Police Appeal for Assistance in Identifying Man Concealing Identity
Police are looking for a man and have released CCTV images after a series of incidents of racial graffiti in Eltham.
Officers believed the same person is responsible for the graffiti which has been taking place for around three years.
However, there has been a recent spike in the vandalism with four incidents being reported in December.
According to police, the graffiti supports far-right sentiment.
The most recent incidents took place in the early hours on four separate dates in December 2023 along Rochester Way – the graffiti was racist and on both public and private property.
Throughout the three year period police are aware of, graffiti has been targeted at locations in the Eltham Page, Eltham Park and Progress and Eltham Town and Avery Hill wards.
The man responsible is described as around 5ft 8 inches tall, of medium build and who walks with a “distinctive gait”.
Inspector Kristina Money runs the Safer Neighbourhoods Teams which cover Eltham and said: “This individual has been active for a significant period of time and his actions have caused significant distress in the local community.
“Throughout the last three years we have been building a picture of his offending and collating as much evidence as possible.
“The local community have been really supportive as we’ve carried out this work, along with our colleagues at the council, to identify this person but we need the public’s help.
“This man makes efforts to conceal his identity but I am hoping the image may resonate with someone who can assist in helping us establish who he is. If you can help, please get in contact with us.”
Rural Task Force officers from Kent Police helped to return £400,000 worth of stolen vehicles to their rightful owners in one month
Working closely with victims and other members of rural communities, the officers were able to locate and recover seven vehicles including high-value cars, bikes and even a tipper truck. The most expensive was a New Holland tractor valued at £186,000 that had been reported stolen from a location in the Maidstone area on Thursday 18 […]
Just Stop Oil Supporter Faces Trial for Motorway Gantry Protest
Cressie Gethin, a prominent supporter of the environmental group Just Stop Oil, is set to stand trial at Isleworth Crown Court starting today. Gethin faces charges of causing a public nuisance after she climbed a motorway gantry above the M25 on July 20, 2022, as part of a protest against fossil fuel projects. The trial, […]
Tragic Loss of Dreams: The Heartbreaking Story of Kearne Solanke
The mum of a teen who was accidentally killed by a friend in Abbey Wood said her son had “big dreams and aspirations”.
Kearne Solanke was 16-years-old when he was stabbed to death on Sewell Road on November 26, 2022.
Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones QC previously told a jury that Kearne was part of the gang of five who knocked 16-year-old Charlie Bartolo off his moped with a 4×4 then stabbed him in the head.
Mr Jones said: “During the violence, one of his own team in their joint attack on Charlie Bartolo, stabbed his own friend Kearne Solanke.
“There’s no reason to think he meant to stab Kearne, but in the confusion and the chaos of the moment – no doubt I’m afraid, in the excitement – his knife found the wrong target.”
He described it as a “moment of murderous stupidity”.
Kearne was driven to Titmuss Avenue in Thamesmead, where he was left on the pavement to die.
Kearne’s mum described how she laid on Titmuss Avenue with Kearne for four hours after she rushed to the crime scene.
Hussain Bah and Alagie Jobe, both 19, and two others teens, were found guilty of the murders of both Kearne and Charlie.
Bah and Jobe appeared at Inner London Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday (February 7) where prosecutor Mr Jones read victim impact statements from Kearne’s family.
Charlie Bartolo’s family also made victim impact statements, you can read them here – Charlie Bartolo’s mum tells killers who stabbed son ‘I hate you. Rot in hell’.
Kearne Solanke (Image: PA)
‘I laid with Kearne for four hours’
Describing that night, Kearne’s mum said she arrived at Titmuss Avenue to see her son lying on the ground.
“I collapsed to the floor as they performed open heart surgery on Kearne,” she said.
“I laid with Kearne on the floor for four hours with his blood running down my hands.”
She described the smell of Kearne mixed in with blood in the cold wet air, with the sound of medical machines beeping.
After Kearne’s death, she said she lost the ability to continue with life.
“I don’t think I can ever truly accept that Kearne is gone,” she said.
“I will never be able to forgive myself for not being able to protect Kearne when he needed me most.”
Titmuss Avenue, where Kearne died (Image: PA)
‘Big dreams’
“Kearne had big dreams and aspirations for the future. He would have made each and every one of those dreams come true,” Kearne’s mum said.
He had enrolled on an electrical installation course at college and dreamed of owning a business with his cousin.
One of Kearne’s cousins said: “You were the only person I knew who truly loved life and lived life to the fullest.
“We spent our entire live togethers, birthdays, holiday, achievements, summer breaks. Begging to stay at each others houses as kids.”
“You are and forever will be so loved.”
A CCTV image of a man has been released by officers investigating a burglary in Canterbury.
At around 2.45am on Monday 15 January 2024, a business in St George’s Lane was broken into and cash and other items were stolen. Officers from Canterbury’s Victim Based Crime Team are investigating and an image of a man who may be able to assist enquiries has been released. Anyone with information, or who recognises […]
Explosions Near Old Bailey Lead to Evacuation of Constance Marten Trial
The trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, accused of the manslaughter of their newborn baby daughter, was among dozens disrupted as explosions were heard near the Old Bailey, resulting in the evacuation of the courthouse. Firefighters swiftly responded to reports of explosions and black acrid smoke emanating from a nearby building in central London. […]
Appeal After Boy, 16, Assaulted in Worthing
Police are seeking information from the public regarding an incident of assault that occurred on Littlehampton Road in Worthing. According to reports, a 16-year-old boy was forcefully knocked off his bicycle by an unidentified male around 9 am on Monday, January 15.
