Mobile Phone Deal Gone Bad: E-Fit Of Robber Released

Police hunting a robber, who snatched £4,000 cash at gunpoint from a mobile phone customer, have released this e-fit of the suspect.

Officers were called on October 28, last year to reports of a robbery at a residential property in the Manor Park area of east London.

The victim, a man in his thirties, reported that at around 6.10pm he allowed two men into his home after a mobile phone sale had been agreed.

The two men came to his address to sell him six phones – a deal that had been agreed over the phone earlier that day.

When they sat down to make the sale, he asked to see the items before handing over any money.

At this point, one of the suspects pulled a gun out of his bag and pointed it at the victim, ordering him to hand over the money or he would shoot him. 

He then handed over £4,000 in cash and the suspects left the room and fled the scene.

Detectives from North East CID began an investigation and have carried out extensive enquiries. 

They are now releasing an e-fit image of one of the men involved. 

He is described as an Asian man, aged between 20 and 25 years old, with short black hair and a short black beard.

His accomplice is described as a black man, aged between 30 and 40, with a short beard. 

He was the man who held the firearm.

Detective Constable Kevin Hollins, who is leading the investigation, said: “The victim in this case was threatened in his own home, a place he should have been safe.

“We need to make sure that this man – and the firearm involved – are removed from the streets of London, and we are appealing for the public to help us identify him.

“Anyone with information on the incident itself, or anyone who thinks they may know who this man is, should call us immediately.

“Just one conversation could provide the details we are looking for.”

Anyone with information should call 101 with CAD reference 1703/28OCT18 or alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Mayfair Art Gallery Boss Admits Assaulting Wife

A Mayfair art gallery owner has been banned from his apartment after finally admitting assaulting his wife there.

Bernard Jacobson, 76, boss of the gallery that carries his name located in Duke Street, St. James's, was due to stand trial today.

However, he changed his plea at Westminster Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to assaulting Karin Jacobson at their three-bedroom apartment in Montagu Square, Marylebone on May 19.

He had originally entered a plea of not guilty and the case had been adjourned for trial.

Jacobson was conditionally discharged for three years and made subject to a two-year restraining order prohibiting contact with Karin or visiting the former matrimonial home.

He was also ordered to pay £775 in court costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

No order for compensation to Karin was made in a case the court treated as one of domestic violence.

Founded in 1969 the Bernard Jacobson Gallery has held major exhibitions by Robert Motherwell, Helen Frankenthaler and Pierre Soulages.

It is described as a commercial gallery showcasing British and international painters and sculptors.

The restraining order may potentially create some business problems for Jacobson, who along with Karin is the named company secretary for Bernard Jacobson Limited. 

Hooded Sexual Predator: E-Fit Released

Police have released this e-fit of a wannabe rapist, who pounced on a lone woman in the early hours when she got off a bus in north London.

The incident happened at approximately 2.40am on March 10 when the victim, a woman aged in her thirties, got off a bus in Caledonian Road at the junction with Market Road, Holloway.

As she walked along Market Road in the direction of York Way she heard a male voice attempting to get her attention. 

She ignored the voice and continued to walk, but was then grabbed from behind and dragged towards an alleyway by 14 Market Road.

A struggle ensued and the woman managed to fight her attacker off although she sustained a facial injury during the fight. 

The man then fled down Market Road towards York Way.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact officers in the Central North Command Unit on 101, quoting CAD949/10Mar or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Council Estate Drug Dealer Banged Up

A drug dealer, who brought misery to a notorious crime-ridden council estate near Regent's Park, is starting a prison sentence of three years and nine months.

Alex Rocha, 24, dealt crack cocaine and heroin on the City of Westminster's Lisson Green Estate, which has experienced increasing incidents of gun and knife crime.

He lived in the nearby Church Street Estate, St. John's Wood and is described as selling drugs “brazenly” in the local area.

