Jealous Husband Murdered Wife He Stabbed With Kitchen Knife And Then Ran Over

A jealous husband, who repeatedly stabbed his wife and then deliberately ran her over in his car after she fled their suburban marital home, was jailed for life yesterday.

Minta Adiddo, 38, (pic.bottom) was convinced Akua Agyeman, 22, (pic.top) was having an affair with a neighbour and stabbed her with a large kitchen knife on November 5, last year.

The first wound was inflicted in the bedroom of their home in Morris Court, Rigby Place, Enfield and the terrified victim tried to escape via the living-room window.

However, Adiddo chased her outside, repeatedly stabbing her, and when a passer-by tended to the seriously wounded woman the defendant jumped into his car and ran over her.

Adiddo was convicted at the Old Bailey of murdering Akua, who died on January 2, and must serve a minimum of seventeen years.

He admitted attacking his wife, but claimed he was guilty of nothing more serious than manslaughter, which was rejected by the jury.

The court heard how following the attack, in one of the first phone calls Adiddo made, he admitted to a relative that he stabbed his wife and was going to kill himself.

Shortly before 10:00am on November 6, the day after the attack, Adiddo was arrested after officers spotted him in the vehicle still wearing his blood-stained shirt.

Five Years For Rapist Invited To Woman's Flat

A rapist, who pounced on a woman he had just met during a night out in the London Bridge area when the group returned to her flat, has today been locked-up for five years.

Ricardo Ramsay, 25, (pictured) of Bowerman Avenue, New Cross forced himself on the 22 year-old after she went to bed, leaving the rest of the party to socilaise.

He was convicted by a Woolwich Crown Court jury of raping the woman on February 25, last year at her Bermondsey flat and will remain on the sex offenders register for life.

The court heard the victim and her friend went out socialising and met a group of men who they invited back to the flat.

The victim later went to bed whilst her friend and the men continued to socialise. 



During the night the victim was raped and items stolen from her flat and she contacted the police the following day. 



Detectives from Sapphire were assigned and analysis of CCTV at the bar the group had attended that evening identified Ramsay. 



He was arrested on March 29, last year and charged with rape on October 3.

Leisure Centre Sex Beast Caged For Preying On 15 Year-Old Autistic Boy

A “dangerous” peadophile who preyed on an autisitic teenage boy he forced to give him oral sex in a leisure centre changing room has been locked-up for eight years.

John Bartholomew, 50, (pictured) of Church Road, Crystal Palace ordered the vulnerable 15 year-old into a cubicle and once alone the frightened youth was forced to perform sex acts.

He was convicted at Croydon Crown Court of rape and sexual assault at the Walnuts Leisure Centre, Orpington on October 9, last year.

The victim was asked by Bartholomew, who he recognised from previous visits to the venue, to follow him into his cubicle – and fearing for his safety, the victim agreed.



Once inside the cubicle Bartholomew sexually assaulted the boy before performing oral sex on him.

Bartholomew then forced the victim to perform oral sex on him.



The victim managed to escape from the changing room and alerted staff who called police.

Officers attended and Bartholomew was arrested as he left the leisure centre. 



Detective Constable Ann Downes from Sapphire, part of the Met's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, led the investigation.

She said: "Bartholomew preyed on this victim's vulnerability, manipulating the situation to isolate him and attack him.



"Bartholomew was found guilty by a jury and I welcome this conviction. I hope it serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to pursue children in this way."



Detective Inspector Faye Churchyard, also of Sapphire, added:

"Bartholomew is a dangerous man.

“It is likely that he stalked his victim over a period of time and then struck when he thought he would go undetected. 



"The victim has found the courage to see his attacker convicted and I commend him and his family who have shown immense strength through what must be an incredibly difficult time.



"Bartholomew is now in prison and I would appeal to anybody else affected by this man's behaviour to come forward and speak to police - specially trained officers and partner agencies will support you."

Home-Buyer From Hell Jailed For Harassment Campaign

A couple who were left physically and mentally shattered by a campaign of harassment after withdrawing their home from sale have seen their prosepctive buyer jailed.

