£20,000 Reward To Catch Killer Two Years On

Police investigating violent black-on-black crime hope a £20,000 reward will set tongues waging on a notorious crime-ridden estate two years after a teenage student was fatally shot in the head.

Operation Trident detectives are desperate for firm leads in the hunt for the killer of 19 year-old Nicholas Clarke, of Chryssell Road, Brixton, who was killed in Fountain Place, Myatt’s Field Estate, in March 2008.

Eight young men were seen on the estate when shots were fired and Nicholas (pictured) was found and rushed to King’s College Hospital, Camberwell, where he died a few hours later.

Many suspects have been arrested and quizzed by police, but nobody has ever been charged.

Detective Inspector Jim Redmond said: "Nicholas was a young man with all his life ahead of him, but that life was cut tragically short.

"We are offering a £20,000 reward for any information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of those responsible for Nicholas' murder.

“It was two years ago and many young people who might have been closely involved at the time will have moved on with their lives now.

"We urgently need to hear from them or anyone who saw or heard anything of the murder that night.

“We know there are people who have valuable information that could lead to the prosecution of the person responsible for Nicholas' death.

"I want them to think about how their family would feel. Finding his killer and bringing him to justice would go some way to helping the family come to terms with their tragic loss."

Nicholas lived with his mother, Sharon Barnett who said: "Nicholas was the most caring, loving and kind individual you could ever meet.

“His life was brought to an abrupt end at the hands of his murderer, who killed him in cold blood on that night two years ago.

“He is dearly missed by all who came into contact with him and we would urge anyone who knows anything to come forward and talk to the police.

"The individual who took Nicholas' life has left a grieving family and a huge gap in our lives that can never be filled."

Anyone with information should call 020 8247 4553 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Gunman Caged After Police Chase

A young gunman hunted by gangbusting cops investigating violent black-on-black crime has been caged for seven years after being arrested by armed police.

Kirk Bailey, 20, of Newark House, Loughborough Road, Lambeth, was targeted by an armed Operation Trident surveillance team on May 29, last year, but evaded police on a stolen motorbike.

That night the mini-cab he was travelling in was stopped in Acre Lane, Brixton, and Bailey (pictured) fled on foot, discarding a loaded gun and a pair of gloves during a failed bid to evade capture.

He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment at Inner London Crown Court after a jury convicted him of possessing a Brocock revolver and ammunition, with intent to endanger life.

Detective Inspector Angie Phillips said: "Kirk Bailey is a dangerous young man who is deeply immersed in gang culture. Communities in Lambeth are safer for his imprisonment.

"Those who are involved in gun crime should take note that this is the sort of sentence you can expect when you get caught with firearms.

"Trident, Lambeth Police and their partners are working hard to bring to justice those who resort to carrying firearms in public with intent to endanger life."

Rapist Caught After Victim's Screams Heard

This is the face of a predatory nightime rapist – caged for 9 years – after following an 18 year-old girl at 2 am and dragging the screaming victim down an alleyway, subjecting her to a sex attack.

Jagdeep Chahal, 23, of Barnhill Road, Hayes, Middlesex, was caught after a witness dialled 999 when she heard the teenager’s screams.

He denied, but was convicted by an Isleworth Crown Court jury after a two-week trial of raping the girl on April 8, last year.

The court heard Chahal followed his victim from a bus stop in Uxbridge Road, Hayes, and the suspicious teen slowed down, forcing him to pass her.

He continued to follow her on the other side of the road until he pounced, forcing his hand into her mouth as she screamed out and dragging her into an alleyway.

Chahal then went on to threaten the victim and rape her.

A passer-by heard the victim's screams and rang police who attended the scene within minutes.

Their arrival disturbed Chahal who stopped the assault and attempted to escape, but was detained when officers shone torches down the alleyway and saw him climbing over a wall.

He will now be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Detective Sergeant Leanne Cranford of Hounslow’s Sapphire Unit said: "Chahal has demonstrated that he is a predatory offender.