At Southwark Crown Court he pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying Class A drugs; two counts of possession of Class A drugs, with intent to supply; one count of breaching a restraining order and one count of possessing criminal property.

Detective Constable Colin Moore, from the Central West Command Unit, said:“Rocha clearly thought he was above the law, dealing drugs brazenly, and targeting vulnerable people around him for financial gain.

“His actions will have had a very negative impact within the local community and to wider London as well.

“I’m happy with this sentence and I hope it sends a message to anyone else involved in dealing drugs that they will be targeted by officers, they will be caught and they will have to face the full impact of their actions in court.”

Rocha was arrested following an operation launched by officers from the Central West Gangs Unit and Territorial Support Group in response to community concerns around drug dealing in the Lisson Green Estate.

The court heard how on Monday, August 19 a drugs warrant was executed at Rocha’s home.

On searching the property, officers found a large amount of drugs, including almost 400mg of crack cocaine and 255mg of heroin, cash and a number of mobile phones.

Sick Leave Cop Accused Of Defrauding Met While Running Dog-Walking Business

A policeman moonlighted as a professional dog-walker while defrauding the Met of over £100,000 in full sick-pay, claiming he could barely move, court heard yesterday.

Police Constable Richard Williams, 40, told a senior officer he would probably need a wheelchair or at least two walking sticks after two car crashes while on duty.

He served the Metropolitan Police on the Estates Police Team, based in Dagenham, but after the second collision was hospitalised with back, pelvis, groin and side injuries.

Southwark Crown Court heard he repeatedly used correction fluid to alter genuine medical certificates from three GP’s, resulting in him being declared unfit for work.

Williams, of The Olde Walnut House, Aylesbury Road, Bierton, Aylesbury grimaced and struggled to rise to his feet with the aid of a walking stick when told to stand for the jury.

He has pleaded not guilty to eight counts of defrauding the Met by providing fraudulent and altered medical certificates between April 24, 2015 and November 27, 2017.

He also denies an additional fraud of dishonestly representing to a doctor he received police sick notes for the debilitating condition fibromyalgia and possessing articles for use in fraud, namely a quantity of medical certificates.

Prosecutor Mr. Daniel Higgins told the court: “Mr. Williams had been working as a professional dog walker, a profession you may feel one needs to be physically active for.

“There were some positive reviews from the customers of ‘DreamyDog Complete Care’ and of ‘DreamyDogWalking’ with one customer saying: ‘I’d highly recommend Richard to everyone’.

“There are other glowing recommendations for Mr. Williams,” said the prosecutor, adding the defendant was paid nearly £11,500 by dog owners while on £100,000 sick pay, plus pension contributions.

“What the Crown say is this is a case of fraudulent activity by Mr. Williams, who while a service police constable, presented fraudulent or altered medical certificates to the Metropolitan police.

“This was in order to obtain extended sick leave on full pay and ultimately be pensioned off.”

Williams was involved in a traffic collision in early 2014, suffering back and knee injuries and again on March 26, 2015 when another vehicle reversed into the drivers’ side of a police car he was a passenger in.

“This was a low impact collision, but Mr. Williams was taken to Queen’s Hospital, Romford and on discharge he seemed to be in pain and not able to walk properly and it seemed the accident aggravated his old injury,” explained Mr. Higgins.

Williams never returned to duty and his sergeant received medical certificates from three different GP’s Williams had found.

“Mr. Williams altered the second certificate, adding the words: ‘injury not fit for work’. He has written on this medical certificate for his employer to allow him to remain on sick leave.

“The Crown say the alteration of the medical certificate forwarded to his employer for sick leave is clearly a dishonest act,” added Mr. Higgins.

Williams was prescribed morphine and pain killers during the period and complained of constant pain to his back, knees, legs, arms and shoulders, headaches, stiffness, poor sleep, burning sensations, stabbing pain, dizziness and clumsiness and numbness and pins and needles in his hands and fingers.

