Chandra Wisnu suffers from a mystery skin disease which left him with growths all over his face and body.
The dad of four, from Indonesia, rarely leaves his house and when he did he was forced to cover his face with a balaclava for fear of frightening, or being ridiculed, by others.
Chandra, 57, said the lesions began to develop on his face when he was just 19 years old.
By the time he was 24 they had spread to his back and by age 32 they almost completely covered his body.
During the early stages of the disease, Chandra’s parents took him to see a number of doctors and dermatologists who were baffled by the severity of his condition.
Bubbles ... Chandra's skin is covered
Caters News
He said: “There was no special treatment for my disease, I was just told to see one dermatologist after another because they did not know how to treat me.
“After this my dad did not believe there was any reason to take me to hospital anymore and I never saw a doctor again.
“People have never mocked or ridiculed me directly, but they do stare at me and avoid me, most people act very strange around me.
“It makes me feel very insecure and angry when people treat me differently.
“People are afraid, they are frightened of my horrible face and worried they might catch the disease."
With doctors baffled by his unusual condition Chandra gave up hope and tried to live a normal life in spite of his condition.
But when his eldest son Martin, 32, and daughter, Lis Candra, 26, began showing signs of the condition, Chandra went public with his story in a bid to find a treatment and prevent his children from suffering his same fate.
After hearing of his plight, Dr Anthony Gapsari a leading skin specialist from the US, came forward in a bid to help diagnose Chandra’s unusual condition.
And Chandra has been given fresh hope that he can now be rid of the tumours.
A bride who stole money from her employer to help pay for a lavish wedding celebration has been jailed for 20 months.
Lane was arrested at home and unable to go on honeymoon to Mexico
Kirsty Lane fraudulently siphoned £168,000 from the company where she worked, but her boss Peter Sutton was a guest at the wedding and his suspicions were raised by the sumptuous nature of the event.
Lane, 29, married Graham in January last year at the Tudor-built Great Hall at Mains hotel near Blackpool.
She laid on a fireworks display, magician, two bands, harpist, saxophonist, a DJ, free bar, face painting and feathered masks.
Managing director Mr Sutton said: "We were greeted with flowers and champagne, entertainers, cellists and just a magnificent setting. The sheer scale of it was staggering."
Kirsty Lane's Lavish Wedding Included:
:: A harpist
:: Balloon modelling
:: Canapés and Buck's Fizz
:: A swing singer
:: A free bar
:: A saxophonist
:: Face painting
:: Feather masks
:: A Motown-style band
:: A magician
:: A DJ
:: Jewel encrusted iPods for bridesmaids
:: The couple's initials illuminated in fireworks
:: One white limo for the couple
:: Matching black Ugg boots for bride and bridesmaids
But when Mr Sutton returned to the office, where the newly-wed bride worked as a part-time accounts clerk, he discovered that she had falsified invoices.
Instead of paying suppliers to the audio-visual firm in Leyland, Lancashire, she had diverted money into her own account.
She even bought bridesmaids dresses courtesy of the company and a jewel encrusted iPad case for £1,500.
Mr Sutton said her "unbridled greed" almost ruined the firm.
He said: "We employ 22 people. The greed that Kirsty Lane showed jeopardised the livelihoods of these people."
"It was the wedding that first started to raise alarm bells. Up to that point we had no idea. She was always claiming poverty and didn't do anything that would tip us off."
The former bride, who cried throughout Wednesday's hearing, had admitted 122 counts of fraud at the company Pure AV.
She was arrested at home and was unable to go on honeymoon to Mexico.
The woman who gave birth to the world's first test tube baby has died.
Lesley Brown, 64, who lived in Whitchurch, Bristol, made history in July 1978 when her daughter Louise was born at Oldham General Hospital.
Mrs Brown had been trying for a baby with her husband John for nine years before she became the first woman to give birth following IVF treatment.
She died at the Bristol Royal Infirmary on 6 June with her family by her side, it has been announced.
She successfully conceived following pioneering treatment by Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards.
Louise Brown now has a son of her own
She leaves behind daughters Louise and Natalie, who were both born following IVF treatment, her stepdaughter Sharon and five grandchildren.
