CPS News Brief

Six people sentenced for £10 million money laundering enterprise

Six people have been sentenced to a total of over 28 years for their involvement in a money laundering enterprise.

Razwan Munir, Mohammed Kamran Chaudhry, Nokhaz Haider, Imran Sarwar, Umar Haq and Waqar Afzal were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to their involvement.

Nigel James, Specialist Prosecutor at the International Justice and Organised Crime Division of the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“These individuals were part of a sophisticated money laundering enterprise involving around £10 million. They received cash from crimes like drug dealing and paid it into bank accounts. They then transferred the money abroad to hide its criminal origin from authorities.

“The CPS worked with the police to build a strong case which led to them pleading guilty. The evidence included telephone records, such as the number of calls made and at what times. We also looked at messages between the individuals, including Imran Sarwar joking in October 2014 that the target for laundering cash was £9 million by Christmas.

“There was clear evidence the individuals were living lavish lifestyles beyond their declared incomes, shown by their frequent holidays abroad, expensive cars and receipts for designer clothes.

“The CPS will now take steps to recover the criminal assets of these individuals under the Proceeds of Crime Act.”

Additional information:

At first the defendants went to the Post Office depositing £5,000 in cash, which then increased to £10,000 a day.

At one point, they took in holdalls carrying £100,000 cash. One Post Office estimated that about £2 million was paid in at a branch. This cash was paid into bank accounts which were held in the names of dormant limited companies to give the appearance of legitimate trading.

Charge:

Entering into or becoming concerned in a money laundering arrangement, contrary to section 328(1) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Sentencing details:

Razwan Munir – Nine years imprisonment

Mohammed Kamran Chaudhry – Four years, seven months imprisonment

Nokhaz Haider – Four years, six months imprisonment

Imran Sarwar – Four years, six months imprisonment

Umar Haq – Three years imprisonment

Waqar Afzal – Three years imprisonment

Man sentenced for controlling or coercive behaviour

Sam Williams has been sentenced at Newcastle Upon Tyne Magistrates Court for offences including controlling or coercive behaviour.

Sam Williams, 28, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate relationship. He also pleaded guilty to assault by beating and two counts of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000.

Lorraine Anson, reviewing lawyer at the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“Sam Williams subjected his victim to controlling and coercive behaviour. He rarely allowed the victim to go out alone but when she did he would keep track of where she had gone, including making her keep parking receipts.

“He continuously belittled the victim and made her believe she needed only him, pushing her family and friends away. He checked her social media accounts and phone messages, and controlled her appearance by telling her what to wear and changing her hairstyle. After one argument Sam Williams physically assaulted the victim who escaped and called the police.

“This behaviour is sadly recognisable as being controlling and coercive. When one person holds more power than the other and creates fear around breaking someone else’s rules, it can strip people of their independence. This is exactly the behaviour that the offence of controlling and coercive behaviour aims to target and eradicate”.

 

Sentencing details:

Controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate relationship - 18 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with a Community Order for 18 months.

Assault by beating - 18 weeks imprisonment concurrent, suspended for 18 months.

Two counts of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 – ordered to pay costs

Man who “controlled every aspect of victim’s life” convicted for controlling or coercive behaviour

Adrian Lee has been convicted today for controlling or coercive behaviour.

Adrian Lee, 21, was convicted at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court for engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour in an intimate/family relationship.

Karen Renshall, reviewing lawyer at the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“Controlling or coercive behaviour can have an extreme psychological and emotional impact on victims. Today’s conviction shows that this behaviour will simply not be tolerated.

“No-one has the right to restrict someone else’s freedom. Adrian Lee controlled every aspect of his victim’s life. He prevented her from seeing her friends and questioned where she had been if she came in late.

“He stopped the victim from using her mobile phone and controlled her social media, such as making her delete friends on Facebook.”

He has been sentenced to six months imprisonment and a Restraining Order was imposed for two years.

Additional information

Charge:

Engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour in an intimate/family relationship.

Teenager convicted of two murders in Colchester‏

A teenager who was only 15 when he stabbed two strangers to death in Colchester in 2014 has been convicted today at Guildford Crown Court of their murder. James Fairweather had previously admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Paul Scothern, head of CPS East of England’s Complex Casework Unit said: “This was a shocking case, particularly because of the young age of the defendant at the time and because the brutal attacks he carried out were entirely random.

“He did not know either James Attfield or Nahid Almanea, the victims did not know each other and the defendant had absolutely no reason to attack them.”

Mr Attfield was found about 6am on 29 March 2014 in a park in Colchester; he had received more than 100 stab wounds during a savage assault and died shortly after being found.

In Ms Almanea’s case the attack was in broad daylight in June 2014 about 10.30am near the University of Essex where she was a student.

