McDonald's Customers Flee In Terror As Teen Knifeman Stalks Victim

A teenager armed with a fearsome hunting-knife caused children and families to flee in terror from a McDonald's as he pursued another male.

Arkeem Cabey, 18, of Meadow Close, Barking was sentenced to 18 months custody when he appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

He had pleaded guilty at the same court to threatening a person with a blade in a public place.

The incident happened on the evening of Sunday, April 29 in The Brewery, Romford.

Police received numerous calls that a youth was armed with a knife and attempting to attack another man.

He approached the victim on an upper floor of the shopping centre and chased him into the McDonald's, where customers fled in terror.

Local officers responded within minutes and Cabey ran off from police.

However, he was detained nearby and a large hunting knife that he had discarded was recovered nearby.

On his arrest, Cabey admitted to officers that he had been in possession of the knife for his own safety but when interviewed in police custody he refused to say anything further.

Officers analysed CCTV of the incident which clearly showed Cabey speaking to another man on the first floor of the shopping centre.

Cabey then produced the knife and began to pursue the man into the nearby McDonald’s restaurant.

On realising what was happening, families began to flee in terror as Cabey continued to stalk his victim.

After making unsuccessful attempts to get at the man, Cabey ran off before being arrested by police.

The man Cabey was trying to attack has not been identified.

Acting Detective Inspector Dean Grafton of the East Area Command Unit said: “Cabey’s actions, which took place in a public place where numerous families with children were enjoying an evening out, were utterly abhorrent.

“Armed with a large knife, he pursued his victim for a sustained period of time showing absolutely no regard for the safety and wellbeing of those around him.

“Knife crime will not be tolerated and thanks to the swift actions of officers from Romford Town Centre, an off duty officer and members of the public, Cabey was arrested.

“Good work during the subsequent investigation by the CID ensured Cabey was made to face the consequences of his actions.”

Knifeman Jailed For Triple Stabbing Of Target

A knifeman, who stabbed his target in the back three times after following him into a shop, has been locked-up for five years.

Jeffery Kachila, 21, of Sheen Park, Richmond-upon-Thames was convicted of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, with intent and possessing an offensive weapon.

He was found guilty of both offences after a trial at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

Kachila carried out the planned attack at a shop in Kingston Road, Teddington on January 22.

At around 5.40pm the male victim walked into the shop, followed a short time later by Kachila.

He walked up behind the victim, produced a knife and stabbed him three times in the back before walking out.

The victim also left the shop, but was later traced by police and taken to hospital for treatment for his injuries before being discharged.

Officers spoke to the victim, but he made it clear he did not wish to support the investigation.

However, CCTV footage from the shop showed the incident and officers were able to identify Kachila as the assailant.

He was arrested the following day and a serrated knife, similar to the one used in the attack, was found concealed under his mattress.

Despite staying silent during his interview, the weight of evidence meant Kachila was charged.

Detective Constable Dave Tucker said: "Despite the victim not wishing to support our investigation, we managed to compile irrefutable evidence that Kachila was the person responsible for this attack.

"Whatever the motive was for this attack has never been established, but it is clear that Kachila set out that evening with the intent of attacking his victim.

"It is only by sheer luck that the injuries inflicted were not more serious.

"I hope this sentencing sends out a strong message that carrying a knife is not acceptable and those that do so will be arrested and put before the courts to face the consequences of their actions."

Fire Alarm Knifeman Caged For Neighbour Threat

A knifeman who threatened a neighbour he suspected of calling 999 when his fire alarm activated has been locked-up for two years.

Omar Jaiteh, 34, of Norbiton Road, Poplar became enraged when the fire brigade arrived at the block of flats he and the victim, a man in his twenties, share on July 23, last year.

He was found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court of threatening a person in a public place with a knife and threatening behaviour.

A smoke alarm in Jaiteh's flat had been going off and the emergency services were called.

After they left he became agitated and, armed with a knife, he confronted the victim, blaming him for raising the alarm.

Jaiteh threatened to stab the victim and began moving towards him.

The victim fled into his flat and called the police.

Jaiteh was arrested in his flat and the knife was recovered.

Detective Sergeant Tomasz Patzer of Tower Hamlets CID said: "What started out as a fairly trivial incident ended with Omar Jaiteh arming himself with a knife and threatening his neighbour.

"Why he chose that course of action is unclear.

“However, what is clear is that carrying a knife and threatening harm to others are not acceptable and Jaiteh has rightly been jailed for this."

Pedal-Powered Pervert Wanted: E-Fit Released

Police hunting a pushbike pervert, who twice molested an early-morning commuter in west London, have released this e-fit of their suspect.

On Wednesday, March 14 at approximately 5:40am to 5:50am, the woman, aged in her mid-twenties was walking through an alleyway, which runs between Barnes Bridge and Chiswick Station.

A man on a pedal cycle spoke to her as he passed and then returned.

He approached the victim and sexually molested her.

The victim pushed the suspect away and ran off.

However the suspect pursued and caught her, carrying out another sexual assault.

The suspect is described as a black man, approximately 6ft and aged between 25 and 35 years-old.

