Family Try To Solve 10 Year Mystery

The family of a father-of-four who mysteriously disappeared a decade ago have marched near where he was last seen in North-West London to publicize a £20,000 reward offered to solve the riddle.

Plasterer Raymond Scott, was 47 and lived in Hanselin Close, Stanmore when he went missing on November 16, 2001 after working on a house in Wealdstone.

He drove away from the house in an old white Ford Transit van, registration D346 DPR, which had a roof rack on top. 



He was reported missing to police on Friday November 23 by family members who had become increasingly concerned when they had not seen or heard from him.



His van was later found on November 30 in a service road behind shops in Field End Road, Eastcote - detectives believe it may have been there since November 16.

Ray may have been doing, or been scheduled to do, a garden clearing job at the time of his disappearance and we would particularly like to speak to anybody in the surrounding areas of Harrow and Hillingdon who may have employed him to carry out some form of clearing or hedge-trimming work.



He is described as 5ft 7ins tall, of slim build, with dark, brushed-back, collar-length hair and a thin moustache.

He was wearing square-looking glasses and has a tattoo on his left hand saying 'Ray'.

When he was last seen, he was wearing trousers and a t-shirt covered in plaster.



There does not appear to be any apparent reason for Raymond to have gone missing. It was extremely out of character and he has never done this before. He is married and has four children who are now in their 20s.



Detective Inspector Andy Manning of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: “The investigation into the disappearance of Ray continues and his family and friends remain desperate, 10 years on, to know what has happened to him. 


“Despite all our enquiries and extensive searches taking place, we have found no trace of Ray and we want to hear from anyone who has information about his disappearance or anyone who knew him around the time that he went missing.

“Any information, however small, would be relevant to the enquiry and may be the key to giving his family the answers they want.”

If anyone has information regarding Raymond they are asked to contact the incident room on 020 8358 0300.

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



On January 17, 2002 a 43-year old man was arrested at an address in Harrow in connection with the inquiry. He was released with no further action.

Cheat Paid Mortgage With Housing Benefit Handouts

A housing benefit cheat, who paid the mortgage on the family home he inherited from his parents with over £67,000 he swindled during a seven-year scam, was jailed for ten months on Wednesday.

Father-of-two Jason White, 37, of Roslyn Road, Tottenham, North London claimed he was under pressure to split the house’s equity amongst his siblings – leaving him with a property (pictured) he could not afford.

The first-time offender pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to four counts under the Social Security Administration Act.

“For a large number of years you were living a dishonest life, living in a house you could not afford,” Judge Peter Ader told the trainee electrician.

“You were only making ends meet by stealing money from the public.”

Prosecutor Mr. Archie Maddan told the court White received £67,251.65 between October 2003 and October last year.

Ironically the London Borough of Haringey only became aware of the fraud two months after White ended his claim, which also included council tax benefit.

“The whole claim was fraudulent and should not have been made,” Mr. Maddan told the court. “It was a deliberately contrived fraud over a considerable period of time.”

White has repaid £1200 and the council will pursue the balance through the civil courts.

The defendant remained living in the family home following the death of his cancer-victim parents and looked after his younger sister until she moved out.

He also has eleven year-old twin sons.

“You were the part-owner of your own home that you inherited from your parents and had equity in the property,” Judge Ader told White. “You could not afford to live there and devised this scheme to pay the mortgage for seven years.

“Every time you received benefits you were reminded of the fact you were committing fraud.”

White was also ordered to pay £1500 costs.

BMW Driver Convicted Of Hit-And-Run Jogger Death

A speeding hit-and-run driver who killed a 20 year-old student jogger "catapulted into the air" was convicted of causing death by careless driving today and told prison was "inevitable."

Bristol University history student Lizzie Beach-MacGeagh(pictured) suffered a fatal brain injury while crossing Netherlands Road, East Barnet, North London at 8:08pm on June 16, last year.

Lizzie, from Marlborough, Wiltshire had only arrived in London two days earlier for work experience with Italian fashion house Moschino.

She was originally from Claremont Road, Claygate, Surrey and attended the private Rowan Preparatory School.

Driver Aryeris Angelis, 26,(pictured) of Tewkesbury Terrace, New Southgate, North London, an amateur bodybuilder employed in his family's catering business denied, but was convicted unanimously by the Wood Green Crown Court jury of the charge.

