Cannabis-Growing Operation Near Crystal Palace Park

Police on routine patrol discovered a large cannabis factory after detecting the tell-tale smell of the pungent drug.

Officers from Bromley's North West Neighbourhood Policing Team were in Crystal Palace Park Road, Sydenham on January 13 when they detected the strong smell.

As officers approached a detached house, they noticed a man placing large bags inside a wheelie bin.

The suspect saw police and immediately ran off into Crystal Palace Park. 



When officers entered the house they found that it had been converted into a cannabis factory, with four large rooms set up with ventilating and heating equipment, and in excess of 500 fully grown plants inside (pictured).



The suspect had been in the process of cropping and moving the cannabis out of the address when disturbed by police.



Sergeant Rob Goodwin from Bromley Police said: “This seizure represents a major and unexpected dent in the network of cannabis supply in the South East London area and was brought about through proactive local neighbourhood policing”.



Enquiries are still ongoing to trace the man. 

Rapist Pounced On Down's Syndrome Woman

A teenage sexual predator, who raped a young woman with Down's Syndrome when she went for a midnight stroll, has been caged for eight years.

Liam Felton, 18, (pictured) struck up a conversation with the 22 year-old as she sat on a bench and twenty minutes later forced her down an alleyway and raped her twice.

Felton, of Station Road, Harold Wood, east London pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court to two counts of raping the girl, who also lived in the area, on September 12, last year.

The victim, who lives with her parents, got out of bed due to a headache and went for a late-night stroll.

She walked to Station Road, where she sat on the bench, and Felton - who was not known to the girl - walked past and, after spotting the victim, doubled back and sat down on the bench.

After around 15 minutes the pair got up from the bench and walked for about five more minutes.

Felton then grabbed the victim and forced her into an alleyway before raping her twice and then making off from the scene. 



The victim returned home where she told her parents what had happened and they called police.



Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command launched an investigation.



CCTV footage from the area was analysed and showed Felton engaging the victim in conversation on the bench.

His image was circulated and he was identified and arrested later that day.

Detective Constable Tim Glover said: "This was a shocking and harrowing attack on a defenceless girl.



"The victim has Down's Syndrome which impairs her both physically and in her speech.

I”t would have been clear to Felton from his conversation with her that she had this condition.



"However, he chose to abuse her in the most callous way.

“I can only hope that his jail sentence gives some form of closure to the victim and her family."


Cruel Conman Takes £100K Painting From Pensioner

This £100,000 painting was taken from the home of a pensioner last night by a cruel conman who blagged his way into her home by posing as an investigator from her bank.

She had divulged the painting's value during a telephone conversation with the fraudster, who convinced her that her bank cards had been used in a crime.

The 89 year-old received a call at her South Kensington home informing her that someone from her bank would call to collect her debit cards, which had been compromised by criminals.

During that telephone conversation she was quizzed about valuable items in her home and mentioned the painting by Samuel Palmer 'The Comet of 1858.'

Jewellery was also taken by the conman, who is now being hunted by police.

The pensioner telephoned her bank to confirm the account, but the caller had not hung up and simply posed as her branch, confirming the story to her.

The conman is described as white man, believed to be aged in his 30s, approx 5ft 10inches tall, with dark hair and spoke with an English accent.



Anyone with information is asked to contact Kensington and Chelsea Serious Acquisitive Crime Unit on 0208 246 0173 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.



Police have offered the following advice: Neither your bank nor the police would ever ring you and state that they are coming to your home to pick up your card, so never hand it over to anyone who comes to collect it. 


Your bank will never ask you to authorise anything by entering your pin into the telephone handset. 


Never share your pin with anyone - the only times you should use your pin is at a cash machine or when you use a chip and pin machine in a shop / restaurant. 


If you think you have been the victim of a fraud or scam of this nature report the crime to your local police.

Pedestrian Killed By Stolen Car: Police Continue To Appeal For Witnesses

Police are appealing for witnesses, who saw an early-morning pedestrian killed by the driver of a stolen car, which mounted the pavement.

Christopher Ritchie, 52, (pictured) from Chadwell Heath, Essex was fatally injured as he walked along Forest Drive, Manor Park at 7.23am on November 20, last year.

