Nigerians' Deadly £2.7M International Scam

Two Nigerian fraudsters, whose global £2.7m scam had deadly consequences for one family they mercilessly ripped-off, were jailed yesterday.

Police identified a total of thirteen victims all over the world, who each lost an average of £207,000, after the duo convinced them they were due an Australian lottery pay-out, inheritance, investment benefit or were sold non-existent heavy plant machinery.

Obinnam Nwokolo, 37, (pic.top l.) of Chesworth Close, Erith, who amassed a valuable property portfolio in the UK and Nigeria, received six years and four months and Uchechhukwu Onuoha, 40, (pic.top r.) of Aspen Green, Erith, who entered this country on a student visa, received five years and two months.

Both pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to conspiracy to defraud between October 1, 2008 and September 15, last year.

One of their victims, Betty McClellan, 62, of Hyde Park, Los Angeles was shot dead by her husband Hersey McClellan, 63, who then shot himself on June 20, 2010 after she wired £264,000 - blowing the couple's hard-earned pension.

She transferred the sums to accounts controlled by fellow Nigerians Sergius Ene, 44, (pic.bottom l.) of Rushden Gardens, Ilford and once-deported student Osas Odia, 33, (pic.bottom r.)  of Windrush Court, Chichester Wharf, Erith, who both admitted conspiring to launder criminal property.

Ene, who received sixteen months in March for a £27,000 'Euromilions' lottery scam on an 83 year-old Northampton pensioner, was jailed for two years and eight months. for laundering £342,400.

The accountant, also a former Haringey Council housing benefit officer, who drove a Mercedes with a personalised 'ENE' number plate, is currently appealing deportation and it was revealed the mother of his three children entered into a sham marriage with a French citizen of African origin just to stay in the UK.

Student Odia, who laundered £149,000, was deported in 2005 as an illegal overstayer after a forged passport conviction, but is now a permanent resident after marrying a UK national. He will be sentenced on February 11 so he can complete a management degree.

Victims were telephoned, emailed or written to by Nwokolo and Onuoha, who between them spent at least £22,500 on stationary supplies as they convinced the dupes to pay for admin fees, insurance, certificates and other charges to release funds due to them.

Some victims paid money to a bogus charity claiming to assist West African refugees and one even paid for a non-existent U.S. Army General to ship his trunk of belongings from Afghanistan to Australia.

"These monies were placed in a series of bank accounts and laundered," said prosecutor Mr. Andrew Evans. "The fraud was carried out on an international scale."

Mrs McClellan was convinced she had won $2.8m on the Australian lottery and sent £264,000 to cover taxes and admin costs to release the win.

"When her husband discovered she had lost all of their pension savings he shot her dead and then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide," added Mr. Evans. Their bodies were found by their son.

An Indiana farmer, believing he had a claim on a £14.9m inheritance, lost over £339,000 and a Venezuelan businessman lost £163,000 buying a mobile crane Nwokolo and father-of-two Onuoha advertised for sale on a Spanish website.

A Bristol woman lost £312,000 chasing a £1.8m Australian lottery win and found herself arrested after paying the counterfeit £158,000 cheque the defendants sent her into her account.

"She was buying a new home and intended to settle the balance from the winnings she was expecting.

"She is now living in sheltered accommodation and feels vulnerable and extremely embarrassed and her family have lost their inheritance."

Father-of-three Nwokolo even bought three 1,350 per-hour letter-folding machines to increase the volume of mail shots and his home contained lists with details of thousands of individuals and businesses.

Onuoha had a pile of 593 scam letters ready for postage when police raided the home he rented off Nwokolo and officers also found a prepared 'script' he used when duping victims over the phone.

"It is difficult to think of a larger advance free fraud than this," announced Judge Jeremy Gold QC. "It is on an enormous scale.

"Thousands of emails and letters were sent out across the world promising money from non-existent relatives from inheritances or non-existence lottery wins.

"You preyed on the naivety or generosity of people to extract large amounts of money from them with devastating effects on their personal lives.

"I regard this fraud as one that falls into the most serious category of advanced fee fraud, targeting vulnerable victims."

Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation proceedings will follow.

Camera Shy Katie?

