Monday 21 May 2012

Summer Riots: Romanian Teen Wanted


Police are hunting this alleged teenage looter – wanted for ransacking two East London shops during last summer’s riots.

Romanian Leonard Neamu, 13, (pictured) has connections in East London, Birmingham and Manchester.

He is wanted for burgling Argos, High Street North, East Ham and SN Food & Wine, Ilford Lane, Ilford on August 8.

Neamu is also sought for a burglary at Mina Stores, Romford Road, Manor Park on June 5 and Aqua Scutum, Freeport Village, Braintree, Essex on March 5, last year.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Operation Withern detectives on 020 8217 6648 or 101 or to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sunday 20 May 2012

Smuggled Cocaine Hidden In Courier's Ladygarden


A mother-of-three has been jailed for thirty months for smuggling £44,000 worth of cocaine concealed inside her vagina.


Chevonne Martin, 39, of Chesterton Close, Greenford was stopped by UK Border Agency staff at Gatwick Airport after stepping off a Caribbean flight when a drug sniffer dog detected the cocaine.


She pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to importing 421 gms. of the drug from St. Lucia on October 6, last year.


First-time offender Martin was strip-searched at the airport and prosecutor Mr. Julius Capon told the court: "Two packages were found in her vagina."


When quizzed the defendant claimed she was pressurised into smuggling the cocaine by a mystery man who also made sexual advances towards her.


Her lawyer Mr. Sunjay Versani said: "This was not a sophisticated concealment and it was an isolated incident. She has genuine regret and remorse."


Judge Jeremy Gold QC told Martin: "You were stopped coming through Gatwick Airport with a quantity of cocaine secreted internally.


"Class A drugs are a cancer in our society and sentences must be imposed that reflect that."

Saturday 19 May 2012

Drug Smuggler Falls Foul Of Fruit Find


A plane passenger, who smuggled £30,000 worth of cannabis hidden inside Jamaican pineapple and ackee fruit, was jailed for twenty months yesterday.


Ex-Vauxhall General Motors engineer Owen John Smith, 53, of Ravenhill Way, Luton pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to importing 10.8 kilos of the drug at Gatwick Airport on December 10, last year.


Prosecutor Mr. Julius Capon told the court UK Border Agency officers searched Smith's suitcase after he stepped off a Jamaican flight.


"Inside were various foods, including pineapple and frozen ackee, and concealed within that fruit were packages containing cannabis."


When quizzed, Smith, who has a twenty year-old conviction for possession of cannabis with intent to supply, refused to answer questions.


His lawyer, Clive Smith said: "He was bringing the suitcase back for someone and feels foolish that there were drugs inside it and that he was taken advantage of."


The father-of-two was told by Judge Jeremy Gold QC: "You were involved in attempting to bring in cannabis with a street value of thirty thousand pounds, which was concealed within fruit.


"You are certainly not naive in matters relating to cannabis and I place you at the junior end of a significant role."

Friday 18 May 2012

Schoolteacher-From-Hell Convicted Of Raping 14 Year-Old Pupil


A science teacher who took his 14 year-old schoolgirl pupil's virginity when raping her in a hotel room - before embarking on a secret three-year affair with the teen - is facing years behind bars.


Keith Ogunsola, 47, (pictured) of Banstead, Surrey repeatedly had sex with the girl in his car and even at her home, while she was wearing her school uniform, Croydon Crown Court heard.


"I have a pretty good idea in my mind what the sentence is going to be," Judge Jeff Blackett told the disgraced defendant today. "You are going to prison for a very long time."


Prosecutor Miss Hannah Llewellyn-Waters told the jury at the start of the trial: "She turned to him for additional guidance and this defendant betrayed her trust by exploiting her naivety and respect for him for his own sexual gratification."


Father-of-three Ogunsola "groomed" the girl - a former pupil at Stanley Park High School, Carshalton - where he was employed between September 1998 and December 2001.