He told one GP he was suffering musculoskeletal pain from fibromyalgia, but the prosecution say Williams simply lifted the symptoms from the NHS’s website.

Williams did not even sometimes visit the GP’s on days he claimed the medical certificates were issued. “He knew he could manufacture his own fraudulent one,” said Mr. Higgins.

He ruled out returning to work on restricted duties, claiming he could not sit or stand for longer than five minutes, struggled to get up in the morning and could not travel in on public transport, the court heard.

“He informed his sergeant there was even the possibility of needing a wheelchair or two walking sticks and a doctor had told him he may never walk properly again,” added the prosecutor.

One police doctor Williams had to see concluded after twelve months of physical and mental treatment he could return to duty and his planned ill-health retirement was scrapped, a decision the defendant appealed.

There was no neurological reason found for his condition and all Williams’ scans were normal.

When one senior officer googled Williams’ address for a scheduled home visit he found the defendant was the director of three companies involved in dog car and dog walking.

Officers from the Directorate of Professional Standards with a search warrant raided the address on October 3, 2017 and filmed their search.

“Mr. Williams appears to move about unaided and there were no signs of any aids to assist his movement.

“The copies of medical certificates with the hardened correction fluid on were seized,” said Mr. Higgins.

Trial continues………….

Spurs Star Caught Speeding

Tottenham Hotspur FC defender Davinson Sanchez Mina has managed to secure three points - after he was caught speeding in his luxury 4x4.

The Colombian star, 23, was clocked on a speed camera driving his three-litre diesel Land Rover over the speed limit on February 2.

Today Willesden Magistrates Court heard the £42 million signing was recorded driving at 62 mph on the 50mph North Circular Road in North Finchley at 11.00pm earlier this year.

Sanchez Mina, of Camlet Way, Barnet was fined £146, with £100 costs and ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge as well as his licence being endorsed with three penalty points.

Rape Near St. Thomas's Hospital: Image Of Suspect Released

Police have released this CCTV image as they continue their hunt for an early hours rapist who struck in south London.

Police were called to Royal Street, outside St. Thomas’ Hospital, Southwark at 1.23am on Tuesday, November 12 to a report of a rape.

A woman in her forties was physically assaulted before being raped by an unknown man on Royal Street, near the junction with Lambeth Park Road.

The woman is being supported by specialist officers.

Detective Sergeant Paul Barham is investigating the incident. 

He said: “This is clearly a horrific incident and we are doing all we can to support the woman and find who is responsible.

“The man in the CCTV is wearing distinctive clothing so I appeal to anyone who recognises these items of clothing or believes they know who the man is to contact us straightaway.”

No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference CAD 379/12NOV.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Top Accountant Sentenced For 'Upskirt' Pics

A young accountant, caught filming up a female customer’s skirt at Top Shop’s landmark Oxford Circus store, received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Leon Chan, 24, who holds a first-class degree and was at the time employed by industry giants PricewaterhouseCoopers, had a collection of 1700 ‘upskirt’ images on his phone.

A suspicious store detective was alerted to Chan during last year’s busy Christmas retail period as he loitered, with his phone in his hand, behind the woman who was bending over.

Chan, of Rampart Street, Whitechapel pleaded guilty to one count of outraging public decency, namely filming or attempting to film up the skirts of female members of the public on or before January 1, this year.

Southwark Crown Court heard the charge related to 97 sample images of ‘upskirting’ found on his iPhone’s memory stick, but a total of approximately 1700 were on the device.

Chan graduated from Leeds University with a first class degree in economics.

He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years and ordered to complete 100 days of the probation service’s Horizon programme for adult male sex offenders.

Chan must also complete 60 days of a probation-ordered recommended activity requirement and he was made subject to a 5-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, prohibiting him from ’upskirting’.

When caught by the store detective Chan handed over his grey iPhone and gave the PIN straight away, revealing his library of ‘upskirt’ images.

Chan claims his behaviour was limited to the festive period last year and the convictions makes him subject to professional disciplinary proceedings. 

