Crooked Caretaker Dodges More Jail For Targeting Residents

A guilt-ridden residential caretaker at a landmark development, who raided unsuspecting residents flats while they were out, helping himself to thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and electrical equipment returned from South Africa to “face the music.”

Scottish-born Paul Cunningham, 45, took a £4,000 car from one resident of Downings House, (pictured) a Grade II listed former school building at 21 Southey Road, Wimbledon, loaded it up with loot and pawned the lot.

He pleaded guilty at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court to burgling one female resident on or before April 9, stealing a diamond ring, sapphire and diamond ring, gold watch, gold ring, broche and chain, worth £7,200.

He also admitted taking a £1,100 Sony television and surround-sound equipment from another flat and stealing a set of car keys for a Toyota Yaris from a couple who were on holiday.

“He had gone to South Africa, but came back to face the music,” Cunningham’s lawyer Mr. Michael Marlow told the court today.

Cunningham, whose family emigrated to South Africa when he was young, initially returned to the UK in 2007 and got the caretaker’s job on June 1, 2008.

The position came with spare sets of keys for all the flats and the first victim suddenly realised jewellery was missing from inside her ground-floor flat despite no evidence of a break-in.

Later that month a letting-agent noticed household electrical equipment was missing from an unoccupied flat and when a couple returned from holiday on April 11 their car was gone.

On each occasion the victims tried to call trusted Cunningham to report the crimes, but there was no response.

On April 12 the defendant sent a text to the couple, informing them their vehicle was parked at Gatwick Airport and it was recovered by Sussex Police.

He sent a follow-up text revealing he was returning to “face the music.”

He also revealed the jewellery had been pawned at a broker’s in Tooting and some of it was returned to the victim.

Cunningham was circulated as wanted on the Police National Computer, but he returned to the UK and handed himself into Wimbledon Police Station on May 8.

The defendant, who claims he has a heroin and sleeping pills addiction, told officers he only received £155 for the jewellery and sold the television for £500.

“You should be under no delusions these were serious offences,” Judge Martin Binning told Cunningham. “There was a serious breach of trust.”

The defendant, who has been in custody for three months, was sentenced to a two-year supervision order with an eighteen-month drug rehabilitation requirement and ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to the victims.

Party Double-Killer Jailed For Life

A vicious New Year’s gunman who shot a reluctant DJ through the neck – also killing a fellow partygoer with the same bullet – is starting a life sentence for the double murder.

Ashley Kenton, 22 – known as DJ Creation – (pic.top) and Wayne Mowatt, 29, (pic.mid) were shot at the violent party in Shore Place, Homerton, East London on January 1, 2002.

Jobless Ian Davis, 33, (pic.bottom) of Bellefield Road, Brixton, South London fled to the USA afterwards and was eventually held at Long Beach Airport, California on August 7, 2003 for immigration offences and returned to the UK.

The Old Bailey heard Davis was annoyed Mr. Kenton refused to continue DJing the private party after several scuffles and shot him through the neck, with the bullet passing through a partition wall and striking Mr. Mowatt in the head.

Mr. Kenton, of Brookmill Road, Deptford, South-East London was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital and Mr. Mowatt, of Clapham Road, Clapham, South-West London died later that day.

After his arrest on September 18, 2003 Davis was convicted of the murders and sentenced to life imprisonment with a twenty-year minimum.

In 2008 The House of Lords quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial and Davis will now not be eligible for parole until 2023.

Detective Inspector Mark Gower of Trident – the police team who investigate violent black-on-black crime - said: “I would like to thank the victims’ families for their continued support throughout what has been a protracted and complex investigation and hope today’s result goes some way to providing them with an element of closure.

“I would also like to commend the witnesses for their bravery, especially given the majority gave evidence at the earlier trials.

“This case successfully utilised the new anonymity legislation in support of one witness and demonstrates Operation Trident’s commitment to ensuring justice prevails - no matter how much time has elapsed.”

Twenty Years For Drug Smuggler Whose Cocaine-Laced Rum Killed Cabbie

A "reckless and greedy" drug smuggler who killed an innocent mini-cab driver who drank 100% pure liquid cocaine imported by unsuspecting mules inside bottles of Caribbean rum was jailed for twenty years today (Wednesday).

Father-of-two Lascelle Malcolm, 63, of Rutland Gardens, Haringey, North London died in agony in front of his terrified son after drinking from a bottle of St. Lucian 'Bounty' rum, gifted by a friend for collecting her at Gatwick Airport.

