Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Bookie Bandit: Do You Know Him?



Police are hunting this wannabe armed robber, who threatened to shoot the cashier of a West London bookies.

The Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad have released this CCTV still in the hope the suspect will be identified and brought to justice.

He walked into William Hill Bookmakers, Golborne Road, North Kensington at 7.20pm on Saturday August 4.

The suspect threatened to shoot the cashier, intimating he was in possession of a gun. 

When the cashier refused to hand over money, the suspect made off empty handed. 

He is described as between 55 and 65 and around six feet tall. 


He was wearing a light brown or beige zip up fleece/cardigan jacket.

Anyone with information that may assist police should call 020 8247 7948. 


To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

Monday, 17 September 2012

Solicitor Jailed For £1.3M Mortgage Fraud


A disgraced criminal defence solicitor was jailed for two years today for a £1.3m mortgage fraud involving six East London properties.

Mother-of-two Elena Quinlivan, 35, (pictured) of Louise Road, Stratford planned to build a property empire of rentals, using forged identity documents, bank statements and payslips.

"You obtained mortgages to the tune of over one point three million and the mortgages were for houses you intended to let out for profit," Southwark Crown Court Judge Nicholas Lorraine-Smith told tearful Quinlivan.

"The housing market was promising and your head was turned by the fraudulent success of an associate, with his expensive home and car.

"You are an intelligent solicitor, who also once worked for an estate agents, and cannot be called naive."

Manchester University graduate Quinlivan worked for Ilford-based ST Law after qualifying on May 15 2008 and was also employed for three years by leading human rights solicitor Imran Khan, who represented her in court.

She pleaded guilty to seven counts of conspiring with others to obtain money transfers in sums of £166,000; £198,249; £171,000; £142,000; £228,000; £204,000 and £223,250 on various dates between January 1 2003 and March 27 2005.

The charges relate to 47 Louise Road; 54 Glenavon Road; 26 Simmons Walk and 108 Geere Road, Stratford; 180 Sherrard Road, Forest Gate and 114 Western Road, Plaistow.

Quinlivan's total benefit was  calculated at £905,031 and she must repay £108, 405 within twelve months or serve an additional two years' imprisonment.

Prosecutor Mr. Stuart Biggs told the court Quinlivan's financial advisor offered a "one-stop fraudulent shop," providing the defendant with forged passports, driving licences and utility bills, along with bogus references and national insurance numbers in various identities.

She began building a property portfolio while only a part-time £100 a week administrator at an estate agents, helping support her husband while he completed a phd at Queen Mary University.

Quinlivan used her maiden name and the names of family and friends to obtain the mortgages, once successfully passing herself off as a £48,000 a year executive and her husband as a £78,000 a year IT consultant.

"There was a culture at the time that mortgages were given out left right and centre," said Quinlivan's lawyer Mr. Khan. "She saw her financial advisor making a large amount of money.

"She was bedazzled by him and taken in by his talk and ability to make money very quickly. She fell for it and admits it was stupidity in the extreme."

After the final bogus application in 2005 Quinlivan threw herself into her legal career and the family recently moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where her husband Dr. Mark Quinlivan is an associate faculty member at the U.S's National Centre for Infectious Diseases.

"She has worked in these courts in a very different position," added Mr. Khan. "Not all lawyers are intelligent. This is not some scheme hatched by a master criminal, but one person, rather clueless."

Judge Lorraine-Smith said: "These were multiple frauds over a long period of time and were professionally planned. These offences deserve a long prison sentence."

Sunday, 16 September 2012

CCTV Captures Credit Card Conman


Police are hunting this audacious credit card fraudster, who tricked a high-end Knightsbridge jewellery store into selling him two luxury-brand watches, worth over £10,000 each.

Hackney Police in East London believe the suspect has links to their area and have released this CCTV footage in the hope somebody will identify him.

He fraudulently used the card on August 15, last year to obtain the watches at Pacha Jewellers.

The suspect went on to use the card in a number of smaller value transactions before the card was blocked.

