Rapist Who Tried To Beat Pensioner Victim To Death Convicted

Richards: "I like you. I will kill you."

This is the face of an evil rapist, who tried to beat his 70 year-old victim to death - leaving her with ten broken ribs, a fractured cheekbone and jaw, broken hip and vertebrae and bleeding on the brain.

Builder Robert Richards, 22, of Chessington, knew the pensioner after previously changing a lightbulb for her and scaled the outside of her suburban home early in the morning and entered via an open window.

He was convictd at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court of the rape, attempted rape and attempted murder of the pensioner at her Chessington home on October 23, last year and will be sentenced on August 4.

Between 5:30am and 6:30am the women was woken by Richards, who put his hand across her mouth and threatened to kill her if she screamed.



The victim recalled the defendant ominously uttering the words: "I like you. I will kill you."

He then raped and beat her severely and she suffered a cardiac arrest whilst being treated in hospital.



Following the attack Richards left the property via a back door and the victim was able to alert her neighbours by banging on an internal wall. 



Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command (SOECA) launched an investigation.



Police enquiries quickly led to Richards being identified as a person of interest and he was arrested locally the same day.



The court heard Richards had once changed a lightbulb for the woman.



When he was brought in to custody he was wearing two pairs of tracksuit bottoms.

His clothing was seized and officers found the first pair of bottoms were covered in blood.

Forensic analysis identified the blood as the victim's.



Richards lied that he found the bloodied tracksuit bottoms in the street and his DNA was also found under the fingernails of the women.



He tried to create an alibi when he bought tea bags at a local shop, knowing he would be captured on the store's CCTV.

Detective Inspector Nicky Arrowsmith said: “I would like to pay tribute to the spirit and courage displayed by the victim, who gave evidence during the trial.”

Justice Catches Up With Rapist Decades Later

A Merseyside rapist is facing a prison sentence after he was convicted of historic sex offences dating back four decades.

Bar worker William Ashton, 54, of Breccia Gardens, St. Helens was arrested after three women came forward and made complaints about sex attacks between 1972 and 1984.

He was convicted by a Croydon Crown Court jury of one count of raping a female when she was aged sixteen to seventeen years-old, plus four counts of indecently assaulting the same victim.

The rape ocurred at an address in Brunswick Road, Sutton, which was the location of two of the indecent assaults, the remaining two ocurring at an address in Cantrill Farm, Liverpool.

Ashton was found not guilty of indecently assaulting another girl, who said her breasts were repeatedly groped by the defendant, who she claimed also forced his hands between her legs as they rode in a lift at a block of flats.

He was also cleared by the jury of four counts of indecent assault relating to the third complainant.

The rape victim told the trial Ashton was “angry” about the fact she had never had sex before, but proceeded anyway, leaving blood on the bed he took her to.

“He told me to lay down, to shut my eyes and it was over,” she told the court. “That was the last time.”

Before the rape she said Ashton “built up to it” by molesting her in a bathroom and putting his fingers inside her.

The third complainant also alleged Ashton molested her in a bathroom when she was aged four to eight years-old, but the jury acquitted him of those counts.

The defendant claimed the complaints were an “invention” and “false allegation” but each woman denied telling lies, stating it was very dificult to come forward after so many years.

Ashton was bailed until July 8 for sentencing.

Abused Boy Inspired By Jimmy Savile Scandal To Report Sex Abuse, Jury Told

'Not Guilty': Malcolm Stuart

A journalist sexually abused a “troubled” young boy, who only made his complaint to the police thirty-five years later when prompted by publicity surrounding the Jimmy Savile scandal, a jury were told today.

Retired Malcolm Stuart, 76, of High Street, Banwell molested the youngster between the ages of twelve and fourteen years-old and on one occasion took him to a hotel for sex, Croydon Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Mr. Walton Hornsby said: “The defendant took him to Arsenal football matches and this developed into discussions about sexuality and development and this led to this defendant providing him with a 'wank book' and asked him to write down occasions when he masturbated.

“The boy was given low-level pornographic literature and masturbated himself in front of the defendant and was given monetary presents for writing in the book every time he had masturbated.”

The jury were told this abuse escalated into the boy providing Stuart with oral sex and the complainant – now aged 49 years-old and living in Torquay – told police the defendant once took him to a hotel.

“He was taken to the hotel, told to take his clothes off and bent over a chair,” Mr. Hornsby told the jury, explaining Stuart then attempted to have sex with the boy, who found the experience “excruciatingly painful.”

“The allegations were not disclosed officially until 2012 when the amount of publicity in the Jimmy Savile case chimed with him and provoked him to contact the police and make a statement.

“Before this, on two occasions, he made a brief disclosure to his first wife and to his current wife that he had been sexually abused.

“None of it took place in the presence of anybody else.

“He had been a troubled boy and a troubled man, saying what happened in adolescence has carried on through his life.

“He says that as soon as he expressed a sexual interest in girls the defendant stopped and there appears to have been no contact after that.”

Stuart was traced and arrested by police, who put the complaint to him. “He made a complete denial of any sexual activity.

