Saturday 18 February 2012

Suicidal Woman Crashes Car After OD


A suicidal woman, who took an overdose of sleeping pills and collided with another vehicle as she struggled to control her car, has been banned from driving for thirty months.


Elderly care worker Kim Evans, 44, of The Firs, Ruskington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire swallowed the entire packet of sleeping pills as she struggled to come to terms with the break-up of a ten-year relationship and mounting money troubles.


She pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates' Court to driving her Peugeot 306, while unfit through drugs, in Cheam Common Road, Cheam on October 27, last year.


The court was told police called to the scene of the crash at the junction with London Road found Evans (pictured) "incoherent" and "slurring her speech".


She was unsteady on her feet and trying to go to sleep and was rushed to hospital, where blood tests proved she had overdosed on sleeping pills.


Mr. John O'Keefe, defending, said: "She was severely impaired due to taking an overdose of sleeping tablets, which was a suicide attempt.


"She had gone through the break-up of a relationship of ten years and was going through personal and financial difficulties.


"All these circumstances became too much for her and she had a breakdown. She took the entire packet in a suicide attempt, lay down in the back of her car, and expected to die.


"It was a one-off crisis in her life."


The court was told Evans lives with her parents in a rural part of Lincolnshire and volunteers at an old people's home.


"She was completely incapacitated by the overdose she had taken and was unable to answer police questions."


Evans had returned to bar work at the time of the incident, but this accelerated her troubles.


"She took jobs in pubs and that led to an increased use of alcohol and in recent months developed an alcohol problem," added Mr. O'Keefe.


The tearful first-time offender was sentenced to a twelve month community order, which includes 150 hours community service work, and ordered to pay £85 costs.

Friday 17 February 2012

'Semi-Detached Rage' Pensioner Attacked Builder And Neighbour


An 81year-old pensioner punched next-door's builder twice in the face in a suburban 'semi-detached rage' attack and violently struck his neighbour with his grandson's rounders bat when work started on their shared chimney.


Mounting ill-feeling concerning noisy works boiled over just three weeks after the new family moved into the quiet road and the blows left the Polish contractor with blood pouring from his nose and mouth.


Retired John Payne, (pic.top) of Oaks Avenue, Worcester Park, Surrey pleaded guilty yesterday to assaulting Lukasz Nochowicz (mid.l.) and Jaspal Sidhu (mid.r.) on October 11, last year.


Prosecutor Mr. John Gardner told Croydon Magistrates' Court the Sidhu family had just moved into the adjoining property (pic.bottom l.) and immediately began renovations after introducing themselves to Payne and his 79 year-old wife with a box of chocolates.


"Before the assaults Payne came over and said there was a lot of noise taking place and Mr. Sidhu shut his front door because he was being shouted at by the defendant.


"Mr. Sidhu had taken his family out for the day when Payne approached Mr. Nochowicz, who was standing by a skip and asked: 'What's going on?'


"He did not reply to the defendant and returned to the house, but Payne forced open the front door with a kick, barged past and began running upstairs.


"Mr. Nochowicz grabbed his arm and Payne turned and punched him twice with his right hand to the nose and mouth."


The builder rushed to the sink in pain and later told police: "I was shocked and bleeding heavily from the nose and mouth."


Mr. Sidhu was telephoned and immediately returned home and knocked on Payne's front door.


The victim told police: "He had a red bat in his left hand and raised the bat and struck me with it on the right side of the face.


"I believe if I had not moved I would have suffered a far more serious blow to my head. He then hit me again on the right side of the body near my rib cage."


Mr. Sidhu feared he was about to be hit for a third time and kicked Payne, who fell backwards onto the floor.


"Police were called and Payne was arrested," explained Mr. Gardner. "He told them he was fed up with the noise.


"The box of chocolates the Sidhu's gave them was unceremoniously hurled over the fence after this incident."


Miss Clodagh Callenam said: "Mr. Payne is rather set in his ways and was clearly upset by the noise and found it difficult to deal with because he is set in his routine.


"He believes you are not allowed to carry out works on your home at the weekend and found this grating, grating, grating on his nerves. It was the only thing going on in his life."


The defendant also believed his permission was needed for work on the chimney separating the properties to begin and heard the upstairs breast being demolished.


"He was at the end of his tether at this disruption in his life and he wanted to get upstairs to see if the chimney breast was being worked on."


