Scholar Caged For Plastic Bag And Knife Attack On Sleeping Wife

A suicidal college lecturer depressed by his career and a £25,000 credit card debt was jailed for five-and-a-half years today for pulling a plastic carrier bag over his sleeping wife’s head while armed with a knife.

Academic Joe Mancini, 52, of Vicarage Gardens, East Sheen, South-West London – a finance guru and expert in private equity and venture capital – had just returned to the family home near Richmond Park after teaching at Paris’s International School of Business.

As their twin five year-old sons slept in another bedroom Mancini got up at 4am and tried to force the bag over his 44 year-old wife's head while holding an eight-inch kitchen knife.

“She believed she was fighting for her life,” Judge Susan Tapping told Mancini at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court (pictured). “It is only your wife’s determined struggles to save herself that prevented worse.”

Mancini pleaded guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, with intent, on June 11, last year. The original charge of attempted murder was allowed to lie on the file.

Mancini, a double masters degree holder in molecular medicine and bioinformatics, studied at University College London, Imperial College London and Schiller International University, London, where his wife was also a student.

“Having equipped himself with the best qualifications no job materialises,” said Mr. Sailesh Mehta. “He had suicidal thoughts and had visited more than one train station contemplating taking his life.

“Separation from his family had a negative effect on him,” added Mr. Mehta, explaining Mancini had returned a week earlier from his Paris flat. “He puts his family and his job at the centre of his life.”

Judge Tapping told the defendant: “You attacked your wife in her bed. You tried to pull a plastic carrier bag over her head.

“You pulled it down to eye level and she fought, fearing suffocation. She pleaded with you not to do it.

“You then turned to your second weapon, the knife and she had defence wounds on both hands where she grabbed hold of the blade to prevent you stabbing her.

The couple had enjoyed an untroubled twenty-year relationship up until the attack.

She fled downstairs and the defendant did not pursue her, even throwing down the phone so she could dial 999.

“It seems you came to your senses and you told her to call the police,” Judge Tapping told the first-time offender.

“There had been a build-up of stress in your life. You are a highly-educated man, but your inability to hold down a full-time job brought financial pressures.

“I regard these offences as very serious. You attacked your wife when she was vulnerable and armed yourself with two different weapons.

“You took out all your problems on your wife and she is to divorce you.”

The judge also granted a restraining order against Mancini, which will begin on his release and last until September 2022.

Woman's Pepper Spray Attack On Sleeping Boyfriend

An angry woman sprayed her boyfriend of three years in the face with painful pepper spray when he accused her of an affair after the couple's afternoon drink and drug session, a court heard today.

Office administrator Hayley-Marie Redmond, 31, also armed herself with two knives from the kitchen of their home in Spencer Place, Croydon, which she dropped when her boyfriend screamed out in agony.

First-time offender Redmond pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to possessing a weapon for the discharge of a noxious substance and assault at the address on November 25, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. Andrew Ramsubhag told the court the couple had been drinking and smoking cannabis before returning home at 4pm and rowing over the defendant's alleged infidelity.

"Miss Redmond accepts she got out of bed two hours later and went into his room with the pepper spray he bought her and sprayed him in the face as he slept.

"He woke screaming and she dropped the knives she was holding and called the police."

When quizzed by officers Redmond complained her boyfriend was "controlling".

"She said she could not take it any longer," added the prosecutor. "She even thought of killing him at the time, but wouldn't have gone through with it."

Redmond's lawyer Mr. Matthew Chidlay told the court: "She is in her own words disgusted by her actions and this signalled the end of a very unhappy and troubled relationship."

She had split with her boyfriend several times and twice called the police to the address previously.

Judge Ruth Downing told Redmond: "This had the potential to be an extremely serious assault on your partner. Your remorse and response was immediate."

Redmond was sentenced to a twelve month community order.