“He followed his 18-year-old victim and attacked her.

“The impact on his victim, her family, friends and the local community cannot be measured.

“Stranger rapes such as these are relatively unusual and my praise goes out to the victim who showed tremendous courage, not only on that night but also by her support in this prosecution to ensure that he has been taken off the streets of Hayes.

"I hope knowing that her attacker is now behind bars will go some way towards allowing the victim to come to terms with what has happened to her and allow her to go on to have a fulfilling future.

"I think special mention should be made of the woman who, rather than ignoring the victim's calls for help, picked up the phone and rang 999.

Without that phone call Chahal may not have been apprehended and the victim may not have received the immediate support and care that she needed.

"We encourage victims of sexual assault to have the confidence to come forward to police as soon as possible. Every single allegation will be investigated professionally and effectively in a victim centred way.

"If anyone believes they may have been a victim of Chahal, I would encourage them to contact their local police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to ensure they get the help and support they may need."

Police Hunt Jewellery Store Robbers

This is the moment a gang of sledgehammer-wielding smash-and-grab raiders destroyed the front security window at a landmark Mayfair jeweller’s, snatching valuable Rolex watches.

Westminster CID are appealing for witnesses and information which will assist arresting the daring gang, which targeted Mappin & Webb, Old Bond Street, on March 9.

The dramatic image was captured on the store's own CCTV.

Three motorbikes approached from Hyde Park Corner, parked on the pavement and two pillion passengers carrying sledgehammers smashed the main window.

The suspects fled the scene on the motorbikes towards Piccadilly Circus, with a Police Community Support Officer vainly chasing them down Pall Mall.

A police helicopter was scrambled by the Air Support Unit, but lost sight of the suspects in Wigmore Street, Soho.

Detective Inspector Sean Oxley, who is overseeing the investigation said: "The robbery took place in broad daylight and I would appeal for anyone with information or who may recognise the offenders or the motorbikes to come forward and call us.

"At this early stage we believe a number of distinctive Rolex watches were taken and if anyone is approached to purchase these items in the next few days again I would ask them to contact police."

Any witnesses or anyone with any information can call Westminster police on 020 7321 8689 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Multi-Million Pound Breadfruit Cocaine Smuggling Gang Caged

A London bus driver and his wife who imported £4.9m worth of cocaine from the Dominican Republic cleverly concealed inside breadfruit were locked-up for a total of 17 years yesterday (Friday).

Ronald Russell-Taylor, 28, and Colombian-born mum-of-four Deisy Taylor, 37, both of Wooler Street, Walworth, had their own import company, purporting to fly in Ecuadorian flowers, arts and crafts, plus fruit and veg.

They and ex-Colombian auxiliary policeman John Zambrano-Mello, 32, of Unwin Close, Camberwell, pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to importing cocaine between June 1 and October 20, last year.

"You can't complain if you play with fire and your fingers get burnt," Judge John Rylance told the couple, jailing first-time offender Russell-Taylor (pic. top) for nine years and his wife (pic. 2nd top) for eight years.

"You two allowed yourselves to be involved in keys roles in the sophisticated large scale importation of dangerous drugs. I have no doubt major criminals were involved and they were able to reap large criminal profits for themselves and inflict untold damage on the health of some of the inhabitants of this country."

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Central Task Force seized 20.12 kilos of 100% pure cocaine on October 20 after following a Mercedes van from Heathrow Airport's cargo terminal to Zambrano-Mello's address.

The cocaine was contained within fifteen "football-sized" objects wrapped in cling-film that had been stuffed into two green-string bags along with the breadfruit.

The consignment of breadfruit had been ordered by 'Taylor Imports' and there was evidence of three previous suspicious importations of fruit and veg.

"If any drugs were involved in earlier importations I imagine the amounts increased over time and they were just test runs. All the importations were geared-up to this major importation," added Judge Rylance.

In father-of-three Zambrano-Mello's bedroom (pic. bottom) police seized drug-cutting agents, including caffeine, used to bulk up the cocaine plus kitchen and electronic scales and a blender.

