FOUR teenagers who vandalised a memorial garden dedicated to a Norwich schoolgirl have been sentenced.

Seven-year-old Summer Grant died in March last year when the bouncy castle she was playing on at a fair in Harlow was swept away by high winds.

A memorial garden was created at her school, Valley Primary, in Norwich but it was attacked in May.

Two teenagers, aged 16, and 17 were referred to the Youth Offending Team for six months and ordered to pay £100 in compensation, £20 in victim surcharges and court costs of £85.

A 17 year old was handed a Youth Rehabilitation and Supervision Order and must also pay £100 in compensation, £20 in victim surcharges and court costs of £85. They cannot be named for legal reasons.

A fourth teenager, Connor Rothwell, 18, from Norwich was sentenced at a previous hearing. He was fined £240, ordered to pay £100 in compensation, £30 in victim surcharges and court costs of £85.

TWO brothers conned elderly victims out of around £250,000 and used the cash to fund their own lifestyles.

Amin and Anis Ben-Sghaier claimed to work for a company called AJ Auctioneers and cold called their victims, offering to sell their investments. These included rare earth metals, diamonds and wine.

The pair, who used aliases, persuaded them to pay fees and taxes associated with these sales. But the auctions never took place and the ten victims were never paid the money they were owed from the sales.

One victim was promised £163,000 from the sale of rare earth metals. He never received the money but lost his life savings of £190,000 to the fraudsters. Another man also lost his life savings and his home.

Essex Police began investigating in May 2015 following a referral from the National Crime Agency.

In most cases, the fraud was carried out over the phone or email and the victims never met the alleged representatives of the auction company.
Police enquiries found the money paid by the victims went into accounts connected to Amin and Anis, their younger brother Bilal, Anis’ former girlfriend Rebecca Batchelor, and Amin’s former girlfriend Beau Bown.

The money was used to fund their lifestyles, including holidays, eating out, clubbing, cosmetic procedures and clothing.

All five were charged in December 2016.

Anis, 25, a trader, of Chelsea Way, Brentwood, admitted conspiracy to commit fraud between January 2013 and September 2016 when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court in February.

Amin, 27, of Collins Meadow, Harlow, admitted the same charge on September 11.

Beau Bown, 27, of Kitson Way, Harlow, admitted money laundering between September 2013 and September 2016 when she appeared at court on September 11.

Bilal Ben-Sghaier, 22, a cleaner, of Collins Meadow, Harlow, was charged with money laundering between February 2013 and September 2016.

Rebecca Batchelor, 21, a model, of Helena Road, Rayleigh, was charged with money laundering between April 2015 and September 2016.

Bilal and Batchelor stood trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on September 11.

Batchelor changed her plea to guilty on September 13. Bilal was found guilty today, Friday September 15.

All will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court in late October.

Speaking after the jury returned its verdict today, Detective Chief Inspector Lee Morton, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “This was a ruthless fraud, in which the defendants had absolutely no regard for the devastating impact they would have on their victims.

“Ten people lost large sums of their hard earned money – in some cases their life savings and home – causing huge distress. One of the victims sadly died in January this year before seeing justice done.

“They trusted the men they had dealings with, who we now know were Amin and Anis Ben-Sghaier, who were convincing and persuasive.

“The five defendants benefited from this organised scam and spent money that was not theirs.

“It is possible that other people who have not yet come forward have fallen victim to this fraud.

“We’d urge anyone who believes they have been a victim to please contact Essex Police.”

A MAN from Milwards has been fined over £1,100 due to play his music too loud.

James Kyriariakos, of Milwards, Harlow was found guilty of the following.

On 16/04/2017 at 276, Milwards, Harlow having been served with an abatement notice under section 80(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 by Harlow District Council, without reasonable excuse contravened or failed to comply with a requirement, namely abate the statutory nuisance arising from the playing of loud amplified music, singing and shouting caused by yourself and/or visitors to the property which affects residents at neighbouring premises and thereafter neither to cause, permit nor otherwise

On 16/04/2017 at 276, Milwards, Harlow , the defendant having been served with an abatement notice under section 80(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 by Harlow District Council, without reasonable excuse contravened or failed to comply with a requirement, namely abate the statutory nuisance arising from the playing of loud amplified music, singing and shouting caused by yourself and/or visitors to the property which affects residents at neighbouring premises and thereafter neither to cause, permit nor otherwise allow its recurrence, imposed by the notice.

