Category: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A serving Met police officer has been dismissed without notice after he touched a colleague in a sexual manner.

Detective Sergeant Christopher Arnold, attached to Met Operations, appeared before a three-day hearing, which concluded on Wednesday, 23 July.

It was found that DS Arnold had breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct.

These breaches amounted to gross misconduct.

The panel heard that on 22 July 2021 an allegation was made that DS Arnold had intentionally touched a female officer on her buttock.

Commander Lou Pudefoot, who leads Met Operations said: “The actions of DS Arnold were completely inappropriate and his behaviour fell well below the standards expected of a Metropolitan Police officer. He has rightly been dismissed.”

DS Christopher Arnold will now be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies, the Independent Office for Police Conduct or His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police Service to charge a man following an investigation by detectives.

The Met has charged Micheal Ward, 27 (18.11.1997) of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, with two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault.

The offences relate to one woman and are reported to have taken place in January 2023.

Detective Superintendent Scott Ware, whose team is leading the Met’s investigation, said: “Our specialist officers continue to support the woman who has come forward – we know investigations of this nature can have significant impact on those who make reports.”

Micheal Ward will appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 28 August.

We urge responsible reporting in line with guidance from the Attorney General’s Office. Editors, publishers, and social media users should take legal advice to ensure they are in a position to fully comply with the obligations to which they are subject under the common law and Contempt of Court Act 1981.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A woman has been sentenced after pleading guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and animal cruelty, following the death of her friend and landlord, as well as their pet cat.

Habiba Naveed, 34 (16.10.1989) appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 24 July where she was given a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act and a restriction order under Section 41. This means she can be detained indefinitely.

Naveed previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn of Specialist Crime, who led the investigation, said:

“Today’s sentencing concludes our investigation into the death of a man killed in his own home by a woman he lived with, trusted and considered his friend.

“Habiba Naveed has an established history of paranoid schizophrenia. The circumstances of this case highlight the dangers of the illicit use of cannabis and non-compliance with medication prescribed to manage serious mental health conditions.

“Christopher, who was Naveed’s landlord, still worked as a solicitor. He was an incredibly private and well-respected man within the community who is sorely missed by his family and loved ones. Our thoughts are with them today.”

An investigation was launched on Thursday, 15 August 2024 after the body of a man was found at a residential address on Polsted Road, SE6.

The victim, who was later identified as 72-year-old Christopher Brown, had sustained a serious head injury. A post-mortem examination found the cause of Christopher’s death to be blunt force trauma to the head, neck and chest.

Inside the address, officers also found Christopher and Habiba’s pet cat, named Snow, which had been stabbed in the neck and killed. When searching the address, officers located multiple blood stains along with a kitchen knife covered in blood.

Habiba Naveed, a woman who rented a room inside Christopher’s property, was quickly identified as a suspect and arrested later that day. Neighbours reported to police that they heard a female voice shouting from inside the property.

Naveed was charged with murder on Friday, 16 August.

The only account as to why she killed Christopher was given by her to a psychiatrist while on remand. She described believing Christopher was evil and hearing a voice telling her to kill him three times. She recounted hitting him with a pan she was holding which caused him to fall, before strangling him until she thought he was unconscious.

Christopher then asked her to stop and she describes realising her actions were wrong, but hitting him again. She believed the evil spirit had jumped out of Christopher and into Snow the cat. She got a knife and cut the cat’s neck.

On Monday, 27 January Naveed pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man who attacked a stranger on a night out in east London has been given a life sentence.

Hamza Kamali, 29, will serve a minimum of 25 years in jail after he was found guilty of murdering 38-year-old Saley Beya outside a nightclub in Romford Road E7 in the early hours of Saturday, 10 August 2024.

Saley’s family said in a statement: “Today marks a significant moment for our family as justice has finally been served in the case of our beloved brother, son, and friend — Saley Beya — who was brutally taken from us in August of last year.

“We welcome the court’s verdict with a mixture of relief and sorrow. Saley was a kind, generous, and deeply loved young man whose life was full of promise. His absence is felt every single day, and the pain of losing him in such a horrific way is something we will carry with us forever.”

