Hunt For Home-Invader Who Attacked 83 Year-Old Woman

Police have released this e-fit in the hope somebody can identify a “cowardly” home-invader who slashed an 83 year-old woman with a knife and tied her up before searching the home for valuables.

The victim was taken to hospital with serious injuries after the late-night break-in at her address in Sprowston Road, Forest Gate, East London on August 20.

When she disturbed the intruder he punched her in the face, threw her to the floor and demanded to know where she kept her valuable items.

When she refused to tell him he slashed her in the face and arms with a penknife.

He then forced a cloth into her mouth so violently to silence her – a tooth was chipped - and tied her hands and went on to search the property.

After stealing the victim’s white mobile phone he fled the scene, leaving the victim bound.

Her cries alerted a relative also staying at the address and emergency services were called.

The victim was treated for a dislocated arm; puncture wounds from the knife; a bruised and swollen face and the chipped tooth.

Inquiries continue to establish whether any further items aside from the phone were stolen.

The suspect is described as a dark-skinned black man, approx 5'4"-5'6" tall, with big dark eyes, small features and a full beard.

He was wearing dark clothing and a distinctive woolly hat with coloured stripes.

“This was a cowardly and vicious assault on a defenceless elderly woman in her own home for what would appear to be a theft of minimal value,” said Detective Inspector Andrew Furphy of Newham CID.

“The victim is understandably very shaken up by her ordeal and is anxious that police find the person responsible.”

“Do you recognise the person in the e-fit? Were you in the area at the time of the incident? Did you see anything suspicious? I would urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant they think it might be, to contact police as a matter of urgency on 020 7275 5009. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Grasping BA Boss Banged-Up For Ticket Swindle

A greedy British Airways ticket manager, who masterminded a £300,000 scam to rip-off last-minute customers, has been jailed for three years.

Mark Smith, 36, (pictured) of Eleanors Close, Thundridge, Ware, Hertfordshire bought-up cheaper advance flight tickets – changed the dates – then sold them on for a healthy profit.

He even set-up a company in 2007 to handle the sales and used the money to help buy a five-bedroom house with hot tub, a yacht and cars.

Smith was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court of conspiracy to defraud, plus four counts of transferring criminal property, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act.

British Airways alerted police in May 2008 to irregularities in relation to the purchase of their flight tickets.

“Mark Smith abused his trusted position to defraud his employers and mislead the general public who purchased tickets from him in good faith,” said Detective Inspector Barry Slade.

“This conviction shows that police will work closely with an airline to detect this type of crime and bring those responsible before the court.”

Police Still Hope To Catch Killer 8 Years On

Police have not given up their hunt for the killer of a North London man bludgeoned to death in his first-floor masionette over eight years ago and have reappealed for witnesses.

The battered body of 57 year-old Richard Watson (pictured) was discovered at his home in Kennedy Avenue, Ponders End on August 18, 2002.

There was no evidence of forced entry and Richard had died as a result of repeated heavy blows to the head with a blunt instrument.

Richard, who lived alone, was last seen alive six days earlier when he visited a building society in New Southgate.

He rarely allowed anyone access to his home, which he would routinely leave each morning, returning in the late afternoon/early evening.

Richard was seen most days in the community pushing his shopping trolley and regularly visited the Southgate area where he was a local betting office regular and ate at a nearby McDonald's.

“It is now eight years since Mr. Watson was brutally murdered in his own home. This case has never been closed and will remain open until the person/s responsible have been brought to justice,” announced Detective Inspector Neale Baldock of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

“Despite the passage of time, I believe there are people in the community who may know who is responsible for Mr. Watson's murder.

“Allegiances and loyalties can change in the intervening years and I appeal directly to those individuals with information to get in contact.

“I also appeal to anyone who has information, no matter how small or insignificant you feel it may be, to call the incident room.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 0208 345 3775. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Death-Wish Wheelchair Yob Bust's Cop's Jaw

A notorious wheelchair-bound thug, who broke a policeman’s jaw with a single punch while threatening to burn down his own Tolworth home, has been forced to continue hospital psychiatric treatment.