Street Crime Poster Boy Caught With Knife

The former poster-boy of an anti-street crime campaign has been locked-up today after staying out of trouble for over a decade, when suspicious police found him loitering with a kitchen knife.

Graphic artist Janni Oswald, 30, of Victoria Road, Finsbury Park, North London was sent to a secure psychiatric hospital after pleading guilty to possessing a bladed article in nearby Station Place on September 15.

As a teenage tearaway Oswald confessed to hundreds of muggings to finance his cannabis habit, which began as an 11 year-old and he has convictions for grievous bodily harm, with intent; attempted robbery and affray.

In 2001 he fronted the Islington Crime Reduction Partnership’s “Be Aware, Street Robbers” campaign and designed posters distributed throughout the borough, vowing he had turned his back on crime.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard police near Finsbury Park Station searched Oswald at 5:30pm after spotting him loitering for around thirty minutes and a kitchen knife was found in his coat pocket.

He was charged and remanded in custody to Pentonville Prison.

Oswald was under a court-imposed supervision order at the time after police found him with two kitchen knives when arrested for throwing a brick through a neighbour’s window.

The court had made an interim hospital order on October 15, sending Oswald to the secure unit at Chase Farm Hospital, where he received treatment for schizophrenia, delusions and hallucinations.

Oswald claimed he carried the knife because of “dangerous people in the world” and expressed fears about the Chinese military and plotters planning to rob the British government.

“It is an alarming offence, but the knife was not used anybody or produced to threaten anybody,” announced Judge Daniel Worsley. “Knives are very frightening things for people to carry.”

The judge made a Section 37 hospital order under the Mental Health Act, returning Oswald to Chase Farm Hospital for continuing psychiatric treatment.

Doctors can apply for the order to be lifted once they feel treatment has been successful.

Barmaid Caught Driving Home After Boozy Party

A boozy East End barmaid - caught driving home at midnight while three-and-a-half times the drinks limit - was banned from the road for two years and eight months today (Tuesday).

Single-mum Tracey Fallon, 37, of Petticoat Square, Middlesex Street, Whitechapel pleaded guilty to driving her Renault Clio in nearby Aldgate on December 17, last year with excess alcohol in her breath.

City of London Magistrates' Court heard first-time offender Fallon - a part-time barmaid at the Still & Star pub, Little Somerset Street, Aldgate (pictured) - was stopped by police at 11:50pm.

She failed a roadside breath-test and at the police station gave a reading of 122 microgrammes - the legal limit is 35.

Fallon admitted drinking at a leaving party and described her decision to drive the short distance home as a: "foolish error of judgement."

She was fined £500, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

Scrawny Sex Predator Caged

A sex beast who stalked lone women walking alone late at night – pouncing on them from behind after they got off night buses – has been locked-up for a four-and-a-half year minimum.

Portugal-born Nelson Dos Santos, 26, (pictured) prowled Lambeth, South London – home to many Portuguese immigrants.

He received an indeterminate sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection at Southwark Crown Court for the string of offences during which he violently pushed his victims to the ground and digitally penetrate them.

Dos Santos pleaded guilty to sexual assaulting a 27 year-old in Richborne Terrace on November 8, 2008; a 23 year-old in Guildford Road on November 27, 2009; a 41 year-old in Cleaver Street on December 2; a 27 year-old in Vauxhall Grove and a 35 year-old in Hotspur Street on December 5.

The first attack was at 8:00pm and the next four all between 11:50pm and 4:00am.

Women were pushed to the ground or forced against a wall by Dos Santos during the attacks and the last two victims were assaulted within twenty minutes of each other, forcing police to step-up late-night patrols in the area.

He was eventually identified via forensic evidence.

Detective Inspector Keely Smith of the Metropolitan Police’s Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: “This man ruthlessly attacked lone females late at night, using the same MO and increasing the frequency and violence of his attacks.

