CPS News Brief

Three charged with fraud relating to horsemeat and beef sales

Kristin Jones, Head of Specialist Fraud for the CPS said:

"The CPS has today authorised charges against three men, relating to the sale of mixed beef and horsemeat products which were sold as beef.

"After carefully considering evidence from the UK and overseas, the CPS has decided that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to charge these three men.

"This decision comes after a thorough investigation conducted by the City of London Police in liaison with partner agencies.

"Ulrik Nielsen, Alex Ostler-Beech and Andronicos Sideras will appear at the City of London Magistrates Court on Tuesday 27 September 2016.

"May I remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against Nielsen, Ostler-Beech and Sideras will now be commenced and of their 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."

 

Additional Information

Details of charge:

Alex OSTLER-BEECH, Ulrik NIELSEN, and Andronicos SIDERAS between 1 January 2012 and 31 October 2012 conspired together, and with others, to defraud purchasers of goods that contained, wholly or in part, a mixture of beef and horsemeat, by dishonestly arranging for beef and horsemeat to be combined for sale as beef.  

Conspiracy to Defraud, contrary to Common Law.

Pair sentenced for decade-long insider fraud scheme

A former broker and his partner have been jailed over a conspiracy to defraud his employer of more than $2.3 million US dollars (over £1.757million GBP). 

 

Simon Higginson, a broker for maritime insurance firm Willis Group Limited (now Willis Towers Watson), led a sophisticated fraud scheme involving the identity theft of a business contact and was today (19 August 2016) sentenced to five years imprisonment. His partner Lee Willis, with whom Higginson shared a home, was sentenced to four years imprisonment.

 

Naheed Hussain, Deputy Head of the Specialist Fraud Division said:

 

“This case of sophisticated fraud spanning over a decade is an example of a successful organisation falling victim to fraudulent activity within its ranks.

 

“Whilst  some counter-corruption, money laundering, bribery and fraud protections were in place at the company, the evidence showed that Mr Higginson simply adjusted his tactics in response to any new measure, making forgeries and telling lies to cover up his criminal activity.

 

“The strength of the evidence and the Crown’s case against Higginson and Willis led to them pleading guilty.”

 

Additional information:

 

Between 1 August 2003 and 1 January 2014 Higginson and Willis conspired together to defraud Willis Group Limited by dishonestly claiming and receiving purported commission payments into bank accounts.

 

On 19 August 2016 the guilty plea for a charge of conspiracy to defraud was formally accepted. The remaining charges will lie on file.

 

Details of charges:

 

Simon Higginson and Lee Willis were charged with conspiracy to defraud Willis Group Limited by dishonestly claiming and receiving, into bank accounts held in the names Brokermarine and Enargee Consulting Limited, payments they said were commission in usual business transactions.

 

Higginson was additionally charged with obtaining money transfers by deception and fraud contrary to section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006. 

 

Lee Willis was additionally charged with concealing, disguising, converting or transferring criminal property, or removing criminal property from England and Wales and Fraud by Abuse of Position contrary  to section 4 Fraud Act 2006.

 

Romanian man jailed for 15 years for rape and robbery

A man has been jailed for 15 years for the rape and robbery of a vulnerable 69-year-old woman in Worthing. 

Gabriel Lupu, 23, a Romanian national who had only been in the UK for around three months prior to the attack on 9 May this year, previously pleaded guilty to the offences at Lewes Crown Court.

The victim was a vulnerable lady, not least because she had experienced serious mental health issues for many years. Lupu attempted to take her handbag at around 1.30am in Worthing town centre. He then forced her into a car park and raped her.

Lupu was subsequently caught on CCTV in possession of her handbag. This was later found but £200 in cash had been removed.

Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS South East, Kris Venkatasami, said:

“Thanks to DNA evidence secured from the victim’s clothing, along with CCTV footage, the case built against Lupu was overwhelming and he was left with little option but to plead guilty to these serious crimes.