"He created a bond of trust in his capacity as her teacher and tested the water by kissing her and when she did not complain he escalated his grooming process and took her virginity from her with an act of rape.


"She was manoeuvred into a position where she did not tell anyone, believing her word would not be believed against a teacher and the defendant told her what to do, say and wear," explained Miss Llewellyn-Waters.


"She lied to her family about where she was going and what was happening and the defendant told her if anyone found out they would not believe her and her friends and family would consider her a slag.


"When she wanted to have a boyfriend he became jealous and when she refused to have sex with the defendant he ripped her clothes off and raped her again."


In January, 2001 Ogunsola "persisted" in offering the reluctant schoolgirl a lift in his car and when eventually persuaded he drove her to Beddington Park.


"He told her she was pretty and he really fancied her," explained the prosecutor. "He leaned over, pulled her toward him, and she remembers he was trying to stick his tongue into her mouth."


It was her first-ever kiss.


Under the guise of helping her with extra GCSE studies Ogunsola lured the girl to a Purley Way hotel.


"The defendant started to kiss her, pushed her back on the bed, and climbed on top of her," Miss Llewellyn-Waters told the jury. "She was telling him to get off, but he ignored her pleas and told her to be quiet.


"He puled her trousers and underwear down, had his weight against her, and then raped her.


"She repeatedly told him to get off her and that he was hurting her, but he told her to be quiet because she was resisting him and crying."


Ogunsola then pursued and under-age affair and would collect the girl after school for sex in his car in the Purley area and they stayed at local hotels and overnight in Southend, Milton Keynes and Gatwick.


He played her a pornographic dvd on his laptop in one hotel room, put her on 'the pill' and ordered her to wear skirts without knickers because it made sex more convenient for him, the court was told.


After leaving Stanley Park Ogunsola continued 'tutoring' the girl during her A levels and allegedly raped her again during a row about her new boyfriend in an Imperial Way hotel.


"He pushed her onto the bed and as he tried to pull her skirt up he ripped it," explained Miss Llewellyn-Waters. "He puled off her underwear and had sex with her."


The girl never saw Ogunsola again, but agreed to make a statement after reading he was convicted of sexual assault a against a 14 year-old girl pupil at an East London school in 2009.


The defendant was found guilty of two counts of rape, three sample counts of engaging in sexual activity with a 14 year-old girl while in a position of trust and one count of sexual assault.

Thursday 17 May 2012

Double Trouble In Kilburn: Violent Suspect Wanted


Police are hunting this man, suspected of two violent and unprovoked midnight attacks within two hours of each other, which left both victims with face wounds.

Dean Hughes, 26, (pictured) who frequents the Kilburn and Paddington areas of London is wanted by Camden Borough officers.

The first victim, a 24 year-old man, was walking with a friend along Kilburn High Road at 11.50pm when he was struck in the face by an assailant who was part of a group.

An ambulance was called and the victim will need surgery to a serious facial wound.

At 1.25am the same night a 31 year-old shop worker on Kilburn High Road was struck in the face by a man who police believe was the same attacker.

He also suffered a cut to his face, requiring hospital treatment.

Hughes is a white man, approximately 5ft 10ins tall and is considered dangerous, with police advising the public not to approach him.

Anyone with any information about Hughes or regarding the incidents should contact the Community Safety Unit on Camden borough on 020 8733 6474 or 020 8733 5665 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two women arrested on April 18 in connection with the investigation have been charged.

A 31-year-old man arrested on April 25 in connection with the investigation has been bailed to return pending further enquiries.

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Polish Sex Offender: Where Is He?


A homeless alcoholic sex pest – convicted of groping a woman – is wanted by police for flouting a court order designed to prevent his reoffending.

Polish-born Andrzej Gluth, 27, (pictured) is being hunted by Hackney police in East London for failing to comply with an order made under the Sexual Offences Act.

