A drugged driver who smashed head on into another motorist on the wrong side of the road has been jailed for eight months.

Darren Penney, 47, was seen weaving through traffic on the A22 from East Grinstead to Forest Row and driving his Ford Fiesta at up to 60mph in a 30mph zone towards oncoming traffic before he crashed into a Skoda Fabia.

After he was arrested at 9.50am on 23 December, tests revealed he had traces of cocaine, morphine, cannabis, diazepam and fluoxetine in his bloodstream.

Penney (pictured), of Bermuda Place, Eastbourne, pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs and dangerous driving. He was jailed for eight months, banned from driving for two years and ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge.

Superintendent Jane Derrick said: “Penney is the worst kind of menace on the roads – one who takes drink and drugs and then puts other drivers at risk by speeding and driving dangerously.

“Penney and the three people in the Skoda escaped with bruises but this could have been far worse.

“There is no excuse for getting behind the wheel after taking drugs and we will not tolerate it.

“The sentence handed down to Penney shows how seriously the court also takes such cases, which will hopefully act as a deterrent to anyone else that might be thinking about mixing drugs and driving.”

Danny Saunders, 28, was stopped at a police check in Castle Road, Pevensey, at 8am on 1 December.

Saunders, of Salvador Close, Eastbourne, was convicted of failing to provide a specimen for analysis and was jailed for four weeks. He was also banned from driving for four years.

Haidar Bege, 36, was arrested at 7am on 14 December after officers found him slumped over the steering wheel of his car with the lights on and engine running.

Bege, of Sheridan Terrace, Hove, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving without a licence. He was banned from driving for 10 months, fined £110 and ordered to pay £450 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Marie Byrne, 56, was arrested after officers saw her park outside her home in Crawley

Byrne, of Ifield Road, Crawley, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was banned from the roads for 20 months. She was also ordered to pay a £200 fine, £200 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Mareks Vezans, 42, was arrested at 8.20am on 26 December after a crash on the A24 between Washington and Findon.

Vezans, of Coleridge Road, Worthing, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was banned from the roads for 52 months. He was also given a suspended eight-week prison sentence and was ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Alex Abbott, 26, was arrested at 10.35pm on 21 December after he was seen to smash a window before getting his car and driving away.

Abbott, of Southgate, Chichester, was convicted of drink-driving and banned from the roads for 20 months. He was ordered to pay a £380 fine, £620 costs and a £38 victim surcharge.

Ian Hicks, 51, was arrested at his home on 28 December after he refused to allow officers, who suspected he had been driving, to breathalyse him.

Hicks, of Forest Dene, Crowborough, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He was given an absolute discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs.

Denise Leal, 43, was arrested at 3.50pm on 7 December after she crashed her car outside her home in Dinsdale Gardens, Rustington.

Leal pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis. She was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence and was banned from driving for 30 months. She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Susan Turner, 52, was arrested at 3am on 1 December by officers at a spot check in Sefter Road, Bognor Regis.

Turner pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis. She was banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a £300 fine and £100 costs.

Tara Fox, 23, was arrested after her car was stopped in Oving Road, Chichester, in the early hours of 29 December.

Fox, of Greatpin Croft, Fittleworth, pleaded guilty to drink driving. She was banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a £110 fine, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Mark Acott, 50, was arrested after he was found slumped at the wheel of a car in the Fitzalan car park in Queensway, Bognor Regis, in the early hours of 28 December. The keys were in the ignition and the car engine was running.

Acott, of Reeds Farm, Oving, Chichester, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. He was not banned from the roads because magistrates accepted he had special reasons why he should not be disqualified.

John Allum, 26, of Harbour Way, Shoreham, was arrested in Gloucester Street, Brighton, after officers were told he could be driving while under the influence of drugs.

Allum pleaded guilty to possession of a Class B drug and was ordered to pay a £25 fine, £50 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

A total of 126 people have so far been convicted of offences as part of Sussex Police’s December crackdown on drink and drug-driving.

Two motorists who were charged with offences after being stopped during the campaign have been found not guilty in court.

Neville McNair, 48, of Brighton Road, Worthing, had been charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis. Greg Harvey, 23, of Meister Close, Ilford, had been charged with drink-driving. Both were found not guilty by magistrates.

The case against Adam Massey, 28, of Rose Green Road, Bognor Regis, was dismissed by magistrates.

A number of cases have been discontinued by the CPS.

They are the prosecutions of Tyler Jones, 20, of Darvel Down, Battle, Darryl Latimer, 27, of Ash Grove, Bognor Regis, George Higley, 19, of Faygate Close, Bexhill, Lewis Cosshall, 20, of Beckets Way, Framfield, and Emily Kasparis, 19, of Victoria Drive, Eastbourne.

You can text officers on 65999 with the details of people you suspect of drink or drug driving, along with their car make and registration number.

To report anyone driving antisocially visit www.operationcrackdown.co.uk.

If you see someone driving dangerously call 999.

Police have secured this closed circuit television image of three men who threatened staff in a Horsham shop before stealing £10,000 worth of cameras.

The robbery took place at Jessops in Swan Walk just after 4pm on Wednesday 25 June but with the CCTV image now available officers are hoping someone may recognise the suspects and come forward with information.

Detective Constable John Hord, of West Sussex CID, said: “This was a terrifying incident for staff. Whiile no one was hurt, the men threatened to cause them serious harm. They ripped cameras and lenses from displays before making off.”

