Oh Baby: Man Wanted For Dangerous Driving With Tot In Back Seat

Police are hunting this suspected dangerous driver after a vehicle displaying false plates with a baby in the back rammed a patrol car and sped away.

The Metropolitan Police's Roads and Transport Policing Command have released the image as they continue trying to identify the suspect.

The incident took place on Thursday, April 29 at 7.16pm near the McDonalds drive-thru restaurant on Eastern Avenue in Ilford, east London.

A police officer approached the driver of a parked black BMW X1 car after it was identified as displaying false number plates. 

While the officer was speaking to the driver, the driver suddenly turned on the ignition and reversed his car, striking the police vehicle. 

He then mounted the pavement and drove off, heading west along the eastbound carriageway of the A12 Eastern Avenue, against the flow of traffic.

The driver is described as a black man, aged between 20 and 25 years old.

He wore a black flat cap, brown-framed glasses, and a dark-blue padded gilet over a black long sleeved top with Nike written down the sleeves in white. 

He had short locks, neatly trimmed facial hair, and spoke with a London accent. 

There was also a baby inside the vehicle.

It is also believed that the driver and vehicle are linked to the boroughs of Croydon, Greenwich, and Barking & Dagenham.

PC Charlie Snooks, from the Roads and Transport Policing Command, said:“This was an irresponsible and reckless act that that could have had severe consequences for the driver, his infant passenger, people walking and cycling and other motorists.

“I would urge anyone with any information to inform police immediately.”

Anyone who recognises the man or has any information is urged to contact the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command via 101 reference CAD 6162/29Apr. 

Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or tweet @MetCC with any information.

Living The Thai Life: Expat Sentenced For £66K Benefits Scam

A Thai expat, whose life in the sun with a younger girlfriend was funded by an audacious near decade-long £66,000 benefits fraud, has been sentenced.

Former mini-cab driver Joseph Peter Marcel Fougere, 75, rented out his council flat to two pals while also claiming housing benefit for it on top of pension credit and council tax benefit.

All three rotated lengthy trips to the Far East - keeping an eye out for letters from the council and the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) - until a tip-off ruined the scam.

Speaking outside Croydon Crown Court Fougere revealed his trips to Thailand, where he lived on the coast and in small villages, were over and he now faces eviction.

Fougere pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances to the DWP between January 25, 2010 and February 10, 2019, namely that he was living in Thailand and sub-letting his home.

He also similarly pleaded guilty to failing to notify the DWP between August 22, 2011 and March 31, 2013 relating to council tax benefit and between April 1, 2011 and February 3, 2019 relating to housing benefit.

Prosecutor Len Furlong told the court Fougere was awarded the large one-bedroom flat in Thorpe Close, New Addington in August, 2011 and began renting it out two months later.

He swindled £39,893 in housing benefit; £24,990 in pension credit and £1,368 in council tax benefit.

“The benefit claims started off as genuine, but rapidly became fraudulent,” explained Mr Furlong.

One pal continued renting for six years, paying Fougere £80 a week - £57 more than the council rate, which the defendant was receiving housing benefit for anyway.

“He would go off and spend nine months of the year in Thailand, where he has friends and for a long time a girlfriend and would come back to the UK for appointments with the benefit agency,” added the prosecutor.

So far, Fougere has repaid £1,181, which has been deducted from his current benefits and the court made no compensation or confiscation order.

“He has got no source of employment or income and his sole source of  money is benefits.

“Plainly he benefited to fund his lifestyle in Thailand and support his living expenses and whatever he did in Thailand.

“There was a certain sophistication to these offences. They were not spontaneous and he has entered into these tenancy agreements over a lengthy period of time,” said Mr Furlong.

Fougere’s lawyer John Livingstone told the court: “Unfortunately he gets to the ripe old age of seventy-five and finds himself at the wrong end of the criminal justice system.

“He was flying to Thailand and coming back to the UK from time to time.

“He is currently in the premises, but has been told he will be moved when the pandemic is over.

“The council will have to rehouse him at some point.”

Outside Fougere said: “I won’t get a place as good as this again, I’ll probably end up in a hostel.

“I would live in the big lounge and my two friends would share the bedroom and just work mini-cabbing to make money for their next trip to Thailand.

“I won’t be going back there, I haven’t got any money.”

Recorder Richard Smith sentenced Fougere to ten months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

“You failed to report you were no longer habitually living in the UK and were abroad, lying to the council to fund your lifestyle in Thailand,” he told him.

“An aggravating feature is the long periods of your claims, one of them lasting nine years.

“Due to your age, good character and low risk of re-offending I will suspend the sentence and I do not impose any other requirements.

“Please let us not see you again.”

Grand Union Canal Drowning: Police Appeal Four Decades On

Police are continuing to identify the body of a man recovered from the Grand Union Canal four decades ago.

They hope this artist's impression of the drowned man will prompt anyone who knew him to come forward.