He was pronounced dead at the scene from a head injury.

The vehicle, a blue Ford Focus, had been reported locally as being stolen and came to a halt nearby.

The driver left the scene on foot.

A 38-year old man was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision.

He has been bailed to return to police at a later date.



Detective Sergeant Helen Lambert from the Metropoltan Police Service's Road Death Investigation Team said: “This fatal collision took place on a busy highway frequented by many local people and commuters.

“I’m convinced somebody saw something that can help us with our enquires. 



“The family are naturally devastated by the loss of their loved one, an innocent family man who was going about his everyday business.

“I would urge anyone with information to call our incident room hotline on 020 8597 4874 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.” 

Overseas Student Slashed During Midnight Rucksack Mugging

A mature student from Spain was slashed with a knife when two muggers tried to rob him of his rucksack just after midnight in a north-west London street.

The 30 year-old, who is studying English, was attacked outside Brondesbury Court, Willesden Lane, Cricklewood (pictured) at 12.35am on January 5.

Detectives from the borough of Brent arrested two youths, aged 15 and 17, and are appealing for witnesses.

The victim refused to hand over his rucksack when approached by two males and during a struggle was slashed with the knife.

He received serious injuries and was rushed by ambulance to a central London hospital where his condition is now stable, but may be life-changing.



The suspects, who were arrested twenty-four hours later on suspicion of inflicting grievous bodily harm, have been bailed to date next month.

Detective Constable Fiona Davidson of Brent CID said: "This was a shockingly violent attack on a man who was simply attempting to prevent the robbery of his bag.



"I would urge anyone who saw what happened, or who has information about those responsible, to make contact with police."



Anyone with information can call officers on 020 8733 3709 or speak with Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Latest Deviant From Notorious Essex Family Tried To Met 10 Year-Old Boy For Sex

Inner London Crown Court

A young paedophile with “deviant and perverted ideas” was caught in a police sting after arranging to meet a ten year-old boy he wanted to abuse.

David Michael Lane, 24, of Hubberd Road, Little Canfield, Dunmow received a suspended prison sentence yesterday for setting-up the meeting with an undercover police officer, who claimed to have an available son.

“You are a danger to young children, say the probation service, and will continue to be a danger if something is not done about it,” Inner London Crown Court Judge Nigel Seed QC told the first-time offender.

“You have ended up as an adult with some pretty deviant and perverted ideas. It would have been oral rape and whether you would have carried it out we will never know.”

Lane, whose father and uncle are convicted sex offenders, pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating an act that involved the commission of an offence, namely oral rape, on October 8, last year, plus eight counts of possessing indecent image of children.

He was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, placed on two years probation, which includes a sex offender treatment programme and must undergo NHS psycotherapy.

Lane, whose mother, sister and other family and friends were in court to support him, was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Offenders Prevention Order and must sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

Prosecutor Mr. Tom Wilkins told the court the Metropolitan Police's Child Protection Command ran an operation monitoring the internet and during Skype and telephone conversations Lane revealed an interest in the subject of “dads and boys.”

“He said a ten year-old boy would be perfect and that he would like to see a father and son together and sexual imagery of a father and son.”

“Eventually Lane met an undercover police officer and said he would like the boy to perform oral sex on him and he would like to see the officer have oral sex with the child and then he would like to join in.”

After purchasing lubricant and condoms the defendant was arrested and made a full confession.

"He said that he had been troubled by his sexual desires and wanted to be stopped from committing any future offences and that he couldn't cope.

“He said that he had been viewing indecent images of children for many years, since he was a teenager, exposing himself online and reading about child abuse fantasies.”

Police found a total of 64 indecent images on Lane's computer and phone.

“None of the images were taken by himself,” added Mr. Wilkins. “Over 50% were at least at Level Four and some were at Level Five, the most serious.”

Lane's lawyer Miss Ann-Marie Talbot told the court: “He has taken this opportunity to unburden his soul.

“He is young enough to change and he has been open and frank about difficult circumstances and subjects.

“A custodial sentence is not the best way to ensure Mr. Lane does not trouble the police or court system in the future and he is a young man a number of people continue to rate very highly.”

In a statement Lane revealed: “I've tried to block this for too many years. I started at the age of eleven and twelve and tried to have girlfriends.....I know you can't stop this for a fact.”