He was fined a total of £1,194.55

A HARLOW man has been fined over £3,000 and may have to have his dog destroyed.

Luke Witham, aged 35, of Tithelands, Harlow was issued with the following requirements in relation to his dog.

An application for an order for destruction of a dog, namely a Pit Bull Terrier type known as ‘Fayden’ was made at Chelmsford magistrates court on September 9th, 2017.

The requirements are as follows:

Unless the dog Fayden is kept under proper control by

1. The dog is neutered in accordance with Article 6.
2. The dog is microchipped.
3. Third party insurance in respect of the dog is obtained.
4. A certificate of exemption is issued., it must be destroyed.

Reason: Court finds Fayden to be a prohibited dog under S1 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Court not satisfied that Fayden presents a danger to public safety nor that Respondent is not a fit and proper person to be in charge of Fayden. Contingency Destruction Order made S4B

A HARLOW teenager has been banned from driving after being found with traces of cocaine in his bloodstream.

Kieran Hall, aged 19, of Sheppards, Harlow pled guilty to the following at Chelmsford magistrates court.

On 29/04/2017 at Harlow drove a motor vehicle, on a road, namely Carters Mead, when the proportion of a controlled drug, namely Cocaine, in your blood, namely 11μg/L, exceeded the specified limit

On 29/04/2017 at Harlow, being a person driving a vehicle, neglected or refused to stop the vehicle when directed to do so by a constable acting in the execution of his duty and for the time being engaged in the regulation of traffic in a road, namely Rye Hill Road.

On 29/04/2017 at Harlow in the county of Essex drove a motor vehicle, and failed to comply with the indication given by a traffic sign specified as subject to obligatory endorsement in Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, namely a red light traffic signal, lawfully placed on or near a road, namely A414.

Hall has been banned from driving for 23 months. He also has to undertake 100 hours of unpaid community service and was fined £170.00

A MAN will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court today, Monday September 18, to face a charge of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Thomas Hagger, 28, of Meadow Road, Epping will also face a further charge of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The charges relate to offences alleged to have happened on September 12.

Hagger has been remanded in custody until his appearance.

A WOMAN will appear in court this morning to face charges of assault and possession of a knife.

Charmain Poynter, 31, of Hull Grove, Harlow will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court this morning, Monday September 18.

She was arrested following an alleged incident in Hull Grove, Harlow on Sunday September 18.

A HARLOW motorcyclist who performed wheelies whilst riding on the M6 in Staffordshire has been jailed for eight months.

Pawel Zietowski, aged 27, from Harlow, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court today.

He had pled guilty to driving a motor vehicle dangerously.

Zietowski was sentenced to eight months in prison and given a 28-month driving ban.

Inspector Sion Hathway, from CMPG, said: “Such dangerous riding will not be tolerated on our roads. “Zietowski showed a blatant disregard for the rules of the road, and fellow motorists. His antics could have easily resulted in tragedy.”

M6 Motorbike Madness from Staffs Police on Vimeo.

A FORMER Harlow primary school teacher has been jailed for four years for a series of sex assaults on a pupil under the age of 13.

Edward Ryan, aged 67. of Venmore Drive, Great Dunmow, assaulted one of his pupils at a Harlow primary school on four occasions during lessons between September 15 and October 20, 2015.

Ryan denied four charges of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 during his trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Judge David Turner QC sentenced Ryan to four years in prison.

An NSPCC spokesperson for the East of England said:

“As a teacher Ryan should have been protecting children. Instead, he exploited his position of trust to sickeningly abuse a young girl in his care.

“He cruelly made his victim relive his depraved crimes in court rather than admit his guilt and it is her tremendous courage that has helped put him behind bars.

“It’s vital that young people know how to recognise abuse and feel empowered to report it, which is why the NSPCC spoke to more than 51,000 primary school pupils across Essex over the last academic year as part of its Speak Out Stay Safe Service.”

Children with any concerns can contact Childline, free of charge, anytime on 0800 1111 or visit www.childline.org.uk for help and advice.

IN many ways, we are tying up the loose ends of the Arek Jozwik killing and in many ways, we feel it may be time not move on.