Notoriously publicity hungry and money hungry model Katie Price did everything she could yesterday to avoid any 'free' photographs of herself to be taken.

Always happy to pose for photographers when there is money in it for her she was surprisingly reluctant to stop for the lens outside Croydon Crown Court. 

She had a court date to appeal against a motoring conviction.

Arriving with an entourage of five people Price - formerly known as Jordan - broke into a little jog when she realised a photographer was taking pictures. 

What was the matter Katie? Were you worried you would never see any cash for the snaps?

Well here they are.

On departure she hid behind one of her 'people' and covered her face with her hair to ensure there were no clear shots.

Katie, have you ever heard the phrase: "The bigger they are the nicer they are?"

It obviously does not apply to you.

Model Katie Price Overturns Road Ban

Price Arriving At Croydon Crown Court

Model Katie Price was celebrating a rare court victory today after winning an appeal and having a twelve month driving ban overturned.

She convinced Croydon Crown Court she never received two speeding tickets sent to her new address.

Price, 34, of Wincaves Farm, Worthing Road, Horsham had originally been convicted at Bromley Magistrates' Court of failing to give identification regarding a driver's identity as required after her white Range Rover was caught on camera speeding through London on September 5 and 6, last year.

She was fined £400, with £350 costs, plus a £15 victim surcharge and her licence, which already had six penalty points, was endorsed with another six penalty points, triggering the twelve-month ban.

However, today's decision by Judge Daniel Flahive, sitting with two magistrates, overturned that conviction and Price will also have all her legal costs paid.

"The prosecution have satisfied the court that service did take place," he announced. "The burden then shifts to the defendant that it had not been received.

"Having considered the evidence we find that on the balance of probability we are not satisfied that she did receive the documentation."

Price told the court her mother opens all of her mail and anything of a legal nature is passed on to her solicitor.

Her mother, Amy Price, also gave evidence that if the speeding tickets had been received copies would have been made and they would have been forwarded to the lawyer.

"We found the appellant's mother gave convincing evidence and we accept the evidence of Katie Price that this is something she allows others to do for her."

Price also told the court she was attending a book-signing in Oxfordshire on the day her vehicle was caught speeding and described the Range Rover as a vehicle she never drives, but lends to friends.

The speeding notices were sent to a new home she was renovating on September 12, plus reminders on November 10, but she insisted she only became aware of the issue after receiving a court summons for failing to respond.

Two-Time Illegal Jailed And Booted Out Again

An illegal Albanian immigrant, who ignored a deportation order and again returned to the UK on a bogus Italian passport, has been jailed for fourteen months.

Emiljahno Hoxha, 23, was stopped driving a car in Deptford, South-East London, on November 20 and showed police the passport and fake Italian driving licence.

He pleaded guilty to possessing two false identity documents with intent.

Woolwich Crown Court (pictured) heard he was jailed for four months in December, last year for an identical offence and deported.

Two days later he bought the Italian ID for £200 with the intention of returning and entered the UK via Holland in June.

He claims his life is in danger in his home country after the murder of his cousin.

"He says it is very much better here and easier to work here," Hoxha's lawyer told the court.

Judge S Dawson told the defendant: "The aggravating feature here, apart from your using of a false identity document and undermining the security of the country, is that you have a previous conviction for the same offence.

"You were also probably driving without having passed a proper test in this country."

Gastropub Boss Accused Of £30K Benefits Fraud

The boss of a landmark Devonshire gastropub lived a double life in which he stole and defrauded over £30,000 from a London borough - falsely claiming benefits on a council flat he treated as a "pied-à-terre" - a jury were told yesterday.

Stephen John Sussams, 59, ex-owner of the Royal Dart, The Square, Kingswear, Dartmouth - located in the heart of the local yachting community - kept his business a secret from the London Borough of Croydon who paid his rent and council tax.

"This defendant was living in Devon as the landlord of that pub, he was not living in Croydon," prosecutor Miss Nancy Udom told the jury. "The flat he was claiming housing and council tax benefit on in Marston Way, Upper Norwood was a pied-à-terre in the south-east for Mr. Sussams."

