A French court sentenced Thierry Tilly, 48, to eight years in jail today, on charges of false imprisonment and abusing the weakness of psychologically vulnerable persons. He relieved 11 members of the aristocratic de Védrines family of £3.6 million, as well as property including a chateau near Bordeaux, over the course of a decade, in what the Judge described as a “Machiavellian Plot.” 

Tilly convinced the family that their lives were in danger as part of a scheme involving the Hapsburg dynasty and freemasons, and hid them in Oxford.

Tilly, with the aid of another man, Jacques Gonzalez, told the de Védrines that he was a NATO spy working for the true king of France and the international secret society called ‘The Balance of The World,’ fighting against  paedophiles and the masonic order. In return for protection against the conspiracy, he convinced the family to give him jewellery, property and cash over a ten year period. Their resulting seclusion from society in their ancestral Chateau led to the French press naming the de Védrines “the recluses of Monflanquin.”

When the property was seized by the French government due to unpaid taxes, Tilly moved the family into hiding in several homes across Oxford. Five properties were rented from Oxford Landlord Andrew Scully, and the family stayed in a house on near Cowley Road. Scully also alleges that he has been “well and truly conned” out of a quarter of a million pounds in damages, rent and court fees. The family lived and worked in Oxford for several years.

Throughout this period, their money was gradually transferred to a Canadian charity run by Gonzalez called ‘The Blue Light Foundation.’ Mr. Gonzalez has also been imprisoned for 4 years for deception and complicity. 

When sentencing, Judge Marie-Elisabeth Bancal said that Tilly had used the “creation of group paranoia” and the “exploitation of family weaknesses” to exploit the de Védrines. He became “a constant presence by their side, physically and then by telephone or email.” Daniel Picotin, the family’s British lawyer, said of Tilly that “he is to mental manipulation what Leonardo da Vinci is to painting.”

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said that they were not involved in the court proceedings, and declined to comment on the case.

The UK’s leading academics, associated with the Institute of Economic Affairs, have called for a ‘U-turn’ in financial regulations, arguing for”‘simpler and more stable legal frameworks”. Experts said that the current regulations are ‘too complex, as well as being dangerous and unnecessary.’

Alan Morrison, Professor of Finance at Saïd Business School and one of the authors of the article, explained in an email to Cherwell: “Capital regulation is staggeringly complex. Its principles are laid out in a series of accords published by the Basel Committee.

“Their first capital accord was communicated in a 26 page document; the later Basel II document ran to 347 pages, and subsequent documentation has added a further 166 pages.

[That’s 539 pages] that are hard to understand, and [have possibly become] a focus for lobbying and regulatory arbitrage.”

The article further argues that increased regulation is not the key to a sustainable financial market. One alternative solution proposed by Morrison is increasing the level of equity held by banks.

He said, “Banker arguments that this would undermine industry are unconvincing to me, and smack of special pleading,’ he said in his email, emphasizing that the key is to make the requirements ‘easy to understand and hard to work around.’’

Additionally, Morrison argues that the tax break on borrowing that corporations receive should be abolished to make debt less attractive, and finally, he suggests, in line with the proposal conveyed in the Vickers Report, that separation of commercial and other forms of banking would be a step towards improvement.

“Interestingly, one of the proposals involved abolishing the deposit insurance, which is an often failing system developed to protect bank customers. This safety net inadequate because it encourages bankers to take more risks than socially desirable, but fixing this does not necessarily mean that people who keep their money at the bank would have to live with the threat of losing everything.’

“I think, although some of the other people signing the article to which you refer may disagree, that such an outcome would probably undermine the banking sector and that it would be arguably uncivilised and cruel. High and simple capital requirements would be one way to address that problem; another would be heightened liability for bank shareholders.”

Details of the argument can be found in IEA’s journal of Economic Affairs: “Financial regulation: the need for a revolution.”

The first sixth form college to be established under education secretary Michael Gove’s free school initiative opened to 200 students this autumn.