Mr Scothern said: “James Fairweather claimed voices and hallucinations compelled him to carry out attacks and he admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but denied murder. His claims were at the heart of the trial as the prosecution did not accept this was the case.

“We presented expert medical evidence to the jury that his claims were an attempt to deceive those who examined him, to literally get away with murder.

“Our evidence was that he was in control at the time, he knew what he was doing, he prepared for the killings by arming himself with a knife and gloves, and he took steps afterwards to conceal what he had done.

“Our thoughts are with the families of the victims at this time.”

Five guilty for their involvement in importing “deadly weapons” into UK

Harry Shilling and Michael Defraine have been found guilty today at the Old Bailey for their involvement in importing and possessing firearms with intent to endanger life.

Both were involved in organised criminal activity along with David Payne, Richard Rye and Christopher Owen, who pleaded guilty at earlier hearings.

All five were involved in illegally importing 22 assault rifles and nine sub-machine guns. The weapons were brought into the UK on a boat called the Albernina which was moored in Kent.

The prosecution said the importation was planned and paid for by Harry Shilling. He used Michael Defraine to arrange the transportation of the weapons from the continent. Richard Rye was the go-between, arranging the importation through David Payne, the captain of the boat. The prosecution case was that Jennifer Arthy and John Smale helped him purchase the boat and to maintain it, and together with Christopher Owen helped unload its cargo.

Tom Guest, Specialist Organised Crime Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“These defendants imported deadly weapons, including 22 assault rifles which fire automatically and have a devastating capability. These guns were working weapons which came with a large amount of ammunition and were clearly intended for use. The evidence showed Harry Shilling intended to use the weapons for his own means, and to arm criminal associates.

“This was a sophisticated operation involving weapons with a lethal capacity. The CPS built a strong case, working with the NCA, Kent Police and international partners, not only around the organised crime gang’s plot to import the weapons – but also about the intentions for their deadly future use.

“The prosecution deployed key evidence of email messages to demonstrate the criminality in this case. The defendants said they were “…now officially gangsters”, they were “proper heavy and armed to the teeth“ and said people should “duck and run for cover”. Harry Shilling described his group as being an “armed cartel” following the importation.

“Each defendant played an important role in this operation and was well aware of the danger of these firearms, and the consequences of their use.”

Additional information

Charges:

Count One: Being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of goods, contrary to section 170(2)(b) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

Count Two: Conspiracy to possess firearms with intent by means thereof to endanger life or to enable another person or persons by means thereof to endanger life, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

Harry Shilling – guilty of both counts

Michael Defraine – guilty of both counts

Jennifer Arthy – not guilty of both counts

John Smale – not guilty of both counts

David Payne - pleaded guilty to both counts

Richard Rye – pleaded guilty to both counts

Christopher Owen – pleaded guilty to Count One

DPP welcomes National Stalking Awareness Week

Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions, said:

“Stalking is a very serious offence. Offenders develop an unwanted fixation or obsession resulting in them continuously seeking to exert control over their victims using a wide variety of means. It can have a devastating effect on victims as it causes fear and distress. It infiltrates victims’ everyday lives in many ways, both physically and psychologically, such as causing them to be afraid of leaving their homes and accessing social media accounts.

“Tackling stalking is a CPS priority. We have provided training for our prosecutors and have appointed stalking leads in every CPS Area. We are also consulting on updated social media guidance which includes a dedicated section on prosecuting stalking and harassment online.

“We will continue working closely with stakeholders and organisations across the criminal justice system to tackle this crime.”

You can find out more about stalking in our legal guidance:

http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/stalking_and_harassment/

Ex-Bedfordshire PC sentenced for sexual offences

An Ex-Bedfordshire Police Constable, Mohammad Arshad, 35, was today sentenced at St Albans Crown Court to 15 years for 17 sexual offences against teenagers, including one offence of rape, several of sexual activity with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and meeting a child following sexual grooming. The offences were in relation to 12 teenage girls.

Amanda Sawetz, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service said,

“Mohammad Arshad, formerly a Police Constable for Bedfordshire Police, groomed young and vulnerable girls, approached them through their friends and their social networks and systematically offered them money in exchange for sexual favours.

“The jury heard that his modus operandi was to make contact with the young girls on social media through Blackberry messenger, Facebook or Whatsapp. He gave the name of ‘Waz’, sometimes lying about his age, saying that he was 17 or 26 years old. He would sometimes use the fact that he was a police officer to gain the girls’ trust but would reveal quite quickly to each of them his sexual intentions. On one occasion he raped a 14 year old girl he had taken ­­for a drive.

