Saturday 4 August 2012

Black-Belt Leaves Love-Rival Black And Blue


A jealous martial arts expert – who broke a love-rival’s neck after finding him in bed with a female friend – has been locked-up for seven years.

Erin Dixon, 36, (pictured) of Hargwyne Street, Brixton attacked the 25 year-old victim with his bare hands and violently threw him against a wall

He was convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court of inflicting grievous bodily harm at the Hackney address on November 27, last year.

Dixon had travelled to the woman’s address and launched the attack because the pair were lying in bed together.

Police and an ambulance attended the scene.

The victim was taken to hospital and a CT scan revealed he had a fractured vertebra in his neck.



Dixon was arrested by officers from Hackney CID.



Acting Detective Sergeant Kevin Ives said: “This was a sustained and serious assault by an individual with a clear capacity for extreme violence.

“The victim could easily have been much more seriously injured.”

Friday 3 August 2012

Train Thugs Derailed For BBQ Skewer Ambush


Tobi Animashaun
Two young thugs, who joined a brutal barbeque skewer attack on a teenager travelling on board a packed commuter train, have been locked up.

The 17 year-old suffered stab wounds as he travelled between Deptford and Westcombe Park, South-East London and had to be rushed to hospital.

Pastor’s son and trainee carpenter Tobi Animashaun, 21, of Lubbock Street, Bermondsey was jailed for twelve months.

Illegal immigrant Hilary Gbenoba, 21, received two years and six months and is liable for automatic deportation.

Both pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court (pictured) to causing an affray on April 16 and Gbenoba additionally admitted carrying a Supermalt bottle as an offensive weapon.

Animashaun claimed the violent offence “ruined my summer” because he had to obey a night time curfew as a bail condition.

The court heard it was around 7pm when the defendants – plus an unknown accomplice armed with the skewer – barged onto the busy train and targeted the Plumstead victim.

Judge Henry Blacksell QC told the defendants: “You have watched the train CCTV with me and it was a shocking thing to watch.

“Those other passengers are entitled to travel without being put in fear.

“You did not intend to attack those people, but they did not know that and you did not care or give a hoot.



“It must have been absolutely terrifying because this is public transport and they cannot go anywhere and you, Gbenoba, are waving a bottle.

“You got on and you immediately went for your victim. 

"You knew what you were doing.

“The third man was brandishing the most offensive weapon imaginable.

“You, Animashaun, said that your summer has been ruined, well your summer’s going to be a bit more ruined.

“Uncontrolled violence on public transport to the shock and horror of other users deserves custody.”

Thursday 2 August 2012

BBC Help Hunt For Wannabe Assasin Of Russian Businessman


The attempted assassination of a wealthy Russian businessman outside his Canary Wharf apartment has been recreated in a BBC Crimewatch appeal.

German Gorbuntsov, 46, (pictured) who has owned banks in his homeland and Moldova was shot six times outside the block in Byng Street, Poplar, East London on March 20.

He has founded approximately forty companies involved in finance, security, construction and other fields and had just travelled home from his office by taxi when ambushed by a lone gunman at 7.20pm.

Speaking from an unnamed hospital, where he is under armed guard Mr. Gorbuntsov said: “My future is uncertain. The worst feeling is - that guy shot me and ran away and probably thought that he had killed me.

“This incident has changed my whole life.”



Detective Chief Inspector Russell Taylor of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command is leading the investigation. 



He said: “We are continuing to examine CCTV footage from the area and are keen to speak with anyone who may have been in the Byng Street area shortly before or after 7.20 on Tuesday March 20.



"Did you see anyone acting suspiciously in the area? 



“I urge anyone with information about the attempted murder of Mr. Gorbunstov to contact the incident room.”



The suspect is described as white, 6ft tall and of slim build, wearing a dark hooded top.

He was seen running from Byng Street away from Westferry Road, believed through Bellamy Close, towards the Marsh Wall area.



A hooded top, along with a gun and a fake leather bag were found in bushes nearby.



Any witnesses or anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8721 4868. If you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 



There has been no arrest at this time and officers retain an open mind regarding a motive.

