The pair arranged a video call via WhatsApp, where ‘Ana’ stated that she had to conceal her identity so as to avoid getting caught because she was married.

    The pair arranged to meet at ‘Ana’s’ address, which was in darkness when the victim arrived. He said ‘hello’ and was instructed to close the door and come upstairs.

    As the victim went upstairs, he felt a person grab him and pull his trousers down. An item, believed to be a pillowcase, was put over his head.

    He asked to see that the person he had been communicating with was actually female, to which ‘Ana’ said ‘no’ and began performing a sexual act. The victim used the light from his mobile phone and discovered that it was Xavier.

    The victim was horrified and said he would tell police, to which Xavier responded ‘good, I will too’. The victim went outside and called police; Xavier was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and later charged with two counts of causing a male aged 13 or over in a penetrative sexual activity and sexual assault.

    He was remanded and later bailed at Wimbledon Magistrates Court.

    “Roleplay experience”

    The fourth victim was identified by police after reviewing phone records from seized mobile phones.

    The victim in this incident, a 29-year-old man, had been too embarrassed and ashamed to tell anyone.

    On 5 December year 2016 the victim and ‘Ana’ began engaging with each other over a dating website. ‘Ana’ explained that she was looking for a ‘roleplay’ experience where the victim would be blindfolded.

    Both parties exchanged pictures and videos and agreed to meet at ‘Ana’s’ address before she claimed her landlady would be home and they must meet elsewhere.

    ‘Ana’ told the victim they would meet in a park around 19:00hrs. The victim obliged and the following day he went to King George’s Park in Wandsworth as ordered by ‘Ana’. The victim had trouble finding the meeting place and called ‘Ana’; again he had no reason to suspect he was not talking to a female, commenting in later interviews to police that ‘Ana’ sounded like a foreign woman.

    He went to the agreed spot, a secluded area, when ‘Ana’ arrived and performed a sexual act on him before they had sex. ‘Ana’ then left and the victim was left entirely unaware that he had had sex with Xavier.

    WhatsApp records of conversations between the pair revealed that the victim had not realized what had happened and at no point did Xavier reveal his true identity.

    As a result, the pair arranged to meet again a few days later, on the same terms and same place. This time the victim held off on putting on the blindfold, curious as to who he was meeting.

    When Xavier approached, the pair saw each other and Xavier tried to hide. When the victim asked what he was doing, Xavier claimed to have believed that the victim was bisexual and approved of the arrangement.

    The victim was distraught by the revelation; Xavier offered to pay his cab fare home, to which the victim said no and that he did not want to be contacted by him ever again.

    “Crimes are unique in their depravity”

    Detective Constable Lucy Marsh, of Wandsworth police, said, “The crimes Xavier committed are unique in their depravity; all of the victims had no reason to believe that they were not engaging with a woman and all have stated unequivocally that they would never have given their consent to sexual relations with another man.

    “Xavier has demonstrated extreme manipulation and cunning in order to satisfy his own sexual gratification, setting bizarre conditions that the victims adhered to in the belief that they were part of the experience.

    “He is a sexual predator and I hope the victims, all of whom were traumatised by their experiences, will now feel that they have achieved some justice. I thank them for their bravery not only in telling us of their ordeals, but in facing difficult and challenging questions throughout the judicial process.

    “We are also entirely aware that there may be other potential victims of Xavier who, so far, have also felt too ashamed to speak to police. I would ask those people to come forward, to tell us, and we will treat you with the utmost sensitivity and in the strictest of confidence.”

  • Charity wins Patient Information Award for LGBT inclusion

    A London-based charity has won an award at this year’s Patient Information Awards.

    Compassion in dying was selected as the winner of the BMA equality, diversity and inclusion special award for the resource they produced in collaboration with LGBT charity for the older people, Opening Doors London, and Stonewall. The awards were hosted by the British Medical Association yesterday (Tuesday 25 September) at BMA House in Tavistock Square, London.

    ‘Your treatment and care: Planning ahead for the LGBT community’ is the first ever resource designed specifically for the LGBT community on end-of-life care planning. It was based on extensive research which found that those in the LGBT community can face specific and significant barriers stopping them from getting the end-of-life care they want. This can include healthcare professionals making assumptions about their preferences for care and a lack of understanding about what or who is important to them. This guide was therefore designed to set out the different ways in which LGBT people may plan ahead.

    Accepting the award, Natalie Koussa, Director of partnerships and services at Compassion in Dying, said, “We’re absolutely thrilled to win the diversity and inclusion award. ‘Planning ahead for the LGBT community’ was developed as the first resource of its kind in order to support people from LGBT communities with very specific decision-making processes that they experience towards the end of life, so we’re thrilled to be recognised for this work.”

