The record of events for

OCTOBER 2011 

October 05: FARAH NAMED EUROPEAN ATHLETE OF YEAR – from uka

Mo Farah (coach: Alberto Salazar) has today been named as the men’s European Athlete of the Year 2011 by European Athletics. The pinnacle achievement of Farah’s 2011 was undoubtedly winning the gold medal in the 5000m at the recent World Championships in Daegu, South Korea – becoming the first European athlete since Dieter Baumann in 1992 to win a global title at the distance. A silver medal in the 10,000m at the same championships underlined the 28-year-old’s coming of age on the world stage in 2011.
The year began in superb fashion for Farah when he set a European indoor record over 5000m at the Aviva Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham, circling 25 laps of the National Indoor Arena in 13:10.60. He successfully defended his 3000m title at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Paris in March.
As winter turned to summer, the self-confessed Arsenal fan was again breaking records. He ran a European 10,000m record of 26:46.57 when winning at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon, in June and in July he set a 2011 world-leading 5000m mark of 12:53.11 in Monaco, a time which ranked him second on the European all-time lists for the event as well as being a UK record.
Farah is the second UK athlete in the space of a week to win an award from European Athletics. On Friday young sprint sensation Jodie Williams was announced as the winner of the female European Athletics Rising Star Award. The endurance specialist becomes the sixth UK athlete to win the men’s category since its inception in 1993.
Fans, media and European Athletics Member Federations were invited to vote for the European Athlete of the Year on the European Athletics website. Along with the votes from a panel of experts, each group of voters' results counted for one quarter of the athlete's final score.

October 05: WILLIAMS TAKES EUROPEAN RISING STAR AWARD – from uka

Jodie Williams’ (coach: Mick McFarlane) 2011 season finished with a flourish when European Athletics announced the young sprinter as the winner of the female European Athletics Rising Star Award. The prestigious award recognises outstanding young achievers along their journey of development towards senior athletics.
Jodie will be presented with the gong at the European Athletics Awards Night in Tenerife on Saturday October 15. The last UK athlete to win the accolade was Jessica Ennis (Toni Minichiello) four years ago in 2007. The 18-year-old hit the headlines in February this year when she won the Aviva Indoor UK Trials and Championships women’s 60m in a blistering time dispossessing a strong field. The result earned the Hertfordshire-born athlete a place in the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland senior team for the European Athletics Indoor Championship in Paris a month later, and it was only 0.01 of a second denied Williams a bronze medal in the 60m final.
In July, Williams won the 100m and 200m at the European Junior Championships in Estonia – setting a new personal best and championship record of 11.18 in the 100m and a season’s best of 22.94 in the 200m. Her medal tally did not end there and a bronze was next in the 4x100m relay. Next week the men’s and women’s winner of the European Athlete of the Year will be announced. British trio Mo Farah (Alberto Salazar), Dai Greene (Malcolm Arnold) and Tiffany Porter (James Henry) are all in contention.

October 05: Graham Dilley – England’s fastest bowler of his generation

Graham Dilley, the former England fast bowler, died aged 52 years. He was born at Dartford, my own home town, and played for Kent and then Worcestershire. Dilley will be remembered as one of the fastest English bowlers of his generation and for his batting partnership with Ian Botham which turned the course of the now legendary Test Match at Headingley, Leeds in 1981 from defeat to victory. During the Test Match at Bridgetown, Barbados in March earlier that year a colleague and myself were dining at the Virginian restaurant when almost the entire England team entered and sat at the long table next to us. I remember well Graham sitting just across from me ..... and a well-known batsman (and current commentator) sitting apart from the rest of the team.

October 10: Dawson “throws” his fight with Hopkins

The fracas between Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson for the WBC world light-heavyweight championship at Staples Center in Los Angeles had to be seen – in my case, on television – to be believed, or, rather, to be disbelieved. As the contestants (the word “boxers” does not seem to be appropriate) came out of a clinch Dawson appeared all too clearly to throw the veteran onto the canvas. The action seemed to be somewhat comparable to that which got Welsh captain Warburton send off the field in the Rugby Union World Cup semi-final match. Apart from the scarcely-veiled shoulder-lift Dawson hooked his left arm around his opponent’s right leg. Yet when Hopkins could not continue because of the damage to his shoulder the decision was awarded to Dawson on a technical knockout.
Eh?
Referee Pat Russell deemed that Chad’s action had not been an intentional foul. Admittedly Bernard has not been previously averse to pulling what some observers have considered to be a “stunt” to obtain breathing-space. That is not relevant in this case. If he had indeed considered the action to have been legitimate Referee Russell should have commenced the count over the battered Bernard. If Hopkins had been “fooling” he would have regained his footing soon enough when he realised he was in serious danger of being counted out. The fact that Russell did not start counting over the veteran indicates that he, too, had some initial doubt.
Surely, the incident should be ruled as being “no contest” and a re-match mandated. The 29 year-old Dawson should not object too much as his 46 year-old adversary is ageing perceptibly as the weeks/days pass.
NOTE:
The World Boxing Council have ruled subsequently the bout to be a "technical draw".

 Stafanie Taylor

October 11 - West Indies allrounder Stafanie Taylor is women’s Player of the Year in The Cricketer Awards  

20-year-old West Indies allrounder Stafanie Taylor has been named as the international Player of the Year by The Cricketer magazine. Taylor took the coveted award from other strong contenders including Lydia Greenway and Charlotte Edwards from England; Shelley Nitschke, the Australian allrounder who recently retired from international cricket; and Cri-zelda Brits, of South Africa. The Cricketer sought the views of national coaches and leading observers of the game in deciding the award.
Standing second in the international batting rankings and sixth in the bowling, Jamaican-born Taylor has an outstanding record in one-day cricket over the 12 months to August 31, 2011, scoring 636 runs in 12 matches, with one hundred and five half-centuries at an average of 70.66. In the 50-over Women’s Cricket Challenge in South Africa last October she embarked on a remarkable run of scores, starting with 147 against the Netherlands and followed by 72 against Ireland, 68 not out against Sri Lanka, 20 against the tournament winners South Africa and 83 against Pakistan. Over the year she took 17 wickets at an average of 14.23 and an economy rate of 2.6 per over in the 50-over format. Taylor also made a big impression against India in January in a five-match ODI series. In the opening game in Mumbai she made a match-winning 85 not out – an innings she considers her best yet – and then contributed scores of 83 and 46 plus nine wickets with her off-spin in the series.