Her husband died five years ago.
A private funeral service was held in Bristol on Wednesday morning.
Louise Brown said: "Mum was a very quiet and private person who ended up in the world spotlight because she wanted a family so much.
"We are all missing her terribly."
Dr Steptoe and Prof Edwards set up the Bourn Hall Clinic in Cambridge two years after Louise Brown's birth. It has now become a leading centre for IVF treatment.
The attention around Lesley Brown's pregnancy brought with it concerns for her baby's safety.
At a celebration to mark Louise Brown's 30th birthday one of the scientists who pioneered the fertility treatment revealed Mrs Brown had been forced to go into hiding.
Prof Robert Edwards said in an interview in 2008: "We were concerned that she would lose the baby, the foetus, because the press were chasing Mrs Brown all over Bristol where she lived.
"So secretly Patrick Steptoe hid the mother in his car and drove her to his mother's house in Lincoln - the press didn't know where she was."
Mrs Brown recounted that once she was in Oldham hospital reporters tried a variety of methods to sneak into her room from a bomb hoax to posing as cleaners.
Once Louise was born it made front-page headlines all over the world.
Speaking on behalf of Prof Edwards and the team at the clinic, chief executive Mike Macamee said: "Lesley was a devoted mum and grandmother and through her bravery and determination many millions of women have been given the chance to become mothers.
"She was a lovely, gentle lady and we will all remember her with deep affection."
Speaking in 2008, Mrs Brown said she had been so desperate to have a baby that she was willing to put up with anything to give birth.
At the time, she said: "I'm just so grateful that I'm a mum at all because without IVF I never would have been and I wouldn't have my grandchildren."
Her blocked fallopian tubes meant getting pregnant naturally was impossible.
In 1976, she heard about new research and was referred to Dr Steptoe, after which she agreed to the experimental procedure.
Although other women had been implanted with fertilised eggs, Mrs Brown was the first to achieve a pregnancy which went beyond a few weeks.
Every June, students all over the country don their caps and gowns for graduation. Whether it's from high school, college or graduate school, most people could easily count their own graduations on one hand.
But not 71-year-old Michael Nicholson of Kalamazoo, Mich.Nicholson has earned 29 degrees and is now pursuing his 30th.
"I just stayed in school and took menial jobs to pay for the education and just made a point of getting more degrees and eventually I retired so that I could go full-time to school," Nicholson told ABCNews.com.
"It's stimulation to go to the class, look at the material that's required and meet the teacher and students. It makes life interesting for me," he said. "Otherwise, things would be pretty dull."
Nicholson has one bachelor's degree, two associate's degrees, 22 master's degrees, three specialist degrees and one doctoral degree.
Most of the degrees are related to education such as educational leadership, library science and school psychology, but other degrees include home economics, health education and law enforcement.
Nicholson is currently working on a master's degree in criminal justice.
"I would like to get to 33 or 34. I'm almost there," he said. "When I complete that, I'll feel like I've completed my basic education. After that, if I'm still alive -- that would take me to 80 or 81 -- I would then be free to pursue any type of degree."
Nicholson's early interest in education came from the encouragement of his parents, who wanted him to be well-educated. His Canadian father was forced to drop out of school after the third grade to work and his mother graduated from high school.
"We were motivated to continue with our educations and go as far as we could go," he said of himself and his siblings. "She [his mother] wanted something better for us than simply working at a factory, so she kept doing the necessary for us to continue."
Nicholson's first degree was a bachelor's in religious education from William Tyndale College in Michigan in 1963.
Five degrees later, he was pursuing his doctorate in education from Western Michigan University in 1978.
While pursuing the doctorate, he met Western Michigan University Professor Tom Carey when Nicholson was working as a parking lot attendant writing tickets for the university. He wrote Carey three tickets in one day and the two have now known each other for 35 years.
"I've had 18,000 students in class and I've never heard of anybody like this," Carey told ABCNews.com. "He's the ultimate life-long learner. I marvel at his tenacity to go to school."
