Jail For Horror Acid Attack Gang

Three Muslim thugs who left the victim of an “honour” attack scarred for life after pouring sulphuric acid over his face – causing horrific burns – have been locked-up for a total of 52 years.

Awais Akram, 24, (pic.far r.) had struck up a Facebook friendship with one of the defendant’s sister’s who helped him find a flat in Leyton, East London, but then paid the penalty for associating with the married woman.

He was left with 47% burns to his head, face, neck and chest, had both ears amputated and lost the sight in one eye following the brutal attack.

Ringleader Mohammed Vakas, 26, (pic.l.) of Hatherley Road, Walthamstow – the brother of the woman - was sentenced to thirty years imprisonment after being convicted at the Old Bailey of conspiracy to murder.

His cousin, Mohammed Adeel, 20, (pic.2^nd l.) of Pearl Road, Walthamstow, received 14 years for grievous bodily harm and 17 year-old Fabian Kuci, (pic.3^rd l.) of Abbey Road Estate, St. John’s Wood, 8 years for the same offence.

Detective Chief Inspector Nigel Furness of Waltham Forest CID said: "This has been a complex investigation which has relied upon witnesses coming forward from the community, for which we are extremely grateful, and the strength of evidence given by the victim, Awais Akram.

"Awais is to be commended for his bravery in giving evidence following a brutal attack which has left him severely disfigured for life.

"No words can describe the amount of courage it took for him to stand in court, face his attackers and give his account."

Drug-Dealing Dummy's Coke Arrest

Dopey drug dealer David Stevenson was arrested again after walking into his local police station with cocaine in his pocket while on bail for dealing cannabis, a court heard.

The 37 year-old jobless delivery driver of Dower Avenue, Wallington, Surrey dodged jail with a suspended sentence at Croydon Crown Court and was ordered to perform unpaid work.

Stevenson pleaded guilty to possessing 18 gms of cannabis, worth £80, with intent to supply and possessing a small quantity of cocaine in a Sutton street at 2am on November 23, last year.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing a small quantity of cocaine at Sutton police station (pictured) on January 21 and a further quantity of the drug plus cannabis at his home address on the same day.

The court heard night-duty CID spotted Stevenson rowing with another man in his car in the early hours of the morning.

Officers approached and the defendant admitted he was supplying cannabis to the second man and a police search found a small wrap of cocaine along with £435 cash.

While on bail for the offences Stevenson attended the ‘virtual court’ at Sutton police station’s video link facility and like everybody else was routinely searched and the cocaine found.

He was arrested and a later search of his home revealed two further small quantities of cocaine and cannabis.

Stevenson was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, ordered to perform 180 hours community service work and pay £150 costs.

Cops Weed Out Dope Plants

A cannabis cultivator whose growing operation – hidden inside a wardrobe - was ended by police investigating a burglary has dodged prison with a suspended sentence.

Nathan Whittle, 28, of Ashbourne Road, Mitcham, Surrey, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the production of cannabis at 21D Anerley Road, Crystal Palace on December 22, last year.

Croydon Crown Court heard police were called to the address (pictured) after hearing reports of a suspected burglar trying to break into the basement flat with a crowbar.

Prosecutor Mr. Hamish Reid said the front door was forced and when officers checked the property for an intruder found the “cannabis factory” inside the bedroom wardrobe along with £1800 cash.

Eighteen cannabis plants were seized along with extractor fans.

It is estimated they had been growing for two weeks.

“You are going to end up inside if you continue to use and produce cannabis,” Judge Simon Pratt told Whittle, sentencing him to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He also ordered Whittle to complete 150 hours unpaid community service work and pay £150 costs.

Ex's Smirk Triggers Deadly Knife Attack

A jilted boyfriend, who plunged a kitchen knife through his ex's heart was "emotionally and psychologically" destroyed by the time she laughed at him about her new Facebook lover, a court heard.

Builder Paul Fender, 44, of The Parade, Greatstone, New Romney, Kent has pleaded not guilty to murdering 28 year-old mum-of-two Karen Martin at 47 Hardy Street (pictured) on November 20, last year, claiming provocation.

"She told him she was sleeping with this other man, that it had nothing to do with him and laughed in his face," Fender's QC Richard Barraclough told the Croydon Crown Court jury.

The lawyer claims the turbulent relationship changed his client from a "kind, outgoing, loving family man" who never lost his temper to somebody suffering "mental torture".