She was given the bottle by a holiday friend who Croydon Crown Court heard was persuaded to carry it through Customs by 50 year-old Martin Newman, of 38 Wadeville Avenue, Romford, Essex.

Music promoter Newman, who is wanted by the FBI, had four aliases and served five years in the USA for cheque and credit card fraud denied, but was convicted unanimously by the jury of the manslaughter of Mr. Malcolm (pic.top) and importing cocaine.

Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon told the defendant, who showed no emotion: "This was utter reckless and greedy criminal conduct for monetary gain.

"One life was sadly lost in a terrible way with the suffering that man had to endure from the poisonous rum and both his nephew and a family friend were poisoned by your deadly rum."

Newman,(pic.mid) who claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy involving UK Customs and the St. Lucian authorities, stretching all the way up to the island's deputy PM received twenty years for manslaughter and fifteen years concurrent for importing cocaine.

"You have shown no remourse at all and I regard your offences as grave and there are aggravating features," added the Judge.

"I regard you as an organiser in this greedy endeavor to make financial gain.

"You used innocent carriers you duped and tricked and befriended, leaving them helpless to the risk of being caught and imprisoned for a long time.

"You used these dupes without precautions to protect themselves from the deadly substances they were carrying - pure cocaine mixed in bottles of rum.

"You left them open to the risk they or someone else may take a drink, believing they were taking a harmless shot of rum."

Prosecutor Mr. Oliver Glasgow told the jury In the early hours of May 26, last year Mr. Malcolm rang the emergency services because of chest pains and a headache, informing the doctors at the Whittington Hospital he had drunk Guinness and a shot of rum the night before.

Tragically Mr. Malcolm was discharged because doctors could not find anything seriously wrong with him.

"The true nature of the illness had yet to be discovered and at home he suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed in front of his terrified son," added Mr. Glasgow.

Friends and family paid their respects the next day and two mourners, including the dead man's 40 year-old nephew, toasted Mr. Malcolm with the cocaine-laced rum (pic.bottom) and were rushed to hospital after collapsing with seizures.

"The bottle they poured alcohol from was the same bottle of rum. They noticed an unpleasant taste and spat it out.

"It was a horrifying turn of events and the family asked: 'How could three men fall ill'."

Police analysed the bottle of rum. "Pure cocaine had been dissolved into the alcohol. The cocaine within it was lethal. A teaspoon could cause an overdose," explained Mr. Glasgow.

Mr. Malcolm's friend, Antoinette Corliss, who he had collected from the airport told police the bottle of rum was given to her by friend Michael Lawrence, a native St. Lucian, who she had travelled back from the Caribbean with.

She confirmed it had been given to him by the defendant at the airport.

"The defendant approached Mr. Lawrence and explained he needed help with taking rum back to the U.K. He had ten bottles and could not take that many in.

"Mr. Lawrence agreed and said he would return the bottles to the defendant back in the U.K," said Mr. Glasgow.

When Mr. Lawrence's bags showed excess weight Newman allegedly claimed he worked in St. Lucian immigration and could get the charges waived.

Tragically Mr. Lawrence did not hand the bottle over to Newman in London, but gave it to Ms. Corliss, who presented it as a gift to the Mr. Malcolm.

"The defendant was involved in the importation of liquid cocaine and the death of Lascelle Malcolm was a result of his gross negligence," Mr. Glasgow told the jury.

Secretive Accountant Jailed For Missing £100K

An accounts coordinator who diverted £107,000 worth of company cash into his bank account – most of which has disappeared – has been jailed for sixteen months.

David Barnsley, 36, of Belsize Road, Worthing, West Sussex even refused to tell his lawyers where the bulk of the cash went after a mini online spending spree netted him a motorbike, laptop and jewellery.

He pleaded guilty to stealing £107,000 from Scope Packaging of Unit 3, Brazil Close, Beddington Farm Road, Croydon between March 31 and November 7, 2008.

“This is a very unusual case of someone who has stolen over one hundred thousand pounds and has not got anything to show for it,” announced Croydon 

Crown Court Recorder Jonathan Ferris. “I am baffled as to what has happened to the money.”

Prosecutor Mr. Shub Banerjee told the court (pictured) married Barnsley joined the firm on £17,500 pa in January 2001, but an outside accountancy company reported missing funds in May, last year.