One-legged amputee Abraham O’Carroll, 62 - a serial ASBO breacher known as ‘Tipperary’ to long-suffering neighbours – will not be released until an independent tribunal says so.

The Irishman pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to maliciously wounding PC Nick Bondonno, inflicting grievous bodily harm, on September 2, last year at the Surrey address in Fullers Avenue.

Prosecutor Miss Anne Davies told the court: “Police were called by an ambulance crew because this defendant was threatening suicide.

“When police arrived at the scene at 9.25am they found him in a wheelchair threatening to burn the house down and he had a lighted piece of paper in his hand, causing his partner to fear for her safety.”

O’Carroll shouted: “I’m serious. I’m going to burn the house down.”

“The defendant raised himself up from the wheelchair and the officer moved in to ask him to sit down when Mr. O’Carroll clenched his fist and punched very hard in an upward motion,” added Miss Davies.

The officer was rushed to Kingston Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department and was transferred to St. George’s Hospital, Tooting for specialist care.

In a statement he explained: “I felt a crack and my lower jaw collided with my upper jaw and the force of the punch caused my head to flip back and there was a ringing sensation in my ear.

“I am very upset Abraham has done this to me when I explained to him I was at his address to help.

“I cannot eat solids, it’s hard to sleep and I have been removed from front-line police duties.”

In the tussle that followed O’Carroll (pictured) fell to the floor, knocking over the dining room table, before being handcuffed and arrested.

One paramedic, who regularly attended the defendant’s home, said in his statement: “He was desperate to know if police were going to attend and seemed as if he would have attacked any officer that had come to speak to him.

The attack was completely unprovoked.”

Doctors confirmed there was a fracture to the right side of the police officer’s jaw.

“When Mr. O’Carroll was questioned he said he was depressed because he had not had a drink since January and was a recovering alcoholic,” explained Miss Davies.

“He said he wanted to burn the house down and was trying to take his own life.”

O’Carroll has a record of offences stretching back forty years and in more recent times has been jailed for assaulting police, battery, causing actual bodily harm, common assault, has multiple ASBO breaches and a record of drunkenness and threatening behaviour.

He will continue receiving residential care for his agitated depressive state at the Priory Hospital, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire.

“This is a serious offence, an imprisonable offence,” Judge Fergus Mitchell told O’Carroll, making a Section 37 hospital order.

“He suffers from a mental disorder that makes it appropriate for him to be detained.

“This serious charge arose when he was in a wheelchair and with enormous force broke that officer’s jaw who was there to assist him.

“This is a case of serious violence and there is a history here.”

The Judge also made a Section 41 order, forcing O’Carroll to make a successful application for conditional discharge to an independent tribunal, before he can be allowed home.

Cocaine-Dealing Not Smart Says Judge

A wannabe Royal Engineer's dreams of a successful Army career are in tatters after he was locked up for dealing cocaine.

Jobless Ben Jeffery, 20, of Court Farm Road, Eltham, South-East London pleaded guilty to possessing 13 gms of cocaine, with intent to supply, on March 30.

He also admitted possessing criminal property from the sale of cocaine, namely £790 cash on the same date.

"This is class A drugs, not Smarties, he is dealing in," announced Croydon Crown Court (pictured) Judge Heather Baucher, sentencing Jeffery to two years youth custody.

"It is an immediate custodial sentence. We simply cannot have people running around the streets dealing drugs."

The first-time offender's lawyer told the court: "He was led astray by friends and wants to put his life back on track.

"He wants to join the Royal Engineers."

Millwall FC's Ex-Kids Coach Caged For Drugs Cache

An ex-Millwall Football Club schoolboys’ coach, who threw £12,000 worth of heroin and crack out his bedroom window during a police dawn raid, was jailed for five years and eight months today.

