Judge warns Sunderland drug dealer he is facing jail

By
September 15, 2016
Uncategorized

A CANNABIS user who sold drugs to fund his own supply has been warned he is facing jail.

Kevin Sayers started dealing the Class B drug to friends, who were already users, so he could support his own habit.

The 27-year-old, of Athol Road, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to possessing a Class B drug with intent on February 28.

Paul Currer, defending, told Newcastle Crown Court: “He was as heavy cannabis user for some time. He would be selling cannabis to a close circle of friends, who were users.

“There was a commercial element because he had to make money to buy his own cannabis in the first place.” Prosecutor Mark Guiliani said the crown’s case is Sayers was making money “over and above” what he needed for his own supply.

Judge James Goss QC adjourned the case until January and ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Sayers was granted bail.

But the judge warned: “The fact I am adjourning sentence for the preparation of a report does not indicate what the sentence will be.

“The sentencing judge will have all sentencing options, including prison, open to him or her at the hearing in January.”

Sunderland Echo

Soldier’s race hate remarks

By
September 9, 2016
Uncategorized

A teenage soldier made religious and race hate remarks to a takeaway worker after salt was put on his chips.

Tyler Pollitt, who was described as expected to have a very bright future in the British Army, was abusive about the worker’s Muslim religion and ethnic origins after going into the Feast About takeaway in Blackpool.

Pollitt, an 18-year old logistics gunner with the Royal Artillery, of Wilkinson Street, Leigh, Wigan, pleaded guilty to religiously and racially threatening behaviour.

He was fined £500 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the takeaway worker plus £50 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Martine Connah, prosecuting, said Pollitt went into the Feast About takeaway on August 20 at 6.45pm and after he complained his portion of chips had salt on, the assistant made him another portion. Pollitt continued to complain and then made the vile remarks.

When a policewoman tried to arrest him, Pollitt threw himself to the floor claiming she had punched him, before making race hate remarks to a nearby group of Asian men.

A report from Pollitt’s commanding officer, which was read to the court, described him as an intelligent hard-working soldier who was expected to have a very bright future in the Army.

David Scully, defending, said his client had come to Blackpool with two friends and had too much to drink. He was ashamed of what had happened and had voluntarily offered to pay his victim compensation.

Blackpool Gazette

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Man fined for throwing firework during EDL march in Nottingham

By
September 7, 2016
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A man was fined £80 for throwing a firework in the street during a march by the EDL in Nottingham on August 6.

Jack Stevens, 26, pleaded guilty when he appeared before magistrates in the city on Tuesday. He was ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.

The charge was bought under the 1837 Town Police Clauses Act and said that “on King Street he wantonly threw a firework to the obstruction, annoyance or danger of residents”.

A government surcharge of £30 was ordered from Stevens whose address was given in court papers as Oxford Street, Long Eaton.

Officers were drafted in from Greater Manchester, Durham and Lancashire, as well as forces closer to home like Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, to tackle the protest and counter protest by anti-fascist groups.

Businesses said they lost out on thousands of pounds as a result of the disruption, a wedding was moved from the council house and the beach in Old Market Square was temporarily closed.

Police made five arrests but thanked the public for helping them to bring the protests to a peaceful conclusion.

Nottingham Post

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North West Infidels protester Adam Owen jailed after Dover Riots in January.

By
September 6, 2016
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A masked and hooded member of the North Wales Infidels has been jailed for his part in the Dover Riots in January.

Adam Owen, 25, from Anglesey had travelled to Kent in a mini bus with six friends to join a right-wing march from Dover Priory Station to the docks.

But Canterbury Crown Court heard how Owen and other had then broken through police lines and into the ground of Dover College in an effort to confront rival left-wing demonstrators.

Adam Owen

Prosecutor Don Ramble said: “He is seen by police officers throwing a missile towards the left-wing protesters before pushing against police lines.

“He was also seen making multiple hand gestures towards a police official who was videoing events.”

After his arrest, he was asked if he wanted a duty solicitor but replied: “Nah, I’ve don’t need one. I’ve done what I’ve done. I hold my hands up to it.”