Detective Superintendent Kelly Allen, Specialist Crime North, said: “Saley’s family and loved ones have endured incredible pain and suffering over this past year as they have tried to come to terms with their terrible loss. I hope they can take some comfort in the fact his killer will be behind bars for a considerable period of time.

“Kamali’s actions that night were violent and deliberate. He went out armed with a knife – clearly intent on causing harm. We will never know what prompted his interaction with Saley, but it is clear he is a very dangerous individual with little regard for human life and I’m pleased the jury were able to recognise the threat he poses to the public.”

On the evening of Friday, 9 August Saley and his friends had attended a party in Stratford before deciding to continue their evening at a nightclub, arriving at the Romford Road venue at about 02.30hrs.

Around an hour later they were all outside when an altercation took place between one of Saley’s friends and a group of men who were known to Kamali. Shortly after, Kamali arrived at the scene and following a brief interaction with the victim the situation escalated into violence and Kamali stabbed Saley in the leg.

Saley was able to run from the scene, but he was pursued by Kamali who kicked out at him several times as he tried to get away from him. Eventually giving up his pursuit, Kamali returned to Romford Road, before leaving the scene with others.

Meanwhile Saley had succumbed to his wound and collapsed in the street. Emergency services attended and paramedics attempted to stem the bleeding, but Saley went into cardiac arrest on his way to hospital. He remained in a critical condition for nearly three weeks before sadly dying on 29 August.

Following the incident, Kamali returned to his home address. After 30 minutes he reappeared from the property wearing different clothes and carrying a full plastic bag which he was then seen to discard. That bag was never recovered.

After Kamali’s arrest on 16 August a search of his home led to the discovery of a pair of bloodstained trainers – later identified to be his own. He had a noticeable injury to his hand – a wound CCTV had shown him tending to with a tissue in the immediate aftermath of the stabbing. Blood from this injury was also found at the crime scene. It is believed he injured himself with his knife in the course of attacking Saley.

Kamali (03.04.96), who is of Henniker Road, Stratford was convicted on Tuesday, 22 July of murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

+ Abdi Ulusow, 28 (03.09.96), of Hathaway Crescent E12 and Edson Bernardo, 26 (10.07.99), of Carlton Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea appeared at the Old Bailey on 3 July where they pleaded guilty to affray and possession of an offensive weapon (machete and pole) in connection with the incident. On Thursday, 24 July both were jailed for two years.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been jailed for 13 years at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 24 July after robbing and running over a man, leaving him to die in the street in Erith in 2019. He will serve a further 5 years on license.

Errol Woodger, 38 (18.12.1986) of Mottisfont Road, Abbey Wood, was found guilty at the same court of robbery and manslaughter of 51-year-old Marc Allen following a three-week trial that concluded on Tuesday, 15 April 2025.

On Sunday, 29 December 2019, Marc Allen interrupted Errol Woodger robbing items from his flat on Peareswood Road, Erith, including his car keys.

Mr Allen attempted to stop Woodger driving off in his car, but Woodger deliberately drove the car at him, running him over and causing him fatal injuries. Mr Allen was taken to hospital but never regained consciousness and died on Wednesday, 29 January 2020.

Woodger was charged with robbery and murder on Wednesday, 19 June 2024 and was remanded into custody.

At trial, Woodger was found guilty of one count of manslaughter and one count of robbery.

Detective Sergeant Nick Bale, of the Met’s Homicide Command, said:

“Our thoughts remain with Marc’s family and loved ones.

“I’d like to thank the Homicide team who led on this investigation and the members of the public who were able to help us. The response we received to our appeal for information and witnesses following Marc’s senseless death directly led to Mr Woodger’s arrest and charges nearly five years after this tragic incident.

“A man was fatally injured in a brutal way and died as a result – outside his home where he should have felt safe. I can only hope that this sentence goes some way in providing a sense of justice to Marc’s family.”

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A teenager has been convicted of murder after he fatally shot a 20-year-old man in broad daylight in south east London last summer.

Jesse Lloyd-Smith was found by his mother after she heard gunshots in East Surrey Grove, Peckham at 16:50hrs on Wednesday, 10 July 2024. Jesse was taken to hospital after the incident where he sadly died the following day.