Anyone with any information is requested to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Saturday, 15 September 2012

Disowned Son Cleared Of Vandalising Father's Bentley And Lincoln


A teenager, accused by his father of deliberately vandalising his two prestige vehicles parked outside the family's suburban home, was cleared of the charges yesterday.

Sir Ricky Daniel Hearne, 19, of Gilliam Grove, Purley was reported to police by his father David, 64, who claims he caught his estranged son on home CCTV causing over £3,000 worth of damage to the cars.

After a trial at Croydon Magistrates' Court Hearne jr. was cleared of causing £1,920 worth of criminal damage to a Bentely turbo and £1,259 to a silver Lincoln (pictured being driven away by Hearne snr.).

Hearne snr., who has recently changed his name, told the court he has been a victim of a campaign of vandalism by the defendant, who he calls 'Ricky', even accusing him of blowing a vehicle up at Christmas.

The father-of-nine, who now questions whether the defendant is his biological son, installed CCTV outside his home after a series of attacks on his property.

After returning home from a trip to Israel on June 4 and finding the two cars damaged he viewed the recorded footage.

“I see Ricky come in and throw something at the windscreen and kick the wing mirror off and kick the side of the Bentley,” Hearne told the magistrates.

“The whole side of the car was kicked in, in two or three places and the petrol cap and back of the car had been kicked in.

“It was Ricky. I am one hundred per cent. I have now more than disowned him, I despise him.

“When someone puts a petrol bomb in your car on Christmas morning, you would.

“I have had seven (cars) done by him in the last twelve months.

“I have video evidence of him doing it. It is not fantasy or make believe. I just don't understand why he is doing it.

“The windscreen of the Lincoln was smashed in and the wing mirror had been kicked off.”

Since the allegation Hearne jnr. has lived at another address.

Friday, 14 September 2012

Iphone App Tracks Down Knife-Wielding Masked Mugger


A knife-wielding masked mugger – caught by a new 'Find My Iphone' app – after a brazen North London street robbery has been locked-up for four years.
Self-employed Jason Harewood, 19, (pictured) of Andover Road, Holloway pleaded guilty on the day of his trial to robbing the 42 year-old man in Fortis Green, Muswell Hill on March 15.
He got away with the victim's Iphone, cash card and pin number after pouncing from behind and threatening the man with a knife at 10.40pm.
Police were called on 999 and plain clothed officers from Haringey's Robbery Q-cars attended in an unmarked vehicle.
The officers took the victim on a drive around to see if he could spot the suspect and used an Ipad to trace the phone.
The Ipad was purchased by the Met to be used to trace stolen items using Apps such as 'Find My Iphone' - and it was successful in tracing the phone to a road in Holloway where the victim pointed out Harewood.


Harewood ran from police and the officers gave chase, seeing him discard an object into nearby bushes.
The item was found to be the victim's Iphone.
The officers found Harewood trying to hide on top of some garages and arrested him on suspicion of robbery.
Harewood denied the robbery and told police that he had not been in Muswell Hill at the time.
However, officers had seized his Oyster card on arrest and checks revealed the card had been used on the night of the robbery on a 43 bus.
Police recovered CCTV from the bus showing Harewood getting off in Muswell Hill moments before the robbery.

Detective Constable John Martin of Haringey CID said: “I'd like to thank the victim of this robbery for his diligence in phoning police on 999 at the earliest opportunity and having already installed and enabled the tracker app on his phone prior to the theft.
“His actions enabled police to do what we like to do best, to obtain best evidence and to arrest the offender at the earliest opportunity.
“Faced with the overwhelming evidence Harewood realised he had no option but to enter a guilty plea. 


"Harewood had only been released from prison on licence a couple of weeks before carrying out this robbery, having served one year of a two year sentence for a knife point robbery just streets away the previous year.
“By carrying out a similar offence, he has shown a complete disregard for the criminal justice system and for the right of law abiding members of the public to go about their business without fear.
“I am pleased that he will not be walking the streets for a significant period of time.”