Majid Shamas, 37, (pictured) of Capworth Street, Leyton, east London made a series of hoax 999 calls, reporting false incidents at the address, after the sale fell through.

He was sentenced to eleven weeks imprisonment by Thames Magistrates' Court, which also imposed an indefinite restraining order to protect the victims – a married couple aged 48 and 47 years-old – in the future.

Shamas pleaded guilty to harassment and misuse of public electronic communications data.

The court heard between October 4, 2011 and August 19, last year 2012 Shamas continued his campaign after illness forced the couple to cancel the sale of their home.

Shamas used a variety of telephone numbers when calling emergency services. 



He was suspected of involvement and arrested by police on November 28, last year. 



To prove it was the voice of the suspect, the services of a voice recognition expert were employed and confirmed that Shamas was the man that had made the hoax calls. 



Detective Constable Rebecca Woodsford, said: “This sentence sends a clear message that this kind of behaviour is not tolerated.

“I would like to commend the victims for having the both the courage and strength to come forward.

“This has been a life-changing experience for them both, which has unfortunately taken its toll both physically and mentally.”

Drunken Off-Duty Cop's Race Assault On Nightclub Doorman

A boozy off-duty policeman punched a West End nightclub doorman in the face during a late-night race-hate attack when denied entry with a female companion.

Police Constable James Balneaves, 29, pulled out his warrant card – effectively putting him back on-duty – and demanded to see the manager while refusing to budge.

He shouted: “Go back to where you come from,” as he struck the doorman, cutting his face.

The Brent borough officer, whose career is in tatters as a result of the conviction, pleaded guilty to racially-aggravated assault outside the Opal Bar, (pictured) Embankment on October 19.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that PC Balneaves had been drinking during a Saturday night out with his female companion, but they were both denied admission on the grounds of drunkeness.

Police were called immediately and PC Balneaves was arrested and placed on restricted duties.

He was bailed until December 23 for sentencing.

Life Sentence For "Greedy" Financial Advisor Who Battered To Death Millionaire Client He Swindled

A "greedy and extravagant" financial advisor, who battered his millionaire Mayfair client to death after looting £343,000 to fund a lifestyle of flash cars and expensive hotels, holidays and restaurants, has been jailed for life.

David Jeffs, 36, who must serve a minimum of 24 years, murdered wealthy socialite Roberto Troyan, 63, (pic.top) who had received a large inheritance from his late his civil partner, interior designer Anthony Feldman.

Mr. Justice Singh told Jeffs, who had never been in trouble with the police before: "Clearly you had a confrontation with Mr. Troyan in his flat, but exactly what happened or the reason for that confrontation is not clear from the evidence.

"However, what is clear is that you then killed Mr. Troyan. You hit him with a blunt instrument at least three times.

"The injuries were so severe that his skull was fractured and his jaw was left hanging loose. Indeed the injuries to Mr. Troyan's head were so serious that at first it was though by the emergency services that he had been shot and an armed response unit was called to the scene." 

Twice-married father-of-one Jeffs (pic.bottom), the son of an ambulance driver, whose first job was with Pearl Assurance had an ordinary upbringing in Peterborough and attended Walton Junior and Senior School.

However, Jeffs had another side to his character that included cheating the taxman, plagiarising his fellow-student girlfriend's work at university, lying about his poor finance qualifications and taking cocaine and ecstasy.

The jury were told he abused Mr. Troyan's trust, buying himself two Lotus sports cars, blowing £19,500 in one night at lap dancing club Spearmint Rhino and treating himself to "expensive" holidays in the USA, Mauritius and Ibiza.

There were also VIP rugby and polo events, stays at expensive hotels, meals at top restaurants, and a £1150 night at celebrity West End club Chinawhite. 

Mr. Justice Singh added: "You were in a position of trust, you were supposed to be looking after Mr. Troyan's interests. Instead you chose to take advantage of him and line your own pocket."