Owen told officers that he was demonstrating with others who were opposed to immigration when he confronted “lefties who were let them in sort of people.”

He added that during the incidents one of his friends was injured by a brick and he had gone to hospital with his pal.

Mr Randall said Owen , who had attended three previous demonstrations, said he had been a member of the North Wales Infidels, an anti-immigration group “who wanted to protect their streets, people and laws”.

The father-of-one added he had now quit the group because of what he had seen during the riots and regretted going against the wishes of his family in travelling to Dover.

Judge James O’Mahony jailed him for six months after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

He told him: “This case, as far as I am concerned, is not about politics. The demonstration may have been about political views, but this is about law and order and obeying the law.

“There may have been real tension and everyone is entitled to free speech and to peacefully demonstrate. But there is no need to wear face masks if that was the intention.

“You broke the law and this was a very ugly and dangerous incident.”

He is one of a score of protesters from both sides to be jailed after the most violent of protests in Dover on Saturday, January 30. Others include Unite the union organiser Michelle Smith and Shaun James, who apologised from his prison cell to the people of Dover for the disruption he helped cause.

Dover Express

East Lancashire quartet jailed for fraud after scam raked in thousands

By
September 5, 2016
Uncategorized
Nancy Shaw

Nancy Shaw

FOUR people have been jailed for fraud offences after helping to scam thousands of pounds from people across the country.

Thomas Moffett, Elliot Reed, Nancy Shaw and Gary Oliphant were part of a group of 18 people sentenced for offences including conspiring to commit fraud by false representation and money laundering.

Lancashire Police made the arrests following two investigations.

The first investigation involved 32-year-old Moffett, of Bridge End in Barley, who was arrested by police in January 2013 for alleged offences as owner of Moth Communications Limited.

He ran the company from his bedroom at a former address in St Aidan’s Close, Blackburn.

Victims were told that they owed a debt and it should be paid immediately, otherwise bailiffs and the police would come to their address and seize property to the value of what was owed, usually several thousands of pounds.

The court heard that during October 2011 to December 2012, £127,000 of fraudulent cash to passed through his bank account.

The court heard how vulnerable people were targeted, including elderly owners of bed and breakfast hotels.

Officers found Moffett’s offences were linked to a second investigation involving Nancy Shaw, 50, Elliot Reed, 38 and Gary Oliphant, 42.

Shaw, from Pemberton Street, Blackburn, set up a business called The Business Hub Directory Ltd, while Reed, of Clitheroe Road, Whalley established a company called The Business Directory SEO UK Ltd.

The court heard Shaw allowed £59,000 of fraudulent cash to pass through her account between September 2012 and August 2013, while Reed’s company took £78,000 from victims between May 2012 and July 2013.

More than a dozen offenders involved in the network allowed their personal accounts to be used to launder the fraudulent money.

Oliphant admitted to money laundering and also allowing his home to be used for the purpose of fraud. He said he was aware of the scam and was present while some of the calls werehad been made.

Det con Jane Challenger, of Lancashire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, was responsible for the investigation into Moffett.

She said: “This was a sophisticated fraud investigation in relation to a boiler room scam. Victims were bombarded with telephone calls. The calls were threatening and aggressive, stating they owe for a debt and that the payment should be made immediately.”

“Victims felt pressurised to pay the money, some parting with life savings and in other cases being forced to close down their businesses.”

Det con John Banks, of Blackburn CID, responsible for the second investigation with det con David Gill, added: “The investigation into Shaw, Reed and Oliphant was extensive and involved dealing with hundreds of victims throughout the country.

“The impact on the victims has not only been detrimental financially but also physically and mentally with some victims losing their businesses and becoming seriously ill as a result of these crimes.

Moffett, 32, was sentenced to two-years and 10 months in prison, Reed, 38, two-years and two months’ jail and Shaw, 50, two-years. All pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

Oliphant, 42, of Campbell Street, Blackburn, admitted conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and money laundering, sentenced to and was jailed for two-years, and five months’ jail.

The following also pleaded guilty to money laundering as part of the scam: Marcus Moss, 44, of Vicarage Lane, Wilpshire, was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for two-years.