All the items have unique serial numbers and police are keen to hear from anyone who may have been offered cameras or lenses in suspicious circumstances.

Det Con Hord added: “We believe the three men had visited the shop earlier the same day and so we’d also like to hear from anyone who may have seen them or knows who they are.

“They should phone Sussex Police on 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk, quoting serial 1175 of 25/6.

“If preferred, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers free and anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Circumstances

On Thursday 3^rd April 2014 Peaches Geldof’s husband Thomas Cohen went with their 2 sons Astala and Phaedra to stay for the weekend at his parent’s house in South East London. This is a normal occurrence that enabled Peaches and Thomas to complete work within their respective careers in fashion, journalism and music. Throughout the latter part of the week and into the weekend Thomas maintained phone contact with Peaches.  It has been established she went out for a meal in London on the night of Friday 4^th April with 2 close friends. Peaches and one of the friends then went to the cinema before returning to her friend’s house in Hampstead where Peaches stayed overnight.

On the morning of Saturday 5^th April Peaches went shopping before returning to Kent by train, arriving back at Sevenoaks train station at 1:13pm. She then took a taxi back to her home address. During the afternoon and early evening it is thought Peaches watched television including the TV show ‘True Detective’ as this was mentioned in texts to friends.  Throughout this period she maintained telephone contact with various friends and family, there were no concerns for her welfare during this period.

It is believed that Peaches spent the morning and afternoon of Sunday 6^th April at her home address alone, throughout this period she continued to maintain telephone contact with various family and friends including attempts to arrange the day out with family members, but this was cancelled due to poor weather. As Sunday evening progressed Peaches continued to maintain contact with family and friends and at around 5:00pm Thomas’s father Keith Cohen took the youngest child Phaedra back to Wrotham and spent around half an hour with Peaches before leaving the child with her. Keith Cohen stated that Peaches seemed in good spirits, she told him that she had booked a trip for the children to a theme park and that she had been writing an article. There was nothing about Peaches mood or behaviour that concerned him.

The last known movements by Peaches on Sunday the 6^th April are as follows:

At 6:17pm Peaches posted a picture of herself as a child with her mother Paula Yates onto the Social Media website ‘Instagram’ with the comment “me and my mum”.There are also messages from Peaches to friends indicating that she has been bathing her son Phaedra.

At 6:50pm Peaches sent a message about the children to her mother-in-law Susan.

At 7:01pm Peaches sent a message to a friend asking them to call her.

At 7:14pm Peaches used her laptop computer to look for ‘The dog whisperer’ TV show on the You-Tube website.

At 7:45pm Peaches had a 12 minute 10 second telephone conversation with the friend she had recently sent a message to at 7:01pm.  This is the last known contact with Peaches.

Various people, including Thomas Cohen made attempts to contact Peaches as the evening progressed; Thomas made a call to Peaches at 9:48pm but received no response. At this point nobody had any concerns for Peaches welfare.

On the morning of Monday 7^th April, Thomas Cohen made repeated efforts to contact his wife but had no success. A neighbour and a local dog warden visited Peaches home address during the morning but they received no answer to knocks at the front door. Thomas Cohen travelled with his mother Sue Cohen and their other son Astala to the home address arriving there around 1:30pm. Thomas entered the property and went upstairs thinking that Peaches may have been sleeping. Thomas then located Peaches in a spare bedroom and it was obvious to him that she was deceased. Peaches was located on the edge of a bed and was slumped forward onto the bed. Thomas called his mother who saw Peaches and then called the emergency services; this call was timed at 1:35pm. Thomas quickly located his son Phaedra. During the call to the emergency services Sue Cohen relayed comments from Thomas that he believed Peaches has taken an overdose of heroin.  The Police arrive at 1:55pm and were shown to Peaches’ location by Thomas; Paramedics then attended and confirmed ‘life extinct’.

Kent Police detectives attended the scene and initiated an investigation into the full circumstances of the death. I, as the senior officer in attendance, referred the death to the Coroner having made an initial conclusion that the death was unexplained but there was no evidence to suggest a third party was involved. The Coroner agreed that the body should be removed to a mortuary for a post-mortem and that an investigation into the circumstances of the death be completed.

Peaches’ father, Bob Geldof, subsequently identified his daughter to me at Darent Valley Hospital.

The Scene

The home address of High Wood, Fairseat Lane is a 4 bedroom detached property in a rural location on the outskirts of Wrotham in Kent.  Peaches and her family had lived at the address since September 2013.

There were no apparent signs of any forced entry and valuable items remained intact throughout the property. Peaches was located in the 3^rd of 4 bedrooms, this room is used as a spare room and would often be used for one of the parents when sharing a bed with one of the children.

Peaches was wearing a grey dress and a long sleeved striped top. Within the room was a double bed, Peaches was located perched on the side edge of this bed with her left leg hanging down to the floor with her right foot tucked underneath her. She was slumped forward onto her front with her left arm draped over an open laptop computer.

Underneath Peaches body was an Apple iPhone, a packet of cigarettes and a pair of black tights with a knot tied into them. Also on the bed was a small clear coloured cap thought to have come from a syringe. Underneath the bed a dessert spoon was located with visible burn marks on the underside and a small amount of a brown residue on the upper side.

Next to the bed and within reaching distance of Peaches was an open brown cardboard box containing sweets; a capped syringe was located in this box. It was noted that there was a small amount of a brown fluid left in the main chamber and another small amount of residue/fluid inside the cap. This residue was tested by Forensic scientists who have confirmed that the brown residue found does contain traces of diamorphine (which is commonly known as ‘heroin’) but due to the small amount and chemical changes in the mixture during the ‘cooking’ process they were unable to obtain a reliable purity level and were unable to compare it to the unprepared heroin found elsewhere at the property discussed later.

