CPS News Brief

Father and son builders sentenced for defrauding elderly home owners

Ruben Joseph Reed and sons Ruben George Reed and George Tony Reed were today sentenced at Croydon Crown Court. They intimidated elderly victims into handing over savings for overpriced building work.    

Matthew Wagstaff of the CPS Central Fraud Group said:

“These offences add up to a long story of intimidation from rogue builders finding greatly exaggerated problem after problem at the homes of their elderly and vulnerable victims. This was not a one off opportunistic offence carried out by an otherwise legitimate company. These builders knew exactly what they were doing, they did it repeatedly, and they did not care about the devastating consequences for their victims.

“Their targets, some in their 80s and 90s, were pressurised into handing over more than £700,000 for work that was shoddy and grossly over priced. One victim alone parted with £90,000. The Reeds used their ill-gotten gains on a number of luxury items including a Bentley and it was ultimately their greed that brought them down.

“I welcome today’s sentences but the work of the CPS does not end here. We will now set out to strip these defendants of the proceeds of their crime by seeking confiscation orders against them.”



Charging decision in relation to suspected intimidation and harassment by former News of the World journalist Neville Thurlbeck

Alison Levitt, QC, Principal Legal Advisor to the Director of Public Prosecutions said:

“The CPS has received a request from the officers investigating Operation Weeting for charging advice in relation to Neville Thurlbeck, suspected of witness intimidation and harassment. This relates to a blog posted by Mr Thurlbeck on 7 March 2012 in which he gave the home address of a member of News International’s Management Standards Committee.

“Having applied the full test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors the CPS has concluded that no prosecution should take place. Given that the journalist in question remains on bail for further offences we do not intend to give any further information at this point. Mr Thurlbeck remains on police bail on suspicion of offences under Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.”

No advice given on John Terry - Anton Ferdinand handshake says CPS

Some sections of the media have reported today that the CPS has advised footballers John Terry and Anton Ferdinand not to shake hands before a match this weekend. This is not correct. The CPS has not given any such advice to the footballers or their legal representatives. The media is reminded that the case involving Terry has yet to be heard and proceedings are still active.

Cruel and violent treatment of pigs - two sentenced to custody

Piotr Andrzej Wasiuta and Kelly Smith were today sentenced for animal cruelty contrary to sections 4(1) and 32(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Wasiuta received six weeks and Smith received four weeks.

Simon Clements, Head of the CPS Welfare, Rural and Health Prosecutions Division said:

“Wasiuta and Smith acted in a particularly cruel and violent manner towards the pigs in their care. I hope today’s sentences will be of some comfort to those rightly distressed and outraged by what we have seen.

“There should be no underestimating the gratuitous pain and suffering inflicted on these animals. When Wasiuta repeatedly stubbed out his lit cigarette on the snout of the three pigs in his care, they rapidly recoiled in pain. On one occasion, Wasiuta repeatedly touched the pig with the cigarette on the neck, and then again on its snout, as the pig moved to avoid him.

“Smith’s brutal violence was equally pointless and appeared simply to be an expression of his frustration. One pig was hit more that 30 times in just over a minute before adopting a dog sitting position and breathing rapidly. The prosecution told the court this was probably associated with the stress and abuse to which it has been subjected.

“There can be no place for such cruelty in farming. Where it is exposed, those responsible can expect to face the full force of my specialist prosecutors.”

Ringleader in Croydon disturbances has sentence increased

CPS London’s Chief Crown Prosecutor has today welcomed the decision of the Court of Appeal to increase the sentence handed down to one of the key people involved in the London disorder of August 2011.

Adam Khan Ahmadzai was originally sentenced to four years' imprisonment but that has today been increased to seven years.

CPS London Chief Crown Prosecutor Alison Saunders said:

“We referred this case to the Attorney General as one that had attracted a sentence which was unduly lenient. I welcome the strong message that the Court of Appeal has now sent out as a result of this ruling.

“Adam Khan Ahmadzai was a ringleader during the riots in Croydon and his conviction for 10 offences committed that night shows the extent of his criminality.

“His offences were amongst the most serious which CPS London has prosecuted in relation to the summer riots and this increased sentence reflects that.”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Ahmadzai pleaded guilty on 28 November 2011 at Inner London Crown Court to:

• One count of violent disorder
• Four counts of robbery
• Three counts of burglary
• Two counts of criminal damage

All committed on 8 August 2011 in Croydon.

He was sentenced on 12 January 2012 at Inner London Crown Court to four years

Brian Witty convicted of four counts of rape

CPS London Chief Crown Prosecutor Alison Saunders said:

“Today’s conviction means that a dangerous sex offender will now be imprisoned. Brian Witty earned women’s trust after meeting them in social situations. When he then had them alone he turned violent and subjected them to a serious sexual assault.

“For some of the victims justice has been a long time coming and I thank them for their support of this prosecution and the evidence they provided to the court.

“Prosecuting rape is very challenging but our knowledge is ever growing and we always seek to improve. The expertise that our prosecutors now apply to cases such as these means that offenders like Brian Witty, who may have thought they had got away with their crimes, are being brought to justice.”

Two convicted for laundering proceeds of Olympic fraud

Sue Patten, Head of the CPS Central Fraud group said:

“Two defendants have today been found guilty for their part in attempting to launder some £2.3m, the proceeds of a fraud perpetrated against the Olympic Delivery Authority. This follows the conviction of Ansumara Kamara in September 2010 on money laundering and false identity documents charges.

“Fraud is about money making and is motivated by greed. In this case, the fraudsters directly targeted scarce public funds earmarked to ensure the success of London 2012. Thanks to the quick action of those involved, £2.14m was immediately frozen and those responsible now face custodial sentences.

“As much as fraudsters put considerable planning into committing the fraud, they put equal planning into disguising the money. This is often with the help of associates, allowing it to go untraced and to be spent on further criminality and this is what makes money laundering such a serious crime.”