    BMA representative body chair, Dr Anthea Mowat, said, “It is a privilege to be able to recognise the great work of Compassion in Dying as the first-ever winners of the BMA’s special award for equality, diversity and inclusion.

    “The LGBT community, particularly older people, can face specific and significant barriers to getting the end-of-life care they need and it’s a sign of progress that there’s now, for the first time, a resource specifically aimed to help gay, lesbian, trans and bisexual people plan ahead for their future treatment and care in case they become unable to communicate their decisions.

    “The resource, produced with help from Stonewall and Opening Doors London, will take the complexity out of a decision that’s quite hard to understand but a very important aspect of compassionate healthcare and highlights the diverse concerns of LGBT people.”

     

    Note to readers: This is a press release, published for record.

     

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Delicatessen, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Delicatessen, London

    ★★★★| Delicatessen, London

    Walking up Roslyn Hill towards Hampstead Heath tube station you’ll walk by a restaurant that’s always full, and why? Because the food is delicious and the portions are huge!

    Delicatessen, open since 2010, is modern Middle Eastern/Israeli cuisine at excellent prices. This neighbourhood restaurant, which was totally full (include the outside tables) on a Wednesday night that we went, has filled a gap for food of this very high quality and taste in this area.

    Chef Or Golan, who has worked in some of Tel Aviv’s most popular restaurants, was most recently a head chef in one of Yotam Ottolenghi’s self-titled restaurants.

    The food at Delicatessen is influenced by Golan’s Moroccan and Lebanese grandparents, so what is cooked straight from the kitchen and sent directly to your table is a mish-mash of extreme flavour & tastes that are bold and wonderful.

    The Sashimi grade bluefin tuna starter was a feast for the eyes and the tongue. Chunks of tuna served with fennel, avocado, anchovies and bits of bruschetta, among many other herbs and spices, are included in this massively huge dish, and at only £12, it’s a steal. Also good value for the money also delicious to boot is the Golden Cauliflower with tahini and smoked Chilli. It was served very warm and soft, oven-baked, and was a huge mound for a mere £8.

    As if we hadn’t enough food in our starters, our mains were even larger!

    My dining companion’s Ras el hanut Lamb Chops were definitely too big for his, or anyone else’s, stomach! Five large chops are served over bulgar wheat, sprinkled with lavender and various greens, and one certainly gets what you pay for (£33). What was missing was any form of sauce, as the wheat became dry – perhaps applesauce would’ve gone perfectly with the lamb. My Old Jaffa Lamb Kebabs were very good. Served with tahini, sehug spice and baby vegetables, three very large and long kebabs were nicely cooked and delicious. The dish could’ve used some starch – perhaps a few potatoes or bulgar wheat, but it was very filling for its £24 price tag.

    What took me and my friend for a loop was the Kadaif tower dessert. Yes, it was a tower and served with strawberries and cream. What is a kadaif you ask? It’s shredded filo dough, and in this dish there is cream in the middle that makes it look and feel like a sandwich. And it was superb – and large – and did I mention extremely delicious? And at £8.50, it’s a no-brainer choice for dessert. We also shared the Handmade Moroccan cigars (basically baklava), filled with nuts, and served with an amazing tasting mint tea. But it was the Kadaif that was memorable, amazing and wow!

    Please have the wonderful Instant B Cotes de Provence Rosé wine with your meal, it’s wet, with a flowery taste that goes well with the fish and meats served on the menu. Or you can have one of Delicatessen’s speciality drinks, including the Msc mule, which was vodka and ginger ale and was very very good.

    The menu at Delicatessen is just simply amazing. And while the prices aren’t cheap cheap, it’s the amount of food given that’s generous. We sat next to a table of two who had ordered the Mixed Grill – it was actually a mound of meat, with chicken thighs, kebabs, lamb chops, mergues & rib eye steak all for a wonderful price of £75. It appeared they could not finish it, and I am sure the took the rest home with them which probably fed them for a few more days. I will order this next time I go to Delicatessen.

    With an amazingly knowledgeable and nice staff, very good food, large portions, all in a nicely remixed from the hustle and bustle location – what’s not to like? I’m definitely looking forward to my next visit to Delicatessen – it’s that mound of meat that I’ll make an attempt at – can’t wait!

    Home

    Location:

    46 Rosslyn Hill, Hampstead
    London NW3 1NH, UK

    020 7700 5511

    Hours

    Sun-Thu • 12:00 – 23:00

    Fri • Closed

    Sat • 18:00 – 23:00