Judge Simon Carr bailed the first-time offender to a sentencing date to be fixed and announced: "The remorse normally engendered by a guilty plea is absent. A sentence of imprisonment seems inevitable.

"His not guilty plea was a complete denial of reality. If he had pleaded guilty he would have saved the family the misery of the last months. He gave evidence that was palpably untrue.

"He knew perfectly well he had a collision and within a week knew he had killed somebody, but still chose to deny liability."

The jury failed to reach a verdict on a second count that Angelis did an act intending and with intent to pervert the course of justice between June 15 and 25, namely taking steps to have damage to his BMW repaired.

The prosecution will not seek a retrial on the charge.

Lizzie's father, company director William MacGeagh, 64, from West Sussex said after the verdict: "I am sure I speak for my ex-wife as well when I say this has been the worst experience a parent can go through with the loss of a much-loved daughter who was always so very full of life, positive energy and kindness for all.

"It is a particularly poignant time being the one year anniversary of Elizabeth's death and again so close to Father's Day. I miss her beyond words.

"I don't bear any anger towards the driver. It won't bring Elizabeth back yet he will have to live with the results of his actions and mistakes for the rest of his life."

Prosecutor Mr. Timothy Devlin told the court an eye-wtiness estimated Angelis's speed at 45mph - the limit in the area was 30mph - and a woman described him as driving "too fast."

Lizzie had been jogging in a nearby park with university pal Joshua Alford, who she was staying with in The Hook, Oakleigh Park, when they split because he was going to a local gym.

"She crossed the road at the logical place to do so, having broke off from him," explained Mr. Devlin. "She was wearing headphones, but whether she was listening to music we do not know."

Motorists are warned by the words 'Slow' painted in the road the the prosecution say local man Angelis must have known there would be pedestrians around due to a parade of shops and a tube station.

"As she crossed the road she was struck on the right side by Mr. Angelis's blue BMW," explained Mr. Devlin. "She was thrown into the air and landed on the pavement, striking her head. Sadly she died.

"The car was seen to slow down further up the road and then drive off."

Despite witness appeals in the area local man Angelis did not come forward and drove his damaged BMW across London to a Auto Prestige, Brockley, who later tipped off police.

When quizzed by police the defendant mostly answered "no comment", but offered a short explanation. "He said to police he did not realise he had hit anyone, he thought he clipped a wing mirror."

Judge Carr told the defendant: "It is all but inevitable you will go to prison. The position would be different if you had the courage to plead guilty several months ago.

"You will face the consequences of your actions."

Big-Mouth Speaker's Wife Rubbishes Nation's Greats.

Speaker's wife Sally Bercow has insulted the memory of this country's greatest historical figures by branding English Heritage's blue plaque scheme as including: "Obscure bit-part players who lived hundreds of years ago."

Speaking on ITV about her wish to see a Parliament Square memorial to late anti-war protestor Brian Haw, 62, she said: "I think it is important there is a tribute to Brian.

"He was there for ten years despite the best efforts of the stuffy establishment to boot him out. I think there should be a memorial or a stone or something.

"You have blue plaques all over London for all sorts of bit-part players who lived hundreds of years ago," added Sally, wife of the House of Commons Speaker John Bercow.

A spokesperson for English heritage, which manages the scheme founded in 1866 and the oldest of its kind in the world said: "We don't want to get into a slanging match with Sally Bercow, she is entitled to her opinion, but obviously we do not agree with it."

The first blue plaque was unveiled in 1867 by the Royal Society of Arts, who launched the scheme, to mark the birthplace of Lord Byron in Holles Street, near Cavendish Square.

There are now 850 blue plaques marking notable buildings connected to inventors, composers, industrialists, politicians, war heroes, artists, writers, scientists, architects, explorers and other significant individuals.

Included are Sir Winston Churchill, two-time PM between 1940-45 and 1951-55, the only Prime Minister to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature and the first person to be made an honorary citizen of the USA.

His plaque is sited at 28 Hyde Park Gate, Kensington Gore.

Naturalist Charles Darwin, author of On The Origin of Species, has a blue plaque at the Biological Sciences Building, University College, Gower Street.

Author Charles Dickens is celebrated at a former home in Tavistock Square and physicist and mathematician Isaac Newton who developed the theory of gravity and the three laws of motion is commemorated at 87 Jermyn Street.