In May, 1981 the body was pulled from the water in Southall, west London.

His death was not thought to have been suspicious.

Despite extensive enquiries made in May, 1981 and continued efforts over the past four decades, the man was never identified.

Officers hope that this appeal, which forms part of a cold case review, may prompt someone to think about a family member or friend that they lost touch with forty years ago who looked similar to the artist's impression that was compiled based on how the man looked at the time of his death.

He was a white man, 5ft 11ins tall, of medium build, aged 25 to 30 years old, with thick brown hair worn short, with a slight beard. 

He also had crooked teeth and a small scar on his stomach.

PC Maddie Kerketta, of the Met’s West Area Safeguarding Unit, said: “This man was a son to someone, a family member and likely a friend to others. 

“There may be a family somewhere who have spent years wondering what happened to their loved one. 

“If you can help us finally identify him so that his family and friends can be notified please don’t hesitate to get in touch."

If you have information you think might help identify this man please call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 81FOU000002.

Pellet Gun Robber Shot Shopkeeper

Police are hunting this suspected midnight robber, who fired two pellets from his air gun into the head and body of a south-east London shopkeeper.

At approximately 00.05am on February 24, a man in possession of an air-powered weapon entered the shop in New Cross Road, New Cross and made demands for cash.

The man threatened the male member of staff with a ‘BB gun’ and when demands were not met, repeatedly shot the shopkeeper in the body and head.

The victim went to a south London hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove two pellets from his body. 

He has been left with permanent scarring.

The suspect escaped with no money.

He is described as a white male, approximately 40 years of age, with a London accent and wearing a patterned face mask.

Detective Constable Claudine Manning, from the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime Command, said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in or around the New Cross Road area at around midnight on 24 February - do you recall seeing the man pictured above?

“The victim of this incident suffered a terrifying ordeal. We remain committed to finding the man responsible and holding him accountable for his actions.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD 638/24Feb. 

Alternatively, you can leave information anonymously with the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

Policeman Jailed For Underage Sex Offences

A policeman has been locked-up for molesting an underage teenage girl – even preying on her while he was on duty.

PC Mark Collins, 58, served on the Metropolitan Police's South Area Command Unit.

At the Old Bailey he was sentenced to two years and four months imprisonment.

Collins had already pleaded guilty when he appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court to one count of attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13–15 years-old to engage in sexual activity (with penetration) on or before November 24, 2019.

He also pleaded guilty to six counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child. 

Those offences occurred between November 4, 2019 and November 26, 2019.

Collins used personal devices to commit the offences, some of which were carried out while he was on duty - but not in his capacity as a police officer.

Following his arrest on November 26, 2019 he was immediately suspended from duty and later charged on November 9, last year.

Collins retired from the Metropolitan Police on February 19.

A Special Case Hearing was held on Wednesday, April 21 and concluded that PC Collins’ conduct amounted to gross misconduct and that had he still been a serving officer he would have been dismissed.

Commander Paul Betts, Directorate of Professional Standards, said: “These are absolutely abhorrent crimes and it is utterly shocking that a police officer could have committed them.

“It is clear this type of conduct has no place within the organisation and we are committed to bringing the perpetrators of such terrible crimes to justice, whoever they may be.”

Skorpion Machine Gun Seized In West London

Police have seized this Skorpion sub-machine gun along with 200 bullets and made three arrests after a west London raid.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime Command executed a pre-planned firearms warrant in Northolt.

In the early hours of Thursday, April 29, and with the assistance of specialist firearms officers, a warrant was carried out a residential address.

Three people, aged 19, 32 and 42 years old, were arrested on suspicion of possessing a prohibited weapon, with intent to endanger life.

They were taken into police custody.

Detective Inspector Jim Casey, from the Specialist Crime Command, said: “The damage that a weapon like this can cause can be life-changing, if not life-ending.

“Recovering this weapon is another win for the Met Police who continue to be relentless in pursuing those involved in firearms offences. 

“There’s absolutely no reason anyone in this country should be possessing such a dangerous piece of metal.

“I would ask anyone who knows anything, or has any information about lethal guns being hidden or moved around London to report it to the police, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Wannabe Top-Deck Mugger Targeted Teen

Police are hunting this cocky wannabe mugger, who frisked a teenager on a bus and punched him repeatedly in the face.

After plonking himself down next to the 16 year-old on the 149 bus travelling towards Edmonton Green from Seven Sisters Station the suspect asked: “What have you got for me?”

Police continue to investigate the February 11 attempted robbery that occurred at 8.05pm and have released this CCTV still as they attempt to identify the suspect.

He proceeded to put his hands in the victim’s pockets in an attempt to steal his belongings.

The suspect then launched an attack on the teenager and punched him several times in the face.

The suspect left the bus at 8.07pm in Fore Street, opposite Edmonton Police station and walked on to Bridge Street towards Bedvere Road, Lower Edmonton.