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Predatory Paedo Pair Get 20 Years Apiece


Two men, who groomed and then systematically abused four vulnerable boys they met on train enthusiasts’ Internet forums, have been locked-up for a minimum of twenty years for a catalogue of sex offences

Andrew George Mower, 67, (pic.top) of Tryfan Close, Ilford and his lodger Darren Leslie Smith, 39, (pic.bottom) were found guilty by a Snaresbrook Crown Court jury.

They were both given indeterminate sentences, but must serve at least twenty years before they can be considered for parole.

Mower was convicted of 10 counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, an attempted rape and three rapes.

The counts relate to four boys aged between 13 and 16 years over a five-year period between 2006 and 2011.

He was also found guilty of 1 count of possessing indecent photographs of children.

Smith was convicted of 13 counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, 12 counts of rape and two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child.

The counts relate to the same four boys in the same five-year period.

He was also found guilty of several representative counts of possession of indecent images.

The court heard how Mower would identify and contact potential victims by surfing the Internet and engaging in online chats with young boys.

He would specifically target young vulnerable boys on specialist rail forums before encouraging them to meet in person at train conventions or transport museums.

Once they had agreed to meet him Mower would begin to ask inappropriate questions of a sexual nature and invite them to visit his home in Ilford.

Here they were introduced to Smith whose apparent aim was to impress the boys with his knowledge of smart phones and computer technology.

The boys would be given mobile phones from Mower, which he used to maintain and control regular contact with them.

Mower and Smith would then manipulate contact the boys had with their family and friends in a bid to alienate them.

The jury heard how the men would allow the boys freedom within their home, offer them gifts and money and ply them with alcohol before persuading them to undress and perform sexual acts.

This progressed to both men sexually assaulting and raping the boys.

It was only when the boys came into contact with one another, both in person and on the computer rail forums, that they realised the scale of the abuse and felt compelled to report the offences to police.

An investigation was launched by officers from the Met’s Sapphire Command Complex Case Team and on August 2, last year both Mower and Smith were arrested at their home address.

Detective Chief Inspector Carl Mehta, who led the investigation, said at the conclusion of the case: “Sapphire aim to provide a supportive service to victims, whose care is at the heart of each investigation.

“We want all victims to know that we will conduct a thorough and robust investigation.

“We want all sex offenders to know that our dedicated teams are there to trace and pursue them until they are bought to justice.

“Mower and Smith deliberately targeted young and vulnerable boys by claiming to share their hobbies and interests.

“They gained their trust, alienated them from loved ones in a bid to exercise control over them and then sexually assaulted them.

“I pay tribute to the enormous courage of each victim who came forward and reported their abuse and supported this prosecution to bring these men to justice.

“We hope that this result will bring them and their families the sense of closure they fully deserve and we would urge any other victims to come forward and speak to us.”

Tuesday 31 July 2012

Workmate Killed During Boozy Wages Row


A garage worker, who killed a fellow-employee in an alcohol-fuelled rage during a wages row, has been jailed for seven years.

Ukraine-born Pavel Dunanov, 31, (pictured) of Spur Road, Isleworth inflicted fatal blunt force injuries to the head of Polish 29 year-old Piotr Maculewicz.

He was convicted at the Old Bailey of the manslaughter of Mr. Maculewicz, who he killed at the garage in Sulgrave Gardens, Sulgrave Road, Hammersmith.

The pair had been drinking whiskey and coke and the row began when window fitter Mr. Maculewicz began quizzing the defendant as to why he earned more money than he did.

Detective Inspector John Smith, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “Mr. Maculewicz was killed by a work colleague at the construction garage they worked at, following a violent alcohol fuelled argument.

“The evidence which was bought before the court against Dunanov was overwhelming, and I am pleased that he has been held to account for his terrible actions.”

During the two week trial the court heard that at a 7:15pm on March 11, last year police were called to a man found unconscious in the forecourt area of a garage.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.



A post-mortem at Fulham Mortuary on March 13 did not establish a formal cause of death, however further examinations indicated Mr. Maculewicz had suffered a number of blunt force trauma injuries to the head.


