Bullet Shot Through Window In Lambeth: CCTV Image Released

Police are hunting this suspected gunman after a bullet was fired through the window of a Lambeth house.

At 10.10pm on July 25, last year police were called to reports of a gun being fired into the Opal Street address.

Officers attended with specialist firearms colleagues.

A bullet was found inside the address.

There were no injuries.

Upon inspection of the area, officers found a bullet casing within a car park on the opposite side of the road.

CCTV footage of the area has been studied and detectives are releasing a still of a man they would like to speak to in connection with this incident.

Detective Constable Melanie Burridge, from the Metropolitan Police's Trident and Area Crime Command, said: "Nobody should have to feel unsafe in their own home and especially should not have their safety compromised by a gun being fired.

"This was a reckless and selfish act that could have had fatal consequences.

"Do you recognise him or know who he is? Call police with any information. We are ready to take your call."

Anyone with information concerning the man pictured or the case is asked to call police via 101 quoting CAD8559/SEP15 or Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.

Southbank Homophobic Attack: Three Suspects ID'd

Police are hunting these suspects after a gay couple holding hands near the National Theatre were attacked on New Year's Day.

Officers on Southwark borough are treating it as a homophobic offence.

The male victims, aged 28 and 31 years-old were strolling in the Southbank at 2.30pm when they were set upon.

They suffered facial injuries and bruising as a result of the assault.

They did not require hospital treatment.

Four assailants took part, but one was not captured on CCTV.

The suspects are all described as white, aged in their mid-20's and wearing hooded tops.

They left in the direction of the OXO Tower.

Officers are issuing images of three of the four suspects in a bid to identify them.

The assault is being treated as a hate crime.

Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at Lambeth via 101 quoting reference 6108/1Jan or tweet @MetCC.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Convicted Professor Stalker Vows To Appeal

A fiercely ambitious account, convicted of stalking a London Business school professor she became obsessed with, vowed to appeal the case when she appeared at the Old Bailey today.

Zhaoyan Li, 41, stalked Oxford-educated Alex Edmans, 38, for approximately twenty months - demanding he be her lover and mentor - after she witnessed him addressing a career event.

She suddenly popped up at his church, gatecrashed his gym class, booked a holiday to follow him to Lanzarote and bombarded him with texts, emails and calls.

Now the professor, who has spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos and testified to Parliament, will have to undergo the ordeal of giving evidence for a second time behind a screen.

At the height of Li’s campaign the professor was eventually too distressed to answer his office phone and quit regular activities. 

Li, of Rattan Apartments, Susannah Street, Canary Wharf was convicted of stalking Professor Edmans between February 1, 2017 and September 13, last year.

Li told City of London Magistrates Court, where she was found guilty, she may kill herself if convicted.

“I want to appeal,” she told the Old Bailey today, where she was due to be sentenced, and was bailed to return for an all-day hearing on April17.

Sentencing was postponed, pending the result of the appeal.

In the meantime Li has to obey conditions of bail not to contact Professor Edmans directly or indirectly or attend the London Business School.

“She is on bail and she needs to know if she breaches that she will be arrested,” announced Judge Rebecca Poulet QC. 

Professor Edmans told the court during Li’s trial last month that she  enjoyed taking photographs of him working out at a Hyde Park boot camp fitness club and groped his biceps after a class.

She began stalking him after he spoke at accountancy giants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) ‘Finding Purpose In Your Career’ seminar early last year.

“She said she wanted to become a partner at PwC, which was strange because she wasn’t even a trainee,” he explained. 

“She asked me if I was happy to have dinner with her because she had some questions about her career and I told her I had to go home.

“I went to Marks & Spencer’s and when I left she was waiting for me outside and followed me on the westbound tube even though she lived in the opposite direction and sat next to me.”

Li then joined a Surrey getaway hosted by Professor Edmans’ All Souls Church breakfast club. 

“Every mealtime she’d sit next to me and try to talk to me, even if I was talking to other people and this way annoying. She was trying to encroach on me and continually interrupting conversations I was having.”

The professor admits he eventually resorted to getting physical. “I squeezed the pressure points on her knee to cause a bit of pain.”

However, Li claims she took this under-the-table knee squeeze as a “come on” of a sexual nature.

Professor Edmans was bombarded with WhatsApp ad Facebook messages from Li, who suddenly appeared at his workout class when a picture needed to be taken.