"It was a drug factory. Altering and cutting cocaine to increase profits," said prosecutor Mr. Dominic Connolly.

The couple, who had dreams of buying Porsche's and a Colombian villa, claimed they had been subjected to threats by South-American gangsters had had made no more than £500 from the previous importations.

Police discovered they wired £10,000 to Colombia between December 24, 2008 and September 17, last year and despite purportedly importing perishable goods never seemed to be in a hurry to collect from the airport.

Zambrano-Mello (pic. 3rd top) was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and Judge Ryland told him: "You involved yourself and provided storage and a factory for the cutting and mixing of these drugs."

Afterwards Detective Constable Ian Tomlinson of the Central Task Force said: "These convictions are the result of a long term proactive investigation by The Central Task Force targeting Columbian cocaine importation.

"In conjunction with the UK Border Agency, over 20 kilos of high grade cocaine was seized and this particular organised criminal network has been effectively dismantled.

"Individuals who consider embarking upon such 'get rich quick' schemes without a care for those adversely affected, should be reminded that they are gambling with their liberty.

"Law enforcement agencies will robustly target them and their conviction and imprisonment will surely follow.

"The Taylor's and Zambrano have learnt this lesson the hard way."

Passing Cops Get Whiff Of Spliff

A driver so high on cannabis the telltale smell of the drug was sucked into a passing police car’s air conditioning – tipping-off cops - has been slapped with a two year road ban.

Scott Ashworth, 25, of The Oaks, Abbeymead, Gloucester, pleaded guilty at London’s Tower Bridge Magistrates’ Court to driving while unfit through drugs in Copeland Road, Peckham, on October 18, last year.

“There is high culpability here and high potential harm,” District Judge Timothy Stone said. “He was under the influence of cannabis. His car reeked of the stench of it.”

Ashworth also pleaded guilty to possessing a small quantity of cannabis on the same occasion and failing to surrender to bail.

The court (pictured) was told it was 7 pm when officers spotted Ashworth driving his VW Golf “extremely slowly” with the strong stench of cannabis being inducted into the patrol car’s air-conditioning.

Ashworth was stopped and appeared “dazed and confused” when quizzed by police who arrested him for driving while under the influence.

A blood sample he gave at the station tested positive for cannabis and Ashworth admitted the amount found on him was for his own use.

“He was manifestly a danger to everybody,” announced Mr. Stone sentencing Ashworth to a twelve-month community order, including 200 hours unpaid work.

He also disqualified Ashworth from driving for two years and ordered him to pay £85 costs.

Burglar Binned For Break-In

A veteran burglar who was caught red-handed fleeing yet another break-in by an eagle-eyed off-duty cop has been locked up for three years.

Kenny Mumford, 41, of Killewareen Way, Orpington, Kent – who has clocked-up 65 previous offences including a string of burglaries – pleaded guilty to burgling nearby 1 Littlejohn Road, on November 28, last year.

Croydon Crown Court heard the off-duty police officer recognised regular offender Mumford acting suspiciously outside the property (pictured).

“He had his face pressed against the window,” said prosecutor Mr. Gareth Underhill. “He then observed the defendant enter the property and return with something shiny in his gloved hands.”

Police arrived and Mumford fled, throwing the three jewellery rings over a neighbouring wall.

They were recovered and the female householder confirmed them as hers.

Mumford, who has been in custody since his arrest was sentenced to three years imprisonment by Judge William Barnett QC.

Lady J.P. Convicted Of Illegally Evicting Romanian Tenant

A respected lady magistrate's reputation is in tatters after being convicted of illegally evicting her female Romanian tenant, whose property was tossed downstairs and smashed as she received a barrage of racist abuse.

Bench Chairwoman Stephanie Lippiatt, 63, a senior Justice of the Peace at Kingston-upon-Thames Magistrates' Court will now be sentenced alongside her six foot, seven inch henchman who has admitted a race charge.

