Latest Offenders London

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A "prolific offender" has been banned from Romford town centre.

Steven Ellis, of Dunton Road in Romford, was handed a three-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) at North East London Magistrates' Court on June 27.

Police said it is in relation to shoplifting at a town centre store.

Ellis, 43, will be prevented from entering the town centre within the Romford ring road, including the Mercury Mall shopping centre.

He has been banned from begging during the same period and must not cause anti-social behaviour, harassment, alarm and distress, nuisance or annoyance to anyone within Havering.

Ellis was also given a suspended sentence for shoplifting so that any breach of the CBO, or another offence, could result in prison time.

Sgt Alex Norrington, of the Safer Neighbourhood’s Police Team, called Ellis "a prolific offender in the Romford town area and the borough of Havering".

"We are clear in our message that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in Havering and will continue to take robust action when needed," Sgt Norrington added.

Police said Ellis had been identified as a regular suspect for shoplifting and started begging in the town centre, as well as wider Havering.

He had been issued a community notice protection in 2023 with conditions attached, but police said this was breached.

The CBO order looks to divert Ellis into a drugs and alcohol programme, and to offer him support and prevent future offending.

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A paedophile teacher jailed last week for years of sexual abuse was still running art classes for a local charity when police began investigating his perverted crimes.

Stephen Beck, 73, of Anerley Road, was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court to 12 years in prison after being convicted of 15 historic sexual offences against former male student.

“That was my biggest concern,” said the mother of the former student he abused. “He was still holding art lessons.”

By the time Beck was arrested in 2019, he had been running art classes at Anerley Town Hall for 20 years.

In 2009, the News Shopper reported that he had received a Jack Petchey Leader Award for his art classes for Bromley children. At that time, they had already been running for 11 years.

The Crystal Palace Community Trust (CPCT), which now runs the Town Hall, said in a statement: “We can confirm that Mr Beck was suspended with immediate effect as soon as the matter came to light, at which time we understood the matter was now a police investigation.

“The trust cooperated fully with the authorities and provided them with all relevant information during their investigation.”

The charity's development manager Elaine Harrison said in an interview that the trust did not even come into existence until 2001.

Mr Beck was already running his classes by then and had begun abusing his victim – a teenage boy -  in 2000.

Judge Deborah Charles said in court last week that Beck had been working as a caretaker at the Town Hall at that time. One of the attacks even occurred inside the Town Hall.

Bromley Council did not comment on these claims.

Mrs Harrison said that by the time CPCT took over the building on a 40-year lease in 2017, Beck’s classes had already been running for years for Bromley Council.

“All of us, when we heard the news of Mr Beck’s suspension, were very shocked and distressed. It’s an awful, awful thing,” she said.

“We suspended him immediately but we were actually told not to conduct our own investigation because it can hinder or influence the police investigation.”

“The room in which we held the art class is right in the front of the building,” she said. “A large room with several doors. The doors were never closed.

“All our staff who work with children have a DBS check. Staff are never left alone with children. We just don’t do that.”

Beck would have passed any DBS check as his offending was not uncovered until his victim, then in his 30s, finally came forward in 2018.

Mrs Harrison said she was unaware, until she was informed by the News Shopper, that one of his offences had happened inside the Town Hall.

We asked Bromley Council whether it had conducted any investigation of its own into Beck’s time working at Anerley Town Hall.

It said the building had not been council-run for more than 20 years.

It was converted into offices in 2003 and became known as the Anerley Town Hall and Business Centre.

Bromley did admit that it had employed Beck at Bromley Adult Education College, which it runs.

“We were obviously saddened to learn about these historic offences and are pleased that justice has now been served,” a spokesperson said.

“Whilst the investigation did not involve the council, it is a matter of public record that the offender was employed by Bromley Adult Community College, teaching only adults, for a period of time over a decade ago, including on a sessional basis.

“We remain fully supportive of any police investigation and are sure that the police would make contact if they needed to do so.”

Beck, who claimed at trial to have been a friend of David Bowie, had his own failed pop career, having released a single called For The Love Of You in 1975, under the name Steve Beck.

He was well-known in Anerley for painting shop signs and restaurant menus.

The court heard he began “grooming” his victim at age six or seven but did not start abusing him until he was a teenager.

He abused the boy every two or three weeks for years.