“We would like to thank all the young girls who gave evidence in this case and supported the prosecution. They did nothing wrong and were preyed upon by Arshad who used their innocence and vulnerability to commit his criminal acts.”

Convicted mother sentenced for murder of her son

A woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to the murder of her baby son at their home in Camber, East Sussex, in August 2003.

Lesley Dunford pleaded guilty to killing seven month old Harley at a hearing in March 2016. She is already serving a seven year prison term after being convicted of the manslaughter of her eldest daughter, Lucy, who was two and a half years old when she died in February 2004.

Today (Friday 15 April), she was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to serve a minimum of 13 years.

Senior Crown Prosecutor in the CPS South East Complex Casework Unit, Libby Clark, said:

“Lesley Dunford has lied for many years about what happened to her son, before finally confessing the truth to prison staff in 2014. This was a terrible crime - her confession clearly stated that she deliberately suffocated her son whilst he was face down in his cot.

“Despite being convicted in 2012 of the manslaughter of her eldest daughter, Dunford still kept her silence over Harley’s death. She showed no remorse for over a decade by maintaining her claims that she had found him in his cot and that he was not breathing, when the truth was that she had murdered him.”

Former police officer sentenced for preying on domestic abuse victims for sexual gratification

Michael McMillan, a former Merseyside police officer has been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for seven counts of misconduct in public office.

Mark Auty, Specialist Prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service, Special Crime Division, said:

“Michael McMillan abused his position as a police officer by targeting seven domestic abuse victims for his own sexual gratification over a period of three years.

“His role should have been to support victims of domestic abuse who had already shown great courage in coming forward. Instead, he exploited their vulnerabilities and betrayed their trust.

“McMillan inundated the victims with indecent messages and photographs and in some instances, encouraged the victims to meet him and engage in sexual activity.

“Evidence including texts, Whatsapp messages and social media messages showed that he bombarded the victims almost immediately after first meeting them. One victim received over 900 text messages in 13 months.

“This case represents an appalling abuse of power but today’s sentence proves that no-one is above the law.”

Mother and partner convicted following the death of 21-month-old girl‏

A mother has today been found guilty of child cruelty and the murder of her 21-month-old daughter Ayeeshia, known as A-J.  Her partner at the time has been found guilty of allowing the death of a child.

A jury at Birmingham Crown Court heard how on 1 May 2014, Kathryn Smith, aged 23, made a 999 call asking for emergency assistance for AJ who had stopped breathing.

Paramedics arrived at her property in Stretton, Burton-on-Trent to find the mother’s 22-year-old partner, Matthew Rigby, attempting resuscitation of AJ.

The toddler was rushed to hospital but the injuries she had sustained were too serious and her life could not be saved.

A post mortem examination revealed that AJ had numerous bruises to her body and severe injuries to her heart which caused her death.

The defendants were subsequently arrested and when questioned by the police they were unable to account for what had happened to the little girl and how she had sustained fatal injuries.

Smith has today been found guilty of murder and child cruelty, and Rigby was found guilty of allowing the death of a child.

Wendy Bounds, Prosecutor from the West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service’s Complex Casework Unit, said:

“We all recognise the responsibility and duty that rests with parents and those having the care of children to love, protect and nurture them.  No child should suffer at the hands of those who should be caring for her; no child should be the victim of broken bones or serious injury caused by violent assault by those caring for her. That is precisely what happened to AJ in the 8 months or so leading up to her death. 

“Today, a measure of justice has been obtained for AJ, but sadly this cannot bring her back and our thoughts go out to her family at this time.”

Ten men sentenced for child sexual exploitation in Rochdale

Ten men have been sentenced for multiple offences relating to the sexual exploitation of eight victims in the Rochdale area following two trials at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester. Nine of the offenders were sentenced today and one man was sentenced last year after pleading guilty at the start of the first trial.  They were sentenced to 127 years in total.

All of the offenders committed offences against one girl who was aged between 14 and 18 when most of the abuse happened.  Three of the men also committed offences against other victims. 

Following the sentencing Alison Cartmell, Senior Crown Prosecutor from CPS North West Complex Casework Unit said:

“Firstly I want to pay tribute to the victims who gave evidence against their abusers in the two trials.  Their courage and fortitude enabled police and prosecutors to build strong cases against these men and to bring them to justice. 

“The offenders targeted their victims because of their age and the vulnerable situations they were in at the time.  They pretended to be their friends and, in some cases, their boyfriends, but in fact they set out to groom them and exploit them for their own ends.  Some of the men plied their victims with large amounts of alcohol or drugs as a way of controlling or even incapacitating them.  Some used violence and threats to intimidate and coerce them into having sex. 

“The CPS has worked closely with Greater Manchester Police and prosecuting counsel throughout this complex and lengthy investigation to help support the victims and to ensure the strongest possible case was put before the juries. 