The initial assessment of the scene supported my early hypothesis that Peaches had taken heroin and collapsed and died on the bed.

Detailed searches of the whole premises took place and located heroin and various items used for the preparation and consumption of heroin.

The major discovery in the 2^nd of 4 bedrooms was a black cloth bag stored in a cupboard over the bedroom door. Located within this cloth bag was part of a plastic bag tied together by a dark hair band, the bag contained a brown powder. This powder was later examined by a Forensic Scientist Dr Peter Cain. He confirmed that the brown powder was 6.91 grams of Diamorphine, more commonly known as Heroin with a purity of 61%.

To assist with interpretation of the scene and items found I had the case reviewed by a Kent Police drugs liaison officer called Police Constable Adrian Parsons who produced a report explaining the process of heroin use and commented on aspects of the case. PC Parsons is a court recognised expert in the field of illicit drugs.

PC Parsons comments on the 61% purity as ‘importation quality’ and that it far exceeds the average 26% purity found at street level. The officer describes this heroin as ‘good grade’ and estimates the 6.91 grams recovered would be worth between £350-£550.

Another small plastic bag was found in the black cloth bag, this contained an amount of an unknown powder. This was also examined by Dr Cain who confirmed it was 47.5 grams of Citric Acid. PC Parsons refers to the use of citric acid in his review and describes how it is mixed with heroin to make it more soluble before mixing this with water as part of the heroin preparation process.

The black bag also contained the following items: 34 medical syringes, some were with needles and some without, some were sealed in original packaging and some contained traces of a brown coloured residue. Most of the syringes with needles were capped but there was one that was uncapped. There were also 45 packaged and sealed syringes, alcohol wipes and cotton buds. Within the bag there were 2 cards advertising the Westminster needle exchange.

As previously mentioned a pair of knotted black tights was located under Peaches body. Following the search of the property two other pairs of tights with knots tied in them were located. PC Parsons confirms in his review that knotted tights can be used as a tourniquet during the injection intake of heroin.

As previously mentioned a burnt spoon was located under the bed where Peaches was located, next to the spoon was the cotton wool end from a cotton bud. PC Parsons details in his review how a heroin mixture is heated and dissolved in a spoon and drawn into a syringe with cotton wool being used as a filter to remove any impurities. A number of other burnt spoons were located around the property, including in the cloth bag containing the heroin

The presence of the tied tights as a possible tourniquet, burnt spoon, cotton bud end and used syringe in close proximity to Peaches body suggests that heroin has been partly prepared and consumed at some time in the room Peaches was found. The lack of any means to heat the substance in the spoon along with the other paraphernalia, taken with comments by scientists that the effect of the injection of heroin is almost immediate, would suggest that some part of the preparation took place elsewhere in the house, taken to the room of use and then consumed whilst Peaches was sitting in that room.

Scientific Evidence

Samples of various body fluids from Peaches were examined by Forensic Scientist Emma Harris. This scientist was also provided with information about Peaches current and previous drug and medication usage.

Dr Harris provided detailed information about the use of diamorphine (heroin) and how the body reacts to this. The scientist commented about the high level of morphine found in Peaches blood and how other readings suggest she died shortly after taking heroin. The scientist also commented on the presence of codeine in the blood and suggests it was produced by the body from an impurity found in illicitly produced heroin. The paragraph of note from Dr Harris’s report reads ‘Persons taking heroin on a regular basis develop a tolerance to the drug, and such individuals can use doses that would be toxic, or fatal, to people with no tolerance. However, tolerance to heroin (and other opiate drugs) appears to be lost fairly rapidly when users cease to use the drug, and deaths commonly occur in people who have previously been tolerant and have returned to using heroin”

The conclusions from the scientist are as follows:

1)      The profile of results suggests the recent use of heroin by Mrs Geldof-Cohen. The concentration of morphine is high and at the end of the range of values at which fatalities have occurred. Therefore it is likely that the heroin played a role in Mrs Geldof’s death.

2)      The results also confirm the prior use of methadone by Mrs Geldof-Cohen. The concentration of methadone detected is low and therefore is unlikely to have played a role in Mrs Geldof-Cohen’s death

3)      Mrs Geldof-Cohen was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of her death.

4)      Mrs Geldof-Cohen had not taken a significant amount of any other substances in the hours leading up her death.

Methadone use by Peaches Geldof-Cohen
From bottles located at the home address it was identified that Peaches was prescribed oral solution sugar free Methadone. It was established that Peaches had been receiving professional treatment over the last 2 and half years by way of methadone prescription. Recent drug tests from November 2013 by her drug treatment providers did not indicate any use of illicit drugs at that time and records showed a reducing level of methadone being prescribed with a view to completely coming off of the drug.  Details of the recent prescription were provided to the Police and the data indicates the current prescription period started in October 2013 and continued until 3^rd April 2014. The amount prescribed started at 40mls daily and gradually reduces down to 9mls. Twenty seven Methadone bottles were recovered from around the family home, only one of the bottles contained any liquid and this was dated January 2014 and was listed as 20mls. The quantities of bottles found and the dose levels shown corresponded to the prescription data obtained from medical records.

The drug treatment providers stated that Peaches reported struggling with the levels of methadone in March 2014 and was offered additional support to help with her difficulties with sleeping.