The English Heritage spokesperson explained: "The intrinsic aim of the English Heritage Blue Plaque scheme is to mark and celebrate the link between people and the buildings in which they lived and worked.

"The scheme also requires individuals to have been dead for 20 years (or passed the centenary of their birth, whichever is the earlier).

"There also needs to be a surviving residence.

"This is not to say that Brian Haw should not be commemorated in some way, and we understand why there would be enthusiasm to do so."

Where's The Bulgar?

Police are hunting this Bulgarian thief who has snubbed her compulsory probation appointments following her release from prison.

Waltham Forest officers in East London have released this mugshot of 32 year-old Elena Ilieva in the hope of a tip-off.

Her last known address was in Waltham Forest, but she is known to have connections in Westminster, Enfield, Hornsey, Kingston and Chelsea.

If anyone knows of her current whereabouts, contact Police Constable Gary Powell of the Wanted Offenders Unit at Waltham Forest Police on 020 8345 2334.

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

Bogus Buyer Mows Down Two Women With Audi

Police are hunting a bogus car-buyer who ran one woman over and dragged another under the vehicle they were selling from outside a suburban house – hospitalizing both.

The first victim – a 33 year-old pregnant woman – had advertised her Audi A3 for sale and met the potential buyer in Dorset Road, Mitcham, South-West London(pictured)at 7:30pm on May 24.

The black male suspect locked himself inside the vehicle and sped away – deliberately driving at the seller – and dragging the second victim, a 54 year-old woman, four metres along the road.

Detective Chief Inspector Adnan Qureshi of Merton CID, said: “This suspect was intent on stealing this vehicle and thought nothing of mowing down two women, one of whom was pregnant. 



“A team of detectives is working around the clock to trace this suspect but I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the actual incident, anyone who has any knowledge of the location of the person responsible, or the silver Audi that was stolen to contact the police.”

The suspect is described as a black man who was approximately 35 years old of stocky build and has a distinctive scar, which runs from the right-hand side of his forehead across and down his nose. 



The 33 year-old woman has been discharged from hospital, but the 54-year-old remains in a stable but critical condition.

Can You ID River Death Victim?

Police have released this E-Fit in a bid to identify the body of a man found on the south side of the river Thames a year ago.

On May 25 last year the deceased was found near Nine Elms Pier, Nine Elms, Wandsworth and police are continuing to try and put a name to him.

Wandsworth’s Missing Persons Unit are appealing for any family or friends to come forward.

The man is described as white, of medium build and approx 5' 10" tall.

He has close cropped receding brown hair and blue eyes and at the time of his death was wearing a grey nylon zip up hooded jacket with the motif 'CAT' on the left breast.

He was wearing black combat style trousers with a yellow caterpillar logo on the left middle leg pocket and was wearing a black leather belt with a silver coloured Levi buckle, green Entrek walking boots and black socks.

Under his hooded top he wore a black collared T-shirt with a small white Adidas emblem on the breast.



Police found on his body a small matchbox sized Sony radio and a pair of black and silver Panasonic earphones, two cigarette lighters and a black sharpie marker pen.



Police Constable Laurie Waye of Wandsworth's Missing Persons Unit, said: “We are hoping to hear from anyone who thinks they might have known this man.

“You may know someone who carried these items or who wore these clothes who is no longer around anymore.

“Someone, somewhere, must be suffering not knowing what happened to their loved one.

“If you think that you know who this man is, no matter how much information you have, you may help us piece together his story and finally let his next of kin know what happened to him.”



Anyone with information is asked to call the Wandsworth Missing Persons Unit on 020 8247 8174 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

B-O-B Squad Still Trying To Solve Year-Old Shooting

Police are appealing one year on for witnesses in a bid to solve the brutal execution-style murder of a 23 year-old man outside his South London home in the early hours.

Operation Trident detectives – who investigate violent black-on-black crime – are hoping the anniversary reminder – plus a £20,000 reward - will prompt new leads in the case.

Matthew Clement (pictured) was shot in the chest and back in Howson Road, Brockley at 2:00am on May 30, last year and pronounced dead at the scene.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Hutchison of Trident said: “A year ago, this young man was shot outside his home in what appears to be a planned attack.

