Victoria Station Phone Thief Caught By BTP

A phone thief has been locked-up for nicking a phone from a food vendor at busy Victoria station as suspicious plain-clothed police watched.

British Transport Police (BTP) officers watched Hamza Esguioui, 28, loiter near the food outlet's counter and swooped after witnessing the theft.

At Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court he pleaded guilty to one count of theft and received two months imprisonment.

The offence triggered a suspended sentence for fraud Esguioui had previously been convicted of and he received four months imprisonment for the breach.

The court heard how on Wednesday, September 24 plain clothed BTP officers on patrol at London Victoria station noticed Esguioui paying close attention to other commuters and their bags.

Officers began to observe Esguioui due to his behaviour, and watched as he sat near to the counter of a food outlet.

He then swiped a member of staff's phone worth £800 from the counter and rose to leave, unaware that he was being watched by police and that his actions were in full view of the station CCTV cameras.

Plain clothes officers immediately intervened, stopping and arresting Esguioui as the member of staff came over to report that their phone had been stolen.

When interviewed later in the day, Esguioui offered no explanation nor showed any remorse for his actions.

Esguioui was on bail for a theft at Paddington railway station that he had committed only five days before on Friday, September 19.

Investigating officer PC Robert Whitehead said: "I'm very pleased with the result in this case. 

“Esguioui acted with a remarkable degree of impudence in attempting to swipe a phone in full view of our officers.

"I hope that this result encourages Esguioui to change his ways, and that it sends a message to would-be criminals that we do not tolerate theft or robbery on the railway network and will continue to prosecute those that would target others for their own gain."

Booze Cruise: No Prison Time For Square Mile Burglar

Caught Red-Handed: Kubola

A tuk-tuk pedicab driver broke into the same City of London restaurant three times in six weeks – stealing £24,000 worth of wine – has been sentenced.

Iuliu Kubola, 61, used his job as a cover to pedal around the Square Mile, targeting the restaurant, located near the Bank of England.

CCTV images captured him taking seventy-three bottles of wine on the first occasion; three the second time, before leaving empty-handed after the third raid.

Kubola, of Richie Street, Islington pleaded guilty to three counts of burgling the Threadneedle Street business.

He received twenty months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He initially burgled the business on Friday, May 6, loading the bottles into his pedicab and cycling away.

He returned on June 15 and 19.

He was arrested on June 22 at around 12:30am, when an officer recognised Kubola as a person of interest following a police briefing.

Police constable Jordan Felstead approached Kubola, who had stopped outside a bar on Cornhill.

After making further enquiries with the Criminal Investigation Department, it was discovered that Kubola was a suspect connected to a spate of burglaries.

City of London Police boast that they are one of the few forces where scenes of crimes officers go to every incident where forensics can be recovered and do not screen out ‘low level’ crime.

Detective Constable Marcus Fairclough, of the Criminal Investigation Department said: “Thanks to the good work by our officers, who spotted him and quickly made enquiries and the arrest, Iuliu Kubola will face the consequences of his criminality.

“Burglary has a significant impact on businesses and residential communities.

“We will attend all reports of break-ins in the City; giving us the best chance of making an arrest and collecting evidence from a scene.

“We will always take this type of criminality seriously and thoroughly investigate all evidential leads, including forensics, to bring those perpetrators to justice.”

Kubola also caused damage to the external door and locks, costing £1,000 to change locks and £425 to repair the damage.

Physical Forensics Manager Andrew Walker, of the City of London Police, said: “Our fast response is vital to maximise forensic opportunities and lessen the impact on the victims.

“Being burgled is horrendous; not being able to tidy up or open your business and resume trading exacerbates this massively.

“The victim is at the heart of everything we do. Delivering them justice, whilst minimising the impact that crime has on them, is the bedrock on which City of London Police Forensic Services operates.”

Cocaine Dealer Caught In Square Mile

A cocaine dealer, caught selling in the heart of the Square Mile, is starting a twenty-month prison sentence.

Plain-clothed City of London Police officers watched as 22 year-old Adi Skura made an exchange with another male in Garlick Hill on the evening of September 18 and stopped him.

He was searched in nearby Cannon Street, where officers found twenty small snap bag of cocaine, plus £270 cash.

Skura pleaded guilty to possession of Class A drugs, with intent to supply.

He was arrested by officers from the Proactive Acquisitive Crime Team.

Skura was also caught on camera making the exchange with the pedestrian in the busy area.

Detective Constable James Crellin, Criminal Investigations Department at the City of London Police, said: “We are proactively identifying and apprehending offenders and we will continue to take action to disrupt and pursue those involved in the supply of Class A drugs on the streets of London.