He is known to squat in empty properties and is believed to be somewhere in London.

Gluth was convicted in December, 2007 of sexual assault, intentionally touching a female.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Constable Maria Wynter of Hackney’s Public Protection Unit on 020 7249 1525, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Tuesday 15 May 2012

Cannabis Factory Closed During Gangbusting Dawn Raids


Eight gang members have been arrested during a series of dawn raids by the Trident Gang Crime Command – resulting in the closing of a cannabis production factory.

Police also seized crack cocaine, an air pistol and a stolen Blackberry during the operation in the boroughs of Westminster and Brent.

The new unit is an offshoot of Operation Trident – which investigates violent black-on-black crime - and was assisted by the Met’s Territorial Support Group.

Seven search warrants were simultaneously executed at 6.00am and involved a total of 120 officers.

They were targeting gang members involved in robbery, drug supply, assaults and looting during last summer’s riots.

All warrants were served at residential homes, with five arrests in Brent and three in Westminster.

All those arrested were aged between 16-24 years and were taken to north and central London police stations.

Offences range from assault to possession with intent to supply drugs. 



During one of the warrant searches in Westminster, officers recovered a Blackberry mobile phone, which was snatched in a knifepoint robbery the previous day.

Two suspects matching the victim's description have since been arrested for that offence as a direct result of the raids.



Detective Chief Inspector Tim Champion, from the Trident Gang Crime Command, is confident this renewed approach will change lives and improve communities for the better.

He said: “By successfully removing the negative role models and their gang associates within the local community we are hoping to prevent young people from joining gangs in the first place.



“There is nothing cool about being in prison it is not a positive experience.

“There is nothing trendy about having a criminal record. It only makes it harder to get a job or into further education.

“There is nothing untouchable about being involved in violence and crime. It can lead to getting arrested, sent to prison, seriously injured or even killed.



"We cannot of course tackle gang violence alone. We are working with partners and agencies to offer ways out of gangs and divert young people away from what can become a very destructive path.”



Safer Neighbourhoods patrols were stepped around the addresses targeted in Westminster and Brent and weapons sweeps continued in communal areas following the raids this morning.



Chief Inspector Louis Smith of the Westminster Task Force believes the partnership work his officers are continuing to perform will help change perceptions.

He said: “I can assure the residents of Westminster and Brent that we work tirelessly alongside the Trident Gang Command to bring those responsible to justice as swiftly as we can.



“We are involved in a number of high profile activities including targeted enforcement, youth diversion and engagement with young people in schools and the wider community in Westminster and Brent.

“Together with partners we will continue to work to address the attitudes and culture that create negative influences, gang involvement and weapon carrying.”



If you have any information about gang crime or those involved call Crimestoppers - an independent charity - anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always dial 999.

Monday 14 May 2012

Sordid Science Teacher "Raped" Teen Schoolgirl


A science teacher took his 14 year-old schoolgirl pupil's virginity when raping her in a hotel room - before embarking on a secret three-year affair with the teen, a court heard.


Keith Ogunsola, 47, of Banstead, Surrey also repeatedly had sex with the girl in his car and even at her home, while she was wearing her school uniform, the jury were told.


"She turned to him for additional guidance and this defendant betrayed her trust by exploiting her naivety and respect for him for his own sexual gratification," prosecutor Miss Hannah Llewellyn-Waters told Croydon Crown Court today.


Father-of-three Ogunsola (pictured) "groomed" the girl - a former pupil at Stanley Park High School, Carshalton - where he was employed between September 1998 and December 2001.


"He created a bond of trust in his capacity as her teacher and tested the water by kissing her and when she did not complain he escalated his grooming process and took her virginity from her with an act of rape.


"She was manoeuvred into a position where she did not tell anyone, believing her word would not be believed against a teacher and the defendant told her what to do, say and wear," explained Miss Llewellyn-Waters.


"She lied to her family about where she was going and what was happening and the defendant told her if anyone found out they would not believe her and her friends and family would consider her a slag.