“Lupu targeted a woman who was clearly vulnerable and far older than himself and today’s sentence is testimony to the horrific nature of his attack.”

The case was prosecuted by the CPS South East Rape and Serious Sexual Offences unit, which is staffed by specially trained lawyers, paralegal officers and admin caseworkers, who offer specialist legal advice and decision-making on cases of rape and serious sexual assault.

 

Notes to Editors

Sentencing details

Rape - 10 years imprisonment (extended 5 years) - 15 year extended sentence in total.

Robbery - 4 years imprisonment (concurrent).

Recommended that the defendant be deported. 

Placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Two women found guilty of brutal murder

Two friends, Sarah Williams and Katrina Walsh, have been found guilty of the murder of Sadie Hartley who was stabbed to death at her home in Helmshore, Lancashire last January. 

Williams previously had a relationship with Sadie Hartley’s partner Ian Johnston. She killed Sadie with the assistance of a stun gun and by stabbing her over 40 times when she answered the door on the evening of 14 January. Her body was found by police officers in the hallway the following day after family and friends raised concerns that they had not been able to contact her.   

Although the attack on Sadie was committed by Williams alone, the court heard during the trial how she and Walsh jointly planned the murder in great detail in the weeks beforehand. Their preparations even extended to travelling to Germany to buy a stun gun and secretly placing a tracker device on Ian Johnston’s car to find out where he and Sadie Hartley were living.  

Williams and Walsh both denied murder but were found guilty after a six-week trial at Preston Crown Court.  

Wendy Evans, Senior Crown Prosecutor from CPS North West, said: 

“Sarah Williams killed Sadie Hartley in a frenzied and brutal attack in her own home.  She knew that Sadie would be alone at that time and ensured that she had no opportunity to defend herself. It was a pre-meditated, cold-blooded murder.  

“She was motivated by jealousy and a desire to get rid of the woman she saw as her rival and recruited her friend Katrina Walsh to the plan. Although Katrina Walsh didn’t take part in the vicious attack on Sadie, she knew what was being plotted and played a role in the planning and preparation and later in the disposal of evidence.  

“They believed they had planned the perfect murder and had covered all their tracks, when in fact they were leaving behind a trail of evidence. The prosecution team sifted through and pieced together the many strands of evidence in this case and proved the defendants’ guilt so that the jury were sure of it. 

“Throughout this trial Sarah Williams protested her innocence and pointed the blame for the murder at Katrina Walsh. In her police interviews, Katrina Walsh claimed that she thought the plot was just an elaborate game. The jury have seen through those lies and have today found them both jointly responsible for murdering Sadie Hartley.  

“Above all my thoughts and sympathies are with Sadie’s family and her many friends today for the devastating loss they have suffered, and I hope that these  verdicts will provide some comfort at this very difficult time.”

Failed company and its manager convicted of corporate and gross negligence manslaughter

TODAY Bilston Skips and Bikram Singh Mahli were found guilty of the manslaughter of 24-year-old site worker Jagpal Singh. Bikram Singh Mahli was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for a period of two years. The company, which is now in liquidation, was fined £600,000. 

Dan Jones, specialist prosecutor at the CPS said:

“Safe working practices were not in place at Bilston Skips Limited. The risk to onsite workers had not been considered and was not managed.

“The gross neglect of health and safety measures by the company and its manager was so serious that it was criminal. It led directly to the fatal incident that killed Jagpal Singh.

“The CPS continues to work with the police and Health & Safety Executive investigators to bring to justice those who fail in their duty of care towards workers, failing their trust and endangering lives."

On 28 June 2012 Jagpal Singh fell eight feet from the top of a skip. He died later in New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton having suffered severe injury to internal organs.

Jagpal Singh had been working in and around two large skips, accessible only via a metal ladder on the side, in order to rearranging “green waste” or garden rubbish for compression.  The arm of a JCB excavator being used to compress the waste and said to have been in very poor condition was in very close proximity to where he was working. It is not known whether the arm made contact with his body before he fell. The manager Bikram Singh Mahli was operating the JCB excavator to compress the contents of the skip.