Nicholson has earned all of his degrees; none of them have been honorary or awarded degrees. Though Carey was never Nicholson's professor, the two meet at least once a year for Nicholson to give Carey an updated resume, which he shows students in his classes.
"He's intrinsically motivated. It's unique, but it almost sounds bizarre," Carey said. "Some people collect animals and he collects tassels."
And collect tassels he does. Nicholson has been to 28 of his 29 graduation ceremonies.
What does he enjoy about the graduation ceremonies? "Just the pomp and circumstance. ... I could do without the speeches," he said with a laugh.
"Eventually, it became getting as many as I could," he said. "There's the excitement of graduation, but the overall objective was to get the degree."
He has earned degrees from a dozen schools in places including Michigan, Texas, Indiana and Canada, and he always goes to class.
"I would not take an Internet class. That's far too difficult," Nicholson said. "I'm not one of those all-A students."
He still works on a typewriter and his wife Sharon Nicholson helps him type up his assignments. His wife is highly educated in her own right, with seven degrees of her own.
"She helps me with my homework all the time," he said. "I cannot function on a computer, so she has to do it."
When asked what advice he would give to recent graduates, Nicholson paused before saying, "Don't quit too soon. Keep up with your aspirations. A lot of people tend to throw in the towel and have to come back to it later. Don't give up on your aspirations too soon."
And the admittedly competitive Nicholson has no plans to give up on his own aspirations, hinting that he has his eye on a few more degrees in the next few years.
"He likes going to school and doesn't want responsibility," Carey said. "This is what Mike lives for. He's about 70 and he's not going to stop. It wouldn't surprise me if at one point he tried law school or something else."
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are preparing to hold their own Olympic party, inviting only A-list guests.
The Hollywood couple are hosting an Olympic-themed Night At The Museum-style extravaganza with princes William and Harry expected to attend.
Brad and Angelina's Olympic do could be set to rival the official ceremony (AFP/Getty)
Their charity do will be staged two days before the official Olympic opening ceremony at London's Victoria & Albert Museum.
Held in honour of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, the black tie party will raise funds for the Sports For Peace initiative and is to feature a champagne reception before a four-course banquet dinner.
Once the bash has finished Brangelina are then planning to host a super-exclusive afterparty in their luxury London townhouse.
'Forget the official opening ceremony, this is the party to be at,' a source told The Mirror.
Their Olympic-themed party is said to be being organised by Brad and huge buckets of home-made cocktails will be made to mark the occasion.
'The who's who of British and American celebrity will be in attendance, and invitees have been ordered not to take any photos from their phones,' the source went on to add.
Brad and Angelina's party is to take place on July 25th, two days before the official London 2012 opening ceremony, to which the pair have already bagged seats.
A boozed up groom, 27, was caught having sex with a waitress in the kitchen at his Weddingreception just hours after tying the knot in Feldkirch, Austria.
The groom was caught by the father of the bride when he went looking for him in the kitchen.
After seeing what the young man was doing he stopped the party, and told all the guests to go home.
The bride now wants a quick divorce - but has been told she will have to wait six months under Austrian law.
WASHINGTON — The children and grandchildren of men who reproduced later in life could enjoy life-extending genetic benefits, including being able to father children at an older age, a new study suggests.
Researchers at Northwestern University believe the process represents an unusually rapid evolutionary adaptation in which telomeres -- DNA found at the ends of chromosomes -- lengthen, which is thought to promote healthy aging.
"If your father and grandfather were able to live and reproduce at a later age, this might predict that you yourself live in an environment that is somewhat similar -- an environment with less accidental deaths or in which men are only able to find a partner at later ages," said Dan Eisenberg, lead author of the study.
"In such an environment, investing more in a body capable of reaching these late ages could be an adaptive strategy from an evolutionary perspective."
After analyzing the DNA of 1,779 young adults and their mothers in the Philippines, researchers found that children of older fathers not only inherit longer telomeres, but that the effect is cumulative across generations.
The researchers do not advise men to reproduce at later ages, as other research has shown that doing so raises the risk of passing on genetic mutations that can cause miscarriages or other health problems.
