'Audacious Predator' Caged For Terrifying Late-Night Rape Bid

A wannabe rapist, who kicked a woman's front door off it's hinges after following her home from a night bus, has been locked-up for ten years.

Shane Lynch, 25, (pictured) of Aviary Close, Canning Town, is described by police as a: “predatory, audacious sexual offender.”

He demanded to know where the 26 year-old victim was during a terrifying face-to-face confrontation with her mother, then after finding her tried to pull off the young woman's tights and dress.

She was only saved when her mother tried to pull him off as their landlady screamed that she was calling the police.

In the early hours of Friday June 14, last year the victim was travelling home after a night out with friends.

Lynch approached her as she waited for a night bus to travel from Romford to Canning Town, east London and began chatting to her during the journey.

He asked to walk her home several times but she declined his offer, leaving him in Hayday Road.

She carried on walking to her house and was preparing a snack when she heard the front door being kicked open.

Terrified, she hid in the kitchen while Lynch hunted for her upstairs.

He confronted the victim's mother, demanding to know where she was.

He then came back downstairs and found the victim cowering in fear.

Lynch immediately attacked her, pulling her to the floor and trying to tear off her dress and tights.

He told her he wanted to have sex with her and ignored her pleas for help.

The victim's mother came downstairs and attempted to drag Lynch off her daughter, but was assaulted in the process, suffering minor injuries.

However, on being told the police were being called by the victim's landlady, Lynch finally made off after throwing a suitcase at the women.

He was arrested on the next day and claimed in a police interview that the victim had stolen his phone and he was trying to retrieve it.

He admitted assaulting the victim's mother, but claimed it was self-defence.

He was found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court of attempted rape, having already admitted an unrelated charge of wounding, with intent, on another victim on January 25 in Newham Way, Canning Town.

He received seven years for the attempted rape, plus three years for the GBH charge.

Detective Constable Yvonne Rhoden, MBE, of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the victim and the other female occupants of her home.

“I hope this conviction goes some way to restoring her peace of mind in the future.

"Lynch is a predatory, audacious sexual offender who, but for the brave actions of the victim's mother, would have carried out a violent rape.

"He has posed a real danger to lone females using the public transport system and we would appeal for members of the public to come forward with any information on similar offences."

Police can be contacted on 101. In an emergency always dial 999.

Witnesses Sought For Tower Bridge Motorbike Tragedy

Police are continuing to appeal for information concerning the tragic Tower Bridge fatality of a pedestrian who was struck by a motorbike.

Benjamin Sale, 32, (pictured) from Manchester was struck near the junction with Tooley Street, Southwark at 2:48pm on December 10.

Officers, the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance attended.

Mr. Sale was rushed to the London Hospital, Whitechapel with head injuries, but was pronounced dead approximately 24 hours later.

The motorcyclist stopped at the scene and was not arrested.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact officers at Catford Traffic Garage via the Witness Appeal Line on 020 8285 1574.

Businessman Benefits Cheat Ordered To Repay Fraction Of Swindled Money

A partially-sighted escort agency boss, who illegally pocketed almost £176,000 in benefits - including a massive claim for approximately 60,000 miles in non-existent taxi rides - has been ordered to repay 7.5% of the money.

Under a government disability scheme businessman Andrew Pishides, 39, billed the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for daily 100 mile round-trip £180 fares for four years - supporting the claims with forged receipts.

After Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings Harrow Crown Court ordered him to pay £13,190 to the DWP within six months or serve twelve months imprisonment.

"You must have lived very well for those four years," sentencing Judge Jeremy Donne QC told Pishides, who ran 'Escort Emporium', 'Escort Solutions' and a letting agency for parking spaces called 'Park Let'.

"These offences reflect a moderately sophisticated and extremely persistent fraud that garnered you just shy of one hundred and eighty thousand pounds.

"The benefits represented an income of over forty thousand a year and in addition you had legitimate sources of twenty thousand a year, which would have been equivalent to a six-figure salary before tax."

Pishides, of Alexander House, Broadfields Way, Neasden was originally sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, placed on a twelve month supervision order with a three-month electronically-tagged evening curfew.

"Is it right that you should go to prison for four-and-a-half months? I confess I find this difficult," announced the judge. "I have a clear public duty to deal with people who commit offences like these, but on balance i am persuaded a prison sentence can be suspended."

Pishides pleaded guilty to three counts of obtaining money transfers by deception, namely £106,000 in access to work payments; £37,328 in housing benefit; £28, 637 in income support and evading a liability by deception, namely £3,874 in council tax.