He was given 200 hours’ unpaid work; Reginald Gregory, 53, of Ivinson Road, Darwen, sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two-years.

He was given a 35-week curfew and electronically monitored; Samuel Dysart, 22, of Haslingden Road, Blackburn, sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for two-years.

He was given 280 hours’ unpaid work; Zak Deaffern, 25, of Ratcliffe Street, Darwen sentenced to 22 weeks in prison suspended for two-years.

He was given a 26-week curfew and 12 months’ supervision;

Joanne Orr, 25, of Tythebarn Street, Darwen, was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two-years.

Anthony Lucas-Brewer, 32, of Cavendish Street, Darwen, receivedwas given a two-year community order and £500 fine;

Lauren Poland, 27, of Marsh House Lane, Darwen, was given a 26-week curfew and electronically monitored;

Bryan Baron, 40, of Moorfield Avenue, Ramsgreave, was given 170 hours’ unpaid work;

Christopher Hayes, 38, of Selkirk Close, Blackburn, was given a two-year curfew, electronically monitored for 20 weeks and a supervision order of 18 months;

Coleen Turner, 42, of Douglas Place, Blackburn, was given a two-year community order and 26 week curfew;

Gary Brown, 42, of Wood Street, Darwen, was given a two-year community order and 200 hours unpaid work;

Michael Middlehurst, 35, of Powell Street, Darwen, was given 12 months in prison suspended for two-years;

Sharyle Connor, 40, of Fawcett Close, Blackburn, was given a two-year community order;

Kevin McAuley, 35, of Seacole Close, Blackburn, was given a two-year community order and 200 hours unpaid work.

Lancashire Telegraph

An undercover operation led to the conviction of a highly prized police target. David Connett reports: Three convicted of 300,000 pounds drug deals

By
August 29, 2016
Uncategorized

ONE OF Britain’s biggest criminals was convicted at the Old Bailey yesterday of taking part in a drugs deal which was foiled by an undercover police operation.

Joseph Pyle, 56, of Morden, south London, will be sentenced later together with Frank Tyson, 62, of no fixed address, who acted as a courier in the deal involving class A drugs.

Peter Gillett, 32, described as a pop singer and bit part actor, was also convicted of taking part in a drugs deal. Gillett, of Burgess Hill, West Sussex, who claimed to have been ‘adopted’ by Reggie Kray, the gangster, while serving six years for armed robbery in Parkhurst prison, was found guilty of dealing in class A drugs.

Pyle masterminded two deals involving heroin and a heroin substitute worth an estimated pounds 300,000, the court was told. The three will be sentenced next month.

A fourth defendant, Terence Plummer, 55, a stuntman, of Leatherhead, Surrey, was acquitted of being involved in drug dealing.

Detectives from the South-east Regional Crime Squad drugs wing uncovered the deal after an informer was approached by Pyle and asked about buyers for heroin. An undercover detective moved in posing as a buyer and Pyle was kept under surveillance despite the fact he practised anti- surveillance measures designed to throw police off his trail.

The jury were told how the first deal to buy pounds 25,000 worth of heroin went wrong when one of Pyle’s men could not open the boot of an unmarked police car in which the drug was supposed to be left.

Despite the failure Pyle was anxious to strike a deal with the undercover officer, named only as ‘Dave’ in court.

He offered to sell the officer thousands of ampoules of morphine sulphate and opium stolen from a Ministry of Defence consignment after the Gulf war. The drugs were used to relieve the pain of wounded soldiers.

Pyle arranged to meet ‘Dave’ at the Sheraton Skyline hotel, Heathrow, in July last year. Before the meeting he was seen by police surveillance officers meeting Gillett at Burgh Heath, in Surrey.

Switching surveillance to Gillett, police witnessed him driving to Brighton where he met Tyson. Both men then went to a lock-up garage where they were seen placing black plastic bags believed to contain the drugs into the car.

They drove to Heathrow where Pyle instructed them to leave it in the back of another unmarked police car. Pyle was paid pounds 14,000 and was arrested as he left the hotel room. Gillett and Tyson were arrested at a neighbouring hotel.

