Category: United Kingdom

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Police Officer dismissed for gross misconduct

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Victim named – HMP Wormwood Scrubs murder

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Murder investigation launched after inmate fatally stabbed in Wormwood Scrubs

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Reward offered in Dawood Robinson murder investigation

Detectives investigating the murder of an Islington man in 2016 have announced a reward of £20,000 has been made available.

David Robinson, also known as Dawood, died after being shot in Sunnyside Road, N19 on Saturday, 20 August 2016.

The reward is on offer to anyone who can provide information which leads to the arrest and prosecution of the person or persons responsible for the murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams of the Homicide and Major Crime Command leads the investigation and said:

“A significant reward is being offered for information that leads to the conviction of those responsible for Dawood’ s murder. It has now been nearly 18 months since Dawood was fatally wounded and his family are still waiting for answers.

“Over this period of time, people’s allegiances may have changed and those who were initially not comfortable speaking to police may now feel in a position to do so.

“I would urge anyone with information who could help us catch Dawood’s killers to contact police immediately.”

An investigation was launched after police were called shortly before 21:00hrs to reports of gunshots heard in Sunnyside Road, N19.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and found 25-year-old Dawood inside the Big House 101 music studio suffering gunshot wounds. He was taken to an east London hospital where he was pronounced dead at around 00:10hrs on 21 August.

Dawood had attended the studio to read and spend time with friends. However, he became involved in an altercation inside the studio which resulted in Dawood being shot.

DCI Whellams added: “We know there were people in the area at the time, both inside and outside the venue, and we have spoken with many of them.

“However, I am sure that some of these people may have more to tell us – they need to be brave and speak to us in confidence about what occurred that evening.

“Anyone that has information that could assist this enquiry is urged to make contact with my officers at the incident room number below. A reward of £20,000 has been authorised that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for this murder.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information that may assist police is asked to call the incident room on 020 8345 3775. To give information anonymously, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.

+ Four men, all aged in their 20s, have been arrested in connection with the investigation. They have since been released without further action.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Conman who ran fake advertising scam jailed for over eight years

A prolific conman who ran a UK-wide publishing scam selling fake advertising space for non-existent magazines has been jailed for over eight years following a joint Met and Merseyside Police investigation.

Peter Edward Daly, 39 (15.06.1979), of West Kirby, Merseyside, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on 29 January for eight counts of fraud having changed his plea to guilty during a trial.

The court heard that between October 2011 and June 2016, Daly cheated around 2,500 small businesses across the UK out of over £2million by cold-calling and offering advertising space for a few hundred pounds a time in various mocked-up magazines, some dubbed ‘Crime and Security Journal’, ‘Front Line’ and ‘Fire and Safety Magazine’.

Daly pretended to the victims that these were quarterly publications sent to emergency services locations and medical facilities.

Upon agreeing to advertise in the magazines many of the victims would be duly invoiced, often on the same day, and given a publication date upon payment. When the date of publication came and copies of the publications did not arrive, the victims were told the dates had been pushed back and given new dates.

When these dates came and the victims contacted Daly to ask where the publications were, their contact would go unanswered, pushing many of the victims to contact Action Fraud and police.

A Met investigation was launched, establishing that Daly was using ‘virtual offices’ based in Islington Kemp House, City Road, EC1and Hatton Garden, EC1, to receive and forward mail onward to an address in Market Street, Birkhenhead, Liverpool, in an apparent attempt to hide his location.

Officers from the Met went to the address in July 2012 with colleagues from Merseyside Police, who were carrying out their own investigation into Daly, and discovered what is commonly referred to as a ‘boiler room’; a premises that is used solely for the purpose of high pressure sales of illicit or illegal products and services to victims.

A total of ten computers, large amounts of documentation and freshly printed copies of the so-called ‘Crime and Security Journal’ were recovered, as well as £3,000 in cash, establishing that this was the operations centre for the scam.

Information was received indicating that Daly would be attending the address on 23 July 2012 to collect property. The information was passed to Merseyside Police and he was duly arrested.

As the investigation unfolded, police uncovered en elaborate network of accounts and company names in which money from victims was funnelled through, despite there being no evidence of legitimate trading; in a six month period, one account belonging to Daly was shown to have a turnover of £470,000, with £376,000 withdrawn as cash.

Daly was charged by postal requisition and summonsed in February 2014 to attend Highbury Magistrates Court on 7 April 2014, at which point he went on the run. He later handed himself into custody in Liverpool in late 2015 where he was charged with eight counts of fraud.

A trial was due to begin in London in March 2016; however after the Met and Merseyside Police decided to link their cases, the judge transferred the trial to be heard at Liverpool Crown Court on 8 January 2018. During the trial, Daly changed his plea to guilty. He was remanded in custody until he was sentenced to eight years and one month imprisonment.

