Tuesday 16 November 2010

Bank-Snatch Teen Getaway Driver Behind Bars


A teenage getaway driver, who leapt from his moving van during a dramatic police chase after a violent £25,000 bank cash snatch, was locked-up for two years yesterday.

Osei Sarpong, 19, of Barlborough Street, New Cross pleaded guilty to robbery outside LloydsTSB, Crescent Arcade, Greenwich, South-East London (pictured) on June 17.

Prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Turner told Woolwich Crown Court a security van was delivering cash boxes to the bank at 11.30am.

“As one security guard carried the boxes to the bank the second guard inside the van noticed a young man at a nearby bus stop staring at the van.

“On the seventh cash box trip the man ran at the guard and tried to grab the container, which was thrown by the guard into the back of the van.

“The pair struggled and there was kicking by the suspect who managed to grab the container and escape in a white transit van.”

The alarm was raised and police quickly identified the getaway van and gave chase.

“The driver, this defendant, failed to stop and kept going and jumped from the vehicle while it was still moving,” added Mr. Turner.

Police then quickly caught up with Sarpong and arrested him and his accomplice.

“Robbery is a serious offence, not only in terms of the amount of money you stole, but also the trauma that is suffered by the people guarding that money,” Judge Peter Murphy told the defendant.

“This could only have been committed with a certain amount of planning and it was executed with some skill.”

Sarpong was sentenced to two years detention in a young offenders institution.

Monday 15 November 2010

Celebrity Beauty Expert Cleared



A royal make-up artist-to-the-stars, accused of carrying a terrified television producer on the bonnet of her car moments after hurling a torrent of foul-mouthed abuse, was cleared of all charges today.

Beauty expert Teresa Fairminer, 59, who took care of the Duchess of Cornwall's hair and make-up for her wedding to Prince Charles and boasts of a string of celebrity clients walked free from Isleworth Crown Court.

She was found not guilty to driving her silver Mini Cooper dangerously in Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, West London on March 9 and causing criminal damage to t.v. boss Dominic Moran's £600 Prada spectacles.

Fairminer, of Park Road, Chiswick told the jury during the week-long trial she was the target of a campaign of humiliation orchestrated by Mr. Moran who she described as "vindictive."

She said he even turned up with a film crew to her first appearance at Feltham Magistrates' Court.

"I am a victim of rage-transfer," she said after the verdicts, explaining she became the target of Mr. Moran's anger because she was his ex Suzie Fox's best friend and the couple had a bitter break-up.

"This case has effected all of my life all of this year. I am my business."

Mr. Moran, 51, boss of Chiswick Life TV, had emailed Fairminer telling her he was "very disappointed" she pulled out of a make-up consultancy for his niece's wedding in return for two free programmes he made for her.

She admitted in court saying "bollocks" twice during the office confrontation, but denied it was the torrent of abuse described by Mr. Moran.

She was "very concerned" her exclusive business had two videos deleted from Mr. Moran's website and described briskly entering his office after rehearsing what to say.

"I could not get a word," she told the jury. "I asked him again and again: 'Please listen to me,' but he would not listen."

Fairminer admitted snatching the specs because she feared Mr. Moran - who she claims was waving them about - would poke her in the eye.

Outside she was "scared" when followed by Mr. Moran. "I heard a bang at the front of my car and was alarmed.

"I never tried to run him down. I did not accelerate."

She said Mr. Moran's feet never left the ground and he could have moved aside anytime as she gently rolled forward.

When the verdict's were announced Mr. Moran vowed: "This is not over" and promised to upload the CCTV footage to his website.

Fairminer has also given expert beauty tips on shows including GMTV, This Morning, The Clothes Show and Style Challenge.

Sunday 14 November 2010

Paedo Caretaker Exposed By Residents


An Internet paedophile – arrested after worried neighbours tipped-off police – had 295 sickening child sex images on his computer when officers raided his flat.

Housing Association caretaker John Alexander, 61, of Melvin Hall, Golders Green Road, Golders Green, North London (pictured) pleaded guilty to five sample counts of possessing indecent images of children on July 27.

Prosecutor Mr. Travers Sinanan told Wood Green Crown Court on Friday: “The defendant’s home was searched and he was arrested after concerns raised in the local community about an inappropriate relationship.

“They were concerned the relationship between Alexander and two autistic males aged fourteen and seventeen was not natural and that there may have been some sexual activity.”

