Gang Of "Greedy" Businessmen In Fake-Medicines Plot

Five men accused of a multi-million pound pharmaceutical plot involving bogus Chinese-manufactured life-saving drugs - Europe's biggest ever - were simply motivated by "pure greed" a jury were told yesterday.

Medicine watchdogs ordered a Class One recall of all suspected drugs - taken by heart and cancer patients and the mentally ill - resulting in shelves cleared in pharmacies all over the country.

"They were prepared to make profits by feeding duff drugs to people with serious illnesses, prostrate cancer, heart disease and psychiatric issues," prosecutor Mr. Andrew Marshall told Croydon Crown Court.

Charges were brought following a two-year investigation by the Medicines and Health Care products Regulatory Agency, part of the Department of Health into Consolidated Medical Supplies Ltd.

The company, of Unit 14, Sherrington Way, Lister Road, Industrial Estate, Basingstoke, had its Wholesale Dealers Licence revoked by the MHRA on January 8, 2008.

"This is considered the most serious breach of medicine control, the importation of counterfeit medicines into the system," explained Mr. Marshall.

"The most serious in the European Union, with far-reaching effects for pharmaceutical companies, patients and the confidence of the general public.

"The purpose is just greed. To obtain the profits of buying illegal goods cheaply."

The charges relate to 'Casodex',(pic.top) used to treat advanced prostate cancer, 'Plavix',(pic.mid) a drug prescribed to prevent blood clots and prevent heart attacks for angina patients and 'Zyprexa'(pic.bottom) a anti-psychotic drug prescribed to schizophrenic and bipolar patients.

The five defendants are: Ian Gillespie, 58, of The Green, Marsh Baldon, Oxford; Peter Gillespie, 64, of High Street, Bovingdon, Hemel Hempstead; Ian Harding, 58, of Lower Westwood, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire; James Quinn, 69, of Holloway Drive, Virginia Water, Surrey and Richard Kemp, 61, of School Lane, Y Waen, Flint Mountain, Clwyd.

All five have pleaded not guilty that between January 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007, they conspired together and with others to defraud pharmaceutical wholesalers, pharmacists, the public and holders of Intellectual Property Rights in pharmaceuticals by dishonestly distributing for gain counterfeit medicines.

They also deny two counts each of selling or supplying the three drugs without authorisation and selling or supplying counterfeit goods, namely the three medicines, between January 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007.

Peter Gillespie alone denies one count of breaching a company director disqualification order between July, 2005 and June, 2007, following his bankruptcy.

"They are just importing danger," added Mr. Marshall. "The drugs imported are not extensively and expensively tested, but instead have been smuggled into the EU and distributed regardless of their chemical qualities."

The drugs were manufactured by the notorious Chinese pharmaceutical counterfeiter Lu Xu aka Kevin Xu, currently serving a prison sentence for a similar scam in the United States.

His bogus drugs were imported via Singapore and Belgium before being ferried and driven into the U.K and distributed by the five defendants.

"It is not just about pharmaceutical companies, but real people exposed to these drugs and their rights not to have their health interfered with," explained Mr. Marshall.

"The public have been defrauded, the system has been compromised and patients put at risk.

"No-one pretended these were cheap counterfeits, they were pretended to be real. These men are not a charity importing cheaper drugs, it is I am afraid, pure greed in order to make money, working totally outside the system.

"They are all medicines for which there is high demand and are quite expensive. All are prescription-only medicines for serious illnesses."

If the 145,000 Zyprexa patients in the U.K. bought only one 28-tablet pack per year they would pay a total of £13.8 million.

"It is the illegal importation and distribution of counterfeit medicines and the placing of them in the legitimate supply chain with the intention to shove out legitimate products," added Mr. Marshall.

The bogus drugs originally purported to be destined for the French market, but by 'parallel trading' they were altered for the U.K.

"A factory was set up to do this with expensive machinery," said the prosecutor. "They tried to get them into our system and used the fact they were French as a disguise to introduce counterfeits.