The individual depicted in the photograph is thought to be of significant interest to the investigation.
Should you have any knowledge of the man in question, or possess any relevant details, you are encouraged to reach out to Sussex Police either through their online platform or by dialing 101, referencing case number 258 of 01/15.
Read more on www.Sussex.News
Former Metropolitan Police Officer Accused of Rape Threatened Victim with Stabbing, Court Hears
A former Metropolitan Police officer who is accused of rape tied up one of his victims and threatened to stab her, a jury has been told.
Cliff Mitchell, 24, of Toland Square in Putney, is on trial charged with 13 counts of rape, including six counts of rape against a girl – three when she was under 13-years-old.
It was after he threatened to stab and slit one victim’s throat in September 2023 that police were called and an investigation was launched, Croydon Crown Court heard.
It is claimed that the woman got into a car where Mitchell warned her that if she tried to run away he would stab her and another person who was in the vehicle, telling her, “I don’t care about my life any more, you’ve met the devil”, the court heard.
Prosecutor Catherine Farrelly also told the court that Mitchell responded with threats when the woman said she was feeling sick in the car.
She said: “The defendant told her, ‘If you throw up in the car, I’m gonna slit your belly for every second you throw up’.”
The woman, whose hands were bound by cable ties, got out of the car to be sick and took the chance to run away, the court heard.
Mitchell is charged with six counts of rape against a girl, including three when she was under 13 years old.
Among these six charges of rape are three counts which state there were at least 30 other occasions where the girl may have been similarly assaulted.
All of these alleged offences took place between January 2014 and April 2017.
Mitchell is also charged with seven counts of rape against a woman between April 2020 and September 2023.
Mitchell is also charged with breaching a non-molestation order and two counts of kidnapping.
Mitchell has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Ms Farrelly told the jury that “for the latter part of that period (of the alleged offences), he was a serving officer with the Metropolitan Police”.
The jury heard that the allegations came to light after a woman, who looked “distraught and scared”, was seen running between traffic in September 2023.
The court heard she was screaming: “He held a knife up to me, I’m so scared.”
Ms Farrelly said the alleged victim was helped by a driver who allowed her to hide in her car and who spotted the cable ties.
Ms Farrelly noted the woman driver had said: “They were so tight that the surrounding skin had turned very red and they looked as though they were digging in.”
Another passerby, who came over to both women in the car as they waited for the police to arrive, said he heard the alleged victim “crying” and noticed that her hands were tied together with cable ties.
The prosecution claim Mitchell sexually abused his first alleged victim from 2014 through to 2017 and the abuse of his second alleged victim was between 2020 to 2023.
Ms Farrelly said: “Despite their clearest protestations, he forced his sexual will upon them both, time and time again.”
Mitchell denies the allegations from both females which he says have been fabricated against him.
The trial continues.
Reporting by PA.
London Chemical Attack: Mother and Daughters Injured by Ex-Partner
The mother injured when she was doused with a corrosive liquid in south London had been in a relationship with her suspected attacker, police have revealed.
Investigators said the breakdown of the relationship may have been a motive for the harrowing attack, which saw the 31-year-old and her two daughters, aged three and eight, hurt.
A massive manhunt is underway for suspect Abdul Ezedi, with the last confirmed sighting now at around 11pm on Wednesday January 31, a few hours after the attack.
He was initially travelling around on the Tube network using his bank card and, after that, appears to have been walking a route that broadly hugged the River Thames.
The woman hurt in the attack, who may lose the sight in her right eye, remains sedated in hospital and is still too ill to speak to police.
Investigators said that she had agreed to meet him on the day of the attack, and that she and her children were in a car with Ezedi when he struck.
Commander Jon Savell, from the Metropolitan Police, said the breakdown of the relationship could be a motive for the attack last week.
Police have warned that the facial injuries suffered by Abdul Ezedi in the attack could be fatal if left untreated.
Police have offered a £20,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the 35-year-old’s arrest after they released more CCTV of him as they piece together his movements.
Ezedi, believed to be from Afghanistan, is understood to have arrived in the UK in 2016, reportedly in the back of a lorry.
He was handed a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court on January 9, 2018 after pleading guilty to charges of sexual assault and exposure and was placed on the sex offender register for 10 years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
Ezedi was accused of grabbing the bottom of a woman without her consent in 2017, as well as committing a sex act that same year, according to documents detailing the indictment which were disclosed by the court to the PA news agency on Tuesday.
Anyone with information is asked to the 24/7 hotline on 020 7175 2784 or for an immediate sighting dial 999.
To remain anonymous, please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers.
Kent Police Apprehend Suspected Burglar in Rochester Area
In a swift response to reports of suspicious activity, constables patrolling the Rochester area successfully detained a man suspected of burgling a residential property. The incident unfolded just before midnight on Monday, February 5, 2024, when officers from Kent Police’s Roads Policing Unit received a distress call regarding two individuals spotted leaving a private storage […]