Officers armed with a search warrant seized the defendant’s computer and found the indecent downloads, which he initially claimed were Internet “pop ups” he had no control over.

In 1990 Alexander was convicted of similar offences in Holland and received an eighteen month suspended sentence.

The defendant has been in custody since August 4 and as a result of his arrest and conviction has lost his job and home.

“This is a person who needs help and support,” said Mr. William Hopper, defending. “The defendant has served the equivalent of a six month sentence.”

Judge Jeff Blackett told Alexander: “My concern is that your sexual predilection is looked into and you are helped. There is no point in locking you up.”

Alexander was placed on a three-year community order, which includes a community Internet sex offender treatment order.

He was also made subject to a Sex Offender’s Prevention Order, prohibiting access to the Internet and close contact with children aged less than sixteen years-old.

Saturday 13 November 2010

Rookie Sex-Crime Teen's Park Attack


A serial teenage flasher, who plagued a popular Tottenham park throughout the summer and attacked one female victim who dialled 999, was locked-up for two years yesterday.

Jobless Haringey 18 year-old Leon Alexander was spotted by the woman playing with himself in bushes at Downhills Park (pictured) while watching a children’s play area.

He pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to robbing the 49 year-old victim of her mobile phone on September 16 and indecently exposing himself on the same occasion.

Alexander also pleaded guilty to three further charges of indecently exposing himself in the park on various dates through May, June and July.

Prosecutor Mr. Travers Sinanan told the court: “After the victim saw the defendant in the bushes he turned to face her and she could see he was masturbating while looking at her. She was shocked and horrified.”

The woman told Alexander she was old enough to be his mother and continued walking.

Alexander shouted: “Hey sexy,” and followed the woman on his bike.

“As she called the police he grabbed the phone from her hand and punched her in the face then continued kicking her in the head until she blacked-out,” added Mr. Sinanan.

A week later he sold her phone for £50.00 on Wood Green High Road.

The victim told police: “I felt pain all over my body. My body was covered in bruises and I have had headaches every day and I am afraid to walk anywhere alone.”

Police linked Alexander to the earlier spate of indecent exposures in the park and when arrested he told officers: “I desperately need help.”

Sentencing him to two years youth detention Judge Jeff Blackett told Alexander: “You clearly need help and I have read the psychiatric report, but I am more troubled by the robbery.

“You followed a woman on your bike, you attacked her, leaving her blacked-out, having punched and kicked her to the ground.”

Friday 12 November 2010

Stalker Charged With Arson Jailed For Harassing Ex


A suicidal Hastings man – locked-up on suspicion of setting his ex’s flat ablaze – was jailed today for twice flouting a court-imposed restraining order, once on the day of the fire.

Nicholas Bellhouse, 31, of Channel Way, Fairlight, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at North London’s Wood Green Crown Court for continuing to text his ex and entering an exclusion zone.

He will be released immediately having already spent four months in custody charged with arson, with intent to endanger life, which was dropped on the day of the trial due to insufficient evidence.

“When the court tells you to do something you do it, you have been contemptuous towards the courts,” Judge Jeff Blackett told Bellhouse.

“If you do get in touch with your former partner again you will end up in prison again.”

Bellhouse pleaded guilty to breaching an indefinite restraining order on June 30 and July 1.

Haringey Magistrates’ Court imposed it on May 25 after the defendant was convicted of harassing his ex-girlfriend Rachel Kelly, 28, and he was also sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for twelve months.

Prosecutor Mr. Travers Sinanan told the court Bellhouse shared a flat in Muswell Hill, North London with Miss Kelly, but after they split he returned to his native East Sussex.

Soon afterwards she spotted him stalking her at busy commuter times at her local railway station and made a formal harassment complaint to police.

Bellhouse was prohibited by the magistrates from contacting Miss Kelly and banned from entering the N.10 postcode.

“On June 30 between 8pm and 10pm Miss Kelly received text messages from Bellhouse in which he said he was taking heroin and drinking whiskey and wanted to meet her.”

In the early hours of July 1 a blaze engulfed Miss Kelly’s second-floor flat (pictured) while it was occupied by friends Eve Pearson, 28, and Oliver Machin, 28.

“The fire was started in the bedroom of Miss Kelly and engulfed the apartment,” explained Mr. Sinanan. “They were overcome with fumes, but Miss Pearson was nudged by her pet dog and woke up.