Operation Trident officers – who investigate violent black-on-black crime in the capital – were assisted by the Territorial Support Group and also seized £11,000 in drug-tainted cash.

Jobless Taurean Davis, 25, of Ardoch Road, Catford, South East London pleaded guilty to possessing 118 gms of heroin and 90 gms of crack cocaine, with intent to supply, at the address on January 20.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing a small quantity of cannabis and the proceeds of crime, namely £6,000 at the house, plus another £5,000 seized at his mother’s house in Ivydale Road, Nunhead.

Prosecutor Mr. Andrew Ramsubhag told Croydon Crown Court officers armed with a search warrant used an ‘enforcer’ to smash their way through the front door.

As they did a large black plastic bag was hurled out of an upstairs window, which contained 787 wraps of heroin and 450 wraps of cocaine.

In that bedroom police arrested Davis and found £6,000.

A simultaneous search warrant was executed at his mother’s address and there officers found £5,000 stuffed inside a pillowcase.

“Large trace amounts of heroin were found on both quantities of cash and on mobile telephones seized,” explained Mr. Ramsubhag.

“He was a football coach at Millwall Football Club coaching under elevens and had the relevant qualifications to do that,” said Mr. Khurram Arif, defending.

Davis, who has an eight year-old daughter and admits he was once a drug addict, was previously convicted of possessing 19 wraps of heroin and crack hidden inside his boxer shorts.

Judge Simon Pratt told Davis: “So often it happens that people start drug dealing as a result of drug taking and this is what seems to have happened in your case.

“This shows you to be a drug dealer in a significant way, this is a lot of heroin and cocaine in the various bags.

“You are a significant dealer in class A drugs, that is reflected by the significant amounts of money.”

Police forfeited the £11,000 cash and the drugs will be destroyed.

Davis received five years and eight months for the two drug supply charges, three years concurrent for possessing the proceeds of crime and three months concurrent for possessing cannabis.

Cop Headbutts Bum-Grope Love Rival

A young police officer's career lies in ruins after he head-butted and punched his fiancé's bum-groper - knocking out the victim's tooth during a drink-fuelled night-club attack.

PC Darren Martin, 26, of Lyndhurst Road, Bexleyheath, Kent left the victim with a cut to his lip and right ear, plus swelling and bruising and a lifelong 'dead tooth'.

He received 200 hours community service at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) after pleading guilty to assaulting Marcus Brown, causing him actual bodily harm, in 'Pure' night-club, Bexleyheath, in the early hours of November 28, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. Stephen Clayton told the court it was a busy Friday night and up to 500 customers were packed into the venue, which Martin visited with girlfriend Nicola Dunmill, downing three pints of Guinness.

"The victim, the club's assistant manager, had previously been Miss Dunmill's boyfriend and they had parted on friendly terms.

"As staff were closing up the victim passed Miss Dunmill, touching her on the bottom as he did, and she confirmed to the defendant he was her ex-boyfriend and the defendant became jealous.

"He walked up to the victim and head-butted him and followed up with a punch to the victim's right ear, knocking him to the floor," explained Mr. Clayton.

"The defendant was detained by staff, police were called and he was arrested."

Martin replied "no comment" when quizzed, but in a prepared statement told police: "Fearing for my safety I struck him with my head. Still fearing assault I struck at him with my hand."

The defendant is currently suspended on full pay, but will be sacked from the force. "It has not happened yet, but it is inevitable," confirmed his lawyer Mr. Robin Sellers.

"It is a great tragedy all round. It is a great shame the community is deprived of this individual," added the lawyer. "In this one moment of madness there was an all-consuming lack of judgement."

Martin has served five years as a police officer and in a letter to the court his Inspector confirmed he was a normally calm and thoughtful in his work.

"He was not drunk, but drink played a part," said Mr. Sellers. "He will not be working in the very near future, he will be dismissed."

Judge William Barnett QC told Martin: "You know as well as everyone else this was an extremely unfortunate incident and you are going to lose your job in the police force.