Monday 30 July 2012

Widow Pocketed Over £50K In Late Husband's Benefits


A widow stole over £50,000 from Croydon Council by continuing to pocket her husband's benefit payments two years after his death.

Part-time carer Monica Owusu, 50, (pictured) of Oval Road, Croydon received £1895 every month into their joint-account, but did not tell the council her husband had died.

“You withdrew the money and used it for your financial commitments, knowing it did not belong to you and should have been returned to the local authority,” Recorder Ian Bourne QC told her today.

She pleaded guilty to stealing £52,122 from the London Borough of Croydon between September 1, 2007 and May 18, 2010.

The family home, which she inherited from her late husband, will now be sold to repay the debt.

Owusu's husband received the benefit for home care from September, 2004, but passed away three years later.

“He had required full-time care and was paralysed,” prosecutor Francesca Levett told Croydon Crown Court. “Monica Owusu was in charge of his finances.

“She informed their occupational therapist when her husband died, but this information did not reach the relevant department and direct payments continued to be made.

“The account continued receiving the payments for months, but it was not until August Mrs Owusu accessed the account and saw the large sum of over twenty thousand pounds.

“That's when, the prosecution say, she became dishonest and withdrew large sums without notifying the local authority.”

Eventually Croydon council stopped the payments and interviewed the defendant.

“She said she used it to pay bills and her mortgage and said she did not know why she did not tell theb local authority.

“All the money was withdrawn. Nothing was left in the bank acount.”

Owusu agreed to repay the council at the rate of £150 per month, but stopped after nine payments.

Owusu's lawyer Mr. Kwame Inyund said: “To her eternal regret she took advantage of the situation with the money she was not expecting.

“There is no evidence of a lavish lifestyle or money taken out of pure greed.

“It is her intention to make good what is owed to the local authority out of the sale of the property.”

Recorder Bourne told the first-time offender: “It is obvious to everyone that you did not set out to steal such a large amount of money from the local authority.

“It was inevitable that you would have been caught one day.”

Owusu was sentenced to thirty weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, and ordered to complete 80 hours community service.

Sunday 29 July 2012

Hotel Receptionist Facing Life Imprisonment For Deadly Gay Obsession


A gay hotel receptionist repeatedly stabbed two work colleagues to death after developing a deadly obsession with one of them.

Attila Ban, 32, (pictured) of New Road, Harlington, West London wanted a sexual relationship with Tibor Vass, 20, and murdered him and Alice Adams, 20, in a jealous rage.

He was convicted at the Old Bailey of murdering both of them in a flat on the grounds of the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Bath Road and will be sentenced on August 17.

Detective Inspector John Finch of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: “Attila Ban's profound obsession for Tibor Vass drove him to commit a disturbing and frenzied attack.

Ban manipulated Mr. Vass into believing that their friendship was genuine, however he exploited this closeness to kill him and his friend Miss Adams, who was simply caught up in events.

"The court has been presented with an overwhelming amount of evidence ensuring Ban's conviction for his utterly evil actions.

"I would like to pay tribute to the friends and family of Mr. Vass and Miss Adams, who have shown immense dignity, strength and courage throughout this investigation, and have been subjected to hearing the most dreadful things about how their loved ones died.

"The Met remains committed to bringing justice to families whose loved ones have been taken from them in such a senseless way.

“Lastly I would like to thank the entire prosecution team who have worked hard to present such a compelling case against this evil killer.”

During the three week-trial, the court heard how Miss Adams, Mr. Vass, and Ban, who were all receptionists, formed friendships through working together.

After their shifts on the evening of Tuesday August 9, last year Miss Adams and two colleagues, joined Mr. Vass and his room-mate Ban at their one bedroom flat in the hotel grounds, for some drinks.

After a short time, the two colleagues left the flat leaving Ban, Mr. Vass and Miss Adams in the flat together.

This was the last sighting of them alive.

The next day all three receptionists were due to begin an afternoon shift at 2.00pm, however none of them turned up for work.

Officers and paramedics attended and discovered the bodies of Miss Adams and Mr. Vass at the premises.

Both had been stabbed a number of times and they were pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers also seized a number of bloodstained cook’s knives.