"When she wanted to have a boyfriend he became jealous and when she refused to have sex with the defendant he ripped her clothes off and raped her again."


In January, 2001 Ogunsola "persisted" in offering the reluctant schoolgirl a lift in his car and when eventually persuaded he drove her to Beddington Park.


"He told her she was pretty and he really fancied her," explained the prosecutor. "He leaned over, pulled her toward him, and she remembers he was trying to stick his tongue into her mouth."


It was her first-ever kiss.


Under the guise of helping her with extra GCSE studies Ogunsola lured the girl to a Purley Way hotel.


"The defendant started to kiss her, pushed her back on the bed, and climbed on top of her," Miss Llewellyn-Waters told the jury. "She was telling him to get off, but he ignored her pleas and told her to be quiet.


"He puled her trousers and underwear down, had his weight against her, and then raped her.


"She repeatedly told him to get off her and that he was hurting her, but he told her to be quiet because she was resisting him and crying."


Ogunsola then pursued and under-age affair and would collect the girl after school for sex in his car in the Purley area and they stayed at local hotels and overnight in Southend, Milton Keynes and Gatwick.


He played her a pornographic dvd on his laptop in one hotel room, put her on 'the pill' and ordered her to wear skirts without knickers because it made sex more convenient for him, the court was told.


After leaving Stanley Park Ogunsola continued 'tutoring' the girl during her A levels and allegedly raped her again during a row about her new boyfriend in an Imperial Way hotel.


"He pushed her onto the bed and as he tried to pull her skirt up he ripped it," explained Miss Llewellyn-Waters. "He puled off her underwear and had sex with her."


The girl never saw Ogunsola again, but agreed to make a statement after reading he was convicted of sexual assault a against a 14 year-old girl pupil at an East London school in 2009.


The defendant has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, three sample counts of engaging in sexual activity with a 14 year-old girl while in a position of trust and one count of sexual assault.


The trial continues…………

Sunday 13 May 2012

Twelve-Year Old Boy Shot


Police are investigating a shooting in a residential East London street, which left a 12 year-old boy with an injured kneecap.

Officers from Operation Trident - which investigates violent black-on-black crime in the capital - are appealing for witnesses.

The incident occured in Sewdley Street, Clapton (pictured) shortly after 9.00pm on April 30.

Officers and an ambulance attended the location, but no injured parties were located.

Later that evening the boy attended a north London hospital, suffering from a gunshot wound to the knee.

He was subsequently discharged following treatment

Police are keeping an open mind re the motive at this early stage.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Anyone with information about the incident or who was in the area at the time and might have witnessed it are asked to call officers on 020 8217 7383 or to remain anonymous
Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Saturday 12 May 2012

Trafficked Prostitute "Raped" At Fred And Rose West's Old House


A young woman trafficked into the UK to work as a prostitute was allegedly raped twice by her pimp at a Gloucester brothel run from the former home of notorious killers Fred and Rose West.


The 22 year-old Czech national was one of many vulnerable victims lured to this country and ruthlessly exploited by a Romany gypsy gang who also forced the women into sham marriages with foreign nationals, a jury were told.


The victim was then raped multiple times by another pimp - known as 'The Boss' - at a seedy South-West London brothel, where he is also accused of raping a 19 year-old Czech, who was trafficked into the UK, Isleworth Crown Court heard yesterday.


The six Czech defendants are: Teodor Hunka, 41, Zdeno Sarissky, 29, Eddezider Herak, 36, of no fixed address and Herak's mother, Ludmila Nistorova, 53, of Ragland Court, Regent Street, Gloucester.


Mother and son Iveta Viragova, 44 and Vojtech Virag, 25, of Gravenel Gardens, Nutwell Street, Tooting.


The six Czechs have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to traffic young women into the UK and within the UK for sexual exploitation and conspiring to control prostitution between October 1, 2008 and July 13, last year.