"These were lifesaving medicines designed to save the lives and help the health of patients.

"They managed to get quite a lot of medicines into the legitimate supply system before they were shut down and some made their way to patients."

The trial is expected to last four months.

College Principal Gets 15 Years For Raping Student He Threatened With Deportation

A college principal who repeatedly raped one of his student's - threatening the 30 year-old African with deportation if she resisted - was caged for fifteen years today.

Businessman James Safo, 62, (pictured) "controlled, degraded and systematically sexually abused the victim," Croydon Crown Court was told.

"She was a student at your college studying for her NVQ and an employee at one of your care homes," Judge Simon Pratt told the first-time offender.

"Your course of conduct lasted eighteen months or so and involved you abusing your position as college principal and employer to force her to have private meetings so your sexual attacks could happen.

"You threatened to make life difficult for her with the Home Office by reporting she was in breach of her visa and liable to deportation from this country."

Safo was convicted after a six-week trial on four counts of rape, one attempted rape and one sexual assault between June, 2007 and December, 2008.

He was acquitted of sex attacks on two other employees and students and a similar complaint was dismissed in 2001.

The victim told police: "Images of what this man has done to me haunt me day and night."

She was pregnant during one of the rapes and later suffered a miscarriage.

Ghana-born qualified nurse Safo was even the victim's landlord - effectively controlling her life - and was guilty of "intimidation and coercion" said prosecutor Miss Hanna Llewellyn-Waters.

Safo, of Hayes Lane, Kenley, Croydon was the principal and owner of The Secretary College, South End, Croydon and owned nearby care homes Alexandra House, Alexandra Road, Addiscombe; Waratah House, Sanderstead Road, Sanderstead; The Warren, Coombe Road, Croydon and Heathland, Dorking.

"There cannot be a more serious abuse of power, it is a serious aggravating factor," Judge Pratt told Safo. "The rapes and attempted rape were violent.

"She described one rape as brutal and whether that rape caused her miscarriage is hard to say, but she will live the rest of her life believing it did.

"She will have to carry the burden of what you did to her for many years to come. This is one of the most serious cases of rape I have ever dealt with.

"It involved a betrayal of trust by an employee and college principal and a campaign of blackmail to keep her under control with threats you could have her deported.

"The offences rely in your desire for power over others as well as sexual gratification," added the Judge.

Safo will sign the sex offenders' register for life.

Fatal Teen Stabbing: Police Looking For Killer Ten Years On

Police have made a fresh appeal to solve the ten year-old murder of a teenager – stabbed to death after being followed off a bus by a group of youths.

Tangor Gokkusu, 16, (pictured) of Heron Drive, Finsbury Park, North London was fatally stabbed in the neck in nearby Brownswood Road on October 3, 2000.

He had just exited a southbound 141 bus in Green Lanes when the gang – of Turkish appearance – confronted Tangor and one of them stepped forward with a blade and delivered the fatal blow.

The victim staggered a short distance across the road and collapsed on pavement.

He was rushed to Homerton Hospital, but died from his injuries four days later.

On the evening of the murder he was wearing a distinctive red and black Galatasaray football jacket and black trousers.

Tangor, who lived with his aunt, was an avid football supporter and enjoyed playing the sport himself.

No motive for the murder has ever been established.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Moring of the Homicide and Specialist Crime Command, said: “It is now ten years since that fateful day when Tangor lost his life so needlessly, and I believe there are still people in the local community who know who is responsible.

“I am hoping the passage of time will have seen changes in group affiliations and that someone will do the right thing and come forward to enable justice for Tangor's family.

“I would urge anyone with information to contact the inquiry team on 020 8345 4142.

To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Seven arrests were made at the time of the murder, but all suspects were subsequently released without further action.

Don't Let This Filth In Your Home

Four greedy and heartless scumbags who intimidated elderly victims into paying exorbitant sums for unnecessary building work on their homes have been banged up.