Despite two pre-signed cheques bouncing Jeffs continued paying Mr. Troyan's money into his own account on eight occasions over a two-year period. 

"I have no doubt that you are an intelligent man and a smooth talker, but when you get into trouble you try to lie your way out of it.

"You are a thoroughly dishonest man. You took advantage of a man who trusted you and you took his money so that you could spend it on your greedy and extravagant lifestyle.

Jeffs, of Larch Close, Arnold, Nottingham denied, but was convicted of murdering Mr. Troyan at the Mount Street address on March 8 and defrauding him between March 1, 2010 and December 2, last year.

He received a concurrent six-year sentence for the fraud.

"This defendant took advantage of a frail and vulnerable man for his own gains over a long period," explained prosecutor Mr. Edward Brown QC at the start of the trial.

"As a result he was able to live the high life, but all at the expense of the deceased, who when the defendant first met him was a rich man. He died less rich by hundreds of thousands of pounds thanks to this defendant's dishonesty.

"The defendant kept the true source of his spending power from everyone. He had come to rely on the deceased, or his wealth, for his own lifestyle.

"When the life to which the defendant happily had become accustomed appeared to him to be about suddenly to come to an end and that there was a real possibility that his callous acts would soon be found out, he killed him."

Jeffs was employed by London and Weybridge, Surrey-based HFM Columbus, a partnership of financial and wealth management firms and invested £1.2 million for Mr. Troyan in an off-shore bank.

Mr. Troyan, who suffered fatal head injuries,  was one half of the first-ever civil partnership in the UK and Mr. Feldman's clients included Princess Michael of Kent and Jonathan Aitken and his American family describe themselves as: "overcome with grief."

He was found on his blood-splattered kitchen floor by his cleaner and had suffered multiple skull fractures, a fractured jaw, cheek and eye-socket and had inhaled blood into his airways.

Mr. Troyan had enjoyed spending his ex-partner's inheritance and hosted cocaine parties at the flat and was known to have had several gay lovers. 

CCTV evidence showed Jeffs spent 15 minutes inside the flat after Mr. Troyan buzzed him in and afterwards bought identical clothes and cleaned-up his Lotus car and himself at a petrol station.

He told police there was no answer at Mr. Troyan's door, but after the deceased's blood was found on his briefcase he claimed to have had a confrontation on the landing with an angry blood-stained mystery man.

In a desperate bid to explain away damning DNA evidence Jeffs told the jury the man was probably a "rent boy" or "angry pimp."

"This was plainly a wholly false account. It was invented to cater for the blood that had in truth come from his own contact with Mr. Troyan and Mr. Troyan's wet blood during the attack," added Mr. Brown.

"The deceased's blood came to be on that briefcase because this defendant, in those fifteen minutes, was the one who, perhaps in just a few seconds or minutes, beat that frail man, most likely because he was about to bring to an end his gravy train, his lifestyle and very possibly his liberty."

The victim's rental lease was due for renewal on March 9 and he had arranged to meet Jeffs the day before so more cash could be withdrawn from his bank account to meet the expense.

Jeffs tried to lie his way out of the fraud, telling police police he was Mr. Troyan's £1,000 a week "financial concierge" and had been paid two years salary in advance. 

Family Tragedy: Doctor Sentenced For Death Crash That Claimed Son's Life

A research doctor, who lost his only son when he inexplicably stopped in the middle a busy dual carriageway, causing a speeding tipper lorry to crash into the family car, has received a suspended sentence along with the HGV driver.

Dr. Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala, 45, claims his mind is a "blank" concerning the tragedy, which claimed the life of ten year-old Hendrick Kandala, (pic.top) who was sitting in the back seat next to his two sisters, when he suffered a fatal brain injury.

Dr. Kandala, (pic.mid.) of Dorchester Way, Coventry, who leads a research team at the city's University Hospital and Nathan Hopgood, 45, (pic.bottom) of Norman Court, Edenbridge, Kent were both convicted of causing death by careless driving.

