Saturday 31 January 2015

Lorry Driver Who Killed O.A.P Sentenced

A Nottinghamshire lorry driver, who killed a 91 year-old man who was crossing a busy west London road after failing to check for pedestrians before pulling away, has been placed on a twelve-month community order, which includes 100 hours of unpaid work.

Shane Redfearn, 33, of Lawnwood Avenue, Elkesley, Retford was driving along Fulham Palace Road on July 8 when he knocked over John Goulding, who died almost immediately.

He was convicted by an Isleworth Crown Court jury of causing death by careless driving.

Prosecutor Mr. James O'Connell told the court: “Last summer this defendant was driving a fully-laden truck with a trailer at 10.30am and Mr. Goulding had just got off a bus and elected, not by the wisest way, to cross the road.

He walked to the back of the bus and was confronted with the side of this defendant's truck so walked towards the cab of the stationary vehicle and stepped in front of the cab.

The truck pulled away and the driver drove over Mr. Goulding.

The truck moved a few yards until a member of the public notified this defendant there was someone under the truck and Mr. Goulding died within a few minutes under the truck.

This defendant should have seen Mr. Goulding by using his mirrors properly. He has a number of mirrors on that vehicle, including a mirror that looks right down in front of the truck.

Mr. Goulding was knocked over and killed, but despite him putting himself in that position he should not have been hit and knocked over and killed.

Mr. Redfearn's driving fell below the standard expected that day.”

Redfearn will also have to pay £3,500 costs, a £60 victim surcharge and received three penalty points on his driving licence.

Friday 30 January 2015

'Mad Dog's' Sister In Boozy Bus Crash

A female member of a notorious south London crime family, who have clocked-up over eighty-three convictions including murder and wounding, crashed into a bus full of passengers while three times the alcohol limit and without a licence and insurance after an all-day drinking-session.

Louise Sonnex, 40, knocked back rum in the morning and joined more friends in the afternoon, who helped polish off a dozen cans of lager, before jumping behind the wheel of a pal's car and careering into a busy road, where she struck the double-decker and bounced into railings, knocking herself out on impact.

Sonnex, of Etta Street, Deptford pleaded guilty to driving the blue Peugeot carelessly and with excess alcohol in her breath in nearby Evelyn Street, on June 22, driving without a full licence and insurance and possessing a small quantity of cannabis resin.

A charge of aggravated taking and driving away of the vehicle and causing criminal damage was withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service.

She was sentenced to fourteen weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years; placed on  eighteen months probation, which includes a nine-month alcohol treatment requirement and was ordered to pay £200 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Sonnex was also disqualified from driving for two years. There were no separate penalties for the remaining driving offences or possessing the cannabis.

Her brother, Dano 'Mad Dog' Sonnex, 27, is serving life imprisonment, with a forty-year minimum, for the gruesome murders of French students Gabriel Ferez, 23, and Laurent Bonomo, 23, who were stabbed a total of 244 times on June 29, 2008.

Her father, Bernard Sonnex, 60, has at least twenty-six convictions, including firearms and drugs, and has been to prison six times and her brother Bernie Sonnex Jnr., 41, has been to prison at least ten times for a minimum of thirty-four offences, including theft and aggravated burglary.

Prosecutor Miss Thandi Lubimbi told Bexley Magistrates Court: "It was 7pm when the defendant came out of a junction, without paying attention, and drove into the side of the bus and then crashed into railings."

Sonnex was seen hanging out of the car's door, having knocked herself out when her head hit the dashboard.

"There were passengers in the bus and a passenger in the vehicle and an off-duty paramedic attended to the defendant, who then left the vehicle and returned later."

Officers noticed her breath smelled of alcohol and she was arrested, later giving a reading of 105 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

"The defendant did not have a licence and was not insured to drive the vehicle and when she was searched the cannabis was found," added Miss Lubimbi.

Sonnex has a criminal past to match her male relatives and has served time for the pub glassing of another woman and beating another woman with a golf club.

Her lawyer, who refused to give her name, told the court: "On the night before she had been drinking and when she woke up the next morning went to her friend Keith Jones's house and they both had drinks at 10am.

"She had a few rums and and the owner of the vehicle, Lisa Perry, pulled up and was invited into the garden where they all had drinks into the late afternoon.