DWP investigators mounted a surveillance operation, which confirmed their suspicions that Pishides did not travel from his home in north-west London to Wrotham in rural Kent three times a week to work as a software salesman.

The access to work scheme offers financial assistance with travel costs to those with disabilities.

He also failed to declare all of his bank accounts, his business income and part-ownership of a mortgage-free Lewisham flat.

Investigators discovered hundreds of pounds a week were being paid into Pishides' bank account from a large number of women who had signed-up to be his escorts.

The DWP are pursuing compensation under the Proceeds of Crime Act and are currently deducting £100 per month from Pishides' disability living allowance payments.

Pishides' lawyer Mr. James Maloney told the court: "The risk of re-conviction is low, the public is not at risk from the defendant. 

"His disability would make imprisonment more stressful and difficult than able-bodied defendants and he would be vulnerable to those in the system with more know-how than him."

Pishides suffers from a genetic eye condition, which restricts his field of vision to only 10% and he needs times four magnification in his right eye - his best - to see normally.

"He lost a lot of his life skills, his confidence, his self-esteem and did fall into some form of depression," added Mr. Maloney. "He is genuinely resourceful about this."

Judge Donne added: "He was pretty well off compared to a lot of people and it must have been apparent to him that what he was doing was quite egregious.

"What is the court to do with someone who commits offences on this scale for this period of time?

"However, it is a simple fact prison would be more difficult for someone with his difficulties and I have wrestled in my mind as to the correct sentence in this case."

Teenage Student Gang-Raped By Trio

A rapist who participated in a gang attack on a teenage girl is starting a 7-year sentence while his two accomplices remain on the run.

Sadiq Ali, 23, (pic.top) of Blyth Road, Hayes was jailed at Isleworth Crown Court and 22 year-old Mohamed Abdihakim, (pic.bottom) of Mackay House, White City Estate, Shepherds Bush continues to evade justice.

Both were convicted of the rape and false imprisonment of the 19 year-old student, who was held against her will after visiting Ali's flat in Hayes, Middlesex on May 26, last year.

At 4.30am she was raped by both defendants and a third man, who absconded before the trial began.

Detective Constable Adam Lewis, said: "This was a horrific attack by three males on a lone female victim.


"The sentence reflects the severity of the ordeal the victim was put through.

“Police are still actively pursuing the two outstanding suspects in this case.

“The Metropolitan Police Service are committed to pursuing any allegations made to them of a sexual nature.



"If anyone knows the whereabouts of Mohamed Abdihakim please contact the Sapphire Unit on 020 8247 6520 or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111." 

Albanian Car Wash Wars Spark Triple Murder Bid

An Albanian, who armed himself with a loaded gun when attending a late-night business deal, is starting a 23-year sentence after shooting at three men in a horrific triple murder bid.

At least seven shots were fired by Admir Bregaj, 26, (pictured) who repeatedly tried to kill the trio as they desperately attempted to flee in their car.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder at a petrol station in Chase Side, Enfield on September 7 and one count of illegally possessing a firearm.

The Old Bailey heard the three victims had attended at 10:20pm to discuss a car-washing business venture when a row broke out between them and two other men.

Bregaj approached and pulled a gun from the front of his trousers, which was initially hidden by his black leather jacket.

The defendant fired the gun and one of the victims, who avoided being shot, jumped into his car in an effort to escape.

Bregaj kept firing bullets causing damage to the vehicle.



The second victim tried to get into the same car, but Bregaj saw him and chased him around the vehicle, continuing to fire shots at him, wounding him in the buttock.

A third man tried to disarm Bregaj, but he shot him in the pelvis.

Bregaj fired another shot that hit the floor and rebounded - hitting the same victim in the ankle.

Bregaj then ran off. 



He was arrested on the October 8 by Operation Trident officers and subsequently charged and remanded in custody.



Detective Inspector Glenn Butler of Trident Gang Crime Command said: "This significant sentence reflects the serious nature of this offence.

“Bregaj fired numerous shots in a public area over a seemingly trivial argument about a business venture.

“This would have been a terrifying experience for the victims, who thankfully have now made a full recovery from their injuries. 



"I hope this result sends a clear message that Trident officers will continue to relentlessly pursue and bring to justice those individuals who bring harm to their communities through acts of violence, gun and gang criminality. 



“If you have any information on gun and gang crime please do not hesitate in contacting the police."

Night Bus Sex Attacker Wanted: Do You Recognise Him?

Police are hunting this pervert, who followed a young woman in the early hours after she got off a night bus.