Woolwich Crown Court heard CCTV captured Dr. Kandala's Peugeot hatchback performing an emergency stop on the A20 Sidcup Road, Eltham on November 2, 2011 moments before Hopgood's lorry collided with the vehicle.

The fully-loaded lorry was travelling at approximately 53 mph in a 40 mph zone and Hopgood was driving too fast to avoid colliding with the car, which also contained Dr. Kandala's wife Diane, 35.

Judge Anuja Dhir QC announced: "This is a tragic case. An innocent ten year-old boy lost his life as a result of carelessness from two grown men and one of those men was his father.

"It is a matter of chance no one else was killed or seriously injured when Dr. Kandala stopped suddenly and without good reason and Mr. Hopgood was driving his lorry too fast to prevent a fatal collision.

"Each of you will have to live with the consequences of your actions, which have not only ended the life of Hendrick Kandala, but blighted the life of his mother and other family members.

"For Dr. Kandala the responsibility for causing his son's death will be a heavy burden to bear.

"Mr. Hopgood had a degree of responsibility to other road users, but drove significantly in excess of the speed limit on an A road and Dr. Kandala was directly responsible for the children in his care, but effected a thoroughly dangerous manoeuvre, stopping the car without warning or good reason."

Hendrick was rushed to hospital, but with the consent of his parent's his life support machine was switched off the next day.

Dr. Kandala was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, disqualified from driving for fifteen months and ordered to pay £3,270 costs.

Hopgood received ten months, suspended for twelve months, a ten month ban was ordered to pay £1,200 costs and must pass an extended driving test to regain his licence.

Dr. Kandala's lawyer Mr. Tim Brown said: "He should not suffer immediate custody today. I point to the remorse and devastation and the fact that he has lost his only son.

"The victim's in this case include Dr. Kandala himself, it is a truly tragic situation."

There is still no explanation for the sudden stop in the middle of fast-moving traffic, but Mr. Brown added: "Whatever it was, a momentary distraction, it caused a wrong reaction that caused the car to stop,

"This is an exceptionally unusual case and there are none of the usual aggravating features, no drugs or alcohol, no course of driving.

"Whatever the actions of the court they cannot match the punishment that is his.

"The family is devastated by what has happened, but they are holding together as a unit and his surviving children need the support of their father."

Dr. Kandala's wife is due to give birth to another child on December 21.

"Dr. Kandala is an exceptionally worthwhile individual in many respects and immediate custody would be beyond what is necessary.

"He has a blemish-free driving record of over twenty years to this point and it was a momentary aberration rather than a course of conduct where he deliberately took a risk.

"He has been taxed about why it happened and simply says: 'I don't know.'

"Going to prison today would add devastation on devastation. this is a tragic and unique case."

Hopgood's lawyer Mr. Tom  Stern told the court: "This man is deeply, deeply saddened and troubled by the fact there is a loss of life in this case.

"He has not driven trucks since this event and the effects have been devastating on him."

The court heard hopgood has received counselling for post-traumatic stress disorder and Mr. Stern added: "The vehicle ground to an emergency stop in front of him."

Hopgood was the only driver under police investigation until CCTV images recovered a year later revealed Dr. Kandala's careless driving.

Music Teacher Jailed For Groping 11 Year-Old Boy During Piano Lesson

A popular music teacher and radio DJ was jailed for twenty months on Friday for groping a nine year-old pupil during a school piano lesson and having a collection of child porn.

Jazz musician John Gowers, 52, a former host on Meridian FM, who complained on Facebook he was the victim of a "witch hunt", had also downloaded indecent images on his home computer.

Woolwich Crown Court heard Gowers, (pictured) of Great Water Farm Cottages, Ashurst, East Sussex, who forced the schoolboy to give evidence, finally confessed to a probation officer he did abuse the youngster.

He was the front man of the John Gowers Jazz Quartet, playing saxophone, clarinet and singing at clubs in the Home Counties and was heavily involved in public street performances during events and festivals.

Judge Andrew Lees told disgraced Gowers: "You have also admitted to a probation officer that you have been viewing child abuse images for ten years on your computer.