"Lisa then invited them to her house and Miss Sonnex remembers having a roast dinner and more drinks and Mr. Jones remembers seeing a dozen empty cans on the table.

"She doesn't remember anything after that until the collision and waking up afterwards, but Mr. Jones says Lisa Perry was driving them home, but kept stopping to chat to friends and the third time she left the vehicle with the engine still running.

"Miss Sonnex was shouting at her to get back in the car and had moved across to the driver's seat when she panicked and the car accelerated and that's when the accident happened.

"She doesn't drive, she doesn't know how to drive and has had a provisional licence for years.

"She has a lot of issues in terms of mental health and has been diagnosed and is being looked at for bipolar and borderline personality disorder, depression and for a number of years abused drugs and more recently has misused alcohol."

District Judge Robert Hunter announced: "The public were put at considerable risk by her and of course she was uninsured."

Wednesday 28 January 2015

Norwich City Striker Caught Speeding

Norwich City striker Lewis Grabban was fined and hit with six penalty points today after he was caught speeding at nearly twice the limit.

The 27 year-old former Bournemouth and Rotherham star, of Ridley Road, Warlingham, Surrey has hit seven goals this season for the Championship club.

He did not attend Lavender Hill Magistrates Court, but admitted by letter driving his grey Nissan at 53mph in a 30mph zone at 6.43pm in Edgware Road, Cricklewood on August 13, last year.

Grabban, who had a clean licence, wrote: "I only wish to say I am sorry for the offence. I came from the motorway and was rejoining the A5 and accelerated because it looked like a dual carriageway.

"It was a thirty mph limit, which I missed. I need to be able to drive to and from work, which is in Norwich."


He was fined £1,000, with £85 costs and was ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge.

Tuesday 27 January 2015

Suspended Prison Sentence For Student Glasser

Trowbridge Town Mayor & Dolman
An award-winning student left a fellow-pub customer permanently scarred when she hurled a beer glass at him during a row over his legs blocking her path.

Zoe Dolman, 25, of Hornby Walk, Trowbridge, who studies Art and Design at Wiltshire College and received her year's highest Outstanding award from Trowbridge's mayor, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months.

She was convicted of assaulting 32 year-old Dominic Sattaur, causing him actual bodily harm, at The Old Garage, Replingham Road, Southfields, south-west London on May 25.

He was covered in blood and fragments of glass were left imbedded in an open wound that was later glued by A&E doctors.

He told Wimbledon Magistrates Court : “I was slouching in my chair and my legs were sticking out a bit and as this girl walked in the she kicked me in the knee and said: 'Get the f*** out of my way.'
Guilty: Zoe Dolman

She kept making comments and digs at me and I told her to leave me alone and go back outside and there was a bit on an argument.

Outside her and a guy with a mohawk she was with kept making digs at the people outside and were both getting more and more drunk.

I went inside and was ordering a drink when she tried to cut in and the girl behind the bar told her she had too much to drink and they all had to leave.

Back outside I was talking to someone and the girl picked up a glass and hit me in the face with it. There was blood all over my face, I was scared, and her dad ran over and tried to fight me.

He chased and followed me back inside and it started up again, but luckily my friend pulled him away.

I went up to the bathroom and my face was covered in blood. I wiped it with a tissue and I could see it had opened up, a centimetre and a half gap down my face.

Her dad ran up the stairs and tried to start again while I was in the bathroom.”
Glassed: Dominic Sattaur

When Dolman was questioned by police she admitted drinking a small bottle of wine during her train journey to Paddington Station earlier that day, drinking a pint of cider at the station, and having “a pint or two more” before the disturbance.

She claimed Mr. Sattaur started trouble. “A guy was winding me up and being nasty. He called me a gypsy.”

Prosecutor Miss Saliha Ayub told the court: “She later admitted throwing her drink at Mr. Sattaur and said she could not remember if she threw a glass at him.

She said Mr. Sattaur tried to hit her and everyone piled in, including her dad.”

Dolman was also placed on probation for twelve months and ordered to pay £100 costs to Mr. Sattaur.

Monday 26 January 2015

Hospital Visitor Jailed For Molesting Down's Syndrome Patient

A hospital visitor, who took sexual advantage of a 29 year-old woman with Down's Syndrome, repeatedly kissing her and once putting his hand between her legs, has been jailed for twenty-one months.