Thursday, 13 September 2012

Armed robbers Caged For Violent Shop Raids


Two vicious teenage armed robbers, who hospitalised victims of South London convenience store raids during a ten-day rampage, have been caged.
The shopkeepers were threatened with a handgun and subjected to wholly unnecessary violence.
The mini crime-wave from March 23 to April 3 was finally ended by the Met's Flying Squad.
They are: Rahmon Wray, 18, (pic.top) of Solon Road, Clapham and Philip Nelson, 18, (pic.bottom) of Kenilford Road, Balham.
They each received a total of seven years custody for conspiracy to rob and posssession of a firearm whilst committing an indictable offence.


On Friday March 23 at 4:35pm two youths were seen arriving outside Anish Food Stores at 196 Weir Road, Balham on a cream moped.
They did a 'drive past', looking in the direction of the shop and then returned moments later.
Wray got off the moped and removed an object from under the seat.
He walked towards the door, placing the object in his waistband, whilst Nelson waited outside on the moped.
Wray entered the shop and looked around - having spotted the CCTV and security screen he walked out and got on the rear of the moped and both teens rode off.


On Sunday March 25 at 3:40pm the two attended Parsons Convenience Store at 193 Franciscan Road, Tooting.
Nelson, armed with a black handgun, threatened a male member of staff at gunpoint.
The victim offered no resistance, however Wray went behind the counter, picked up a bottle from the shelf and hit the victim over the head, causing injuries which required hospital treatment.
The suspects stole the contents of the till and cigarettes, before leaving the venue on a moped.
On Monday April 2 at 8:20am the robbers attended The Cosy Corner at 73 Emmanuel Road, Balham on a moped.
Nelson was armed with a black handgun and threatened a lone female member of staff and requested that she hand over the contents of the till and cigarettes.
Wray searched the rear of the store looking for items to steal, and then both men left the store with money and cigarettes.
On Tuesday April 3 at 12:45pm the men struck again - attending the Vale Mini Market at 134 Streatham Vale SW16 on a moped.
Wray placed a bottle on the counter as if to purchase it and then has produced a black handgun which he has used to pistol whip the victim several times over the head, causing injuries which required the victim to attend hospital.
Wray then ripped the till from the counter and left the scene on the moped.


The suspects travelled a short distance to A C A Newsagents at 110 Fernthorpe Road, Streatham at about 12:50pm.
Having entered the venue a black handgun was produced which was again used to pistol whip the male owner who offered no resistance, before stealing the contents of the till and making off on the blue moped.
The victim was also taken to hospital for his injuries.


On Friday April 13 Wray and Nelson were arrested by officers from the Flying Squad in Renmuir Street, Tooting. 

Wednesday, 12 September 2012

Ugandan Family Accused Of 18-Year Immigration And Benefits Plot


A Ugandan family masterminded an 18-year plot to defraud immigration and DSS departments by creating and using a string of false identities, a jury were told yesterday.

Ruth Nabaguzi, 49, of Church Road, Forest Gate, East London was the conspiracy's ringleader and has already admitted a total of twenty-six charges and remains in custody awaiting sentencing.

Five alleged accomplices deny taking part and their Croydon Crown Court trial is expected to last six months.

They are: Lamulah Sekiziyuvu, 36, (pic.l.); Albert Kaidi, 27, (pic.mid.); Jordan Sebutemba, 26, (pic.r.); Dennis Kyeyune, 29, and Alan Sentongo, 23.

"This case is summarised in two words: 'Identity fraud.' It is at the heart of this case against these five defendants," prosecutor Mr. Paul Raudnitz told the jury.

"The allegation is that they conspired together and with others, in particular Ruth Nabaguzi, to systematically, use, create and exploit false identities to facilitate fraud.

"These identities were misused to facilitate benefit and immigration fraud."

Describing Nabaguzi as the plot's ringleader Mr. Raudnitz added: "She was at the heart of the conspiracy. She agreed with people to use false identities to facilitate fraud.

"Each defendant at different times joined the conspiracy, attaching themselves to the agreement at some stage and it's tentacles went far and would do so for many years."