Officers from Harrow CID have released an image of the suspect in a bid to catch and arrest him.

He followed the 21 year-old victim in St. Kildas Road, Harrow at 2:00am on November 21 after she got off the N18 bus at the nearby garage.

She was approached from behind and sexually assaulted and her attacker also snatched her mobile phone.

The suspect is black, approx 30-35 years old, approx 5' 10" tall and spoke with an English accent.

He wore a black beanie hat, a black woollen jacket and blue jeans.



Detective Constable Janine Stevenson from Harrow CID said: “I would like to speak to the man in the photograph in connection with this matter.

“It is believed he was travelling on the same bus as the victim.

“I am appealing to anyone who may know him or know of his whereabouts or has any information to call police on 101, alternatively, to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.” 

Bus Death Tragedy: Did You See Anything?

Police are appealing for witnesses after a pensioner was struck and killed by a bus outside Tooting Broadway Underground Station.

Local man Dennis McGoldrick, 69, suffered fatal multiple injuries on December 16 and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the route 131 bus was stopped after the 6:15pm incident, but not arrested.

Anyone who witnesses the incident should call the Road Death Investigation Unit at Hampton Traffic Garage on 020 8941 9011. 

Happy Christmas To All Our Readers

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year from everybody here at Square Mile News.

We hope you are all safe and well and are enjoying a wonderful time with family, friends and loved ones.

This last year has been the most prolific in terms of breaking news stories for Square Mile News and our Christmas wish is to continue to be even more successful in the coming twelve months.

Hit-And-Run Driver Admits Killing Policeman In 80mph Tragedy

An unlicensed and uninsured killer hit-and-run driver, who mowed down a police officer signalling him to stop at a speed trap, will be sentenced next year.

PC Andrew Duncan, 47, (pic.top) was flung thirty metres, sustaining fatal injuries, when struck by Gary Bromige, 25, (pic.bottom) who was driving a black VW Golf at over 80mph.

Bromige, of Holland Road, South Norwood pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to causing death by dangerous driving; death while unlicensed and uninsured; failing to stop at an accident and failing to report an accident.

He was remanded in custody until February 7.

Officers were deployed in Reigate Avenue, Rosehill in the early hours of September 20 on a speed enforcement operation when PC Duncan signalled for Bromige to pull over.

However, the defendant ignored this request and drove the vehicle into the officer, abandoning it a short distance later.

Father-of-two PC Duncan, who had served twenty-three years, had sustained multiple injuries and died in the early hours of September 22.

Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane, said: “On the night of September 20 Bromige who was not legally permitted to drive, was doing so dangerously, recklessly and his actions led to the tragic death of PC Andy Duncan.



“He callously failed to stop leaving a critically injured officer at the scene. 



“Andy’s death has had a profound effect on his family, friends and colleagues and Bromige now faces a jail sentence to reflect on the devastation that he has caused.”

Graveyard Rapist Convicted Of Copycat Sex Attacks

A double rapist, who pounced on a second victim in a copycat attack while on bail for the first offence, is facing years behind bars.

James Isted, 27, (pictured) of Tintagel Road, Orpington stalked his victims, aged 17 and 27 year-old from behind – hitting the first over the head and threatening the second with a knife.

Both attacks ocurred in Church Hill, Orpington on September 30, 2011 and May 7, last year respectively.

Isted was convicted of two counts of rape and robbery against the women and assaulting a police officer on May 7 and will be sentenced on February 7.

Croydon Crown Court heard the first rape ocurred at 2.40am when the defendant struck the teenage girl from behind and dragged her into the graveyard of All Saints Church.

She was subjected to a harrowing and lengthy ordeal and Isted left with her handbag, which contained a mobile phone and other personal items.

Isted was arrested a few days later on October 4 and was on bail pending further enquiries when he struck again.

This time he approached the victim from behind at 1.30pm – threatened her with a knife – and raped her in the graveyard.

This time a witness reported the daylight attack and Isted was arrested by police after a short chase in possession of the victim's bank card and jewellery, including her engagement ring.

Detective Inspector Faye Churchyard, of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: “Isted has shown a total disregard for both victims in this case, forcing them to re-live their ordeal by pleading not guilty to the offences.

“Both victims have shown immense courage in attending court and facing their attacker.

“I hope their determination and success in seeing him convicted will go some way in providing them with some closure.

“I believe there may be other victims who have not come forward and I urge them or any victim of rape to tell the police what happened to them.

“Specially trained officers together with our partners are here to support you throughout the process."



Anyone with information they believe may assist police is asked to call 020 8721 4614. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.