 

Additional Information: 

Bikram Singh Mahli was known to other workers as both the Manager and General Manager of the company, since 2011 when the previous manager left. He requested that Balwinder Singh, who cannot read or write English, sign formal documents concerning the company.

Bilston Skips Limited, a skip service company based in Wolverhampton, and its manager Bikram Singh Mahli were negligent in their duty of care towards staff. There was no record of any Health and Safety qualified individual on site. Mahli confirmed he had no health and safety training and there was no system in place to report or record any incidents.

 

Details of convictions:

Bilston Skips Limited was charged with one charge of corporate manslaughter and one Section 2 Health and Safety charge (HSWA). They were convicted of both at trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, which concluded on 16 August 2016.

Bikram Singh Mahli was charged with gross negligence manslaughter and found guilty at trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, which concluded on 16 August 2016. He was also charged with one Section 37 Health and Safety (HSWA) offence to which he pleaded guilty to at the start of trial.

 

Three men convicted of encouraging support for Daesh

Three men have been convicted of making speeches encouraging others to support Daesh and further its activities. 

Mohammed Alamgir, Yousuf Bashir and Rajib Khan made several speeches in Luton and were part of the local branch of the proscribed extremist group Al-Muhajiroun. Their speeches encouraged people to join Daesh and not to “sit on the sidelines”. 

The Al-Muhajiroun group was infiltrated by an undercover police officer who covertly collected evidence which was used to convict the men. The men also had links with Anjem Choudary, who was also recently convicted of encouraging support for Daesh.

Sue Hemming, CPS Head of Counter Terrorism, said:

“These men sought to divide our society with messages of hate and extremism and their desire for a role in conflict and conquest has only ended in a conviction. 

“Knowingly encouraging people to join or support a proscribed organisation is a crime and will be prosecuted.” 

Notes to Editors

Mohammed Istiak Alamgir – convicted of three counts of encouraging support for a proscribed organisation, contrary to s12(3) Terrorism Act 2000

Yousuf Bashir – convicted of one count of encouraging support for a proscribed organisation, contrary to s12(3) Terrorism Act 2000

Rajib Khan – convicted of two counts of encouraging support for a proscribed organisation, contrary to s12(3) Terrorism Act 2000

Anjem Choudary and Mohammed Rahman convicted of inviting support for Daesh

Two men have been convicted of inviting support for a proscribed terrorist organisation following a trial at the Old Bailey.

Anjem Choudary and Mohammed Rahman were convicted after they were shown to have praised the declaration of a new Caliphate by Daesh leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi in June 2014. The two men swore an oath of allegiance to the Caliphate and called on others to support it, including by travelling to Syria.   

By the time they gave their oath, Daesh (then more widely known as Islamic State) had been proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the former Home Secretary, Theresa May. 

Both men went on to publish a series of videos on Youtube attempting to legitimise the Caliphate and inviting support for it. Evidence showed that Choudary had been encouraged to get this message out to his followers by, amongst others,  Siddhartha Dhar, who later left the UK to fight with Daesh. 

Sue Hemming, CPS Head of Counter Terrorism, said:

“These two men knowingly sought to legitimise a terrorist organisation and encouraged others to support it. They used the power of social media to attempt to influence those who are susceptible to these types of messages, which might include the young or vulnerable.

“Both men were fully aware that Daesh is a proscribed terrorist group, the brutal activities they are carrying out and that what they were doing was illegal. Terrorism can have no place in our society and those that encourage others to join such organisations will be prosecuted.”

They will be sentenced on 6 September at the Old Bailey.

 

Further information

 

Anjem Choudary and Mohammed Rahman were found guilty of one count each of inviting support for a proscribed organisation, contrary to section 12(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000

Woman sentenced for making false health claims to receive benefits

A 49-year-old Croydon woman who cruelly subjected her two children to unnecessary and invasive medical treatment by making false claims about their health so she could claim benefits, has been sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment today (August 15th) at Croydon Crown Court.