“She suffered cuts to her hands and wrists while attempting to escape through a window.”

Firemen rushed to the blaze and entered the flat wearing breathing apparatus, rescuing the soot-covered woman and her friend who was sleeping on the sofa.

Miss Kelly was not in the flat at the time, but fifteen minutes before the fire she received more texts from Bellhouse, who police proved was in the area.

“The messages were suicidal in nature and Bellhouse was again insisting he wanted to see her and claimed he intended to take his own life,” added the prosecutor.

CCTV proved the defendant was in the N.10 exclusion zone when he was filmed making a cash point withdrawl.

Sadly Miss Pearson’s pet dog did not survive the fire.

Bellhouse was arrested a week later at St. Thomas’s Hospital, Lambeth, where he was being treated for slashing his wrists and charged with arson.

Mr. Sinanan recommended the Crown Prosecution Service drop the charge due to insufficient evidence and the fire brigade’s opinion the blaze was non-suspicious.

Electrical cables were a potential cause, however Miss Kelly remains convinced Bellhouse deliberately started the fire, the court was told.

The defendant was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on each count to run consecutively and the restraining order remains in place.

Thursday 11 November 2010

Rape Suspect Caught On Bus CCTV


This is the man police are hunting after a 21 year-old woman was raped in the early hours of the morning in a railway station alleyway.

The young woman was walking home alone after a night out on June 17 when he tried to engage her in conversation then raped her in Approach Road, Raynes Park, South West London.

The bus CCTV image was released by the Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire Unit, which specialises in investigating sex crime in the capital.

The suspect, who pounced near Raynes Park Railway Station, is described as a being about 5'6 tall with short black hair and brown eyes.

He is also described as being of a slim, athletic build, spoke with an English accent and may have a speech impediment. 



Detective Constable Andrew Wadey said: “Thankfully incidents of this nature are rare and I would like to reassure the community that Sapphire detectives are doing all they can to identify and arrest the suspect. 



“I would appeal to anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV images to contact the police as soon as possible. 



“I would like to reassure callers that they will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and that we are also able to quickly eliminate anyone unconnected to the rape through forensic evidence.”



Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8721 5903 or to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Wednesday 10 November 2010

Guns In Garden Teen Behind Bars


A teenage armourer – who buried two pistols and ammo in his back garden – has been locked-up for five years after a surprise police raid.

Emiljan Shega, 19, (pictured) of Priory Gardens, Wembley, North West London had an image of himself pointing a lawnmower at the spot where the deadly cache was buried in the flowerbed.

The Metropolitan Police’s Central Task Force seized a German Rohm 9mm self-loading pistol (pictured), a Russian Baikal self-loading pistol, magazines, a silencer, 23 bullets, plus two rounds loaded with a noxious substance.

On July 7 police executed a search warrant at Shega’s address and at the edge of a flowerbed in the rear garden detectives recovered a large cling film package buried approximately 30-50cm below the surface containing the guns.

A mobile phone seized inside the house contained images of Shega seemingly mowing the lawn, but pointing the machine towards the spot the firearms were buried.

Officers believe he was pin-pointing the secret location to criminals who would be collecting the weapons, Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court was told.


Shega was eventually arrested in on September 3.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Beyer of the Central Task Force said: “Shega is a young criminal who believed he was being shrewd in concealing firearms in the garden.

“Unfortunately for him, he didn’t count on them being recovered by police and that his own stupidity - taking photos of the scene - would ultimately serve to assist in his incrimination.

“What he planned to do with the weapons is unclear, but I have no doubt they would have ended up in the hands of those involved in organised crime.

“In that sense this is a successful operation which has culminated in the removal of two loaded weapons from circulation.”


Tuesday 9 November 2010

Celebrity Make-Up Artist Drove Into TV Producer After Foul-Mouthed Rant


A royal make-up artist-to-the-stars carried a terrified television producer on the bonnet of her car moments after hurling a torrent of foul-mouthed abuse at him for a scolding email, a court heard today.


Beauty expert Teresa Fairminer, 59, (pictured) who took care of the Duchess of Cornwall's hair and make-up for her wedding to Prince Charles and boasts of a string of celebrity clients "was absolutely possessed," the jury was told.


