Parking Meter Scammer Shot Dead Over £250,000 Debt

A Kosovan parking meter criminal was shot dead over a £250,000 debt by an associate now starting a life sentence.

Cima Sogojeva, 27, (pic. top) made a fortune ripping-off London Borough of Westminster meters and gave the cash to 32 year-old fellow-countryman Lundrim Gjikokaj (pic. bottom) for safe keeping.

Gjikokaj, of Western Elms Avenue, Reading, Berkshire executed Mr. Sogojeva at his Golders Green flat, shooting him three times in the back and head, also stabbing the victim.

Mr. Sogojeva lost £177,000 when police raided a security box he stashed some of his criminal fortune in and fearing more raids handed the rest of his loot to the defendant.

They met in Caroline Court, Highfield Road on October 6, 2008, but instead of returning the money Gjikokaj murdered his one-time associate and fled the scene.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Duffield, of the Met's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “Lundrim Gjikokaj presented a carefully crafted alibi to the police after his arrest, cynically claiming that he had been elsewhere at the time, and that he had been a 'close friend' of the victim and claimed to be 'heartbroken' at hearing of Cima's demise.

“A detailed investigation established that Gjikokaj, a compulsive gambler, had in fact meticulously planned the fatal events, and his motivation was purely to avoid paying a significant and rapidly escalating debt.

“Faced with the prospect of having to answer difficult questions during the trial, he refused to give evidence to the jury.”

During a four-week Old Bailey trial the court heard that at 11:15am police received a 999 call by a member of the public, stating that they had heard shots fired at an address in Highfield Road.

Officers and paramedics attended and found Mr. Sogojeva collapsed with gun shot and knife wounds inside the address. He was pronounced dead at the scene.




Detectives established Gjikokaj had continually dodged Cima because of a financial debt thought to be in the region of £250,000.

Following a detailed enquiry into his movements it was established that he had met Mr. Sogojeva at the victim's home address on the morning of the murder.

A search of the crime scene and wider area identified crucial forensic evidence linking Gjokokaj to the shooting.

He will serve a minimum of twenty-eight years imprisonment before he can be considered for parole. 



'Lesbian' Asylum-Seeker Jailed For Benefits And ID Plot

A Ugandan identity and benefits fraudster - currently trying to convince the Home Office she will be persecuted for being a lesbian if deported - was jailed for sixteen months yesterday for her role in an eighteen year £4m plot.

Betty Tibakawa, 24, studied here for three years under a false identity after entering the country five-and-a-half years ago on a six month visa and her lengthy asylum battle has become a cause celebre despite the authorities firm belief she has invented her account of homophobic abuse in her homeland.

Tibakawa, of Cordell House, Newton Road, Finsbury Park pleaded guilty to conspiring with others, including ringleader Ruth Nabaguzi, 49, to defraud immigration and DSS departments and other government departments between June 12, 1993 and September 9, 2011.

She also pleaded guilty to making an application for UK naturalisation in a false name and using that identity to make a fraudulent claim for £4,503 in jobseekers allowance, plus approximately £2,000 in social fund benefits.

"The crown say miss Tibakawa assisted others in using and abusing identities," prosecutor Miss Kerry Broome told Croydon Crown Court. "Once she assumed the false identity claims were made for benefits and the like."

Tibakawa entered the UK on July 5, 2007 on condition she stay no longer then six months, but in January 2011 applied to the Home Office for asylum under her true identity, claiming she was the victim of homophobia in Uganda.

She claims she was branded on her inner thighs with a flat iron filled with red-hot coals while growing up in Uganda and her case has benefited from the support of Medical Justice and Human Rights Watch in this country.

She studied for three years under the false identity of Taty Mangangi at Waltham College, but failed to appear for her naturalisation swearing-in ceremony under this name, instead launching the asylum bid.

Tibakawa is currently residing in Home Office accommodation and is in receipt of "pocket money" from the government.

Her lawyer Mr. Patrick Maggs told the court: "She is at the lower end of offending and was more of a customer of Ruth Nabaguzi than a foot soldier.