  Shivnarine Chanderpaul

October 21 - WICB offers 26 retainer contracts - expands contracted women to 8 players 

The West Indies Cricket Board has offered contracts to 26 players for the year October 2011 – September 2012. All players have signed their contracts.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is returned as the only player with a Grade A contract as was the case in the previous contract year (October 2010 – September 2011).
Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul and Marlon Samuels have received Grade B contracts for the first time. The other player with a Grade B contract is West Indies captain Darren Sammy who was at the same grade previously.
Players who are on Grade C central retainer contracts for the first time are Devendra Bishoo and Kirk Edwards. Both Bishoo on Edwards were on Development Contracts the previous year.
Following up on a commitment to expand the number of women players on contract, the WICB has added two women’s players to the contract list. They are the Guyanese duo of Tremayne Smartt and Shemaine Campbell, both West Indies players.
Anisa Mohammed has been elevated to an A Grade women’s contract.
The full list of contracted players for 2011-2012 is:
Grade A: Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Grade B: Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Darren Sammy and Marlon Samuels

Grade C: Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh, Devendra Bishoo Darren Bravo, Kirk Edwards, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell and Shane Shillingford
Development Contracts: Kraigg Brathwaite, Shannon Gabriel, Nelon Pascal, Kieran Powell and Devon Thomas

Women’s Contracts

Grade A: Anisa Mohammed and Stafanie Taylor
Grade B: Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbell, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Stacy Ann King and Tremayne Smartt

 

October 23 – Honour for Ian

At the Royal Concert Theatre in Nottingham the internationally celebrated body-builder Ian Dowe was awarded a Ph.D. for a life-time of service which has brought distinction to the sport. The award was at the instigation of the United Kingdom Body-Building Federation.  In spite of a long career of success in which he continues to travel widely, particularly in Africa, Europe and the Caribbean and Latin America, Ian has never lost touch with his community or with Hackney in East London where he still lives. In an age otherwise of hyped sporting superlatives Mr Dowe, who has been an example to many, deserves full the recognition and honours which he has achieved.  

October 24: So young and already Prime Minister

At the unusually young age of 39 years Andrew Holness has been the ninth Prime Minister of Jamaica. His election to the leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) was unopposed. His eight predecessors in office have been Alexander Bustamante, Donald Sangster, Hugh Shearer, Michael Manley, Edward Seaga, P.J. Patterson, Portia Simpson-Miller and Bruce Golding.

 Beausejour Stadium

October 24 - Windies A and Bangladesh A to lock horns in 7 match Digicel Series

The West Indies A Team will kick into action once again as the ‘next-in-line’ players will contest two Digicel ‘Test’ matches against Bangladesh A as part of a seven match tour of the Caribbean by the Asian side. The two units of reserve players will lock horns in Antigua, St Lucia and St Vincent starting on November 5^th and running until Nov 27^th.
The First Digicel ‘Test’ is scheduled for the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds while the Second and final Digicel ‘Test’ will be played at the Beausejour Cricket Grounds. Beausejour will also host two Digicel Twenty20s while the three match Digicel One Day Series will be played at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground. Several players now participating in the Regional Super50 are expected to make up the West Indies A squad. The squad will be announced at a later date but is almost certain to include players with international experience.

West Indies A v Bangladesh A Tour Schedule

Nov 5 – 8 – 1^st Digicel ‘Test’ – Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds
Nov 12 – 15 – 2^nd Digicel ‘Test’ – Beausejour Cricket Grounds
Nov 18 – 1^st Digicel T20– Beausejour Cricket Ground
Nov 19 – 2^nd Digicel T20 – Beausejour Cricket Ground
Nov 23 – 1^st Digicel One Day – Arnos Vale Cricket Ground
Nov 25 – 2^nd Digicel One Day – Arnos Vale Cricket Ground
Nov 27 – 3^rd One Day – Arnos Vale Cricket Ground

Bangladesh A Squad: Jahirul Islam (Captain), Mohammed Mithun (Vice Captain), Zunaed Siddique, Roqibul Hassan, Robiul Islam, Mohammed Sohrawordi, Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury, Nasir Hossain, Nasir Uddin Faruque, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Mominul Hoque, Nur Hossain, Shohag Gazi, Alauddin Babu 

Devendra Bishoo

October 21-25 – Sunny’s shining debut is the one bright spot in a rain-ruined drawn First Test Match at Chittagong

Rain, which washed out two entire days, so disrupted play in the First Test Match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong that the players called off the action with 15 of the scheduled overs remaining. Bangladesh had the best of the draw. After the host team declared on 350-9 with half-centuries from Mushfiqur Rahim (68) and Tamim Iqbal (52), and hard tail-end hitting by Naeem Islam (36 n.o.) and Nasir Hossain (34) was cut short by leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo taking three quick wickets, the West Indian batsmen were unsettled by debutant left-arm spinner Elias Sunny (6-94). Captain Darren Sammy’s quick-fire 58 saved the tourists from the prospect of following yet. Leading by 106 runs Bangladesh failed to force the pace and the declaration at 119-3 allowed little time for either side to force the issue and after the dismissal of Lendl Simmons (44) the match petered out as a contest with West Indies ending on 100-2.

