Gunman Hunted After Travel Agent Robbery

This is the man Flying Squad Detectives are hunting following an armed raid at a high street travel agents.

Staff were threatened at gunpoint at First Choice, St. Mary's Lane, Upminster, Essex, on December 4, last year and foreign currency was snatched.

CCTV images of the suspect have been released by the Barking-based squad.

The suspect entered the branch on three occasions on the same day, pretending to enquire about a honeymoon and foreign currency.

On the third occasion, he approached the staff at the bureau de change and pointed a gun at a member of staff making threats before taking a quantity of cash and fleeing via a rear fire exit.

The suspect is described as white, five feet eight inches tall of medium build with a thin face and a large nose. He spoke with a London accent and was wearing a black beanie hat and black puffer jacket.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the incident room on 020 8345 4226 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Street Dealer Caught In Secret Police Drugs Sting

A crack and heroin dealer caught in an undercover police sting at a notorious drugs hotspot has been jailed for two years and four months.

Jobless Aaron Dutton, 28, White Hart Lane, Tottenham, North London, sold £20-£30 wraps of the drug to ‘Dave’ in Quill Street Market, Finsbury Park.

He pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court to three counts of supplying crack cocaine and three counts of supplying heroin on three consecutive days between July 21 and 23, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. Mark James-Dawson told the court undercover police were targeting the area’s drug dealers and an officer identified only as ‘Dave’ made the “test purchases” when approached by Dutton.

The defendant gave the officer his mobile phone number to set up future deals and was also filmed by an undercover surveillance team.

He vanished when paid £20 for drugs on August 13, but was eventually arrested and charged on January 19, this year.

“Through these courts day after day pass thieves, robbers and burglars who steal to buy drugs,” Judge John Hillen told junkie Dutton. “Those involved in the supply of drugs are responsible for crime on a huge scale.

“You were part of a chain of criminality and were caught by a police undercover operation.”

In The Dock: Five Accused Of £219m Inland Revenue Fraud

Two senior executives of stock-market accountancy firm Vantis, their wives and a financial advisor – all accused of a £219 million charitable tax scam – have appeared at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Hundreds of investors are said to have participated in the Vantis tax scheme, including an Oscar-winning movie executive, celebrity psychiatrist, senior City bankers, top lawyers and company directors.

Robert Faichney, 51, managing director of Vantis’ tax division and his wife Shirley Faichney, 51, both of Barnhill, Pinner Middlesex, were bailed along with their co-defendants to return on May 21.

They appeared alongside David Perrin, 44, the tax division’s deputy managing director and his wife Nicola Perrin, 37, both of Leagrave, Luton, and financial advisor Vikash Kulkar, 55, of Waldegrave Road, Twickenham.

All five are with one count of cheating her Majesty and the Public Revenue in a prosecution brought by HM Revenue and Customs.

The two executives are accused of devising and promoting a tax scheme that took advantage of the legislation providing tax relief on the donations of shares to charities.

Their wives are accused of involvement in their husband’s dealings and Kulkar is alleged to have attracted investors to the scheme.

The investigation relates to 328 million shares listed on the Channel Island Stock Exchange sold to investors at a value of £1 with subsequent tax relief claimed.

No pleas were entered and a trial date at the court (pictured) was set for February 21, next year.

Romanian Cashpoint Trickster Caged Again

A member of a Romanian gang of cashpoint fraudsters – caught by police for the second time tampering with ATM’s – has been jailed for sixteen months.

Mechanic Laurentiu Bunu, 23, of Speyside, Southgate, pleaded guilty to possessing an article in connection with fraud, namely a ‘Lebanese Loop’, in Holloway Road, Holloway, on February 5.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard it was 10.45 pm when officers spotted three Romanians, including the defendant, acting suspiciously near the Nat West Bank and Post Office cashpoint machines.

The trio tried to walk away when approached and unsuccessfully dispose of incriminating evidence, namely credit card-sized plastic gift vouchers they had glued together.

Bunu’s car was searched and police found the ‘Lebanese Loop’ a device, which holds unsuspecting victims’, cards in the machine to be later retrieved by the fraudsters.

Bunu, who arrived in the U.K. in 2006, was jailed for six months in June 2008, for a similar offence.

“You are a thoroughly dishonest man,” Judge John Hillen told Bunu. “You and others like you have devised ways of preying on the public with the purpose of stealing from their bank accounts.

“You were part of a team of fraudsters and thieves in possession of equipment to be used in a dishonest way. You had an element of sophistication and pre-meditation.”

