Fake Cops Snatch £20K During House Raid

Officers investigating a violent burglary where £20,000 was stolen have released Images of three men who posed as police to trick their victims.

On Sunday, October 25, last year between 4.55pm and 5.11pm, three men got out of a silver Vauxhall Insignia displaying a false number plate of NA0 8XHZ and approached the residents of an address in Featherbed Lane, Croydon.

They were wearing black 'Police' baseball caps and utility belts holding handcuffs. 

They produced fake warrant cards, making themselves out to be police officers, and claimed they were investigating tax evasion and money laundering.

The residents became suspicious and challenged the men's story, but not before they had forced their way into the address.

One resident was forced to the floor and his hands were cable tied behind his back. 

The fake officers demanded money and threatened to 'tear the place apart' if they weren't told where it was kept.

The suspects were able to steal more than £20,000 in cash, as well as a high powered air rifle, before returning to the silver Insignia where a getaway driver was waiting for them. 

The vehicle was then seen to drive back along Featherbed Lane, away from Croydon.

The suspects are described as follows:

A light skinned black male, around 5’9-10 tall, with dark eyes, black stubble, aged around 40, of medium build with a south London accent.

White male, 6’3-4 tall, aged between 40 and 45, with blue eyes and mousy brown hair.

White male, aged 40-45, of heavy (fat) build.

Any witnesses, or anyone with information that could help identify the men in the pictures should call police on 101 quoting crime reference 3832626/20.

Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111.

Trades Union Man Denies Attacking Tory Barrister

Dennis McNulty

A GMB union activist, accused of violently attacking a Tory lawyer after a pub row, claims the barrister called for all Palestinians to be killed in gas chambers.

Labour Party supporter Dennis McNulty, 60, denies a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, but admits words were exchanged with 63 year-old Tim Ludbrook in the busy King William IV pub, Hampstead on August 3, 2018.

“He said: ‘We need to get rid of all the Palestinians and build gas chambers to get rid of them,’ I was shocked,” McNulty told the Isleworth Crown Court jury.

“I made it clear to Tim this was pretty much outrageous. I was appalled by his behaviour and made that clear.

“I made it clear to him that he disgusted me and not to talk to me and that he was a vile man.

“I was making it clear what he said was repugnant.”

Denying he was in an aggressive alcohol-fuelled mood McNulty said: “I was not drunk, I was not inebriated. I’d hardly had anything to drink.

“Tim was being very belittling. He was gritting his teeth.”

The pub’s CCTV shows Mr Lubrook lunging at McNulty. “Tim was dragged away and restrained on a number of occasions,” said the defendant from the witness box.

McNulty could also be seen on the pub’s CCTV taking out his phone to record their exchanges.

“I was not looking for a fight or an argument. I made it clear to Mr Ludbrook his behaviour was appalling and that’s why I took that picture and I intended to put it on facebook.

“I put a chair in front of me to protect myself from Mr Ludbrook, to stop him attacking me again.”

McNulty also claims the lawyer said: “Hamas, Hamas, Hamas,” towards him.

McNulty was removed from the pub by staff and after closing time intellectual property rights specialist Mr Ludbrook was attacked in a nearby street while sitting down outside a shop.

He suffered a broken nose and torn retina and told the jury ex-school caretaker and local artist McNulty was his attacker.

“My nose was broken in two places and I was very lucky not to lose the sight in one eye,” the Lincoln’s Inn counsel told the trial.

Tim Ludbrook

The lawyer admitted lunging at McNulty inside the pub. “He knew he got me, a Tory barrister to react badly. He enjoyed that, but it is intolerable to have this racially-charged behaviour inflicted upon you.

“On that occasion I let it get the better of me,” added Mr Ludbrook, accusing McNulty of anti-semitic remarks.

“I will forever see him in that moment for the rest of my life. It is as clear as day, seared on my memory.

“There he was, bearing down at me and moments later he was striking me around the head from both sides and I don’t recall anything else until I came around.”

The lawyer denied making the alleged “gas chamber” remark. “I wouldn’t say that, even joking,” insisted the barrister. “That’s genocide.”

McNulty told the jury he has nothing to do with the attack on Mr Ludbrook.

“I had two pints and two spirits and went home to bed. At no point was I looking for revenge.”

However, McNulty discovered his son Connor, 25, had gone out looking for him so walked back towards the pub.

“I saw there was a commotion going on and realised who that person was.

“I put Mr Ludbrook in the recovery position because he was injured on the floor and was not conscious.

“I did not assault Mr Ludbrook. His group have all the time to sit down and work out what they want to say.

“I haven’t any evidence of collaboration, but I believe there was collaboration. Some of those witness statements are not correct.

“At no point was I deliberately provoking Tim in any shape or form. He was restrained three times and I pushed him away.”

McNulty said Connor was working abroad and unable to attend court to support his evidence and his other son, Ross, 28, was a “recluse” who rarely left the family home.

McNulty, of New End School House, Streatley Place, Hampstead has pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent.

Trial continues..........

Car Crash Driver Did A Runner

A driver, who crashed his BMW into a house and continued lying about being behind the wheel all the way to a jury trial, has been jailed for eight months.