Other matters

There is an on-going linked Police investigation to establish who supplied the heroin to Peaches but to date there have been no arrests made.

Conclusion

It has been established that Peaches Geldof-Cohen had been previously addicted to heroin for a number of years but that more recently had ceased taking the drug. Peaches had been supported by drug treatment workers for 2 ½ years being prescribed methadone. Peaches had indicated her desire to come off of methadone completely, and was following a plan to reduce the level of methadone she was taking. A drugs test in November indicated that she was not taking any illicit drug. Witnesses report that around February of this year there was a suspicion that Peaches had started using illicit drugs again including being found with a substance believed to be heroin at her home address. Following her death, drugs paraphernalia was found in the house and a quantity of high grade heroin was found to be secreted in a cupboard in the bedroom Peaches regularly used. The Post Mortem found evidence of recent puncture marks on the inside of both elbows and on her left hand; the toxicology indicates a fatal level of heroin in the body. The Pathologist states cause of death to be Opiate Intoxication.

When considering all of the above information, I, as the Senior Investigating Officer, conclude that Peaches Geldof-Cohen died of a heroin overdose.

From known contact between Peaches and her family and friends her death occurred at or after 8:00pm on the evening of Sunday 4^th April 2014 and from evidence available she was at her home address alone with her son Phaedra. There is no indication that any other third party was present or involved in her death and there is no indication that Peaches intended to take her own life or harm herself in any way as she was reported to be of happy disposition and planning for the future with friends and family.

A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 20 years, after being found guilty of the murder of Jayden Parkinson.

Ben Blakeley, of Christchurch Road in Reading, was yesterday found guilty at Oxford Crown Court.

He was today sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 20 years, for the murder and eight years’ imprisonment for one count of perverting the course of justice. The sentences will run concurrently.

Speaking after the sentence, Det Ch Supt Chris Ward from Thames Valley Police Major Crime said: “Ben Blakeley has today been sentenced to a minimum of 20 years after being found guilty of the brutal murder of 17-year-old Jayden Parkinson, on the 3rd December last year.

“Jayden was a teenager when she became involved in a relationship with Blakeley, who has proved to be a violent and dangerous liar. Ben mistreated Jayden, controlled her and often beat her which eventually resulted in her murder last year.

“Blakeley has never shown any remorse, nor has he cooperated with the police investigation. Instead, Ben chose to lie and has put Jayden’s family and friends through a harrowing trial, where they have been forced to listen to the details of his abuse of Jayden and other former girlfriends.

“Justice will now be served, as Ben faces a lengthy jail term.

“Of course, we respect the decision of the jury in respect of Jake Blakeley, who was charged with preventing a lawful burial. The Crown Prosecution will have seven days to decide whether to apply for a re-trial.

“I would like to thank all the police officers and staff who have worked on this complex case, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service, who the Force has worked with very closely.

“Finally, I would like to pay my respects to Jayden and to her family and friends, many of whom who have had to give evidence during this trial. I hope that today’s conviction will allow them some closure and they can remember Jayden as the fun-loving young lady that she was.”

Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: “This case involved the tragic murder of 17-year-old Jayden Parkinson by her former boyfriend Ben Blakeley.

“Today, despite his denials about having any intention of killing her, the jury found Ben Blakeley guilty of Jayden’s callous and violent murder. During the trial the jury heard that he was extremely controlling, abusive and violent towards his girlfriends including Jayden. His motivation for killing Jayden remains unknown, but may have been his reaction to the news that she was pregnant.

“Ben Blakeley killed Jayden in remote countryside outside Didcot. He concealed her body at this location for several days before moving it in a suitcase to the grave of a family member. There, he dug up the grave and buried Jayden’s body in it.

“Ben Blakeley is undoubtedly an extremely ruthless, violent and dangerous man and Jayden must have been very afraid in those final moments. As soon as he had killed Jayden, he began telling lies to the police aimed at covering up the murder. Prior to the trial he admitted doing acts intended to pervert the course of public justice.

“This was a very complex investigation, which started off as a missing person enquiry. We have worked closely with Thames Valley Police and as a result of the hard work and diligence of the prosecution team, a just outcome has been achieved.

“This case is a tragedy for Jayden’s family and friends who have been devastated by her death; her father dying just before the trial started. I would like to pay tribute to them for their wholehearted support of this investigation and the dignity they displayed while hearing the horrific details surrounding Jayden’s murder. I would also like to thank the witnesses, who gave evidence in very difficult circumstances.

“We know that nothing will bring Jayden back, but we hope that today’s conviction brings her family and friends at least a small sense that justice has been done. Our thoughts are very much with them all at this time.”

Family statement on behalf of Jayden Parkinson

The following statement is on behalf of the family of Jayden Parkinson:

“Finally justice has been done for our Jayden.

“First, we would like to record our enormous gratitude to the officers of Thames Valley Police, in particular members of the Major Crime Unit, whose professionalism and perseverance secured Ben Blakeley’s conviction.

“We would also like to thank all of the prosecution’s witnesses who gave evidence, in particular three of Ben Blakeley’s former girlfriends, who showed immense courage in attending court to speak of his sick and twisted mind.

“From the day that Jayden’s life was so cruelly taken, the kindness shown to us by the people of Didcot has been immeasurable. For this, we will always be thankful from the bottom of our hearts.

“Over the months we have also found strength in the messages of support from strangers around the country and indeed worldwide.

“We will never be able to find an ounce of forgiveness for the evil that murdered Jayden and then concealed her body in such a cold, calculated and callous manner.

