CPS News Brief

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.

Bradford trio convicted of £150,000 fraud on Department for Education

Bradford trio convicted of £150,000 fraud on Department for Education

Sajid Raza, Shabana Hussain and Daud Khan have been found guilty at Leeds Crown Court today of defrauding the Department for Education of £150,000 in connection with setting up a Free School – Kings Science Academy -  in Bradford.

Peter Mann, Head Complex Casework Unit, Complex Casework Unit, CPS Yorkshire and Humberside said:

“Raza’s motive for his crime is clear. He was in considerable financial difficulties as his buy to let business had been  running at a considerable loss.  He had fraudulently obtained mortgages by stating a grossly inflated salary and on two applications, even claimed to be a consultant surgeon.

 “In setting up Kings Science Academy,  Raza deliberately set about defrauding the Department for Education of approximately £150,000 by creating false invoices, submitting fraudulent expense claims and paying himself an inflated salary. 

“Far from being a model school,  Raza treated the Academy like a family business, employing his relatives there and, for at least the first 12 months, operating with no proper governance. His co-defendants were also drawn into this criminality.   Hussain, Raza’s sister, received unlawful payments, and Khan helped to falsify documentation. The defendants treated public money as their own, and when challenged, fabricated documents to cover their tracks.

“We have worked closely with West Yorkshire Police to build a strong prosecution case and it is a testament to the strength of the evidence against them that all three defendants have been convicted today.”