Pair Of Greedy Grenfell Fraudsters Locked-Up

Two Grenfell Tower fraudsters, who scammed nearly £50,000 in financial assistance after lying they were housed by a victim of the fatal blaze, have been caged.

Both Carmel Daly, 50, and Robert Kenneally, 52, of Warwick Lane, West Kensington claimed they resided unofficially at Grenfell for six months before the fire.

They were convicted at Isleworth Crown Court of fraud by false representation.

Daly received four years and three months imprisonment and Kenneally four years and nine months.

The pair told the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and the Red Cross they had been sharing a flat with Dennis Murphy, who died in the fire.

As a result, Daly and Kenneally were provided with a room at a hotel, clothing and financial assistance. 

They were later provided with a rent-free flat, with no requirement to pay council tax or other bills.

After an initial investigation by the RBKC fraud team, Daly and Kenneally were interviewed by police on April 5, 2018.

Detectives analysed CCTV footage from Grenfell Tower, five days before the fire, and neither Daly or Kenneally could be seen.

The jury also heard evidence from Mr. Murphy’s neighbour, who was sure he lived alone.

Mr. Murphy’s son, sister and mother also said they had never heard him talk about Daly and Kenneally living with him.

Analysis of Mr. Murphy’s telephone records revealed he had not had a single contact with any of the numbers attributed to Daly and Kenneally.

Detective Constable Ismail Mattar, of the Grenfell Tower investigation, said: “The aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire brought out the best in humanity, with members of the public and local services working round the clock to help survivors who had been left homeless.

“Unfortunately, a number of people like Daly and Kenneally cynically sought to abuse this kindness and personally profit from the tragedy, which killed seventy-two people.

“I am glad they have now been brought to justice. Fraud is not a victimless crime. 

“The money obtained by Daly and Kenneally was council taxpayers’ money that was intended to be used to help support local residents.”

Nuisance Police Caller Jailed

A notorious 999 phone pest, who flouted her emergency call ban when dialling police 39 times in just four hours, has been jailed.

Jelana Bobrova, 54, of Oaklands Estate, Clapham was sentenced to 10 weeks imprisonment.

She was convicted of breaching the Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) she received in November, 2019 for her nuisance and persistent calling.

On Sunday, February 16 a total of 39 calls were made to police by Bobrova within a four hour period. 

In every call she appeared to be rambling and challenged police to arrest her.

She was arrested on February 23 for breaching her CBO, which prohibited her from making false calls.

Bobrova denied placing the calls and said there was a technical glitch. 

Bobrova’s calls over a period of three years amounted to 1,278 at a cost of more than £10,000 to the Metropolitan Police.

Police Sergeant Terry Collman said: “The Metropolitan Police answers more than 4.5 million calls per year. 

“In 2019, there were 175,000 calls recorded as misuse calls. This amounted to a yearly cost to the Met of more than £1.3m.

“Nuisance calls to police are absolutely not acceptable, they are certainly not funny and are a huge waste of time and money.

“These calls prevent people who are in a genuine emergency from speaking to police and receiving help when they most need it.

“I hope the sentence given to Bobrova will send a message to anyone who thinks this immature behaviour is a form of entertainment.”

Heart Of Darkness: Knifeman Caged For Street Stabbing

A knifeman, who plunged a blade into his victim's heart during a street row outside a hospital, has been locked-up.

Mohammed Alinoor Uddin, 36, of Well Street, Hackney turned on the 34 year-old man when he intervened in a dispute.

Fortunately the victim survived because he was treated by medics in the reception area of the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel.

Uddin received twelve years and nine months imprisonment after pleading guilty to wounding, with intent, and assault of an emergency worker.

He was also sentenced to six months imprisonment for possession of a bladed/pointed article, to be served concurrently.

On Saturday, October 12, last year the victim was stabbed in the heart as he attempted to intervene in an altercation between Uddin and another man in Turner Street, Whitechapel.

The victim’s injury was so serious that doctors were forced to operate in the reception area of the hospital. 

He required ongoing medical treatment, but has since made a full recovery.

The Old Bailey heard the outcome could have been far worse if not for the actions of PC Mat Evans, an off-duty officer from West Midlands Police.

PC Evans, based in Birmingham city centre, was walking down the road when he saw Uddin attacking the victim.

He ran towards the two men and identified himself as a police officer, causing Uddin to flee the scene.

The officer then chased him across the road and forced him to the ground, where he was bitten by Uddin while attempting to get the knife out of his hand.