He says he was “embarrassed and ashamed” when he had to tell his employers about his arrest and charge and couldn’t bring himself to talk about it over the phone.

When he was arrested he told the police officers: “I’m really sorry, I’m really stupid.”

Prosecutor Mr Malachy Packenham said at a previous hearing: “To say there is no harm I disagree with. If women wearing skirts have a fear or trepidation that men near them may use devices to record them then that will have an impact on society.

“Courts when they sentence reflect the errors of society and the fact these women did not know what he was doing does not go in his favour at all.

“If the harm was non-existent it wouldn’t be a criminal offence would it?”

Rogue Trader And His Loyal Wife Guilty Of Nobbling Jury

Guilty: Patrick Cleere

A rogue trader and his loyal wife have been convicted of successfully nobbling a jury by handing out cash and business cards on the court steps.

The trial of roofer Patrick Cleere, 66, was scrapped after he and his wife Rita, 66, handed out twenty pound notes to potential jurors arriving at Blackfriars Crown Court.

The couple, of Ealing Village, Madeley Road, Ealing have both been found guilty of doing an act to pervert the course of justice on July 16, last year and will be sentenced on December 20.

A total of £920 cash was seized from people - including jurors - by the court’s listing officer and another £855 cash was confiscated by police from Rita Cleere.

Also seized were distinctive wooden business cards for Patrick Cleere’s company Candleverse Ltd.

Police are still searching for the £1,775 cash they seized from inside the courthouse and from Rita after it went missing from Walworth Stations’ secure property store.

Judge Justin Cole announced yesterday: “I’m not going to sentence now.

“In relation to Rita Cleere even though this offence inevitably leads to custody I will be fair to her and order a pre-sentence report.

“Regarding Patrick Cleere it will of course be a custodial sentence, consecutive to one he is serving now.”

The court heard Patrick has a record of 53 criminal offences.

Guilty: Rita Cleere

“His sentence will certainly be custodial,” added the judge. “My starting point is a consecutive sentence to mark this offence.”

The nobbling scheme was initially successful and Patrick Cleere’s trial was postponed, however he later received nine years for scamming eleven vulnerable victims out of a suspected £388,000.

The latest trial, at Harrow Crown Court, was told the Cleere’s recruited family and friends to dole out £20 notes and the business cards to potential jurors on the steps of the courthouse. 

Patrick Cleere had failed in repeated efforts to adjourn his rogue roofer trial and this was an attempt to scupper it by compromising potential jurors with cash handouts. 

The couple recruited family members and friends to help them and they were also arrested and charged, but were acquitted of perverting the course of justice.

They are: great-nephew Adam Cleere, 23, of Wellesley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

Patrick’s niece Natalie Cleere, 44, of Vineyard Court, Kings Parade, Clacton-on-Sea.

Rajiv Netto, 51, of Rodden Road, Frome, Somerset and Hungarian national Hajnalka Romvari, 37.

The CPS dropped the same charge against Patrick’s brother John Cleere, 68, before the trial.

After the convictions John Cleere asked one of the defence lawyers: “What about the missing money?” but was given a shrug of the shoulders.

The acquitted defendants always maintained they were innocently working on a promotion scheme for Candleverse Ltd.

The group congregated around Blackfriars Crown Court, handing out the unique wooden business cards for Patrick’s candle company, plus the cash to everyone entering and leaving.

Jurors did take cash and many of the business cards were found in the jury room, resulting in the trial being postponed.  

Prosecutor Mr. Robin Sellers told the jury: “Patrick Cleere and five others were due to stand trial on criminal charges, which he asserted he was not ready for.

“On the day of the trial Patrick and these defendants arrived together, some carrying clipboard and all wearing lanyards around their necks showing his business card.

“They approached individuals making their way in, explaining they were representing Candleverse Ltd. and were enticing people to look at the company website.