At the time of committing the offence the male is believed to have been wearing a dark beanie hat and a dark, thick sports jacket.

Police would like to speak to the male in connection with this incident and are appealing to the public to help identify him.

Officers from the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command investigate.

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Quote CAD 1047/14Mar.

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Man Wanted For Punching Gay Internet Date

Police are hunting this “violent” man after a gay internet date ended with the victim being punched in the face and head.

Officers from Tower Hamlets Community Safety Unit in east London are leading the investigation.

They suspect Anton Ward, 28, from Hammersmith in west London travelled across the capital to the address in Bow, east London on May 9 for the online rendezvous.

However the date turned sour at the victim's home, where Ward is alleged to have struck the blows before leaving.

Fortunately the victim was not seriously injured.

Detective Constable Sajid Asghar said: "Anton Ward is a violent man who may represents a danger to those he meets through social media.

“I would urge anyone who recognises Ward or who knows of his whereabouts to come forward and speak to police."

Anyone with information is asked to call Tower Hamlets CSU on 0207 275 4507 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Vulnerable People's Charity Finance Boss Accused Of Fiddling £171K

The finance manager of a charity that helps vulnerable people appeared in court yesterday, accused of swindling £171,99.21.

Rushna Choudhury, 45, of Singlewell Road, Gravesend, Kent was employed by north London’s Social Interest Group, which aims to improve the health and social care and improve the opportunities of individuals.

She was bailed unconditionally to return to Blackfriars Crown Court on September 12 to enter a plea.

Choudhury is charged with one count of fraud by abuse of position between October 18, 2016 and August 17, last year at the charity’s HQ at 1 Waterloo Gardens, Milner Square, Islington.

Heathrow Employee Cleaned-Up On Nicked Scratchcards

A late-night cleaner at Heathrow Airport secretly swiped £2,643 worth of Camelot scratch cards while sweeping WH Smiths - cashing them in for £675.

Single mum Tracey Flitton, 40, of Birchdene Drive, Thamesmead was caught on CCTV clumsily trying to hide her face with a blue scarf, which quickly slipped off on camera.

She pleaded guilty to stealing the lottery scratch cards in Terminal 4 between January 12 and February 4 and acquiring criminal property, namely the winnings.

Flitton was sentenced to a three-month community order, which includes a weekend-only electronically-tagged night time curfew.

No compensation order was made at the Isleworth Crown Court hearing. 

Prosecutor Miss Fiona Willis told Uxbridge Magistrates Court, where Flitton originally admitted the offence: “This matter regards theft by an employee. She was a cleaner sub-contracted via a company called Turquoise.

“She took scratch cards from the display unit of the landside store on five occasions.”

WH Smiths realised scratch cards were missing on February 8 and began an internal investigation.

“The CCTV showed a cleaner removing large quantities of scratch cards from the display in the early hours of the morning and the company she worked for identified her.”

Jamaican-born Flitton, who claims she is stressed by her wayward 15 year-old daughter, snubbed a meeting on February 9 and never returned to the airport again.

“On the first CCTV clip she is seen sweeping the floor at 2.37am and going behind the counter while still holding her broom and taking scratch cards from the display and putting them into a small bag.”

Another clip showed Flitton in the deserted store at 2.16am removing cards and not paying for them.

“In the third CCTV clip she is seen wearing a blue scarf and after taking more scratch cards at 1.52am she removes the scarf, revealing her face,” explained Miss Willis.

The next day she repeated the theft. “She pulls a wad of scratch cards from the display.”

On April 6 Flitton agreed to be interviewed by Heathrow police. “She made full admissions and said she made about six hundred pounds by cashing in the winning tickets.

“They were cashed-out at retailers in rapid succession.

“This is an abuse of trust. She had access to the shop in the middle of the night when no one else was around.”

Greenwich Observatory's Public Astronomer Viewed Child Porn

Greenwich Observatory’s Public Astronomer, who wrote a book on the science behind tv’s Dr. Who, has received a suspended prison sentence for downloading 407 sick sexual images of boys.

Boffin Dr. Marek Kukula, 49, who has also worked for NASA and has a PhD in radio astronomy, blamed pressure on completing ‘The Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who’ on turning to internet child porn.

Police raided his £780,000 flat in Millennium Square, Tower Bridge, seizing 18 devices and finding the disgusting movie clips and still images on an old laptop and two USB sticks.

Dr. Kukula is the observatory’s official spokesman on astronomy and space science, having held senior research positions at UK universities and at NASA’s Space Telescope Science Institute.

He pleaded guilty to making 34 Category A indecent images of a child; 107 Category B and 266 Category C indecent images on or before October 5, last year.

“You are a man of exceptional intelligence and academic and professional success,” Inner London Crown Court Judge Freya Newbery told him today.

“You have excelled in your own field and you must be more disappointed than anybody to find yourself in this situation, but you have taken steps to put this all behind you to tackle your demons.”

At the Royal Observatory Greenwich he oversees science content and exhibitions and public programmes and is a spokesperson for the landmark institution.