October 26: The Greatest Batsman and Bowler? A Sobering thought

The Evening Standard newspaper invited me to contribute a letter following Mihir Bose’s interview with Muttiah Muralitharan regarding the greatest bowler and batsman of the present age. For bowler it is difficult to decide between Muralitharan and Shane Warne as their circumstances were so different – the latter bowled against batsmen softened up by the pace bowling of Glen McGrath and Jason Gillespie but had to share the wickets with them whereas the latter was unchallenged in his own team for taking wickets without support in wearing down the opposing batting. Sachin Tendulkar has established his pre-eminence among modern batsmen – as even the late great Donald Bradman admitted – but should not continue too long now lest the erosion of his later years should erode the glitter of an overall career. Nevertheless the “contemporary greats” have a very long way to go before they can approach Garry Sobers who could bat with distinction anywhere in the order, bowl brilliantly in four or five different styles, and was an exceptional fieldsman in almost every position.

October 27: The Art World says good-bye to John Hoyland

The Memorial Service for the late John Hoyland RA was St James Church, Piccadilly, London. This occasion had greater gravitas than his informal rather joyous funeral in August – as befitted the attendance on the crème de la crème of the art world. All, however, spoke of John’s joy in life, the importance of colour to him and to his work, how Jamaica was his second home, and how his wife Beverley had been the “find” of the second part of his life. Following opening prayer by Rev’d Lucy Winkett, Record of St James Church, and the welcome by Jeremy Hoyland, the deceased son’s, there was testimony to John, his life and his work from Sir Philip Dowson CBE PPRA, Sir Anthony Caro OM CBE RA, Chris Yetton, Mel Gooding, Angus Trumble – Curator of the Yale Centre for British Art, Allen Jones RA, and Ian Ritchie CBE RA. Edward Hoyland sang “Joy inside my tears” and “What a wonderful world”. The hymns included “Abide with me” and “Kum ba yah”. The Sugar Cane Steel Band closed the service and led the congregation towards the reception in the Reynolds Room of the Royal Academy of Art.
There was a collection for “Jamaica Hospitals League of Friends” – www.jamaicahospitals.org.uk
The BBC Obituary to John Hoyland can be heard on http://bbc.in/ocltQF

October 30 – Komon and Mergia win in the Bupa Great South Run 

East Africans ended the athletics competitive year very much as they had begun it, and continued throughout, with victory in the Bupa Great South Run (IAAF Gold Label Road Race) at Portsmouth. Leonard Komon (Kenya) was runaway winner of the men’s race in 46.18 seconds and Asselefech Mergia (Ethiopia) broke from the leading pack some way out to come home first in the women’s race in 52:55.
Komon, 23 years old, was unable to keep up the blistering pace of the first mile which he ran in 4:12 and the slowing down in the latter part of the race – in which he encountered a stiff headwind - cost him his chance of breaking Haile Gebrselassie’s world record. Apart from that first mile, too, he lacked the stimulus of a challenge from the other competitors. Komon commented afterwards: "I deliberately started fast as I knew it would be difficult when running against the wind in the closing stages. The weather was too much for me and it was really tough at the end. It would have helped me if earlier in the race there had been someone to run with. I tried my hardest on my own but it wasn't enough."
Abel Kirui (Kenya) was second in 46:40.
Mergia stayed with the front runners for the first seven miles before making her bid for victory. She said: "I decided that was the best point to get clear as I knew when we turned (for the last two miles) the wind would make it very difficult - which happened." Kenyans Doris Changeywo and Irene Jerotich were second and third in 53:34 and 53:43 respectively.

One boy and his dog

My brother Richard found this snap among some family photographs given to him by Auntie Gwynne. That is myself and our puppy Bob photographed outside the front-door of my grandparents’ bungalow Drilodge at Stony Corner, some five miles outside Gravesend in North-west Kent. (Incidentally, I cannot remember that door ever being open as everybody – guests and family as well as tradesmen – used the backdoor). It must have been in late 1944 or early 1945 and I was not more than 4 years old at the time. My mother bought Bob as a companion for me while my soldier father was away with the forces in Northern France and Germany.
Bob was so weak that we nursed him through the first weeks of his life by feeding him bread dipped in milk. He survived to become a sharp watch-dog and lived until he died in 1959 just before I left home to attend university. Mum “promoted” Bob every time that Dad was promoted, so that he ended the War as “Sergeant Bob”. Was the puppy’s faithfulness an influence in me calling my only son “Robert” some three decades after this photograph was taken? Well, it is certainly a name which has happy connotations. 

October 10 – 14: A holiday of two halves

The weather and Eurostar conspire against our plans for rural walks

Hopelyn and myself took the second part of our holiday in Belgium and Germany. The intention was to spend a couple of days walking in the forest and rural countryside around Pepinster and then move on to the more familiar sights of the Rhineland. That was the intention but Eurostar and the weather had other ideas. Our train to Brussels was cancelled because of an earlier breakdown in the Channel Tunnel and the next, two hours later, was delayed. As a result we arrived at Brussels Midi station to see the connecting service to Liege disappearing out of sight from another platform. By the time we got to our destination it was well after dark and impossible to pick up the countryside trail.
Pepinster can be described best as being a one-horse locality – except that it doesn’t have a horse. Nevertheless our room at the Chamber Tourisme above the Pot de Beurre restaurant was rather excellent in a quiet, un-pushy way. The family who run the place did not speak English but were generally helpful. The breakfast was well above expectation. We were the only people in the pleasant restaurant, but the homely comfort of the occasion was off-set by the sight of passers-by putting up their umbrellas and rain splashing against the windows. There would be no rustic walks today – or tomorrow.