The two co-defendants, who also pleaded guilty to the same charge, were remanded in custody until April 8 for sentencing.

Pop Star Estelle's Criminal Cousin Dodges Custody

The criminal cousin of chart-topping Grammy-winning pop star ‘Estelle’ dodged a return to prison today (Thursday) when sentenced for having £350 worth of party-drugs cocaine and ecstasy on him when stopped by armed police.

Jude Lebaga, 30, was originally charged with dealing after officers searched his former Barking home – seizing more cocaine and ecstasy, plus a set of scales – but those allegations were dropped.

Lebaga, of 63 Bicknoller Road, Enfield, who grew up with Hammersmith-born Estelle Fanta Swaray, 29, (pictured) who had a No. 1 hit with American Boy pleaded guilty to possessing the drugs in Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith on January 23, last year.

The prosecution dropped charges of intending to supply those drugs plus possessing further quantities of cocaine and ecstasy at 72 Chelmer Crescent, Barking, with intent to supply.

He was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court to an eighteen-month community order and was ordered to perform 150 hours unpaid community service work.

His arrest was a major embarrassment for the star who months earlier spearheaded the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Trident “Respect. You Don’t Need A Gun To Get It,” anti-black on black crime drive.

In fact it was reportedly Operation Trident officers who stopped Lebaga, who has criminal convictions and was once sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

An order was made for forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.

Estelle wrote the song 1980 about being raised in the same four-bed house as her cousins, uncles and aunts and brothers.

Some members were “in and out of prison daily,” she said.

Her Senegalese mother and Lebaga’s mother are sisters.

Woman Caged For Landlord Murder

A bogus tenant who drugged a landlord so her accomplice could brutally beat him to death has been caged for life at the Old Bailey.

Katsiaryna Komar, 27, of Hulse Avenue, Barking, Essex, posed as a would-be tenant when viewing a room rented by 43 year-old Kemal Ozdemir, of Gladstone Avenue, Wood Green, North London.

Komar (pic. bottom) was convicted of murdering Mr. Ozdemie (pic. top) some time between April 26 and May 2, 2008 and will be locked up for a minimum of 17 years.

Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stewart Hill, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "Katsiaryna Komar facilitated a violent attack on Mr Ozdemir, resulting in his death.

"He was murdered after agreeing to assist Komar by offering her lodgings at his address.

"She came to view his spare room, but instead, she abused his trust, drugging him before calling another man to the property.

Mr Ozdemir was then restrained and subjected to a prolonged beating, which led to his death.

"The motive of the attack remains unclear, although it is likely that it was for financial gain."

On May 2 officers forced their way into the address because Mr. Ozdemir had not been seen for some time.

Inside the address officers found the body of Mr Ozdemir and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as multiple trauma injuries to the chest, neck and head caused by a blunt instrument.

Dealer Jailed For Drugs Shooting

A ruthless drug dealer, who shot a customer who owed him £150, has be caged for a minimum of fifteen years.

Desmond Meade, 25, of Crondall Court, St. John’s Estate, Islington, North London, shot the 44 year-old victim at the junction of nearby Cropley Street and Napier Grove on August 4, last year.

He was convicted at the Old Bailey of attempted murder and received an indeterminate life sentence.

His alleged partner-in-crime, Russell James Stanley, 26 of East Ham was also arrested by Operation Trident officers, who specialise investigating violent black-on-black crime was acquitted.

Detective Sergeant Chris Jones said: "This crime would appear to have been motivated by an insignificant drugs debt of £150 owed to Meade by the victim.

"Meade, who was a well placed drug dealer in Hackney, demonstrated total disregard for the victim's life and safety of other members of the public, including children who were playing nearby.

"I would like to praise the courage of both victim and witnesses who gave evidence under difficult circumstances ensuring Meade was brought to justice.

“I am satisfied that Hackney Borough will be a safer place without the criminal activities of Desmond Meade.”

Police rushed to the scene at 10.45 pm where they found the victim and a 39 year-old woman close to a Vauxhall Corsa that had crashed into a wall.

The man was rushed by ambulance to hospital where he was treated and has since made a good recovery.

The woman received hospital treatment for minor injuries and was later discharged.

The shooting took place following an alleged dispute over a drugs debt involving both parties.

The victim was involved in a brief altercation when Meade approached him.

Meade pulled a gun and shot the man once in the chest and ran from the scene.

He was arrested and charged ten days later.