Malcolm McHaffie, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London, said:

“The prosecution’s case was that the defendant’s actions in exposing and subjecting her children to unnecessary and invasive operations and excessive medication were motivated by dishonesty and greed. As a result of her extraordinary cruelty, this individual is now going to spend a significant amount of time in prison.

“In total over a period of at least 10 years she successfully claimed £375,198.02 in Disability Living Allowance and Income Support benefit. That a mother should go to such lengths of child cruelty, spanning at least 10 years, to support the false and exaggerated benefits claims that she made is beyond comprehension.

“The thorough three-year police investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service laid the strong foundations for this successful prosecution, which demonstrates our commitment to work together to tackle instances of child cruelty and benefit fraud in London.”

 

Convicted of:

Four counts of cruelty to a person under 16

Two counts of obtaining money transfer by deception

Seven counts of making a false representation

Two counts of fraud by false representation

CPS-Tanzania partnership vital in UK’s biggest ever Class A drug bust sentencing

Two sailors have been jailed for a total of 42 years today in relation to the largest ever seizure of Class A drugs in the UK – after a Crown Prosecution Service lawyer provided crucial support to the operation.

3.2 tonnes of cocaine, with a street value of over half a billion pounds, was seized from the MV Hamal 100 miles off the coast of Aberdeenshire last year. Although there was strong intelligence that the boat was carrying a large volume of drugs, it could not be boarded in international waters by the UK authorities without the permission of the Tanzanian government – something they had never previously granted.

The CPS’s Criminal Justice Advisor in Tanzania – a criminal lawyer who provides assistance to Tanzanian prosecutors, judiciary and law-makers to increase co-operation on tackling serious organised crime – secured  authority from the highest political level, to board the boat, and then search and take action in less than 24 hours.

As a result, the Royal Navy’s HMS Somerset was then able to intercept the Tanzanian-registered vessel and two Turkish sailors were today sentenced, following an investigation by the National Crime Agency, to a total of 42 years imprisonment at the High Court in Glasgow in connection with the subsequent seizure. 

Sue Patten, Head of CPS International Justice and Organised Crime Division , said:

“Acting quickly and precisely, the CPS Criminal Justice Advisor was able get permission from the Tanzanian authorities to board the boat within 24 hours of receiving the intelligence. 

“Under international maritime law the UK cannot board a vessel in international waters which is under the flag of a foreign state unless that state gives specific legal permission to do so. Without the swift actions of our Criminal Justice Adviser there was a high risk that the vessel may have escaped and we would never have been able to bring these men to justice.

“I’d also like to thank our Tanzanian partners for their understanding of the seriousness of the request and for ensuring a speedy resolution.”

 

Further information 

Her Majesty’s Government has provided a specialist Criminal Justice Advisor (a criminal lawyer from the Crown Prosecution Service) who provides assistance to Tanzanian prosecutors, judiciary and law makers to increase the cooperation of the UK and Tanzania to tackle serious organised crime.

It has also provided specialist UK law enforcement from the National Crime Agency to tackle serious organised crime including and the development of a Trans National Organised Crime Unit.  

The UK had never previously made a request to Tanzania for permission to board a vessel.  The Tanzanian authorities had never given such permission and there was a need to identify the competent authority. 

The Criminal Justice Advisor has built close relationships with the Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions and the President’s Office by supporting the Tanzanian authorities on joint UK-Tanzania operations in the Indian Ocean to disrupt and prosecute heroin drug traffickers through Tanzanian territorial waters. This work has been successful and led to the first ever seizure of heroin dhows from the Makram coast and subsequent prosecutions. 