Investigative journalist Anthony Moncrieffe, 68, of Buckland Hill, Maidstone, visited the Dover woman at the Royal Brompton Hospital, Chelsea and was arrested on the ward when suspicious staff eventually called the police.

"Her mental disorder means she is unable to agree to sexual touching, she has Down's Syndrome and looks about ten years-old," Isleworth Crown Court Judge Nicholas Wood told the first-time offender.

"She has been described in this court as an: 'Innocent sweet-smiling child' and was described by one witness of reminding her of her five year-old.

"Kent social services knew she was a vulnerable person and she was incapable of agreeing to sexual touching because she does not understand the nature and consequences of it."

He was found guilty by a jury of six counts of sexual activity with a mentally disabled person between between September 27 and November 15, 2012.

Five counts relate to kissing the woman on the lips and the sixth alleges Moncrieffe, a former investigative journalist and a veteran of the Daily Mirror; Sunday People; Press Association and Reuters, put his hand beneath her underwear.

"You put your hand inside her knickers, at the front," Judge Wood told Moncrieffe. "There was a significant degree of planning by you and a breach of trust."

Moncrieffe must also sign the sex offenders register for ten years and was made subject to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, banning him from any contact with the victim.

His lawyer Andrew Hope said: "When he saw the probation service Mr. Moncrieffe was open to some sort of intervention, but his difficulty is he maintains his innocence.

"The probation service conclude that by not taking responsibility he is minimising the seriousness of the offences.

"The nursing staff indicated there was a genuine degree of affection for the complainant from this defendant, who sadly now suffers from several serious health problems.

"He has sleep apnea and needs a machine to sleep, has hearing problems and chronic anxiety and depression exacerbated since the jury's verdicts were returned."  

Moncrieffe was the subject of a separate police probe in November 2011 when a bag belonging to him, which contained an escort profile, details of his website, his press card and viagra was found, apparent evidence of the defendant passing himself off as a sex consultant.

"I don't think I'd be a sex worker, look at me," Moncrieffe told the jury, insisting he had invented a persona so he could investigate the Tender Loving Care Trust, but abandoned the project after two weeks.

"I wanted to infiltrate the organisation because I suspected disabled people were being exploited and my job is to bring that out into the public domain.

"A condition of TLC is that you have your own website giving more information on yourself, including more pictures in evening wear and swimwear. 

"It seems they are a bone fide organisation, legal. There was no story there."

Different members of hospital staff gave evidence against the father-of-four, who regularly visited the woman, and the first said he lifted her oxygen mask and kissed her on the lips.

Moncrieffe explained: "It was an adult-sized mask and she's got a very little face and the mask kept slipping down. I pushed it back onto the bridge of her nose and tightened it.

"She is always smiling and I said: 'Good girl,' and kissed her on the tip of her nose."

The second witness claims seeing Moncrieffe with the oxygen mask in his hand and suspecting him of kissing the woman, but admits their view was not clear.

"What would I want to kiss a little girl on the lips for?," asked the defendant. "Particularly a sick little girl."

A third witness says he was lying on the hospital bed, beside the woman, when he leaned over, lifted the oxygen mask and kissed her.

A fourth claim they heard the sound of kisses coming from Moncrieffe and the woman and he was arrested the day another member of staff says he was touching her between the legs.

"We were holding hands and our hands were resting on her lap," he told the jury. We always held hands, a child likes security.


"The next thing I knew two uniformed security guards arrived."

Sunday 25 January 2015

Suspended Sentence For Witness Nobbling Attempt

A man behind a witness nobbling bid in a £30,000 civil court case has received a suspended sentence and a restraining order prohibiting him contacting the victim for a decade.

David Hall, 47, of Wellington Street, Waterloo, Liverpool told Ryan Elliott: “You have no friends in Liverpool, drop the case or it will be more than your car next time,” referring to paint-stripper being thrown on the vehicle and: “Last warning, drop the case.”

He pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to one charge of intimidating a witness in civil proceedings on January 20 at Waterloo Business Centre, Southwark, namely verbally threatened Mr. Elliott knowing he was a witness in civil debt recovery proceedings, intending to cause the course of justice to be obstructed.


Hall was also ordered to pay £300 costs.