Co-author Christopher Kuzawa said more research would be necessary to see if the longer telomeres inherited from older fathers and grandfathers reduce the health problems and ailments that come with age.
"Based upon our findings, we predict that this will be the case, but this is a question to be addressed in future studies," he said.
The study appeared in the June 11-15 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Madonna stepped out with boyfriend Brahim Zabat sporting a more demure look after causing controversy by flashing her nipple while on stage in Istanbul.
Madonna and her boyfriend Brahim Zaibat went on a night out in Rome with the singer opting for a less nipple-exposing look (Picture: Rex Features)
The singer cut a far more modest figure as she went on a night out with beau Zabat in Rome.
Madge wore a simple polka-dot wrap dress, large dark sunglasses and vampish red lips, making her look worlds away from the pop star who stripped off to her lacy bra in front of a massive crowd the previous evening.
She still kept some of her usual superstar style by finishing the overall look with towering stilettos.
The 53-year-old singer has been criticised by some for being too old to still be exposing herself. Her Turkish fans are likely to disagree, however, as her naughty nipple flash was reportedly met with cheers from the crowd.
Peek-a-boob: Madonna flashes on stage
It's not the first controversial gesture Madonna has made during the tour, which began last month in Israel.
She reportedly angered French National Front leader Marine Le Pen after using a swastika image on a picture of her during pre-recorded video footage used onstage in Tel Aviv.
The incensed politician has threatened to sue if the footage is used when the singer's tour reaches France in July.
A pair of centenarians have officially been crowned the oldest sisters in the world after notching up an astonishing 213 years between them.
Two British women in their 100s have been named the oldest sisters in the world, after one celebrated a record breaking birthdays. Marjorie Ruddle, who recently turned 105, and Dorothy Richards, 108, were awarded Guinness Book of World Records certificates at a special party to held to celebrate the landmark.
The sisters, who grew up together in Northamptonshire, were keen tennis players and used to holiday together, but had not seen each other for two-and-a-half years because they became too frail to travel.
But last week the elder of the pair, Dorrie managed to make the trip from Stamford, Lincs., to surprise Marjorie at the Park House nursing home in Peterborough, Cambs., and the sisters were reunited for a knees up.
"How do I feel?” Marjorie responded to questions. “Rather embarrassed. I haven't seen her for ages so it is very nice to see her again."
Marjorie's daughter Pat Comber, from Rutland, said: "My mother's certificate will be put up in pride of place in her room.
"It is a remarkable achievement and my family and I are very proud of them.
"Both Marjorie and Dorothy are very active and on the ball for their ages. They certainly know what's going on.
"I'm not sure if they have secrets for living for so long but just that they've tried to stay fit and active.”
Pat explained that it was her family’s idea to find out if her mum and aunt were record breakers.
"We've always wondered whether Dorrie and Marjorie were the oldest sisters around and last year decided to find out,” she explained. "We contacted the Guinness World Records and it took them several weeks to do their research and confirm it.
"To be honest I would have been surprised to find any siblings older than them and I think it may be a long time before their record is broken."
The two girls grew up in Northampton with their sister Hilda, who died aged 40 from MS, and two brothers Bernard and Ross, who died aged just 49.
On the day of the record break, the aggregate age of the sisters was 213 years, three months, and 27 days.
Marjorie, who was born in Northampton back in 1907, has three children, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. After moving to Peterborough in the 1930s, she worked in the surgery of her husband Dr James Robertson Wills.
Mr Wills died from an illness in 1949 and a year later Marjorie married architect Alan Ruddle.
Marjorie says she has never smoked a cigarette and enjoyed a number of hobbies including playing bridge, gardening, tennis and embroidery.
Sue Corrans, a senior carer at the Park House nursing home, added, "Marjorie is so on the ball.
"She likes having a bit of banter with the nurses and keeping them on their toes at all times.”
Dorrie was born on December 15, 1903, just two days before the Wright Brothers made man's first powered flight.
On October 29, 1927, Dorrie married Stanley Richards. They moved to Stamford in April, 1941, with their two young sons Graham and Philip, and their third son Martin was born in the town in 1943.