The Sidhu's also plan building an extention to the rear of their property.


Payne was bailed until March 8 for sentencing.

Thursday 16 February 2012

Health Care Worker Was Illegal Immigrant With Bogus Paperwork


An illegal immigrant, who got away with a £136,000 employment scam at a leading teaching hospital for nearly seven years, was jailed for eight months yesterday.


After working as a cleaner at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington (pictured) 31 year-old Bright Amadasun used a forged passport and national insurance card to land a health care assistant's job.


Amadasun, of Newick Road, Clapton typically took patients' blood for testing during a working day and was a respected member of the medical team praised for his "reliability and honesty" by his manager.


He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to using a forged Nigerian passport between May 30, 2005 and December 20, last year and fraudulently disclosing false information to the hospital between the same dates.


Repeated applications for leave to remain in the UK have been turned down since Amadasun entered the country illegally in 1995 and his marriage plans were scrapped when arrested.


However, he remains determined to pursue a spousal application, which would allow him to remain legally and so far the Home Office have failed to properly issue deportation papers.


A prison sentence of below twelve months also means the automatic deportation procedure will not be triggered as a result of this conviction.


Prosecutor Miss Ruxana Nasser told the court checks revealed Amadasun's identity documentation was bogus and when arrested told police he paid £500 for them.


"He bought them in order to work in this country."


The forged national insurance card was never found by police and Amadasun claimed East London University had his forged passport after he applied for a business course.


His lawyer, Miss Ayesha Khan, told the court Amadasun left his native Nigeria as a teenager to be reunited with his mother who had settled in the UK.


"He worked as a cleaner at St. Mary's and applied for the health care job through the hospital trust with the false passport.


"His manager praises his reliability and honesty, describing as a self-motivated, God-fearing individual.


"He was due to be married this month, but due to his remand in custody this has not been possible and he hopes he can get married and claim leave to remain in the UK as soon as possible."


The Crown Prosecution Service decided not to bring proceeds of crime act proceedings against Amadasun in relation to the £136,000.


Judge Anne Molyneux told the defendant: "You entered the UK illegally and were reunited with your mother and began building a life. You worked well and you worked hard and you supported yourself and your mother.


"You also gave police a full and honest account of yourself and your circumstances."

Wednesday 15 February 2012

B-O-B Squad Probe Shooting And Double Stabbing


Police are appealing for witnesses to a violent North London incident, in which one man was shot and two stabbed, when trouble flared at a function.

Operation Trident detectives – who investigate violent black-on-black crime in the capital – are probing the shooting and double stabbing.

Police were called at 6.00am on February 12 to reports of shots fired in Lawrence Road, South Tottenham (pictured).

The three victims, plus another injured man, all aged in their twenties and thirties, were rushed by ambulance to hospital where the original three remain in a serious condition.

The fourth man, who had a head injury, was discharged after treatment.

Witnesses are urged to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Tuesday 14 February 2012

Ealing Scumwatch Captures Two Wannabe Burglars


Police are hunting these two hammer-wielding burglars, who tried to smash open an elderly woman’s back door, during an audacious daylight West London break-in.

On January 4 the victim heard a knock on her front door in Almond Avenue, Ealing at 2.15pm and one of the suspects was looking through her front-room window.

Minutes later a second suspect – carrying a hammer – jumped over the back garden fence and was joined by his accomplice in trying to break through the rear door.

They were disturbed and fled, but luckily were captured on these CCTV images.

The first suspect is described as a black male, aged between 17 - 23 and approx 5'10" tall.

He was wearing dark grey tracksuit bottoms, black trainers, a dark top and a green cap with a black visor.

He has shoulder length cane rows/braids in his hair, which was put behind his ears and he appeared to have some stubble on his chin.



The second suspect is described as a white youth, aged around 17 and is approx 5'9" tall.

He was wearing black trainers, blue denim jeans, a black and navy blue American style jock jacket with '3' symbol on the left side, a blue and white check shirt and black and white goalkeeper gloves. 



Police Constable Donna Coker of Ealing Burglary Squad said: “We are very keen to speak to the men in the CCTV as we know they were in the area at the time of the incident and ask for anyone who knows who or where they are to contact us.” 



Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ealing Robbery Squad, quoting reference J-40-12 on 0208 721 7212 or call Crimestoppers Anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Monday 13 February 2012

Young Mum Butchered By Knife-Wielding Ex


A terrified mother-of-two tried to flee for her life after a chance meeting with her violent ex, but was killed by twenty stab wounds as she attempted to escape in a car.

Zandra Maxwell-Nelson, 24, (pic.top) of Nicoll Road, Willesden, North-West London had just enjoyed a picnic with her ex-husband’s sister and their children.

However, when they returned to the sister’s address in Durban Road, Tottenham, North London, Nathaniel Brown, 27, (pic.bottom) who had not seen his ex-wife for over a year attacked her with a kitchen knife.

After a two-week Old Bailey trial Brown was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a twenty-one year minimum recommendation.

Zandra ran to her parked car at 6.00pm on April 20, last year as Brown began stabbing her, but she received further wounds in the vehicle.

He then dropped the knife in the street and removed his bloodstained shirt.

Zandra was rushed to the Royal London Hospital, but was pronounced dead two-and-a-half hours later.

Sunday 12 February 2012

Seven Arrested In Crack Cocaine Raids


Police seized fifty rocks of crack cocaine and over £2,000 cash in a series of co-ordinated early hours swoops as part of Hackney’s Operation Bantam.

Backed-up by the Territorial Support Group officers raided addresses in East London and East Sussex on January 31 and February 1 – arresting seven people on suspicion of drug-dealing.

The sub-Operation Jakelwood is a covert proactive police operation aimed at arresting gang members and gun-crime suspects responsible for crime in the borough.

Two Hackney women, aged 38 and 59 were taken into custody along with three men aged 26, 21 and age unknown, plus two East Sussex men aged 33 and 44.

Acting Superintendent Jackie Sebire, of Hackney borough's CID, said: “This operation has been a real team Met effort and I would like to extend my thanks to the TSG teams that have assisted with this operation, along with CATO for their continued support.

“This operation is a further example of how the police coupled with Hackney Council will not tolerate criminal gangs.

“We will respond with a myriad of tactics to effectively target and disrupt those involved.”

Saturday 11 February 2012

Toture Gang Convicted Of Robbing Ex-Queen Mum Aide


Three members of a brutal car-jacking gang - who kidnapped and robbed a former royal aide to the Queen Mother - will be sentenced next month.


The victim was beaten by the gang, who tied him up and forced him to strip naked in a lock-up, while demanding his bank PIN numbers.


Ex-Army Captain Niall Hall, 50, (pic.top) of Great Munden, Hertfordshire suffered a fractured left eye socket, plus damage to the eye, bleeding to the brain, a broken tooth, swelling and abrasions to his face and cuts to his knees.


He was attacked by three men armed with a machete on February 1 after parking his Land Rover Freelander in Bridge Lane, Battersea at 11.20pm and driven to the lock-up with his coat over his head.


This week at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court two of the gang were found guilty by a jury of kidnap and robbery and will be sentenced on March 16.


They are: Derwen Ellis, 30, (pic.2nd top) of Westbridge Road, Battersea and Martin Dias, 29, (pic.3rd top) of nearby Parkham Street.


They will be joined by 21 year-old Arron Miller, (pic.bottom) of Eccles Road, Battersea, who pleaded guilty to the same two counts before the trial.


Brian Gilbert, 19, of Cranmer House, Surrey Lane, Battersea was cleared on both counts and Dias's ex-girlfriend Kizzy Miller, 33, of Surrey Lane, Battersea was cleared of encouraging or assisting the offences of kidnap and robbery.


"As he was collecting items from the rear seat he realised he was surrounded by three men," prosecutor Mr. Bill McGivern told the jury.


"Believing he was about to be attacked he started to run off, but was quickly caught, overpowered and brought to the ground. One of them men came up close to his face and threatened him with a mini-machete if he did not co-operate.


"The male then demanded his expensive watch, which he handed over. He was also forced to give up his wallet.


"Mr. Hall was bundled into his car, his head covered with his coat, and the car driven off. As it was travelling he was threatened with a knife, which was held against his upper chest and groin."


The victim was tied and forced onto the lock-up's concrete floor behind a steel door until he gave the gang his bank PIN numbers at knife-point and cash was withdrawn at a Tesco's ATM in Battersea Park Road from two accounts within minutes.


He was stripped naked and forced into a change of clothes and dumped in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea with a wet towel over his head.