The prosecution say Sekiziyuvu is either Nabaguzi's daughter or niece; Kyeyune is her son and Sentongo either her son or nephew.

"She employed multiple different identities and her true identity may never be known," explained Mr. Raudnitz of Nabaguzi.

"All five defendants are either children of hers or related or associated with her."

During a police and UK Border Agency raid on an address in Mitcham Road, Mitcham on September 8, last year Kyeyune and Sentongo were arrested.

"Concealed in the shed roof in the back garden was a black holdall and inside was a vast array of passports and documents in multiple different identities.

"This was , in effect, a kit bag for identity fraud," said the prosecutor.

"Nabaguzi adopted and ruthlessly abused identities and obtained immigration status for herself in a number of different identities and for a number of other people and from them benefit claims would be made."

All five have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to defraud immigration and DSS departments and other government departments between June 12, 1993 and September 9, 2011.

Kyeyune denies securing UK citizenship by deception on or before December 13, 2007 and Kaidi denies assisting unlawful immigration on or about September 24, 2006.

Kyeyune and Sentongo deny possessing articles in connection with fraud on or before September 8, last year and Kaidi alone denies making a false statement to obtain jobseeker's allowance between March 26, 2009 and August 24, last year.

Trial continues……… 

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Teen Jailed For Horror Metal Comb Killing



A teenage girl has been caged for a minimum of ten years for the horrific hate-filled murder of another youngster she stabbed in the head with a metal comb.
Julie Sheriff, 16, (pic.top) was confronted by Rebecca Douglas, 16, (pic. mid.) in a busy South-West London street and attacked with the metal end of a pintail comb (pic.bottom).
Douglas was convicted by an Old Bailey jury of murdering Hackney schoolgirl Julie who she stabbed in Falcon Road, Battersea on May 7,last year and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The victim – whose Sierra Leone family sent her to the UK for a better life - sadly died in hospital over four months later on September 21 of head injuries and associated complications.
Douglas had built-up a hatred of Julie and even threatened to smother her in her hospital bed as she fought for her life.
During the police investigation voice notes were downloaded from her mobile phone and later used as evidence in court.
In one of the recordings she is heard saying: “Seen some girls that I hate with a passion and I stabbed her. She knows my name - I'm going to go to the hospital and suffocate her.”


Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “The violent actions of Rebecca Douglas, just 15 years at the time, has devastated a family and taken a young life.
“Our thoughts remain with Julie's family at this difficult time.”

Julie’s step-mother, Isatu Kamara said: “Since my daughter Fatu Julie Kader Sheriff passed away, my life is not the same as it used to be, especially when I think about how Julie was before her death.
My younger daughter, Favour, still asks where her sister Faty (as she called her) is and this still makes me break down and cry.


I am left to wonder why I brought my daughter to the UK. I almost feel that it was me who stabbed her, as I was the one who brought her here and if I hadn’t she would still be alive.

The result of seeing my beautiful, bubbly, brilliant daughter, bedridden and in a vegetative state has left me extremely depressed.
This was made worse when we were unable to view Julie’s body at the funeral due to the delays caused by the manner of her death.
Culturally and emotionally I and the family and friends needed to see Julie one last time.


This has caused Julie’s mother, who still lives in Sierra Leone, terrible problems, which have stopped her being able to deal with Julie’s death.
She was not allowed to leave the country to attend the funeral and she too wonders at the wisdom of Julie coming here for a better life.
We both cared and loved our daughter and hoped she would make us proud parents.
This was the child we bore and hoped would be a great person.


I am emotionally, physically and psychologically traumatised by the whole incident.
I have aches and pains and suffer sleeplessness, which leaves it difficult for me to concentrate.
Things that used to give me pleasure and interested me now leave me feeling guilty.
I have lost my self confidence, I am constantly tired and I have been left permanently sad with suicidal thoughts when I think of my daughter’s death. 


I hope the justice body presiding over my daughter’s case can understand the pain caused to Julie's mother who was unable to attend the funeral and attend the court.


