CPS News Brief

Arthur Simpson-Kent sentenced to whole life term for murdering Sian Blake and their two children

Malcolm McHaffie, the deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS London, said: 

 

“A few days before she was killed, Sian Blake had been told that she had motor neurone disease and that it was terminal. Tragically, Arthur Simpson-Kent’s actions on the night of 14 December 2015 prevented Sian’s family of from spending precious remaining time with a much loved sister, daughter and mother. It also wiped out a future generation of the family. 

 

“Simpson-Kent went to great lengths to conceal his crimes. He misled friends, family and the police about what he had done and where Sian and her children had gone. Even more callously he suggested that Sian and he had entered into a pact to end all of their lives because of her condition. This was not true. In fact Sian had been making enquiries about schools for the children and had been considering moving to live with her family without him. These were brutal, cold-blooded murders of his partner and children, whose trust he grossly breached. We made this clear to the court today to assist the Judge in deciding the sentence.

 

“I hope that the sentence passed today gives Sian’s family some small amount of comfort at this very difficult time. I would also like to thank the Ghanaian Authorities for their assistance in relation to the arrest and extradition of Simpson-Kent.”

“Fake Sheikh” Mazher Mahmood convicted of conspiring to pervert the course of justice

Mazher Mahmood and Alan Smith have been convicted of conspiring to pervert the course of justice after they were found to have planned to change a statement given to police.

Mahmood, a journalist better known as the ‘Fake Sheikh’ for his high-profile celebrity stories, gave evidence to police which led to singer Tulisa Contostavlos being arrested and charged with being concerned in the supply of a class A drugs. 

However the defendants agreed to alter a written statement Smith gave to police in order to remove material which could have helped Ms Contostavlos’ defence. This was revealed during her trial, which led to her acquittal on all charges, and to the prosecution of Mahmood and Smith for this offence.

Simon Ringrose, Specialist Prosecutor in CPS Special Crime Division, said: 

“Mr Mahmood portrayed himself as the master of subterfuge and as the ‘King of the Sting’, but on this occasion it is he and Mr Smith who have been exposed. Mahmood and Smith tampered with a statement and then attempted to cover their tracks through lies and the destruction of evidence. By piecing together the various strands in this matter, the CPS was able to present a compelling case to the jury."

Ex-police officer sentenced to four years for sexual assaults

A former officer with West Midlands Police has been given a four year prison sentence today for sexually assaulting two women while he was on duty.

PC Stephen Walters, (dob 07/06/1968), committed the offences in February and April 2015. Walters originally denied the allegations but pleaded guilty at Stafford Crown Court on 5 September 2016.

The first assault happened in the back of a police car and the other in the home of the second victim while her children were in the house. Both incidents took place in the West Midlands.

Dan Jones, specialist prosecutor for the CPS said:

“Walters’ offences are all the worse because he was a serving police officer who the victims trusted but he chose to abuse his position. 

“His case shows that no one is above the law and we will work with law enforcement agencies to prosecute anyone who is a significant danger to the public. 

“Walters initially denied assaulting the women and pleaded not guilty. However, the women gave clear, consistent and credible accounts. As a result he changed his plea to guilty.

“Without them there would have been no case and I want to acknowledge their courage in coming forward.”

Notes 

1.         Stephen Walters pleaded guilty to two counts of Sexual Assault on a Female contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. 

2.         The case was referred to the CPS by the Independent Police Complaints Commission in November 2015.

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