The Irish foursome delivered bogus legal threats and vandalised their victims’ properties while demanding thousands of pounds in cash from the vulnerable targets.

They are: Peter Gilheney, 27, of Bellflower Path, Romford, Essex (pic.l.) who received seven years.

Patrick O’Driscoll, 36, of Brookes Place, Barnet Road, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire (pic.2^nd l.) who received two-and-a-half years.

James Casey, 30, of Brookes Place, Barnet Road, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire (pic.3^rd l.) who received two years.

Francis Dunne, 24, of Bashley Road, Willesden, North-West London (pic.r.) who received two-and-a-half years.

The scam was identified following a proactive operation by the Metropolitan Police’s London Crime Squad in conjunction with Trading Standards Regional Fraud Unit (Scambusters).

All four pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation when they appeared at Maidstone Crown Court.

They were arrested in April by officers who had carried out an undercover investigation after receiving intelligence that the gang were targeting the homes of elderly vulnerable people, falsely claiming that they required urgent and expensive repair work to their properties.

On December 3, last year a vulnerable 79-year-old woman received a telephone call from a man who said he was working in the local area and had noticed a problem with the guttering at her home in Dawes Road, Fulham, South-West London.

Four days later a man turned up and told the occupant work was required to her guttering and fascia boards and a second inspection was arranged for the next day.

All four of the defendants attended the address and Gilheney and Dunne climbed on to the roof and Dunne was seen damaging the guttering and brickwork.

The occupant was told the parapet wall was in a dangerous state and that masonry could fall into the street and kill someone.

The victim was told the repair work would cost up to £10,000 and was persuaded to pay £5,000 but she was only able to obtain £2,000 in funds, which she paid to O'Driscoll.

As part of the investigation a chartered surveyor visited the property and said the damage could only have been caused deliberately and not by normal weathering or wear and tear.

In addition, he said the work required would cost in the region of £3,000, considerably lower than she had been quoted.

The gang had attempted a similar scam on December 2 when they attended an address belonging to a vulnerable 63-year-old man in Queens Park Road, Harold Wood, Essex.

They asked the occupant if he would like his driveway re-laid and when he declined, they were extremely persistent and to get rid of them the owner agreed to an appointment two days later.

On that day, the four defendants returned and O'Driscoll attempted to persuade the occupant to have an external wall damp survey completed.

O'Driscoll told him it was a legal requirement and if he did not have the work done his boss would take legal action against him.

Once again, during the investigation a chartered surveyor examined the property and said there was nothing to suggest the work needed doing.

He also stated that he was not aware of any legal requirement requiring a damp proof course.

Detective Inspector John Cracknell, from the London Crime Squad (North), said: “These sentences show that preying on vulnerable members of the community will not be tolerated by the MPS.

“The London Crime Squad will continue to disrupt criminal networks through intelligence-led policing operations.

John Peerless, project manager for SCAMBUSTERS said: “This is an excellent example of joint working.

“My team were formed to tackle these types of crime, primarily supporting Local Authority Trading Standards Services but because of the overlap in responsibilities have formed extensive relationships with the police.

These sentences send out a strong message to the doorstep criminal that the targeting of vulnerable people in their own homes will not be tolerated.”

East London Sex-Killer: CCTV Released

Police investigating an 18 month-old murder by a serial sex attacker – linked by DNA to a series of rapes in East London – have released this CCTV image in a bid to catch the predator.

Michelle Samaraweera, 35, (pic.top) was raped and strangled on May 30, last year and her body was found in a small park and play area in Queens Road, Walthamstow.

She had just left Somerfield supermarket, Markhouse Road when a man police want to trace (pic.bottom) entered the store.

The murder has been linked by DNA to three other sex attacks in Waltham Forest and the offences are now being investigated by the Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

On March 24 at 1:00am a 59-year-old woman was attacked after walking home in South Grove, Walthamstow.