“These efforts not only rid the streets of this most impactful and harmful illegal activity, but it sends a clear message to those behind drug-related crime, that you will be caught and put behind bars.”

“We also want to issue a warning to those who are purchasing drugs or considering it. Not only it is a criminal offence, but you are also bringing violent and dangerous criminals into the City.”

The Proactive Acquisitive Crime Team focuses on crimes such as theft of bags, phone snatches and shoplifting.

The dedicated team is successfully bringing criminals to justice and proactive arrests are disrupting those involved in serious organised crime.

City Of London Parasite Jailed For Square Mile Thefts

A bag thief, who preyed on after-hours City workers enjoying a drink in the heart of the Square Mile has been locked-up.

Aouidj Abderaouf, 29, was caught on CCTV grabbing a customers' rucksack at the busy The Walrus And The Carpenter pub, Monument.

He is starting a thirty-six week prison sentence after being convicted of the July 30 theft.

He was also convicted of stealing a bag at nearby El Vino The Olde Wine Shades, Martin Lane on the same day.

Wearing a baseball cap to hide his distinctive balding hairline Abderaouf entered The Walrus And The Carpenter and mingled amongst the customers.

A male patron had left his rucksack on a seat when he went to the bar and Abderaouf grabbed it on the way out.

Fortunately, plain-clothed City of London Police had been watching him and arrested Abderaouf as he stepped outside.

Police Constable Joshua Betts, of the Volume Crime Unit at the City of London Police, said: “We remain committed to tackling bag thefts and ensuring those responsible for such crimes are brought to justice. 

“We have already made significant arrests which have led to a number of successful prosecutions.

“Our dedicated officers are working tirelessly to identify and apprehend individuals who target those who live, work and visit the Square Mile.

“Through increased patrols, targeted operations and using our extensive camera network in the City, we are enhancing our ability to deter criminal activities and respond swiftly when incidents occur.”

Vodka-Fueled Sex Assault On Sixteen Year-Old Girl

A host who poured his sixteen year-old house guest a large vodka before putting his hand inside her bra, has received a suspended prison sentence.

David Gould, 61, of Diamond Crescent, Swindon, Wiltshire had a loose connection with the girl and invited her over to his home, where he complimented her on her looks before molesting her.

At Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court he pleaded guilty to one count of sexually assaulting the teenager at his then south-west London address in Spring, 2011.

The Recorder of Richmond-upon-Thames Judge Peter Lodder KC told Gould: “You took advantage by inviting her over, plying her with alcohol and sexually assaulting her.

“You were thirty-one years older than her and had separated from your wife and you told her she looked beautiful.

“You invited her to come around and visit you and asked her if she would like a drink and poured her a very large vodka, without much lemonade.

“She did not have much experience of drinking and you knew exactly what you were up to.

“You put your hand inside her top and bra. She was uncomfortable and told you so.”

Gould received eighteen months imprisonment, suspended for two years and must complete 280 hours community service.

He was ordered to also complete twenty-seven days of a rehabilitation activity requirement, sign the sex offenders register and obey a fifteen-year sexual harm prevention order.

“For many, many, many years she has had to deal with your denials and only recently has had the small consolation of your guilty plea.

“As she put it in her victim impact statement her childhood ended at the age of sixteen years-old. 

“That is what you have done to blight that young girl’s life to satisfy your own desires,” the judge told Gould. “I am very tempted to send you to prison and you can consider yourself very lucky.”

Gould was charged for this offence after an investigation into separate allegations of sexually abusing a nine year-old girl in 2018.

He was eventually cleared in relation to that victim, but the sixteen year-old complainant - now many years older - gave a video-recorded interview to police on March 30, 2023.

Earlier, prosecutor Ravi Dogra told the court that Gould gave the teen a large vodka after she told him the most she usually drank was a small lager shandy.

“He was saying things about her body, her breasts and how she looked. He put his hand inside her top and inside her bra.”

In her victim impact statement the complainant said: “This incident has affected my life and still ripples through everything I do today.

“His compliments about my body now disgust me. I was only a child.”

Addressing Gould directly she told him: “You took advantage and plied me with alcohol to take advantage of me.

“I trusted you and the things you did that day have had an everlasting effect on me.”

Gould’s lawyer Nargees Choudhury told the court the defendant’s wife had left him in 2008 - three years before the offence - taking their two children with her.

“He was depressed, suffered panic attacks, had to take time off work and his mental health was at an all-time low.

“He will never forgive himself for what he did. He is absolutely sickened by what he did.”

Hi Vis Suspects Wanted For £50K Railway Cable Theft

Police are investigating the audacious daylight theft of £50,000 worth of cabling from a south-east London railway depot.

The three male thieves arrived in a van at New Cross Gate Depot, loaded up and drove away.