"It is clear, and you admit it, that you have an interest in young boys and your offending has gone further and not only have you look at these images you have gone on to act out your fantasies with a young boy.

"That offending was in breach of trust, you were his piano teacher trusted to give a proper piano lesson and not molest him, but you did molest him and did not have the courage to admit it.

"You have now admitted it to the probation service, but that is no comfort to the victim because he had to come to court and give evidence and has been molested, which is something he will remember for the rest of his life."

Gowers denied, but was convicted of two counts of sexually assaulting the boy on December 5, last year at the unnamed school in the London Borough of Lewisham.

Before the trial he pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing indecent images, which relate to sixteen at Level One - the lowest category - six at Level Two and one at Level Four.

The vile content was found on his home computer, which was seized and examined by police investigating the sexual assault allegation and revealed internet searches including: 'pre-teen boy nudity' and 'boy sex'.

On Friday prosecutor Mr. Patrick Moran told the court: "The offences are a gross breach of trust at a location where the child should have felt at his safest."

During the trial he told the jury: "Mr. Gowers was the boy's piano teacher and he was giving the boy a private piano lesson during the school lunch break.

"The defendant is alleged to have touched parts of the boy's body, his penis, his bottom and he touched them for several seconds, long enough for it to be no accident.

"The boy was fully clothed in school uniform and in the middle of playing a piece of music.

"Mr. Gowers said nothing and just kept his hand there and the boy felt very awkward, did not say anything and left after the lesson.

"That evening the boy told his mother, she contacted the school the next morning, and the police were informed.

"The defendant denied having touched the boy in the way described," explained Mr. Moran. "He said he remembered touching his leg, above the knee, but only because he was leaning over.

"He denied touching the boy's penis at all."

Gowers' lawyer Miss Lauren Soertsz told the court: "There is no dispute that Mr. Gowers was, for many years, a very good teacher and for many years taught at a prep school as someone who nurtured and encouraged youngsters' love of music.

"As he committed the offence he asked himself: 'What have I done?'

"It is rare to see an admission in a probation report following a trial and I ask the court to see it as a positive that Mr. Gowers has at a late stage been able to face up to his behaviour, his criminality.

"This is a man who has faced up to the darker aspect of his psyche."

The court heard Gowers has been drinking heavily and has two convictions for driving with excess alcohol.

"Alcohol has recently become more of a pressing problem for him and he is obviously an extremely troubled individual and the consumption of alcohol has been used for several years to suppress the darker recesses of his mind.

"He has lost his job, his reputation, his income, his home and the respect of others" added Miss Soertsz. "This is an offence that has considerable stigma to it and it has been reported in the press and has come to the attention of his mother, who he lives with."

The defendant received sixteen months imprisonment for the sexual assaults, plus a consecutive four months for possessing the child pornography.

Judge Lees made an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which restricts Gowers' contact with children and his internet use and he must sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

Miss Soertsz submitted the offence lasted only "eleven seconds" during twenty-five weeks of thirty minute lesson, but Judge Lees told Gowers: "It is not right to say the activity towards the young boy was minor.

"You were looking at images of naked and semi-naked pre-pubescent boys in various poses for ten years, boys that had been horrendously abused and that does cause harm and you need to understand that and I don't think you have until now."

Gowers was also made subject to an indefinite ban from working with children and vulnerable persons and was order to pay a £100 victim surcharge.

Somalian Benefits Fraudster's £91K Swindle

A Somalian overstayer, who has been twice convicted of identity fraud and successfully battled deportation for a decade, has avoided prison for a £91,000 benefit swindle.

Mother-of-four Ayan Ismail, 39, of Edington Road, Abbey Wood has persistently lied and broken the law to obtain residency in the UK since 1998, but this latest conviction is no guarantee she will finally be removed from the country.

Her three oldest daughters were granted temporary visas to enter the UK for her wedding, but have never left and she has since given birth to another girl in this country during her failed marriage to a UK citizen.

Until the custody of that child is settled all deportation proceedings have been postponed even though Ismail was served with removal papers on July 29, 2010.