"You were a conscientious, sensible officer, undemonstrative in your character, which is just the sort of policeman people need working with the public.

"To some extent you were under the influence of drink and you pleaded guilty on the basis it was self-defence that went over the top," added the Judge.

"You thought he was going to hit you and you misjudged that."

No compensation to the victim was ordered because Martin - who has a daughter from a previous relationship - has credit card debts of £18,000, plus a property in negative-equity that needs an additional £350 mortgage top-up after he collects the rent.

"You are facing bankruptcy and I think it would by entirely wrong to order compensation or costs," announced Judge Barnett.

One-Time Teenage Sweethearts Split After Easter Stabbing

A woman who stabbed her long-term partner during an alcohol-fueled Easter Monday row over his reluctance to have a family has dodged prison.

Accounts executive Victoria Harrington, 32, of Saltash Close, Sutton was also accused of infidelity during the violent disturbance, which resulted in neighbours calling the police.

She pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to maliciously wounding 34 year-old Gregory Cox, inflicting grievous bodily harm, at her home address on April 5.

Prosecutor Mr. Nicholas Hall told the court: “The couple had an argument at their home in Sutton and as a result Mr. Cox was stabbed through the upper arm and required four stitches.

“It was all one blow and nobody else was present.”

The couple were teenage sweethearts and together sixteen years, but the relationship became strained after the defendant experienced two failed pregnancies in 2008.

Mr. Cox refused to fully co-operate with police and did not allow photographs of the wound to be taken.

“His relationship with her is now over,” added Mr. Hall.

When arrested Harrington confessed in the police car to the stabbing.

“Yes, it was me. We were arguing and I was so angry I hit him with the knife. I can’t believe what I have done,” she told officers.

Harrington’s lawyer Mr. Colin Aylott told the court: “This is the product of a damaging relationship, which friends and family told her to give up years ago, but due to strong feelings for Mr. Cox she didn’t.

“He admits he has treated her badly and subjected her to not physical, but psychological abuse.

“It was plain Mr. Cox did not want to be a father and made those feelings plain in a blunt fashion,” added Mr. Aylott. “It may explain the extreme reaction.

“He was also questioning her fidelity and using disgraceful language towards her.

“It is difficult for her to understand why she reacted in this extreme way.

“She is a young woman who everyone speaks so highly of, a young woman of intelligence who is hardworking and owns her flat,” added the lawyer.

Judge Daniel Flahive announced: “In other circumstances she could have killed him.”

He sentenced the first-time offender to 220 hours community service work and ordered her to pay £300 costs.

“Both of you were in drink and you lunged at him once with a knife,” Judge Flahive told the defendant. “This is out of character for you.”

Police Pursue Uncle In Nicked Super-Mini

A Sheerness man, pursued by police along three different motorways in a stolen £20,000 top-of-the-rang Mini Cooper he claims his nephew paid him £150 to deliver, has dodged prison.

Builder John McIlroy, 37, of Buckthorne Road, Minster-on-Sea was followed by officers on the M25, M26 and M20 as he drove the 148 mph vehicle.

He was convicted by a Croydon Crown Court (pictured) jury of dishonestly handling the stolen 208 horsepower red John Cooper Works Mini on November 26, last year.

Judge William Barnett QC sentenced McIlroy to 200 hours community service and ordered him to pay £500 costs.

McIlroy claims he was persuaded when short of cash to drive the car to a garage and did not know it was stolen.

“This was a motor car of considerable value and you contested this case,” Judge Barnett told the defendant.

“I suspect it was earlier than when you received police attention that you became suspicious and it was wishful thinking on your part that there was not something unlawful about the car.

“You were essentially conned by a member of your family into doing this and you have now fallen out with that member of the family who preyed on you because of your lack of money.

“You were to drive it to this garage and get one hundred and fifty pounds, which in fact you never did get.”

Pub Punter 'Bottled' After Dirty Look Sparks Brawl

A pub yob, who smashed a rival over the head with a beer bottle when a late-night brawl was sparked by a “dirty look”, has dodged jail with a suspended sentence.