Barnsley was responsible for writing company cheques, making electronic fund transfers and handling the petty cash.

“The accountants became aware of significant financial discrepancies,” explained Mr. Banerjee. “There was overpayment of wages and stationary.”

The defendant refused a face-to-face meeting with bosses and in November resigned and was escorted from the building.

Barnsley has not repaid a penny and when quizzed by police on April 26 tried to claim the money was owed to him.

“Where the money has gone is not clear to Mr. Barnsley,” said his lawyer Miss Wendy Holmes. “It was going out for everyday things and private health treatment.”

“You were a senior man in the accounts department and were trusted with the company’s chequebook and made use of that to write cheques close to one hundred thousand pounds,” Recorder Ferris told Barnsley.

“This was theft in breach of a high degree of trust.

“Your instructions as to what happened to the money is less than detailed. The information available to me today is limited.”

Confiscation proceedings against Barnsley were adjourned until next month.

Life Imprisonment For Killer's Revenge Attack

A violent drug dealer, who murdered his older love-rival who kept £14,000 cash plus contraband belonging to the criminal, has been locked up for at least 26 years.

Dwayne Cupidon, 26, is believed to have dismembered 60 year-old George Smith’s body in the bathtub of his house in Finch Close, Barnet, North London.

The victim has never been found.

Divorced father-of-three Mr. Smith (pic.top) enjoyed a relationship with a woman thirty years his junior who also involved with Cupidon (pic.bottom).

During the three week Old Bailey trial the court heard Mr. Smith spent Saturday August 22, last year at his flat drinking with a neighbour.

When the neighbour left Mr. Smith’s flat at around 6 p.m. that evening, Mr. Smith's words to him were: “See you Sunday”, but he was never seen again.

By August 26 Mr. Smith's family and friends were growing increasingly concerned as phone calls went unanswered and no one heard from him.

That evening Mr. Smith’s ex-wife and nephew used their key to let themselves into the house.

At first glance it was as if Mr. Smith had just popped out; there was a half-empty glass of cider in the kitchen (those who knew Mr. Smith say that he would never have left a drink unfinished), his glasses, tablets and cigarettes were all there and in the bathroom were a pair of trousers with the wallet still in the pocket.

It was when they noticed spots of blood around the bath and on the floor of the living room that they became very concerned and rang the police.

Officers immediately gave his disappearance a high priority and an investigation was launched by the Metropolitan Police Service's (MPS) Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

Despite attempts to clean the premises of blood following the murder, evidence (blood and tissue) collected at the scene indicated that Mr. Smith had sustained a serious injury.

It was established Mr. Smith had been in a relationship with a younger woman who was also involved with drug dealer Cupidon.

The relationship between Cupidon and the woman was a volatile one and when they argued she would turn to Mr. Smith.

During one of these periods she asked Mr. Smith to collect her clothes and belongings from her flat.

On this occasion he also took a safe containing drugs and approximately £14,000 of Cupidon's money, which he kept.

The prosecution believe Cupidon killed Mr. Smith in retaliation for the theft of his drugs and money.

On September 8 when Cupidon was arrested, he was carrying a rucksack stained with Mr. Smith’s blood.

The bag contained a pair of shoes with the same sole pattern as bloodstained footprints found inside the flat.

Detective Inspector Glen Lloyd of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “I appreciate that the details put before the court could not have been pleasant for the jury to have to consider.

“The forensic evidence presented to the court ensured we were able to prove beyond doubt that George Smith is dead, murdered at the hands of Dwayne Cupidon.

“I hope he will now show respect and compassion to Mr. Smith's family and tell us where his remains are so that they are able to bury the man they loved.”

Convenience Store Shooting: CCTV Released

These are the late-night gun-wielding robbers police are hunting for two armed raids on convenience stores in which a shop assistant was shot in the neck when he refused to hand over cash.

Flying Squad detectives have released CCTV images of the suspects in the hope someone may be able to identify them.

The first robbery occurred at approximately 1.45 am on February 17 at Rainbow Food and Wines, 643 Green Lanes, Haringey, North London.

Officers attended the scene to discover a 51-year-old male shopworker with a gunshot wound to his neck.

He was taken to hospital where he remained for some days.

The two suspects pulled up outside the shop on a motorbike with the passenger entering the premises, threatening the shopworker with a handgun and demanding money.

When the victim, believing the gun to be fake, refused his demands, the suspect shot him before leaving the shop empty-handed.