“We believe that there are people out there who saw what happened or who know who did this. We are still appealing to these people to come forward, speak to police and give Matthew’s family a chance at getting some justice for losing their loved one.”



Sullivan Clement, Matthew’s Father said: “I want to plea to the public to please help the police. The person who killed Matthew needs to be caught.

“If you have any information, even if it is a little, it will help to lead the police to the person that killed Matthew. That person killed once and they could do it again.

“I am not speaking for myself alone. I am talking for the public - we all have sons and daughters in the community. 



“Please try to help the police to find the person who committed this crime. The police are there to try to protect us all. Please come forward and help them.”



Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8247 4553. If you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Businessman Jailed For Slashing Barman's Throat

A drunken and rowdy 63 year-old businessman, who slashed a young barman’s throat after he and a pal were ejected from a North London pub, has been jailed for eight years.

Electrical contractor John Anthony Tunbridge (pictured) of Amwell Street, Clerkenwell attacked the 22 year-old inside the Junction pub, Corsica Street, Highbury on April 1, last year.

He pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court to wounding the victim, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and was also ordered to pay £3,000 compensation.

Tunbridge and a friend had been drinking at the pub, but staff refused to continue serving the pair due to their drunken behaviour.

They became abusive and were asked to leave but refused.

The victim helped to eject them, but moments later Tunbridge re-entered the pub and lashed out at him with an unknown weapon.

The victim later told police he thought he had been punched, but had actually been slashed with a knife across the throat.

Officers who arrived at the scene gave him first aid until an ambulance arrived and he was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

After an extensive police hunt, detectives identified and arrested Tunbridge on June 3.

He initially denied the allegation, but pleaded guilty just before the trial was due to begin.

Detective Constable Jolene Strangwood said: “This was an appalling crime carried out by an established and well known local businessman.

“The vicious and unprovoked assault has had a devastating effect on a young man who was just doing his job.

“Doctors said the victim was lucky to be alive as the injury caused was only millimetres away from having a dramatically different outcome.

“Tunbridge's sentence should serve as a stark warning to the devastating consequences of alcohol abuse and will impact greatly on both his family and businesses.

“I sincerely hope that this sentencing will give the victim some form of closure and allow him to move on with his life.”

Flying Squad Foil Hammer-Gang's Raid

Flying Squad officers foiled four hammer-wielding robbers as they smashed their way into a stockbroker belt bank last night.

The gang were under surveillance as they made an audacious bid to successfully snatch cash from Santander, Station Road East, Oxted, Surrey (pictured).

They attacked two security guards after smashing the bank’s windows and were caught as they tried to flee with an unspecified quantity of cash at 8:30pm.

The Met’s specialist firearms unit - CO19 - assisted in capturing the gang, whose getaway car, a VW Polo had its tyres shot out and two of the robbers were tasered.

The men, all from Croydon and in their early twenties, are currently in custody.

They are: Mamsaihou Sowe, 22, of Fir Tree Gardens; Carl Mensah, 21, of Thornton Road; Donald Amartey, 21, of Hewitt Close and Saleen Mirza, 22, of Selkirk Road.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Johnson of Tower Bridge Flying Squad, said: “This is an excellent result for the flying squad and is testament to the skill and commitment of our officers in dealing with violent crime.

“I would like to thank colleagues from CO19 and Surrey police for their support during and after this operation.”

Businessman Washed Illegal Vet Med Profits

A respected transport boss who helped launder some of the profits of a £6 million illicit veterinary medicine scam - Europe's largest ever - "was in it up to his neck" a Judge has ruled.

Mark Harvey, 52,(pictured) of Hollyhurst, Wilsley Pound, Sissinghurst, Kent - boss of Paddock Wood-based Trans-Vitesse Ltd. - was bailed to be sentenced on July 6.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to money laundering between September 1 2006 and January 12 2008 in relation to 'Eurovet' profits - a French-based company that illegally sold animal medicines in the UK.

"He must have known it was an underhand business that was best kept as far away from the authorities as possible," announced Judge Nicholas Ainley. "He knew he was dealing with an illegitimate business enterprise and the illegitimate sale of veterinary products in the UK."

Harvey, whose freight company had a lucrative Formula One contract, ran into tax problems in 2006 and owed £41,000 VAT.