Widow Lippiatt, of Lower Ham Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, who is currently suspended from magistrates’ duties, was convicted of attempting to unlawfully evict Maria Percec, 28, at 123 Durlston Road, Kingston, (pictured) on June 18, last year.

After her arrest Lippiatt – a magistrate for over twenty years and a Samaritan’s volunteer – was recorded by an officer outside the police station saying: "They are bloody foreigners and they will get away with it."

She was also convicted by the Croydon Crown Court jury today (Wednesday) of causing criminal damage to Miss Percec's property, but was acquitted of that offence being racially aggravated and was also found not guilty of racially aggravated assault.

Victor Hawes, 41, of Durlston Road, who Lippiatt denies is her secret lover, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated criminal damage and both defendants will be sentenced on April 7.

"She came in and started swearing at me to 'get the fuck out of the house'," ex-box room tenant Miss Percec told the jury during the seven-day trial. "She pushed me and stamped on my feet."

Miss Percec told the jury Lippiatt was unhappy about the tenant’s boyfriend George Stanka, 31, staying regularly overnight in her room and demanded a rent increase from £150 p.m. to £250 p.m.

"She said: 'I want more money or you are out of here', that’s all she spoke about. More money," said Miss Percec.

"The £250 was way too much. The house was in really bad condition, it was a very old house.

"The room was tiny, I have now got a room six times that size."

Lippiatt, who has a rental portfolio of eight properties, denies being a slum landlady although the defence team conceded the property was not "Buckingham Palace."

The couple were naked in bed when Lippiatt and Hawes began banging on their door late at night, demanding they leave the property.

"It was really loud banging, like someone hitting the door with a fist three times," explained Miss Percec, who had managed to throw on a dressing gown before the defendant’s burst in.

"She pulled the covers off George. He was naked and she looked at him and shouted: 'get the fuck out'."

Mr. Stanka later told the jury Lippiatt racially abused the couple. "Romanian cunts'. She said that."

Both defendants then began throwing furniture, clothing and personal effects belonging to the couple down the stairs then out the front door.

Miss Percec told police Lippiatt hurled a chest down the stairs then deliberately trampled on her belongings, before tossing items out the front door.

The couple were also intimidates by Hawes. "Victor was behind her, he’s massive, the size of the whole door. You can’t compete with that force," said Miss Percec.

Lippiatt also shouted: "You are not living in my house. You are not living on my back," the jury was told.

Miss Percec told police Hawes shouted: "You’re being fucking evicted. You’re fucking Romanian. Get out of the fucking house, you ming."

Throughout his race rant, filmed on Mr. Stanka’s mobile phone, Lippiatt is standing next to him in earshot.

The jury were played the footage in which an enraged Hawes throws the tenant's belongings down the stairs and Lippiatt is seen kicking items out the front door.

"I was left with bruises on my feet and around my knee," said Miss Percec. "The police saw it and took photos the next day.

"She was trying really hard to hurt me and push me and get me out of that room. I have been abused verbally and physically."

The jury was told Hawes also called the couple: "Romanian cockroaches."

Lippiatt claims Miss Percec has done a "hatchet job" on her so her evidence would be believed and to bolster a compensation claim.

The J.P. told the jury: "Last year when I was 62, I would have said it wouldn't have even crossed my mind that I could find myself in this position."

After two decades on the bench Lippiatt finally discovered what it felt like to be a defendant when police locked her in a cell.

"I completely lost control of myself. I was screaming and I was crying and I was begging them to let me out."

She lost her removals businessman husband Clive when a drunken motorcyclist killed him.

Boots Lab Rats Hoarded Erotic Teen Girl Pics

Two Boots photo lab technicians amassed a huge collection of erotic pictures of children and young teenage girls while developing unsuspecting customers' prints at a busy store.

The lab rats' secret stash of images - collected over ten years - which filled over eight carrier bags and two boxes were hidden in a concealed compartment found by a BT engineer installing a phone line.

Many of the pictures were innocent snaps of teenage girls in their bedrooms dressing-up for a night out with friends and holiday snaps customers brought to be developed at the store in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, Rotherhithe, South-East London.