“It was imperative that we got him off the streets and prevented him from continuing to attack - his actions have mentally scarred his victims and he is a sexual predator whom, I have no doubt, would have gone on to rape and seriously injure his victims.”

Blood On The Dancefloor: Suspect Hunted For Club Glassing

Police are hunting this unassuming-looking suspect after a 21 year-old man had a glass smashed in his face on the dance floor of a popular West End club – suffering serious injuries to his eyelid and cheek.

The victim was enjoying a night out at the Polynesian-themed Mahiki (pic.bottom) in Dover Street on Friday October 22 when he was approached by the suspect, who smashed the cocktail glass in his face.

Police were called and the victim was rushed to hospital and later discharged, however he is still receiving treatment to remove glass from his injuries.



The suspect is described as a white man in his 20s, of slim build and wearing glasses.

Following the attack he fled the club and disappeared in Dover Street.

He had been seen in the Dover Street area and at the nightclub on several occasions in the six months prior to the incident.



Detective Constable Tony Esmond of the Westminster Serious Violence Team, said: “There were many people in the club that evening and I am hoping that someone will recognise the man in this photo and be able to help us identify him.”



Anyone with information should contact the investigation team on 0207 321 9315. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Christmas Party Murder: Anniversary Appeal

Police trying to catch the killers of a 23 year-old peacemaker, who was punched unconscious after a Christmas party a year ago, have made a fresh appeal for witnesses.

David Joslin (pictured) was enjoying a drink with work colleagues at Winter's Bar, Mount Road, Chingford on December 19, 2009.

He left the party at 1:30am on December 20 and came across a confrontation between two groups of people outside the Strictly Silver Jewellery shop in nearby Old Church Road. 



The first group of people, six men and two women, left The Obelisk pub in Old Church Road and were involved in a dispute with three men and a woman.



Witnesses to the fight said David tried to intervene as a peacemaker but was punched to the floor and knocked unconscious.



David, who worked for Morrison's supermarket and lived locally, was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital with head injuries.

He was later transferred to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queen Square, Holborn where he died on December 27.

A post-mortem confirmed that the cause of death as head injuries.



This week 18 officers returned to the scene appealing for any information relating to David's murder.

They hoped to target Christmas party-goers who may have been in the area at the same time last year when the confrontation occurred. 



In an effort to try and reach as many people as possible officers handed out leaflets as well as using Bluetooth to send an appeal message to people in the area. 



David's family has been left devastated by his murder and is urging anyone with information to come forward. 



They said: “We would like anyone that knows anything about what happened to David that night to please come forward and give their information to the police.

Someone knows who did this. I beg you to come forward.
If you are not giving the information to the police because of loyalty to a friend or a family member, your loyalty is misplaced.

“The person you are shielding needs to be caught, they are extremely violent and are capable of doing this again. 



“David's death has left our family scarred and with a huge hole in it.

“We had to sit and watch David die at the National Neurology Hospital in a drug induced coma for seven days last Christmas.

“He finally lost his fight for his life the day after Boxing Day.



“The last time we saw David alive and spoke to him was on the evening of December 18 at our son Andrew's birthday celebrations.

“We all spent a pleasant evening together celebrating and looking forward to a happy Christmas.

“How wrong we were.

“Our two children Andrew, 20, and Lauren, 18, had to witness all that went on over those seven days, and what has happened since - they have been left severely traumatised. 



“This year we have to celebrate Andrew's 21st birthday knowing it is also the anniversary of the last time we all saw David alive.

“We currently cannot see how we are ever going to have any sort of family celebration again now that David has gone, especially at Christmas. 



“To think that the person that perpetrated this act is still at large and can go out and get drunk and do this again is a truly awful feeling.

“The last year has been a living nightmare and I would hate to think that another family may have to go through this.

“Please, anyone who may have any information that is relevant to this case, can they please come forward and give their account of what happened to the police, so that we can have some justice for our wonderful son David and the rest of our family.”