He was then introduced to 'Eurovet' boss Ronald Meddes, 73, who was a well-known local personality involved in local hunts and the horse community and agreed to get involved in the business.

Harvey became the company director of BEDRA and his wife Debbie the company secretary, but it was simply a front to funnel illegal UK profits to Meddes.

"We are talking here about millions of pounds," said Judge Ainley. "This business was turning over very substantial amounts of money indeed."

Illegal medicines were seized at Dover and Harvey's forged signature was discovered on paperwork, resulting in him being quizzed on April 3 2007 by the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) at a motorway service station.

Despite this scare Harvey continued laundering criminal cash for Meddes who told him BEDRA would never file accounts and be struck-off the company register.

"There is no evidence Mr. Harvey had ever been involved in sharp practise before, but he was invited to enter in an underhand business and he knew it," ruled the Judge.

"He knew he was dealing with a crook prepared to forge his signature and use his company to transfer illicit veterinary products.

"He is in it up to his neck and permitted BEDRA to trade and launder money to the Meddes accounts."

Student Tragically Killed By Hit-And-Run Driver

A 20 year-old student jogger was "catapulted into the air" and tragically killed by a speeding hit-and-run driver who tried to dodge justice by secretly repairing his damaged BMW, a jury were told today.

Bristol University history student Lizzie Beach-MacGeagh,(pic.top) originally from Marlborough, Wiltshire, had only arrived in London two days earlier for work experience with Italian fashion house Moschino.

She was struck crossing Netherlands Road, East Barnet, North London at 8.08pm on June 16, last year - leaving bloodstained debris - and despite an emergency operation that same day at the Royal Free Hospital, died of a brain haemorrhage.

Driver Aryeris Angelis, 26,(pic.bottom) of Tewkesbury Terrace, New Southgate, has pleaded not guilty to causing death by careless driving and also denies doing an act intending and with intent to pervert the course of justice between June 15 and 25, namely taking steps to have damage to his BMW repaired.

Prosecutor Mr. Timothy Devlin told Wood Green Crown Court an eye-witness estimated Angelis's speed at 45mph - the limit in the area was 30mph - and a woman described him as driving "too fast."

Lizzie had been jogging in a nearby park with university pal Joshua Alford, who she was staying with in The Hook, Oakleigh Park, when they split because he was going to a local gym.

"She crossed the road at the logical place to do so, having broke off from him," explained Mr. Devlin. "She was wearing headphones, but whether she was listening to music we do not know."

Motorists are warned by the words 'Slow' painted in the road the the prosecution say local man Angelis must have known there would be pedestrians around due to a parade of shops and a tube station.

"As she crossed the road she was struck on the right side by Mr. Angelis's blue BMW," explained Mr. Devlin. "She was thrown into the air and landed on the pavement, striking her head. Sadly she died.

"The car was seen to slow down further up the road and then drive off."

The witness who told police Angelis was driving at 45mph also told officers: "She seemed to freeze for a second and then there was a massive bang and bits of car in the air."

Despite witness appeals in the area local man Angelis did not come forward and drove his damaged BMW across London to a Auto Prestige, Brockley, who later tipped off police.

A pal of the defendant's also quizzed him about the damage. "He was told by Mr. Angelis that he had the sun in his eyes, he hit something, but did not know what happened."

When quizzed by police the defendant mostly answered "no comment", but offered a short explanation. "He said to police he did not realise he had hit anyone, he thought he clipped a wing mirror."

The trial is expected to last two weeks.

Bogus Vet Up To His Old Tricks

A notorious fake vet has admitted continuing to trade in illegal animal medicines after he was released from prison for a similar scam.

Leonard 'Ginger' French, 73, of Tall Trees, Station Road, Langworth, Lincolnshire - who has changed his name by deed poll to Lee Wilson - was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment in August 2007.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to six charges of unlawfully importing unauthorised veterinary medicines; six counts of supplying them and four counts of possessing them on various dates between July 16 2008 and February 22 this year.

He was bailed until September 9 for sentencing.

French (pictured) was prosecuted by the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) after he was linked to a French-based £6m veterinary medicine scam - Europe's biggest-ever.

Four years ago he was jailed after a BBC undercover reporter proved he was illegally treating pets and administering illegal drugs - pocketing £170,000 from dog owners, companies and hunts.