Verviers – lovely people, shame about the place (and the restaurant)

We packed our things and went on to Verviers, the nearest town. The rain was even heavier by now. Verviers is the most dilapidated location I have visited in over forty years of travelling around a couple of continents. To make matters worse, the rain was so dense that it obliterated the visibility of the street-names and we had to take much longer than we had anticipated in finding our hotel (which was really quite near to the railway-station). The surrounding area looked as though it was twinned with Beirut at the height of the Lebanon’s destructive civil conflict. The drabness was relieved partially by the excitement of trying to avoid the dog excrement on the pavements.
There are two good things to be said in favour of Verviers. One was the friendliness of the inhabitants. The people we met while we were trekking around looking for the hotel were particularly helpful to this stranger whose pathetic grasp of the French language made the bumbling English policeman in the television series ‘Allo ‘Allo seem like a linguistic genius. So was the clerk at the railway station who mistook my French for German, a language in which I am slightly more proficient, and in which he addressed me accordingly. The other was the Hotel Van der Valk which stood out as a splendid building amid the urban debris. The rooms were excellent and the bathroom bigger than the rooms we had found in some hotels of similar standing. It had a distinct touch of class. The staff were friendly and helpful.
That was more than could be said for the restaurant. It was the only time in my life that I have ever walked out – and I am a senior citizen. Indeed, I am known for accepting inferior service rather than causing trouble. The prices were exceedingly stiff – but we decided to “treat ourselves”. The starters was fine and so was everything until the main course – it didn’t arrive. After 45 minutes of waiting I spoke to the young manager. Earlier he had boasted of his ability to speak several languages but he could not explain himself in any of them. It seems that the chef cooked the wrong meal – not once, but twice – and they were too embarrassed to tell us. Why? And if so why didn’t they let us know? I suspect that the waitress, who kindly offered us a menu in English, could not understand the language and bungled the order. But why didn’t they apologise and let us know what was (or what was not) going on? I assume that the fact that Hopelyn was the only black diner in the place was irrelevant to the lack of service. By now it was too late in the evening for us to find another restaurant open. Totally brassed off we ordered at the hotel brasserie. The service was first-class and the food was just as good as that in the restaurant, and at a much lower price!

Impossible not to fall in love with Xanten

The following day we travelled via Aachen, Cologne and Duisburg to Xanten. For years now I have wanted to see the birthplace of Siegfried which happens to have also an extensive display of Roman ruins. With the Rhine close by, and even closer in ancient times, the Romans used Xanten as a naval base – though it is well inland and close to the Dutch border. It was easy to see why as the intensity of the rain made it difficult to work out where the weather ended and the river began. It was water, water all the way. Xanten is one of those small cities with which it is impossible not to fall in love at first sight. Even in the rain. And it was even better in the sunshine the following day. Here, too, the local people were friendly and helpful in directing us to the hotel from the schoolgirls sitting around chatting at the railway station to the householder trying to get his family into his car quickly out of the rain.
Hotel van Bebber has a very traditional air of a previous century. There are hunting trophies on the walls. I understand that Queen Victoria (when still a princess), a cardinal of the Catholic church, three presidents of modern Germany, and Field Marshal von Brauchitsch, commander-in-chief of the German army at the start of the Second World War, have stayed here. And it was certainly good enough for us (smile). The television set and other modern electrical implements were a bit out of place with the ambience. Unfortunately the hotel restaurant was closed for refurbishment. Never mind – it was only a short walk across the rain-swept Market Square to the restaurant of the Hotel Hoevelmann. Service good - staff polite and professional - a good meal out.
The next morning dawned rain-free and sunny - which was just as well as it was my birthday. On picking up on that the breakfast-waitress gave me her best wishes and a handshake, and she brought in a couple of glasses of champagne. Here, too, the breakfast and reception staff could not have been more friendly and helpful, and the breakfast came up to the highest expectations. Struggling to put on my rucksack I could not help observing that I was no longer “young and strong” like Siegfried. The effect of the sun on the preceding rain produced a very thick mist. Kriemhilde’s Windmill loomed suddenly menacing. The countryside leading to the river abounded in flocks of rooks. After passing the extensive Roman excavations and restorations we came upon the Rhine. At least, I think we did because we came upon an expanse of water which because of the restricted visibility could have been indeed that mighty river or the edge of a pond. After visiting St Viktor’s Cathedral, an impressive, dignified edifice, we took the train to Cologne. Among the text messages of birthday congratulations was one from Janet Rainford, the mother of England cricketer Ebony-Jewel Rainford-Brent.

Cologne – our home from home

We have been coming to the Hotel Ludwig close to Cologne’s main railway-station and cathedral since 1998. This was our seventh visit which tells all you need to know about our feelings as to its suitability and convenience. It is our “home from home”. The long-serving receptionist recognised us well enough and waived the need to sign in. That late afternoon and evening we walked along the bank of the Rhine to the Severin suspension bridge. I shall not say anything here about the staggeringly awesome cathedral and surroundings as I could go on for several hundred words and all is well-documented in the travel books. That evening we dined at the Maredo argentinian restaurant where a waiter accidently knocked a glass of coca-cola over Hopelyn but the meal was well-cooked and copious.
On the last day of our short holiday we took a standard bus tour of the city. It was informative, entertaining and useful in understanding how the different pieces of Cologne fitted together. There was one unexpected incident. The “hop-on hop-off” bus stopped for a presumed passenger. Unfortunately the man wanted only to complain that the bus had struck a stationery vehicle and he invited the driver “to come outside”. None of the passengers had noticed any “bump” and the irritated man could merely have had a grouse against the bus company. After a further quiet drink on the sun-drenched bank of the Rhine it was time to head home. The journey took us back through Verviers and the now sunny country walks around Pepinster, but I fell asleep and noticed nothing.
The home journey by Deutsche Bahn and then Eurostar was smooth, swift and comfortable. It was annoying to find - yet again – that unauthorised passengers were sitting in our reserved seats. In spite of their policy of requiring passengers to reserve seats before they travel Eurostar has not found a way of resolving the problem of people sitting in seats reserved for others – and the journey starting with an unnecessary contretemps. At the bus-stop outside Ebbsfleet International station we were confronted by a wild youth, swearing profusely, uttering verbal threats and banging the back of his head against the bus-shelter. Welcome back to England. Fortunately the bus to take us home arrived within two minutes.  