Croydon Crown Court was told Sussams continued withdrawing a total of £17,600 in carer's allowance payments the council paid to a deceased man he had looked after and claimed another £14,625 in housing and council tax benefit after inheriting the tenancy.

"He had a responsibility to tell the council he was linked to a business in Devon ," added Miss Udom. "This was dishonesty, this was fraudulent.

"He knew that if he told the truth the payments would stop and he chose to be dishonest rather than lose the flat in Croydon."

The jury were told Sussams was the primary carer for Keith Dickinson, the tenant of the one-bedroom flat in Marston Way, Upper Norwood.

When he died on August 28, 2008 the direct carer's payment continued being made into his bank account.

"Mr Sussams, as the primary carer, had access to this bank account and would have been aware that very large sums were coming into the bank account.

"This defendant made large withdrawals from the account, some coincided with the payments going in or within a couple of days," explained Miss Udom.

The court heard Sussams withdrew £3,500 just three days after a direct payment went in and on another occasion withdrew funds on the same day the account was credited.

"This was simply stealing. That money should have been left where it was or returned to the council, not withdrawn by Mr. Sussams."

Croydon council invoiced Sussams for the overpayment, but he simply told them all the money had been dispersed in accordance with Mr. Dickinson's will.

Sussams, who was in receipt of incapacity benefit, successfully claimed housing and council tax benefit as a sole occupier, but deliberately failed to tell the council he was sharing the property with his civil partner Evengy Vasin, the jury were told.

"He did not declare his true personal circumstances and failed to declare that he was living with his partner, Mr. Vasin, his civil partner," said Miss Udom. "In fact he went further and told outright lies and claimed he was the sole occupier."

The couple had a civil ceremony on August 8, 2006.

Sussams has pleaded not guilty to stealing £17,600 from the London Borough of Croydon between August 28, 2008 and January 13, 2009.

He also denies dishonestly making a false statement on or about September 19, 2008 in relation to a housing and council tax benefit claim by failing to declare he was living with his civil partner Evengy Vasin.

He further denies fraud between June 1, 2009 and March 31, this year by dishonestly failing to disclose to Croydon he was the company director of Jireh Investments and Assets and similarly that he was the company director of Kingwear Inns between October 29, 2010 and March 31, this year and Kingswear Inns (Assets) between December 2, 2010 and March 31, this year. 

Trial continues………

Grandma Jailed For Drug Smuggling

A Shepherd's Bush grandmother, caught at Gatwick Airport with 13 kilos of cannabis – worth £35,000 – in her suitcases, was jailed for twenty months today.

Marcia Cynthia Rattray, 50, of Wendell Road pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to importing the cannabis from Jamaica on September 14.

The court heard she had collected the suitcases from a contact during her ten-day trip and was promised payment of £500-£600 for smuggling the drugs.

The trip had been set up by a man who knew she was in financial difficulties and was described as a “bad influence.”

Judge Shani Barnes told the mother-of-two, who has five grandchildren: “You have clearly had a difficult and troubled path through adulthood, with several previous convictions.

“You had reached a very low point in August. You had got into a great amount of debt and you were about to lose your home.

“You could see no way out and there were other influences on you and you did something that is extremely serious.

“Bringing thirteen kilos of cannabis into this country is a very serious offence.

“This was a decision made with all the pressure you were under and the money you were to receive will be little reward compared to the time you will spend in custody.

“I hope this is a low point and that you do not come back before the courts again.”

Garage Boss Broke Neighbour's Arm During 'Parking Rage' Row

A garage boss, who broke a neighbouring mechanic's arm with a heavy-duty spirit-level during a 'parking rage' row, was told today he would be going to prison.

Mark Evans Blackburn, 46, (pictured) of Bakers Gardens, Carshalton swung the four-foot long wooden weapon at Matthew Ward during a furious row over blocked access.

Blackburn was convicted by a Croydon Crown Court jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm in Bensham Lane, Thornton Heath on January 5 and was remanded in custody.

“You have been convicted by a jury of a serious offence and the only sentence I can pass is one of imprisonment,” Judge Peter Gow QC told the father-of-two.

The court heard trouble began when Mr. Ward, who had just pulled up in his car, complained a small transit van Blackburn had just parked was blocking the entrance to his garage.

