CPS News Brief

Zack Davies given life imprisonment for racially motivated machete attack

Zack Davies has today been sentenced to life imprisonment for attempted murder after he attacked a man with a machete in a racially aggravated attack in January. He must serve a minimum of 14 years.

Davies targeted Dr Sarandev Bhambra in a supermarket in Mold, north Wales, attacking him with a machete causing deep wounds before another man, Peter Fuller, intervened to stop the attack.

Gareth Preston, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Cymru-Wales, said:

“This was a vicious, racist attack upon Dr Bhambra which has left him with life changing injuries.

“When the prosecution team reviewed the evidence from a number of witness accounts and from CCTV of the incident, Zack Davies’ intention to cause extremely serious or even fatal injuries to Dr Bhambra was abundantly clear.

“It was also clear from the evidence that the heroic actions of Peter Fuller may well have prevented this horrific attack from having a fatal outcome.

“I would like to thank all those who helped the prosecution team build a strong case against Davies, especially all those who provided statements to the police or appeared as witnesses during the trial.

“Finally, we should acknowledge that whilst the criminal justice process is concluded with today’s sentencing, Dr Bhambra continues to deal with the consequences of this terrible incident. We hope that today’s sentencing will be of some assistance to him as he seeks to move forward with his life.”

Seven child sex abusers sentenced to total of 107 years

Seven men were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court today for a total of 107 years for child sexual abuse offences, including the rape of a child under the age of 13.

Robin Hollyson, Adam Toms, Christopher Knight, Matthew Lisk and David Harsley pleaded guilty to offences of sexually abusing a baby and young children. Adam Toms admitted to drugging and raping a four year old child. Robin Hollyson pleaded to the rape of a baby.

After denying conspiracy to rape or sexually assault a baby both John Denham and Matthew Stansfield were convicted in April by a jury. Denham was convicted of conspiracy to sexually assault a baby and Stansfield for conspiracy to rape a baby on two occasions.

Gregor McGill, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service Organised Crime Division, said:

“This case has exposed a horrific world that many would never have believed existed. These men had a shocking interest in sexually abusing young children, including raping a baby when only months old.

“This abuse was planned and calculated. They arranged the abuse when there was only a small amount of time to be alone with a baby or child, including when one of the men was trusted to be alone by unsuspecting parents. They would sometimes live stream the abuse via the dark web or Skype.

“Much of the evidence in this case was recovered messaging on social networking websites and tracking of phones and cars putting the men at relevant locations at particular times.

“It’s hard to find the right words to describe this profoundly disturbing abuse but I hope today’s sentence will be of some very small comfort to the families of the children and sends a clear message to abusers and others tempted to become involved in this type of criminality.”

Graham Gardner, Deputy Director of Investigations at the National Crime Agency said:
 
“Today’s sentences highlight the depravity of these men – a depth of depravity that thankfully we rarely see.
 
“These offenders demonstrated a determined ruthlessness to identify vulnerable babies and infants who were unable to protect themselves. Their callousness beggars belief.
 
“This national investigation has now moved to an international one and the NCA will continue to work with our partners, at home and abroad, to ensure those who abuse children are brought to justice”.

 

Sentencing details:

ROBIN HOLLYSON – 24 years custodial + 8 years extension = total of 32 years

ADAM TOMS – 12 years custodial + 4 years extension = total of 16 years

CHRISTOPHER KNIGHT – 18 years custodial + 6 years extension = total of 24 years

JOHN DENHAM – 8 years custodial + 4 years extension = total of 12 years

MATTHEW STANSFIELD – 10 years custodial + 4 years extension = total of 14 years

MATTHEW LISK – 4 years custodial + 3 years extension = total of 7 years

DAVID HARSLEY – 2 years

Statement in relation to Operation Kalmyk

Gregor McGill, Senior lawyer at the Crown Prosecution Service said: ”The CPS received a full file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Kalmyk investigation team in March 2015, after a complex investigation. Having carefully reviewed the evidence in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the CPS has concluded that no further action can be taken against any of the suspects involved.

