Man Attempts to Murder Ex-Girlfriend and Rival After Catching Them in Bed: Court Hears
Ka Chun Wong, 27, faced allegations of attempted murder in Woolwich Crown Court after a harrowing incident on October 7 last year. Wong is accused of launching a ferocious attack on Ji Wu and Zhi Liang Chen, reportedly catching them in bed together at a flat on Naomi Street, Deptford. The court heard that the […]
Woman Jailed After XL Bully Incident Appears in Court Again for Shopkeeper Terrorising
Amy Legemah, 37, found herself back in court after a tumultuous series of events, culminating in her sentencing to 10 months in prison for battery, criminal damage, and possession of cannabis. This latest incident comes just months after Legemah’s XL Bully, Hugo, was deemed dangerously out of control and ordered to be put down by […]
Gang Sentenced to 52 Years for Possession of Loaded Firearm and Knives in Deptford
In a significant crackdown on violent crime, four men have been collectively sentenced to 52 years in prison following a dramatic intervention by Scotland Yard’s armed officers. The gang, including Jamal Francis, Jarell McKenzie, Gregton Bower, and James Rowland, were apprehended in Deptford, southeast London, with a loaded gun and three large knives in their […]
Met officers from south-east London led a meticulous three-year investigation into a sexual offender who targeted children online
Vinnie Pinkham, 19 (15.11.04) of Restons Crescent, Eltham was sentenced on Thursday 28 March at Woolwich Crown Court to seven years in prison and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order after he was convicted of: During a Met investigation, detectives gathered evidence to show Pinkham attempted to befriend children aged six to eight across […]
Grandfather Beaten to Death Over £30 Debt: Drug Dealer Jailed for Life
A tragic incident unfolded in Kennington last year, as Shaun McEvoy, a 56-year-old grandfather, fell victim to a brutal beating over a £30 debt owed to a drug dealer. Dedan Simmons, a 40-year-old from Clapham Road in Stockwell, was convicted of McEvoy’s murder after a trial at Woolwich Crown Court in February. McEvoy, described by […]
A violent criminal armed with a knife has been jailed after forcing a van driver to give him a lift in Gravesend
During the evening of 9 November 2023, a man was making food deliveries for a supermarket when he stopped in London Road. Whilst the vehicle was stationary, Jimmy Lee suddenly approached, opened the passenger door and got in. Lee, who appeared intoxicated, demanded a lift and became aggressive when the vehicle’s occupant declined. He then […]
Pensioner’s Sat Nav Leads Police to Brothel, Sentenced to Suspended Prison Term
Dogan Salih, 69, Admits to Running Brothel and Drug Offences A pensioner’s navigation system led police to an unexpected discovery when officers found wraps of cocaine in the boot of 69-year-old Dogan Salih’s car last January. What began as a routine traffic stop escalated into the uncovering of a brothel located on a quiet residential […]
Jury Finds Man Guilty of Stabbing Outside Greenwich Pub
Defendant Found Unfit to Plead, Sentencing Set for May 2024 A jury has determined that a 66-year-old man, Bernard McDonald, was responsible for stabbing another man outside the Star and Garter pub in Greenwich. The incident, which occurred on August 1, 2021, left the victim with serious injuries, requiring urgent medical attention. McDonald was arrested […]
Parents of Nigel Farage’s Daughter’s Boyfriend Jailed for Running Drug Operation
Lacey Tilley, 37, and Darren McKenna, 38, parents of Jack, the boyfriend of Nigel Farage’s daughter Isabelle, have been sentenced after being found guilty of operating a drug business spanning Lewisham borough. Operating primarily in areas such as Catford, Sydenham, Forest Hill, and Bellingham, Tilley and McKenna ran a lucrative drug operation, dealing in crack […]
Major Drug Bust Leads to Multiple Arrests and Charges in North Kent
A significant investigation into the supply of class A drugs in North Kent has resulted in a series of arrests and charges. Officers from Kent Police’s County Lines and Gangs Team, after extensive surveillance and analysis, identified a specific phone line allegedly responsible for distributing cocaine to users in Dartford, Longfield, and Gravesend since the […]
Abusive partner held a knife to the victim’s neck
An abusive partner who repeatedly assaulted and stalked a woman near Maidstone has been jailed. Jack Hennessy was responsible for a campaign of violence, control, and intimidation over several months, which included holding a knife to his victim’s neck. Hennessy was initially arrested in January 2023, following a report that in the weeks before he […]
Two County Line Drug Dealers Jailed After Gravesend Patrols Intercept Erratic Vehicle
Two individuals involved in county-line drug dealing have been sentenced to imprisonment after their suspicious behaviour behind the wheel caught the attention of Gravesend patrols. Lewis Falegan and Reis Bhandal, both aged 23, were apprehended following a pursuit on September 4, 2023. The sequence of events unfolded when officers on patrol in Gravesend spotted a […]
Truck Driver Jailed for Fatal Crash at Blackheath Bus Stop, Killing 14-Year-Old Boy
A truck driver has been jailed after he crashed into a bus stop in Blackheath, killing a 14-year-old boy.