Post-mortem examinations gave cause of death for both as multiple stab wounds.

During the police search of the flat Ban was hiding in the base of the bed, where he remained undetected, even updating his Facebook page.

Hours after the killings he wrote that he 'wanted to wake up from this nightmare', and the manhunt for him intensified.

Ban was eventually located by officers in the hotel grounds on August, 12 and immediately arrested.

He remained silent throughout his time with police and was later charged.

Saturday 28 July 2012

Car Trouble Leads To Deadly Gang Ambush


A second-hand car dealer is beginning a life sentence after ambushing a rival in a busy bookmaker's with seven accomplices and stabbing the victim to death.

Dagazau Ali, 23, (pictured) of Aylesbury House, Friary Estate, Peckham was involved in an ongoing dispute with 22 year-old Jerry Iyiku over the repair and sale of vehicles locally.

He was convicted at the Old Bailey of murdering Jerry in the Old Kent Road bookie's on July 19, last year and must serve a minimum of twenty-five years.

The victim was in the bookmaker's with a friend at 7.45pm when eight men, including Ali, rushed in and surrounded and attacked him in a corner at the rear of the premises.

Jerry was repeatedly kicked, punched and stabbed and the attackers fled the scene as he collapsed to the floor.

The London Ambulance Service attended, but sadly he died at the scene.

A post-mortem examination at Greenwich Mortuary on July 20 gave the cause of death as a haemorrhage resulting from a stab wound to the chest.

Detectives launched a murder investigation which established that Jerry had been in a dispute with Ali over the ownership and sale of cars.

The catalyst for the murder was an argument that took place on May 16 at a car repair premises just off the Old Kent Road, which resulted in Jerry taking Ali's car.

On July 23 Ali was arrested outside his home address and subsequently charged with murder.

Detective Inspector Richard Beadle, from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "The fatal attack on Jerry Iyiku is one of the most cowardly incidents I have come across.

"As is so common in murder investigations, Jerry has lost his life over petty rivalry.

"It is immensely worrying that young men in London feel they can conduct themselves in this way without fear, or even consideration, of the consequences.

"Fortunately this proved not to be the case and Ali has been rightly convicted."

Olarenwaje Akanbi, 18, and Olamide Akanbi, 19, of Bird In Bush Road, Peckham and a 17-year old youth were all found not guilty.

Friday 27 July 2012

Unmasked Paedo Loses Job And Fiance


A paedophile, who split from his shocked fiance, after specialist police raided their home and confiscated a computer containing over 1,000 sick images of children, dodged jail today.

Lee Taylor, 35, initially claimed he knew nothing about the sordid online collection or the username 'Schoolgirl Beth' but eventually confessed he had been hoarding the disturbing images for two years.

"This is the kind of case the public find disgusting and unacceptable," the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon told the shame-faced first-time offender.

"Given your obvious addiction to viewing this disgusting material I have to take the long-term view.

"You have admitted you have been engaging in this sort of conduct for two years and as a result you have lost your job and will move out of the home you shared with your fiance."

Taylor pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to ten counts relating to 1,030 stills and 21 videos of level one to five - the most serious category, which depicts the most extreme sexual abuse of children.

On June 14, last year, officers from the Metropolitan Police's Paedophile Unit, armed with a search warrant, visited the absent Taylor's home and were met by his fiance.

The defendant was informed and hurried home from work, telling police he did not know how the illegal images were downloaded onto his computer.

Judge McKinnon placed Taylor on a three-year community order, with three years supervision and participation on the Thames Valley sex offender group work programme.

"This is ingrained conduct of a highly-addictive kind," added the judge, ordering Taylor to sign the sex offenders register for five years and making a five-year Sex Offenders Prevention Order, which limits his contact with children aged under sixteen.


Thursday 26 July 2012

Bogus Organiser Jailed For Olympic-Sized Scam


A heartless conman, who destroyed the Olympic dreams of young entertainers, is starting a two-year prison sentence.

Stephen Moonesamy, 35, (pictured) of Lowlands Close, Northampton claimed he could guarantee young dancers sought-after roles in the games’ closing ceremony.