The suspects then drove southbound along Green Lanes - in the direction of Manor House.

A second male shopworker was also in the shop at the time. He was uninjured.

Detectives believe this incident could be linked to a second armed robbery in Hackney 25 minutes later.

Police were called at 2.10 am to Shoreditch Food and Wine, 43 Hackney Rd, Bethnal Green.

A male suspect entered the shop, threatened the male shopworker with a firearm and demanded money.

A second man then came into the premises, approached the counter and took money from the till.

No shots were fired and no one was injured.

Both suspects (who wore helmets during the incident) then left the scene on a motorbike.

The first suspect is described as black, wearing a black puffa-style jacket, blue jeans, black gloves and a black helmet with a white logo above the visor. He was in possession of a black self-loading pistol.

The second suspect is described as black, wearing a blue puffa-style jacket, blue jeans, black gloves and a black and silver ‘Ariel’ helmet.

No arrests have been made in connection with either incident and detectives are hoping that releasing the CCTV images could assist their investigation.

Detective Constable Dawn Bolitho, of Finchley Flying Squad, said: “The victim of the initial robbery was extremely lucky to escape with his life after being shot in the neck at close range.

“The willingness of the suspects to use violence as a means to an end illustrates their callous nature and makes it imperative we identify them and hold them responsible for their actions.

“I would urgently appeal to any witnesses of either incident or anyone who believes they may recognise the individuals in the images to contact police.”

Antique Books Thief Caged

A serial antique book thief who walked out of the Royal Horticultural Society with thirteen valuable volumes worth £50,000 has been jailed for three-and-half years.

Cambridge-graduate William Simon Jacques, 41 (pictured) went on the run after he was originally arrested in April 2007, but was eventually tracked-down by police and caught in North Yorkshire on Christmas Day, last year.

The notorious criminal was previously convicted of stealing a £40,000 Malthus original from his university's library while studying at Jesus College along with works by Descartes, Galileo and Newton.

It is estimated Jacques, originally from wealthy farming stock in Selby, North Yorshire, has stolen over £1m worth of books from Britain's great libraries, auctioning them for huge profit.

He was convicted at Southwark Crown Court of stealing the volumes of ‘Nouvelle Iconographies des Camellias’ by Verschaffelt, which contain a valuable array of coloured plates of Camellias and explanatory text.

He was originally arrested in the society’s Lindley Library, Vincent Square, Pimlico, Westminster for simply walking out with the books hidden underneath his clothing.

Cocaine-Rum Suspect Claims Plot To Frame Him

A Romford man accused of killing an unsuspecting mini-cab driver who swigged from a bottle of cocaine-laced rum smuggled from the Caribbean told a jury today he was the victim of a conspiracy to frame him.

Former sprinter Martin Newman, 50, of Wadeville Avenue suggested the plot may go as far as the deputy Prime Minister of St. Lucia and involves drug dealers and corrupt Customs men.

Mini-cab driver Lascelle Malcolm, 63,(pictured) of Rutland Gardens, Haringey, North London, was given the St. Lucian 'Bounty' rum as a gift for picking up a friend from her holiday trip to the Caribbean island.

Croydon Crown Court has heard she was given the bottle by a holiday friend who the prosecution say was persuaded to carry it through customs by Newman.

“This is some sort of conspiracy,” the defendant told the jury from the witness box. “I don’t think I have been treated fairly.”

Contrary to being a ruthless drug smuggler Newman insists he was involved in a three-year anti-drugs crusade and was “set up” to silence him.

In evidence dismissed as “a story of ridiculous fiction” by prosecutor Mr. Oliver Glasgow Newman says CCTV footage at St. Lucia’s airport deliberately avoids identifying the real smuggler.

“I believe the CCTV was deliberately edited,” insisted the defendant who says another man who boarded the flight persuaded an associate to carry the cocaine-filled bottles of rum.

“The scenes shown on the CCTV don’t show all the people that were involved.”

The defendant told the court he tipped-off Customs men in St. Lucia and the UK about drug-smuggling operations on five occasions, but those corrupt officers identified him to dealers.

His account was described as a “fantastic tale” by Mr. Glasgow, who told the jury to ignore it and convict Newman.

He has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Mr. Malcolm, who died on May 26 last year, and importing class A cocaine.

Friends and family paid their respects the next day and two mourners, including the dead man's 40 year-old nephew, toasted Mr. Malcolm with the cocaine-laced rum and were rushed to hospital after collapsing with seizures.