Logan Finch was waiting for the 321 bus on Eltham Road with his aunt and cousins on December 21, 2021, when a truck driven by 43-year-old Frederick Mansfield veered onto the pavement.
Logan was tragically pronounced dead at the scene after he was pinned between the truck and the bus stop, while his aunt Rachel Poole was left with serious injuries.
Mansfield, who was not injured in the crash, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court today (February 22) where he was jailed for seven years for causing death by dangerous driving.
Natalie Roach, Logan’s mum, told the court: “Logan was a bright, energetic, playful and considerate young man, loving life and his family.
“There was so much love from people who knew Logan. He was everyone’s favourite person. Not a bad word could be said about Logan.”
During a trial, Mansfield had blamed a previously undiagnosed sleep condition for Logan’s death, as he claimed he had drifted off seconds before the crash.
But Natalie criticised Mansfield for pleading not guilty to causing Logan’s death and forcing them to endure an agonising trial.
“As a parent, we teach our children right and wrong. To be honest, Frederick Mansfield hasn’t done what is right,” she said.
Logan Finch (Image: Met Police)
‘On his way to get a haircut’
Logan was on his way to have a haircut in Eltham on the day of the crash. He was with his aunt, two of his cousins and a friend.
At 3.33pm the group were waiting at the bus stop near the junction with Kidbrooke Park Road when the tragedy took place.
Describing the incident, prosecutor Rupert Kent said: “Without any warning at all the defendant’s vehicle moved straight at this group. It came at them at some speed.
“It initially collided with a lamp post. It then collided with the bus stop causing some damage to it and in the process it hit Logan, it hit Rachel and it hit Rachel’s nine-year-old son.”
When the vehicle came to a rest it had pinned Logan against the bus stop, causing fatal injuries.
He was pronounced dead at the scene at 4.02pm.
Ms Poole was thrown to the ground and sustained serious injuries to her legs and chest. Her nine-year-old son escaped without serious injury.
Logan Finch was waiting at a bus stop on Eltham Road when he was killed by dangerous driving (Image: StreetView)
‘Sleep apnoea’
Ten minutes after the crash had taken place, Mansfield was spoken to by police.
Bodyworn footage showed Mansfield telling an officer “I just put my foot on the wrong pedal” and “that was my fault mate”.
But when he was spoken to by another officer 45 minutes later Mansfield said: “I’m not going to lie, it’s a bit blurry. I must have either blacked out or fallen asleep.
“I was going up towards the bus stop and that boy was in front of us and just…”
He told officers he had never blacked out before.
Prosecutor Mr Kent described Mansfield’s explanations as a “developing narrative”.
When he was formally interviewed the following day he said he couldn’t remember how it happened but he thought he might have blacked out and pressed the wrong pedal.
When Mansfield was interviewed again five months later he issued a prepared statement telling police that the crash was caused by his previously undiagnosed sleep apnoea.
Mansfield denied causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving, but on January 16 this year a jury found him guilty.
‘Logan will never be forgotten’
Reading a victim impact statement at Mansfield’s sentencing hearing, Logan’s mum Natalie said her son was a bright and playful teenager.
She said: “To have my son taken by someone else’s actions hurts me everyday.
“He had a beautiful sister who was two years old when he died. She talks about him all the time.
“Logan will never be forgotten”.
She added: “I don’t understand how Frederick Mansfield pleaded not guilty to my son’s death. I pray and hope he gets the sentence he deserves.”
Logan’s dad, David Finch, described the pain he felt when he was told that his son had passed away.
“I remember that call like it was yesterday, my heart sunk. Hearing those words, we’re sorry but your son is dead, I will never forget,” he said.
“We live close to the area where it happened, we’re reminded of it and knowing that my son took his last breath without me there.”
David continued: “It wasn’t like he was running across the road to catch a bus, he was waiting at a place where he should have been safe. It makes it more difficult to understand why.