Saturday 24 January 2015

Male Model Accused Of Spiking Nightclub Girl's Drink With 'E'

A male model, accused of secretly spiking a young woman's drink with ecstasy at a landmark club owned by Sir Richard Branson so he could sexually assault her, has appeared for the first time at Hammersmith Magistrates Court.

Matthew Riches, 29, of Sherwood Way, Epsom did not indicate a plea and was bailed to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on February 3 for a preliminary hearing.

He is charged that on August 2, last year at The Roof Gardens, Kensington High Street, Kensington, with intent to stupefy or overpower to allow sexual activity he administered MDMA to the woman, without her consent  so as to allow any person to engage in sexual activity with her.


He was bailed on condition he does not attend The Roof Garden club.

Friday 23 January 2015

Sprint Hero Linford Christie's Son Charged With Dealing Crack And Heroin

Police Raid: Oliver-Christie's Place
The son of former sprint star Linford Christie has appeared in court charged with dealing 'crack' and heroin with a street value of £1,410 from his council flat.

Liam Linford Oliver-Christie, 29, of Lakeside Road, West Kensington is charged with possessing 14.1 gms of 'crack' cocaine, a Class A drug, with intent to supply, on September 30, last year.

He is also charged with possessing 841mgms and 6.9 gms  of Class A diamorphine, with intent to supply, on the same occasion.

The son of the 1992 Olympic 100 metres champion appeared at Hammersmith Magistrates Court, where he indicated a not guilty plea and was sent to Isleworth Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on February 3.

Police, accompanied by a sniffer dog, executed a drug search warrant at his empty ground-floor council flat at 2.30pm and also found "drug paraphernalia" on the living room table and an additional 23.6 gms of an unspecified white powder.

Officers left a note for Oliver-Christie and he surrendered himself at a local police station, which he attended with his solicitor.

His father also won gold for Britain in the 100m at the World, European and Commonwealth championships and his national record of 9.87 secs set over twenty years ago stands to this day.

Liam's mother is former typist Yvonne Oliver, who had a short relationship with the athlete, and he has a twin sister Korel, with neither child having much contact with their father during their upbringing.


He was bailed on condition he continues to reside at his address.

Thursday 22 January 2015

Solicitor Re-Wrote Will To Cheat Charity For The Blind Out Of £200,000

A disgraced solicitor, who doctored a will to try and get away with defrauding a blind people's charity out of £200,000 to pay his tax bill, has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Richard Caplan, 62, who has already been struck-off, was the trusted executor of pensioner Marjorie Withey's estate, which bequeathed the sum to the National Library for the Blind (NLB).

The father-of-two, of Falcon Close, Northwood, Middlesex pleaded guilty at Harrow Crown Court to defacing a will between December 14, 2009 and February 7, 2013.

He also pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between the same dates, namely acting against the financial interests of the NLB and converting criminal property, namely £204,676 by paying-off personal debts.

The once respected lawyer ran Caplan Solicitors, of Tyburn Lane Harrow, but the firm "crumbled under financial pressures" during the property market downturn of 2008-2009.

Prosecutor Mr. David Markham told the court Mrs Withey died on December 14, 2009 and Caplan was required to split the residue of her estate 50/50 between the NLB and another charitable organisation.

Their share should have amounted to almost £305,000, but Caplan simply wrote them a cheque for £101,083 and continued to be evasive, failing to return calls or answer letters as the charity sought a copy of the original will.

Eventually the solicitor sent them the doctored version in August, 2012.

"The will he sent bore the same signatures as Mrs Withey's original, but instead of a 50/50 split it bequeathed six equal shares.

"Mr. Caplan clearly massaged the figures so it would appear the NLB received their correct share."

The charity were unhappy and reported the lawyer to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), who passed on the information to the police, who arrested Caplan at his home on February 7, 2013.

They found evidence he paid the charity's money to HMRC to settle his tax bill in October, 2010.

"His business was primarily based on property, but crumbled under financial pressures," said Mr. Alisdair Smith, defending.

"He paid it to the revenue to sort the situation out and did not put it to lifestyle use. His firm, his life's work was closed down and financially he has nothing left.

"The family home was sold and his share was used to satisfy his creditors as far as possible at the rate of thirty pence in the pound.

"His working life is over and he understands he has to go to prison. He's an ordinary family man, who has done something wrong."

Judge Graham Arran told him: "What you did was in serious breach of the trust the public have in solicitors and that is a serious aggravating offence.

