Case of businessman using AI to generate false letters of complaint against Heaven nightclub part of a growing issue, say police
A businessman has pleaded guilty to making false statements in order to shut down a nightclub, which police believe were generated using AI.
A Metropolitan police source said the use of AI to generate letters by complainants who do not exist is a growing issue.
Aldo d’Aponte, 47, the CEO of Arbitrage Group Properties, pleaded guilty to writing two letters, supposedly by his neighbours, objecting to the reopening of Heaven nightclub, which temporarily closed after a rape allegation against one of its security guards.
D’Aponte was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay 85 costs and a 26 victim surcharge.
Heaven, an LGBTQ nightclub in central London had its licence suspended in November 2024 after a 19-year-old woman accused a bouncer of rape. It was allowed to reopen with enhanced welfare and security policies after a council hearing held a month later. The worker was later found not guilty of the alleged offence.
During the council hearing, council officials received letters, sent via an encrypted email address, all of which were detailed in their complaints about the nightclub.
Philip Kolvin KC, a planning lawyer, decided to investigate the letters pro bono, because while acting for the nightclub during the licence suspension his suspicions were aroused by the unusual character of the objection to the nightclub reopening.
When...
Case of businessman using AI to generate false letters of complaint against Heaven nightclub part of a growing issue, say police A businessman has pleaded guilty to making false statements in orde...