“Instead of discount vouchers they handed out twenty pound notes and the wooden Candleverse business cards.

“Most importantly and uppermost in Patrick Cleere’s mind were that these people were potentially to be selected to serve on the jury for his trial.

“The company was in the evidence of the trial so jurors may have been compromised.

“Any juror would recognise Candleverse if they received a card and maybe view the company in a positive light, known as bribing or tampering with a jury.

“These defendants together carried out this act with the intention of derailing that trial that day.

“They were arrested that day outside Blackfriars Crown Court and Adam said he did not even know his great uncle was on trial and Rita described it as a: ‘charitable exercise.’

“All of this is nonsense. These defendants knew why they were there and what they were doing and that was to derail the trial.”

Wife Of Misfiring Crystal Palace Striker Caught Drink-Driving After Late-Night Champagne

Christian & Fortunata Benteke

The wife of Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke was banned for drink-driving today after crashing into another vehicle after a late-night champagne celebration.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court was told officers were called to the scene of the collision seven miles from 25 year-old Fortunata Benteke’s £3.1m home.

The Dutch mother-of-two, of Heavenly House, Warren Drive, Tadworth, Kingswood, Surrey pleaded guilty to driving her brand new white three-litre Mercedes-Benz with excess alcohol in her breath.

She gave a reading of 42 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath after the crash in Stanley Park Road, Carshalton on October 22. The legal limit is 35.

Fortunata was also fined £230, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge.

She now joins her 28 year-old Belgian international husband on a twelve-month driving ban after he was penalised for three speeding offences at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court last week.

The £30m signing was caught on camera driving his £136,000 Bentley at 80 and 89mph in 50mph and 40mph zones respectively and at 64mph in a 30mph zone. 

Her lawyer Eddie Tang told the court today: “She was at a friend’s house, who was upset about the end of a relationship.

“It was late at night and the friend wanted to toast the end of the relationship and she had one glass of champagne.

“She is extremely apologetic and has made amends for the damage to the other vehicle.”

Prosecutor Miss Victoria Murphy told the court: “The defendant was seen to be the driver of a white Mercedes.

“Officers were on patrol and were assigned to a collision and spoke to the driver of the Mercedes and the defendant was asked to provide a breath test and the lowest reading was forty-two.

“The case summary shows the defendant was extremely apologetic at the time of the incident. There was another person there, who was the driver of the other vehicle who was present.

“This is aggravated by the fact she was involved in an accident.”

Fortunata, who was whisked to and from court in a luxury vehicle with blacked-out windows and accompanied by a minder, spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth, address and nationality.

Mr. Tang added: “There is very little I can say. She has pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

“She is a married woman with two children aged five and three years-old.

“She is a housewife and mother supported by her husband and she does not try to minimise her culpability.

“She is supported by her husband and given money every month for the children and the rest is disposable income.”

The court heard Fortunata, dressed in a white polo top and checked blazer, has a Belgian driving licence and is in the process of applying for a UK one.

She wrapped a scarf around her face and said nothing as she left court.

Lone Woman Jumped: E-Fit Released Of Suspect

Police have released this e-fit of a suspected Middle Eastern sexual predator after a lone woman was pounced on from behind in west London last summer.

The victim was attacked as she walked along Avenue Gardens, Acton on Saturday, July 27 at around 7.30pm. 

The suspect grabbed the victim from behind and a struggle took place before the man fled down Avenue Gardens.

He is described as a light skinned male, maybe of Middle Eastern origin, aged around 20 years-old, 5ft 11ins tall and of medium build.

The victim did not suffer any physical injuries, but was shocked and alarmed by the attack.

Anyone who has information concerning the identity of the male shown in the e-fit should contact detectives at West Area Command Unit via 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting CAD1286/5AUG19.

To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visitcrimestoppers-uk.org.

End Of Thieving Cop's Career

A policeman facing internal disciplinary proceedings after stealing from a dead man after a call-out to the deceased’s home has resigned on the day of the hearing.