"Not only did you pocket the money, but you altered documents and you were evasive over a lengthy period of time."


The SRA's compensation scheme paid the NLB the money they were owed and confiscation proceedings against Caplan have now begun and he will be produced back in court on May 25 for the first stage of the financial investigation.

Tuesday 20 January 2015

Stalker Who Pestered Eastenders Star Brooke Kinsella Jailed

An obsessed stalker - fixated with ex-EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella - who repeatedly sent unwanted messages and gifts and constantly tried to meet the star was jailed for twenty-six weeks yesterday.

Paul Mason, 40, of Stonecross Road, Hatfield, Hertfordshire even visited the grave of her murdered brother and penned fantasy love letters to her.

He appeared via video link from HMP High Down at Bromley Magistrates Court and an indefinite restraining order, preventing him contacting the star, was also made.

Mason was convicted after a trial of stalking the 31 year-old actress who, played Kelly Taylor in the BBC soap from 2001 to 2004, between January 1, 2012 and April 4, this year after she gave evidence from behind a screen.

Miss Kinsella described Mason's behaviour as: "odd" and: "scary", particularly his references to having already bought her wedding dress for their marriage and his vow to show up at the acting school for children she runs.

Mason claims that as a victim of knife crime himself he was simply trying to support the actresses work with the Ben Kinsella Trust, dedicated to the memory of her 16 year-old brother, who was stabbed to death by three young men on June 29, 2008.

He turned up unannounced at a theatre she was performing at, a Trust open day event she was hosting, where he hugged her and the Trust's HQ, the Lions Centre, a leisure facility next to Millwall Football Club.

Mason left gifts such as CD's, oils, perfume and a ring at the locations and when police searched his home they found a quantity of expressive love letters devoted to the actress.

Islington-born Brooke told the court the first time she ever heard the name Paul Mason was in 2011 when the Home Office - who the Trust work with - contacted the police about troubling letters they had received about her from the defendant.

"I was told to be vigilant and was given his description and told to look out for him.

"I was performing at Bromley Theatre and the box office staff told me my friend had been looking for me and his name was Paul Mason. I was obviously worried because I'd been told to be vigilant about him.

"A couple of days later two actress friends were in the auditorium and he managed to get in and spoke to them, calling me: 'Pumpkin.'

"He contacted me on Facebook and Twitter and I received numerous messages on my phone and he would tell me my wedding dress was ready.

"I blocked him, but he set up new accounts and sent more messages such as: 'You will be my wife.'

"Sometimes they were complimentary and he would always refer to me as: 'Pumpkin'. It struck me as a bit odd and a bit scary and just seemed to escalate."

She was most concerned about his promise to show up at her True Stars Academy. "He said: 'I'll come down to see you and the kids.'

"I felt threatened from the moment he said he was coming down."

The only time Brooke met Mason face-to-face was at the Trust's open day in August 2013 at Millwall FC. "He came up to me and hugged me and said he had presents for me.

"I didn't look at the presents. I just wanted to get out of there."


Mason's lawyer Mr. Roger Hill told the court: "This is at the bottom end of the scale. His case is that he met the lady when she first auditioned to go on EastEnders at Elstree and was subsequently aware of what happened to her and was supporting her."

Monday 19 January 2015

Nigerian NHS Baby Scam Exposed

Still Here: Oluwaseun Adenubi
A pregnant Nigerian visitor's plan for her new-born baby - delivered at NHS expense - to be a British citizen was foiled after medical records proved the prospective UK passport holder parents were impostors.

Oluwaseun Adenubi, 30, used the passport of her friend, 32 year-old Rita Ogunkunle, to obtain free care and after the delivery the pal and her boyfriend Michael Adebambo, 46, registered the baby as theirs.

However, staff at Farnborough's Princess Royal University Hospital realised the medical records of the genuine Ogunkunle, who received acne treatment there, conflicted with the pregnant patient claiming to be her.

"The probation service think this is a Nigerian plot to use the 'International Health Service' and then take further advantage," announced Croydon Crown Court Judge John Tanzer. "The residency that comes with that and everything else."

Adenubi, who was granted a family visit visa which allows her to stay in the UK for up to six months, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation against the hospital between April 19 and July 2, last year, namely dishonestly obtaining free medical treatment.