"She arrived in this country aged eighteen and at that young age she made a series of appalling decisions.

"This is a young woman, if not searching for a better life, then trying to achieve a normal life. Just trying to get the best life she can in this country.

"The crown are taking a monolithic attitude and do not accept her asylum claim and what is hanging over her head at the moment is worse than any custodial sentence."

Judge Nicholas Ainley told a tearful Tibakawa: "There has to be an immediate custodial sentence, but I will make it as short as I can. You allowed false identities to be developed and you adapted one for yourself."

Church Scout Leader Accused Of Abusing Three Boys

A “deeply manipulative” church activist and cub scout leader plied two young brothers and another boy with treats and organised fun events in order to sexually abuse them, a jury were told today.

The boys, aged four to ten years-old, were entertained by mock-medieval swordfighting duels, swimming trips, videos and given sweets, ice-cream and cash, Croydon Crown Court heard.

James Edward Bailey, 69, (pictured) of Kettering Court, Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath has pleaded not guilty to fifteen charges dating back twenty years when the boys were aged between four and ten years-old.

The brothers, now aged twenty-eight and twenty-four, attended a church in Thornton Heath in the early 1990's where Bailey was a parishoner and trusted by their parents to look after them.

Bailey – known as Jim – later became a cub scout leader at a church in Addiscombe and is accused of abusing the third boy, now twenty, in his car after a group trip to South Norwood Leisure Centre, Portland Road.

“It seems apparent at the time that Bailey was a single man, keen on the church and cub scouts, both of which gave him access to young boys,” explained prosecutor Mr. Tony Badenoch.

“It also involves manipulation by an abuser with offers of sweets, ice-cream, money and the opportunity to watch grown-up action films.

“Bailey has an unhealthy interest in young boys and is deeply manipulative.

“They were not treats. They came with a price and that price was abuse,” Mr. Badenoch told the jury.

The brothers reported Bailey to the police three years ago after a chance encounter with him at Tesco's in Thornton Heath and the third man, who they do not know, came forward nearly two years later.

“The older brother told police that as a child he spent quite a bit of time with Jim and what was laid on the quite good fun.

“This included Jim running a medieval club, staging sword fights and assisting in school fetes and performances,” added the prosecutor.

“Their father, a missionary, very much trusted Bailey and he was a regular visitor to the family home.

“The older brother told police Jim touched him and got him to touch him back and said: 'Don't tell your parents.'

“He started taking him home and let him watch grown-up films and told police Jim had filmed him at the defendant's former home in Clifton Road.

“The younger brother told police Jim had put his hand down the front of his trousers and rubbed his penis and testicles.”

There was also a sexual incident involving the boy and Bailey's pet dog, the jury were told, and an incident when the defendant took him swimming.

Bailey is accused of performing a sex act on the third boy after a different swimming pool trip when he also offered him sweets and cash.

He denies three sample charges of indecently assaulting the older brother, plus five counts of indecency with the same child.

He has pleaded not guilty to two sample counts of indecently assaulting the younger brother plus four counts of indeceny with the child and one count of indecency with the third child.

Trial continues.............

150 MPH Death Crash Driver Jailed

A BMW driver, who crashed into another vehicle at 150mph, killing the occupant, has been jailed for seven years.

Shehzad Munir, 25, (pictured) of Boundary Road, Plaistow was driving his black 645i along the A13 in Rainham on September 9, 2010 at 1.25am when he collided with a red Nissan Primera.

The other driver, 30 year-old Sukhpreet Singh Chimber, of Arterial Road, Grays was pronounced dead at the scene.

Munir taken to an East London police station and arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Detective Sergeant Joe Lock, of the Road Death Investigation unit at Chadwell Heath, said: “This sentence reflects the way the courts view of this type of offence. 



“The defendant in this matter drove his vehicle in excess of twice the national speed limit without any consideration for other road users. 



“As a result, an innocent family man has lost his life. 



“I would hope this sends out a positive message that the Metropolitan Police Service deals robustly with matters of this nature.” 