However, when we were reporting on the trial in Chelmsford last month, we heard two witnesses testify that the deceased and his colleague, issued a number of racist taunts against one or more of the group of youths in The Stow.

When we asked Essex Police about these taunts and whether they were being investigated as hate crimes, we were told that they may look at it again.

But a few days after that, we asked Essex Police if they had actually registered it as a hate crime. The answer was no.

It appears that the family of one of the group just wanted to move on.

It just seemed strange to us that it wouldn’t be even marked down as an incident.

The authorities had given a great deal of publicity to the fact that they had all theses hate crime reporting centres and all these hate crime ambassadors.

You also wondered how many other hate crimes are not being marked down as hate crimes for political reasons and vice-versa.

FIVE men have been jailed for a total of 23 years and eight months following a serious assault on a teenager in Harlow.

< Luke Martin, 19, of Joyners Field, Harlow, and Craig Quennell, 22, of Long Banks, Harlow, Daniel Lockett, 21, of Little Brays, Harlow, Jordan Hinton, 20, of The Briars, Harlow, and Sean Stuart, 32, of Tamar Way, Tottenham, were sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court today (Friday, September 22).

Martin was jailed for nine years and Quennell received an eight year sentence for GBH with intent and Lockett was jailed for 18 months and Hinton received two years for violent disorder. They were all found guilty following a 15-day trial a Chelmsford Crown Court that concluded on Friday, July 21. Stuart, who pleaded guilty to GBH on the first day of trial, was jailed for three years.

They had previously pleaded not guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday, April 25, 2016.

On September 4, 2015, one of the defendants was ejected from Twenty One Bar in Harlow after getting into an argument with the victim.

The defendants then waited for him to leave and attacked him at around 3.15pm, knocking him unconscious. They then continued to kick and punch him as he lay on the floor.

The victim was taken to hospital with facial fractures and fluid around his brain, which has since caused black outs and memory loss.

Four of the men were arrested on September 6, 2015. Police arrested two more men over the coming months.

One of these men, Luke Quennell, 19, of Long Banks, Harlow, was found not guilty of violent disorder and GBH following the trial.

Investigating officer Dc Leo Fordham, of Harlow CID, said: “All five men played a part in a vicious and an unprovoked attack on a man who innocently bumped into his attackers while dancing during a night out with friends.

“Embarrassed and angry about being ejected from the venue, they waited for the victim to leave and then outnumbered him in an assault that has had a lasting impact on the victim, who now suffers black outs and memory loss.

“I would like to praise him for his courage throughout the investigation and trial after his attackers denied any involvement. They have not shown any remorse for their actions and will now face a lengthy period locked away in a prison cell.”

ESSEX Police have charged three people following an incident in Harlow yesterday (Friday, September 22).

Jamil Khan, 23, of Sorbus Road, Broxbourne, was charged with possession of firearms offences and Raymond Aylmer, 20, of Melbourne Court, Waltham Cross, and Kyle Gilbert, 18, of Burley Road, Bishop’s Stortford, were charged with possession of an offensive weapon.

They are due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court today (Saturday, September 23).

Armed officers responded to calls from members of the public that a firearm was seen during an argument between a group of people in Post Office Walk at 3.20pm. Three people were found at the scene to be carrying weapons, two knives and a handgun.

POLICE are appealing for information about a distraction burglary in High Street, Old Harlow, on Monday, September 18.

Two men have knocked at the home of a 77-year-old man at around 3.20pm and insisted that his garden fence needed painting.

While one of the suspects was talking to the victim, the other entered his living room and removed some items of jewellery from the table. They then both left the scene.

The suspects have been described as being white, aged in their 30s and around 5ft 10ins tall with short brown hair.

One suspect wore a grey tracksuit bottoms and a green bomber jacket and the other wore jeans and a dark blue or black bomber jacket.

Investigating officer Pc Carlo Marchione, of Harlow CID, said: “This was a particularly brazen burglary where the suspects have knocked at the home of their elderly victim’s home in the middle of the day and have posed as painters. One of the suspects has then continued to engage the man in conversation while the other has searched through his home and stolen valuable jewellery.

“These individuals could target other elderly and vulnerable people in the area and I urge anyone with information to Harlow CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

For more information on bogus callers visit: https://www.essex.police.uk/advice/bogus-callers/.