Ogunkunle and Adebambo, both of Clarendon Green, Orpington pleaded guilty to wilfully giving false information concerning the registration of a birth, namely reporting to be the parents of Moses Adenubi, at Bromley Civic Centre on July 1.

The offences, contrary to the 1911 Perjury Act, carry a maximum sentence of seven years 'penal servitude'.

Imposters: Rita Ogunkunle & Michael Adebambo
The couple have now fallen out with Adenubi, who claims she found Ogunkunle's passport on a bench, with the British citizen saying it was snatched from her home and used behind her back.

"The probation service are there to report what they have been told and they say they don't believe a word of it and bluntly neither do I," added Judge Tanzer, adjourning the case for a Newton Hearing, which will attempt to find the truth.

Prosecutor Miss Alexandra Bushell told the court: "Maybe there was a motivation to secure the nationality of the child as a British citizen and free NHS treatment.

"After the baby was born on June the thirtieth the staff realised something was not right because Ogunkunle has severe scarring, which the baby's mother did not have and there were two different blood types for the same patient."

The next day, both Ogunkunle and Adebambo turned up at Bromley Civic Centre and registered the birth as the child's parents and obtained an NHS number for the baby.

Ogunkunle was arrested on August 8 and claimed Adenubi took her passport after moving into her spare room.

"She admitted falsely registering the birth of the baby and said she had been introduced to Adenubi by a friend of her mother's and took pity on her because she was pregnant and had no friends.

"She told the police she was angry at Adenubi using her identity and tried to beat her to it by registering the child."

Adebambo was questioned in November. "He said his girlfriend asked him to go to the registry office to register a birth and said she told him she did not want another woman to use her identity.

"He said he did it out of love for his girlfriend and was very remorseful."

Adenubi was also questioned. "She claimed she was fleeing a violent partner in Nigeria and claimed to have no  family here and no contact with her family in Nigeria.

"She said she arrived with nowhere to go and met a Nigerian man at the airport and met others via a church, but had no details of those she stayed with.

"She claimed to have found Ogunkunle's passport on a bench in Orpington market and only used it to get free medical services."


All three defendants were bailed until a Newton Hearing date is fixed.

Sunday 18 January 2015

Armed Street Mugger Preyed On Lone Women

A cowardly gunman who targeted two lone women – snatching a handbag and bank cards – has been locked up for eight years.
Kieron Rowe, 26, of The Broadway, Wimbledon pleaded guilty to both armed robberies when he appeared at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.
At 6.30pm on July 26 last year a woman in her late forties, walking back to her home in Tooting, was approached by Rowe.
He walked past her then turned round and, from only a foot away, pointed a handgun directly at her head.
He pushed the victim against some bushes and when she screamed he threatened to shoot her if she did not keep quiet.
Rowe demanded her handbag and snatched it from her arm and then made off. 


Two days later at 11.30pm a 30-year-old woman was walking from Tooting Broadway Station and heard the sound of a pedal cycle approaching from behind.
Rowe was on this bike and he rode past the woman he stopped and turned, pointing his handgun at her chest and demanding her bag.
However, the victim did not have any cash, so Rowe told her to give him her bank cards.
He took the cards and then also demanded her PIN, which the victim gave him.
Rowe told the victim she would have to come with him to the cash point, but as he walked back to his bike the victim used the opportunity to run.
It was later found that £700 was taken from the victim’s account before the cards could be cancelled. 


Detectives from Wandsworth CID had soon linked the crimes and established the same person was responsible.
One possible lead, was that the second victim told police the bike the robber was using had a basket on the front.
What Rowe did not know, was that a Police Community Support Officer had seen Rowe using this bike months before and recorded the information.


Rowe matched the description of the gunman and he became a prime suspect.
He was arrested for both offences, but denied any involvement in the crimes.
However, both of the victims were able to pick him out as the person responsible at an identity parade.
Detective Constable Aled Thomas of Wandsworth CID, said: “This man terrified two women with a handgun for his own selfish gain.
“The long sentence he received is totally justified and should warn others of the consequences of gun crime.
“I would like to thank both victims; it was only with their cooperation that we could bring this man to justice.

“I would also like to thank our PCSO colleague, whose vigilance helped us swiftly identify Rowe as the person responsible.”