'Lobster Pot' Cocaine Mastermind Jailed

A 'lobster pot' cocaine smuggler, who tried to import £53m worth of the drug, has been jailed for twenty-eight years.

Edward Henry Austin, 47, (pictured) from Welling, Kent had orchestrated the plot, involving five accomplices who collected the 255kg haul from the English Channel.

The cocaine – packed into eleven holdalls – was dropped into the sea by a container ship sailing from Brazil to antwerp, Belgium in May 2010.

To disguise the smuggling operation as legitimate fishing the holdalls were tied along a rope resembling submerged lobster pots.

The four-man 'fishing' crew and another accomplice were caught and given prison sentences totalling 104 years.

Austin had fled to the costa-del-crime in Spain, but was returned to the UK from Fuengirola in January.

Detective Inspector Colin Stephenson, of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Central Task Force, said: "‘We will robustly investigate organised criminal gangs involved in polluting the streets of London with cocaine.

“These criminal networks employ sophisticated methods to smuggle cocaine to the UK and flood our streets with the drug.

“This multi-agency investigation has shown that the MPS will rigoursly pursue those involved in these criminal enterprises.”

Mob Stormed Fried Chicken Takeaway

A teenage student, trashed a fast-food takeaway shop with a seven-strong gang of friends, after staff tried to detain one of the group for sneaking in the back door.

Staff were left with cuts and bruises during the violent disturbance and one victim needed a total of five stitches to eye and head wounds.

Mayooran Ravikumar, 19, of Cheveral Avenue, Coventry pleaded guilty to affray at Chicken Cottage, London Road, Croydon on May 12, last year and was sentenced to a twelve month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work.

Prosecutor Miss Olivia Kong told Croydon Crown Court today: “A fight took place at the chicken shop after a male entered through the back door and was detained by workers.

“He was asked by the worker: 'What are you doing?' and said: 'I just want to wash my hands.'

“A number of males, including this defendant, entered and tried to take the male out of the shop and a fight took place.

“The police arrived and by the time they got there tables and chairs were everywhere.

“Some of the staff were bleeding and needed medical aid. It was quite a serious fight,” added Miss Kong.

“One of the victims received a laceration to his eyebrow, which recquired five stitches, and a laceration to his forehead, which needed three stitches and there were two other cuts over his eye and bruising to his ear.”

Ravikumar (pictured) was only identified after the incident by CCTV and a hat he left behind at the scene.

The court heard he lives with his parents in Coventry, but is currently studying in Brighton.

Recorder Steven Kay QC said: “It was an attempt to rescue someone who plainly tried to steal from the shop.”

Tyre Slash Stabbing: Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Murder

Police investigating the murder of a man in North London – fatally stabbed shortly after his car tyres were slashed – have made an arrest.

Teon Palmer, 28, (pictured) suffered a single stab wound to the chest at aproximately 11.00pm on October 20 in Montagu Road, Lower Edmonton.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 23 year-old suspect has been arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed to return to a police station in early December.

It is believed Mr. Palmer's a car had all four tyres slashed in the moments leading up to the stabbing.

Up to seven black males, described as wearing hooded tops or jackets, were seen making off from the location.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Andy Yeats of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: “We know there were people in the area at the time of the assault on Teon Palmer.

“I would ask anyone who was in the area of Montagu Road and Goodwin Road, or the surrounding streets, to contact my team.



“A blue Vauxhall Astra car belonging to Teon Palmer was vandalised prior to the assault on him.

“I believe those who damaged the car knew it belonged to Teon.

“Did you see anyone hanging around the vehicle or an altercation in the vicinity of the vehicle?



“If you have witnessed anything, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please contact my team - your information could prove vital to this investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 1570 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Mum Sentenced For Bar Brawl

A drunken mother-of-two, who joined a violent group-beating of a man after a row in a South-East London bar, has dodged jail with a suspended sentence.

Stacey Fay, 27, of Dawes Street, Walworth was caught on CCTV striking the victim's head, causing a cut.

She pleaded guilty to assault, causing actual bodily harm, in Blackwater Street, East Dulwich on December 11, last year.