Married father-of-oneThomas Befroy, 38, of Beckenham Hill Road, Beckenham, Kent and Alan Hermon, 49, of Summerfield Street, Lewisham, pleaded guilty to possessing indecent pictures of children, with a view to distributing them, or showing them to someone else, on or before October 23, last year, contrary to the Protection of Children Act.

Tower Bridge Magistrates' Court (pictured) heard 78 of the images were deemed Level One - the lowest level of indecency - but one was Level Two, which includes non-penetrative sexual activity between children or solo masturbation by a child.

Prosecutor Mr. James Le Grys said: "The offence took place at Boots in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre. There is a photo lab in the store and a mini-lab at the rear where these two defendants had worked since 1989."

The BT engineer, installing an internet connection, raised the alarm after uncovering the stash in the compartment and further indecent pictures were found in a locked cupboard during a police search.

"The engineer placed his hands inside and found several Boots carrier bags. They contained images of a sexual nature," added Mr Le Grys. "He reported the images to management and they called the police.

"A number of photographs were of young women under the age of eighteen and dating between 1997 and 2008."

Befroy, who has a seven year-old daughter and is now subject to a social services assessment and cannot be unsupervised with the child had left the branch six weeks before the discovery to take over as manager at Boots in Battersea.

He was team leader at Surrey Quays and when questioned by police told them Hermon was responsible for making extensive copies.

"When Mr. Hermon was questioned he denied the allegations, but then admitted making extensive copies of sexual images and Mr Befroy was aware," said Mr. Le Grys.

The 78 Level One images "depict nudity or erotic posing, but no sexual activity" explained the prosecutor. "There is one of Level Two. A girl wearing no underwear.

"Both admitted using Boots' machinery to copy prints and admitted looking at them and showing them to others.

"The collection got so big they had to store it in the cupboard," added Mr. LeGrys.

All the images of the unknown girls involve females aged approximately 12 - 17 years-old.

The defendant's lawyer Miss I Hussain told the court: "Basically in relation to these offences both worked at Boots together in this lab and on occasion they would reprint photo's.

"There were also photo's of concerts, anything that was of interest to them."

Urging the court not to jail her clients she added: "These were isolated offences. There was no commercial element, the distribution was just between them. There were searches of their addresses and nothing was found there.

"They have lost their good character and will be subject to the Sex Offender's Register and they have lost their employment.

"They are now both on benefits, not in a position to look for work while awaiting sentencing and will have to ensure any future employer knows about these convictions.

"It was not a sophisticated offence and there does not seem to be a high level of personal interest," added Miss Hussain. "These men have been working lengthy hours and this has happened in the time they have been working.

"It is not a case where they have gone looking for such photo's and there is no contact with any paedophiles.

"They reprinted the photographs, looked at them, then put them away in a bag or box and not looked at them again," said the lawyer.

"A lot of them are teenage girls in their bedrooms maybe getting ready for a night out.

"I ask you not to give them prison sentences. This isn't something that would happen again," the lawyer told District Judge Mr. Stuart Black.

The Judge refused a prosecution application for a child protection order banning the defendant's from possessing images of children after Miss Hussain said Mr. Befroy's photograph's of his daughter displayed all over his house would immediately put him in breach if one was made.

"I don't think this would work in these circumstances," she said. "He would be unable to fulfill his fatherly duties."

Mr. Black imposed three-year supervision orders on both defendants and ordered them to attend the Community Sex Offenders Group Work Programme.

He told them: "I am concerned about the number of photograph's, the length of time and the covert and secretive behaviour that was going on as well as the breach of trust. These are serious matters, frankly."

A spokesman for the company said: "There are strict operating procedures in place to safeguard customers' confidentiality when developing photos and were are extremely concerned that these former employees appeared to have breached them all in an act of gross misconduct.

"We have a zero tolerance policy to issues of this nature and would like to reassure our customers that we have taken these allegations extremely seriously and acted immediately when they came to light."