Detective Inspector Steve McCabe of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, who is leading the investigation said: “David was a decent young man and an innocent person.

“He was trying to help stop a fight that he came across in the street, when he was punched to the ground and received his fatal injuries. 



“The investigation remains very much open. I urge anyone who was there on the night or has information about what happened and has not previously come forward to do so now.

“We need the public's help in identifying those responsible for David's death.”



Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3985.

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



On December 29, 2009 three people were arrested in East London and one of them was charged with manslaughter - proceedings were subsequently discontinued.

Peckham Gang Violence: Teen Shot Dead

Operation Trident officers – who investigate violent black-on-black crime in the capital – are appealing for witnesses after a 17 year-old teenager was shot dead on a notorious Peckham Estate.

Streatham youth Sylvester Akapalara (pictured) suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the neck and chest on a fourth-floor stairwell at Heron House, Pelican Estate on December 29 and two other youths were stabbed.

Police were originally called to nearby Gannet House, where a 17 year-old had been stabbed and later discovered an 18 year-old had taken himself to hospital with a stab wound.

Sylvester was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:15pm.

Officers are treating all three incidents as linked at this early stage.

An incident room has opened under Detective Chief Inspector Gordon Allison of Trident.

Anyone who can assist should call the incident room on 020 8247 4554.

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

Two teens aged 18 and 17 were arrested on suspicion of murder at a residential address in Peckham and remain in custody.

Boozy Driver Jailed For Death Crash

A drink-driver, who killed a father-of-two in the early hours of the morning as the victim crossed the road, has been locked-up for five years and four months.

Imran Ali, 27, of Highview Gardens, Edgware, North London had been boozing before jumping behind the wheel of his Toyota Avensis and colliding with Georgia-born Yuriy Amoev, 35.

He pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to causing death by dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol in Watford Way, Hendon on December 12, last year and was also disqualified for six years.

At 3:00am Ali ran over Mr. Amoev outside Hendon Central Underground Station (pictured) and then crashed into the central traffic barrier.

The victim was declared dead at the scene.

Ali was arrested after failing a roadside breath test.

“Let this be a stark warning to anyone who still thinks that it is acceptable to drink and drive,” said Detective Sergeant Geoff Harper of the Metropolitan Police’s Road Death Investigation Unit.

“This time last year a family were devastated by the loss of a father to two young children because Ali gratuitously chose to get in his car when he had been drinking.

“Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Amoev.

“The Metropolitan Police Service will continue to carry out operations targeting those who drink and drive, particularly during the Christmas period, to make the roads safer for everyone who uses them.”

Co-Worker Killed Over Parking Dispute

A factory worker, who armed himself with a knife and stabbed a colleague to death over an on-going parking dispute, has been jailed for life with a 20-year minimum recommendation.

Father-of-two Gurmukh Singh Chahal, 42, (pic.top) of Langley, Slough, Berkshire died from a stab wound to the chest at Mac-RK Engineering, Bridge Road Industrial Estate, Bridge Road, Southall, Middlesex on April 9.

Balraj Singh, 44, (pic.bottom) of Weavers Rise, Ketley Bank, Telford, Shropshire was caught on CCTV stabbing the victim with a kitchen knife and was convicted of murder by an Old Bailey jury.

Singh, who slept overnight in the factory and parked his car in the unit, was previously angered by Chahal rolling large bins near his vehicle, risking possible damage.

The defendant was observing Chahal working on the factory floor from his living area above when he suddenly stormed down with the knife and without warning plunged it into the victim.

An ambulance and police were called at 11:40pm and emergency heart surgery was performed, but despite efforts to save Chahal he died at the scene.

Detective Inspector Steve Smith of the Metropolitan Police’s Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: “The evidence against Balraj Singh was overwhelming.

“The Metropolitan Police service is committed and determined to ensure that people like Singh are held to account for their actions. 



“Gurmukh Chahal leaves behind a young widow, a five-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son.