 

CRIME IN THE CAPITAL
and Police News

MISSING

Amber Stabana (left) - Mavis Oliver (right)

Schoolgirl missing in Hackney

Police are appealing for assistance to trace a 15-year old girl who is missing from the Hackney area. Amber Stabana was last seen leaving home to go to college, on Wednesday 21 September. She failed to arrive at Islington Arts and Media College.
Amber is described as a black, approximately 5ft 6 inches tall, medium build, with dyed blonde short hair.
Anyone who has seen Amber is asked to contact Hackney Police on 101.

Elderly lady missing from Kensal Green

Police are appealing for assistance to trace a 79-year-old woman who is missing from the Westminster area. Mavis Oliver, (15.11.1931 - 79 ys), was last seen by her husband at 15:30hrs om Monday, 17 October. She boarded the no.52 bus at Kensal Green heading towards Victoria but has not returned home. Mavis is described as an African-Caribbean female; between 5ft and 5ft 2inches tall, of slim build and wearing glasses. She was last seen wearing a black leather coat, gold scarf, blue hat and carrying a red handbag. Family and police officers are growing increasingly concerned for Mavis' welfare.
Anyone who has seen Mavis is asked to contact Westminster Police Missing Persons Unit on 020 7321 9373 quoting ref: 11MIS035010 or via email at cw-misperunit@met.police.uk. 

MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER

Wife murders elderly husband in Enfield

Leonora Sinclair, 50, (18.06.61) of Windward Close, Enfield has today, Tuesday 25 October, been found guilty at the Old Bailey of the manslaughter of her 73-year old husband. She will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 6 December 2011.
Detective Inspector Ken Hughes of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said:
"I would like to pay tribute to Mr Sinclair's family who have dealt with this tragedy with great dignity and grace. I hope the conviction of Leonora Sinclair offers them some comfort and enables them to move on with their lives."
Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at approx 22:20hrs on Saturday 15 January after reports that Winston Lloyd Sinclair [known as Lloyd] had been injured at the family home. Mr Sinclair was taken to Chase Farm Hospital where he died the following day. A post mortem examination gave cause of death as a stab wound to the leg.
Sinclair was arrested at their home address in connection with the incident and on Tuesday 18 January she was charged with the murder of her husband. Victim: Michael Ofori
 
Convicted: Nicholas Allon-McVytie and Sahid Sule 

Plotted murder and killed wrong man in Catford

Two men who plotted the murder of a rival but killed the wrong man have today (21 October) been jailed for murder.
Michael Ofori was shot shortly after midnight on 23 June 2010 in Oslac Road, Catford, as he sat in the driver’s seat of his car talking to his estranged wife. As they chatted a man approached the car on foot and fired three times. Michael was shot once in the head and once in the arm. The gunman left the scene in a white van which was driven by Nicholas Allon-McVytie (20/06/1988) of Vanguard Street, Deptford, who had earlier purchased it using a false name. Today the judge sentenced Allon-McVytie to life imprisonment and ordered him to serve a minimum of 28 years.
Sahid Sule (11/12/1987) of no fixed address, who coordinated the operation via his phone, was also sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to serve a minimum of 28 years' imprisonment.
Both men were convicted on 18 October.
During their trial at the Old Bailey, the jury heard that the intended victim of the shooting was in fact another person altogether, who had been lured to the area that night. The court was told of rivalry between the defendants and their intended target which had led to a number of shooting incidents, specifically between March - May 2010 in south east London.
Following Michael’s murder detectives from Trident trawled through hours of CCTV and analysed huge amounts of telephone data which allowed them to piece together the movements of the defendants at the scene, just prior to the murder and immediately afterwards.
Detective Inspector Andy Muir, Trident, said: “These men lived their lives according to their criminal activities which regularly led them to be involved in violent disputes with other criminals. Their activities blighted local communities and on this occasion led them to the decision to plan and commit murder. Tragically they murdered Michael Ofori who was not their associate and was in wrong place at the wrong time. Michael’s friends and family have been left devastated by his death and his young daughter has been left without her father. I hope that today’s convictions go some way in providing them with comfort.”

 Samuel Adelagun

Police Appeal For
Witnesses To Murder in Newham A Year Ago
Reward Offered

A year after the murder of a 16-year-old boy in Newham, Trident detectives continue to appeal for witnesses and information. They are also offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the killer(s) of Samuel Adelagun and the attempted murder of his 15-year-old friend.
Police were called at 03:20hrs on Saturday, 23 October 2010 to Chesterton Road, Plaistow, E13, following reports that two teenagers had been shot. The shooting happened on a patch of parkland at the junction of Chesterton Road and Upper Road. Samuel, who lived in Stratford, was pronounced dead at the scene. A post mortem examination gave cause of death as a gunshot wound to the chest. A 15-year-old boy found suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen was taken to hospital and went on to make a full recovery.
It is believed that four friends aged 15 and 16 years-old, were walking along Upper Road, E13, when two gunmen appeared behind them and fired about four shots. Samuel and his friend were both hit. The youths managed to disperse and re-group outside a house in Chesterton Road where they sought help.
The suspects were said to be dressed in black with balaclavas.
Despite carrying out an intensive investigation, no-one has been charged. Four men aged 20, 22, 22 and 23 were arrested on 11 November 2010 but later released no further action.
Detective Sergeant Gary Royal said: "Trident remains committed to investigating Samuel's murder and it is hoped that the offer of a reward will encourage members of the public to come forward and provide information that will lead to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the person or people responsible."
Samuel's mother, Ola Shokumbi said: "The death of my son has greatly affected myself and my family. He is missed very much every day and his death has left a significant hole in our lives. We hope that eventually those responsible will be brought to justice."
Anyone with information should contact the incident room at West Hendon on 020 8733 4211 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