A DRUG dealer from London who visited Harlow 14 times in just one month to ply his trade has been jailed for more than five years.

Ryan Findlay, 25, was stopped by officers from the West Operation Raptor team on Tuesday August 15 in a car on School Lane, Harlow. The vehicle was suspected of being linked to drug dealing.

The officers approached the car and arrested Findlay. He was taken into custody where he was found to have 33 rocks of the Class A drugs crack cocaine and heroin.

Officers then carried out a search of Findlay’s home in Isledon Road in Holloway, London where they found cannabis, money and various drug paraphernalia.

Analysis of Automated Number Plate Recognition cameras in the Harlow area showed that Findlay had travelled to Harlow 14 times in the month before his arrest.

He was charged with two counts of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply and a further charge of possessing the Class B drug cannabis.

Findlay pleaded guilty to the charges at Chelmsford Crown Court and was jailed for five years and nine months.

Following the sentencing Sgt James Paget of the West Operation Raptor said: “We will not tolerate anyone dealing drugs on the streets of our county, let alone people travelling in from other areas expressly for that reason.

“Findlay was routinely travelling to Harlow from London to ply his trade on the streets of our county.

“What he didn’t bank on was the fact that Operation Raptor were one step behind him and it was only a matter of time before he was in our cells.

“The sentence handed out by the judge reflects the severity with which both Essex Police and our criminal justice partners take those involved the supply of drugs.

“Operation Raptor will continue to ensure that drug dealers have no place to hide in Essex.”
Essex Police set up Operation Raptor teams in the North, South and West of our county to target those involved in drug and gang-related crime.

Anyone with information about drug or gang-related crime can contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Findlay was sentenced on Wednesday September 13.

A HARLOW woman who breached her bail has been bailed again by the courts.

Charmaine Poynter, aged 31, of Hull Grove, Sumners was arrested on September 14th for breaching her Bailey attending an address in the Sumners area.

Poynter was on bail for an alleged offence of causing criminal damage to properties in the Markwell Woods area in July.

Chelmsford magistrates court has bailed Poynter again. Conditions include an electronic curfew between 2200 hrs and 0700 hrs; not to go to Markwell Woods and a number of other streets and a number of other conditions.

A man who committed two burglaries having been released on licence from prison has been jailed for three years.

Steven Clark, 20, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court after pleading guilty to the offences on Friday, September 22.

Police received a call at 4.20pm on Sunday 16th July 2017 about a burglary in progress at property off Hobbs Cross Road, Old Harlow. The victim returned home to find a blue Vauxhall Vectra sounding its horn and his garage door open.

A neighbour noticing the suspicious behaviour and parked his car in front of the vehicle while victim looked inside his home to find a messy search had been carried out, windows smashed and items missing.

The suspicious car then sped off, crashed and the suspects ran from the scene. Police found that tape had been used to change the number plate details and inside the car was a stolen jewellery box and jewellery.

A further burglary was reported at around 5.40pm on Sunday, July 16, a woman living off High Laver Road, Matching Green, discovered that she had been burgled after returning home from work.

The victim’s door window was smashed, a messy search had been carried out and a jewellery box with contents had been stolen. A witness reported seeing a blue Vauxhall Vectra driving away from the area in suspicious circumstances. The jewellery box and items of jewellery recovered from the abandoned Vauxhall Vectra were positively identified and returned to the owner.

Police established that the vehicle had been purchased earlier that day and linked the mobile telephone number used to purchase the vehicle to Steven Clark.

Further analysis of the call data provided evidence linking the phone to the relevant areas for the offences. Clark was arrested on Monday, July 31.

Investigating officer Dc James Smith, of Harlow CID, said: “Clark is a prolific offender who was released from prison on licence when he committed these crimes.

“He showed no regard for his victim’s homes and property. As well as the theft of personal items there was also extensive damage caused.

“Clearly he has not changed his ways following a spell in prison and I believe our communities are safer with him locked in a prison cell.”

A HARLOW man has been sent for trial over charges that he attempted to communicate with an eight-year-old child for sexual purposes.

Thomas Hagger, aged 29, of Meadow Road, Epping was charged with the following.