He was restrained until officers arrived at the scene, at which point he was arrested and remanded in custody.

Detective Constable Gavin Markey, who led the investigation, said: “This was a brutal attack and it is only by sheer luck that the victim was in the grounds of the hospital and able to receive immediate medical treatment. 

“Had he not been so close by, doctors have made it clear he would have died.

“We must also recognise the vital intervention of the off-duty officer, who saw what was happening and acted instinctively, risking his life to try and prevent the attack becoming more serious.

“We are pleased Uddin is now behind bars and unable to inflict any further harm.”

PC Evans said: “Incidents like this make you realise being a police officer isn’t a job, it’s a state of mind you can never turn off, even when not at work. 

“When I saw the guy being stabbed, for me there wasn’t a choice to make, I had to stop him before he killed someone.

"I’m glad everything turned out well in the end. 

“The doctors, nurses, and hospital staff performed a miracle in saving that man’s life."

Watch Out! Burglars About!: £200K In Timepieces Nicked

Burglars fled with designer watches, worth over £200,000, during a residential break-in.

Police are hunting these three suspects after the burglary in Kingston-upon-Thames.

The watches were a variety of makes including Rolex, Cartier, Ulysse Nardin, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoulter and Chopard.

Police were called at 7.00pm on Friday, September 27, last year to reports of a burglary in Fife Road, East Sheen.

The three thieves had broken into the property and ransacked an upstairs bedroom, taking the watches. 

The suspects were disturbed by a resident at the address. 

They fled via the rear of the property with as many as 15 watches.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who has been offered a high value watch at a reduced price or, who can identify any of the male’s pictured in the CCTV images.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting 7030/27SEP19, Tweet @MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Fatal Bedroom Stabbing: Partner Charged

A man accused of stabbing his partner multiple times at their east London home has appeared in court.

Yi Xing Song, 53, of Magnolia Close, Leyton is charged with the murder of 35 year-old Li-Qing Wang, 35 (pictured).

She was stabbed twenty-two times with a kitchen knife in the bedroom of their home.

After he was charged Xing Song appeared at at Thames Magistrates Court.

He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey, where he will next appear, in custody, on May 18.

Head Stamping: Thug's Accomplice Hunted

Police are still hunting a thug's accomplice, who held their victim's head as the main assailant stamped on it, inflicting life-changing injuries.

The injured 34 year-old man ended up in a 17-day coma with a fractured skull and bleed to the brain and has had to learn how to walk again.

This CCTV image has been released of the suspect officers are hunting.

The victim was attacked near a pub in Uxbridge High Street, west London just after 3.00am on August 17, last year.

The main aggressor, Jay Fletcher, 28, of Ennerdale Close, Feltham was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent.

CCTV footage of the attack showed Fletcher kicking and stamping on the victim’s head several times.

The suspect in the CCTV image is suspected of holding the victim's head as Fletcher continued kicking it.

The victim is now out of hospital, but is still suffering physically and psychologically from the attack.

Detective Constable Oliver Mallett, the lead investigator, said: “This was a shockingly brutal attack in which a man was repeatedly kicked in the head.

“I am glad that Jay Fletcher has been brought to justice for his part in the attack and will now spend at least eight years in jail.

“However, the other individual who took part in the assault has not been identified, and I would appeal for anyone who recognises the man pictured to contact us.

“This incident has left the victim with life-changing injuries and justice will not be fully achieved in this case unless we can arrest and prosecute both people involved in this attack.”

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Please quote CAD 1164/17AUG.

Train Flasher: Suspect Sought

Police are hunting this suspected train pervert after a male indecently exposed himself on a London-bound service.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released a CCTV image of the man they are trying to trace.

The suspect was reported for an offence of indecent exposure on a train travelling between West Croydon and London Bridge.

It allegedly occurred at approximately 4.40pm on Thursday, February 20.

Officers would like to speak to the man in the images who may have information that could help their investigation.

Anyone who knows him is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40.

In both cases quote reference number 453 of 20/02/20.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Drunken Thug Caged For Fatal Phone Assault

A violent drunk, who mistakenly accused a frail middle-aged pedestrian of stealing his mobile phone before inflicting a fatal beating, has been jailed.

Wayne Packer, 31, of Arlington Road, Camden will serve a minimum of six years and five months of a life sentence.

He will remain of licence for the rest of his life.

Packer pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 50 year-old Peter O'Loughlin, who he punched and kicked in the head in Camden Road, Holloway on June 4, last year.

The victim did not appear seriously injured, but had suffered a bleed to the brain and died on June 26.