“For us as a family, today is not the final chapter in this tragedy. But now we can at least begin the challenge of coming to terms with the heartbreak which we all feel, and the rebuilding of our lives.

“Despite today’s sentencing of Ben Blakeley, our nightmare will never end. We can never erase from our minds the pain that was inflicted on Jayden, nor can we erase the image of Jayden’s battered and bruised body. We will never be able to celebrate birthdays, Easter or Christmas with Jayden, and we will never get to see Jayden grow up, get married and have children – this is our life sentence, it’s now time for Ben Blakeley to start his.”

Ben Blackley Setencing remarks

Ben Blakeley jailed for at least 20 years for the murder of Jayden Parkinson
(c) Thames Valley Police

A man has been sentenced to five years and six months in prison at Oxford Crown Court today (25/7) after being convicted of carrying out a rape on Christmas Day.

Jamie Williams, aged 20, of Chaffinch Walk, Oxford, was found guilty by jury on 18 July of the rape of a female aged 16 and over.

On 25 December 2011, Williams phoned the victim, a 17-year-old girl, and demanded that she visit his home.

She attended and Williams raped her.

He was charged with rape on 25 September last year and imprisoned, was made to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and was given a restraining order for life against the victim.

Detective Chief Inspector Katy Barrow-Grint said: “We take all rape reports very seriously and this case shows that we will strive to bring all perpetrators to justice, no matter how long ago the offences took place.

“I commend the victim for coming forward and being willing to give evidence and the sentence today rightly reflects the seriousness of what happened.”

A woman has today (25/7) been sentenced to 13 years in prison for the manslaughter of two children in Oxford in 1997.

Fiaz Begum Munshi, 38, of Manley Road, Oldham Lancashire, was found guilty of manslaughter of eight-year-old Anum Khan and her 15-year-old brother Majid at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday (22/7) and was sentenced to 13 years in prison today.

Fiaz Munshi was arrested by officers from the TVP Major Crime Unit supported by Greater Manchester Police in Oldham on 22 October 2013 and charged the following day in connection with the deaths of Majid and Anum in 1997.

The circumstances are that on 26 August 1997 police and fire service were called to a property which was on fire in Magdalen Road, Oxford at around 3.20am. Seven members of the Khan/Akhtar family had been asleep in the property when the fire started. They were Mehfooz Akhtar (known as Mrs Khan), four of her daughters, one of her sons and one of her grandchildren.

Six of the seven occupants escaped from the house; however Anum, aged nine, died in the fire and her 15-year-old brother Majid, suffered severe burns to his head and body and despite being taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford died two days later on 28 August 1997.

Forensic examination of the property found that the fire had been started deliberately with petrol found in the doorway of the house. Searches conducted by the police would later locate two plastic bottles which contained petrol at a telephone kiosk near to the scene.

Following the fire, Fiaz Munshi and others were arrested on suspicion of murder on 23 September 1997. At this point there was insufficient evidence to charge her so she was released from custody and on 9 December Fiaz Munshi flew to Pakistan. Just two days later as a result of new evidence a number of arrests were made, with six people charged in connection with the murder of Anum and Majid.

In October and November 1998 they were tried for the murders at Birmingham Crown Court. Five of them, Alan Swanton, then 19, from Letchworth, Thomas Liedl, then 19,from Letchworth, Mohammed Nawaz, then 21, from Letchworth, Haq Nawaz, then 30, from Letchworth and Haroon Sharif, then 21 from Letchworth were convicted of murder and jailed for life. The jury could not reach a verdict on the sixth, Riaz Munshi, then 26 from London, who was discharged and re-tried the following year, convicted of manslaughter and sentence to 12 years in prison.

In the autumn of 2012 a member of the Khan/Akhtar family contacted Thames Valley Police and made enquiries about Fiaz Munshi. As a direct result of that call, enquiries established that information had been received in 2005 that indicated she had returned to the UK from Pakistan. Following the discovery of this information the TVP Major Crime Unit worked with the Crown Prosecution Service to re-open the investigation leading to Fiaz Munshi being arrested and subsequently charged in October 2013.

In a statement read after the sentence today, Shenaz Akhtar, the sister of Anum and Majid, said: “I would like to begin by thanking Allah for allowing justice to be done. We would also like to thank Mr Moore, Mr Roakes, Mr Kirby, Mr Storor, Miss Dactler and Mr Jones, the entire TVP team, the CPS, the media and all those who have been involved now and past 17 years.

It has taken 17 years for Fiaz Munshi to be brought to justice for the killings of Majid and Anum. This is despite members of the Oxford community who have known the whereabouts of Fiaz Munshi ever since she fled the UK.

Finally after 17 years we can now grieve properly and visit Majid and Anums grave together for the first time as a family and first time with our parents.

This is the happiest day of our lives and we carried on fighting for Majid and Anum who will always remain deep within our hearts.”

A man found guilty of a series of sexual assaults in Brighton over a number of months has been sent to prison.

Jude Krishnan, 22, of Montpelier Crescent, Brighton, was sentenced to six years and two months imprisonment today Friday (25 July), having been found guilty after a trial last month (June) of two attempted sexual assaults on 30 May 2012 and 18 November 2013, a sexual assault on 17 January, three sexual assaults on 2 February, and a further sexual assault on 16 September last year.

The jury could not reach verdicts on three further sexual assault charges on 18 November 2013 and 3 and 4 January 2013 and therefore these are to lay on file.