However, Miss Talbot claimed: “He now knows help does exist for his sexual paraphilia.”

Judge Seed stressed no prison sentence available to him would be long enough to ensure Lane, who has been in custody since his arrest, received necessary treatment.

“Whilst you are to be pitied you merit punishment for what you have done,” he told Lane. “There are explanations, but they don't justify your behaviour.

“It is in the public interest to make sure you receive the appropriate treatment, getting you out of your deviant behaviour and protecting children.”

Mystery Surrounds Respected Electrician Turned Cocaine Courier

A Wolverhampton electrician caught at Gatwick Airport with £270,000 worth of cocaine hidden inside three drink bottles has been jailed for four years.

Roy Grizzle, 53, of Redhurst Drive, Fordhouses had just stepped off a flight from Montego Bay, Jamaica when he was stopped by UK Border Agency officers.

The smuggling operation has left the first-time offender's family shocked and baffled as to why the father-of-three, who has never been in trouble before, should become involved in such a risky and serious offence.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to being knowingly concerned in the importation of 2.172 kilos of 63% pure cocaine on November 7, last year.

The drugs were secreted within three bottles of aloe vera and Jamaican-born Grizzle tried to talk his way out of trouble.

“He gave an account of going to the St. James' area to sort out a property issue and had gone to a shop in Sandy Bay to buy the drinks and did not know anything about cocaine in them,” explained prosector Mr. Andrew Ramsubhag.

Grizzle's lawyer Mr. Kieron Berkeley said: “He was in Jamaica because he had been left some property, not of any real value, and was administering those affairs.

“He has no debts and is not an alcoholic or drug-addict and the family are ashamed their father is where he is.”

Grizzle has been in custody since his arrest and not offered any real explanation for the offence, added the lawyer.

“He has been inward looking and gone within himself, but it is not clear to me what the background to his offending is.”

Judge Jeremy Gold told Grizzle: “It is a great shame to see a man of your age standing across from me in a courtroom.

“You were living a blameless life with your family, but have now committed this serious offence.

“I can only assume that it was done for money.”

Doctor Swindled Free NHS Drugs He Mailed To His Indian Mother-In-Law

A hospital doctor received a suspended prison sentence today for obtaining free NHS cancer drugs after writing 145 prescriptions for medication he mailed to his mother-in-law in India.

Dr. Sukhendeo Chattopathyay, 50, who was employed in the intermediate care unit at Orpington Hospital continued the fraud after he was exposed by stealing the name of a patient on his ward and using it on a subsequent prescription.

Croydon Crown Court heard his mother-in-law, who continues to battle breast cancer, registered with her local G.P. as a resident when merely visiting the UK and Dr. Chattopathyay maintained the illusion after she returned home.

Dr. Chattopathyay, of Holywell Close, Orpington pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation between January 7, 2009 and September 5, 2012 by dishonestly representing to Rowlands Pharmacy that Jyotsna Bhadra was an NHS patient.

He also pleaded guilty to another count of fraud by false representation on September 5, 2012 when using the hospital patient's name to obtain an NHS prescription from the same pharmacy.

Indian-born Dr. Chattopathyay told further lies to the pharmacy, including having his mother-in-law's G.P's permission to write the prescriptions even though that doctor had died seven years earlier and also tried to have evidence destroyed.

The £40,000 a year doctor admits he could have easily afforded the buy the medicines privately and the sentencing judge concluded he had been motivated by "greed".

Prosecutor Miss Eleanor Mawrey told the court that as well as the cancer drugs Dr. Chattopathyay also defrauded the NHS out of painkillers, stomach acid pills and an asthma inhaler.

He came under suspicion on July 17, 2012 after writing a prescription for three months supply of the cancer drugs just three weeks after he had received 84 free tablets for Mrs Bhadra.

"He said that she was his mother-in-law and that she was travelling in India. That was a lie, she was living in India and was a resident there.

"He stated that she was a patient and he had cleared it with the surgery, but that doctor had died in 2005 and Mrs Bhadra was not a patient of that surgery anymore," explained Miss Mawrey.

When Dr. Chattopathyay returned to the same pharmacy in September for more cancer and stomach acid drugs staff refused to dispense them.