As she approached her front door she noticed the suspect standing nearby and as she entered her property he forced his way inside, raping her in her bedroom.

On April 22 at 1:00am a 46-year-old woman walking along Lea Bridge Road was approached by the suspect who forced her into an alleyway near South Grove.

She was raped before the suspect fled, warning her not to leave the scene.

On April 29 at 1:30am a 32 year-old woman was walking through the grounds of St. Saviour's Church, Markhouse Road towards the same Somerfield store when she realised a man was following close by.

The victim has no memory of the attack, but a member of the public heard noises and called police.

Officers arrived shortly after to find the victim half-naked and semi conscious in the churchyard.

Two similar late-night attacks in the same area on a16 year-old and 46 year-old in March are not DNA linked, but police believe the same assailant is responsible.

The suspect has been described as being of Asian appearance, or with dark skin and dark hair, and is aged between 30 and 45 years.

The suspect in both attacks was described as being of Asian or black appearance with a light skin tone.

Detective Chief Inspector Stewart Hill said: “Michelle was callously murdered as she returned to her boyfriend’s address after stopping by at a local supermarket.

“We have been trying to trace a man who entered the shop on the same night as Michelle and we're keen to speak to anyone who can help us identify him.

“Due to the clarity of the pictures we're confident someone will know him and know his current whereabouts.”

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8345 3715.

If you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Cocaine-Smuggling Cousins Arrested By Watching Cops

Two surprised drug traffickers, arrested after smuggling £3 million worth of cocaine from Barbados inside two metal suitcases, are each beginning sixteen-year prison sentences.

Jobless Michael Richardson, 39, (pic.l.) of Albert Road, South Norwood, Croydon and Christopher Grocott, 45, (pic.r.) of Millponds Estate, West Lane, Rotherhithe, South-East London were caught by the Metropolitan Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Command.

Richardson arrived at Gatwick Airport on March 17 with the red and silver suitcases and police followed his BMW to Grocott’s flat, Inner London Crown Court was told.

The 21 one-kilo blocks of cocaine were moved to another south-east London address and police raided the flat, where the duo were holed-up.

Grocott asked officers: “How did you know we were here?” and Richardson said: “It's all down to me!”

Both had matching silver keys, which unlocked the red drugs-laden suitcase.

Police seized the cocaine in a locked room at Grocott’s unsuspecting niece’s flat in Winford Court, Peckham.

When quizzed Grocott told police: “My cousin Michael Richardson came back from holiday and told me he had drugs in his case.

“I told him I didn't want them in my flat, but I decided to help him by hiding them for a short time.

“I thought the drugs were weed (cannabis). I put them in the back room of my niece's flat.

“She was sleeping when I went in, she knows nothing of this. I knocked on her bedroom door and told her I've put two suitcases in there.”

Detective Constable Mark Reeves from the Metropolitan Police’s Projects Team said: “These men attempted to import large volumes of an illegal drug into this country.

“The blatant manner in which they did this shows they had no regard for the law, were financially motivated and even prepared to incriminate an innocent relative in the process.

“The severity of today's sentence shows how seriously the judicial system takes anyone dealing illegal drugs.”

Classical Concert Murderer Facing Life Sentence

A knifeman, who plunged a blade through a French chef’s heart during a row over folding chairs as he left an open-air classical concert last summer, was convicted by a jury of murder today.

Karl Wills, 22, (pic.bottom) stabbed 37-year-old Reynald Duchene (pic.top) in the chest as he left the concert in Priory Park, Southend, Essex on Saturday, June 26, with family and friends. 



Wills, of Cranley Road, Westcliff, Essex had denied the charge but was convicted by the Chelmsford Crown Court jury after just three hours’ deliberation.

Mr. Duchene of Arlington Square, South Woodham Ferrers, Essex had been at the concert with his fiancée, her children and friends but became involved in an altercation with a group of men and women in Priory Crescent as he left the event.