The suspect is described as a black young man, approximately 17-years-old of a skinny build. 

He is 5ft 7ins- 8ins tall, and was wearing a beanie hood, black jacket, with a black tracksuit worn under the jacket.

If you have any information regarding this incident, or recognise the male pictured, please call 101 quoting CAD 6654/11FEB.

Notting Hill Woman's Cafe Ban

A Notting Hill woman has been banned from walking past a landmark local cafe after a charge of assaulting the owner was dropped.

Sophie Gatacre, 57, lives around the corner from Conscience Kitchen, All Saints Road, but now has to comply with a two-year Restraining Order prohibiting her going near the premises.

At City of London Magistrates Court last week the order was made until May 21, 2023 after the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence on the charges.

Gatacre, of McGregor Road had always fought the case and not guilty verdicts were recorded.

She was originally charged with assaulting Conscience Kitchen owner Amira Elsekely, 31, at the cafe on February 3 and a second charge of using threatening, abusive, insulting words and behaviour on the same occasion.

The Egyptian-inspired cafe draws on Ms Elsekely's heritage and her aim to serve 100% ethically-sourced food. 

One condition of the Restraining Order prohibits Gatacre walking directly past the cafe and the businesses on either side.

Ex-Football Coach Finally Convicted Of Sleepover Gropes

An ex-football coach has received a suspended prison sentence after being convicted of molesting a young boy during a sleepover four decades ago.

Former delivery driver David Hinman, 72, of Poplar Close, Downham Market, Norfolk was originally accused of two separate incidents.

He was convicted after a retrial at Inner London Crown Court of two counts of indecent assault.

The victim was aged between eleven and fourteen years-old and played for the Camberwell Lions football team when he says Hinman molested him between 1981 and 1985.

Hinman was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years and must comply with a 45-day Probation Service-ordered rehabilitation activity requirement.

The court also ordered him to obey a three-month electronically-tagged home curfew.

At an earlier trial a separate jury found him not guilty of two more counts of indecent assault relating to another sleepover.

Hinman has always protested his innocence and fought all the charges.

The court heard Hinman allegedly kissed the youngster on his neck and groped him between the legs on two occasions while sharing his single bed at his former Peckham Rye flat.

Hinman told the trial: “I never touched him physically at all. It absolutely did not take place.”

Hinman admitted they did share his bed once after returning to south London in the early hours after a holiday to Majorca, which included the boy’s brother.

“Once we got home the camp bed was set up and I said to the boys: ‘You sleep in my bed and I’ll sleep on the camp bed.’

“He retorted: ‘I’m not sleeping with that fat tramp,’ so we shared my bed.”

Hinman conceded there was one awkward moment during the trip. “On the holiday I inadvertently went to the bathroom and saw him naked.”

He also denied exposing himself and asking the youngster if he wanted to try some aftershave while getting ready for one of his DJ gigs.

“It definitely did not happen. The bathroom had a door on it and the bedroom had a door on it.”

Hinman told police during questioning the allegations were “malicious” and told the jury: “I made the assumption he was trying to make financial gain from criminal damages.”

When the boy stopped playing football Hinman visited his family home. “They said he said I had touched him, kissed him on the neck and touched his bum.

“I assured that mother it had not happened and said he must have been dreaming.”

Bankrupt Benefit Cheat Sentenced

A benefits cheat, who continued claiming thousands of pounds while secretly pocketing financial help from friends and family, has been sentenced.

Simon Bernard Kenton, 56, of Millers, The Common, East Hanningfield, Chelmsford had fought the allegations for years, having first appeared in court in February, 2018.

At Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on Friday he received a twenty-one month Community Order, which includes forty hours community service work.

Kenton must also comply with an electronically-tagged home curfew between 8pm and 6am for two months.

On the day of his trial Kenton pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to notify the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) of a change in his circumstances, namely the receipt of additional income.

Between March 12, 2010 and August 21, 2012 he received nearly £10,000 in Jobseekers Allowance and between March 15, 2010 and February 1, 2013 £1,783 in council tax benefit.

The prosecution had originally brought further charges, including one relating to an Employment & Support Allowance claim made in Chelmsford, but this was dropped. 

Also dropped were housing benefit offences against the London boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham; Merton; Greenwich; Kensington & Chelsea and a council tax claim in Westminster.

He was first interviewed by investigators in 2016 and replied “no comment” to their questions.

It was accepted the first-time offender’s benefit claims were legitimate when they were initially made.

“I am not going to impose a custodial sentence and I accept you have suffered mental health problems,” Judge Rajeev Shetty told Kenton, who was made bankrupt in 2018.

“That explains losing your way and leading a very troubled life and I am sorry your life has gone south.

“I accept your remorse and that is to your credit,” added the judge. “Taking money from the public purse is something that is taken very seriously by the courts.”

No order for costs or compensation was made against Kenton.