Now that he's safely behind bars and reporting restrictions on the case have been lifted, it can be revealed that northern man, Eric Ricketts, from Bolton near Manchester was sentenced to ten years in prison earlier today at The Old Bailey.
In a horrifying and sickening case, Ricketts, stood accused of multiple counts of "Coming down to that London and speaking to people in the street and on the Tube and that, without any national emergency being in place."
Smelling strongly of black pudding and speaking only to confirm his name and address the defendant registered a plea of not guilty before prosecution barrister, Justin Bulstrode QC, outlined the charges.
As the packed and hushed court heard the horrific catalogue of evidence presented by the bewigged advocate you could have heard a pin drop. Shocked officials listened to how Ricketts greeted one man, who was unknown to him and a total stranger, "Eh oop, Cock, lovely day like," before going on to smile at two women and saying "Hello missus, turned out nice again, in't it?" to a third. All three were identified by Mr Bulstrode as having been strangers to Ricketts also.
One woman juror, believed to be from Belgravia, had to be replaced when she collapsed from the distress of the catalogue of harrowing evidence presented to the court. The stricken woman had to be rushed to St Thomas' Hospital where thankfully now she is out of danger.
The serial offender was brought to book after Police switchboards had been jammed for weeks by reports from all over the West End that somebody was abroad and being friendly in and around the capital. In an elaborate sting operation and seemingly oblivious to the personal danger to which he was exposing himself, PC Alan Fallon, posed as an ordinary traveler on the Central Line, a well known haunt of Ricketts, for months without any success. Then just as The Met were about to pull the plug on the operation, the ruthless flat-capped pigeon-fancying manifestation of evil said to PC Fallon , "No, no. After you mate, please go ahead," before standing back and waving the brave officer off in front of him at Oxford Circus one day.
"Soon as he did that I knew we had our man," said PC Fallon. "He stuck out like a sore thumb. We need to keep this kind of evil off our streets and it's good to know that for at least another five years people won't have to deal with his like again."
PC Fallon is understood to have been commended for a bravery award and several jurors are said to be receiving stress counseling in the wake of the case.