He is also the author of ‘The Intimate Universe’ and while a project manager and researcher in residence at the University of Edinburgh he managed a national scheme to train young researchers and match them with secondary schools.

Prosecutor Rebecca Folks said officers armed with a search warrant told Kukula they suspected indecent images had been downloaded at the address.

“He said: ‘I’m gay and I have been chatting to people online.”

They found Kukula, who has a degree in Physics with Astrophysics, had downloaded and deleted the images between 2006 and 2009.

The worst material showed boys aged between ten and fourteen years-old having sex with each other and with adult men.

Kukula admits he clicked on search terms including: ‘man boy sex’ ‘pre-teen boy’ and young boy sex.’

“He has been open and honest he used the internet as a stress-reliever from work at the time. He was changing career, he was under financial pressure and was writing two books,” said Mr. Michael McAlinden, defending.

“To escape he started to binge on the net. He became addicted to surfing the internet and became addicted to pornography and unfortunately that addiction was the type of pornography you see.

“He is homosexual and looks at gay pornography. As he found to his cost searches revealed images that were not appropriate.

“He was not purposefully searching for Category A images and when he saw images of this type they were deleted.”

Kukula was sentenced to twenty-one weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, must complete a sixty-day rehabilitation activity requirement and pay £535 costs.

He must obey a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which limits his internet use and sign the sex offenders register for the same period.

“You used porn to deal with stress in the past during a difficult time for you,” the judge told him. “You were looking at a lot of adult pornography, you got bored and got drawn into the underage pornography sites.”

Pub Bottling: CCTV Image Released

Police hunting a pub thug, who bottled another customer, have released this CCTV image of the suspect.

It was 2.10am when the 27 year-old was repeatedly struck to the head with a beer bottle at the unnamed pub in Clapham High Street on November 23, last year.

Metropolitan Police detectives on Lambeth borough are now appealing for witnesses.

An ambulance also rushed to the scene.

The suspect approached the victim and accused him of harassing his girlfriend.

He pushed the victim and then carried out the assault with the improvised weapon.

Staff at the bar intervened and ejected the suspect from the venue.

The victim suffered head injuries that required medical treatment and caused scarring to his forehead.

The suspect is described as a white male, of a stocky or muscular build and balding blond hair.

He was wearing a white shirt with a green waistcoat, blue jeans and black shoes.

Detective Constable Christel Tchakounte, from Brixton's Crime Support Unit, said: "Due to the violent nature of this unprovoked attack it is important that we identify and locate the suspect as soon as possible."

Anyone who has information that can assist the investigation is asked to call Lambeth CID on 020 8649 2151, tweet @MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Missing Manchester Woman Cleared Of Hospital Race Charge

University College Hospital

A missing Manchester woman, accused of racially abusing muslims when police took her to hospital, has had the case against her dropped.

Katie Fanning, 30, of Bourton Drive, Belle Vue never appeared at north London’s Highbury Corner Magistrates Court due to mental health issues.

After several adjournments the Crown Prosecution Service eventually offered no evidence against the absent defendant.

Fanning had been charged with racially and religiously aggravated harassment at University College Hospital, Euston Road on May 18, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. Gaspard Davies-Jones told the court: “This is a serious allegation involving police officers and hospital staff.

“The defendant threatened to kill two witnesses and the police officers and shouted racial slurs.”

Fanning was reported missing on May 18, last year and was visited by police officers the same day.

“The police were made aware and attended a location in central London, where they identified the defendant and she was compliant and co-operative with the police.

“As she is taken to the ambulance she threatens to harm herself and is detained for her own protection.

“At some point she asks for a cigarette and exited the ambulance and asks for a lighter.

“As one of the officer’s reached into a bag the defendant lunged at her and she is restrained with handcuffs.

“She is struggling and swearing and attempted to bang her head on the floor and attempted to bite officers.”

Fanning was taken to University College Hospital in Fitzrovia.

“Throughout the journey she is struggling and swearing and proceeds to assault one officer by trying to bite him,” explained Mr. Davies-Jones.

“She then shouts: “Do you know how high my IQ is? I’m going to memorise your numbers.

“Do you have kids? I’m going to kill all of them. Are you a paedophile? you f***ing islamic bitch.

“I’m going to get the guys of Manchester to firebomb all the police stations in Manchester.

“You evil islamic paedophile. I’m going to send the worst paedo for your kids.”

Mr. Davies-Jones added: “Once inside the hospital Fanning took offence to the staff nurse, who is muslim and was wearing a headscarf.

“She shouted: ‘Get the f*** out. Muslim indoctrination is evil.’

“She then threatens violence throughout.”

When later quizzed by police Fanning replied ‘no comment’ to all questions.

She has been diagnosed with bi-polar and post-traumatic stress.

Her defence lawyer said she was suffering from multiple mental health issues and a consultant psychiatrist concluded it was not appropriate for her to attend court.

The court heard an account that Fanning had placed a ligature around her neck and attempted to commit suicide.

That prompted a Home Intervention Treatment Team who supervise Fanning daily at her home.

They also concluded it would be a risk to take her to court.