“In total 15 suspects were considered in relation to allegations of ‘computer hacking’ allegedly carried out between April 2005 and September 2007 against 13 potential victims – some individuals, some corporate.

“The appropriate offence under consideration was unauthorised monitoring of a computer, contrary to section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act. Any potential offending under s1 Computer Misuse Act could not be prosecuted as that offence was time barred due to the age of the allegations. In order to consider other offences we must be satisfied that any alternative offences would have been preferable had the time-bar not been a barrier to prosecution – for example that it better illustrated the alleged offending or that it allowed more suitable sentencing powers.  

“Accordingly, further consideration was given to potential charges of conspiracy to defraud, other offences under the Computer Misuse Act and also offences under the Fraud Act, Data Protection Act and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

“None were considered appropriate, in particular because any charge under those Acts would have been made to circumvent the time limit which applies to the section 1 offence.  

“In one discrete matter it was determined that there was sufficient evidence to charge one suspect with an offence contrary to section 2 of the Fraud Act  - fraud by false representation - but we have determined, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute that matter due to the age of the allegation and the likelihood that it would result in a nominal penalty only if the suspect were convicted. It is therefore not in the public interest to bring this matter to court now.

“Any decision by the CPS does not imply any finding concerning guilt or criminal conduct; the CPS makes decisions only according to the test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and it is applied in all decisions on whether or not to prosecute.

“Contact has been made with all relevant parties to inform them of the outcome of this case.”

 

Additional information

The CPS's function is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for the criminal court to consider. The CPS assessment of any case is not in any sense a finding of, or implication of, any guilt or criminal conduct. It is not a finding of fact, which can only be made by a court, but rather an assessment of what it might be possible to prove to a court, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, a copy of which is provided via the link below:

www.cps.gov.uk/publications/code_for_crown_prosecutors/index.html

This assessment is based on the evidence available arising out of the police investigation and not on the evidence that is likely to be gathered by the defence, and likely to be used to test the prosecution evidence. The CPS charging decision is therefore necessarily an assessment on the basis of the evidence that is available to the CPS at the time the decision is made.

CPS prosecutors must also keep every case under review, so that they take account of any change in circumstances that occurs as the case develops, including what becomes known of the defence case. If appropriate, the CPS may change the charges or stop a case.                                                                                

 

 

Angela Shafiq sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for assisting acts of terrorism

Angela Shafiq, 22, was today sentenced at the Old Bailey to 15 months imprisonment following her conviction for terror offences under s5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. At a trial in July, Ms Shafiq was found guilty of giving help and advice to Mohammed Nahin Ahmed before he left to join jihadis fighting in Syria.

Evidence at trial showed that Shafiq had advised Ahmed on renewing his passport, which he needed to do in order to travel to Syria, and also suggested ways to fool people into believing that he was travelling to Syria for humanitarian purposes. The two also discussed the possibility of Shafiq joining Ahmed in Syria.

Sue Hemming, Head of Special Crime and Counter Terrorism at the CPS, said:

“Even if you don’t leave the UK, or meet face to face with someone involved in terrorism, you can be prosecuted and properly convicted of assisting terrorism if you engage in this kind of behaviour.

“From the content of their exchanges it was clear that Shafiq knew that she was encouraging and assisting someone who was planning to go to Syria to engage in terrorist acts.

“We will continue to work to build strong cases against these individuals to ensure that terrorists and those that assist them will find no hiding place in Britain.”

Background

Angela Shafiq was found guilty of 1 count of assisting another to commit terrorist acts contrary to s5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. She was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, a 10 year notification period upon her release and the forfeiture and destruction of her two computers.

 

Douglas Richard charged with child sexual offences

Caroline Hughes, CPS London reviewing lawyer, said:

"We have carefully considered the evidence gathered by City of London Police in relation to Douglas Richard, 57, who was arrested on 5 January this year.

“Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Douglas Richard to be charged with three counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

“The alleged offences occurred on 2 January 2015 and relate to one victim aged 13 at the time.

"The decision to prosecute has been taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

"Mr Richard will appear before City of London Magistrates' Court on 5 October.

"Mr Richard is now charged with criminal offences and has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."