The defendant shouted: “I'm not going to move the fucking van,” and admitted in the witness box: “I think I told him to fuck off.”

The pair then had a face-to-face confrontation, shouting abuse at each other, when Mr. Ward's friend got out of a car with a dog.

“I was looking at the floor for something to arm myself with because I thought the dog was going to attack me,” Blackburn told the jury.

Mr. Ward said the defendant warned: “Wait there. I've got something to show you.”

Seconds later he returned with the spirit-level and, swinging it like a baseball bat, struck Mr. Ward, breaking his left arm, and causing him to fall to the floor.

Blackburn claimed the blow was in self-defence because he feared Mr. Ward was going to grab a weapon from the back of his own vehicle.

Prosecutor Mr. Nicholas Bleaney said: “Essentially this injury ruined Mr. Ward's professional life.

“As a direct result of his injuries he has had to give up his business.”

Blackburn will be sentenced on January 2.

Church Activist And Scout Leader Jailed For Abusing Boys

A “deeply manipulative” church activist and cub scout leader, who plied two young brothers and another boy with treats and organised fun events in order to sexually abuse them, was jailed for eight years today.

The boys, aged four to ten years-old, were entertained by mock-medieval swordfighting duels, swimming trips, videos and given sweets, ice-cream and cash, Croydon Crown Court heard.

James Edward Bailey, 69, (pictured) of Kettering Court, Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath was found guilty of fifteen charges dating back twenty years when the boys were aged between four and ten years-old.

The brothers, now aged twenty-eight and twenty-four, attended a church in Thornton Heath in the early 1990's where Bailey was a parishoner and trusted by their parents to look after them.

Bailey – known as Jim – later became a cub scout leader at a church in Addiscombe and is accused of abusing the third boy, now twenty, in his car after a group trip to South Norwood Leisure Centre, Portland Road.

“It seems apparent at the time that Bailey was a single man, keen on the church and cub scouts, both of which gave him access to young boys,” explained prosecutor Mr. Tony Badenoch.

“It also involves manipulation by an abuser with offers of sweets, ice-cream, money and the opportunity to watch grown-up action films.

“Bailey has an unhealthy interest in young boys and is deeply manipulative.

“They were not treats. They came with a price and that price was abuse,” Mr. Badenoch told the jury.

The brothers reported Bailey to the police three years ago after a chance encounter with him at Tesco's in Thornton Heath and the third man, who they do not know, came forward nearly two years later.

“The older brother told police that as a child he spent quite a bit of time with Jim and what was laid on the quite good fun.

“This included Jim running a medieval club, staging sword fights and assisting in school fetes and performances,” added the prosecutor.

“Their father, a missionary, very much trusted Bailey and he was a regular visitor to the family home.

“The older brother told police Jim touched him and got him to touch him back and said: 'Don't tell your parents.'

“He started taking him home and let him watch grown-up films and told police Jim had filmed him at the defendant's former home in Clifton Road.

“The younger brother told police Jim had put his hand down the front of his trousers and rubbed his penis and testicles.”

There was also a sexual incident involving the boy and Bailey's pet dog and an incident when the defendant took him swimming.

Bailey performed a sex act on the third boy after a different swimming pool trip when he also offered him sweets and cash.

He was convicted of three sample charges of indecently assaulting the older brother, plus five counts of indecency with the same child.

He was also found guilty of to two sample counts of indecently assaulting the younger brother plus four counts of indeceny with the child and one count of indecency with the third child.

Drunken City Trader Assaulted Wife And Stepson

A City commodities trader, who beat his wife and stepson during a violent drunken row, was told by a judge yesterday: "You are not the sort of defendant I normally see at this court."

Laurent Weinberger, 45, is now banned from going anywhere near his £1m six-bedroom house - which he still pays all the bills for - and has moved in with his parents.

"You are an otherwise perfectly respectable businessman and financial advisor," Wood Green Crown Court Judge Nicholas Browne QC told £115,000 a year Weinberger, who is now subject to a strict restraining order.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife of six years, Sarah Weinberger, 41, and his stepson Matthew Davies, 22, at the family home in Brockley Avenue, Stanmore, in the heart of the North London Jewish community, on June 3.