Northampton Crown Court heard the defendant, who pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraud by false representation, defrauded children, dance schools and potential sponsors.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Podium, supported by Northamptonshire Police, began an investigation into a fraudulent offer to dance schools in the Northamptonshire area for their pupils to participate in the 2012 closing ceremony.



Officers also investigated approaches to a number of companies across the UK to provide sponsorship.



The investigation was started after a referral was made to the police by the Olympic organisers, LOCOG, who confirmed that the company run by Moonesamy was not in any way associated with the Olympic or Paralympic Games.



Moonesamy approached three dance schools in the guise of ‘The Red, White and Blue Project’, claiming that he was recruiting young people, between the ages of 9 and 18 years, to dance at the closing ceremony.



He went on to hold a presentation at the Holiday Inn hotel in Northampton on March 11, where he described in great detail the event that the dancers would experience, including details of costumes, travel arrangements and the proposed security plan.



He also approached the local council for funding and obtained free food and drink from the Holiday Inn in Northampton at the above event.

A local printing company supplied merchandise to Moonesamy and a number of clothing companies were approached with requests for kit.



Detective Superintendent Nick Downing, of Operation Podium, said: “Stephen Moonesamy is an individual who callously deceived around seventy-five youngsters from the Northampton dance community, promising them a place performing at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.

“We are still are unclear what his ultimate motive was, as the financial gain was minimal.



“Children as young as nine were left devastated by the actions of this man, whose fraudulent plan could never succeed.

“We have worked closely with officers from Northamptonshire Police and the dance schools to provide support to the dancers and their families.”

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Alleged Drug Dealer Accused Of Gunpoint Graveyard Rape


A drug-dealer lured a vulnerable addict to a dark graveyard and raped her at gunpoint, a jury were told yesterday.


Morgan Brooks, 26, of the YMCA hostel, Lansdowne Road, Croydon convinced his terrified victim the gun-shaped cigarette lighter was a genuine firearm and held it to her head throughout the ordeal.


"He preyed upon her vulnerability, he lured her to a graveyard and subjected her to a degrading attack to satisfy his own sense of power and sexual gratification," prosecutor Miss Hanna Llewellyn-Waters told Croydon Crown Court.


Brooks (pictured) has pleaded not guilty to raping the young woman at Croydon Parish Church, Church Street on January 22, 2010 and possessing an imitation firearm, with intent to commit an indictable offence, namely rape.


The pair had met ten days earlier and Brooks - who identified himself only as AJ - twice sold her small amounts of heroin and crack cocaine, the court was told.


"She was or is a drug addict and used heroin and crack, but she has sought help in the past and is prescribed methadone," explained Miss Llewellyn-Waters.


The victim agreed to meet Brooks in Croydon after he offered her a free "tester" - drugs he wanted to asses the purity of.


It was 7pm and dark as the defendant instructed her to walk to, where the only lighting was a torch he was carrying.


"She did not want to go in, but he said he was not going to give her drugs in the street," said the prosecutor.


"He produced what appeared to be a gun and she believed it was a genuine firearm and he put it to her head."


The young woman was then forced to the ground and raped, the jury were told.


"She cried all the way through the incident. She did not want to do it, she was extremely scared and all the time the firearm was pressed to the side of her head.


"She described that it made her feel sick and violated.


"He hit her on the back of the head, possibly with his fist or the imitation firearm and threatened her that if she told anyone he would shoot her in the head."


DNA evidence proves the chances of anyone else having sexual contact with the victim are a billion to one and police found the cigarette-lighter gun in Brooks' room.


Trial continues……….


Tuesday 24 July 2012

Bosh Brothers Beat-Up Car Dealer, Jury Told


Two brothers attacked a second-hand car dealer and his assistant with metal bars, after claiming a vehicle he sold was unroadworthy, a jury were told today.

After a series of angry text messages exchanged between the dealer and one of the brothers they arrived at his car lot to 'sort him out' Croydon Crown Court heard.

Peter Luke, 50,(pic.r.) of Elmlea Drive, Hayes and Merril Luke, 52,(pic.l.) of Lady Margaret Road, Southall deny the charges.