Police analysed the bottle of rum. "Pure cocaine had been dissolved into the alcohol. The cocaine within it was lethal. A teaspoon could cause an overdose," Mr. Glasgow told the jury.

Mr. Malcolm's friend, Antoinette Corliss, who he had collected from the airport told police the bottle of rum was given to her by friend Michael Lawrence, a native St. Lucian, who she had travelled back from the Caribbean with.

She confirmed it had been given to him by the defendant at the airport.

Trial continues......

Luxury Car-Stealing Gang Smashed

Members of a gang who plotted to steal 30 cars worth £390,000 during a string of raids in North London, Hertfordshire and Thames Valley – snatching keys during audacious home burglaries – have been locked-up.

Jobless Craig Foskett, 26, of Knoll Crescent, Northwood, Harrow, (pic.top) was sentenced to four years.

Jobless Lewis Nevard, 22 (pic.2^nd top) and jobless Ben Lordan, 21 (pic.3^rd top) both of Greenway, Pinner, Harrow were jailed for three years. 


Jobless Danielle Costello, 21 (pic.bottom) of Balmoral Drive, Hayes, Hillingdon, received twelve months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with an electronic curfew from 7pm -7am for six months and a supervision order for 18 months.

All four pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to conspiracy to burgle relating to fifteen separate break-ins.

They were originally arrested in November 2009 in a series of dawn raids at a string of addresses in north London.

Dozens of cars including BMWs, Mercedes, Audis and Jaguars were spirited away by the network after they seized the car keys after burgling the houses of the owners.

The gang often targeted driveways with two 'his and hers' cars on them, stealing both at the same time.

The vehicles, worth anywhere between £15,000-£60,000 each, were then sold on through a variety of channels.

Other property was also stolen from the same premises by the opportunist thieves - including cash, jewellery, laptops and credit cards.

Operation Okul was led by the Territorial Policing Crime Squad, and supported by local officers from the Territorial Support Group as well as borough officers from Harrow and Hillingdon.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Thompson of the TP London Crime Squad, said: “We worked together with our colleagues from borough and other units on sustained enforcement to disrupt this gang involved in residential burglary, and the sentences show that we are committed to bringing these offenders to justice.

“I would like to take this opportunity to urge householders to take measures to secure their valuables and property.”

Volatile Couple's Internet Porn Row Leads To Death Threats

A couple’s Internet porn row ended with police rushing to their Bromley home after a 999 operator overheard the drunken man vowing to stab his girlfriend and slash her father’s throat.

Stephen Greenwood, 43, of May’s Hill Road pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to making threats to kill 34 year-old Vanessa Martin on April 19.

Prosecutor Mr. Hamish Reid told the court the couple had been together two years, but it had been a volatile relationship with Greenwood cautioned for an assault and for a row, which erupted over “candid” photos he took of his partner.

She told police Greenwood has a “ridiculous porn habit” and the pair had argued via text all day before he arrived home after a vodka binge.

As she watched television angry Grrenwood shouted: “You fucking ugly fat tart. I’m going to slit your father’s throat and if you call the police I will get you to.”

Mr. Reid explained: “She was terrified of him. She rang the police because she did not know what was going to happen.”

While on the phone Greenwood’s threats continued, with Miss Martin claiming he “was coming at her with knives” – which she later tried to retract in a withdrawal statement when the defendant was still in custody.

She also withdrew an allegation that Greenwood stabbed a door with a knife and insisted she was not frightened of him and believed he was not violent.

Following his arrest the defendant spent nearly four weeks in custody before he was bailed to and East London hostel.

“You accept you behaved in a truly disgraceful way,” Recorder Ian Bourne QC told Greenwood. “You have come very close today to losing your liberty.”

He was placed on a two-year supervision order, including an integrated domestic abuse programme and ordered to pay £200 costs.

Railway Station Bust-Up Forces Victim On To Live Tracks

Two drunken thugs who wielded metal chairs grabbed from a train station coffee shop – forcing the target of their anger onto live railway tracks – have dodged prison.

After a day’s drinking at Ascot Racecourse the pair, who have a history of causing trouble, got into a row with another group, which was captured on CCTV at Richmond railway station (pictured).

Bricklayer Michael Lester, 25, of Debden Close, Kingston-upon-Thames and health and safety student James Elderfield, 23, of Lowlands Road, Eastcote, Middlesex both pleaded guilty to causing an affray on June 18, last year.