Between 12/09/2017 and 15/09/2017 at South Ockendon, being a person aged 18 or over, attempted for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, intentionally communicated with a child of 8 years of age, a person under 16 who you did not reasonably believe to be 16 or over, the communication being, intended to encourage her to make a communication that was sexual, namely asked the child to send a picture of her in her underwear

A trial date of October 16th at Chelmsford Crown Court has been sent.

Hagger has been remanded in custody.

AN ELEVEN-year-old from Harlow has been charged with assault, robbery and possession of a flick knife.

The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons has been charged with the following.

1. On 08/03/2017 at Harlow assaulted another by beating him.

2. On 08/03/2017 at Harlow without lawful excuse, damaged bicycle to the value of £340 belonging to another intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged.

3. On 08/03/2017 at Harlow had with you an article, namely a flick knife, in a public place, namely The Briars – Harlow, and unlawfully and intentionally threatened another person, with that article in such a way that there was an immediate risk of serious physical harm to that person.

4. On 08/03/2017 at Harlow attempted to robanotherof bicycle of a value unknown Contrary to Section 1(1) of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981.

He has been remanded on conditional bail and will make this next appearance at Chelmsford magistrates court on Monday October 2nd.

Roger Hirst takes on role as country’s first Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

Mr Hirst, who was elected to become Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex in May 2016, took on his new role as the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex on the 1st of October.

He is the first PCC in the country to have received approval from the Home Secretary to take on the governance of the fire and rescue service in addition to his existing role with the police service. This change was approved after submitting a detailed business case to the Home Office after a period of local consultation. He now replaces the members of the former Essex Fire Authority and will be responsible for having oversight of the fire and rescue service in Essex, setting its strategy and budget and holding the Chief Fire Officer to account. Mr Hirst carried out a full public consultation exercise involving members of the public, staff and officers from both services, local councils and MPs in the Spring. The consultation feedback was in favour of the PCC taking on governance of the fire service. A business case was submitted to the Home Secretary in May of this year and the Home Office announced in July that it had approved the decision.

Mr Hirst said: “I am extremely honoured and very pleased to become this country’s first Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. It is a great opportunity for Essex and means the public can really benefit from a better coordinated approach between the two services. By bringing the strategic direction of these two services together and enhancing the way they collaborate we will be able to deliver further improvements to keep the people of Essex safe.”

“This isn’t going to be a revolution. A firefighter will remain a firefighter and a police constable will remain a police constable but there is a lot more we can do to align two services which are so important to the people of Essex. We can focus our efforts to work together on prevention and making sure we can do all that we can to keep vulnerable people in our county safe.”

He added: “I’m directly elected by the public and will listen to what people want from their police and fire and rescue services. Working together we can respond to those views and be accountable to those we serve.
“I would like to thank the senior teams of both services, and our local authority partners, for working so hard to make this important change possible.”

Nick Hurd, Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, said: “I want to congratulate Roger Hirst on becoming the first Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. He will provide a single point of accountability to the fire and rescue service and be well placed to drive closer collaboration between the two services.

“This Government is committed to enabling closer collaboration between police, fire and rescue and emergency ambulance services. It encourages the sharing of best practice and more innovative thinking which can help to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of each service, and, ultimately, save lives. I very much look forward to seeing the real benefits for the communities in Essex.”

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, Adam Eckley, said: “Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has undertaken significant reform in recent years to become one of the best-performing Services for preventing fires and other emergencies.

“This change in our governance is a significant milestone in our transformation journey and an important and exciting step for us locally.

“As the first Fire and Rescue Service in the country to come under a Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, all eyes will be upon us. I am looking forward to working more collaboratively to benefit our Essex communities.

“I would like to thank all Essex Fire Authority members, who have over the last 20 years played a significant role in progressing and evolving our Service to fit the needs of our local communities.”

Essex Police’s Chief Constable, Stephen Kavanagh, said: “Firefighters and police officers share much more than a blue light. The work we’re doing with the fire service in Essex is exploring new areas where working together can make the county safer. Police deal with much more than crime and firefighters much more than fire, so working together in a structured way is a sensible way of using very limited resources not only to respond to incidents but to try and prevent them.”

ESSEX Police want to talk to John Underwood, 39, in connection with an assault in Harlow.

Underwood, who is a plumber and tiler by trader is 5ft 5ins tall, of a medium build and is bald with facial hair.

He is known to frequent betting shops and has links to the Thornhill area of Southampton.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.