Upon sentencing him the Judge called him a “cocky, arrogant egotistical man who thought he was cleverer than everyone else and could “‘blag’ his way out of any situation”.

DC Alan Stewart of Central North CID, said: “This investigation reminds us all of the due diligence necessary, particularly when responding to ‘cold callers’. I thank the victims for their patience whilst we got this case to trial and would ask anyone concerned that they may have been the victim of fraud to refer to the action fraud website for further advice.”

DCI Christina Jessah of Central North CID, said: “Daly’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his offending and will hopefully act as a deterrent to others. I would like to thank our colleagues from Merseyside Police for their support in securing the right outcome for the victims.”

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: PC found not guilty of racially aggravated common assault

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Appeal for information continues as Hackney murder victim

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Detectives issue CCTV to trace two men in connection with Hackney murder

Detectives investigating the fatal stabbing of Daniel Frederick in Hackney continue to appeal for information to identify two individuals in images that have been released.

The moving footage and stills show two men walking along Clissold Road shortly before 18:00hrs on the day of the murder. Police believe that one of the men was possibly caught up in the attack and was injured.

Police were originally called at 17:48hrs on Monday, 8 January to reports of a man assaulted outside Burns House in Shakspeare Walk, N16. Officers attended and found 34-year-old Daniel Frederick, who lived locally, suffering from stab injuries. He was taken to an east London hospital by the London Ambulance Service where he died at 23:47hrs.

A post-mortem examination took place at Poplar Mortuary on Wednesday, 10 January and gave cause of death as a stab wound.

Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating and are continuing to appeal for information.

Detective Inspector Paul Considine, who leads the investigation, said: “From the information I have, it seems that Daniel may have been mistaken for somebody else. He appears to be a completely innocent victim who was walking through the estate when he was subjected to an unprovoked attacked.

“I hope these images will jog the memory of anyone who might have seen these men or know them – please contact us urgently. I believe one of the two men, the one in the darker jacket, may well have sustained an injury to his right leg during the attack which might be consistent with a stab wound.

“We are also still appealing in general for any witnesses or anyone with information who has not yet spoken to us to come forward.”

A 26-year-old man [A] was arrested on the evening of Wednesday, 10 January on suspicion of murder. He was subsequently released under investigation pending further enquiries.

A 16-year-old boy [B] was arrested on suspicion of murder on the morning of Monday, 22 January, and subsequently bailed until a date in mid-February.

Two further arrests were made on Monday, 29 January, in Essex.

An 18-year-old man [C] has been charged with Daniel’s murder. A 41-year-old woman, arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been bailed to a date at the end of February.

The woman has been bailed to a date at the end of February.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3734 – you can also Tweet information to @MetCC.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Man jailed for violent attack, Collier Row

Two men have been sentenced after being convicted for their role in an attack on a teenager in Collier Row.

Gary Warren, 48 (04.12.69) of Jaywick Lane, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex and his brother Lee Warren, 40 (13.08.1973) of Lowshoe Road, Collier Row were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday, 29 January.

Gary Warren was found guilty of GBH with intent and possession of an offensive weapon following a nine-day trial at the same court. He was jailed for 12 years.

Lee Warren pleaded guilty to affray at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay the victim costs.
The court heard how on 9 July 2017, Lee Warren had instigated a fight outside the Royal British Legion in Collier Row with a group who had attended a 21st Birthday party. He had phoned his brother, Gary Warren, to come and assist.

Gary Warren turned up at the venue in possession of a knife, which within seconds he had used to attack an 18-year-old man. The knife caused an injury to the victim’s neck, slicing through an artery. A close friend to the victim who was a trainee paramedic provided life saving first aid enabling the injured male to be taken to hospital. He underwent surgery and was subsequently discharged.

Officers began an investigation and using witness accounts and intelligence work around vehicles at the scene, Gary Warren was identified as a suspect. Lee Warren was arrested having handed himself in the day after the attack.

He was detained at Gatwick Airport on the morning of 11 July attempting to flee the country to Tenerife

Both Gary Warren and Lee Warren were promptly charged by East Area Command Unit Investigations unit and the trial took place between the 2nd January 2018 and the 11th January 2018.

Acting Detective Sergeant Ben McNish who led the investigation said: “This conviction sends a powerful message to those who choose to carry knives on the streets of London, and makes everyone aware of the consequences of such actions.

“I hope that the lengthy sentence handed out to Gary Warren gives some comfort to the victim and his family. The victim was present through the whole trial and conducted himself with dignity and bravery.

“This conviction was the product of exceptional detective work by my team and has ended in two violent men being convicted.”

The victim, Ryan O’Donnell said: “This was an extremely scary experience I was just lucky to have a very calm and smart friend who saved my life. It is a positive result from court and I would like to thank the police for the professionalism shown throughout this investigation.”