Stanley took over an opticians business in St Mary's Street, Stamford, where he remained until his death at the age of 58 in 1961.
Dorrie ran a pottery shop in St Mary's Hill until she retired and now she is cared for at Whitefriars nursing home in Stamford, Lincs.
Dorrie's son Philip, who lives in Stamford, Lincs., said, "Auntie Marjorie didn't know that Mother was coming today. The look on their faces was amazing.
"They struggled across the room and gave each other a big hug and we were all in tears."
A spokesperson from Guinness World Records confirmed the sisters had the "highest combined age of two living siblings".
Hundreds of young women in London are being told by their parents to accept a forced marriage, figures reveal today.
They include dozens of girls under 15 and many more older teenagers. The Home Office published the figures as David Cameron announced plans to criminalise forced marriage, which he branded “little more than slavery”.
The Government’s Forced Marriage Unit offered advice in 580 cases in the capital between January last year and last month. About one of 10 of the victims was under 15, with the youngest being five and the oldest 89.
About four out of five of the cases involved women victims.
Nearly half the cases involved people of Pakistani origin, nine per cent were of Bangladeshi origin, nine per cent were from Britain and three per cent were from Afghanistan.
Ministers say the unit’s cases are the “tip of the iceberg”. Campaigners have warned that criminalising forced marriage could deter victims from coming forward but the Prime Minister today said an extra £500,000 of funding would help identify and support those affected.
Protection orders — to stop harassment — will also remain so that victims can pursue cases through the civil courts or start criminal proceedings against their parents.
Mr Cameron said: “To force anyone into marriage against their will is simply wrong and that is why we have taken decisive action to make it illegal.” The prison sentences available will be set out in the legislation.
But Andrew Flanagan, chief executive of children’s charity NSPCC, said the change would need to be monitored to ensure the problem was not pushed further underground.
He warned that victims could be more wary of coming forward if it could mean their parents being jaile
Teenager raped after being turfed off bus because she was 20p short of the fare
A teenager faces a long jail sentence after being found guilty of raping a law student who was "turfed off" the last bus home because she was 20p short of the £5 fare.
Joseph Moran was found guilty of rape and wounding with intent to cause GBH at Nottingham Crown Court Photo: PA
By Telegraph reporters
7:31AM BST 08 Jun 2012
Joseph Moran struck after his 22–year–old victim was left stranded in Nottingham at 3am last December.
Nottingham Crown Court was told that CCTV footage showed the student pleading with the driver for eight minutes before he turned her away, and none of the passengers who boarded the bus offered to make up the fare.
The woman called her mother and asked to be picked up, then began walking to save her mother driving around a one–way system.
Moran, 19, of Sneinton, spotted her, then dragged her into a park and beat and raped her. The court heard he panicked when he spotted a police patrol and claimed he had found her. He denied rape but was found guilty and was also convicted of wounding with intent.
Judge James Sampson adjourned sentencing until July 27 but told Moran: "Whatever the nature of the sentence, it will be a lengthy one indeed."
The judge added that Moran's victim was "courageous and bright young woman". Following the verdicts, jurors were told she had returned to her course and was due to take her final exams.
It was also disclosed that Moran had previous convictions for burglary and causing actual bodily harm to a female family friend. The court heard he had punched, slapped and butted the woman before he was restrained.
The rape took place last December. Michael Auty, prosecuting, said the student had been out celebrating the end of her law exams when she boarded the last bus home. He told the court: "The fare was £5. She had only £4.80. The bus driver would not waive the 20p. She asked him if he could wait while she got some money from a nearby cash machine.
He refused that request too. She was effectively turfed off the bus and left stranded at 3am."
Her mother had pulled up on yards from where the attack took place. She called her daughter's mobile phone twice and could hear a "grunting" before the line went dead. Passing police officers stopped to ask if she was all right, and she said she was looking for her daughter.
Within minutes, Moran ran to the police car. He told officers: "You had better come quick. I think a girl has been raped or something." He claimed that he had been covered in mud and the victim's blood when he tried to help her. The woman's injuries were so bad that her mother failed to recognise her. She needed extensive surgery.