Self-employed businessman Darren Morgan, 46, of Green Lane, White Bushes, Redhill caused £16,000 worth of damage to the family property and did a runner before police arrived.

An innocent bystander was arrested and when Morgan was traced he claimed the car had been stolen and he wasn't driving it.

Croydon Crown Court heard it was 8am when Morgan crashed his vehicle in Cross Road on August 24, 2018, but maintained his innocence to police and a subsequent trial, where he was convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Morgan already had a chequered driving record, having been convicted of drink-driving in 1997 and driving while disqualified in 2003 after he had been banned for three years.

“This was not a spur of the moment offence,” said prosecutor Oliver Newman. “It was a calculated attempt to avoid responsibility.

“It was a lie he maintained throughout his trial.”

Morgan was also originally charged with dangerous driving as a result of the crash, but this was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

The day after the crash Morgan reported his BMW M3 as having been stolen.

“It was a lie that originated in shame and fear, not malice,” said Gerard Pitt, defending. “He is clearly remorseful, according to the pre-sentence report.”

Judge Elizabeth Lowe announced: “What was he worried about? Why did he do a runner and tell everyone his car was stolen?

“I can see there was significant impact on the owners of that address. I have no doubt there was stress and difficulty with insurers.

“I am not dealing with him for driving, but for fleeing the scene.”

One person was asleep inside the house when Morgan drove into it, causing damage to the gas supply.

The innocent bystander was under investigation for six months, but was cleared by forensics when Morgan's DNA was found on the emergency airbag.

“You had a trial and persisted in this assertion for such a long time,” the judge told Morgan. “You had time to reflect, but to no avail.”

Morgan was also disqualified from driving for twelve months.

Hotel Manager Nicked Thousands

Coulsdon Manor Hotel

A hotel manger yesterday admitted helping himself to nearly £40,000 in just three months.

James Hughes, 40, of Orchard Way, Helmsley, York appeared for the first time at Croydon Magistrates' Court.

He was employed at Coulsdon Manor Hotel, Coulsdon.

Hughes pleaded guilty to theft by employee between December 18, 2019 and March 14, last year, namely £39,813.48p belonging to the Bespoke Hotel Group.

The court heard he had access to safe keys, where cash was held at the hotel.

It is the second time Hughes has been caught taking money from a hotel he was employed at and he was bailed to appear at Swansea Crown Court on May 19 to be sentenced for both offences together.

Creep Groomed 14 Year-Old Girl For St. Valentine's Day Date

Woolwich Crown Court

A man who sexually groomed a 14 year-old girl received a suspended prison sentence earlier this year.

Jaimie Timperley, 41, arranged to meet the girl on St. Valentine's Day at an address in Catford, south-east London for sexual activity.

At Woolwich Crown Court Timperley, of Marine Park Mansions, Wellington Road, New Brighton, Wallasey, Birkenhead was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

He was charged with attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence on February 14, last year, namely sexual activity with a child.

Timperley was also charged with attempting to meet the girl, following grooming, on the same occasion for the purpose of sexual activity.

He was sentenced to fourteen months imprisonment, suspended for two years and must attend a Probation Service-recommended activity requirement of up to sixty days.

Speedy Cates: Driving Ban For Sky Sports Presenter

TV presenter Kelly Cates has been banned from driving after being caught speeding for the fourth time.

The 45 year-old Sky Sports host appeared at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court for her latest offence.

Mother-of-two Cates, who lives in a £1.4m home in
Osier Mews, Chiswick admitted breaking the 40mph speed limit while driving her black two-litre Mercedes on the M4 near the junction with Clayponds Avenue, Brentford on July 2, last year.

The court heard Cates, who has also presented sports shows for ESPN; ITV; talkSPORT and Radio 5 Live, was caught on a speed camera travelling at 47mph.

Cates, the daughter of Scottish footballing legend Kenny Dalglish, already had nine penalty points on her driving license.

These were for speeding offences in November, 2018 and April and December, 2019.

Today’s additional three points triggered an automatic six-month ban under the totting rules.

She was also fined £660, with £90 costs.

Leftie Activist Accused Of Violently Attacking Jewish Tory Lawyer

Union Man: Dennis McNulty

A Labour Party and pro-Palestine activist left a jewish barrister with a broken nose and torn retina after an intense late-night row in a Hampstead pub, a court heard today.

Ex-school caretaker and local artist Dennis McNulty, 60, repeatedly punched 63 year-old intellectual property rights specialist Tim Ludbrook, knocking him unconscious, the jury were told.

“My nose was broken in two places and I was very lucky not to lose the sight in one eye,” the Lincoln’s Inn counsel told Isleworth Crown Court.

The pair clashed verbally inside busy King William IV pub in Hampstead High Street on August 3, 2018 after exchanging banter on previous occasions about their opposing political views.

The lawyer admits lunging at McNulty inside the pub. “He knew he got me, a Tory barrister to react badly. He enjoyed that, but it is intolerable to have this racially-charged behaviour inflicted upon you.

“On that occasion I let it get the better of me.”