The disturbance began inside the Liquorish bar, (pictured) Lordship Lane when someone bumped into another person, who was using crutches.

The row continued outside, where the victim was surrounded by an angry group of men and women, including Fay, and repeatedly punched in the head.

Fay's shoes were caught on CCTV images and she was identified inflicting a blow.

Tower Bridge Magistrates' Court committed her to Woolwich Crown Court for sentencing because they felt their powers of punishment, limited to six months imprisonment, were insufficient to meet the seriousness of the offence.

Her solicitor told the magistrates' court: “She was very inebriated. The police said she was visibly upset by seeing her own actions.”

The court also heard Fay is in a considerable amount of debt.

She was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for a year, and ordered to perform 100 hours community service work.

Woman Hit Panic Alarm When Harassing Ex Visited

A Bournemouth man, with alcohol and anger management issues, frightened his ex so much she activated a police panic alarm when he banged on the window of her home – breaching a restraining order.

Scaffolder Ian Walker-Smith, 45, of Westby Road also sent text messages and left abusive voicemails, despite a court order banning him from contacting the woman.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to harassing Claire Bullen, of Acre Lane, Carshalton on March 17 and April 18.

The court heard today that Walker-Smith was subject to a restraining order, imposed at the court on December 12, last year.

“She was so fearful of what took place she pushed a panic button and contacted the police immediately,” Judge Daniel Flahive told the defendant.

“You breached the restraining order by making abusive phone calls and by knocking on the window and making a nuisance of yourself.”

The court was told Walker-Smith has turned his life around and successfully completed an alcohol treatment order and has settled down with a new girlfriend.

He admitted the offence put him in breach of a twenty-two week suspended prison sentence, imposed for driving while disqualified and failing to give a sample to police.

Walker-Smith was placed on an eighteen month community order, with 100 hours community service, plus forty additional hours for breaching the suspended sentence.

“If you are back here your feet won't touch the ground,” added the judge.

Fraudster Jailed For Olympic-Sized Ticket Scam

A heartless Olympic scammer – who made €450,000 selling expensive non-existent tickets from two bogus websites – has been jailed for four years.

Amongst the victims, from twenty different countries, were the parents of Olympic competitors from France and Greece.

Christakis Ioannou, 44, (pictured) of Crantock Road, Catford was arrested at Gatwick Airport with €17,500 stuffed inside his shoes as he stepped off a flight from his Portugal hideaway.

The Metropolitan Police's Operation Podium Team discovered Ioannou wired his illicit profits to Portugeuse bank accounts, where he made cash withdrawls.

He pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to participating in a fraudulent business and possessing and concealing criminal property.

Ioannou set up two fake websites nearly a year before the the opening ceremony, which were designed to look like official sites, offering for sale unlimited numbers of tickets for all Olympic events.

Over 400 people, from around the world, tried to buy tickets for the Games from www.2012-londonsummergames.com and www.2012-londonsummergames.org.

In five weeks the sites took over €450,000 in sales for non existent tickets to the Olympics.

Detectives from Podium tracked the websites back to Ioannou, who was based in Portugal, and he was arrested when returning to the UK.

Evidence was taken from victims in over twenty countries around the world including the USA; Italy; Netherlands and Denmark.

Detective Superintendent Nick Downing said: “Ioannou was the first fraudster of this type we identified and the biggest.

“This case clearly shows that online crime of this nature is not a victimless crime.

“Over four hundred people missed out on a chance to be part of the London 2012 Olympic Games and instead were simply ripped off.

“Ioannou set up simple yet genuine looking sites, and made thousands within only five weeks.

“Podium were so concerned about people falling foul of his scam we issued a number of public warnings naming the sites to try prevent additional people from getting conned.

“Once someone had bought their tickets, at vastly over inflated prices, they never heard from the website of his company again.



”These sites were picked up as part of our proactive monitoring of the internet and referrals from LOCOG to spot and then prevent fraudsters like Ioannou from cashing in on the popularity of the Games.

“Three hundred and forty websites were identified in this way. 

“Never buy your tickets from anywhere but the official event organisers, or those people authorised to sell on their behalf.”