His vehicle was found on May 25 in Francis Barber Close, Streatham and police later identified the lock-up as an electrical shed splattered with Mr. Hall's blood and with items of his clothing still inside.

Friday 10 February 2012

Shoreditch Park Sex Attacks: Can You ID This Suspect?


Police hunting a pair of sexual predators, who attacked two women in an East London park, raping one and assaulting the other, have released this e-fit of one suspect.

On May 22, last year the victims were walking through Shoreditch Park at 2:00am after entering via Pitfield Street, near the Britannia Leisure Centre.

The suspects asked for directions to an off-licence before attacking the women and fleeing.

The E-fit relates to a suspect described as being of Mediterranean appearance, approximately 22 years-old, of slim build, with dark eyes, a tanned complexion and black spiky hair.

He was wearing black shoes, dark jeans and a dark jacket with a white picture on one side.



His accomplice is also of Mediterranean appearance, in his late 20's, 6-feet tall, of heavy build with short cropped hair.

He was wearing light jeans and white training shoes.



Officers from the Sapphire Unit at Hackney are investigating.



Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Richard Rowlerson, on 020 7275 3491, quoting reference CR4613469/11, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thursday 9 February 2012

Do You Know Teen Stabbing Suspect?


Police hunting a teenage stabbing suspect they believe was responsible for a street attack in East London have released this picture.

Officers at the Limehouse-based Violent Crime Unit are hunting Brandon Hutchinson, 18, (pictured) and have released his image in the hope the public can help trace him.

On September 7, last year a 23 year-old man was stabbed several times outside a shop in Commercial Road, Walthamstow.

He was rushed to hospital, suffering a number of stab wounds, and later discharged.

It is believed Hutchinson may be in or around the Isle of Dogs, Tower Hamlets area.

Police are appealing for any information as to his whereabouts.



Members of the public are advised not to approach Hutchinson should they see him and should contact the Violent Crime Unit immediately on 020 7275 4546.



Hutchinson is described as mixed race, 6-foot tall and of slim build.



Acting Detective Inspector Craig Robinson said: “We are appealing for anyone who has any information about the whereabouts of this male so that we can speak to him in connection with the stabbing.”

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Drug-Money Launderers Jailed


Two money launderers who washed nearly £20m in suspected drug profits – once exchanging €500,000 stuffed inside a suitcase – have been jailed.

Andrew Barnett, 45, (pic.top) of Nelson Road, Twickenham and Daniel Keenan, 41, (pic.mid) of Winslade House, Egham Hill, Egham were involved in over 300 cash transactions, of which 22 were over £400,000.

Despite a complex web of companies and money transfers they hoped would cover their tracks the duo were arrested by the Metropolitan Police’s National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit, part of the Counter Terrorism Command.

Barnett was caught on November 26, 2009 after he exchanged €500,000 (pic.bottom) at a money service bureau in Marble Arch.

Four days later Keenan claimed he ran a Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs-licensed money service bureau and Barnett was his business partner involved in a legitimate transaction.

However, the HMRC license was fraudulently obtained and the €500,000 was destined for a Gibraltar- registered company – Furnbroke – which the defendants had set up with a cloned corporate identity.

Southwark Crown Court Judge Nicholas Lorraine-Smith announced: “We can only assume the proceeds were from Class A drugs.”



Both pleaded guilty to converting criminal property and Barnett received six years imprisonment and Keenan eleven years.

Keenan also admitted dishonestly obtaining a passport and using a false identity to open a bank account.



Detective Superintendent Teri Nicholson from the Counter Terrorism Command said: “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of their offences and we hope it sends a clear deterrent message to others involved in trying to launder the proceeds of crime.



“Andrew Barnett and Daniel Keenan went to great lengths to make their enterprise appear a legitimate business.”



Tuesday 7 February 2012

Justice Catches Up With Paedophile Racing Driver


An ex-racing driver, who abused a teenage boy interested in his sports cars over thirty years ago, has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years after the victim eventually came forward.

Christopher Skeaping, 67, (pictured) a former Formula 3 and motocross rider attracted young boys to his former home in Bath Road, Hounslow, West London as he fixed cars and motorbikes outside.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to buggery and indecent assault on a boy aged under sixteen years-old between 1977 and 1978.

Detectives are also taking this opportunity to appeal for further possible victims of Skeaping’s to come forward and speak to police.