"He then entered into another series of lies, saying he had cleared it with the G.P. but eventually said he would not do it again and asked the pharmacist to shred the prescription.

"However, the next day Dr. Chattopathyay took things to a whole new level when the pharmacy received a prescription for stomach acid drugs.

"The patient named on the prescription ad never been prescribed those drugs, in fact she was a patient on the ward where Dr. Chattopathyay worked."

Police arrested the father-of-two at his family home on October 17, 2012. "He said he believed his mother-in-law was entitled to prescriptions on the NHS."

The GMC are now re-reviewing Dr. Chattopathyay's fitness to practice and his eight-month suspension without pay from the hospital cost him £27,000 - adding to his growing debts.

"He has paid a heavy price. If he had admitted this fully straight away it would have been dealt with internally," explained Mr. Benjamin Narain, defending.

"He is completely sorry for what he has done and admits he behaved dishonestly.

"He was on a good salary and could have afforded to buy the drugs and send them to his mother-in-law.

"He was motivated by the desire to help."

Judge Jeremy Gold QC sentenced Dr. Chattopathyay to 9 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months and ordered him to complete 150 hours community service work and pay £3,000 costs.

Dr. Chattopathyay must also pay £1,114 compensation to the NHS.

"This country expects the very highest standards of behaviour from doctors practicing throughout the country," Judge Gold told him. "A doctor's actions must be beyond reproach.

"Your actions shake the confidence of the general public. It is shameful behaviour.

"You committed this offence out of greed and took advantage of your position to write prescriptions for drugs that you could have purchased on the open market instead of defrauding the NHS."

Gun Cops Seize Revolver After Armed Swoop

Firearms cops swooped on a van in north London, seizing this gun and arresting two men.

The Armed Response Vehicle officers stopped the white van at 10.25pm in Truro Road, Wood Green on January 9.

The vehicle was searched and the revolver and ammunition found.

The men, aged 21 and 29 years-old, were arrested for possessing a firearm, with intent to endanger life, and taken into custody.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said: "Day in and day out detectives and firearms officers continue to combat gun crime to protect Londoners.

“I am proud of what they do and their resilience and focus to continue even in the midst of this week’s news.

“Armed criminals have killed more than 50 people in this city - from all communities -- in the past 3 and half years.

“We send out well-trained, professional armed officers nearly every day to protect the public from this threat.”

Fake-Job Rapist Locked-Up

A knife-wielding rapist, who lured a woman to his bed-sit after placing a bogus job ad, has been caged for seventeen years.

Bulgarian national Atanas Miryanov, 38, (pictured) even tried to push the terrified half-naked woman out of a second-floor window as she attempted to escape.

The victim, 26, responded to the online advert Miryanov placed on Bulgarian-language site novoto.co.uk, seeking women to work at a car wash.

She arrived at his address in Sutton Common Road, Sutton on July 1, 2013, where the heavy-drinking defendant asked her to wait for the manager 'Georgi' as he became increasingly drunk.

The woman, also Bulgarian, eventually asked to leave, but Miryanov grabber her, threw her onto the bed and raped her.

She feigned an asthma attack in a desperate bid to end her ordeal, but this prompted the defendant to try and rape her again while threatening her with a knife.

The victim tried to flee via the upstairs window and clambered onto the ledge, where Miryanov tried to push her out of it and fortunately her screams were heard by several passers-by, who called the police.

Miryanov, who has been in the UK eleven months, was arrested and when quizzed by police claimed he did have sex with the victim, but she had consented.

He was convicted of rape by a Croydon Crown Court jury.

Detective Sergeant Janet Archibald, of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "Miryanov subjected the victim in this case to a terrifying sexual assault.

“The victim said she was prepared to risk her own life in order to escape from him and she did this by climbing semi-naked and precariously onto a high window ledge, and fortunately her cries were heard by members of the public.

"I would like to thank those witnesses who assisted this case.

“The victim of this awful crime has shown incredible bravery throughout this investigation and I wish to thank her for helping the Metropolitan Police Service to bring this dangerous and predatory criminal to justice.

“I also wish to appeal to any other women who may have been attacked by this individual and not yet come forward to do so."