Saturday 17 January 2015

Angry Bus Passenger Headbutts Driver

A bus passenger who hunted down and headbutted the driver because the vehicle pulled away as he was boarding is being sought by police.
The angry passenger (pictured) stumbled as he got on the route 119 bus in Croydon then later attacked the driver when he was enjoying a break.
Oficers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s Roads and Transport Policing Command Reactive Investigations Unit have released this CCTV image.
They are appealing for help in identifying a man. 


On November 1, last year at approximately 3.45pm, the victim, a 46-year-old male bus driver, was headbutted as he was on his break at the Colonnades Leisure Park in Croydon. 


The victim had previously been driving the bus, where he was approached by a passenger who had stumbled as the bus moved away as he boarded.
Officers believe this to be the suspect. 


CCTV footage shows the suspect getting off the bus at Denning Avenue and shortly after he boards another bus at the same location.
The suspect travels on this bus and gets off at the Colonnades Leisure Park and attacks the victim.
The suspect then fled prior to police arrival. 


The victim was taken by the London Ambulance Service to hospital for treatment to a cut to his forehead.


The suspect is described as a white man, aged about 40 to 50 years, wearing a flat cap and dark coloured jacket. 



Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Constable Daniel Kelly, leading the investigation on 07766 248282 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 

Friday 16 January 2015

Facebook Rapist Jailed For Attacking 13 Year-Old Girl

A rapist, who had befriended his under-age teen victim on facebook and attacked her in a community centre after persuading the youngster to meet him, has been jailed for eight years.
Gholahun Shittu, 24, of Kingswood Estate, Dulwich told the 13 year-old schoolgirl he had money for her and she travelled with a friend on a bus to the rendezvous.
He was convicted by a Woolwich Crown Court jury of one count of raping the girl during her school's half-term holiday in February, last year and was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.
After Shittu started having online conversations with the victim, he pestered her repeatedly to meet him, claiming he had money to give to her. 


Having met with Shittu, the victim left her friend at nearby shops and went with him to a local community centre.


He led her into the community centre and asked to have sex with her.
She declined and tried to use her phone as she became scared and Shittu then grabbed her around the neck and raped her.


The allegation was reported to police in March and an investigation was launched by officers from the Sexual Offences and Child Exploitation Command.


Shittu was arrested on May 2and charged with rape. 


Detective Constable Lisa Tame said: "Shittu took advantage of a vulnerable and impressionable girl. He denied his actions throughout the investigation and pleaded not guilty at court. 


"I'm pleased that the court has found him guilty and I hope that today's sentence will reassure the victim and help her start the healing process."


Acting Detective Inspector Nikki Owen added: "I would like to praise the courage of the thirteen year-old victim. I hope that with the support of our partner agencies she can start to rebuild her confidence and trust.


"Social networking sites bring great benefits but can also present a serious threat.

“I encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault, or has experienced incitement to share indecent photographs, to report these offences to police."


Thursday 15 January 2015

Globetrotting Paedo Who Changed His Name Caught And Caged

Justice has caught up with a “predatory paedophile”, who changed his name and moved abroad, but is now starting a four-year sentence after three of his victims came forward.
Charles Worth, 65, - who changed his name by deed poll from David Berry – abused the male victims when they were children in the 1970's and 1980's.
He was convicted at Croydon Crown Court of five counts of indecently assaulting a male and two counts of indecency with a child.
All were children when the offences were committed at Worth’s home in Raynes Park, Morden swimming baths and a location in Wallington.


In 2001 Berry changed his name via deed poll to Charles Worth and he has been living in Spain and India since 1998.
On February 16, last year Worth was arrested at Gatwick Airport stepping off a flight from Malaga.
Detective Constable Darren Raishbrook said: “Worth was a predatory paedophile, who targeted his victims, subjecting them to repeated sexual abuse. 


“I commend the bravery of the victims in coming forward and reliving their ordeal and hope today’s sentence goes some way to providing them with some closure, whilst reassuring others that we are committed to pursuing those responsible for such crimes, regardless of the passage of time.


“I believe there may well be further victims out there and would encourage individuals to report any offences to the Sexual Offences Exploitation & Child Abuse Command on 020 8721 4106 or via 101.

Wednesday 14 January 2015

Neighbour Emptied Over £32K From Elderly Friend's Bank Accounts.