Following a three month trial at the Old Bailey, the jury delivered a guilty verdict to 19-year-old Gabriel Charles (07.10.2005) from Southwark, south London on Thursday, 24 July.

Charles was found to have driven purposefully towards a Peckham alleyway in a silver Ford S-Max. The car passed the Damilola Taylor Centre, turned the corner and stopped before he exited the vehicle and ran towards Jesse Lloyd-Smith. There, Charles fired a gun five times. One of those bullets fatally wounded Jesse.

The court heard that Charles fled the country after the incident. He was arrested and charged with murder in November 2024 when he returned to the UK.

Detective Chief Inspector Alex Gammampila from the Met’s Specialist Crime Unit said:

“A mother should never experience the loss of a child, particularly as a result of violent crime. Our thoughts remain with Jesse’s family, who have demonstrated unwavering resilience and togetherness over the year and throughout the trial.

“The impact of gun crime is horrific. I hope this conviction acts as a deterrent to anyone considering carrying out acts of extreme violence. Justice will be served.”

Jesse’s mother, Ty Lloyd-Smith, added:

“To those responsible for the brutal daylight shooting of my beloved son, I wish to express the overwhelming emotional turmoil our family and friends continue to face. The loss of a vibrant young man, filled with potential and dreams, serves as a heart-breaking reminder of the fragility of life.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the homicide team for their relentless patience, commitment, and dedication in bringing these perpetrators to justice. Their tireless efforts have provided us with a glimmer of hope amidst our pain. Additionally, we are profoundly thankful for the compassion and care given by the London Air Ambulance team during our son’s critical time of need. Their quick actions and heartfelt support made a difference in his final moments.

“We urge the community to come together and advocate for a safer environment for our children. Together, we can make a difference. Fighting for justice is not just for our loved ones but for every child in our community who deserves to live without fear. We ask for support in creating initiatives that foster safety, understanding, and compassion.”

Five other men and a 17-year-old boy involved in the incident were found guilty of perverting the course of justice at the Old Bailey.

They are:

• Abdoul Guene, 18 (16.09.2006) of Peckham.
• Kywan JN Pierre, 18 (18.02.2007) of Selhurst.
• Ben Nguyen, 20, (20.11.2004), of no fixed address.
• Kadjo Kadio, 21 (01.07.2004) of Romford.
• Enver Francis, 22 (20.12.2002) of Southwark.

All seven will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on date yet to be decided.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man who was assaulted in Croydon on Saturday, 12 July has sadly died.

Officers were called to North End, Croydon at around 09:15hrs to reports of an altercation.

Police arrived and located a man with serious injuries to his head. The 44-year-old man was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service. He sadly died on Sunday, 20 July.

An investigation into his death remains ongoing and the victim’s family continue to be supported by specialist officers.

A man was arrested shortly after the incident and was charged with grievous bodily harm on Monday, 13 July.

Peter Dache, 33 (25.02.92) of Oakfield Road, Croydon appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 14 July. He was remanded in custody to next appear at Croydon Crown Court on Monday, 11 August 2025.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A group of five men, who killed two people they mistook for rival gang members in Archway have been convicted of murder.

Lorik Lupqi, 21 (22.09.2003) of St John’s Way, N19, Abel Chunda, 29 (03.01.1996) of Caldy Walk, N1, Jason Furtado, 28 (18.12.1996) of Halton Road, N1, Eden Clark, 29 (28.01.94), of Huddleston Road N7 and Xavier Poponne, 21 (06.11.2002) of Halton Road, Islington, N1 appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 23 July.

Following a 15-week trial, all men were all convicted of murdering 15-year-old Leonardo Reid and 23-year-old Klevi Shekaj and attempting to murder another man.

Detective Inspector Jim Barry of Specialist Crime North said “These violent men went into this estate with the intention of killing anyone they could, under the false impression that those there were rival gang members. This was a senseless, violent act which has shattered the lives of so many, especially Leonardo and Klevi’s loved ones.”

On Thursday, 29 June 2023, there had been a large gathering on the Elthorne estate to film a music video.

Lorik Lupqi, a gang member from Islington saw this gathering at around 8:30pm and took it as an opportunity to hurt who he thought were gang opponents. He messaged his girlfriend stating that “opps were outside.” She advised him to remain inside, but Lupqi decided to contact his close friend and gang associate Jason Furtado.