 John Paul Onyenaychi

Attempted to murder police officer in Ealing

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty at the Old Bailey today (25 October) of the attempted murder of a police officer and Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) in Ealing in December last year.
John Paul ONYENAYCHI, 30 (7/12/1980), unemployed of Wise Road E15, was also convicted of two counts of wounding with intent to cause serious harm; one on a further PCSO at the same incident and one in relation to a separate incident in a cab office five days earlier; and a robbery in Hammersmith in the same week.
He was sentenced as follows:
Life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 25 years for the attempted murder of PC Madden;
Life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 20 years for the attempted murder of PCSO Dolata;
15 years imprisonment for the wounding with intent in relation to the assault in the cab office;
10 years imprisonment for the wounding with intent of a PCSO in The Broadway, Ealing;
10 years imprisonment for robbery.
All sentences are to run concurrently.
Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said:
“Onyenaychi is a very dangerous and violent man and I am pleased that the overwhelming evidence we were able to present at court has resulted in these convictions today. The PCSOs and police officers held onto him and arrested him despite coming under a sustained knife attack. I have no doubt that without their bravery in capturing him he would have gone on to continue serious offending. Without the intervention of the passers by and other officers at the scene who administered first aid to PC Madden and PCSO Dolata, the outcome of the incident could have been very different. This case reminds us all of the risk police officers face everyday as they work to keep London safe.”
Chief Superintendent Andy Rowell, Ealing Borough Commander, said:
“All of the officers involved in the incident that afternoon put their lives on the line to protect the public and ensure that this dangerous man did not escape, I pay tribute to their courage and determination in keeping the people of Ealing safe. I am grateful that the emergency medical treatment PC Madden and PCSO Dolata received at the scene resulted in them both making a remarkable recovery, enabling them to return to work.”
On Saturday 11 December 2010 a cab driver picked up two passengers from the South Ealing Road at approximately 20.30hrs and drove them to the Windmill Estate. When they arrived one of the men threatened to rob him and then got out of the car without paying the fare, unbeknown to him his mobile phone had fallen out of his pocket and was left behind. The cab driver immediately reported the incident to the police and gave them the mobile phone for evidence.
At approximately 21.45hrs the cab driver was sitting in a car outside the cab office in Greenford Avenue when the suspect jumped into the back seat of the car, grabbed him around the neck and threatened him with a knife whilst demanding the return of his phone. The cab driver told him the phone was in the office and the suspect dragged him towards the premises, stopping before entering to put on a balaclava. Whilst he was doing this, the cab driver was able to run away and the suspect continued into the office, shouted at a member of the public sitting inside “I want my phone” before stabbing him five times, he then ran from the scene.
The victim, Anwar Memon, was taken to hospital where he received treatment for wounds to his arms and chest and was subsequently discharged.
Intelligence checks suggested that the person responsible for the offence was John Paul Onyenaychi, who was wanted on a recall to prison for breaching his parole conditions in relation to an offence committed in 2008. Police checks on the phone left in the cab also identified it as belonging to Onyenaychi.
Whilst extensive enquiries continued into tracing him, it was identified that he had access to a vehicle which had been used in a robbery in Hammersmith on Monday 13 December 2010. He had contacted the seller of a laptop pretending to be a potential buyer and then gone to his address, threatened him with a knife and stole the property. Police recovered the vehicle used and inside found a knife identical to the one used in the cab office stabbing.
On Wednesday 15 December at approximately 15.00hrs in The Broadway, Ealing, Revenue Inspectors and a team of Safer Transport Officers and were conducting revenue inspections on buses. PCSOs recognised Onyenaychi as being wanted on a Recall Notification and surrounded him to stop him from leaving, whilst calling for assistance to arrive.
PC Paul Madden arrived on the scene in a patrol car and spoke to Onyenaychi who was clearly agitated, Onyenaychi then stabbed him in the face, chin and neck with a retractable knife. PCSO Dolata tried to bring Onyenaychi to the ground so he could be restrained and was stabbed across the top of his head, after which he fell onto the pavement. A second PCSO also sustained slash wounds to his clothing whilst trying to assist.
The defendant was finally brought to the ground and held by a number of officers whilst he was handcuffed, during which time he continued to struggle and make threats that he was going to “cut and finish” the officers.
Both PC Madden and PCSO Dolata were treated in the immediate aftermath of the incident by a retired surgeon, who was out shopping, colleagues and paramedics. PC Madden, 24, required extensive medical treatment for a throat wound across the jugular vein and windpipe, and a second wound close to the vertebrae in the neck column. The actions of those who attended to him at the scene, along with the subsequent treatment by medical staff, undoubtedly saved his life.  PCSO Dolata, 28, received stitches to a 12 centimetre wound from the top of his head to the nape of his neck.
Both officers returned to work and continue to police Ealing Borough.
Onyenaychi gave a ‘no comment’ interview following his arrest and subsequently appeared at Brent Magistrates Court on Friday 17 December charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of wounding with intent to cause serious harm. The other charges were joined to the case at a later stage following further police enquiries.

RAPE

 Cheslin Campher

Sentenced to prison for rape in Bromley

A cold case investigation by the Sapphire Unit has today (Friday 21 October) seen a man jailed for more than four years.
Cheslin Lester Campher (25.2.77 - 34 ys) of Bromley was sentenced at The Old Bailey to four years and five months for a stranger rape committed six years ago against a victim who was returning home after a night out in south London. He had pleaded guilty to the offence at an earlier hearing in September.
The incident occurred in the early hours of 26 November 2005 when the then 25-year-old victim was on her way home after a night out with friends at Delano’s nightclub in East Street, Bromley. As the victim was in Westmoreland Road she was approached from behind by Campher, who had been following her for some distance. She was dragged into a garden and raped - being told by Campher to keep quiet to avoid being injured. Spotting that the suspect had a knife, the victim feared for her life. Following the incident the defendant ran from the scene and the victim alerted occupants of a nearby address who contacted police.
Inquiries identified a DNA sample, but no match was found on the database. Earlier this year Campher was arrested on suspicion of robbery offences. When his DNA details were entered into the system a match was made.
DC Andy Beete of Sapphire said: “It is entirely feasible that Campher has committed further offences and I would appeal to any individuals who believe they may have been a victim to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