“We will never see him graduate and be that proud family. We will never see him get married and have a happy family. We never got to say goodbye. We never got a chance to hold his hand and say everything is okay.”
Rachel Poole, Logan’s aunt, has been left needing to use a wheelchair since the accident.
She told the court: “I am in my early 40s but I feel li..
South London Drug Dealer Found Guilty of Murdering Vulnerable Addict
A south London dealer who beat a vulnerable addict to death for a drug debt has been pictured for the first time as he faces life behind bars.
Dedan Simmons, 40, of Clapham Road in Stockwell, was found guilty of murdering Shaun McEvoy by a Woolwich Crown Court jury.
The court heard that Simmons stormed into a flat shouting “where’s my f***ing money” before beating Shaun to the ground and stamping on his chest.
Shaun was found unresponsive in the same flat later the same day.
Simmons will be sentenced in April and faces a mandatory life sentence.
During the trial the jury was told that Shaun was a drug user who led a “chaotic lifestyle” and on February 15 last year he was in a flat on Durham Street in Kennington with three other people.
Dedan Simmons entered the flat uninvited because Shaun owed him money for drugs, prosecutor Anne Whyte said.
Once inside the flat Simmons shouted “where’s my f***ing money”, stamped on Shaun’s chest and threatened to stab another person in the flat, the jury was told.
She said: “He pushed Mr McEvoy to the floor and then he stamped on his chest heavily.
“He then threw his weight about in what you will see was a small and somewhat congested room by picking up objects and throwing them and demanding that he be repaid his money.
“He then left briefly, returning with a knife that he had probably found in the communal kitchen, and threatened to stab one of the other people in the room, Mr Dean Lewis.”
Three other people were in the room with Shaun when the attack took place. One said he was sleeping when he was woken up by shouting.
“He opened his eyes to see what he describes as a drug dealer he knows only as ‘Elvis’, who was shouting “where’s my f***ing money”. He explained that they all owed ‘Elvis’ money,” Ms Whye said.
After assaulting Mr McEvoy he said that Elvis stormed out of the room before returning with a knife.
“He told Dean Lewis to put his hands on the table – Mr Flynn thought he was going to cut Mr Lewis’ hands off. He then describes Elvis as smashing a bowl, making further threats, and then leaving,” Ms Whyte said.
Ms Whyte said Shaun complained that his chest hurt and at around 3.15pm he was found lying on the bathroom floor “white as a sheet”.
A 999 call was made but he was pronounced dead at 5.24pm with the cause of death given as blunt force trauma to the torso.
Bromley Landlady Threatened as Weed Factory Uncovered in Her Home
A Bromley landlady was threatened with having her face cut off after a weed factory was set up in her home.
Police were called to her house after reports that she was being threatened by a male tenant.
In one of her upstairs room police found 52-year-old George Joseph Williams-Thomas surrounded by 29 cannabis plants.
He told police he had been paid £50 to water the plants by someone he met at the pub.
But Williams-Thomas, of Croydon Road in Penge, later pleaded guilty to being concerned in the production of cannabis.
On Thursday (February 15) he appeared at Woolwich Crown Court where he was given a suspended prison sentence.
‘I’ll cut your face off’
The court heard that late at night on August 11, 2022, police received a call that a male tenant was threatening a woman on Capstone Road, Bromley.
When officers arrived, the woman appeared terrified but told them the man had gone away.
“This wasn’t true. She was just reluctant to let police know that you were upstairs because she was fearful of repercussions,” Judge David Miller told Williams-Thomas.
But officers heard noises coming from upstairs and when they investigated they found Williams-Thomas surrounded by 29 cannabis plants.
The growing set-up was described as sophisticated with lights, hydroponics and extraction fans.
The landlady’s electricity card was found in Williams-Thomas’ pocket.
At first, he told officers: “I was just watering the plants. I thought it was CDB. I didn’t think it was illegal to grow it.”
Despite later pleading guilty, he continued to claim he had been paid £50 to water the plants.
But the Crown Prosecution Service did not accept this version of events and Williams-Thomas was called to give evidence.
Judge Miller told him: “I’m satisfied that you lied to me throughout your evidence. Your explanation was utterly implausible and I’ve found that you played a significant role in that cannabis factory and you did that because it was a way of making money.”
He continued: “I am particularly concerned that the landlady appeared scared. I am entirely satisfied that she was an unwilling party and there was control being exercised over part of her home.”
‘You deserve to go to prison’
Williams-Thomas has 21 previous convictions for 68 offences.