The attack on my daughter was a wicked, savage and senseless attack, which not only took my daughters life, but deprived me and my entire family and this, will always hurt me. 


I would like to thank all those who have supported me in many diverse ways.”

Sunday, 9 September 2012

'Menace Of Mayfair' Jewellery Conman Back Behind Bars


A notorious smooth-talking jeweller – jailed for stealing customers valuables – is back behind bars for flouting a court order within a week of his release.

Andrew Batchelor, 54, (pictured) – dubbed the 'Menace of Mayfair' - was originally jailed for five years in 2009 for duping nearly fifty victims during a five-year scam.

He was given a Serious Crime Prevention Order – prohibiting further jewellery dealing – but set up a trading website within a week of leaving prison.

He was convicted at Southwark Crown Court on three counts of breaching the order and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment.

One count involved a businesswoman, who he entertained at the five-star Royal Garden Hotel, disappearing with her Cartier bracelet during lunch.

Batchelor has a history of charming customers at top hotels and wine bars, convincing them he could achieve top prices for their jewellery, but he never paid, insteading lavishing himself with the proceeds.

Batchelor also earned the nickname the 'Glasgow Goldfinger' during a similar fraud from his store in the city's Exchange Square, which resulted in a five-and-a-half year sentence in 1999.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service Lifetime Offender Management Unit arrested Batchelor on March 28 for dealing again and he was charged the same day.


Detective Inspector Karl Amos of the MPS Lifetime Offender Management Unit said: “Batchelor clearly pays little regard to the criminal justice system.

No sooner had he been released from prison than he was again setting up a false business in breach of the Serious Crime Prevention Order.


The early enforcement of the Serious Crime Prevention Order allowed the police to make an early and decisive intervention, limiting his ability to commit further crime and preventing further members of the public from losing their belongings.”

Saturday, 8 September 2012

Fatal Streatham Stabbing: Two Charged


Two people have appeared in court accused of the murder of a man, whose throat was slashed in South London.

Hanad Osman, 24, (pictured) was fatally injured in Gleneldon Mews, Streatham on August 21.

Ayanle Adan, 26, and Ahmed Hassan, 25, appeared in custody at Camberwell Magistrates' Court charged with murder.

A post-mortem examination at Greenwich Mortuary on August 22 gave the cause of death as a laceration to the neck.

Three other men, one aged 35 and two in their 20's, were also arrested in connection with the investigation and have been bailed to return, pending further enquiries, on dates in October.

Friday, 7 September 2012

Self-Styled 'Doctor' Convicted Of Raping 11 Year-Old Schoolgirl


A trusted businessman, who raped an eleven year-old schoolgirl at his office after grooming her with pornographic internet images, faces a lengthy prison sentence after his conviction today.


Kamil Hossenbux, 62, (pictured) of Ferns Close, South Croydon had made online searches for sick under-age material throughout the day, before collecting the victim from school, Croydon Crown Court heard.


He was found guilty to raping; sexual assaulting and inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity on September 22, 2010 at his property in Elmwood Road, West Croydon.


Hossenbux was remanded in custody for the preparation of a report into his dangerousness - which may result in a minimum sentence for public protection to be decided by the trial judge.


Self-styled 'Dr' Hossenbux previously ran a language college from the building, but has since changed its use to a private care home for residents with learning disabilities and dementia.


He also has an online dating profile in which he seeks contact with women as young as eighteen years-old.


Prosecutor Miss Karen Holt told the jury the defendant knew the girl's family. "They saw him as an older, learned, intelligent man, who helped the family fill-out documentation and forms.


"He was a trusted friend and began to call on the family home regularly and the Crown say this allowed him to gain access to the victim.


"When alone with her in his car there was an element of grooming and he made suggestive comments to her that she was a big girl now and should start to learn about sex.


"He would hold her hand and touched her leg on one occasion and said it was time she learned about it.


"He would pick her up from school under the guise of helping the family out, but on this day he took her to a building he described as his office.