Two ex-girlfriends told the court Fender accepted the end of their relationships with him without any major problems arising.

"He is not by nature an obsessive jealous man," added the QC, explaining his client's relationship with "troubled" Karren was turbulent because of her "string of men."

The couple endured many break-ups and reunions with Fender telling police: "She would leave me at the drop of a hat. I never knew if she would be there from one day to the next."

The defendant claims he was left devastated by Karren's morning-after response to yet another reunion. "She told me it was only sex and I should get a grip."

Apart from the Facebook relationship with an old school friend the victim had also seen another man. "She rubbed Paul Fender's nose in that relationship," Mr. Barraclough told the jury.

Fender also told police: "Day after day she has reduced me to nothing. It's like cutting your wrists everytime she comes around. It's like an open sore."

Mr. Barraclough told the court: "It is a cummulative effect that finishes with that smirk."

Fender also told police that was the moment he reached for the kitchen knife. "That was the final straw.

"I just lost the plot, I couldn't take anymore. She was smirking at me as if I was fuck all.

"I didn't mean it. I just wanted it to all go away. I just wanted her to know how much I loved her."

A former workmate of Karren's at Dungeness Power Station, Jo Clayton, told the jury: "She told me she planned to get Paul to hit her and do him for domestic violence and that would help her get the house.

"She was very flirtatious with all the men."

Trial continues.........

Office Girl From Hell Wrecks Company By Gambling Online

An office assistant, who wrecked a respected property company by looting twenty accounts of £346,000 - blowing it all playing Internet bingo - was jailed for four years by a Judge who condemned online gambling.

Despite only earning £18,000 per year 29 year-old Claire Elizabeth Gilbody wagered £430,000 during a seventeen-month spell in which she desperately attempted to cover up her crimes.

"I'd like to get these betting people here so they can see the misery gambling wreaks," announced Croydon Crown Court Judge Heather Baucher. "She was caught up in an awful addiction."

Mum-to-be Gilbody, of Inglethorpe Street, Fulham pleaded guilty to abusing her position with Wandsworth's A. Mansell & Co. to make a gain, namely £346,250.28, between October 14, 2008 and April 3, last year.

She also admitted similarly making a gain, namely £39,385.50, while a mortgage administrator with Hammersmith-based MIL Finance between November 21, 2007 and April 1, last year.

The court heard A. Mansell & Co., a one-woman firm run by Andrea Kilcawley, who hired Gilbody via website 'Gumtree' went into liquidation after the defendant plundered the accounts.

"This person went from one company to another wreaking havoc and misery in her wake," added Judge Baucher. "When she discovered what happened it seems Andrea Kilcawley was in abject panic."

One £50,000 account saved-up by residents of a private block to fund refurbishment's was almost emptied by New Zealand-born Gilbody.

"They will be lucky now if they have enough money to paint the front door," said the Judge. "They must be devastated they have been robbed by a sophisticated fraud."

Prosecutor Mr. David Povall told the court Gilbody was immediately given access to the company's debit card, emails and twenty accounts which held money for various residential management committees.

Gilbody's boss noticed bank statements were suddenly missing and complained to the Royal Mail about her postal service which the defendant was secretly intercepting.

The true horror was only revealed when Gilbody was arrested at the office on April 2, last year by City of London Police's Economic Crime Department for defrauding previous employers MIL Finance.

There she had instructed Legal and General to pay mortgage commissions into her personal Lloyds TSB bank account - even changing the address to a P.O. Box under her control.

Gilbody's lawyer Mr. Thomas Garner told the court all the money was lost on Internet gambling.

"She thought the only way she could repay the money was to continue gambling and there was a rapid escalation in her gambling.

"She was robbing Peter to pay Paul, but the money was coming from other people's accounts."

Since her arrest Gilbody, who is due to give birth to her first child in August, spent five months at a charity-run residential gambling programme, paying just £10 per week for treatment.

"It's an absolutely gross breach of trust," Judge Baucher told Gilbody "It was to A. Mansell and Co.'s detriment that they took you on, took you into their arms.

"Funds were being transferred into your account instead of A. Mansell and Co. and you prepared a colour-coded Excel spreadsheet listing all then names and the figures.

"The fact you were able to place deposits of £430,000 while on an income of £18,000 beggars belief.