Taxpayers will not see one penny of their money returned after Woolwich Crown Court Judge David Tomlinson announced: "Awarding compensation is undesirable in a case like this." 

He sentenced her to eighteen months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered her to obey a night time electronically monitored home curfew for four months. 

Ismail, who obtained Canadian citizenship via marriage, successfully applied for a National Insurance number in a false identity in October, 2005 and immediately began claiming housing benefit; council tax benefit; income support; disability living allowance and employment and support allowance.

Using the bogus name of Saediya Mohamed she successfully applied for permanent leave to remain in the UK, but was stripped of this right after her second identity fraud conviction.

Under another false name she was convicted at Warwick Crown Court on September 30, 2004 of seeking to remain in the UK, by deception, and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months.

At Chelmsford Crown Court on June 26, 2009 she received eighteen months imprisonment for possession of a false identity document, namely a forged National Insurance card, and seeking to obtain leave in the UK by deception.

Prosecutor Miss Eleanor Mawrey told the court: "Miss Ismail is a Canadian citizen with no entitlement to claim state benefits in the United Kingdom.

"She applied for a National Insurance number in a false name, claiming exceptional need, and for proof of identity included a child benefit claim form and a British Telecom bill.

"The National Insurance number was issued in that false name, but as a Canadian citizen Miss Ismail was not entitled to one and if her true identity was known it would not have been issued.

"The number entitled her to claim state benefits," explained Miss Mawrey, who said the fraud lasted from December 5, 2005 until March 6, last year.

Ismail claimed £46,634 in housing benefit; £5,047 in council tax benefit; £21,470 in income support; £15,092 in disability living allowance and £3,330 in employment and support allowance.

Her home was raided in November, last year and a search revealed correspondence in Ismail's name and her fake identity of Saediya Mohamed.

She collapsed and an ambulance rushed her to hospital, postponing any questioning, and a second interview was abandoned when she turned up with all of her children.

The benefit swindle spanned her second identity fraud conviction and the only gap in payments was between July, 2009 and January, 2010 when she was in custody.

"Despite those identity fraud convictions she was still signing forms in the name of Saediya Mohamed," added Miss Mawrey. "All those claims were fraudulent from the outset."

Ismail's lawyer Mr. Ian Dowty told the court: "She is somebody who has had an unfortunate childhood in Somalia, where she witnessed matters that traumatised her, the killing of her uncle and aunt.

'This comes from a childhood where nothing is safe and death is around the corner.

"She has been treated for post-traumatic stress disorder and it requires some courage on her part to accept the current situation.

"It is right that she does not read or write english and someone else must have assisted her to fill out the forms. She was assisted by her latest husband, but she knew perfectly well she was not entitled to benefit.

"It is difficult to say she is not a dishonest woman because she is, but it is in a certain area and the only reason that she remains here is because her seven year-old daughter is a British subject."

The court heard Ismail fled an abusive marriage in Canada to a man nearly thirty years her senior and moved in with a cousin who lived in London.

"She is now surviving in this country without benefits with the help of people who have rallied around to support her," explained Mr. Dowty.

Judge Tomlinson told Ismail, who needed the assistance of an interpreter,: "Not for the first time you have adopted a false identity and using that identity you have obtained this money from hard-working people in this country.

"The aggravating factor is that you have previous convictions and have served a custodial sentence.

"There is an overwhelming public interest to send out a message by sending you to prison, but there is also the impact this would have on your child."

Ismael pleaded guilty one week before her trial to three counts of obtaining a money transfer by deceptions, one count of evading a liability by deception and one count of fraud by failing to disclose information, with intent to make a gain.

Boozy Asylum-Seeker Caught Behind The Wheel - Again

An asylum-seeker, who claims he fled opression in his native Zimbabwe at the hands of Robert Mugabe, has dodged prison with a suspended sentence for his latest drink-related driving offence.

Since being allowed to remain in the UK seven years ago Joshua Tarisai Muchato, 51, of Bishops Rise, Hatfield, Hertfordshire has clocked-up eleven offences.