Herak has pleaded not guilty to two counts of raping the 22 year-old woman at 25 Midland Road, Gloucester (pic.top) and local man Magezi Clague, 42, of Praed Street, Paddington denies four counts of raping the same woman plus two counts of raping a 19 year-old Czech.


Clague also denies trafficking young females within the UK for sexual exploitation and controlling prostitution for gain.


Viragova alone denies perverting the course of justice by trying to persuade the 19 year-old to retract her police statement.


Virag alone has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to assist unlawful immigration, however his five Czech co-defendants have admitted sham marriage charges and will be sentenced at the conclusion of the three-month trial.


Prosecutor Miss Emma Deacon explained the multiple victims were promised approximately £2,300 to travel to the UK and participate in a sham marriage, but once here were forced into prostitution with most of the gang's clients men of Pakistani origin.


The first victim, who grew up in an orphanage, was collected from the airport by Herak and his mother Nistorova and immediately driven to the notorious two-storey Midland Road house, where Rose West murdered Fred's stepdaughter Charmaine in 1971, burying her under the kitchen floor.


She joined three other prostitutes, but resisted joining the sordid trade. "She told Herak she came for a break and would rather work in a shop," said Miss Deacon.


"While she was trying to sleep Herak came to her and touched her and had sex with her.


"Three to four days later she was raped again by Herak. She told him she did not want to have sex and he carried on regardless."


By day two at Midland Road the victim was having sex with punters. "The mother and son controlled her prostitution and instructed her on services she should provide.


"The customers paid Herak and she did not collect any money herself and just took food and cigarettes.


"She was worked as a prostitute in Gloucester and most of her clients were of Asian origin.


"Nistorova began bringing clients to the house, four or five a day, and the victim was not being paid and the defendant locked her in the house when she objected."


Nistorova then sold the young woman for £1,000 to a Pakistani man in London and drove her to his address, the jury were told


The victim then had a sham marriage to secure the man's immigration status - all orchestrated by Nistorova.


The 19 year-old victim fell out with her Czech family and was recruited by Sarissky.


"She thought she was coming here to work and did not know she was going to be a prostitute," said Miss Deacon.


"Viragova arranged for her to work as a prostitute and she was afraid what would happen if she refused.


The teenager was pimped out for £50 a time or £150 for an evening - often receiving only a fiver in return.


"On one occasion she was picked out at a party by a man to have sex with.


"Virag would drive her to clients and would wait for her or collect her in the morning and the clients paid him cash."


She was forced to perform sexual practices she objected to and Viragova "slapped her face" after discovering she was taking breaks from the stream of clients.


The victim was forced to work in a Tooting brothel (pic.bottom) above a betting-shop in Mitcham Road run by Clague - known as 'The Boss' - who photographed her for potential punters.


"He then told her he wanted to try her out sexually and had sexual intercourse with her on the bed and was holding her hands so she could not protect herself.


"She describes wanting to kill him for what he did and she was raped the next day by him in the kitchen on a worktop."


Clague similarly raped the 22 year-old victim when she was also forced to work at his brothel, the jury were told.


The teen was also forced into a sham marriage with the help of a crooked solicitor, it is alleged.


"Her husband, of Pakistani origin, chose her from a number of girls in the East London solicitor's office."


Distressed calls to her parents would be suddenly "cut off" and when her family reported her missing they were threatened on their doorstep by five gypsies.


The prosecutor explained Hunka was also actively involved in the Czech Republic with recruiting girls for prostitution and took a cut of their earnings.

Trial continues………..

Friday 11 May 2012

'I'm Lovin' It': McDonald's Manager Groped Teen Girls


A sleazy McDonald's fast-food restaurant manager, who groped two teenage girls who worked for him at the Gatwick Airport franchise, dodged jailed with a three-year supervision order yesterday.