Wood Green Crown Court heard Mr. O'Loughlin had caught a bus to Holloway and was confronted by the heavily-intoxicated defendant that evening.

After dropping his phone Packer accused Mr. O'Loughlin of stealing it and began verbally abusing him.

The victim, who had a history of ill health and was visibly frail, was then viciously assaulted by Packer, who punched him to the ground. 

Packer then carried out a sustained assault on his helpless victim, kicking him several times and punching him again as he tried to get to his feet.

Passers-by tried to intervene, but Packer threatened them, intimating he had a knife and left the scene.

Officers attended and spoke to Peter, who did not appear to be visibly injured. 

He was advised there would be a wait for an ambulance and said he would attend hospital himself.

Once at hospital, Peter’s condition deteriorated and scans revealed he had suffered a bleed on the brain as a result of the assault. 

He remained in hospital, but died from his injuries three weeks later.

An investigation had been launched following the assault and Packer was identified as the suspect. 

He was arrested on July 1, but denied being involved in a fight. 

Despite the weight of evidence against him, including CCTV footage, he refused to answer questions about his involvement.

Detective Sergeant Kerry Burgess from Specialist Crime said: “Wayne Packer was heavily intoxicated that night, to the point that he did not realise he had dropped his phone. 

“In a drunken rage, he appears to have taken his anger out on the first person he saw - unfortunately this was Peter O’Loughlin - a frail man in poor health.

“Peter could not offer any resistance to Packer’s cowardly assault – he was an innocent man who died as a result of a truly senseless attack.”

Notorious Flasher Graduated To Rape

A notorious flasher-turned-rapist is starting a 17-year prison sentence after strangling and dragging an unconscious woman into his home.

Nathaniel Mundle, 23, throttled the victim, aged in her forties, as she walked past the address in Bounds Green, Haringey, north London and was held against her will for over an hour.

He appeared on the local police radar as a potentially dangerous sex offender when caught as a 19 year-old indecently exposing himself to five females in five days.

The victims included cyclists and a dog walker, some with their young children, and resulted in a judge banning Mundle from his Walthamstow Marshes hunting ground.

He ultimately received a non-custodial sentence, having spent time locked-up on remand.

He has now pleaded guilty to raping his latest female victim on September 25, last year and also admitted a charge of kidnap and false imprisonment.

Wood Green Crown Court heard it was approximately 4.00pm when the victim was attacked from behind by Mundle, who beat and throttled her until she passed out.

He dragged her into his home and raped her while she was unconscious and forcibly detained her for over an hour.

Fortunately the woman managed to escape and was helped by a neighbour and police and an ambulance were called.

She was hospitalised due to the brutality of the attack.

Mundle fled the scene, but officers were waiting for him when he returned just before 1.00am and arrested him.

Detective Constable Lydia Polydorou-Evangelou, of the North Area Command Unit’s Safeguarding Team said: “This was a shocking, pre-meditated assault in which a woman was violently attacked.

“I would like to thank the victim in this case, who showed great bravery in making her escape and contacting us.

“I would also like to thank her for assisting the investigating team, who made sure this dangerous individual was removed from the public domain and is now unable to hurt anyone else.

“I’m very happy with the sentence and I hope this case underlines how seriously we take allegations like this.” 

Fiddler On The Roof: Dealer Caught Fleeing Drug Cops

A south London drug dealer was caught on a roof trying to escape police after a mobile phone number linked him to a supply network.

Jerome Simpson, 27, received four years imprisonment for supplying crack cocaine and heroin.

At Inner London Crown Court he pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and two counts of possession, with intent to supply, class A drugs.

Simpson was targeted by police after a mobile phone linked to drug dealing was seized during a stop in August 2019. 

Simpson was identified as the dealer running the drugs line.

Checks on the seized phone identified that bulk messages were sent from the phone followed by little or no activity. 

These messages were coded advertisements to purchase class A drugs.

On November 7 officers attended an address in Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell to arrest Simpson. 

He was found attempting to evade officers by climbing onto the roof, but was apprehended.

He was searched and found to be in possession of class A drugs estimated to be worth thousands of pounds.

Another address linked to Simpson was searched and £2,000 cash was also located.

Detective Constable Raymond Sekalongo, of the Central South Command Unit, said:“Simpson was a prolific drug dealer operating in the Lambeth area and his conviction demonstrates our commitment to taking criminals off our streets.

“Drugs dealing and its associated criminality blights communities, and I would urge anyone who has information about such activity to contact police.”