They formed a plan and recruited three gang members to travel to the Elthorne estate. By the time they arrived two hours later, the filming had concluded, and most people had left, but some local children and teenagers remained in the area.

The group then fatally stabbed 15-year-old Leonardo Reid, who sadly died at the scene and 23-year-old Klevi Shekaj who died in hospital. They also stabbed another man, who was taken to hospital.

A double murder and attempted murder investigation was launched with extensive enquiries taking place.

The enquiries carried out by Met Police’s Specialist Crime Command included reviewing CCTV, forensic examinations and analysis of phone data. This data showed that there were 50 short phone calls between this group in the two hours before the murders. After the attack, the four went to Abel Chunda’s house and called organiser Furtado.

They were identified as key suspects and work began to bring them into custody.

Chuna and Furtado were arrested on 3 July with Clarke travelling to the Suffolk coast and changing his appearance in an attempt to evade arrest. Met Officers quickly located him and arrested him on 12 July.

One suspect, Lupqi illegally travelled to Kosovo days after the murders. He had sent messages to his girlfriend, telling her not to wait for him. Met officers worked closely with the Kosovan authorities, the National Crime Agency and the Crown Prosecution Service to extradite him back to the UK and arrest him at Luton Airport on 12 November 2024.

Following Poponne’s arrest in November 2023, damning lyrics were found in a drill song written the day after the murders. These lyrics glorified the murders and made references to elements of the attack which could only be known to those involved. In these lyrics, he also referenced how Leonardo and Klevi were not involved in gang criminality. Shortly after the murders, he also changed his social media name to ‘X3’ referencing the number of people he had stabbed.

During the trial, the group refused to admit responsibility with some stating that they were in the area to deal drugs but not involved in the murders.

They all appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 23 July where they were all convicted of two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. They will appear at the same court on Thursday, 25 September and Friday, 26 September for sentencing.

Detective Inspector Jim Barry added: “Our team have remained focused on getting justice for those affected by this violent and unnecessary attack.

“This dangerous group of men will now spend a long time behind bars but the effect of what they did will be felt by the victim’s shattered families for longer.

“I thank the members of the public who tried to help and save the lives of those injured and have assisted our team with enquiries.

“We will continue to tackle violent offenders and ensure that justice is bought for the safety of our communities.”

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been jailed after he beat another man to death in Charlton.

On Thursday, 24 July, a judge at Isleworth Crown Court jailed Radoslaw Brzezicki, 42 (28.06.1982), of Erwood Road, Charlton, for 10 years. Brzezicki was convicted of manslaughter at the same court on Wednesday, 25 June, over the death of 60-year-old Robert Dlugosz

The victim was attacked at his own home in Erwood Road, Charlton, on Wednesday, 22 November, 2023, following an argument. On the same occasion, a woman was also physically assaulted, and Brzezicki was also convicted of causing actual bodily harm in connection with this.

The first responding officer on the scene was one of the last people to speak to Mr Dlugosz while he was still alive. Using a translation app, he was able to obtain an account which proved crucial in this case.

Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Townsend, from Specialist Crime South, and who led the investigation said: “We hope that this sentence will provide some closure to Mr Dlugosz’s family and friends.

“I would once again like to pay tribute to the surviving victim in this case, whose evidence proved essential to securing a conviction and lengthy prison sentence for Brzezicki.”

On Wednesday, 22 November, 2023, a woman in her 40s called police, saying she had escaped from a house in Erwood Road, Charlton, after being assaulted there alongside her friend, Robert Dlugosz. Officers attended and went to Robert’s aid, who was still alive but severely injured.

Using a translation app, an officer was able to obtain a brief account from the victim, a Polish speaker. He said he had been beaten, and identified Radoslaw Brzezicki as the assailant.

Shortly after giving this account, he collapsed. Paramedics attended, and he was taken to hospital. Despite undergoing emergency surgery, Robert sadly died on Saturday, 25 November. A post-mortem examination found that the cause of death was due to a traumatic brain injury.

The account provided by Robert before he died was corroborated by the female victim at the crime scene.

The woman managed to escape the property and told a passerby of the attack, who called police.

Brzezicki was arrested shortly after Robert collapsed.