"I hope no one ever employs you where you can access accounts. You have sophistication and intelligence and means to perpetrate a fraud and no doubt will do so in the future if given the opportunity."

The prosecution will not pursue compensation.

NHS Money Man Ripped-Off Taxpayers

A "greedy" £350 per day NHS finance guru has been jailed for claiming benefits while pocketing £212,000 in professional fees in just three years.

Zahid Ali, 46, was arrested at his gated house in an exclusive stockbroker belt neighbourhood for a variety of false claims including incapacity benefit for depression, jobseekers allowance and housing benefit.

Ali, of Nightingale Court, Sutton, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment at Croydon Crown Court after pleading guilty to seven charges.

"This is a substantial fraud over a substantial period of time and manifestly greedy," Judge Heather Baucher told the defendant. "You are a deliberately manipulative fraudster."

His company received consultancy fees from a variety of NHS General Practitioners for assisting in their budgets.

Ali admitted failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions he was working between September 27, 2004 and November 21, 2006 while receiving incapacity benefit for depression.

He also admitted failing to declare to the London Borough of Sutton he was working while receiving housing benefit and failing to declare he was living with his girlfriend when applying for Jobseekers Allowance.

Ali (pictured) also admitted a fraudulent housing benefit application to Surrey's Reigate and Banstead council for a property his wife owned in Hooley - forging documents and inventing a phantom landlord.

He was arrested in Kingswood Surrey on June 10, 2008 and later repaid the £14,938 he unlawfully obtained.

"This was four separate frauds during which he time he has earned over £212,000 over three years and is living in a substantial property behind electronic gates," added Judge Baucher.

She also ordered Ali to pay £3,000 costs.

Rape: Park Pouncer In Prison

A violent rapist who pounced on a young female jogger as she ran through a small park – dragging her into bushes after grabbing her from behind – has been locked up.

Richard Shaw, 28, pleaded guilty to raping the twenty-something woman in Victoria Park, Finchley Central, North London on September 16, last year.

He was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection with a minimum three-and-a-half year term at Wood Green Crown Court and was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

Detective Constable Yolanda Rogers of the Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire Unit said: “Assaults of this nature are rare but this was a terrifying experience for the victim who was left traumatised as a result.

“I thank the victim and commend her for her courage in returning to this country to give evidence.

“I hope today's sentence goes some way to helping her overcome this incident but also reassures other victims of sexual assault that if they report the crime it will be investigated thoroughly.”

The victim was in the park at 8 pm when she became aware of a man jogging behind her who pulled her into the bushes and raped her.

During the attack she was also hit in the face.

After the assault she left the park, made her way to her employer’s home and called police.

Shaw was identified through forensic evidence left at the scene and was arrested at an address in North London on October 3.

Burglars Gold-Trail Leads To Jail

Three prolific burglars who funded a lifestyle of flash cars and homes by ruthlessly targeting the Indian community – trashing homes in the search for high-value gold jewellery – have been locked-up.

The North London trio are: Oladapo Ogboye, 22, of Bromley Road, Edmonton, (pic.l) Ricky Dunkley, 19, of Cool Oak Lane, Hendon, (pic.mid) and Dominic Brown-Lee, 21, of Claybrook Close, Barnet, (pic.r).

The Metropolitan Police’s Territorial Policing Crime Squad investigated over twenty similar burglaries in London and the Home Counties.

All three pleaded guilty at Reading Crown Court to conspiring to burgle between July and December, last year and Ogboye received three and a half years imprisonment; Dunkley two years and nine months and Brown-Lee eighteen months.

They led high-rolling lifestyles, renting a luxury apartment within a gated private estate and driving flash cars.

The suspects gained access to the rear of residential properties by using a side access or climbing over a fence.

They would then ransack the properties looking for high-quality Asian gold, stealing £30,000-worth during their crime wave.

On December 3 Ogboye and Brown-Lee were arrested while attempting to burgle a house in Slough, Berkshire.

Ogboye was spotted discarding gloves and a screwdriver as he tried to escape from police officers.

A witness saw a vehicle leaving the scene, which inquiries revealed had been hired by Ogboye.

Dunkley, who had been seen with the vehicle, was arrested later that day and an Asian gold ring in the vehicle was identified as having been stolen in an earlier burglary.

The court heard despite having no visible means of income the defendants were living in luxury.