Window fitter Robert Spinks, 20, of Comport Green, New Addington, Croydon left his victim covered in blood and needing emergency hospital treatment to a wound requiring five stitches.

The first-time offender pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to maliciously wounding Paul Carey, causing him grievous bodily harm, in Lloyds Bar, (pictured) Westmoreland Place, Bromley on September 17, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. Hamish Reid told the court it was 10.30pm when two groups – one including Spinks - who knew each other began fighting.

“It seems that one of the groups felt that the other was looking at them in a funny way. A dirty look,” explained Mr. Reid. “A scuffle then started.”

The victim moved in to save his brother who was surrounded by five members of the rival group.

“As he moved in to assist he felt a sharp blow to his head and as he went outside blood was pouring from the left side of his head,” said Mr. Reid.

“This defendant had struck the blow with a beer bottle to the side of the victim’s head and the strike caused it to break.”

Mr. Carey was rushed to the accident and emergency department of the Royal University Hospital, Farnborough and was treated for a Y-shaped wound above his left ear.

He was kept in overnight to ensure he did not suffer any serious internal head injury.

Spinks claims he only drank two bottles of beer that night and lashed out after seeing his friend hit over the head with a bar stool receiving a wound that required seven stitches.

Recorder Richard Bruce told Spinks: “This was serious late-night violence in licenced premises. In your favour this was one blow, albeit with a bottle in your hand.”

He sentenced the defendant to eight months youth custody, suspended for a year, ordered him to complete 150 hours community service and pay Mr. Carey £300 compensation and to pay £350 costs.

'James Bond' Weapons Boffins Shaken By Years In Stir

Two crooks who ran an illegal firearms factory from a railway arch lock-up – producing James Bond-type weapons such as a pen and key-ring gun – have been jailed.

Paul Coke, 40, of Mayesbrook Road, Ilford, Essex (pic.l.) received 14 years and 26 year-old Fatmir Kadena of Flack Court, Leyton, East London (pic.r.) received 9 years.

They were arrested after Operation Trident officers – who investigate violent black-on-black crime in the capital – raided the premises, which were protected by a reinforced steel door.

Inside police seized nine firearms, including the lethal pen-gun (pictured) and the key-ring gun, which was hidden inside a ceiling beam.

They were convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court of conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition, with intent to enable others to endanger life.

Police armed with search warrants executed the dawn raid in Tilbury Road, Leyton on May 11, last year after discovering the pair ran a DIY gun-conversion business – turning imitation and blank-firing handguns into live weapons, which retail on the black market for £500 - £1,000.

Firearms seized included a Browning self-loading pistol, a Kimar Model 85 self-loading pistol, a ‘British Bulldog’ brand revolver, an ‘American Double Action’ brand revolver and an air pistol that had the appearance of a handgun.

Inside an electricity box officers discovered modified and converted 8mm ammunition.

Firearm parts and further ammunition were found inside drawers and a cupboard and a 5,000-volt stun gun was recovered from the top drawer of a filing cabinet.

The pen-gun, located inside a cardigan pocket and the key-ring gun had been modified from their original form and were both lethal-barrelled weapons capable of firing ammunition.

Two Olympic '38 starting pistols in the process of being converted were also discovered in the loft area.

A second premises further along Tilbury Road was searched and police found a silencer and further ammunition hidden inside the engine compartment of a Vauxhall Calibra.

Self-loading pistols and additional ammunition were found in a black bag stashed within a wall cavity at the location.

Officers estimate the pair had been running the operation for at least three months and whilst there was no evidence that they had been selling the items from the location, it is believed likely that they had already profited from their activity.

Ironically the CCTV cameras set up to monitor any unwanted guests ultimately assisted with the pair's incrimination - with footage showing Coke concealing what officers believe to be a firearm within a pool table.