 Benjamin Boateng

Sexually assaulted woman at Central London party

A man who sexually assaulted a 22 year old woman at a party, has today (25/10/11) been convicted at Kingston Crown Court.  A jury found Benjamin Kwahu Boateng (27ys - 26.09.1984) of Crawford Street, London W1 guilty of one count of sexual assault by penetration. During the week-long trial, the court heard that on Saturday 18 September 2010, the 22 year old victim and her friend had spent the evening socialising in central London.  In the early hours, they met up with a group of their friends who were in a nightclub in Mayfair. Benjamin Boateng was also in the club and was speaking to one of the victim's friends. It appeared they shared mutual acquaintances. Later the victim and her group of friends travelled by car to a flat in Altura Towers, Battersea for a private party which Boateng later also attended. At some point the victim fell asleep on a large sofa. She woke up a short time later to discover she was being sexually assaulted by Boateng, who was lying next to her. The victim left the property and later reported her ordeal to the police who identified Boateng as the suspect and arrested him.
Detective Inspector Sian Thomas, Sapphire, said: “Boateng took advantage of a vulnerable female who was asleep at the time he assaulted her. I would like to pay tribute to the victim who was courageous in coming forward and reporting this incident to the police and giving evidence against him in court.” 

ROBBERY

 Edwin Sarpong

Police want to speak to this man about robbery in Harrow

Police have released two images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with a robbery in Harrow.
Edwin Sarpong, aged 25 (1/9/1986), of no fixed address, is described as a black male, 5' 9" tall with wispy facial hair and a flame-patterned tattoo on the left-hand side of his neck in green ink. Sarpong has links to Harrow, Brent and Southwark.
If you know where he is please call 999.

  Kenneth Armaah

Committed robbery in Tower Hamlets – just eight days after release from prison

A 32-year-old man who has been jailed for 10 years at the Old Bailey for conspiracy to rob, committed the offence just eight days after being released on licence from prison.
Kenneth Armaah of Albany Road, Camberwell, was found guilty on October 27, 2011, following a Flying Squad investigation into a cash in transit robbery in Tower Hamlets.
On 6 May, 2011, a custodian working for G4S had delivered a quantity of cash to the Lloyds TSB bank in Commercial Road, Whitechapel. As he returned to his vehicle he was attacked by a black man who ran off with the security cashbox. Members of the public reported that they saw a dark-coloured Vauxhall Astra car make off at speed from the location.
A short while later, detectives from the Flying Squad were in the vicinity of Stepney Way when they saw Armaah breaking open the stolen cash box in the communal bin area of a block of flats. Armaah turned and fled but was chased by officers who saw him discard various items including a mobile phone, an angle grinder and vehicle documents.
He was arrested shortly afterwards and found to have Smartwater dye on his hands and clothes. The Vauxhall Astra was also recovered and contained further items of forensic value linking Armaah to the robbery. It is believed that Armaah had pawned an item of jewellery worth £1,000 and used this money to buy the Astra used in the robbery. He also bought an angle grinder with which to cut open the cashbox.
The identity of the other man believed to have snatched the cash box, remains unknown. Armaah was released on licence from prison on 28 April, 2011, where he had been serving a six-and-a-half year sentence for a cash in transit robbery in Surrey Quays shopping centre in July, 2007. At the time, the court heard that Armaah was a "Fagin-like" character who obtained stolen cars to be used in robberies and then recruited younger men to do the "dirty work".
Flying Squad Detective Chief Inspector Ian Corner said:"Armaah poses a considerable threat to Londoners and the sentence reflects this and demonstrates the determination of the MPS to prosecute such offenders to make London a safer city. He has a blatant disregard for the rule of law bearing in mind he committed this offence just over a week after being released from prison on licence." 

FIREARMS

Nilton Abdullah and Abdirahman Dirir

Ahmed Mudhur and Vitor Tavares

Four jailed for firearm possession

Four men have been jailed for possessing firearms - one of them also for supplying the weapons. They were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday 13 October.
Ahmed Mudhir (5/12/83 - 27 ys) of Palliser Drive, Rainham had earlier pleaded guilty to possessing and supplying prohibited weapons and ammunition on 5 and 7 May, and was sentenced to 9 years.
Vitor Tavares (28/3/84 - 27 ys) of Ormsby Point, Vincent Road, Woolwich SE18, had earlier pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon and ammunition on 5 May, and was sentenced to 6 years.
Nilton Abdullah (12/4/82 -29 ys) of Tinniswood Close, Highbury N5, had earlier pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon and ammunition on 5 May, and was sentenced to 6 years.
Abdirahman Dirir (10/2/82 - 29 ys) of Upper Park Road, Belvedere, Kent, had earlier pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon and ammunition on 5 May, and was sentenced to 6 and a half years.
On Thursday 5 May at approximately 18:30hrs Ahmed Mudhir was driving a Mercedes in Wennington Road, Rainham. The car was seen to be in convoy with an Audi - both vehicles stopped in Wennington Road where Mudhir got out and went into an alleyway which leads into Palliser Drive. At that time he was not carrying anything.
A short time later he returned to Wennington Road, carrying a plastic carrier bag which appeared to contain a heavy item. He got into the rear seat of the Audi and the three people in the car appeared to inspect the item in the bag. Mudhir then got out of the Audi empty handed and returned to the Mercedes.
The Audi drove off and went to a local minicab office where the two passengers, Tavares and Abdullah, got into a minicab; Abdullah was carrying the carrier bag. The cab, and the Audi driven by Dirir, were stopped by armed police a short while later and the carrier bag contained an Ekol Jackal Dual semi-automatic pistol, a silencer to fit the gun and 20 live bullets of .765 calibre.
All three suspects were arrested - the gun was examined and found to be a prohibited weapon; the ammunition was live and found to fit the weapon, as was the silencer. All three were charged with possession of the items. On 7 May they appeared at Redbridge Magistrates' Court and were remanded in custody, awaiting trial.
At approximately 20:10hrs on 7 May detectives arrested Mudhir in his Mercedes as he attempted to drive it away from his home in Palliser Drive.
Officers executed a search warrant at his home and found two Ekol Jackal Dual semi-automatic pistols, two silencers and two boxes of .765 ammunition, all of which were identical in appearance to those seized on 5 May.
Mudhir was later charged.
Detective Inspector Chris Jones of Trident said:
"I am pleased with the sentences. The conviction of Mudhir has significantly reduced the availability of illegal firearms to criminal gangs within London.  Supplying these weapons with silencers and ammunition demonstrates the evil intent of Mudhir and the criminals who purchase them.  London's communities are safer as a result of the sentences."