“Out from the shadows Ms Li jumped up and said: ‘I’ll take the group photo.’ She must have been on the sidelines watching.

“She started touching my biceps, which was not solicited and then started coming to the boot camp, not to participate, but to take photos, presumably of me working out.

“I blocked her on facebook, but and then she contacted me through other means, I blocked her on WhatsApp and saved her as ‘Dirty Pervert.’

“She wanted to be in a relationship with me. It was as if she thought she had the right to have a relationship with me.”

In one message Li wrote: “I want a Mr. Right who loves me and cares about my feelings.”

Eventually All Souls Church banned her and Professor Edmans reported her to the police, who gave Li an official warning in January.

“She then started coming to the London Business School campus and using the internal phone and called me on February 14 to say: ‘Happy Valentines Day.’

“Normal things like checking emails filled me with horror and dread and each time I saw her number my heart sank because this ordeal was continuing.”

Eventually a panic alarm was fitted at the professor’s office and he quit the boot camp and church breakfast club after Li booked herself on their Canary Islands vacation.

“I thought: ‘There’s no getting away from her if she turns up in Lanzarote for the entire eight days.’”

Today Judge Rebecca Poulet QC told Li to consider her position: “The professor, the gentleman in question, would he to come to court so we’d have to fix a date for him.

“You can do so if you want to, but you may be penalised in costs if the court decided the magistrates were right and secondly if the court upholds the conviction it will then sentence you and the result would be that possibly your position would be more serious, the court having heard the professor give evidence.

“He would have to give evidence twice by then.”

The judge added: “If there is a total re-hearing of this case as there would be and if the court decided against her, if they upheld the conviction, she would have to pay quite substantial costs. Does she understand that?”

New Year's Day Sex Pest Locked Up

A “prolific offender”, who molested two women in the street on New Year's Day, has been jailed for a year.

Mohammed Abedin, 32 of Montana Road, Tooting Bec, preyed on the women – who he did not know – just minutes apart.

He pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the women in Upper Tooting Road, on January 1 and possessing a small quantity of cannabis.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard he tried to engage the victims in conversation and then sexually assaulted them.

Abedin was identified at the scene and arrested.

He was also be placed on the sex offenders register for ten years.

The court heard Abedin has a history of similar offending.

Detective Sergeant James Massey of the South West Command unit, who led the investigation, said: "Abedin is a prolific offender, and has shown that he is a risk to women.

"Due to the first victim quickly reporting the incident and then identifying him with officers present, he was detained very quickly.

“The following day he was jailed, where he poses no further risk to the public.

"We would urge any victims of sexual assaults to report them as soon as possible.

“We will do everything we can to identify the person responsible and hold them to account for their actions."

Female Shoplifting Gang: CCTV Released

Police investigating a suspected all-female shoplifting gang have released these CCTV images as they continue to hunt them down.

Officers on Newham borough, east London say they are keen to identify the trio, who they wish to question.

They are suspected of stealing over £2,000 worth of women's accessories from a retail shop in Westfield Shopping Centre, Stratford.

The suspects entered the store at 6.50pm on Monday, August 13, last year, accompanied by two small children.

They filled shopping baskets with stock from the store and left the venue without paying for the goods.

Anyone who can name the women pictured is asked to contact North East Command Unit by dialling 101 and quoting 5326132/18, Tweet @MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Woman Stabbed At Bus Stop: E-Fit Released

Police have released this e-fit of a suspect after a lone woman was randomly stabbed at an east London bus stop late one night.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses and information after the 32 year-old woman was attacked in Chadwell Heath.

Police were called at approximately 10.55pm on Friday, November 30, last year to High Road to reports a woman had been stabbed close to the bus stop on Albany Road.

The woman was taken by the London Ambulance Service to an east London hospital for treatment and she has since been discharged.

The suspect is described as a white man, aged in his early 30's, with a ginger beard and glasses.

He was wearing a dark coloured jacket, trousers and a baseball cap.

Acting Detective Inspector Dean Grafton, from the East Area Command Unit, said: "This appears to have been a random attack on a lone woman.

“Thankfully her injuries were minor and she was quickly discharged from hospital.

"I would urge anyone who recognises the man in the E-fit to contact us as a matter of urgency.

“I would also like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and who may have seen a man running from the scene."

Anyone with information is asked to contact officers via 101 quoting reference 8999/30Nov.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Knifepoint Sex Assault: E-Fit Released

Police have released this e-fit after a woman in north London was molested at knifepoint in the early hours.