Croydon Crown Court heard ex-football hooligan Lester, who has two affray convictions and recently completed a soccer banning order, was celebrating his birthday at the races, with pal Elderfield.

On their return Lester and Elderfield, who has convictions for threatening and disorderly behaviour, got involved in a row between a group and an unknown couple on the platform.

“You got involved after that other couple got attacked,” Recorder Alastair Hammerton told the pair. “There was a physical struggle with that other group, you slapped and pushed and received punches to the head and face.

“You armed yourselves with two metal chairs from the coffee shop and approached the group brandishing the chairs,” added the Recorder. “You swung them around and used them as weapons.

“One of the group, Michael McDermott, lost his balance and fell onto the railway tracks. You are fortunate he did not receive injury or was electrocuted.”

The terrified coffee shop staff barricaded themselves in after the chairs were grabbed and after the attack the defendants fled to a nearby pub.

Father-of-two Lester was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, placed under eighteen months supervision, which includes anger management classes and was ordered to perform 240 hours unpaid community service work.

Elderfield was sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, placed under twelve months supervision and ordered to perform 240 hours community service.

"Maniac" Drink-Drive Killer Caged For High-Speed Death Crash

Killed: Steven Moore

A "maniac" drink-driver who crashed into another car - killing the rear-seat passenger - while over twice the limit was sentenced to eight years today.

Uninsured L-driver Kirby Harty, 30, pinched the keys to his ex-girlfriend's Vauxhall Vectra after downing five double whiskeys at a nightclub and crashed during a high-speed bid to evade police.

Sixty sobbing relatives and friends of 25 year-old Steven Moore (pictured) a former BP buyer, packed Croydon Crown Court during the highly-charged sentencing in which they were denied the opportunity to read aloud their victim impact statements.

Mr. Moore had just been picked-up with his friend Glenn Purvey, 24, at Carshalton Beeches train station by his pal's girlfriend Rhia Vassallo, 22, after the Tottenham fans watched their team play Hull City.

Harty, of Gaskell Street, Clapham pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in the early hours of January 17 in Wrythe Lane, Carshalton.

Mr. Moore suffered a broken neck when the Vectra crashed into the back of the stationary Renault Clio - driven by Rhia - and died on January 18 of diffuse brain swelling caused by a severe head injury.

Prosecutor Mr. Hamish Reid told the court the defendant confessed to police he had low-tolerance to spirits, but drank five double Jack Daniels and coke at 'Chicago's', Sutton.

His ex - the mother of his two daughters - ordered him to leave her home because of his drunken condition and Harty, who had just been fined for driving uninsured and without a full licence, grabbed her keys when her back was turned.

A police driver outside Sutton Police Station tried to stop Harty after spotting him jumping two red lights, ignoring a no entry sign and driving the wrong way along a one-way street.

He sped away, nearly colliding with another car, and claims he lost control on a speed bump, hitting the victim's vehicle as it waited to turn right.

"The Renault Clio was struck very violently from behind by the Vauxhall Vectra," explained Mr. Reid.

Harty fled the scene, escaping into a recreation ground, but was caught by police on the other side minus a shoe and with wet and ripped clothing.

At the police station his blood alcohol reading was 179 - the drink-drive limit is 80.

He told officers: "I don't have much memory because I was quite drunk."

Judge Stephen Waller told Harty: "You were driving at high speed and a member of the public says you were driving like a maniac.

"You struck that car at high speed from behind and the deceased, a passenger in that vehicle, subsequently died. You ran into the recreation ground, you were clearly trying to get away.

"No sentence that I pass can make amends or cure the enduring pain relatives and friends are suffering," added the Judge. "A young life has been lost in totally senseless circumstances."

Harty's lawyer Mr. Gordon Ross said: "The defendant would like to express his deep sorrow and regret.

"He has been unable to explain what possessed him that evening to take his girlfriend's car and drive off.

"He panicked because he knew if he was stopped by police he would be in a great deal of trouble.

"He accepts driving like a complete idiot and the fact he has caused somebody else's death will haunt him."

Harty will be released after four years, minus the two-and-a-half months he has spent on remand.

He was disqualified from driving for four years and must pass an extended driving test before he is granted a full licence.

There were angry outbursts from the packed courtroom as Harty was taken away with Mr. Moore's father shouting: "I'll kill him."