Appeal for witnesses to shooting in Clapham

A week on from a shooting in Clapham High Street, detectives continue to appeal for witnesses.  On Wednesday 5 October, police were called at approx. 21:40hrs to reports of a male shot just off Clapham High Street. The male had been sitting in a vehicle in Cato Road near the junction with Clapham High Street SW4, when a number of gunshots were heard.
Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found a man, aged 33, suffering gunshot wounds. His injuries were treated as life threatening and he was taken to a south London hospital. He remains in hospital but is now in a stable condition.
Detectives from Trident are investigating. There have been no arrests so far. Enquiries continue.
Detective Chief Inspector Lee Watling, from Trident said:
"We would like to hear from anyone who may have been in the area of Clapham High Street/Cato Road between the hours of 20:00 and 22:00hrs a week ago. The High Street is a busy place and there will have been many people out for drinks or dinner last Wednesday night. They may have seen something suspicious or witnessed the shooting and are yet to come forward to speak to us. If you saw anything that might help us, I urge you to call the incident room."
Any witnesses or anyone with information should call the Trident incident room on 020 8785 8580, or via the new, non-urgent, number 101. If you have would like to be treated anonymously please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

PICKPOCKET

 Richard Dolphy

Pickpocket targetted bus passengers

A prolific pickpocket who targeted bus passengers, particularly elderly and vulnerable passengers, including one victim who was 87 years old, has been jailed for two years.
Richard Dolphy, 56 (14/01/55 ), of Newlands Road, Croydon SW16 was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court to two years imprisonment and also received a 10 year Anti-Social Behaviour order on 29 September 2011 for pickpocket offences across London.
This conviction was the result of a successful and proactive investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service Safer Transport Command's Crime Squad, which is funded by Transport for London.
Dolphy came to the attention of the Crime Squad after a series of crimes using the 'coin-drop' method, particularly associated with the suspect, were noticed. Witness statements also matched the description of Dolphy.
The Crime Squad carried out surveillance on Dolphy and caught him red-handed carrying out an offence on a bus in Wandsworth. He was arrested and charged with pickpocketing offences and remanded in custody.
Dolphy would drop coins to distract and then steal from vulnerable elderly victims in their 80's, some of whom he targeted after they had visited banks. He also was responsible for 13 similar crimes across London, three of which included £1000, £500 and £350 pickpocketing incidents involving senior citizens after bank follow offs in Stanmore, Ealing and Brixton.
Overwhelming CCTV evidence, enhanced image techniques and being picked out in ID parades enabled successful charges.
Dolphy's ten-year ASBO forbids him from:
" Boarding, attempting to board, queuing to board or travelling on any bus within the area bounded by the M25
" Placing his hand in any person's bag pocket or article of clothing, or interfering with any person's bag or article of clothing not belonging to him without that persons consent; or assisting another to do so in any public place within England and Wales.
" Entering any bank or building society unless carrying out legitimate banking business there and then within England and Wales.
" Being within 10 metres of any cash point machine, bank, building society or post office within England and Wales save to withdraw cash using a bank card the property of the defendant.
This proactive investigation is part of 'Project Spiderweb', an initative between the MPS Safer Transport Command, Transport for London and the British Transport Police to reduce theft offences on the transport network over the next 12 months.
Chief Superintendent Sultan Taylor, Safer Transport Command said:
"This was an excellent result which has seen a prolific pickpocket receive a robust judicial outcome: two years in jail and a severely restrictive ASBO on his release. If you commit an offence, you will be caught and if convicted every avenue of punishment will be considered - so the advice is clear: Crime on London's bus system will NOT be tolerated and we will get those responsible. The partnership of Safer Transport Command, TfL, and British Transport Police has a primary aim to safeguard the travelling public from criminals and to keep them safe whilst using London's bus system."
Steve Burton Director of Transport for London's Community Safety and Enforcement Policing Directorate said:
"We are pleased with the sentence that Dolphy has received. This should serve as a warning to anyone thinking of committing a crime on our network. TfL is committed to working with the police to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour on public transport and bringing offenders to justice."
Here are some tips to remember when travelling:
" Keep your possessions with you, fully zipped and out of sight at all times
" Never keep your wallet or mobile phone in your back pocket
" Keep your handbag over your shoulder diagonally and if possible with your coat
" Try to have your ticket, pass or change ready in your hand so your purse or wallet is out of sight
" Stay alert, especially in large crowds and be aware of the activities of people around you
" If you think you may have lost your property, speak to a member of staff or visit www.tfl.gov.uk/lostproperty
" Report stolen property to a police officer or to a member of staff (reporting an item as being stolen if it has been lost is a criminal offence)
" If you see anything suspicious report it to a police officer or member of staff
" For details of your local transport policing team visit: www.tfl.gov.uk/coporate/about-tfl/19630.aspxtate

 

 

 

The main topic which we expect to cover in February 2012 is

The Launch of

MISS CARIBBEAN & COMMONWEALTH