After the hearing, Det Chief Insp Rob Griffin said: "Despite her lasting physical, mental and emotional scars, this young woman has shown the most tremendous courage and dignity, despite the many challenges she has had to face, and has played a vital role in securing his conviction."
A statement from the victim's family read: "The last six months have been a very difficult time. We would like to thank the police, the prosecuting council and the medical staff at the Queen's Medical Centre for the care and support they have shown to us."
The family must complete 20 hours of community service before he can receive his diploma.
GETTY IMAGES
Anthony Cornist was denied his high school diploma last week. The senior at Mt. Healthy Senior High School didn’t fail to complete the necessary academic requirements for graduation or neglect to pay his school library fines. No, Cornist didn’t receive his diploma, school officials say, because of his family’s excessive cheering during the graduation ceremony.
Instead of a diploma, Anthony was given a letter from the principal stating that before he could receive his actual certificate, he and/or his family needed to complete 20 hours of community service. Three other students received similar letters.
The school superintendent, Lori Handler, defended the action. She told the local ABC affiliate, ”In years past, we have had students whose families got over-exuberant and the child behind them’s name could not be heard when they were called,” Handler said. “So I feel very strongly that we will stop graduation because every child’s name will be heard and every family will be able to celebrate appropriately.” The school had warned families that so-called excessive cheering could result in a penalty.
“Parents did know all this information up front,” Handler said to WCPO. “They signed off saying I understand that this is what’s going to happen.” While the school district contends that the Cornists signed the agreement with the school, Anthony’s mother, Traci Cornist admits that if she signed it, she never read it.
The legality of holding the son, whose behavior Handler admits was “angelic,” accountable for his family’s actions is questionable. While Anthony has technically graduated from the school, he just won’t receive the piece of paper until he or his family serve out their sentence. The Cornists are not happy about the situation, obviously, but Handler fears letting the family off would send the wrong message. ”I think it’s lessons learned in terms of proper decorum,” she said.
Unknown to other VIPs, on board was a convicted sex attacker who has served time for a series of despicable attacks on women
VIP guest: Rana within feet of Harry, Kate and Wills
Getty
Strutting the deck of the Royal Barge, Harbinder Singh Rana hid a vile secret as he mingled with royalty for the Diamond Jubilee pageant.
Unknown to other VIPs enjoying the occasion during Sunday’s 1,000-boat Thames flotilla, he is a convicted sex attacker who has served time for a series of despicable attacks on women.
And last night, as MPs demanded a police probe into the alarming security lapse, it was revealed that 52-year-old Rana had been invited to join the exclusive celebrations by Prince Charles – who was totally unaware of his shameful past.
But even though the invite came though the prince’s office, questions were being asked yesterday about why apparently no checks were carried out on his background before he was allowed on board.
And the huge security blunder reveals serious weaknesses in the vetting procedures that are supposed to protect the Royal Family at all times.
During his time on the barge, Rana came into close proximity with the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
But he would never have been allowed anywhere near them if the details of his sickening crimes had been unearthed sooner.
During his trial in 1986, a jury heard how he tricked his way into his victims’ homes by posing as a doctor before subjecting them to internal examinations – even giving some of the women injections.
He was sentenced to four years after being convicted of five counts of indecent assault, 11 counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and one of attempted assault.
Confronted by the Mirror yesterday, Rana revealed he was sent an invite to be a guest aboard the Royal Barge by Prince Charles’s office around three weeks ago.
He is understood to have met Charles several times through his work for the Anglo-Sikh Heritage Trail – a group that promotes the Sikh community in Britain.
Asked whether he had been vetted, Rana, who lives in Walsall, West Midlands, said: “I don’t know what checks they do or how they do them.”
But, amazingly, he said he had never “had to tell anybody” of his sex crimes and was never asked about them before the event.
Rana, who has worked as a management consultant in the past, said: “I was given the invitation and I attended.
"The fact that the Prince of Wales invited me clearly shows what I have done for the community since then.”