The court heard that this was a serious of attempted and sexual assaults on lone women which occurred in Brighton between May 2012 and September 2013. Krishnan would approach woman walking at night or in the early hours and indecently touch them over their clothing. He was arrested on 3 February last year.

Detective Constable Dawn Robertson said: “After a complex investigation I am pleased that Jude Krishnan has been found guilty of seven offences. This was a series of sexual assaults offences committed over a nine month period which showed that he presented as a real danger to lone women.

“We hope that this gives confidence to other women to come forward and support the criminal justice system in the prosecution of sexual offences.”

Final member of multi-million pound drug supply ring sentenced – in total offenders will spend more than 70 years in prison

The final member of a multi-million drugs supply ring has been sentenced to eight years six months in prison following a complex investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

Astrit Suli, 31, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday 28 July where he was sentenced for his roles in an extensive £2.4million heroin and cocaine supply operation and the production of cannabis.

He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply and class A drugs at an earlier hearing.

Suli, of Edna Road, Maidstone, is the last of 13 offenders who have now been sentenced in recent months after officers seized heroin and cocaine with an estimated street value of £2,370,460.

Those sentenced on 30 May were:

-       Zamir Mucllari, 27, of Kingsley Road, Maidstone, sentenced to five years three months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs

-       Mit-Hat Cerri, 33, of Northampton, sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs

-       Istvan Lakatos, 21, of Edna Road, Maidstone, sentenced to four years in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs

-       Ross Murphy, 28, of Matts Hill Road, Sittingbourne, sentenced to six years nine months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs

-       Josh William Murphy, 24, of Mallow Road, Sheerness, sentenced to six years in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs

-       Kevin Graham Bedford, 32, of Jacklin Close, Chatham, sentenced to two years in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs

-       Nigel William Adams, 59, of Sutherland Gardens, Gillingham, sentenced to six years in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs, production of cannabis and illegal abstracting of electricity

-       Daniel Mannerings, 26, of Elmstone Road, Rainham, sentenced to 27 weeks in prison for production of cannabis

-       Stephen Richard Palmer, 31, of Bramley Way, Kings Hill, West Malling, sentenced to two years in prison for possession of criminal property

-       Stephen Palmer, 52, of Oslin Walk, Kings Hill, West Malling, sentenced to six years in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs

Erlin Hasa, 27, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to six years nine months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs on 8 November 2013 at Maidstone Crown Court.

On 26 June Anastasios Sykiniotis, 30, previously of Cobham Close, Enfield, was sentenced to 14 years nine months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

The group came to the attention of detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate who began covert investigations around the men’s operation.

By February 2013, investigations had found the drugs supply ring – spearheaded by Anastasios Sykiniotis and Astrit Suli – was dealing in large amounts of heroin and cocaine from addresses in Chislehurst, Croydon, Bredhurst in Medway and Edna Road in Maidstone.

On 25 February, uniformed officers stopped a VW Golf leaving Edna Road. Inside the vehicle were brothers Josh and Ross Murphy. They were searched in Bredhurst and were found to be concealing quantities of cash and a brown envelope containing 988 grams of cocaine in a solid block. Later tests found the drug had a purity of 77 per cent and identified a fingerprint on the envelope that matched the left thumb of Sykiniotis.

On May 1, Astrit Suli and Istvan Lakatos met Nigel Adams, Zamir Mucllari and Armand Sula in a hotel car park in Forstal Road, Maidstone, where they were seen to make a number of calls on their mobile phones. Data retrieved by officers found at this time, Suli was in phone contact with Ross Murphy.

Mucllari then drove to Rope Close, Park Wood, Gillingham, where he met Kevin Bedford and they exchanged heavily-laden carrier bags before leaving the area separately.

Bedford then headed to Elmstone Road, Rainham – the home address of Daniel Mannerings, who joined him there later on in the afternoon. They were then joined by Nigel Adams a short while later.

Following their arrival, officers executed a drugs warrant at the address. On entry Bedford and Mannerings were seen together in the kitchen of the property where it was evident the cutting and packaging of drugs had taken place. Both were arrested along with Adams who was found in the utility room. Significant quantities of cocaine, cutting agent, scales, cannabis and a piece of paper with amounts relating to street prices for drugs were seized at the address.

Also on 1 May, a warrant was executed at Suli’s Edna Road home in Maidstone and he was arrested. During the subsequent search a large number of mobile phones were seized. A warrant was also carried out at Adams’ home in Sutherland Gardens where officers found a sophisticated cannabis growing operation throughout the three-bed terrace property.

On 17 June, Mucllari met Cerri at an address in Kingsley Road, Maidstone, before heading to The Chequers Centre. During this time, Mucllari made numerous telephone calls to Stephen Richard Palmer.

Just after 1.30pm, Mucllari drove to Mote Road where he was stopped by uniformed officers. Within half an hour, a warrant was executed at an address in Kingsley Road using a key seized from Mucllari and found a packet of white powder under a sofa in the flat. Analysis later found the powder to be 998 grams of cocaine at a purity of 72 per cent.

Cerri remained in Maidstone High Street for a short period of time before being arrested just after 3pm.

Sykiniotis was arrested on 11 July in Southbury Road, Enfield, after officers witnessed him take part in a drugs exchange the day before in the area with the driver of a Vauxhall Insignia – later found to be Hasa. The car was stopped following the drugs deal and found to contain four packages of heroin secreted in a sophisticate hide in the car’s dashboard. The estimated street value of the class A drugs was just under £600,000.