Mr. Duchene was stabbed once in the heart in front of his fiancée Paula and friends.

Wills was arrested in Southend four days later and claimed the stabbing was an accident.

Detective Superintendent Tracy Hawkings of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: “Today Karl Wills has been found guilty of the murder of Reynald Duchene.

“Mr. Duchene tragically lost his life a the hands of Karl Wills, after spending a celebratory evening at an open air concert in Southend, with his fiancée, her children and other close friends.

“At the end of the event, Karl Wills became involved in an altercation with Mr. Duchene during which he produced a knife and stabbed Mr. Duchene through the heart.

“It was a cold, callous and deliberate act which led to the tragic death of Mr. Duchene.

“I would like to pay personal tribute to Reynald’s family, his fiancée Paula and their friends who have conducted themselves with dignity throughout the court proceedings.

Reynald’s death has left them all completely devastated. I hope today's verdict will bring them some small comfort because they have seen the person responsible bought to justice.”

District Crown Prosecutor for the CPS, Michelle Brown said: “Wills went out that evening, to what should have been an enjoyable family event, but instead he armed himself with a knife with nothing more than the intention to do someone harm.

“He inflicted a single stab wound to the heart of his victim, which caused massive internal bleeding and ultimately resulted in his tragic death, because it was an internal injury he had no chance of getting any help.

“We are pleased the jury have returned a guilty verdict and our thoughts and sympathies are with his family at this difficult time.”

Mr Duchene's mother Francine Beyles paid tribute to her son through a translator.

She said: “Reynald was a loving, kind and considerate man who loved and was loved by all.

“We wish to thank the investigation team who vigorously sought out the truth and provided us with support, hope and the strength to go on.”

Wills will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on December 13.

Ex Targeted After Dumping Jailbird's Girl

A Leicester man is beginning a four-and-a-half year prison sentence for a violent knife attack on a man targeted for dumping a prisoner’s stepdaughter.

Nathaniel Williams, 26, of Amadis Road slashed the victim’s face and an unknown accomplice pierced the man’s liver with a knife during the nightime park attack.

Williams pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to maliciously wounding Dean Ferguson, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, in Highbury Avenue, Thornton Heath, South London on November 5, last year.

The victim fell foul of a notorious prisoner known as ‘Big H’ after leaving his stepdaughter and the court heard he was: “left for dead.”

Recorder Ian Peddie QC told Williams: “Mr. Ferguson had a short-lived sexual relationship with a woman whose relative sought to punish him and you were drawn into that desire to punish Mr. Ferguson.

“Foolishly or innocently Mr. Ferguson walked into a park (pictured) where you viciously set upon him with your accomplice, kicking and punching him to the ground, kicking him in the legs and face.

“Your accomplice produced a knife and slashed Mr. Ferguson to the face and you also slashed him to the face,” added Recorder Peddie. “This was a grievous assault on an innocent man.”

Prosecutor Miss Alison Barker told the court: “Mr. Ferguson had a short sexual relationship with Mr. H’s stepdaughter.

“The stepdaughter got very upset when the complainant left and Mr. H got very upset as well and Mr. Ferguson feared something would happen to him.”

The victim recruited Williams, who he assumed was a friend, to help him retrieve property stolen during a burglary, but things turned sour in the park.

“It was a joint attack. The complainant was punched and kicked a number of times,” explained Miss Barker. “They were going to hurt Mr. Ferguson for sleeping with the girl.

“The second man produced a knife and Williams told him not to stab Mr. Ferguson, but while being held on the ground in a strangle hold he was slashed across the face.

“Williams admits also cutting the victim’s face and he was then stabbed in the abdomen, while the defendant was kneeling on his arms.”

The pair fled and the victim was rushed to hospital after staggering to a nearby house.

Williams was eventually arrested on June 15, this year after police examined prison visit records for ‘Big H’.