“He accepted most of the factual background, in that he had taken him to Arsenal football matches and that they had discussed masturbation as a normal avuncular discussion.

“He did accept suggesting a book be kept, but said there was no sexual contact, no payments made or any sexual activity with the complainant.”

Stuart has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecency with a child between November 7, 1976 and November 9, 1978.

He also denies four counts of indecently assaulting the boy between the same dates and committing a further sex act within that period.

Ex-Pub DJ Jailed For Indecently Assaulting Teen Girl

A barman/DJ, who seduced the under-age daughter of the owners of a Norwich pub over a decade ago, is starting an eighteen-month prison sentence.

Lee Daniel Dickens, 39, of Biggin Way, Upper Norwood, was convicted by a Croydon Crown Court jury of one count of indecently assaulting the girl between 2000 and 2002.

The jury heard the defendant, from south London, moved into the pub when the victim was a young teen and she told them: “We had sex when I was fourteen.”

Dickens claimed he only had a sexual relationship with her after she turned sixteen years-old and it was consensual.

She told the court: “Lee told me I shouldn't say anything to anyone because of the age difference and he would get into trouble.”

Dickens was cleared by the jury of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, which the victim claimed occured in south London.

He was ordered to sign the sex offenders register.

Rogue Trader Has €180K Seized By Police

Euro's Seized: Anthony Holehouse

Police have seized €180,660 belonging to a notorious rogue trader – banned from running any company for 10 years after he was jailed.

Anthony Holehouse, 31, of Tremayne Road, Bilborough, Nottinghamshire was sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment for his role in a 'long firm' fraud.

Police applied for the continued detention of the money yesterday on the grounds it represents the proceeds of unlawful conduct and the hearing was adjourned at Uxbridge Magistrates Court until January 7, next year.

Holehouse was one of a group of six men investigated by Leicestershire Constabulary, which started an investigation in November 2005 into a fraudulent company called Power Associates Ltd (PA Ltd) based in Burnmoor Street, Leicester.

This led to the identification of three other fraudulent companies in Nottinghamshire.

Following a joint investigation between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire forces, the suspects were identified and charged in December 2007.

The defendants all pleaded guilty to fraudulent company trading at Leicester Crown Court.

Detective Sergeant Edward Jones, who led the investigation, said: "These men were setting up bogus companies and obtaining goods on credit with suppliers, but never paying the balance.

"When the suppliers chased them for payment all remnants of the company and its employees had disappeared as the gang moved on to the next bogus company.

"The best way to stop these people from committing offences again is to make their faces known in the business world."

Holehouse was also convicted of fraudulent company trading in relation to JTF Services Ltd and West Yorkshire based company Crossfield Construction Ltd.

Sikh Grandad Jailed For Nearly Blinding Daughter-In-Law He Wrongly Suspected Of Muslim Affair

Jageer Mirgind

These are the injuries inflicted by an enraged Sikh grandfather against his son's wife after mistakenly believing she was having an affair with a Muslim.

Manjit Mirgind, 51, attacked 29 year-old Jageer Mirgind in front of her young children – aged three and six years-old – targeting her eyes in particular.

He was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court to ten years and eight months imprisonment after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent.

Mirgind, of Mayfair Avenue, Ilford attacked Jageer at her nearby home at around 9.00am on December 18, last year.

Emergency services were called and police established the victim had been badly beaten and had suffered a violent and frenzied assault by her father-in-law.

He had attempted to strangle her, had gouged both her eyes, stabbed her several times in the face and kicked her about the head and body.

She also suffered defence injuries to her arms and hands and Mirgind – who injured his knee and hand while beating her – gave himself up to police immediately.

Manjit Mirgind

He made unsolicited comments on his way to hospital stating that he had stabbed his daughter in law in the eyes because of his belief that she was having an affair with a Muslim man and was trying to break up his family. 



When he was later interviewed he answered “no comment” to all questions asked.



The victim was taken to an east London hospital where she underwent surgery. 



Jageer is now scarred for life and has partial vision in one eye and blurred vision in the other.

Her left wrist has lost mobility and she now stammers due to damaged muscles in her neck. 



Detective Inspector John Delaney of Redbridge Police Community Safety Unit said: “The psychological effects on the victim in this case will remain long after her wounds have healed. 



"When Manjit Mirgind launched this attack he was acting in the misguided name of ‘honour’, spurred on by a false belief that his daughter-in-law was having an affair with a man of another faith. 



“The victim sustained an unprovoked, frenzied attack by a trusted family member in her own home which has resulted in her sustaining life changing injuries.

“She has shown tremendous courage and resilience in dealing with this incident which has not only affected her but two extended families within her community.” 



Charity Boss Jailed For Decades-Old Child Sex Offences

Caged: Zafar Iqbal

The paedophile chief officer of a charity is starting a prison sentence after his sordid past caught up with him when three female victims reported decades-old sexual abuse.

Zafar Iqbal, 61, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment after he was convicted of twenty-five counts of indecent assault.