The London Academy of Excellence in Stratford, Newham, aims to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds in earning places at Russell Group universities, including an increased uptake at Oxbridge. It is supported by eight of the country’s leading independent schools. Demand for places at the Academy was high, with over 500 applications for 150 places, a number later increased to admit 200 students.

The admissions process involves interviews, verbal reasoning tests and the submission of personal statements. Successful applicants are taught from a selection of 12 ‘academic’ A-level subjects, chosen from the Russell Group guide to preferred subjects, ‘Informed Choices.’ Speaking to the Sunday Times, Richard Cairns, headmaster of Brighton College, said, “The aim is to have more pupils at Oxbridge than 75% of independent schools”.

However Robert Wilne, headmaster of the London Academy of Excellence, stressed that this aim is one amongst many, telling Cherwell that “We are focusing on Russell Group universities, of which of course Oxford and Cambridge are two, but they are only two of the 24.”  He added that the media focus on the school’s Oxbridge aims mirrored a problem he hoped his Academy could correct, saying that in some communities “it’s either Oxford or a former polytechnic. They don’t recognise there is a spectrum.”  

David Messling, OUSU officer for Access and Academic Affairs, commended the Academy’s aims, telling Cherwell, “School support is critical for students with potential and ability to see that they have what it take to apply to Oxford.”

Tony Little, headmaster of Eton, who is on the governing body of the Academy, added, “The LAE model will work because it engages a number of schools who are able to play to their strengths, enabling young people to be with like minded peers”.

The free school initiative is not without controversy, with many fearing they will prove detrimental to existing local schools. Oxford City councillor Sam Hollick said, “It tends to set schools in competition with each other, so it serves the students who are already doing well but the majority tend to see standards fall.”

Exeter student Owen Donovan agreed, saying, “Though this will be a brilliant opportunity for the children involved, I’d rather we invested more across education.”  Wilne, however, stressed that the impact of the Academy would not be limited to its students, but, through an ‘outreach’ programme, would be extended to existing local schools. Sixth formers will perform community service, whilst the Academy is currently recruiting for a “Director of Educational Aspiration” in hopes of ensuring a broad impact.

The ‘Save Kensal Rise Library Campaign’ has suffered a further setback, following a recent meeting with All Souls in which it was announced that the College is selling the library to a property developer to be turned into flats.

Campaigners who call themselves ‘The Friends of Kensal Rise Library’ held a rally on Saturday outside All Souls in the hope that Fellows would use it as an opportunity “to discuss a more meaningful future for Kensal Rise Library.”

Margaret Bailey, a Director of the campaign, said, “We invited the Warden and Bursar to come to speak to us on that occasion. They de- clined, but we have been invited to a further meeting on 20th November 2012. We have asked to meet with the College on other occasions and have been referred to Cluttons their property agents.”

They have also written an open letter to the College which expresses that they feel “misled” by the college. The letter, which has been sent to the Warden and all of the Fellows of All Souls individually, describes the college’s move as a “breach of faith.” In the letter Bailey said, “We represent a larger community that sees the Col- lege’s current proposal as nothing short of a breach of faith with this relatively poor area of north-west London, from which it has already profited handsomely.”

She continued, “Although the College do- nated the land, the library building from which the College and Mr Gillick now seek to profit was not paid for by the College, but by public subscription and a donation from Andrew Car- negie, the philanthropist.”

In a press release, campaigners asserted, “The Friends of Kensal Rise Library were shocked at a recent meeting with the College’s Bursar, Mr Thomas Seaman, to be told that the College was selling the library to a property developer to be turned into flats.

“On the 3rd August 2012 Mr Seaman, Bursar of All Souls, claimed that “this building will not be turned into flats. In reality the entirety of the old library is to be converted for residential use, with only a small part of the new building re- maining available for rent by the library.”

Campaigner Laura Collingon told Cherwell, “We are very disappointed by the way that All Souls’ have behaved so far. They assured us that the building would not be turned into flats but they are now saying that this will happen.