British Transport Police (BTP) have released these images of two of the suspects.

They are appealing to members of the public to assist in identifying them.

The thieves struck just before 7.00pm on Wednesday, July 30, specifically targeting expensive signalling cables.

BTP officers believe the men in the image may have information which could help their investigation.

Anyone who recognises them is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 274 of 30 July.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Chelsea FC's Wesley Fofana Gets Another Driving Ban

Big Shot: Fofana With Bodyguards & Lawyer Imogen Cox

Chelsea FC’s Wesley Fofana was hit with yet another driving ban today
after he was caught speeding in his powerful Lamborghini on the A3 hard shoulder.

The £70m centre-half - currently serving a two-year disqualification for a total of
eight speeding offences -  must also now complete 300 hours of unpaid community service or go to prison.

He pleaded guilty to driving the white Super Sport Utility Vehicle dangerously on April 20 along the A3 Esher Bypass, Hook, Surrey.

Fofana, who lives in a six-bedroom £4.5m detached property with home gym and cinema room within the gated Fairmile Estate, Cobham, Surrey arrived at Staines Magistrates’ Court in an almost military-style operation, including two bodyguards.

Another motorist recorded Fofana’s driving on their dash cam and reported him to the police.

“You obviously realise there are a lot of young people who look up to you and they would like to be like you and follow you. That’s part of the whole gig,” District Judge Julie Cooper told him.

“However, they will not be able to afford these expensive cars, with all their additions that keep them safe and you could have some seventeen year-old, who has just passed their test, who think they can copy you.

“They will not be able to handle their car and do some ridiculous driving manoeuvre and they are dead.

“You need to be much more responsible about your behaviour.”

Wearing a black shirt, black jacket and black cargo trousers Fofana stood in the secure dock and spoke only to give his name, address and date of birth.

Earlier, a bodyguard stood watch near the court entrance well before Fofana and his legal team arrived in a people carrier with a second bodyguard, then repeating same exercise on his departure.

Prosecutor Rabbi Khan told the court it was 4.50pm when the second motorist captured Fofana on camera.

“The witness identified the danger and this defendant was driving on the hard shoulder at speed in a 50mph zone.

“The offence is aggravated by an approaching bend that was sign-posted and he is not indicating when making these manoeuvres.

“He refused to abide by the road rules at speed.”

Last May Fofana was disqualified at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court for speeding offences committed while driving his white 6.7 litre Rolls Royce Cullinan, which retail at approximately £300,000 new.

He was also caught speeding in his blue 4.0 litre Audi  and his Lamborghini Urus, which retail from £200,000.

On that occasion he received a whopping thirty-eight penalty points - taking the total on his driving licence to forty-seven.

He has since moved closer to Chelsea FC’s Cobham training ground and his Icklingham Road gated home is just two miles away.

Judge Cooper sentenced Fofana to an eighteen-month Community Order, which includes 300 hours community service and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

He was additionally disqualified from driving for 18 months, but is off the road until May 13, 2027 in any event.

“At the end of the disqualification you cannot drive until you pass an extended driving test and if you drive as a disqualified driver you will almost certainly be sent to prison and that is career-ending,” she added.

Day Job: Fofana Playing For Chelsea FC

‘You need to attend your Probation Service appointments on time and comply with their satisfaction.

“If you breach the order you will be back in front of me and I will have no hesitation in sending you to prison.”

Fofana’s lawyer Imogen Cox told the court: “The video speaks for itself, fifteen to twenty seconds of driving that are conceded.

“There is no explanation or excuse for his driving on that day.”

The footage was played in court, showing Fofana undertaking other vehicles at speed, with gasps of disbelief from the occupants of the dash cam car also recorded.

“He attended voluntarily for an interview at Guildford Police Station and apologised for driving and said he had learned a valuable lesson about his driving and had no explanation for his driving on that day,” added Ms Cox.

“This offence pre-dates the speeding offences, which were all within a seven-month period and tied-up at Lavender Hill.

“He is essentially of good character, having no criminal convictions against him.

“He is fit and healthy and able to cary out community work.”

Fofana has started only two Premier League match’s this season; came on as a substitute in another and started one match in both the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

The Marseille-born French national was previously fined a total of £5,328, plus a £2,131 victim surcharge for the Lavender Hill speeding offences.

The injury-plagued star won the 2021 FA Cup with Leicester City, but is regarded as a “sicknote” by Blues fans, having missed the entire 2023-2024 campaign with an ACL knee injury.

He signed a seven-year contract with Chelsea FC in August, 2022.

Fofana was also previously disqualified for six months in January, 2023 for speeding offences.

Trio Hunted After Violent Knife Mugging

A man was kicked and punched to the ground and robbed of cash and his designer jacket when targeted by three muggers at Manor Park station, east London.