Police Hunt Sex Attacker Caught On CCTV

This is the would-be rapist police want to question about an attack on a 25 year-old woman, who was followed home on the underground then dragged behind shops by her assailant.

The victim was travelling to Barking, Essex, on the District Line on December 3, last year when the man – who claimed his name was ‘John’ – engaged her in conversation.

They left the station separately at 10.30 pm, but he followed her through the town centre, grabbed her and pulled her behind a row of shops.

Luckily he was startled when a security light at the rear of a Chinese takeaway came on and the victim escaped.

The suspect is described as black, approx 30 years old, of stocky build, with brown eyes.

He was wearing a white top, brown jacket - possibly suede or leather, dark blue jeans, dark brown Timabaland-style boots, and a navy blue hat with an ‘EDF’ logo.

Anyone with information which may be able to assist the investigation is asked to call the Sapphire Unit on 01708 779 623. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Gunman Robbed Locals

A lazy robber who committed a series of terrifying gunpoint street muggings in and around his local area during a month-long spree has been locked-up for four-and-a-half years.

Akinni Constantine, 23, of Granville Road, Wood Green, North London, was reluctant to travel far from home when pulling off the stick-ups, which netted cash, jewellery, mobile phones and cigarettes.

Wood Green Crown Court heard Constantine, (pictured) who lived just around the corner from where he committed the offences, approached his victims in the street, threatening them with a realistic imitation gun.

Detective Constable Saima Hussain said: "Constantine showed no remorse for the fear that he caused his victims, one of whom was so frightened that she collapsed in the street when he pointed the gun at her.

“Another victim, a young boy of just 14 years of age, was robbed while Constantine held the gun to his chest.

“None of his victims would have known that the firearm was an imitation and they would have been absolutely terrified for their lives.

"This conviction is good news for the victims, who have shown courage and public spirit in assisting us with this case, and I am really pleased that this violent offender has been brought to justice."

Haringey's Robbery Squad arranged for their Video Sentry Unit to place CCTV cameras overlooking the location where the robberies had been taking place.

The cameras captured footage of a man matching the suspect's description acting suspiciously in the area.

Detectives were carrying out enquiries at a block of flats in Granville Road, Wood Green on September 16, last year when they found an imitation firearm wrapped in plastic bags hidden inside a chest of drawers in the communal hallway.

Officers remained and saw Constantine, who they recognised from the CCTV images, and his fingerprints also matched those on the plastic bags.

He pleaded guilty to armed robbery in The Roundway, Tottenham, on August 12, 15, 24, September 12 and 13 and armed robbery in Darwin Road, Wood Green, on August 25 and armed robbery in Ellenborough Road, on September 3.

Drugs Plotter Spent Year On Run After Cannabis Factory Raids

A criminal, who spent a year on the run after his gang’s £200,000 cannabis-growing operation was smashed following police raids on ten drug ‘factories’, finally walked free on Friday after nine months’ locked-up.

Jobless Terry Skinner, 26, of Kestrel Close, Hainault, Essex, pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to produce cannabis on or about July 10, 2008 and was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years plus twelve months’ probation supervision.

Prosecutor Mr. Roger Smart told Croydon Crown Court: “Vast quantities of plants were produced at several cannabis factories.

“The gang were engaged in production on a commercial scale, renting premises and installing high-output lighting, plus irrigation systems for the plants, often by-passing the mains electricity meter.

“Windows were blacked-out and a high value crop was being produced worth £200,000,” added Mr. Smart. “This was a high value commercial operation.”

Five other gang members have already been jailed, but Skinner dodged the police round up on July 10, 2008 when officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Kidnap and Specialist Investigation Team smashed the organisation.

Officers had been investigating a suspected abduction and Skinner was observed during an undercover surveillance operation with gang members and inside one of the ‘factories.’

Addresses were raided in the hunt for the kidnap victim and police stumbled upon the huge cultivation plot.

Cannabis-growing operations were found at properties in Kinross Close, Edgwarebury Gardens, Fairfield Crescent, Hillside Gardens and Axholme Avenue, Edgware, Middlesex.

Plus five more at Upper Rainham Road, Hornchurch; Pemberton Gardens, Romford; Ulverston Road, Walthamstow; Holmwood Grove, Mill Hill and Belgrave Crescent, Blyth, Northumberland.

Police issued a public appeal for Skinner’s capture in January, last year, but he was not caught until June 6 and has been in custody ever since.