"You used violence and you hit your stepson, causing him a bloody nose, and when your wife became involved you hit out at her and she suffered some bruising," Judge Browne told the defendant.

"This relationship has brought you into conflict with the criminal law, whether it was drink, stress or simply that you were not right for each other and it is best that you separate in the most civilised way possible.

"You and she were living in conflict with each other, with frequent rows, and it all blew up in early June as I have heard."

The court heard Weinberger (pictured) was cautioned by police in July, last year for assaulting his wife and was convicted of drink-driving in October, 2007.

"The relationship was deteriorating and they were in separate bedrooms and had been to counselling," said prosecutor Mr. David Smith. "The defendant, we would say, had a drink problem.

"There had been an argument the day before and the defendant, in drink, brought it up the next morning.

"Having assaulted the stepson, who was left with a bloody nose, he then assaulted his wife."

As business development director Mrs Weinberger tried to call 999 the defendant violently snatched the phone out of her grasp, causing the back of her head, arm and hand to slam against a wall.

She told the court: "I was bruised to my arm, my wrist and the back of my head. I went to my private doctor and did not go to work for a month.

"I am struggling with no money coming in from anywhere, I am maxed to the limit and friends are helping me financially. We sold one of our cars to pay legal bills."

The court heard a recording of the 999 call in which Weinberger told the operator: "My stepson just punched me in the head."

His wife could be heard in the background screaming: "You liar! You punched him first," and Weinberger told the operator: "I swear I never touched him. He hit me first."

Mr Smith added: "He was heavily under the influence of alcohol. That was obvious to the police when they arrived."

The court heard police had been called to the house, also home to Matthew's twin brother Adam and a younger 16 year-old sibling two or three times in relation to domestic abuse.

Weinberger's lawyer Miss Dee Connolly said: "This was a tempestuous relationship and his wife, has herself, been convicted of drink-driving and dealt with by the police for wasting police time on a previous occasion.

"He has been under tremendous stress awaiting today and has received counselling for his drinking and has an ulcer caused by stress.

"That house was bought by him and there has been no financial contribution towards it by Sarah Weinberger, but she lives there and he lives with his parents."

Weinberger, who has two children, aged 19 and 20, from a previous relationship was fined £100 on each assault and ordered to pay £500 compensation to Sarah and £200 compensation to Matthew.

"The main problem here is alcohol, which has led to incidents of domestic violence in the past," announced Judge Browne, who made a two-year restraining order.

Weinberger is now prohibited from going within 500 metres of his former family home, 50 metres of his wife's Mill Hill office and is not allowed to contact her, her immediate family or his stepsons directly or via telephone, text, email or other media.

Violent Drink And Drug-Fueled Rapist Locked-Up

A rapist – high on drink and drugs – who forced his way into the East London home of a woman he knew, grabbing her hair and ripping off her clothes, during a terrifying ordeal, has been caged for nine years.

Curtis Benson, 37, (pictured) pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court to raping the 35 year-old victim at the Hackney address on August 4.

He became increasingly violent after the woman refused his demands for sex and raped her.

She eventually fought him off and rushed to a neighbour's house in tears.

Benson fled the scene and sent the victim a flurry of desperate text messages threatening to harm her if she contacted police.



An investigation was launched by Operation Sapphire officers and a manhunt begun for Benson, involving numerous officers from the Metropolitan Police and neighbouring forces.



Benson gave himself up four days later at Stoke Newington police station on August 8 and was arrested.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Ross Morrell said: "This is an excellent example of the continuous hard work and dedication of Operation Sapphire officers in bringing a dangerous offender to justice in just over two months from the date of the offence.





"I would like to pay tribute to the victim who was incredibly brave in reporting this rape to police.

“Benson is a dangerous man who subjected her to a sustained and violent attack.

“She suffered a terrible ordeal that has impacted on her day-to-day life, but she had the courage to come forward and report this to police which in turn has allowed her to access support agencies and services that are now helping her return her life to normal.



"Rape is a difficult offence to report and investigate and I hope that the bravery of this woman gives confidence to other victims of rape and sexual violence to come forward and report their ordeal to the police, no matter how unusual or different the circumstances are.