But his barrister said he hadn’t offended since 2016 and that financial strains had pushed him into this situation.
The court heard that he dedicates a large amount of time to caring for his young son.
Judge Miller decided that the appropriate sentence for Williams-Thomas was 17 months in custody, but that it should be suspended for 18 months so he will not see the inside of a cell unless he offends again during that time.
“I am thinking about your 12-year-old son. For that reason and that reason alone, Mr Williams-Thomas, I am not going to send you to prison immediately today, it will be a suspended sentence,” Judge Miller said.
“I emphasise that it is only for that reason, you otherwise richly deserve to go to prison.”
Williams-Thomas will be required to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and will have a nightly curfew.
Drug Dealer Found Guilty of Beating Vulnerable Addict to Death
A drug dealer who beat a vulnerable addict to death has been found guilty of murder.
Shaun McEvoy, 56, died after he was found unresponsive at a flat on Durham Street in Kennington on February 15 last year.
Today, exactly a year later, Dedan Simmons, 40, of Clapham Road in Stockwell, was found guilty of Shaun’s murder.
During the trial the jury were told that Shaun was a drug user who led a “chaotic lifestyle” and on that morning he was in the Kennington flat with three other people.
Dedan Simmons, who also went by the name Elvis, entered the flat uninvited because Shaun owed him money for drugs, prosecutor Anne Whyte said.
Once inside the flat Simmons shouted “where’s my f***ing money”, stamped on Shaun’s chest and threatened to stab another person in the flat, the jury were told.
She said: “He pushed Mr McEvoy to the floor and then he stamped on his chest heavily.
“He then threw his weight about in what you will see was a small and somewhat congested room by picking up objects and throwing them and demanding that he be repaid his money.
“He then left briefly, returning with a knife that he had probably found in the communal kitchen, and threatened to stab one of the other people in the room, Mr Dean Lewis.”
Three other people were in the room with Shaun when the attack took place. One said he was sleeping when he was woken up by shouting.
“He opened his eyes to see what he describes as a drug dealer he knows only as ‘Elvis’, who was shouting “where’s my fucking money”. He explained that they all owed ‘Elvis’ money,” Ms Whye said.
After assaulting Mr McEvoy he said that Elvis stormed out of the room before returning with a knife.
“He told Dean Lewis to put his hands on the table – Mr Flynn thought he was going to cut Mr Lewis’ hands off. He then describes Elvis as smashing a bowl, making further threats, and then leaving,” Ms Whyte said.
Shaun McEvoy (Image: Met Police)
Ms Whyte said Shaun complained that his chest hurt and at around 3.15pm he was found lying on the bathroom floor “white as a sheet”.
A 999 call was made but he was pronounced dead at 5.24pm with the cause of death given as blunt force trauma to the torso.
Simmons was arrested at his home address on March 1, 2023.
He denied murder but after a two-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court he was found guilty.
Simmons will be sentenced at a later date.
Man Appears in Court Charged with Assisting Alleged Killer of Bexley Mum
A man has appeared in court accused of assisting an alleged killer after a Bexley mum was stabbed to death.
Leila Young, 33, was found injured on Penhill Road just after 4pm on January 16.
She was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but died from her injuries on the evening of January 23.
Ms Young’s partner, Tony Curant, 33, of Penhill Road, was arrested on January 20, before she died.
He is accused of killing Ms Young by stabbing her in the neck and head.
On Thursday (February 15) Richard Ray, 33, of St George’s Road in Swanley, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court.
Ray is charged with assisting an offender, as he’s accused of facilitating travel for Curant and concealing evidence, namely three mobile phones.
Ray appeared in court via videolink from HMP Belmarsh.
Wearing a yellow jacket, he spoke to confirm his name.
During the short hearing it was stated that both Ray and Curant will be asked to enter pleas at a hearing in April.
Floral tributes at scene of Bexley stabbing (Image: Newsquest)Candles, bouquets of flowers, and handwritten notes were left at the scene of the incident.
One of the notes says: “So heartbreaking. I am so sorry this has happened to you.
“Sleep tight and may you rest in peace.”
Another one read: “Leila you will always be remembered for the loving brilliant mum you are.
“We will never forget you.”
Former Company Boss Jailed for Assaulting Employee with Pistol and Shotgun
A former company boss has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison after assaulting a member of staff with a pistol and shotgun in a terrifying ordeal linked to the theft of dirt bikes and quad bikes. Jamie Oakes, aged 37, took matters into his own hands on the morning of Tuesday, May 23, 2023, […]