The victim was also threatened with a knife.

British Transport Police (BTP) have launched a robbery investigation.

Investigating officers have released these CCTV images of their suspects and are requesting the assistance of the public to assist in identifying them.

At around 8.00pm on Saturday, August 30, a male passenger was at the station when he was approached by three unknown men, who demanded he hand over money.

One of the men lifted his top to show the handle of a knife tucked into his waistband.

The man attempted to flee, but was kicked and punched to the floor and robbed of his possessions - including money and a designer jacket.

Special Police Constable Chris Morrissey said: “We believe that the men in the CCTV images may have information that could help our investigation.

“While the images don’t show the clearest view of the men, someone may recognise their clothing or know of someone who was at the station at that time.”

Anyone who recognises the men pictured, or has information, is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 121 of 31 August.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

"Vulgar And Sickening" Sex Offender Jailed

A “vulgar and sickening” tube train pervert, who targeted a young lone woman on a near-empty carriage, has been caged.

Rohan Uddin, 22, of Bedford Road, Tottenham received sixteen months imprisonment for molesting the victim and exposing himself on the London Underground train.

Following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation, he pleaded guilty to sexual assault; outraging public decency and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

Uddin also received a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, prohibiting him from talking to or engaging with any women or girls unknown to him when travelling on public transport, entering a station or travelling on transport while under the influence of any intoxicating liquor or substance, placing his hands inside clothing in order to touch his genitals while on board or at stations and from travelling without a valid ticket or payment for travelling.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard Uddin sexually assaulted the woman – aged in her 20's - on an eastbound Central Line train at Marble Arch station just after 9.00pm on Tuesday, April 29.

Uddin chose to sit next to a lone passenger in a relatively empty tube carriage and began to masturbate as he sexually assaulted her.

The woman moved away from Uddin, scared for her own safety and was able to get an image of him, which enabled police to identify Uddin and place a wanted marker on his name.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service stopped him for unrelated reasons in June and arrested him upon discovering he was wanted. 

He then assaulted the two officers, leading to him being further arrested.

Detective Constable Sexton-Thomas said: "It is thanks to the brave woman reporting this horrific incident to staff and to officers that we have been able to get this vulgar and sickening individual off of the railway network.

"The sentence handed down and the long-lasting Sexual Harm Prevention Order should act as a warning to others that we take all reports of sexual offences and unwanted sexual behaviour seriously and we will always support and believe victims throughout the investigation.”

Train Station Perv Recorded Woman In Toilet Cubicle

A “calculating and predatory” midnight train station creep, who recorded a young woman using a toilet cubicle on his mobile phone, has been locked-up.

Finlay Riley, 22, was loitering around Wimbledon station and stared at the victim as she walked into the Ladies lavatory.

He followed her inside and she saw his hand and phone emerge from under the cubicle divider to record her.

At Guildford Crown Court Riley pleaded guilty to voyeurism and received six weeks imprisonment.

He was also subject to a notice of rehabilitation requirement, and was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for 10 years.

The court heard that the victim and her boyfriend had been out for the day when they entered the station late in the evening on May 24, last year.

The woman noticed Riley, wearing a distinctive red jacket, staring at her intently as they walked past him before she entered the female toilets and went into a cubicle.

She heard the toilet door open and shortly afterwards a hand appeared from under the cubicle wall to her left side.

She initially thought that someone had dropped their phone and was trying to retrieve it, but then then seconds later a red iPhone appeared with the camera facing upwards.

The woman immediately left the toilet and alerted her boyfriend who was waiting outside. 

He then went in and remonstrated with Riley who managed to escape.

Following the incident British Transport Police (BTP) officers issued an appeal, featuring CCTV images of Riley to the media and to the public.

Three people came forward to help police, all providing the same name - Finlay Riley, who was located by officers and arrested. 

During their investigation officers retrieved CCTV footage showing Riley lingering around the female toilets for around 45 minutes, as well as footage of him following the woman into the toilets and being chased out by her boyfriend.

Detective Constable Christopher Pretty said: "Riley’s actions were calculated, predatory and incredibly disturbing. 

“He deliberately loitered near the female toilets for an extended period of time before targeting the woman when she was vulnerable.

“We take an absolute zero tolerance approach to sexual offending and immediately carried out a range of enquiries to identify him. 

“The public’s positive response to our media appeal was instrumental and we’re very grateful to the woman and her partner in supporting our investigation, and to everyone who came forward to assist us.

“We will stop at nothing to secure justice for victims, and to keep the railway network and communities safe from such predatory behaviour.”

Anyone who is the victim of or witness to an offence on the rail network should text BTP on 61016, or call 0800 40 50 40.