In Kinross Close, Edgewarebury Gardens and Fairfield Crescent alone an unpaid electricity bill of £70,000 was run up by the gang.

Indian Illegal Overstayer Raped And Threatened To Kill Vulnerable Woman

An Indian overstayer, who brutally raped a 44 year-old woman with learning difficulties - snatched from outside a shop as her friend bought cigarettes and subjected to a 90 minute ordeal - was locked up for 8 years today (Friday).

"She was outside a shop waiting for her companion when you carried or dragged her to an alley and raped her," Judge Timothy Stow QC told Punjabi-born Raja Chandi, 27, at Croydon Crown Court.

"This must have been a terrifying attack and ordeal for her," added the Judge who also recommended Chandi for deportation. "She screamed and your reaction was to not only punch and hit her repeatedly, but you also threatened to kill her."

Jobless Chandi, of London Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, pleaded guilty to raping the victim in nearby Collier's Water Lane, on July 28, last year plus a count of assault by penetration, relating to an oral sex act he performed on her, receiving two years' imprisonment to run concurrently with with the 8-year rape sentence.

A previous complaint that Chandi (pictured) raped a young woman on a mattress after she was persuaded into his home was dropped, allowing the defendant his freedom to carry out this attack.

Afterwards Detective Inspector Jackie Wakeford-Smith said: "We are very, very pleaded with this result. He is a very dangerous man."

Prosecutor Miss Tana Adkin told the court the victim's friend thought she had walked home when he left the shop at midnight and she wasn't there.

"Mr. Chandi had come up behind her, grabbed her and took her to the alleyway. She screamed and Mr. Chandi punched her in the face and told her if she continued screaming he would kill her.

"She did scream again and he punched her to the face and body inflicting two black eyes as well as injuries she received to both cheekbones, her back, knees and shoulders."

Chandi pulled down the victim's trousers and raped her, leaving tell-tale DNA evidence. He was arrested on August 21 and tried to convince police the victim was a £10 a time prostitute.

Chandi's lawyer Miss Tanya Ossack said: "He came to this country to better himself and send money home. He was sent by his family, but has failed in every respect and now committed a heinous crime."

Judge Stow told Chandi: "She was a vulnerable lady with learning difficulties....She says she cannot get the image of your face out of her mind and will be haunted by this for the rest of her life."

The victim bravely attended court to see Chandi caged and her companion shouted "scum" at the defendant as he was led to the cells.

F.T. Finance Guru Used New Girlfriend To Rip-Off Ex

A respected finance expert, who fleeced his Oxford-educated former partner of her £200,000 savings by forging her signature and persuading his new girlfriend to pose as his ex, has been jailed for 12 months.

Former Arthur Andersen and Financial Times employee Stewart McRorie, 56, cashed-in a variety of investments belonging to Singapore-based anthropologist Dr. Sian Jay, 53, who trusted him to handle her finances.

“This was fraudulent conduct to induce banks to liquidate the assets and investments of Dr. Jay, an ex-partner of Mr. McRorie until the mid-90’s,” prosecutor Miss Samantha Hatt told Southwark Crown Court.

McRorie, of Rectory Close, Broadmayne, Dorchester, Dorset, who also has a home in Cote d’Or, France and Ailsya Hamilton, 47, of Highgate Village, North London, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiring to commit fraud by false representation on or around October 18, 2007.

Jobless single-mum Hamilton, whose 10 year-old son viewed McRorie as a “father-figure” was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and was placed under a year’s probation supervision.

McRorie (pic.top) alone also pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation, relating to BlackRock Investment Management and possessing criminal property from a closed F & C Investments account.

“You forged her signatures on a letter to the bank, and used Miss Hamilton to impersonate Dr. Jay,” Judge Anthony Pitts told McRorie.

“Your intention was to get control of this money for yourself, you were in the driving seat. You went about encashing these investments in a fraudulent criminal fashion.”

In a victim impact statement Dr. Jay (pic bottom) says she “feels deceived and betrayed” and the dishonest plot hatched by McRorie and Hamilton has had a “huge impact on her life.”

McRorie and Dr. Jay – who obtained her PhD at Oxford University – met as final-year students at Hull University in the late-70’s and were together nearly twenty years, sharing a luxury flat in the exclusive Barbican, City of London.

At the time Dr. Jay was employed by the British Museum and now lectures at the world-renowned LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts, Singapore and is a leading expert in Asian art and design.