"To use her words they: 'snogged' and he took her clothes off," explained Miss Holt. "She had to sit on a table and he told her to open her legs wide."


The prosecution say Hossenbux then performed a sex act on the girl and forced her to perform one on him.


"The defendant then lied down on the floor and told her to lie on top of him," added the prosecutor, saying this is when the rape occurred.


"The Crown say the defendant sought to prepare this young child by also showing her pornography on his computer.


"After wards he told her she had: 'done good', drove her home and gave her five pounds. He told her not to tell her mother."


However, the girl told another relative and gave a statement to police on October 2, 2010, the day Hossenbux was arrested.


When quizzed by officers the defendant claimed he drove the girl to his office only so that she could use the internet because she did not have it at home.


"He told the police he became aware that she was looking at pornography and said she was playing with herself," said Miss Holt.


"He said she talked about the world coming to an end and that she had to do everything, which he took to mean sex.


"He maintained throughout that he had never done anything that she alleged."


Hossenbux's laptop was examined and the defendant questioned again on November 12.


"He said the only sites he visited were naturist sites as a possible business venture," explained miss Holt. "However, the computer's search history was consistent with searching for sexual images of children."


The jury were told on the day of the rape the defendant had been viewing such material since ten in the morning.

Thursday, 6 September 2012

Thieves Admit ASDA Cash-Back Scam


A greedy group of thieves, who exploited ASDA's new self-service system to repeatedly steal cash back from the automated machines, have admitted their "nice little earner," and await sentencing.


Ringleader Mark Baldock, 34, of Sydney Road, Sutton (pic.top r.) pleaded guilty to stealing £318; Tyron Parsons, 22, of Washington Road, Worcester Park (pic.top l.) admitted stealing £1,200; Keeley Macaree, 22, of Senga Road, Wallington (pic.bottom r.) admitted stealing £2,350 and Claire Collins, 28, of Kingston Avenue, Sutton admitted stealing £866.


Keeley's twin sister Geraldine Macaree, 22, (pic.bottom l.) pleaded not guilty to stealing £7,500 and the prosecution offered no evidence.


The thefts from ASDA took place between December 27 and January 3, this year.


Baldock opened the card account on November 22 and it was not used for anything else, but the scam, which involved the defendants pocketing cash-back money given to customers.


The Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon said: "We are dealing here with a nice little criminal venture with repeated attempts to exploit this quirk in the system.


"This, on the face of it is organised crime.


"This is slightly easier than shoplifting. You get the money and leave and no one is going to stop you.


"Baldock was the driving force behind this nice little earner. He is the number one whose brainchild this is."


Couple Baldock and Collins are serial shoplifters and she has thirty-six previous convictions, mostly for theft.


Parsons has forty-eight convictions and Keeley a record for alcohol-related offending.

Wednesday, 5 September 2012

Junkie In Dock Again


A junkie, who jumped bail after police found a purse stolen from a local burglary at her home, was given another chance to beat her addiction yesterday.

Trina Schofield, 29, (pictured) of London Road, Broad Green was initially arrested when officers, executing a drugs search warrant, discovered the purse in a drawer.

The purse, which had contained £20 and a mobile phone, had been taken during a residential break-in and Schofield claimed a pal had given it to her.

Officers also found a wrap of heroin during the search.

Schofield pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and possessing class 'A' drugs, but failed to return to court and a warrant was issued for her arrest on May 25.

She was arrested and has been in custody since August 7.

"You have a criminal record going back to two thousand and three for a number of offences, but they are all relatively minor," the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon told Schofield.

"You have spent time in custody, but that is your own fault."

She was placed on a twelve month probation order, which includes a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

Tuesday, 4 September 2012

Woman Denies Restaurant Glassing Charge



A woman, accused of smashing a glass into her male dining companion's face at a landmark Michelin-starred restaurant, denied a GBH charge yesterday.

Pamela Hatfield, 46, from Tunbridge appeared on bail at Croydon Crown Court for the first time and pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to a Mr. Rudge at Chapter One Restaurant, Farnborough Common, Locksbottom on April 9.