Ogboye and Dunkley each owned Audi TTs, valued at £25,000 to £30,000, and lived within an affluent private gated complex in Princess Park Manor, Royal Drive, Friern Barnet (in addition to the addresses they gave officers).

When officers searched their homes they found designer clothing from Gucci, D&G and Louis Vuitton, a large quantity of cash and numerous bottles of champagne and Hennessey.

"The individuals involved tried to operate across several boroughs in the hope of avoiding police attention,” said Detective Inspector Bob Boggon.

“They specifically targeted high-value jewellery from members of the Asian community, leaving people's homes in a total mess, which added to their victims' anguish and distress.

"I would like to thank all the victims and witnesses for their cooperation and assistance throughout this investigation which lasted several months.

“The Territorial Policing Crime Squad is determined to increase public safety and confidence by intruding on the lives of those committing these heinous crimes."

Nigerian's Criminal Career Cut Short

Two murderers who butchered a Nigerian drug dealer who immersed himself in South London’s underworld soon after arriving in the country have been jailed for life – with 30-year minimums.

Sunny Eze, 33, (pic.top) was stabbed three times by Michael Henry, 39, (pic.mid) and Mark Brown, 35, (pic.bottom) who arrived at his flat for a drugs deal, but in reality intended to rob the victim.

Both homeless men were convicted at the Old Bailey of murdering Eze on March 4, last year at a flat in Vyvyan House, Campbell Close, Plumstead and were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Police were called at 10pm and found dead Eze – who had been stabbed three times to the back and upper neck - slumped against the kitchen fridge.

He had allowed the defendants into his flat to negotiate a drug deal, but a gun was pulled and it is believed as Eze tried to grab the weapon from Brown he was stabbed in the back by Henry.

"Despite the circumstances of this crime, Sunny Eze died in a brutal and violent attack at the hands of these men,” said Detective Inspector Steve Keogh of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

“We have been committed to bringing these men to justice throughout this case and we are grateful to the witnesses that came forward despite being fearful of the consequences."

Boozy Vandal Smashes Up Parked Car

A drunken scientist caught on CCTV launching a Basil Fawlty-style attack on a parked car was arrested after police arrived and found him sleeping on the back seat.

Qamar Mahmood Khan, 31, of Kenelm Road, Birmingham caused £1,413 worth of damage to the Mercedes after a night out in the City of London.

He pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the vehicle in Milton Street, Bishopsgate on March 28 and was conditionally discharged for twelve months and ordered to pay full compensation.

Prosecutor Mrs. Alexa Morgan told City of London Magistrates’ Court police were called by a passer-by after Khan (pictured) was spotted snoozing on the rear seat of the badly damaged vehicle.

“The driver’s side window had been smashed and he told police the car belonged to a friend,” explained Mrs. Morgan. “He said he did not know how he ended up in the car due to severe intoxication.

“CCTV showed Khan kicking the driver’s side window at 4.20 am then throwing a bottle at the window and then kicking the door another five times.

“He threw a mobile phone against the passenger side window and is then seen throwing the phone twice again before kicking the front and rear panels.

“He returns with a road barrier and uses it to twice strike the driver’s side window, then using hit foot, shatters the glass and gets into the car.”

When shown the footage Khan told police: “I wanted somewhere to sleep. I was thinking I’d get it fixed the next day.”

Khan, who has recently lost his job and is living with his parents, was also ordered to pay £75 costs.

Drugs Money Launderer Jailed After 8 Years On Run

A Dutch antique dealer who went on the run after Customs men caught him exchanging £5.13m in drug-tainted cash was jailed for five years today.

Lambertus Wolters, 67, was the target of an undercover surveillance operation investigating a drugs gang when he was arrested with £102,000 in cash on him.

He pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown court to transferring criminal proceeds, namely a quantity of banknotes between October 1, 1998 and January 25, 2001.

Wolters, who stayed in various West End hotels, was originally arrested by Customs and Excise on January 25, 2001 after he was observed collecting bags of cash from suspected drug dealers.

Under the guise of his antique business he exchanged British Pounds for Dutch Gilders, other European currency and U.S. dollars at Thomas Cook foreign exchange bureaus and TTT Moneycorp.

Notes he exchanged at Thomas Cook, Marble Arch (pictured) were drug-tested by investigators and were positive for traces of heroin and ecstasy.

He was released on £600,000 bail, but fled in February 2002 and a European Arrest Warrant was issued.