“However, they have said that we have persuaded them that there should be a library on the site. I don’t think this will be possible if we are shut out of our historic library building and forced into a tiny space where we have to pay a market rent to an unsympathetic property de- veloper, which is what is currently suggested by All Souls.”

She continued, “This is not a sustainable future for the library. It would be shocking if an educational institution like All Souls persisted in putting profit before learning.”

Bailey remains hopeful about the future, telling Cherwell, “We have a meeting with the college on 20th November and we hope the discussion will be productive.”

The library, opened in 1900 by Mark Twain, has been a source of tension between All Souls and the community in Kensal Rise. The cam- paign has been supported by numerous literary figures, including Alan Bennett, Philip Pullman, Zadie Smith, Jacqueline Wilson and Maggie Gee, as well as the Royal Society of Literature.

Oxford University Chancellor Lord Patten, who is also Chairman of the BBC Trust, has called for a “radical structural overhaul” of the BBC after the resignation of Director General George Entwistle.

Patten’s statement was made following a recent Newsnight documentary which suggested that a Conservative peer was involved in a child abuse network, after which Entwistle made the decision to resign.  Controversy has surrounded the BBC this autumn following revelations concerning an unaired documentary exposingchild abuse allegations against BBC stalwart Jimmy Savile. 

Lord Patten is also under increasing pressure from MPs and the media to resign from his role as Chairman of the BBC Trust following public anger at the £1.3 million resignation package offered to Mr Entwhistle who lasted only 54 days in the job.

Commenting on the severance agreement a BBC Trust spokesman said, “The BBC reached a consensual termination agreement with George Entwistle last night and agreed to pay him 12 months pay, in lieu of notice. This reflects the fact that he will continue to help on BBC business, most specifically the two ongoing inquiries.” 

Last week, Lord Patten appeared on the Andrew Marr Show to maintain his support of Mr Entwhistle, where he deplored the “awful journalism” that led to the Newsnight scandal. 

Lord Patten continues to resist pressure for him to also leave his post despite MPs calling for his resignation. MP Philip Davies, in a recent TV interview, labelled his position as “just as untenable” as Entwhistle’s and claimed, “the longer he clings on the more damaging it will be for the BBC.” 

Media attention has recently shifted focus onto the ten additional jobs that Lord Patten has on top of his role as Chairman of the BBC Trust, including work as an advisor for BP and energy firm EDF. 

In a blog post for the Spectator, Cherwell editors Grace Goddard and Barbara Speed expressed their concern regarding his many positions, writing, “As students at Oxford University, we are told repeatedly by tutors, proctors, and the Chancellor himself that we’re not allowed to do much outside our degree. We cannot do more than eight hours of paid work a week, and extracurricular activities are monitored carefully by colleges, who can revoke your right to do them at any time.

“Lord Patten has arguably spread himself a bit too thin, taking on another significant appointment at the BBC commanding a salary of £110,000 a year, in addition to holding other remunerated positions listed in the House of Lords’ register of interests.”

In response to Cherwell enquiries about Lord Patten and his involvement in the BBC crisis, a University of Oxford spokesperson said, “Lord Patten’s role as Chancellor of Oxford University is entirely separate from his position as Chairman of the BBC Trust. The Chancellor is usually an eminent public figure elected for life and serves as the titular head of the University, presiding over all major ceremonies. Lord Patten was elected Chancellor in 2003.”

Lord Patten has said he wants to appoint a successor to George Entwistle within a “few weeks” and the vacancy is top of the agenda for the talks at the BBC Trust’s Great Portland Street offices in central London.It is unclear whether further changes to the BBC’s management structure will take place in the coming weeks.

Lord Patten was a Conservative Member of Parliament for Bath between 1979 and 1992. From 1989 he held a position in the Cabinet. His current position at Oxford is part time, and until 2009 he also combined the role with the Chancellorship of Newcastle University. The BBC role, also part time, currently has a salary of £142,800 a year. The Trust Chairman is head of 12 Trustees, who represent the public who pay for the BBC. On the BBC website it is stated that “the Trust makes sure the BBC is run in the public interest and in the interests of licence fee payers.