It is known he lived in Hounslow in the 1970’s and Bracknell in the 1980’s.



Detective Constable Lucy Mawdsley of Sapphire said: “Skeaping is known to have spent a lot of time with young boys due to his interest in cars.

“We now know that in the seventies a lot of boys visited Skeaping at the house.

“If anyone thinks they have been a victim of Christopher Skeaping, I would ask them to come forward and speak to police in the strictest of confidence.

“Sapphire takes any allegations of sexual assault seriously and investigates them thoroughly so that perpetrators can be brought before the court.”

The victim, now aged 48, reported Skeaping to police on September 18, 2010.

The defendant invited the youngster to the house to work on his vehicles and the victim began spending a considerable amount of time at the address.

The victim also recalled there being a number of other young boys who spent time at the house and that Skeaping would sometimes walk around the house naked.



During three visits to Skeaping’s house the victim was sexually assaulted and following the third occasion the terrified victim ran away and never returned. 



The victim struggled to come to terms with the abuse throughout his adult life and came forward to report the incidences to police.



Monday 6 February 2012

B-O-B Squad Probe Another Shooting


Police are appealing for witnesses after a teenager was shot in the back just after midnight in West London.

Operation Trident detectives – who investigate violent black-on-black crime in the capital – are treating the incident as attempted murder.

The 16 year-old was shot in St. Luke’s Road, Notting Hill, near the junction with Tavistock Crescent (pictured) on January 22.

He was rushed by ambulance to hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

Operation Trident are appealing for any witnesses who were in the area and may have seen or heard anything suspicious or anyone who may have any information concerning the incident.



Anyone with information should call the Trident team on 020 8785 8580 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous.

Sunday 5 February 2012

B-O-B Squad Investigate Nightclub Shooting


Police are hunting a gunman, who shot a night clubber in the leg, at Rudolph’s near Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

Operation Trident detectives – who investigate black-on-black violent crime in the capital – are appealing for witnesses to the incident.

Police were called to the club (pictured) in High Road, Tottenham, North London at 3:45am on January 21 to reports of a 20 year-old man injured.

An ambulance rushed the victim to hospital where he was treated for a non life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg.

Detective Constable Dave Roberts of Trident said: “The venue is believed to have been busy at the time this shooting occurred and whoever is responsible showed no regard for those in attendance.

“I would urge anybody who has information that could assist this investigation to get in touch as soon as possible.”



Witnesses and anybody who can assist the investigation can call 101 or leave a message for Trident on 020 8217 7366.

To speak anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Saturday 4 February 2012

Churchgoing Paedophile Finally Snared


A “predatory paedophile” – active in his local church – who tempted a string of young boys to his East London home with promises if cigarettes, alcohol and mobile phone top-ups, has been jailed for 11 years.

Jobless George Gow, 61, (pictured) of Bastable Avenue, Barking was targeted by police in a surveillance operation after a series of near-misses, including him getting away with being caught naked with a 15 year-old.

He began abusing one of his victims when the boy was only 8 years-old and continued until the boy was 16.



He was convicted at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on three counts of buggery; two counts of indecent assault with a male aged under 16 and one similar count with a male aged under 13.

Gow came under the microscope of the Metropolitan Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Command after the alarm was raised by the Barking and Dagenham Jigsaw Team who monitor registered sex offenders.

In January 2011 they found Gow naked with the 15 year-old, but the boy refused to make any formal complaint and undercover surveillance began in May.

Over two weeks five different children visited Gow and he was arrested on June 22 while a boy was at the address, but again this youngster refused to press charges.

Strict bail conditions were imposed and further enquiries led to one of the children, a 10-year-old boy, being identified.

When he disclosed details of a sexual assault Gow was immediately re-arrested, charged with sexual assault and remanded in custody. 



He was also charged with offences of indecent assault and buggery that took place between 1995 - 2002.

After his release Gow will remain on licence for 10 years and will remain on the sex offenders register and be subject to a sexual offences prevention order for an indeterminate period.

Detective Constable Ben Markham said “Gow is a predatory paedophile who exploited young and vulnerable boys in a calculating manner.

“I would like to say thank you to our very brave victims, without your patience and support Gow would not have been convicted.

“We appreciate how difficult it was to go through this trial and we have reason to believe Gow may have committed further offences.

“We would urge anyone who believes they may have been a victim to have the confidence to report the incident to police. We are here to support and protect you.”