Invite: Prince Charles pictured her with Rana on a previous occasion
He said of his conviction: “It was very circumstantial. It is an area I have switched off from my life and got on with it.”
At his trial Rana denied the sex allegations and yesterday still claimed it was a case of “mistaken identity”.
He added: “I have a relationship with some of Charles’s staff, not him – although I have met him at events, yes.
“I have made it clear I wasn’t representing the Sikh community, I was there because I was very happy to be invited.”
He said that, although the Queen was at times just “a few feet” from him, he never spoke to her or any senior member of the Royal Family while on the boat.
A spokesman for Clarence House said: “The office of Prince Charles was unaware of his previous convictions.”
But last night Steve McCabe, MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, who sits on the Home Affairs select committee, said: “It is an astonishing situation in terms of security. I’m flabbergasted.
“There should be a police investigation into how this was allowed to happen. Who the prince wants to entertain in private is his concern, but this was a public event. Questions need to be answered.
“I would like to know who thought he was an appropriate guest for an event involving so many women.
"Whoever was in charge of vetting Prince Charles’s guest list needs to start earning his money.”
The prince’s aides appear to have been unaware of Rana’s murky secret for years.
He and the prince are thought to have first met in July 1999 at the unveiling of a statue in Thetford, Norfolk.
Since then they have met at several events and Rana accompanied Charles on a visit to Ropar in India in 2006.
At one presentation in July 1999, Rana said of the prince: “The fact that he has come here today is a fitting tribute to the relationship between the Sikh community and the Royal Family, which is based on mutual admiration.”
A picture of Rana proudly standing next to the Queen and Prince Philip was posted on the Facebook page of the Anglo-Sikh Heritage Trail on Sunday.
On its official website, Rana is listed as honorary director.
Royal occasion: The river pageant featured 1,000 boats and had tight security
Kent Gavin
The Heritage Trail is a project of charity Maharajah Duleep Singh Centenary Trust, whose annual accounts were yesterday 310 days overdue, according to the Charity Commission.
Dr Kate Cook, from Manchester-based Trafford Rape Crisis, which deals with all forms of sexual assault, said: “Sex attackers can appear respectable and come in all guises.
“This man’s crimes were very premeditated and insidious.
“Pretending to be a doctor in order to have access to women is very deliberate, it is not like he couldn’t help himself.
"Women find this sort of attack very frightening. It can often take an extraordinarily long time, sometimes many years, for them to get over it.”
Dr Cook, a lecturer in law, added: “At the very least it is extremely disappointing that someone like him has been allowed to mingle at such a high-profile and prestigious event as this.
“There are lots of people who would have deemed it a great honour and the fact he has been let on will be very frightening for his victims.
"Imagine how horrified you would be if you saw your attacker standing alongside the Queen.”
A Scotland Yard spokesman said last night: “We do not comment on the details of security checks.”
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Diamond Jubilee pageant: The best pictures from the 1,000 boat flotilla
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Five decades of security scares
1974 : Princess Anne and then husband, Capt Mark Phillips, escape abduction attempt by gunman Ian Ball who holds up their car on the Mall in London and shoots four people.
1982 : Michael Fagan breaks into Buckingham Palace. Queen wakes up to find him sitting on her bed.
1993 : Anti-nuclear protesters scale walls of Palace and hold sit-down protest on lawn.
1994 : James Miller flies over Palace in a paraglider before landing on roof and exposing himself.
1994 : Cufflinks given to Prince Charles by Camilla stolen in break-in at St James’s Palace.
2003 : Daily Mirror reporter Ryan Parry exposes gaps in royal security by spending two months working under- cover as Palace footman.
2003 : “Comedy terrorist” Aaron Barschak gatecrashes Prince William’s 21st birthday bash at Windsor Castle dressed in pink frock and Bin Laden beard.
2004 : A Fathers 4 Justice campaigner dressed as Batman unfurls a protest banner on balcony at the Palace.
2004 : Michael Hammond cons way into Windsor Castle by posing as Scotland Yard detective. He was jailed for four-and-a-half years.
2010 : Duchess of Cornwall hit by a protester on student fees demo after her car came under attack.
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