 

Sentences:

Mumin Sahin - 22 years’ imprisonment

Emin Ozmen - 20 years’ imprisonment

CPS London statement on the conviction and sentencing of Philip Temple, 66, on 10 August 2016 at Woolwich Crown Court

Malcolm McHaffie, CPS London Deputy Chief Crown prosecutor, said:

“Temple seriously abused his position of trust. As a social worker in the 1970s, his job was to look after some of the most vulnerable children in the capital, but instead he sexually abused numerous young boys and a girl. In 1987 he was ordained as a priest and his job was to look after his congregation. But again, he took the opportunity to abuse young male members of his congregation.

“Faced with the weight of evidence against him Temple had no choice but to plead guilty to the charges he faced and he has now been sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment. We hope that this conviction comes as some small comfort to the victims he abused.”

Operation Lydd Victims' Right to Review decision

The CPS has today made contact with interested parties in the case of the Belhadj and Al Saadi families.

This relates to an application made under the Victims’ Right to Review (VRR) Scheme, requesting that the CPS should reconsider its decision not to charge a suspect in relation to allegations concerning the movement and alleged ill treatment of the complainants.

Greg McGill, CPS Director of Legal Services said:

“As the result of a request under the Victims’ Right to Review scheme the decision to take no further action in this case was looked at again.  

“After careful consideration of all the evidence I have decided to uphold the original decision in this case.”

More information on the VRR process can be found here.

Franca Asemota sentenced to 22 years for trafficking women and girls from Nigeria

A trafficker threatened to use “juju magic” against the women and children she helped to bring into Europe for forced prostitution has been sentenced to 22 years imprisonment today.

Franca Asemota, 38, was convicted on 3 August at Isleworth Crown Court of eight counts of conspiracy to traffic persons for sexual exploitation, two counts of trafficking persons outside of the UK for sexual exploitation and two counts of assisting unlawful immigration.

Asemota was part of a criminal network that trafficked girls, boys and women from Nigeria to Europe, using the threat of “juju magic” to guarantee their compliance.

David Davies, CPS London reviewing lawyer, said: 

“This case demonstrates how the CPS will work with partners, in the UK and overseas, in order to tackle the trafficking gangs who make huge profits from human misery.”

“Franca Asemota played a key role in exploiting the poverty and vulnerability of her victims with the aim of forcing them into prostitution to make money for criminals.

“These girls were from poor, rural backgrounds with little education or knowledge of the world. They were targeted because of this and promised legitimate jobs in Europe. Only when they were far away from their homes were they told the truth – that they would have to work as prostitutes. 

“The traffickers used alleged juju magic to exert complete control over their victims, using rituals to ‘curse’ them and ensure their compliance. The girls were told that if they disobeyed their captors or tried to escape, the curse would cause them injury, infertility or even death.

“Although only five victims have been identified the evidence showed that she facilitated the trafficking of around 40 people, mainly young girls, between August 2011 and May 2012.

“I would like to thank the victims in this case for supporting the prosecution and giving evidence in court. They have been through a traumatic ordeal and their bravery and courage has helped bring Asemota to justice.”

Edward Tenniswood sentenced for the rape and murder of India Chipchase

Edward Tenniswood (52) was today convicted and has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of India Chipchase in Northampton. 

 

On 29 January, India Chipchase (20) had been on a night out with friends at the NB nightclub on Bridge Street, Northampton, when Tenniswood approached her outside the venue. He acted as if he was a friend trying to get her home because she was intoxicated with alcohol. He then took her in a taxi to his house, where he raped and murdered her.

 

Janine Smith, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands said: “The abduction, rape and murder of India Chipchase were devastating for all who knew her. Edward Tenniswood is clearly a highly dangerous and manipulative man, who pursued his own self-interest and preyed on his young female victim.

 

“Tenniswood concocted an elaborate web of lies to try to cover up his criminal actions in court. The truth of this case is that India Chipchase could not and did not consent to anything that night. Tenniswood abducted her, raped her and then killed her. 

 

“My sympathies are with India’s family at this difficult time. It is a tragedy that a young woman with her life ahead of her was taken from those who love her in such a heartless manner.”