The convictions came at the end of two trials estimated to have cost nearly pounds 1m.

The first, at Southwark Crown Court, was aborted after three members of the jury said they had been offered money to return not guilty verdicts. When they refused they were threatened with violence. During the latest trial, jurors were given 24-hour police protection and armed police were in court.

As a result of the investigation detectives made the biggest police seizure of heroin in Britain: 40kg (88lbs), worth an estimated pounds 8m, were recovered from a warehouse in Wimbledon, south London, in August last year.

Detectives say they did not have enough evidence to link the haul to the defendants although the chemical composition is identical to that seized from a man working for Pyle when the first drug deal failed.

The Independent

Krays ‘son’s’ drug horror

By
August 29, 2016
Uncategorized

GANGSTER Reggie Kray’s ‘adopted’ son Peter Gillett swallowed a bag of heroin when police searched the house he was in, a court heard.

Gillett, 43, of Apsley Close, Bewbush, admitted unlawful possession of controlled Class A drug heroin when he faced Crawley Magistrates Court.

He was found with 6.872grams of the substance when a search warrant was issued to investigate a property in Caburn Court, Southgate.

Gillett hastily swallowed a bag of heroin on the arrival of the police and a bag similar to that he swallowed was found close to his head after he collapsed on the floor.

Another was found in his hand after he arrived at hospital.

Katherine Travis, prosecuting, said: “He went into a coma and was unconscious for seven days.

“The heroin was cut with a number of other substances. The street value was approximately 250.”

Gillett, who has claimed in the past Kray befriended him during their time in prison together and has insisted Reggie “sort of adopted him”, has suffered permanent damage from swallowing the large quantity of drugs.

Geoff White, defending, said: “It is not clear how much he swallowed but it was enough to permanently damage him.

“He is now having difficulty walking and remembering and functioning at all.

“He has done irreparable damage to his nervous system. He has had substantial prison sentences in the past and while in prison he became addicted to controlled drugs. On his release he was heavily addicted.

“He has realised his addiction has taken him close to the end and he has resolved never to take drugs again.”

Gillett was given a conditional discharge for three years and was ordered to pay 70 costs.

Crawley Observer

Six more jailed for violence during Dover demonstrations

By
August 26, 2016
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A further six men have been jailed for their involvement in violent demonstrations in Dover last January.

More than 70 people have been arrested in connection with the wide-scale disturbance on Saturday 30 January 2016, of whom 26 have since been sent to prison for offences ranging from violent disorder and affray to criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon.

A further 27 have been charged and have court appearances scheduled for the weeks and months to come, while detectives continue to make further arrests and investigate other offences committed on the day.

Sentenced

On Thursday 25 August the following men were sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court:

James Whitbread, 39, of Mooring Road, Rochester, was jailed for four years after being found guilty of violent disorder. He was seen on footage covering his face and throwing items towards opposition protestors. He also assaulted a man.

Deaton Whitbread, 22, of Mooring Road, Rochester, received a three-year custodial sentence after being found guilty of violent disorder. He was filmed throwing an item at opposition protestors and breaking through a police cordon.

Roy Price, 51, of Bagleys Spring in Romford, Essex, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment after admitting violent disorder. He was caught on camera shouting at and pushing two police officers, and also threw objects including a brick at opposition protestors. He must also serve an additional six months in prison after CS gas and a quantity of drugs were found during a search of his home address.

Nicholas Cullin, 40, of Robins Path in Benfleet, Essex, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to violent disorder. He was seen on footage throwing objects including a bottle at opposition protestors, and engaging in other general violence.

Richard Williams, 31, from Bryngwran in Anglesey, Wales, received a two-year custodial sentence after admitting violent disorder. He was filmed kicking a man who was already being assaulted by a fellow protestor, as well as throwing objects at others.

Nathan Waller, 18, of Maes Meurig in Anglesey, Wales, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to violent disorder. He was caught on camera assaulting a man with a number of other protestors.