Former Police Constable Oliver Levi Darby, 42, is suspected of maximising his earnings by failing to quit his job until the very last moment.

Scotland Yard announced today that the ex-Royal Engineer Lance Corporal, of Sand Cottage, Docking Road, Burnham Market, King’s Lynn, Norfolk resigned on November 14.

It was the same day he faced a misconduct hearing regarding his Standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of discreditable conduct and honesty and integrity.

He was based at AW-BCU (Central West Basic Command Unit).

The hearing’s Chair ruled that had Darby still been a serving officer he would have been dismissed without notice.

He was on the uniformed response team in the northern part of Westminster Borough and was responsible for securing the deceased man’s property.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard earlier this year the items were found when fellow officers searched his room in the Gilmour Section House, Kennington Lane, Lambeth on January 11, 2018.

The search occurred because a WPC accused him of spying on her two days earlier while she was showering, a charge Darby was acquitted of last year. 

Also found during the search were three further bank cards he stole from the post of two people who formerly resided at a Wimbledon rented home once occupied by father-of-one Darby.

He pleaded not guilty, but was convicted, of stealing those three cards.

He was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which included 200 hours community service and twenty days rehab. 

He was also ordered to pay £1500 costs.

He also pleaded not guilty, but was convicted, of stealing the provisional driving licence and bank card belonging to the estate of Gary Steel, of Randolph Avenue, Maida Vale on January 6, 2017.

Recorder Richard Smith told bearded Darby: “Your crime was carried out while on duty as a police officer, the very antithesis of what is expected of a police officer, let alone during a sudden death call which you are expected to deal with great respect and sensitivity.”

Darby told the jury he had little recollection of how he came into possession of the stolen property, which did not impress Recorder Smith.

“You may not have fully come to terms with the responsibility of your offending and I put little weight on your supposed remorse.” 

The recorder told Darby he would not be sending I’m to prison due to his personal circumstances. “You had an unblemished record until this point in your life and the convictions will continue to have consequences for your family and your risk of further offending is low.”  

Darby’s lawyer Heather Oliver told the court: “The offences seem spontaneous, opportunistic with little or no planning.

“He will also be punished by the termination of his career and the isolation from friends and  colleagues and the shame and humiliation of the public nature of these verdicts.

“They have been writ large in the press and his local community.

“He has found this whole process extremely traumatic and the stigma of his criminality is a real stigma for this man that will stay with him for the rest of his life.

“He is an Army veteran who served his country for sixteen years and his community as a police officer for five years.

“He faces the loss of employment and his income. He lives with his mother and step-father and cares for his mother who in the last twelve months has suffered a heart attack and had a hip replacement.” 

Prosecutor Mr. Oliver Doherty told the court: “PC Darby falls to be sentenced on three counts of theft, having been convicted by the jury at trial a few weeks ago.

“The motivation the for offending in this case must have been financial. In the pre-sentence report Mr. Darby expresses what is described as remorse for the offences, but there is no explanation given as to why he stole the bank cards.

“You may feel he must have been financially motivated,” the prosecutor told the recorder. “The jury heard he had to take out a six thousand pound loan at the time and told people at the Wimbledon address he didn’t want to stay there due to financial pressures.

“At the time he was taking holidays abroad to Cancun, New York and Copenhagen that you may feel are not consistent with a police constable’s pay.

“The most serious offence is the theft of the Barclaycard and provisional driving licence belonging to the estate of Gary Steel.

“PC Darby and the other officer attended Gary Steel’s address when people who knew him were concerned for his welfare and they found him at the address.

“There can scarcely be a higher degree of trust put into a police officer, entrusted with going into someone’s house.

“He was an opportunistic thief who took that moment to steal the card. I put that to him in cross-examination.

“I do not think it is right to say there was any degree of planning in respect of Gary Steel’s card.”