The defendant’s lawyer Mr. Matthew Hardenham told the court: “He feared reprisals by those involved in the conspiracy against Mr. Ferguson. He was there because of threats of violence to himself and his family.

“There was nothing to suggest to Mr. Williams that Mr. Ferguson was going to be subjected to such a serious attack and left for dead.”

Teen Bike Murder: £20,000 Reward Up For Grabs

Police have announced a £20,000 reward for information that nails the killers of a 16 year-old East London teenager - stabbed to death by a gang who snatched his bike in a brutal late-night attack.

Ailton Campos De Oliveria, 16, (pictured) suffered a fatal stab wound to the chest in Denbigh Road, East Ham at 1:10am on July 4.

He was rushed by ambulance to the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, but died two days later on July 6.

Newham youth Ailton had been riding a distinctive bicycle (pic.bottom) when he was initially confronted by a group of youths in Boundary Lane East Ham.

They grabbed the teenager and stole the bike before chasing him into Denbigh Road where he was stabbed. 



The bike is a black 'Hardrock' model, with the brand 'Specialized' in red letters along the body.

It also features distinctive customised white front shock absorbers, which had been fitted by Ailton. 



Along with his bike, the suspects also stole Ailton's Blackberry 'Curve' mobile phone. 



The suspects are described as black and in their mid-to-late teens.

Detectives are unable to confirm a specific number, but are aware that some of the group were on bikes. 



Detective Chief Inspector Simon Moring, of the Metropolitan Police’s Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “We hope that this substantial reward will encourage anyone with information about Ailton's murder to come forward.

“A group of young people targeted Ailton, stole his bike and attacked him in the middle of the street.

“Despite the greatest efforts by medical staff Ailton died and his family and friends are left devastated.

“Someone knows the group responsible and we urge them to think about Ailton and his family and come forward to help us. 



DCI Moring added: “Previously we released CCTV images in the hope that further witnesses could be identified.

“We are also keen to trace Ailton's bike and mobile phone and ask for anyone who may have been offered these items to come forward."



Police have already arrested nearly twenty suspects and many of them are on police bail pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 020 8345 4142.

If you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Knifeman Wanted For Eye-Watering Attack

Police are hunting this suspect after a man was stabbed between the legs during a late-night scuffle in a packed West London bar.

The 31 year-old victim was stabbed once through both testicles inside the Eclipse Bar, Walton Street, Chelsea around midnight on August 20.

He was drinking with friends when punched in the face by the suspect who was captured by the bar’s internal CCTV.

The victim was knocked to the floor and other customers had to stop the attack.

The suspect fled in the direction of Brompton Road and the victim felt pain and bleeding in his groin.

Bar staff tried to stem the bleeding before the victim was taken to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and treated for his injuries. 



Detective Constable Mike Jones from Notting Hill CID, said: “The victim and the other people involved in the incident in the club do not know the suspect and no one has come forward to identify him. 



“This was a nasty attack which we believe to be unprovoked.

“We need anyone who knows this man to contact police.”



If you recognise this man please contact DC Mike Jones on 0208 246 0172 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Figges Marsh Rape: CCTV Released

This is the rape suspect police are hunting after a 38 year-old woman was the victim of a late-night attack in well-known parkland.

Officers were called at 11:00pm on March 21 to Figges Marsh, London Road, Mitcham, South-West London after the woman raised the alarm.

The woman, who reported she was raped near the outdoor gym facilities, was treated by an ambulance crew and taken to hospital.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 25 - 30yrs of age, slim build with short dark hair. 



Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire team are investigating.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue. 



Detective Inspector Sian Thomas said: “We would like to hear from anyone who thinks they may have seen or heard anything in relation to this incident.

“We have some forensic leads in this case but need to know who this man is and we think that someone out there knows who he is. 



“Please come forward and speak to us, so that we can bring the culprit to justice.”



If you know anything that could help police with their enquiries, please contact the Sapphire Enquiry Team on 020 8649 3105.

If you wish to remain anonymous, phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.