She has pleaded not guilty to driving her Mini Cooper dangerously in Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, West London on March 9 and causing criminal damage to t.v. boss Dominic Moran's £600 Prada spectacles.


He told Isleworth Crown Court Fairminer - whose clients include Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lilly Allen, Cherie Blair and Yasmin Le Bon - burst into his office after delivering a tirade of abuse in a phone call.


Mr. Moran, 51, (pictured) boss of Chiswick Life TV, had emailed Fairminer telling her he was "very disappointed" she pulled out of a make-up consultancy for his niece's wedding in return for two free programmes he made for her.


"I received a call from Teresa that staggered me, I got a tirade of abuse down the phone," he told the jury. "She said she was coming in to sort me out, her and her boyfriend.


"She stormed straight through reception and past my twelve employees. "It was like listening to a docker. Everything was F and C.


"It was unbelievable, I had never heard anything like it. She was so out of control.


"She grabbed my glasses off my face and refused to give them back, then threw them at a wall and broke them.


"She started pushing me and punching me. She was absolutely possessed, screaming and shouting.


"There was a crowd gathering and she shouted: 'How can you work for this fucking cunt?' and when I told her the police were coming she high-tailed it out calling me a fuckhead."


Mr. Moran tried to block Fairminer leaving the office car park and CCTV captured him being carried on the bonnet into Chiswick High Road.


"She looked out of control and I realised I was in a bad position," he told the court. "She just went for me and I realised: 'Oh my God she's not going to stop.'


"I was carried on the bonnet into the bus lane and thought I was going to go under one.


"It wasn't pleasant to be run over. She could have killed me.


"I did her a favour, but I regret it now. It's probably one of the worst decisions I've made in my life."


Police quizzed Fairminer, of Park Road, Chiswick a few weeks later and she admitted grabbing Mr. Moran's glasses, but insisted she dropped them gently on the carpeted floor.


"I childishly just wanted him to grovel down and pick them up," she told police, adding later: "The moral of this is don't stand in front of an angry woman in a car'."


Prosecutor Mr. Dominic Bush told the jury: "She was in a foul mood, shouting and screaming and calling him all the names under the sun. She was not listening, she was absolutely beside herself.


"It must have been obvious driving into the bus lane with a man gangling on her bonnet was dangerous."


Fairminer has also given expert beauty tips on shows including GMTV, This Morning, The Clothes Show and Style Challenge.


Trial continues..............

Monday 8 November 2010

DNA Breakthrough In Twelve-Year Murder Mystery


Police hunting the killers of a Lithuanian woman twelve years ago have made a fresh appeal for witnesses after a DNA breakthrough in the case.

Kaunas-born Nijole Siskeviciene, 44, (pictured) of Lancelot Road, Wembley, North West London was found dead near garage 200 yards from her home on October 20, 1998.

She had been strangled.

Mysterious letters from two different authors informed police two unknown black suspects carried the mother-of-one from an address in Lancelot Road to a car.

Superintendent Keith Niven of the Metropolitan Police’s Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: “I think it is fair to say Nijole came to England hoping to build a successful future for herself and her son.

“Unfortunately this was not be and she died a lonely and depressed person who had suffered fatal injuries and her body abandoned 200 yards from her home.

“Nijole’s son is a lone voice and seeks justice for his mother who was clearly a defenceless and vulnerable person. I am committed to identifying who is responsible for Nijole’s death and ensuring that the perpetrator is placed before the courts.”

Divorced Nijole moved to London on May 3, 1997 without her only son, earning a meagre living in the low-paid job of hotel chambermaid, becoming isolated and depressed with few friends or prospects.

“Following a re-investigation into the murder there has now been a significant development,” added Superintendent Niven.

“Thanks to the advancement in scientific procedures we now have a DNA profile of a possible suspect. 



“At this moment in time we do not know the identity of this person, but all we need is a name and we will be able confirm who this profile belongs to. 



“If you know or suspect who this may be please come forward.”

She only moved into the Lancelot Road address a week before her death and on October 18 returned to her former home in Charteris Road, Kilburn to collect the last of her belongings.

She was seen alive at 8.00am on October 20 the Lancelot Road address - 10 hours later she was dead. 



Nijole was found wearing jeans, a pale blue round-necked jumper, a distinctive multi-coloured three quarter length cardigan and open-toed shoes.

Her black leather handbag and her wristwatch have never been found. 



Just days after the murder, two anonymous letters were sent to Wembley police station.