Further searches of Sykiniotis’ home address in Cobham Close, Enfield, found quantities of class A drugs and approximately £250,000 in mixed currencies.

Following sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Luke Dodson from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: ‘The sentencing of Suli brings to a close a long and complex investigation by officers into multi-million pound drugs supply ring.

‘In total, 13 men are now serving sentences for these offences and a significant amount of drugs destined for Kent and possibly further afield have been seized and destroyed.

‘Crime does not pay, and we will use all means necessary to bring those who break the law to justice.’

A driver who crashed his car, killing a passenger and then left the scene has today (Tuesday, 29 July 2014) been jailed for 15-months .

Tobbie Coleman, 22 from Ottawa Way, Dover appeared before Canterbury Crown Court today after being found guilty of causing death by careless driving.

In the early hours of Saturday, 17 August, 2013  a blue Vauxhall Corsa was being driven by Coleman, along the Sandwich Road, Waldershare.

He was unlicensed, uninsured and carrying three other passengers, one of who was 23 year old Emma Willis.  This car was in convoy with two other vehicles, a green Corsa driven by Ryan Rodmell, also uninsured and unlicensed and a red Corsa being driven by Charlie Morgan again without insurance.  Damien Lee was in the green Corsa and Galina Dodd was in the red Corsa.

At some point along the Sandwich Road, Coleman lost control of his car and crashed into a field.  Emma Willis died at the scene of the collision another male was seriously injured.  Coleman, Morgan, Lee, Rodmell and Dodd all left the scene before Police arrived, leaving Emma and the injured male in the blue Corsa.  On Police arrival Lee and Morgan were found nearby and arrested.

Over the course of the next 24 hours all the other defendants were arrested by officers from Kent Police’s Serious Investigation Unit and prosecuted.

Ryan RODMELL was convicted of no insurance, no driving licence and sentenced by Channel Mags on 27 February 2014 to 12 months disqualified from driving and fined £515.

Damien LEE was convicted of obstructing a constable and sentenced by Channel Mags on 2 April 2014 to 21 days imprisonment (suspended for 12 months), 250 hours unpaid work, £165 costs.

Charlie MORGAN was convicted of obstructing a constable, permitting no insurance & no insurance and sentenced by Channel Mags on 7 April 2014 to 21 days imprisonment (suspended for 12 months), 250 hours unpaid work, £100 fine, £80 victim surcharge & disqualified from driving for  2 years.

Galina DODD was convicted of obstructing a constable by Channel Mags on 2 May 2014 sent to prison for 18 days.

Detective Sergeant Scott Lynch from Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: ‘This investigation into Emma’s death was initially hampered by the selfish and unlawful actions of her associates that night and caused her family and loved ones immense heartache.

‘It was a tragic loss of life that serves to remind all young people, the consequences of travelling in cars with unqualified drivers at the wheel.’

Emma’s mother Amanda Hawkins paid tribute to her daughter: ‘When Emma was young, she used to follow us around, she had a great sense of humour even when she was little, and often tried to make you laugh.  We were a very close family.  Emma loved football from a young age.  She did silly things, played practical jokes and was more like a friend.  The most sacred thing in the world is someone’s child.  We miss her every second of every day.’

Kent Police arrested four men following reports of a suspicious vehicle in Rainham on 29 July.

Matthew Goodwin, 26, of no fixed address, has been charged with eight counts of theft from vehicle, aggravated vehicle taking, using a motor vehicle without third party insurance, driving whilst disqualified and attempted theft from motor vehicle. He was remanded and is due to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court today (Thursday 31 July).

A 26 year old man from Rochester, who was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, has been bailed until 3 September 2014 pending further enquiries.

A 20 year old man from Rochester, who was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, has been bailed until 3 September 2014 pending further enquiries.

A 25 year old man from Gillingham, who was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, has been bailed until 3 September 2014 pending further enquiries.

Officers are currently on the scene of a fatal road traffic collision in Reading.

At approximately 1.45am today (6/8) police received a report of a burglary in progress in Eastern Avenue.

A police vehicle responding to the report was involved in a collision with a member of the public, a man, and a police officer.

The man died at the scene. The police officer was taken to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.

Wokingham Road between the junctions of Hamilton Road and London Road is currently closed and is expected to remain closed for several hours while investigators attend the scene.

Surrey Police is appealing for witnesses after a horse rider suffered serious injuries when her horse was spooked by a dog in Holmwood, Dorking.

At around 4.15pm on Friday 25 July the horse was approached by a dog not on a lead, or under control, on a bridle path on Holmwood Common.

The dog behaved aggressively towards the horse which was spooked and threw the rider off. The rider was then trampled by the horse as it attempted to escape, with the rider suffering three broken ribs and a punctured lung.

The dog owner, a woman, is described as white, with long dark hair, in her 40s or 50s, approximately 5ft 5 inches tall and she was wearing a long white loose dress or skirt, with wellington boots.

The dog was a white or blond coloured, with a long fluffy coat, and similar to a Labrador in breed.

PC Mark Trezise said: “Dog owners have a responsibility to make sure they have control of their dogs, especially when in areas where they are likely to be in contact with horses.

“I would ask that anybody who knows who the owner might be, or if you have seen them in the area before and can tell us more about them, get in touch.”

Anyone who has any information relating to the incident should contact Surrey Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) quoting reference number 45140064941. Alternatively report it online atwww.surrey.police.uk.

Police are appealing to anyone who might have information about a man who was found unconscious on Brighton seafront.