The engineering student, who is also employed as a plumber pleaded guilty to failing to give a breath-test to police after he was stopped at 8.30 am in his Toyota Corolla while driving through the square mile.

City of London Magistrates' Court (pictured) heard Muchato stopped at every green light he encountered as officers followed him and he was pulled over.

Police could detect the smell of alcohol on his breath and he failed a roadside breath-test, but later refused to give a sample at the station.

He claims he did not think he would be still over the limit after drinking heavily the night before and admitted to a probation officer that he was an alcoholic.

Muchato has at least one previous driving disqualification and a history of drink-related driving offences.

He was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and disqualified from driving for three-and-a-half years.

He was also ordered to complete a twelve-month supervision order, 60 hours community service work and must pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Prolific Burglar's Latest Crime Spree Ended With Another Prison Sentence

A serial burglar's break-in "spree" was ended when he was seen by the occupier of the latest property he targeted driving away in the family car, which he had loaded-up with valuables.

Paul Freeman, 30, of Rectory Green, Beckenham scoped the Eltham residential neighbourhood on a bike and broke in at 8.05 am, waking-up a man who was sleeping upstairs.

He immediately called the police, who stopped Freeman in the vehicle four hours later and arrested him.

While in police custody Freeman confessed to twenty similar domestic burglaries, which he asked Woolwich Crown Court to take into consideration when sentencing him.

He pleaded guilty to burgling the Eltham home on October 9, stealing a computer, a ring and the car keys and taking and driving away the vehicle and was sentenced to four years and four months imprisonment.

Freeman has been locked-up for six-and-a-half of the last eleven years and had just been released from prison when he started burgling homes again.

He received four months for burglary at Guildford Crown Court in October, 2006; twenty-nine months at Canterbury Crown Court in 2010 and three years at Basildon Crown Court in March, last year.

The court heard Freeman found himself homeless and burgled to fund his cocaine and crack habit.

He told police when quizzed about his crime wave: "It was a cry for help. I feel terrible."

Judge Anuja Dhir QC said: "He was certainly on a spree during August, September and October."

She told Freeman, whose lawyer asked for the court to place him on probation: "You are a prolific burglar with a long history of offending.

"It wasn't long after your release that you started this particular spree of burglaries.

"You are going into another person's home, taking their personal property, which may have sentimental value and the vast majority of these burglaries involved the taking of jewellery, which almost always has sentimental value and cannot be replaced."

Vile Paedo Who Abused Autistic Teenager Caged For 12 Years

A paedophile, who repeatedly sexually-abused a severely autistic teenage boy believing he would not complain or be taken seriously if he ever did, has been jailed for twelve years.

Christopher Williams, 62, of Selhurst Road, South Norwood denied the claims, insisting the allegations against him had been fabricated, forcing the vulnerable victim to give evidence to the jury.

The complainant says he was aged between fourteen and sixteen years-old when abused at the hands of Williams several years ago at the defendant's flat.

Williams was found guilty at Croydon Crown Court of five counts of sexual activity with a mentally disordered male between September 10, 2004 and September 11, 2008.

“He has been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder and learning difficulties and experiences high levels of anxiety,” prosecutor Mr. Mark Gadsen told the jury.

“Because of his mental disorder he was not able to give informed consent to the sexual activity that occurred.

“The defendant knew all about him and his learning difficulties, but says nothing improper ever happened.”

The jury were told Williams had sex with the boy, touched him intimately and made the complainant touch him.

“He says sexual activity occurred on a number of occasions and took different forms,” added Mr. Gadesen.

“The defendant took advantage of him, knowing he had autism and learning difficulties, believing he would get away with it and that it was unlikely the complainant would tell anyone or be believed.”

In April, 2009 the complainant reported the allegations to a relative, who informed the police and Williams was quizzed.

“He flatly denied the allegations. He said the complainant had come to his house three times, but nothing sexual had occurred.

“The defendant says he has made it up for whatever reason.”

Williams was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.