“She had given a large proportion of her British Museum earnings to Mr. McRorie and believed he invested them on her behalf,” Miss Hatt explained.

“At the time she was happy to give it to Mr. McRorie and does say in her statement to police he was quite controlling in the relationship.”

In March 1988 the couple opened a joint HSBC account in the City, which McRorie later used to pay Dr. Jay’s assets into because he had the authority to make withdrawals.

“They had remained in touch and Dr. Jay agreed to Mr. McRorie managing her assets which he moved to the joint account he had kept open and then moved them to an account in his sole name,” Miss Hatt explained.

However, Dr. Jay started asking awkward questions and demanded the paperwork relating to her investments. “He prevaricated, but finally sent some.”

In September and October, 2007 Dr. Jay told McRorie she wanted to cash in all the investments he had made for her – a total of £230,000

“By this time he was liquidating her assets and only sent her a cheque for £30,000,” said Miss Hatt. “Despite assurances to Dr. Jay she concluded Mr. McRorie had no intention to return the money to her.

“Mr. McRorie argued she owed him money for funding her three years at Oxford University studying her doctorate.

“He took full control of the money in all the assets he liquidated,” explained Miss Hatt.

“The focus of this case is the deception practiced by these defendants on the institutions who thought they were dealing with Dr. Jay.

“Mr. McRorie signed letters in Dr. Jay’s name and between them he and Miss Hamilton made telephone calls when Miss Hamilton purported to be Dr. Jay.”

The conspiracy involving both defendants saw Hamilton posing as Dr. Jay on the telephone and persuading City-based global asset management company Schroders and Halifax Share Dealing to release funds.

Schroders cashed a £28,690 PEP Dr. Jay funded with two initial £6,000 payments in 1995 and 1996.

McRorie posed as a Basildon Hospital orthopaedic surgeon when contacting the company’s call centre, but was unable to get the money.

“He became aggressive on the phone and shouted at the operator,” Miss Hatt told the court.

Shroders were later called by Hamilton – pretending to be Dr. Jay – and after successfully answering security questions prompted by McRorie the investment was released and paid into the HSBC joint account on October 24, 2007.

“Miss Hamilton impersonated Dr. Jay in telephone calls from the Barbican flat to Shroders and Halifax so they would believe it was Dr. Jay who wanted to sell those assets and shares,” said Miss Hatt.

Halifax Share Dealing needed additional proof before releasing £14,600 after McRorie wrote to them as Dr. Jay, demanding the account be cashed.

On October 18, 2007 Hamilton called them – posing as Dr. Jay – and successfully answered the account’s security questions.

“Mr. McRorie can be heard in the background prompting Miss Hamilton and during the recorded phone call the defendants can be heard discussing the investment and money,” said Miss Hatt.

McRorie acted alone when cashing £19,641 with City-based BlackRock Investment Management on September 27, 2007 and a cheque was sent to his flat at Willoughby House, Barbican.

When he closed the HSBC joint account on December 7, 2007 McRorie immediately came into possession of criminal property – namely £25,300 from F & C Investments – which he had successfully cashed-in.

The Barbican flat was also sold in 2007.

Although the indictment charges add up to only £88,231 the prosecution insist this represents just part of the investment portfolio, which was worth £230,000.

An increasingly frustrated Dr. Jay eventually contacted City of London Police and McRorie and Hamilton were arrested on December 13, 2007.

When quizzed by detectives McRorie claimed he had done nothing wrong and had lawful “Power of Attorney” to manage Dr. Jay’s finances.

McRorie’s lawyer Mr. Gregory Fishwick admitted his client utilised signature samples sent by trusting Dr. Jay, plus a photocopy of her passport and National Insurance number.

“He simply signed as it was the most expeditious way of doing things and used Miss Hamilton for expeditious reasons because of the pressure placed on him by Dr. Jay to liquidate the assets.

“He can no longer work for any financial institutions as he has done all his working life.”

Hamilton’s lawyer Mr. Rishi Nathwani said: “Mr. McRorie persistently telephoned the defendant to come around and make the telephone calls that she did. She felt obliged to assist.

“This is not a sophisticated woman, but naïve and isolated. She is full of regret and remorse. This was an error that will not occur again.”

Judge Pitts told Hamilton: “You allowed yourself to be used by Mr. McRorie and you were pressurised by persistent phone calls to impersonate Dr. Jay. You must have felt under considerable pressure.”

McRorie was ordered to pay £56,000 compensation to Dr. Jay from his solicitor’s client account within fourteen days.