The 20-year-old man was found outside Harvester on Marine Parade around 1.20am this morning with a head injury.

Detective sergeant Simon Dunn said: “A member of the public returned to their vehicle and found the man with a head and facial injury we nearby. At this time we are still trying to work out how the man came by his injuries and need to talk to anyone who might have seen what happened earlier on in the evening. The man is in hospital in stable condition.

“If anyone has any information please contact police on 101 or email 101 quoting serial 151 of 7/8.”

A man has been charged in relation to a number of arsons and criminal damage offences in the Reigate and Horley areas.

The arson charges relate to offences involving:

Horley Lawn Tennis Club, in Vicarage Lane, Horley on Sunday 22 June

Churchfields Bowls Club, Church Walk, Reigate on Thursday 26 June.

Old Reigatians Rugby Club, Park Lane, Reigate on Saturday, 28 June and Saturday, 12 July

Two Surrey Police vehicles at Reigate Town Hall, Reigate on Friday between July 10 and 11

Oakwood Sports Centre, Balcombe Road, between July 20 and 21.

A car tyre and a chair in a garden at a property in Massetts Road, Horley on August 9 and 11.

The three charges of criminal damage relate to offences at:

Barclays Bank in Victoria Road, Horley on Saturday 5 July

Barclays Bank in Bell Street, Reigate on Thursday 17 July

A property in Massetts Road, Horley on Monday 21 July

The final charge is one of attempted criminal damage at a property in Massetts Road, Horley on August 8.

*David Stephens, 29, of Massetts Road, Horley has been charged with eight counts of arson, three counts of criminal damage, and one count of attempted criminal damage. He has been remanded in custody and is set to appear at Guildford Magistrates Court tomorrow (Tuesday 12 August).

A man who arranged the commission of a child sex offence has been imprisoned for four years.

On 14 May 2014 Nicholas Edmund Allen, from Rochdale, was arrested in Leybourne, by detectives from the Kent Police child exploitation investigation team.

Allen, 54, had travelled to the Leybourne area in Kent in the belief that he would have the opportunity to abuse an eight year-old girl, having made the arrangement over the internet. However, he had unwittingly made the arrangement with a law enforcement officer and was arrested. Allen claimed that the meeting was part of him trying to gain enough evidence to be able to report his concerns around child abuse to the police, but was charged and remanded before the courts.

Following a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on 11 August, Allen was sentenced to four years in prison, having pleaded guilty to arranging the commission of a child sex offence.

Detective Constable Jon Baker said: ‘Nicholas Allen worked for many years as a social worker and should know the massive impact that sexual abuse has on children. Despite this he chose to arrange appalling abuse of a child, and travelled to meet in order to put this plan into action. Allen tried to claim that his actions were solely to report others and protect a child. Our investigation shows this was merely a ruse in order to try and escape the consequences of his actions. I am delighted that we have been able to put a stop to his behaviour and ensure that no child will come to harm from him any time soon.’

A drug dealer who deliberately drove over a man in Gillingham has been jailed for murder.

Jake Austin, 25, was imprisoned by a judge at Maidstone Crown Court on 15 August after he was found guilty the previous day of murdering John O’Donohue following an altercation in Castlemaine Avenue on 23 January.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 18 years to be served.

Mr O’Donohue and a friend had arranged to meet Austin and his associate in the evening. During their meeting, an argument broke out and the foursome got into a fight.

Mr O’Donohue and his friend had disengaged and were walking off down the road when Austin got into his green Ford Mondeo and drove after them.

The pair managed to evade him by running up a grass verge. Austin then turned the car around and drove at them again, this time crashing through metal railings and running over Mr O’Donohue, who suffered fatal head injuries as a result. His friend was unharmed and ran to raise the alarm at a local badminton club.

Nearby residents called emergency services at 8.50pm and police and paramedics attended. Mr O’Donohue was rushed to hospital but despite every effort by medical personnel, his injuries were too severe and he was pronounced dead the following afternoon.

Austin fled the vehicle. Later, he called his mother and asked her to report the Mondeo as stolen to the police. He then went on the run for four days. Officers made urgent enquiries to locate him and he was eventually found in the Swindon area on 27 January, arrested and brought back to the county for interview.

He told officers he had not been in the car for weeks but the forensic evidence showing he had been in the car was overwhelming – which included his blood on the driver’s airbag.

The next day, he was charged with murder.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Ivan Beasley of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: ‘Austin murdered Mr O’Donohue with absolute deliberate actions.

‘He was calculating as he drove at speed towards him, not slowing down even when he made contact with his victim and crashed through railings and wall.

‘Following the collision, Austin fled, concocting a plan to distance himself from the car and the incident in general. He manipulated his mother into reporting the vehicle as stolen and claimed to have no knowledge of what happened when we caught up with him in Swindon.

‘Austin’s original story of not being involved was shown to be a lie. He then changed his account saying it had been an accident but he fooled no-one including the jury. His actions were deliberate and he’s rightly been convicted of murder.

‘John O’Donohue was a loving father, partner and son. He has tragically been taken away from his family and friends and our thoughts are with them today.’

Mr O’Donohue’s family released the following statement: ‘We as a family know that life will never be the same without John. John’s children now have to grow up without their Dad.

‘When the time is right, however, we will now be able to tell them that justice was finally done. This is due to Detective Inspector Beasley’s team at the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate and the Crown Prosecution Service who have conducted a thorough investigation, and we could not have asked for more.

‘We would like to thank everyone involved.’