GMB union activist McNulty was ejected by pub staff, but attacked Mr Ludbrook outside in nearby Heath Street as the lawyer sat on a bench, the court heard.

“I will forever see him in that moment for the rest of my life. It is as clear as day, seared on my memory.

“There he was, bearing down at me and moments later he was striking me around the head from both sides and I don’t recall anything else until I came around.

“I can remember counting them and by six I was out. I was lying on the pavement and a woman was trying to stop the bleeding.”

The lawyer concedes calling McNulty a: “Hamas-loving bastard,” inside the pub, but insists this was after an evening of intimidation by the defendant.  

“He was introduced to me as an ardent member of the Labour Party and I am well-known for being on the other side of the political spectrum,” said Mr Ludbrook.

“He told me he was a senior official in a trades union and I told him if I went on one of his marches then he would have to come on one of mine for Jacob Rees-Mogg.”

Lincoln's Inn: Tim Ludbrook

Somebody in Mr Ludbrook’s group brought up the subject of the Gaza Strip and McNulty began criticising Israel, the lawyer told the court. 

“He was swearing about the Tory government and intended to try and inflame the situation with his language and said: ‘You can’t support those f***ing c****.’

“He must have thought I was supporting them because I am a Conservative and I told him: ‘Yes, I am Jewish and a supporter of Israel.’

“It was like lighting a blue touch paper and he said: ‘It’s always you f***ing people, you’re always the problem.’

“He said he was going to show what kind of f***ing person I was on social media and started recording with his phone.

“The really aggressive stuff started when he goaded me into revealing my ethnicity. He’s obviously got some view about jews.

“It was not a sensible thing I said to him about being a ‘Hamas-loving bastard’, but I had enough.

“I lunged toward him, I lost my temper, I suppose I wanted to grab him by the throat, but someone else came in between us.

“He said: ‘You’re f***ing dead, I’m going to have you,’ and the pub staff removed him.”

McNulty denies hitting the complainant and claims Mr Ludbrook would sarcastically greet him with: “Power to the people,” but the lawyer denied this.

He also denied McNulty’s claim he said: “We need to get rid of the Palestinians. I want gas chambers built to get rid of them all.”

“I wouldn’t say that, even joking,” insisted the barrister. “That’s genocide.”

Prosecutor Margia Mostafa told the jury Mr Ludbrook was taken to the Royal Free Hospital at 2.15 am and treated for a fractured nose, plus later laser treatment on his eye.

In the pub McNulty had goaded the victim she said, asking: “Are you jewish? You’re jewish aren’t you? 

“I’m going to f*** you up you c***. You’re Israeli.”

McNulty, of New End School House, Streatley Place, Hampstead has pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent.

Trial continues…………

Hendon Stabbing: CCTV Still Released

Police investigating a stabbing in north-west London are appealing for help to identify this suspect, caught on grainy CCTV.

The alarm was raised at 8.39pm on October 7, last year to reports of an assault in Watford Way, Hendon. 

Officers attended and found a 47-year-old man suffering from a stab injury.

The man was taken by the London Ambulance Service to a north London hospital in a critical condition. 

Following medical treatment, the man was discharged from hospital.

Detectives have carried out extensive enquiries to trace the man responsible and have released this CCTV still of a man they wish to speak with.

Anyone who recognises the man or who has information that may assist is the investigation is asked to call officers via 101 quoting reference Cad 6978/02Oct20.

To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Hit-And-Run Cyclist Tragedy: Police Appeal For Witnesses

Tragedy: Michael Stapleton

Police are investigating a tragic hit and run after a cyclist was killed in a collision with a lorry in north-west London.

At 4.07pm on Tuesday, March 16 cyclist Michael Stapleton, 62, of Cricklewood collided with the vehicle on High Road, Harlesden, near the junction with Furness Road.

Police and the London Ambulance Service rushed to the scene, but sadly despite the efforts of the emergency services, Mr Stapleton was pronounced dead at the scene.

His next of kin have been informed.

The driver of the lorry failed to stop, but officers have since traced the driver.

No arrests have been made.

Police are requesting anyone with any dashcam or CCTV footage, or witnessed the collision please contact them via 101 quoting reference Cad 4977/16Mar.

Alternatively, the Serious Collision Investigation Unit witness line can be contacted at Alperton on 020 8246 9820.

Dora The Explorer: Stolen Pug 65 Miles From Home

Stolen Pug Dora has been found 65 miles from home after a seemingly-friendly thief snatched her from her pensioner owner.

The 72 year-old woman was walking Dora near her home in Lydd, Kent on February 24, when approached by a masked man.

After engaging in friendly conversation the the dog-snatcher unclipped Dora from her lead and ran off with the pooch.

Eleven days later on March 7 a concerned member of the public took Dora to Bexleyheath Police Station after she found her roaming alone in a local park.

Officers from the station took the dog to a local vets to be checked over and scanned for any details.

The scans showed the dog was indeed Dora, who was stolen in Kent.

The next day, officers contacted the owner and were able to return Dora the pug to her rightful owners.

Sadly, the owner has now informed us that her other dog, is now reported to be missing in the Kent area.