“I only hope that today’s verdict and sentence brings some comfort to the family and friends of Gurmukh Chahal.”

Salsa Club Murder: Two Charged

Two men accused of murdering an Ecuadorian salsa club customer, who suffered fatal head injuries when attacked after being thrown out of the London Bridge venue, have been remanded to return to the Old Bailey on March 16.

Erik Patricio Rosero Yepez, 22, (pictured) was ejected from the La Pollero Collera club and attacked minutes later in Southwark Street on December 5, dying the following day.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Manning of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “It would appear that the victim and his friends were involved in some sort of disagreement with another group of people inside the club.

“A fracas broke out and the victim, with one of his friends, was ejected from the club by security.

“Shortly after he was attacked by a group of people on Southwark Street.

“I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the altercation inside the club, or witnessed any part of the assault on Southwark Street, to contact the police.

“I would like to assure any witnesses that they will be treated with the utmost sensitivity.”

Galo Vargas Bemudez, 22, of Walpole Road, Tottenham, North London and Angel Campoverde, 22, of Bruce House, Headlam Road, Clapham, South-West London are both charged with murder.

Mum-Of-Three Murdered: Algerian Charged

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a North London mother-of-three, who was strangled and struck with a blunt object in her home.

Jacqueline Barrett, 34, (pictured) of Anderson Court, Whitefield Avenue, Cricklewood was dead at the scene when police arrived at 4:45am on Saturday December 11.

A post-mortem examination the next day at Finchley mortuary confirmed the cause of death as asphyxia and haemorrhaging and compression of the neck and blunt force trauma.

Algerian-born Houssam Djemaa, 23, of Anderson Court, Whitefield Avenue is charged with murdering Jacqueline at the same address and was remanded in custody at the Old Bailey until March 16 for a plea and case management hearing.

Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Sebire of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “Jacqueline Barrett was a mother-of-three who grew up in the Camden area and had made her home in Cricklewood.

“We are very keen to speak to anyone who knew Jacqueline and can assist in building up a picture of her life to assist our investigation.”

The Barrett family said: “Jacqueline was a loving daughter and a devoted mother for her three children. She will be sadly missed by all her family and friends.”

Anyone with information that could assist police are asked to call the incident room on 020 8358 0200.

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

Bus Driver Rapist: Women Beware

A bus driver, who raped a boozy 24 year-old woman after she boarded his double-decker late at night, faces years behind bars.

Kalash Vijay, 42, (pictured) of Evergreen Way, Hayes, West London was driving an N207 night-bus when the lone victim boarded at 2:44am on February 7.

She had been out with friends in Acton and after boarding fell asleep on the top deck.

Internal CCTV images show Vijay went upstairs half an hour later and brought the victim down to the lower deck.

He then turned off the lights and showed the bus as out of service.

Vijay stopped the bus in Dawly Street, Hayes - dropped the victim off - and parked his vehicle at Hayes bus station.

He returned in his car to Dawly Street, picked the woman up, then drove home, where he raped her twice.

Vijay drove her to the bus station in the morning and the next day she reported the attack to police.

An Isleworth Crown Court jury convicted the defendant on two counts of rape and he will be sentenced on January 25.

Detective Constable Anna Hukowski, of the Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire Team said: “Vijay told the court a string of lines, claiming the victim was his girlfriend.

“I am grateful the jury saw through those lies.

“Vijay took advantage of a young woman in a vulnerable condition.

“She has shown incredible strength of character in reporting this incident and we have used our expertise to ensure that Vijay was identified and brought to justice.”

Happy Christmas To All Our Readers

Thank-you for visiting Square Mile News on this festive day and may I take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a prosperous new year.

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing reports for this blog over the last year and I hope 2011 continues with as much pleasure.

More and more users are visiting the site all the time and I can honestly say it would be pointless to proceed without your involvement.

Have a wonderful day.

Square Mile News will continue with it's daily reports tomorrow.