The victims were all under fourteen years-old at the time of the offences – committed at an address in Peckham during the 1970's and 1980's.

The abuse only ended when Iqbal got married and moved away, eventually running a Brent-based charity.

The victims reported the abuse they had suffered to the police 2012 and an investigation was launched.



Iqbal was arrested and interviewed by detectives from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command (SOECA). 




Detective Constable Martin Sharp of the SOECA said: “I would like to take this opportunity to praise the three young women that Iqbal abused and highlight their courage in coming forwarding and reporting to the police Iqbal’s crimes.

“The support they gave the investigating officers during this investigation was instrumental bringing Iqbal to justice today. 



“Zafer Iqbal no doubt thought the passage of time meant that he had escaped justice for the appalling offences he committed against three small children.

“I hope that his conviction and sentence gives other victims of sexual abuse confidence to come forward.”

Grandma Caught Smuggling Drugs After Jamaica Holiday

Inner London Crown Court

An Oxford grandmother, caught smuggling £51,000 worth of cannabis after stepping off a flight from Jamaica, was jailed for two years yesterday.

Margaret Simms, 57, of Peat Moors lost her good name and 18-year job with Boots chemists after she was caught at Gatwick Airport.

She denied, but was convicted by a jury of importing 17 kilos of the drug on November 19, last year.

“It is unfortunately my job to sentence you for this offences,” Recorder Karl King told the first-time offender at Inner London Crown Court.

“As you will appreciate it is solely from your commission of this offence, your conscious decision to participate in this offence that brings you here.

“You were aware of what you were doing and you played a role which is more than minimal.

“You gave the jury an explanation that you had been a victim of threats, duress made by security guards at your hotel door, but then told probation they barged in.

“You said you thought their words were a joke, but said the day before you were due to return from Jamaica they returned and said the same thing and gave you instructions to collect a suitcase.”

The defendant had flown to the Caribbean to visit her Jamaican husband Sean Simms, who she married in 2008, and still maintains her innocence, insisting she was acting under duress.

“Your husband, who was with you at this time, was not alerted or his family were not alerted about these two strangers.”

Simms claimed she was instructed to collect a suitcase, identified by a unicorn band, when she landed at Gatwick, but it had already been identified by border Force officers as containing drugs.

Prosecutor Mr. Francis Gaskin said: “The evidence heard in total about her role came from the defendant and must have been disbelieved by the jury.

“There is no credible evidence of threats or pressure. The prosecution say she knew exactly what she was doing and was motivated by financial gain.”

Simms' lawyer Mr. George Hepburne Scott told the court: “There is no evidence at all of money or a criminal lifestyle.

“Up until now she has been a law-abiding, hard-working taxpayer. She has lost her dignity.

“She has been exploited, you may think, to some extent through naivety. She's perhaps been used to some extent by those who would have made far more.

“The prosecution have searched her home and her bank accounts and there is no evidence of Rolex watches, jewellery or cash-counting machines.

“They are conspicuous by their absence. She doesn't seem to have had any financial gain.”

Recorder King told Simms: “I have come to the conclusion you were an active participant and you have concocted a story to deflect your role and involvement in this offence.

“There is not any sense of regret or remorse on your part.”

Drug Dealer Caught After Arriving At Police Raid On Accomplice's Home

Lorri Jeffery

Two drug dealers, arrested after a total of four kilos of cocaine and cannabis worth £230,000 was seized during a police raid, have been jailed.

Lorri Jeffery, 30, of Pullman Place, Eltham received seven years and Luke Roffey, 30, of Plum Lane, Woolwich received two years imprisonment.

Both pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court to possessing drugs, with intent to supply.

On May 21 officers from the Trident Gang Command executed a Section 23 Misuse of Drugs Act warrant at Jeffery's residential address – a one-bedroom second-floor flat.


They seized over a kilo of cocaine - with a street value of in excess of £200,000.

While searching the address Jeffery received a text message on his phone stating “I am outside”.

Officers went downstairs where Roffey was ringing the buzzer to the flat.

Luke Roffey

Roffey ran off and was seen to throw a large bin liner over a fence as he was pursued.

He was apprehended and the bag retrieved, which contained 3 kilos of cannabis, with a value of approximately £30,000.



A number of Rolex watches and a quantity of cash were recovered when his home address was searched.



Detective Constable Harvey Brooks from the MPS Trident and Area Gang Command said: "This investigation shows that we will seek anyone actively involved in the drugs trade and use all the powers available to us to combat it.

“If you deal in drugs we will arrest you and put you in front of the courts to face the consequences of your actions”.

Does Sex Predator Have More Unknown Victims?

Police are appealing for more potential victims of a serial east London sexual predator to come forward after he was jailed for six years.

Hassain Ahmed Chowdury, 26, of Croydon Road, Beddington is suspected of further sex attacks in the Western Gateway area of Canning Town.

He was convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court on nine counts of sexually assaulting six different women in the same area between June 2011 and June 2013.

Officers from Sapphire, part of the Metropolitan Police Service's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command are urging any other women who may have been a victim of Chowdury to call 020 8217 9874 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.