“These cases are dealt with by dedicated and specially trained police officers and prosecutors and we will continue to work together to bring further charges and prosecute other offenders wherever there is evidence to do so.  

“I hope that today’s outcome will act as a warning to those who abuse and exploit children in this way that tackling these crimes remains a priority for police and prosecutors and I hope it provides other victims of sexual abuse with the confidence to contact the police and to seek support.”

 

Sentence details: 

Afraz Ahmed was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Choudhry Ikhalaq Hussain was convicted in his absence and is currently wanted by police. He was sentenced in his absence to 19 years in prison.

Rehan Ali was sentenced to 7 years in prison.

Kutab Miah was sentenced to 9 years in prison.

Mohammed Dauood was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Abid Khan was sentenced to 6 years 6 months in prison.

Mohammed Zahid was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

David Law was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

A man who cannot be named for legal reasons was sentenced to 23 years in prison plus 8 years on extended license.

Mahfuz Rahman pleaded guilty to three counts of Sexual Activity with a Child and was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison at the beginning of the first trial.

 

Man sentenced in first case of husband holding his wife in servitude

Safraz Ahmed, 34, was sentenced today at Woolwich Crown Court to two years imprisonment for holding a person in servitude contrary to Section 71 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. A restraining order was also imposed. This relates to holding his wife in servitude from 17 December 2012 to 18 August 2014. It is believed to be the first case in England and Wales where a husband has been convicted of this charge relating to his wife.

Damaris Lakin, CPS London reviewing lawyer, said:

“This is a ground-breaking case which demonstrates how far we have come in tackling modern-day slavery. We believe this is the first conviction in England and Wales of a husband for holding his wife in servitude.

“After moving to the UK in 2012 to live with her husband it did not take long before the victim’s dream of a loving family life was shattered as she realised that she had been brought to the UK only to be a servant.

“She was treated with complete contempt by the defendant who responded to her requests for affection with physical assaults and verbal abuse. She was isolated from the world, allowed only very restricted contact with her family and was not allowed to leave the house unaccompanied.

“I would like to thank the victim in this case for her bravery in reporting the abuse and supporting the prosecution.

“The CPS is committed to working with the police and other partner agencies to bring the perpetrators of  modern day slavery to justice and support victims to help them through the prosecution process and beyond in the hope that they can rebuild their lives.”

Background

Ahmed and the victim were involved in an arranged marriage which they both agreed to and welcomed. They were married in Pakistan in 2006 where the victim remained to complete her studies before joining her husband in the UK in 2012. Upon arrival in England the victim soon realised that she would not be part of the loving family she had expected, instead she was kept in servitude. Her freedom was completely taken away and she was subjected to physical and psychological abuse.

As tradition dictates the victim came to the country with wedding jewellery, this was taken from her and not returned despite repeated requests. This was a way of exploiting and controlling her, by depriving her of her personal belongings she became completely financially dependent on her husband. She was responsible for keeping the house clean and doing all the chores that her husband demanded. She was not allowed out unaccompanied and when she was alone at home she was rung every ten minutes to make sure the phone was not engaged. She describes the defendant’s behaviour towards her as “physical and mental torture”.

 

ENDS

Two men convicted of planning to travel to Syria to fight

Junead Khan, aged 25, and Shazib Khan, aged 23, were today, 1 April, found guilty at Kingston Crown Court of planning to travel to Syria to join Daesh and fight.  Junead Khan was also found guilty of preparing an act or acts of terrorism within the UK.

The jury heard that between August 2014 and July 2015 the two men from Luton, who are nephew and uncle, made plans with the intention to travel abroad to fight.  However, towards the end of the time period, Junead Khan changed his mind and was involved in discussions with another relating to planning acts of terrorism in this country. 

The two defendants shot a video as they drove around London, called ‘ISIS drives around Westminster’ which focused on locations such as Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament, and the Cenotaph. When their address was searched a leaflet ‘Terrorists or terrorised’, a book called ‘Guide to the Islamic State’ and flags representing ISIL were found.

Junead Khan searched online how to make an improvised explosive device and roadside bombs and had digital copies of bomb making instructions in the form of extracts from an Al Qaida magazine. He made internet searches for ‘specialist knives’ and in July 2015 was in email contact with a supplier of a combat knife.

Sue Hemming, Head of Counter Terrorism Division, said: “Junead Khan was planning an attack in the UK and both of these men intended to travel to Syria and support terrorism.  Even though they did not leave the country, they had spent a significant amount of time planning their journey. 

“Through early detection and prosecution of these individuals more serious crimes have been avoided which could have had devastating consequences in the UK or Syria.”