Appalling violence

Detective Constable Kirsty Bricknell of Kent Police said: ‘Today marks the highest number of offenders sentenced on one day since the investigation into offences committed on 30 January began, and I am very happy with the results.

‘These six men contributed to some of the most appalling violence I have ever witnessed, causing a great deal of anguish for the people of Dover who were unfortunate enough to have had their town identified as the location for these demonstrations.

‘Kent Police has a statutory duty to facilitate peaceful protest but it has become obvious that many of those who attended on the day had no intention of doing anything other than fighting with those who held differing opinions to themselves.

‘Their behaviour was unacceptable and I hope these results send a clear message that such criminal actions will not be tolerated in Dover or anywhere else in Kent.’

Photos (clockwise from top left) – Deaton Whitbread, James Whitbread, Nicholas Cullin, Richard Williams, Roy Price and Nathan Waller.

Whitbreads-etc-collage

Kent Police

Vandal daubed offensive graffiti on Sunderland pub and house

By
August 25, 2016
Uncategorized

A vandal who painted offensive graffiti on a random pub and house ‘has no idea’ why he did so.

Kieron Wright, 23, used black paint to daub slogans onto the wall of a house in Hylton Road, and the nearby Railway Tavern pub, Sunderland magistrates heard.

The court was told the properties were randomly selected, and had nothing to do with what was written on them.

Prosecutor Lee Poppett said: “This case concerns three offences of graffiti, for want of a better term.”

Mr Poppett said a rented property was defaced twice, on July 3, and July 7.

And on July 4, he repeated the offence on an outside wall of the Railway Tavern.

Mr Poppett added: “There is no suggestion that either of the premises were targeted in any way, or racially motivated in any way.

“Mr Wright has taken it upon himself to write on them in black paint.”

He was identified from CCTV footage and when police searched his house, they found a small amount of cannabis bush.

Wright, of Rosedale Street, Sunderland, admitted three counts of criminal damage, possession of cannabis, and breaching two conditional discharges.

He has 33 previous convictions for a total of 47 offences, five of which were criminal damage.

Tony Southwick, defending, said: “The second incident on July 7, he painted over what he had previously painted. He added a little bit extra.

“This was not targeted in any way. It’s not racially aggravated because he would not have known who the landlord was.

“He has no explanation as to why he has done this.

“He accepts that the small quantity of cannabis in the house was for his own personal use. He tells me it’s barely enough to make one joint.

“He was laid off from work in May and he uses cannabis more or less on a daily basis because he is bored.”

Wright was sentenced to a six-month community order with 10 days’ specified activity.

He was told to pay a £50 fine, and £110 in compensation.

Sunderland Echo

Protesters racially abused on ‘Unite against Fascism’ March

By
August 25, 2016
Uncategorized

Three protesters were racially abused at a ‘Unite Against Fascism’ march.

Tony Hyam, 48, screamed ‘You bunch of n**** lovers’ at the protesters in Villiers Street, central London.

Hyam also screamed ‘Refugees are not welcome’ at the three women, Westminster Magistrates Court heard.

Speakers at the event included Diane Abbott MP, poet Michael Rosen and comedian Jeremy Hardy.

Kate Shilton, prosecuting, said: ‘On March 19 a group of people were attending a Unite Against Fascism rally.

‘As the three victims, Jasmine Jackin, Zlatka Jakin, and Nadia Jackin turned onto Villiers Road, the defendant began shouting abuse and racial slurs towards the group.

‘He called them a “bunch of n**** lovers”, “dirty n*****” and shouted “refugees are not welcome here”.

Ms Shilton told the court the victims had been profoundly affected by the harassment.

Reading a statement from Zlatka Jackin, the mother of the two other victims, she said: ‘I now realise some people still regard others as a lower class or lower race.

‘It made me very upset.’

Hyam admitted using threatening or abusive words, one count of racially aggravated harassment.

Judge Joanna Matson adjourned the case for reports before sentence on September 15 at Westminster Magistrates Court.

Hyam, of Shearwood Crescent, Bexley, pleaded guilty to one count of threatening behaviour and one of racially aggravated harassment.

Court News