They appeared to have been written by different people and both described the body being moved following the murder. 



The letters were posted locally and it was stressed by the authors they were afraid to speak to the police. 



In the first letter, the author described seeing a woman being carried out of a house in Lancelot Road between 1.15pm and 2.30pm by two black men and put into a car.

The letter ended: “I am not much help, am I, I am to old, I am afraid to go outside my door.”



The second letter describes seeing two men lifting a woman wearing blue jeans and a blue jumper.

The writer said: “Sorry, I do not want my family in this sort of thing.”

“We are still appealing for the authors of the two letters to contact us,” explained Superintendent Niven.

“I know that originally they did not want to speak to police, but the passage of time may now mean that people feel able to come forward, it is important that they know the information they may have is still valuable to us and we would like to speak to them. 



“I would like to reassure anyone in possession of information relating to Nijole's death that any concerns they may have about contacting police can be addressed and measures put in place to resolve any issues.

“Anything said can be treated in the strictest of confidence. Their evidence could be absolutely vital.



“Your assistance may enable us to finally secure justice for Nijole and her family.”



Anyone with information is asked to call the Incident Room on 0208 733 4613 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sunday 7 November 2010

Hit-And-Run Killer Jailed For Car Death Horror


A nightclub row ended in a hit-and-run murder when a killer stalked his prey for ten miles – finally running a father-of-three over twice – leaving the victim with fatal crush injuries.

Garry Frater, 32, (pictured) of Cobham Close, Edgware, North London was left dying in the road at 4am after 24 year-old Louis Tate of Rosamun Street, Southall, Middlesex ran him over.

The Old Bailey heard following a row when the defendant and a pal approached a woman in Garry’s group during a night out in Watford, Hertfordshire on May 30, last year Tate followed the victim and his two friends who took a mini-cab to Halford Close, Edgware.

There was a second argument and Garry and a friend chased Tate’s Ford Fiesta to the end of the road, where he suddenly reversed at high speed, striking the victim and dragging him under the car.

The vehicle then drove forward at speed, dragging Garry under the wheels again, leaving him with fatal multiple internal injuries to the chest and abdomen.

Officers traced the Ford Fiesta to Acton, West London where it was parked on a driveway with significant damage consistent with the collision.



Forensic analysis revealed Garry's fingerprints and blood on the bodywork.

After Tate was sentenced to life imprisonment with an 18-year minimum for murder Detective Inspector Andy Chalmers of the Met’s Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: “It has been a long process to get to this conviction today, involving a very thorough investigation and two trials.

“I would like to thank not only my officers for their dedication to solving this case, but also Garry's family and friends who have supported us throughout.

They miss Garry a great deal and continue to try and make sense of why this happened.”


Saturday 6 November 2010

'Costa Cannibal' Back Behind Bars In U.K.


A notorious killer dubbed the 'Costa Cannibal' - who killed and claimed he ate parts of his girlfriend after fleeing to Spain following a daring escape from police - has been locked-up for an extra eight years and eight months.


Ex-fugitive Paul Durant, 50, (pictured) is serving a 12-year manslaughter sentence after admitting killing mum-of-two Karen Durrell, 41, in Calpe near Benidorm in 2004.


The East Londoner pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to attempting to rob a security guard of a cashbox on November 26, 2003, robbing another guard of a cashbox on December 1 and escaping from the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel on December 2.


He denied two further charges of robbing guards of cashboxes on October 28 and November 25 and those allegations will lie on the file.


Durant was receiving medical treatment for a hand injury sustained during his arrest when he leapt thirty feet from a balcony, dodging police guarding him and made his way to Spain.


There he met Karen (pictured) of Emsworth Road, Woodford Bridge, Essex, who moved abroad to start a new life in January, 2004, but vanished within weeks.


She was battered over the head with a mallet after rowing with Durant over a child abuse video. Her body has never been found.


Police found a knife with traces of flesh, blood in the bath and a blood stained suitcase at her flat.


Durant was arrested in March, 2004 and told a UK tabloid: "I believed God had delivered her to me and I was getting messages from the telly.


"After I killed her, I cut her body into small parts, eating what parts of her I found eatable. I finally disposed of what was left in small rubbish bags."


The Spanish authorities recently repatriated Durant to this country to serve out his sentence and he was due for release in February 2013, but will now have to finish this term before he is freed.