“This was a highly organised operation whereby Coke and Kadena were converting and modifying firearms, doubtless with the sole intention of selling them on to those intent on committing serious crime,” said Detective constable Dan Bryant of Operation Trident.

“They were dangerous and ruthless individuals, content in the knowledge they were producing deadly weapons in order to line their own pockets and I am pleased that today's result reflects the danger their actions posed to the wider community.

“Trident is committed to tackling all aspects of gun crime and will continue in its determination to bring those who profit from it to justice.”

Costa del crime fugitive behind bars

Justice finally caught up with a drug-dealer today - who fled to Spain 10 years ago receiving a 1m Euro fine for similar crimes in Benidorm - when he received 19 months for the decade-old offences.

Gavin Mead, 47, from Beckenham, South-East London jumped bail in 2000 and headed for the Costa del crime, where he continued dealing drugs.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to possessing 3928 gms and 701 gms of canabis, plus 971 gms of methylamphetamine - known as 'chrystal meth' - with intent to supply in Bromley on December 8, 2000.

Mead has been in custody since October 10, 2008 when arrested by Spanish police for drug offences and was extradited back to the UK.

While in custody drug-user Mead tested positive for heroin, cocaine and cannabis.

"You made a complete hash of this," Judge Simon Pratt told the defendant. "One is tempted to say: 'If you can't do the time. Don't do the crime'."

He sentenced Mead to fifteen months imprisonment for the three drug offences, plus four months for jumping bail.

Transsexual Prostitute Killed By Client

A vicious punter who strangled and robbed a transsexual prostitute – blowing the cash on two more hookers – is facing a life sentence after being convicted of the “brutal and pre-meditated” murder.

Prostitute Destiny Lauren, 29, (pictured) was born a man and was awaiting a sex-change operation when he was killed at his home address in Leighton Crescent, Kentish Town, North London on November 5, last year.

Leon Fyle, 21, (pic.bottom) of Laleham Road, Catford, South East London will be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 17.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Liz Baker of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: “The murder of Destiny Lauren was brutal and pre-meditated.

“Destiny lived alone in her flat in Kentish Town.

“She had a troubled history and had suffered depression following the death of her mother but was trying to turn her life around.

“Destiny was well known to many people in the Camden area and was regarded as a 'character' by those who knew her.

“She was close to her father and two brothers, who she contacted regularly, and she had a love for the finer things in life and appreciated beautiful things.

“Her life was abruptly ended when she met Leon Fyle, a young man she had never met before, who murdered and robbed her in her own home. She was found dead by her brother.

“Fyle has not shown one shred of remorse for this callous act nor for the suffering he has inflicted on Destiny's family and friends.”

Destiny was taken by ambulance to the Royal Free Hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as manual and forcible compression to the neck (strangulation).

On the night of the murder, Fyle telephoned Destiny, before travelling across London to visit him for a sex.

Fyle had sex with Destiny, before strangling him and fleeing with items of his jewellery, his mobile phone and £350 cash.

Destiny's brother discovered the body soon after the attack and raised the alarm.

After the attack Fyle escaped to Kings Cross by bus, visiting a brothel and spending £250 of the stolen cash on two female prostitutes.

Horror In Woolwich: Woman Beaten To Death

A jobless teen accused of beating an innocent passer-by to death in a builder’s yard moments after storming out of a flat during a row with his girlfriend has been remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey.

Local woman Toni Rudman, 24, (pictured) suffered fatal head injuries in North Road, Woolwich, South East London on August 7.

Jobless Ryan David Lee Backhouse, 19, appeared at Woolwich Magistrates’ Court charged with her murder and will next appear on November 15.

A relative of Toni’s said from the family home in Erith: “We can’t believe it has happened. We are in total shock.

“My mother’s struggling to cope. We are utterly devastated and she is in pieces.”

Passers-by ran to help after hearing the victim’s screams and found her lying on the ground with “horrendous” head injuries.

Paramedics and an air ambulance were called at 8.10pm, but Toni was declared dead at the scene.