 

Background:

The prosecution’s case was that India Chipchase had gone to NB nightclub on a night out with friends. While intoxicated she was separated from her friends and staff at the club tried to get her to take a taxi home.

 

Tenniswood arrived at the club and acted as if he was trying to get in. When he was refused entry, he targeted Ms Chipchase, making it look to witnesses as if he knew her. He led her away from the club and into a taxi. He took her to his house, where he raped and killed her. He then left the house and went to a local hotel, where he was found by police officers after India’s body had been found in his house.

 

In his defence, Tenniswood fabricated a story that the encounter had been consensual and that Ms Chipchase’s death had been an accident. 

 

He was convicted by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court and sentenced to life imprisonment and will serve a minimum of 30 years.

 

Additional information:

Edward Tenniswood was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder; 30 years minimum. To run concurrently he was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for rape.

 

ENDS

 

Lee Arnold jailed for life for murder of Salford student William Lound

A 37-year-old man has been sentenced today at Minshull Street Crown Court to life imprisonment for the murder of William Lound, a Salford University student , who was stabbed to death in his flat in February 2016.   He must serve a minimum of 23 years and four months in prison.

At an earlier hearing in July Lee Arnold pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Lound, 30, after going back with him to his flat in the student halls of residence. He stabbed him a number of times with a kitchen knife he found there.  

Arnold was homeless at the time, had not been taking his prescribed medication for a mental health condition and there was evidence that he had been taking illegal drugs.  The two men met each other at the tented village near Piccadilly station in Manchester, where Arnold was then living and where Mr Lound had become friends with some of the homeless residents.  

The day after the murder, Arnold attended a drop-in centre, where he confessed to staff and a police community support officer that he had killed someone and gave them the location of the flat.  The police attended and discovered the victim’s body.

The Crown Prosecution Service treated the case as a hate crime as Lee Arnold had shown hostility in his police interview towards William Lound because of his sexuality and this was presented to the court as an aggravating factor in the murder. 

Lucy Scully, Senior Crown Prosecutor, CPS North West Complex Casework Unit said: “This is an extremely tragic case, in which William Lound, a kind and trusting young man, lost his life in terrible circumstances. His family and friends have been left devastated by what happened.  

“Lee Arnold has admitted that he planned to carry out the murder and accompanied William to his flat that morning with that intention, but it is also clear from the evidence that he had been experiencing a deterioration in his  mental health.

“Lee Arnold has pleaded guilty to murdering William Lound and has today been sentenced to life imprisonment. Our sympathies and thoughts are very much with William’s family and friends at this very difficult and distressing time."

Custodial sentence for rapist who attacked girl at her 18th birthday party

A man has been given an eight year custodial sentence for raping a girl on the night of her 18^th birthday party.  

James Leppard (19) was convicted of rape following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court, while Tommy Conway (19) was found guilty of sexual assault. 

During the trial the victim was described as not really knowing what was happening or what she was doing due to the amount of alcohol she had drunk. Her friend saw the victim being raped and recorded it on her mobile phone.

Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS South East Kris Venkatasami said: “The evidence in this case clearly showed the victim was effectively unconscious through the effects of alcohol when the attack took place. She had no recollection of what had happened to her until her friend told her and played her the video she had taken, which must have been deeply traumatic. 

“The victim was clearly in no state to either consent to or refuse sex. That is exactly what the CPS’ #ConsentIs campaign aimed to highlight when we launched it last year. 

“Someone consents only if they agree by choice and have the freedom and capacity to make that choice. In this case, the victim clearly did not have the capacity to consent, and this was clear to the defendants.” 

More information about the #ConsentIs campaign is available on the CPS website. 

Ends

Notes for Editors:

• Leppard was given a sentence of detention at a young offenders’ institution and Conway was ordered to serve two years and five months at a young offenders’ institution. Both have to sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.
• Defendants can be given sentences of detention at a young offenders’ institution up to the age of 21.