Regarding the Wimbledon occupants Mr. Doherty added: “The theft of bank cards out of the postal system when one is sharing accommodation with these people is also a breach of trust.

“The reason the police officers searched his room was because there had been an allegation of voyeurism by another police officer at that location and he was found not guilty after a trial last year.”

Mr. Doherty told the jury during the trial: “The reason why Mr. Darby wanted these cards isn’t entirely clear, but at the time he was having some financial difficulties.

“He had cause to tell other people he had financial difficulties, but it is not the prosecution case he ever used the cards even though one was used to pay a Cyprus-based internet dating site.”

During the search a Halifax Visa and MasterCard, still attached to the original letters, were found in a shoe box and a Barclays Visa card was found on a shelf.

The late Mr. Steel’s Barclaycard and licence was found in a red bag by Darby’s bed.

He was one of two officer’s who attended the deceased man’s home where property was officially listed. “There was no recording of the licence or bank card later found,” explained Mr. Doherty.

“Darby does not dispute the items were in his room, but does deny dishonest possession.”

Scum On The Run: Police Hunt Convicted Thug

A violent thug, who stabbed his victim in the face and back during an attack in the West End, remains on the run.

Danny Vernon jumped bail and dodged his crown court trial, where he was convicted and sentenced in his absence.

Officers are now appealing for assistance in tracing him so he can begin serving his twelve-year sentence. 

At Southwark Crown Court on September 19 he was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm, with intent.

He was found guilty of stabbing a 32-year-old man in Oxford Street on September 30, 2017. 

The victim of that attack was discharged from hospital, having been treated for stab wounds to his back and face, leaving him with a serious facial scar.

Having been charged, Vernon appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on December 27, 2018. 

He was bailed ahead of a trial at Southwark Crown Court, where he failed to appear on August 5.

Officers believe Danny Vernon knows he is wanted by police and is taking steps to avoid apprehension. 

He has links to the Wimbledon area of London and to Bournemouth, Dorset.

If sighted, members of the public are urged not to approach him, but dial 999 immediately.

If anyone has any information as to Vernon’s whereabouts, please contact the police on 101 quoting reference CAD 5847/12OCT19 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Romanian Pickpocket Targeted Lady OAP's

A Romanian pickpocket, who deliberately targeted elderly ladies who withdrew large cash sums from their banks, has been locked-up.

A total of £11,200 was taken by Daniel Calinescu, 43, who travelled all over London to stakeout banks and steal from vulnerable locals.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of theft and was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

Southwark Crown Court heard he was a member of a pickpocketing gang and enquiries are ongoing to identify and bring to justice the other members of the group.

Metropolitan Police officers linked Calinescu to incidents in which a 78-year-old woman had £2,500 stolen in St John’s Hill, Battersea on July 9.

A 62-year-old woman, who had £2,500 stolen in Shrewsbury Avenue, Harrow on July 19. 

A 73-year-old woman, who had £1,700 stolen in Barrett’s Grove, Hackney on July 29 and a 72-year-old woman, who had £4,500 stolen in High Street, Ealing on August 20.

In each case, Calinescu watched elderly and vulnerable people withdraw large sums of money over the counter at banks. 

He then followed them as they walked away and stole the cash from each victim as she was boarding a bus. 

On two of these occasions a razor blade or knife was used to slash the victim’s bag to steal the cash.

The Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC) proactive team led the investigation and identified Calinescu through intelligence work. 

Sentencing him Judge Joanna Korner told Calinescu: “You have pleaded guilty to four counts of theft, the most unpleasant and nasty offences which can be committed within this category of crime. 

“No doubt you were deliberately targeting victims because of their obvious vulnerability. 

“No other punishment is suitable other than immediate imprisonment. It must be of some length to mark public disapproval of people such as yourself and your activities.

Detective Sergeant Shaun Holyhead of RTPC said: “I am pleased with the conviction and sentence handed down today. 

“We are working hard to identify Calinescu’s associates and other criminals who target Londoners in this way.”