Mr. Rudge received first aid treatment at the restaurant (pictured) and was taken to the nearby Princess Royal University Hospital suffering from cuts to his lip, cheek and nose.

A pre-trial review will take place on December 14.

Monday, 3 September 2012

Body In Field: Trio Charged With Kidnap And Murder


Three people have now been charged with the murder of a Polish kidnap victim, whose remains were found in a remote field, seven months after his abduction.

Andrzej Kulesza, 27, (pictured) was kidnapped near his North London home after popping out to local shops to buy bread and milk in September 2010.

His girlfriend did pay some of the ransom demands she received, but unfortunately the body of Mr. Kulesza was discovered on April 25, last year near Rothersthorpe, Northampton.

The three defendants are: Kamil Dreszer, 26, of Martin Court, Edmonton; Daniel Kosowski, 39, of Henry Adlington Close, East Ham and Artur Janik, 26, of Thorpe Road, Walsall.

They are also each charged with kidnapping Mr. Kulesza on or after September 19, 2010.

Sunday, 2 September 2012

Ambitious Bomb Threat BA Flight Attendant Jailed



A young British Airways attendant, who scrawled a terrifying bomb threat on a toilet door mid-flight, has been jailed for six months.

Mathew Davis, 22, of Commonwealth Drive, Crawley believed his budding career would be accelerated by handling the emergency well.

However, the plan blew up in his face when it was discovered he was the author and he has now lost his job and his liberty.

Davis scrawled: 'The bomb on this plane will explode at 16:00GMT unless demands are met,' on the rear of the door as the London to Tokyo flight passed over the Middle East.

The captain assessed the threat as a hoax and alerted the authorities.

Davis was arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service Aviation Security Command when he arrived back at Heathrow Airport.

In interview, Davis told police he was responsible for writing the note in the misguided thought that if he handled the situation well he would be able to mention this in his performance review.

He pleaded guilty to communicating false information, with intent, when he appeared at Isleworth Crown Court (pictured).

Superintendent Matthew Twist of the Metropolitan Police Service Aviation Security Command said: "As someone employed within the aviation industry, Mr Davis would have been well aware of the serious consequences of making a bomb threat, regardless of whether he intended for this threat to be taken seriously or not.

"The potential consequences of the threat being made could have led to significant distress and a great deal of financial loss and inconvenience to both the airline and all of the passengers and crew onboard.

"We hope today's sentence sends a clear message that anyone caught making a bomb hoax will be brought before the courts and dealt with appropriately."

Saturday, 1 September 2012

Killer Transexual Admits Building Bombs In Hospital


A killer transexual – rejected as an army bomb disposal expert years ago – has admitted building homemade explosives at a psychiatric hospital.

Angie Dews, 43, pleaded guilty yesterday to three charges of making explosives at Southleigh Community Hospital, Brighton Road, Purley on or before January 18.

Dews – born Mark Camm – received a hospital order, without limit of time, at the Old Bailey in 1998 for the manslaughter of a partner.

She was released from a secure hospital on November 30, 2010 and remained under the supervision of Springfield Hospital's mental health team and a social worker.

Southleigh Community Hospital was evacuated on January 18 and Dews told police she built the IED's (pictured) in response to her rejection from the armed forces in the 1990's.

Dews wanted to be a bomb specialist but failed the exam by two questions.

She claimed the interviewer asked her minor questions and told her she would never make it as a bomb specialist.

Dews wanted to prove that she could make it in the army which led to her making the explosive devices.

Officers were called to the mental hospital after Dews' step mum called the police to say she told her she had a gun and was going to kill herself.

When police arrived at the scene they found five suspicious devices and evacuated the home for safety purposes.

Specialised officers were called to the hospital and confirmed that the items were viable explosive devices.

Dews, who suffers from psychotic episodes which are controlled by medication, was living at the hospital which cares for men and women who have complex mental health needs.

She was remanded in custody at Croydon Crown Court for a psychiatric report until September 21.