Man charged with spate of crimes against tourists

An alleged professional pickpocket and bag thief accused of targeting elderly tourists at top London hotels was remanded in custody last week at London's Horseferry Road court, facing seven theft charges.

Kenneth Roy Brown, 40, unemployed, of Plummer Road, Clapham, south London, is charged with stealing a wallet and its contents of £80 from Teunis Her Wijnen at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane on 21 May; and a briefcase and contents, worth £190, from Bernadine Maurizo at the Rubens Hotel in Buckingham Palace Road on 12 May; as well as travellers cheques valued at £3,035 from Adle Monne at the American Express bureau de change in Victoria Street on 24 June.

Brown is also charged with stealing a bag and contents, worth £800, belonging to Pamela Gregory, at the Swallow International Hotel in Cromwell Road, South Kensington, on 18 June; a wallet from Toby Powell at the Inter-Continental in Park Lane on 18 June; and a bag and contents, worth £350, from Eleanor Doph and a handbag and contents, worth £650, from Diane Doph, both at the Gloucester Hotel in Harrington Gardens, South Kensington, on 13 March.

Brown was arrested by members of New Scotland Yard's hotel intelligence unit.