His sureties lost every penny.

Married father Wolters was eventually re-arrested in Holland on January 25, this year and extradited back to the U.K. on March 30.

Mercedes-driving Wolters originally told investigators he was exchanging cash at a favourable rate for Dutch gypsies who sold pots and pans all over Europe.

Violent Boyfriend Turned A Deaf 'Un During Attack On Partner

A violent Huddersfield man, who throttled his deaf pregnant girlfriend in the middle of London’s busy King’s Cross Station, was ordered to attend domestic abuse classes when given a community order.

Jobless Dean Stanton, 20, of Brent Street, Newsome ignored a police community support officer (PCSO) who tried to stop the assault and repeated the attack.

Deaf Stanton was convicted at City of London Magistrates’ Court of assaulting Siobhan Keogh at the station (pictured) on November 19, last year.

Prosecutor Mrs. Varinder Hayre told the court: “This case related to a domestic violence incident.

“The victim, who is the defendant’s partner, approached the PCSO at 5 pm and by a combination of gestures and sounds she indicated she had been grabbed by the throat and was pregnant.

“The victim pointed at Mr. Stanton who was walking towards the station and the PCSO asked him to stop, but Mr. Stanton ignored him.

“The victim then told Mr. Stanton to stop and he used his hand to grab the victims throat and pushed her to the ground.

“The officer asked him to stop, he ignored him and again pushed the victim to the ground.”

Police were alerted and rushed to the scene. “The officers say the victim was distressed and they had no doubt he presented a threat to the victim.”

Stanton was arrested, but could not be interviewed because of a lack of a sign-language interpreter.

He was re-arrested in Huddersfield on March 26 and charged.

Stanton has five police cautions, including one for assault against his girlfriend, and the couple remain together.

His lawyer, who refused to give her name, said: “Mr. Stanton does want to make a change in his behaviour. He takes this very seriously.

“They now have a child who is just a few weeks old.”

Stanton, who lives on disability living allowance, and Miss Keogh are being assisted by social services and foster carers.

“He is also being assisted finding housing in Huddersfield,” added the lawyer. “They are a family unit and they want to continue as a family unit.”

Magistrates placed Stanton on a two-year community order, which includes completing a domestic abuse programme and ordered him to pay £75 costs.

Iraqi's Dodgy Passport Paris Trip

An Iraqi asylum-seeker used somebody else’s British passport to take the Eurostar train to Paris and back - returning with a knife in his luggage.

Jobless delivery driver Mohammed Alipour, 30, of Davison Street, Stoke-on-Trent claimed he found the passport near his home and used it to visit a friend in the French capital for five days.

He was a stopped by a U.K. Borders Agency official at St. Pancras International (pictured) railway station and a search of his bag found the folding lock-knife hidden amongst clothing.

Alipour pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court to unlawfully possessing an identity document and a bladed article on June 9.

Prosecutor Mrs. Varinder Hayre told the court the passport photograph was clearly somebody else when Alipour showed it to immigration officers.

The defendant had stuffed his driving licence – revealing his true identity – down his sock.

The court was told Alipour’s immigration status was “unclear” and the cells confirmed the official form giving them permission to hold him was incomplete and missing a photo.

Alipour claims he bought the knife in a Paris antique shop to peel fruit in his hotel room.

The magistrates placed Alipour on a twelve-month community order, which includes 120 hours unpaid work and ordered him to pay £75 costs.

Silver-Tongued Robber Hunted

This is the face of a smooth-talking intruder who talked his way into a woman’s house in the middle of the afternoon – attacking and robbing her – then starting a fire before escaping.

He targeted exclusive Penfold Street, St. John’s Wood, Westminster – which includes ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney as a resident – stealing gold necklaces, bracelets, rings and cash.

The 40 year-old victim helped local police compile this e-fit after her ordeal on September 18, last year, which left her requiring hospital treatment.

The suspect is described as a light skinned black man, aged between 30 to 35 years, of large build and approximately 6ft in height.

He was wearing a grey jumper, blue jeans and brown shoes.

Detective Chief Inspector Alexis Boon said: "This attack left the victim traumatised and feeling unsafe in her own home.

“We have issued an e-fit which we hope someone will recognise and come forward.

“I would ask anyone who thinks they may recognise the man in the picture to call us at Marylebone police station on 020 7321 9314 or alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."