Pubdate: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 Source: Daily Telegraph (UK) Contact: Website: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ Author: Sally Pook CITY BROKER WENT ON CRIME SPREE TO PAY OFF DRUG DEBT A city broker who had a UKP300-a-day cocaine habit resorted to crime to pay off a debt owed to a drugs baron, a court was told yesterday. Daman Chappell, 30, who worked for the Rothschild Partnership, went on an illicit shopping spree across London to help clear the UKP2,000 debt, after receiving menacing telephone calls. Armed with a "cloned" American Express platinum card provided by his dealer, Chappell was told that a quarter of the value of every purchase would be deducted from his "overdraft". He bought items worth a total of UKP13,226 from Harrods, Selfridges and other stores before anyone became suspicious, Southwark Crown Court was told. The final bill included a UKP4,800 watch and a UKP1,480 dress from Harrods. Chappell was caught four days into his life of crime when a suspicious shop manageress at a branch of the jewellers Ernest Jones called police as he tried to purchase a ladies' UKP2,900 Rolex watch. He admitted eight charges of obtaining by deception and one of attempted deception. After Chappell promised to pay back the credit card company in full within two years, the judge decided not to jail him immediately. Michael Levy, defending, said the offences committed in May last year were "completely out of character". His client, who was educated at Millfield, in Somerset, lived with his parents at Wheatleys Eyot, Sunbury on Thames, Surrey. Mr Levy said: "He was a City boy leading a typical City lifestyle - staying out late, going to clubs, drinking champagne and snorting cocaine." Before long, he had a UKP300-a-day habit and found himself owing thousands of pounds with interest at UKP100 a day. When he could not pay, the campaign of "extremely threatening" phone calls began to both Chappell and his parents. In an attempt to escape, Chappell sought refuge in Hove, East Sussex, but was traced by the drug dealers. Mr Levy said: "No matter where he lived, the calls kept on coming through." Mr Levy told the court that his client, who is to start work for a finance house based in St Hellier in the Channel Islands, was too frightened to identify his tormentors, for fear of putting his family in jeopardy. He said: "He thinks, perhaps naively, that by being punished by a court that these people would somehow leave him alone." Recorder David Lederman, QC, said because the case was exceptional he was able to suspend a two-year prison sentence for two years. He told Chappell: "I accept you were being threatened by whoever in respect of a debt owed by you as a result of a cocaine habit which you then had. I also accept you no longer have the drug habit." - --- Checked-by: Melodi Cornett