The investigation was launched following the incident which occurred at approximately 1.00am on Saturday, November 10, last year.

A woman, aged 25 years-old, was approached by the suspect in Hungerford Road.

The man sexually assaulted her.

He also produced a knife during the incident.

The woman managed to push the suspect away before making her way home and reporting the incident to police.

Detectives Chief Inspector Pete Wallis, said: "We are issuing this e-fit in a bid to identify this man.

“I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Hungerford Road in the early hours of November 10, or who recognises this man to contact police immediately."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police in the Central North Command Unit on 101 and quote CAD 507/10Nov; alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Hackney Knifepoint Muggings: Three Suspects Wanted

Police have released images of three suspects they want to question in connection with a number of knifepoint muggings in the Hackney area during November, last year.

Detectives are investigating eleven robberies which took place near Rectory Road London Overground Station in Narford Road and Brooke Road, between November 5 and November 25.

All of the robberies took place between 6.00pm and 2.00am and in each case the victim was threatened with weapons, including knives.

Quantities of cash are reported to have been stolen, as well as a number of debit cards.

The suspects are described as black, between 18 and 25 years-old and wearing dark clothing.

Although each robbery was carried out by just one suspect, officers believed them to be linked and the men to be known to each other.

Detective Constable Alexander Cochrane-Dyet said: “The victims in these cases have faced a horrifying ordeal and we want to bring those responsible to justice.

“We are appealing for these men or anyone who recognises them to come forward and assist our investigation.”

Justice Catches Up With Child Molester Three Decades On

A paedophile, who preyed on two young boys aged just six to eight years-old three decades ago, has been jailed.

Christopher Posada, 47, of Malton, North Yorkshire was was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

He was found guilty of ten counts of indecent assault of a child after a Wood Green Crown Court trial.

The court heard that Posada - known as Chris Pope at the time of the abuse - targeted the two boys during the 1980's.

The boys, were known to each other, and were aged between six and eight when the abuse started.

Posada - who was a number of years older - befriended them and would invite them round to his parents' house in Hackney where the abuse would take place.

He also took the opportunity to sexually abuse them during games of hide and seek in a nearby churchyard.

The boys did not realise the other had been abused until one of them - then aged in his 30's - reported the matter to police in 2017.

Officers from the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command began an investigation and Posada was arrested but denied the abuse.

However, as the investigation continued the second victim came forward to police.

His allegations were put to Posada who again denied responsibility, but he was subsequently charged.

Detective Constable Ben Lucas, who led the investigation, said: "Christopher Posada is a predatory sexual offender who targeted two vulnerable young boys for his own gratification.

"Posada, a young man himself at the time of abuse, manipulated and controlled the boys, using his influence as an older boy to isolate and then abuse them.

"I would like to praise the courage of the two victims for supporting this case and I hope Posada's conviction can help them move on from the pain he has inflicted on them.

"It cannot be discounted that he abused other boys - I would appeal to anyone who believes they may have been abused by Christopher Posada, or Chris Pope as he was known, to contact police.

“Specially trained officers are here to support you."

Grenfell Tower Fraudster Jailed For £33K Scam

A bogus Grenfell Tower fraudster, who claimed he was living in the tower block when it caught fire, has been jailed for a £30,000 scam.

Muslim Abolaji Onafuye, 54, later claimed his Ramadan fast caused temporary insanity once his story had been exposed.

He received £33,000 in accommodation and financial assistance from the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and the Rugby Portobello Trust charity.

Onafuye, of Gorleston Street, West Kensington was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court of two counts of fraud by false representation.

He received five years imprisonment.

Onafuye falsely claimed he lived on the 11^th floor of the council tower block and his brother died in the blaze.

During the trial he said during his police interview he only claimed to have been living in Grenfell as he was suffering from temporary insanity caused by not eating during Ramadan.

He later alleged that he had been volunteering after the disaster and was rehoused as a result of suffering trauma during that time.

Onafuye also stated he had never claimed to live in Grenfell Tower and disputed the evidence given by staff from various organisations.
Detective Constable Carlos Araujo, who led the investigation, said: “Onafuye shamelessly took advantage of the support being offered to those who were directly affected by the Grenfell tragedy and he has continuously failed to own up to his deplorable actions.

“We will continue to investigate and prosecute anyone who is exploiting what happened at Grenfell and our thoughts remain with the real victims of this tragedy.”