Christopher Briggs
A thief, who helped himself to over £32,000 from two bank accounts of a 90 year-old neighbour he was apparently helping, admitted the offences today.

Christopher Briggs, 57, of Nugent Road, South Norwood had control over the accounts as somebody trusted to look after the pensioner's financial affairs.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to stealing £21,396 between August 1, 2010 and December 10, 2013 from a Nat West account belonging to Kenneth Nash.

He also admitted stealing £11,000 between September 1, 2011 and December 1, 2013 from Mr. Nash's Santander account.

Briggs was bailed to return for sentencing on February 11. 

Monday 12 January 2015

Late-Night Punter Who Raped Prostitute Gets 8 Years

A 'John' who raped a prostitute in a back garden in the middle of the night minutes after agreeing to pay for sex has been locked-up for eight years.
Dwayne Johnson, 28, of Queensbridge Road, Hackney was convicted by a Blackfriars Crown Court jury of raping the 41 year-old woman in nearby Somerford Grove on June 30, last year.
It was 3.00am when the sex worker was approached by Johnson, who was riding a motorbike and they agreed a price for sex.


Johnson took the victim to a secluded garden where he turned violent.


He threatened to harm the victim and intimated he had a knife before anally raping her.


Johnson was identified through DNA recovered from the scene and arrested on Friday, July 4.


He claimed the anal sex was consensual, but was convicted after a six-day trial.


Investigating officer Detective Constable Jane Tunnicliff, from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "Johnson violently assaulted and overpowered the victim by threatening to use a knife to harm her.
“I praise the victim for her courage and bravery in coming forward - it has been an incredibly stressful and traumatic time for her - and I am pleased that Johnson has now been jailed.



"I would encourage other victims of this type of crime to come forward, whatever their circumstances."

Sunday 11 January 2015

Prostitute-Killer Who Robbed Another Sex Worker Locked-Up


Maria Duque-Tunjano
A mentally deranged killer bludgeoned the prostitute he was visiting to death two weeks after tying up and robbing another sex worker – triggering a nationwide manhunt.
Robert Richard Fraser, 40, inflicted fatal blunt force trauma to the head of 48 year-old Maria Duque-Tunjano then searched through her handbag, snatching cash and her mobile phone.
He pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to the manslaughter of the Colombian-born victim by diminished responsibility and received an indefinite hospital order under the Mental Health Act.
Fraser killed Ms Duque-Tunjano at her flat in Earl's Court Square, Earl's Court on January 31 and also admitted robbing a 27 year-old prostitute in Hermitage Street, Paddington on January 18.
Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall of the Homicide and Major Crime Command said: “Fraser was clearly a danger to women and in particular sex workers.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the media and the general public for the assistance they provided to the police during the four-days in which a manhunt to locate Fraser was underway.


“I would also like to thank the various services that support sex workers for the valuable help they provided the police in communicating with the women particularly when we needed provide them with personal safety advice and speak to them as witnesses.”
The court heard Fraser contacted an escort agency and made arrangements to visit the 27-year old woman the following evening.


Robert Fraser
Fraser arrived at the property at about 7.30pm and attacked the woman, using her pyjamas to tie her up and gag her, and stole cash.


An investigation was launched and Fraser was later identified as a suspect by DNA evidence he left at the scene.


Nearly a fortnight later the body of Ms Duque-Tunjano was found by a friend in the bedroom of a flat in Earls Court Square, after concerns were raised for her welfare. 

She had not been seen or heard from since Tuesday, January 28 and
a post-mortem examination established that she had suffered blunt force trauma to the head, and a murder investigation was launched.


Detectives established that Ms Duque-Tunjano took a booking from Fraser on January 28 and arrangements were made for him to attend the flat for sexual services.
His arrival at 9.57pm was witnessed by another sex worker who left shortly afterwards and it was also captured on CCTV.


CCTV captured Fraser leaving the property at 10.25pm after he had killed Ms Duque-Tunjano and his DNA was found at the scene.


Enquires conducted at this known addresses yielded clothing and footwear, which matched the descriptions of clothing he was thought to have been wearing during the two offences.
A laptop with details of escort agencies and sex workers was also found.


Enquiries to locate and arrest Fraser were underway and his image was circulated to the national media.

Fraser was arrested on Tuesday, February 4 in Leicester Square, central London, after a member of the public recognised him and called the police.