They have both pleaded not guilty to assaulting Sohil Nasarzadeh and Patryk Tokarek, causing them actual bodily harm, in Red House Industrial Estate, Redhouse Road, Croydon on August 22, last year.

They both also deny possessing a metal pole each as an offensive weapon and Peter alone denies possessing a heavy chain as an offensive weapon.

Trouble started after Peter bought a Chrysler Voyager from Mr. Nasarzadeh – nicknamed 'Sam' – and complained the battery was flat as well as reporting other faults.

“Peter maintains the car was in unroadworthy condition and reported the problems to Sam who tried to sort them out,” prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Edwards told the court.

“Peter became angry and in text messages was threatening to sort Sam out and these ended with Mr. Nasarzadeh telling him to: 'F*** off.'

“The brothers visited the car lot and Peter was worked up and angry and his grievance with Sam was obvious.

“He was shouting in his face, so close he was spitting in Sam's face.”

Peter, the jury were told, shouted at Mr. Nasarzadeh: “Don't talk to me like that you foreign c***.”

Mr. Edwards added: “Sam tried to call the police and Peter tried to grab the phone and then he tried to grab the keys from out of Sam's car.

“Merril took a metal bar from inside his trousers and went towards Sam, but his employee Patryk stood in the way and he was attacked by both defendants and Peter was also armed with a metal bar.

“Merril went to attack Sam by hitting him on the head with the metal bar, but he blocked him with his arms so Merril resumed his attack on Patryk.”

Eventually police arrived and arrested both brothers. “Both complainants suffered cuts and bruises and Sam's blood waas found on one of the bars.”

When searched by officers a chain was recovered from Peter Luke's pocket.

Both brothers were picked-out on an identity parade by the complainants.

When quizzed, Peter Luke complained the car he bought was unroadworthy and the alleged weapons were not to be used, but merely act as a “deterrent.”

He denied assaulting the two men, claiming he acted in self-defence. His brother Merril did not answer any questions.

Trial continues........

Monday 23 July 2012

Mugging Victim Dies Five Days After £100 Cash Snatch


Police are hunting the killer of a Paddington man, who died five days after he was violently mugged for £100 he had just withdrawn from a cashpoint.

Michael Walser, 45, (pictured) was found dead at his flat in Gloucester Terrace on June 24 - a post-mortem confirmed the cause of death as a head injury.

On June 19 he was pushed to the ground, hitting his head, by a robber who approached him from behind in Church Street, St. John’s Wood at 10.30pm – moments after withdrawing the cash.

The only description of the suspect is that he is a white male.

An incident room has opened at Hendon under Acting Detective Chief Inspector Andy Manning who said: “This was an unprovoked, senseless attack on an innocent man.

“I appeal to anyone with information that may assist police, or who knew Mr Walser, to contact the incident room.”



Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8358 0300. If you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.



On June 28 a 26-year-old man was arrested in connection with the enquiry and taken to a west London police station.

He was bailed pending further enquiries.

Sunday 22 July 2012

£20K Reward For Capture Of Masked Killers


A £20,000 reward is now up for grabs to shop the masked killers of a Thornton Heath man – shot when three intruders burst into his home a year ago.

Carlton Ned, 41, (pictured) suffered a fatal shot to the chest at the address in Langdale Road in the early hours of July 1, last year.

He died at the scene, but police believe he was not the killers’ intended target.

The suspects, who were armed and had their faces covered, entered the house and fired a number of shots.

Witnesses have described seeing the suspects flee in a silver Ford Fiesta car, which travelled along Langdale Road towards London Road.



Detective Chief Inspector John Crossley of Operation Trident – which investigates violent black-on-black crime - said: “We need anyone who saw a silver vehicle travelling in Langdale Road or London Road, or has any information about this car to come forward.

“It is essential we trace the vehicle as soon as possible.
We would like to appeal to anyone who has any information about this dreadful murder to come forward no matter how small you think it may be, your information could be vital and it is not too late.”



Anyone with information is asked to call the Incident Room on 020 8733 4212. If you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.



Nine men, aged between 20 and 26, have been arrested by police, but nobody has been charged.