One girl was lured to to a meeting with 26 year-old David Hartwell on the pretext of trying on a new uniform design, but instead he exposed himself, undid her bra and sucked her nipple.

The second girl was alone in the office with the defendant when he groped her breast with his hand.

First-time offender Hartwell, of Rookwood Avenue, New Malden, Surrey was originally charged with sixteen sex offences against five young female victims between September, 2009 and August, 2010, but after a trial was convicted on two counts of sexual assault against two of them.

Prosecutor Mr. Ryan Richter told Croydon Crown Court the first victim found herself alone with Hartwell on August 22, 2010. "She was called in on a sunday afternoon to try on a new uniform and there was some activity in the office.

"The defendant exposed his naked penis and pointed it towards her, touching her.

"He undid her bra and sucked her nipple at one point."

The second victim also found herself alone with Hartwell. "They were having a discussion in the office when he reached across and touched, in her words: 'My whole boob' with his hand."

The trial heard Hartwell (pictured) groped young female staff "almost daily" at the restaurant and was arrested after one girl told her sister and a subsequent police investigation revealed more allegations.

The court was also told he encouraged his young staff to wear shorter skirts.

His lawyer Laura Plant said: "An immediate custodial sentence is something Mr Hartwell fears considerably.

"He did find the victim's evidence incredibly upsetting and was visibly distressed on a number of occasions."

Ironically before the trial Hartwell offered to plead guilty to more counts than he was convicted of, but this was rejected by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Judge Jeremy Gold QC told the defendant: "This is a serious case. You were in a position of trust as manager of McDonald's and these two young women were in the sixteen or seventeen age bracket.

"Someone who has the responsibility of a manger has a duty of care to those who are vulnerable or younger and not able to ward off the sexual approaches of someone in a managerial role.

"You deserve to go to prison today, but it seems it would be a great deal more constructive to have a community order to deal with your misconceptions as to what behaviour is appropriate in relation to females."

Hartwell was sentenced to a three-year community order with a minimum 50 hours attendance at a Community Sex Offender Group Work Programme, which could be increased by an additional 190 hours.

He must sign the Sex Offenders Register for five years, obey an electronically-tagged six-month night time curfew between 9pm and 6am and pay £1200 costs.

"Many people would say you were fortunate, but I want to deal with you in a way that is fair to you and gives a better possibility of you not getting into this sort of trouble in the future."

Thursday 10 May 2012

Cardiff City Flare Fan Nicked During Season Finale


A talented teenage athlete, who waved a blue flare above his head during Cardiff City's final league match of the season at Crystal Palace, was conditionally discharged yesterday.


James Glaves, 18, of Village Farm, Bonvilston, who has competed regularly in the Welsh Schools' Championships and represented Barry and Vale was arrested after a steward pointed him out.


He pleaded guilty to possessing a firework at a sporting event, namely a smoke bomb at Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park ground, on April 28, contrary to the Sporting Events Act.


Prosecutor Mr. Terry Curtis told Croydon Magistrates' Court: "A steward at Crystal Palace Football Club saw smoke emitting from the stand.


"The defendant was pointed out to the police. He was arrested and agreed he had a smoke bomb.


"He said he held it above his head during the football game and there was blue residue on his hands from holding the flare."


Glaves' lawyer Miss Sarah Anderson said: "It was the last match of the season and Cardiff City had the opportunity to get into the play-offs.


"He travelled on the supporters coach down to the game and did not bring a flare with him and there were no flares on the coach.


"After Cardiff City scored during the game and the supporters were celebrating he saw on the seat in flint of him a smoke pallet and picked it up and waved it around."


The court heard Glaves is currently studying maths, chemistry and physics and has won a university place to study mechanical engineering.


"Well, you will not be going to any premiership games next season," magistrate Mr. Tim Stevens told Glaves, referring to Cardiff City's play-off loss to West Ham.


Glaves (pictured) was conditionally discharged for twelve months and ordered to pay £85 costs.