“Specially trained detectives from Operation Sapphire will listen, support and investigate their allegation.”

'Wheelie' Joyrider Caged For Killing Car Passenger

At teenage joyrider – showing off on a powerful motorbike – crashed into a car, instantly killing the young passenger, moments after pulling two 'wheelies'.

Ryan Birkett, 17, (pictured) of Dagenham, East London was locked-up for four years and eight months.

He pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court to causing the death of Peter Tickner, 23, by dangerous driving, in Goresbrook Street, Dagenham on July 14, last year.

He also admitted taking the Triumph Sprint ST 955 cc, without the owner's consent, and riding it without a licence and insurance and was disqualified for six years.

The Peaugeot vehicle, in which CCTV engineer Mr. Tickner was a passenger, was turning right into a side street when the motorbike crashed into it at 60 mph.

The force of the crash was such that the motorbike was embedded into the side of the car and Peter Tickner died instantly from his injuries.

The driver, 22, also sustained serious injuries. 



Mr. Tickner's family spoke of their "world being torn apart” as a result of the tragedy.

Car Gunman Tracked Down By Technology

A gunman, who fired a Mac10 machine pistol at a local rival, was hunted down via his getaway car's tracking device and caged for 11 years.

An investigation was launched after shots were fired from a white Audi R8 at two black males walking in St. Elmo Road, Shepher's Bush on April 16, last year.

Kola Adisa, 21, (pictured) of Cedarne Road, Fulham was convicted by an Isleworth Crown Court jury of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

The Audi vehicle was traced to a prestige car rental company and had been hired by an associate of Adisa's.

The car's tracking device proved the vehicle had been driven from the defendant's address to the scene of the shooting.

The crime scene was within yards of the home address of a man Adisa had an on-going dispute with.

Neither of the two targets were identified or came forward, but police matched several bullet casings they recovered in the street to the use of a Mac10 machine pistol.

Adisa was forced to admit he was in the car, but the jury rejected his claims of being squirted in the eyes with a noxious substance as the shooting occurred.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Foote, from the Trident Gang Crime Command, said: "This was a terrifying incident for local residents to witness in their street.

“We are grateful for their prompt response in contacting the police immediately after hearing the sounds of gunshots which assisted us in arresting Kola Adisa for this offence.



"Forensic evidence showed that a Mac 10 automatic machine pistol had been used in this targeted shooting in this residential street in Hammersmith.

“Luckily no one was injured. Adisa showed total disregard to the possible harm he could have caused.



"This was a complicated and thorough investigation conducted by my investigation team. The assistance from the public in reporting the matter and giving evidence at court was of great support to the case. 



"This investigation clearly demonstrates that the police, their partners and the public can tackle gun and gang crime together.



“If you have any information on gun and gang crime please do not hesitate in contacting the police." 

Bank Identity Conman Caught Again

A serial bank fraudster succcessfully posed as a customer to empty the man's account of £25,000 in just two weeks while on bail for an identical offence.

Mark Havis, 49, of Elgin Road, Ilford doctored a driving licence and forged bank statements and bank cards, but was caught trying to withdraw another £1500.

He pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at Santander, Woodcote Road, Wallington; possession of identity documents with intent and possession of articles for use in fraud on December 18, last year.

Havis, who has commited seventy-six previous offences, was on bail for another £22,000 bank fraud at the time and later received fiften months imprisonment at Harrow Crown Court, which he has served.

Prosecutor Miss Shazia Ahmed told Croydon Crown Court today: “He walked into Santander and produced a driving licence in another man's name, but which bore his photograph.

“Havis was also in possession of three false bank statements and a number of false bank cards and a member of staff was alerted to something not being quite right.”

A senior member of staff, who knew the customer Havis was posing as, recognised the defendant as an imposter and called the police.

Havis's attempt to withdraw £1500 cash failed and investigations revealed in the previous two weeks he had taken £25,000 from the account.

The Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon decided not to imprison Havis because of the recent sentence he has served and placed him on a twelve month probation supervision order.

“You were going along to this bank with false documents and obtained twenty-five thousand pounds and you were doing the same thing last July.

“You have a quite dreadful record and you need to come away from this chronic pattern of crime,” the judge told Havis.