He will serve up to eight years in prison and the rest of his sentence on licence. He will be required to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

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A serial rapist is facing a possible life sentence after a terrifying attack on a vulnerable woman he lured to his hotel room just months after being freed from prison.

Peter Ramsey, 38, was locked up in 2012 for 12 years after viciously beating and raping a legal secretary he had met on an online dating website.

Set free from prison, Ramsey struck again on May 15 this year when he was staying at a Best Western hotel in Wembley.

The predator offered the vulnerable woman help when she was in distress in the street, and invited her to his hotel room.

There, he overpowered the woman and strangled her while forcing her into sex.

At Harrow crown court on Monday, Ramsey appeared via videolink from HMP Wormwood Scrubs to plead guilty to rape and intentional strangulation.

This is a rape where there is non-fatal strangulation embedded in it, said prosecutor Usha Shergill.

It facilitated Mr Ramseys actions, by him being able to overpower the complainant and temporarily strangle her.

Judge Noel Lucas KC ordered a dangerousness report for Ramsey ahead of sentencing in September, and told him: You are likely to receive a very significant sentence for this repeat offence of rape.

Ramsey was convicted in 2012 for raping a woman he met the previous August on dating website plentyoffish.com.

The former personal trainer, then 26, knocked the womans front teeth out when she refused to give him a goodnight kiss, and left her with shocking facial wounds among 21 separate injuries.

Giving evidence at his trial, the woman said they had enjoyed a good date in Brixton but Ramsey switched as they got to her doorstep.

I thought I was going to die, she told Inner London crown court.

Ramsey was snared by DNA evidence and his use of the womans stolen Oyster card.

He was found guilty of rape, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and theft, and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

At Mondays hearing, Ramseys barrister David Smith requested the courts intervention to secure him extra protection in prison.

It has now become known he is in prison for rape, and he is very concerned about his safety, he said.

Things are starting to be said to him, and we hope the governor will take notice and reconsider his status on the general wing.

Judge Lucas asked for a message to be sent to the prison governor that Ramsey must have adequate safety while behind bars.

The court also heard of Ramseys partner who is planning to collect his car once it is released by police.

Ramsey has been remanded in custody until sentencing for the latest attack on September 4.

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Met officers acted swiftly on information provided by the National Crime Agency to safeguard children and arrest a Hackney man who has been jailed at the Old Bailey.

Information was passed to the Met by the National Crime Agency (NCA), which led to the arrest of Adam Shine, 25 (7.5.99) at his home in Digby Road, Hackney on 6 February.

PC Lindsey Luscombe, of the Met’s Online Child Sex Abuse Investigation Team, policing Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: “The information provided by the NCA linked Shine to indecent images of children.

“While reviewing his phone, officers quickly identified that Shine had used the Omegle website for three separate video calls with two 11-year-old girls and an 8-year-old girl in April 2023. On each call, Shine masturbated on camera and encouraged the girls to expose or touch themselves sexually.

“Met officers used clues in the videos, which had been recorded and retained by Shine, to locate and safeguard an 11-year-old child in the UK.

“In addition to his custodial sentence, Shine also received an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Along with the requirement for him to sign the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely, this will help to protect other children after he has served his prison sentence.”

Despite extensive efforts, the two other children, believed to be in the United States, have not been identified, in part because of the limited information provided by Omegle which shut down in November 2023. Information has been passed to American authorities.

Anyone with information about similar offending, whether it happened recently or not, is encouraged to report to police by calling 101 or online. To remain anonymous, please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers.

Shine, who worked at an adult store in central London, pleaded guilty on 3 March at the Old Bailey to engaging in sexual communications with the three children as well as causing them to engage in sexual activity, He also pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity in the (online) presence of the children. He did not meet any of the victims in person.

He was sentenced at the same court on Friday, 14 June, to four and a half years’ imprisonment.

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A sexual predator who made a 14-year-old girl drunk on her birthday so that he could rape her has been jailed.

Khayrul Islam, of Ropley Street, Tower Hamlets, was known to the victim’s family when he contacted the teenager on her birthday and invited her to his home to celebrate.

The child went and was given alcohol until she was drunk, which is when Islam attacked her.

She managed to run away, leaving behind some of her belongings, and she cried out that she had been raped.

Members of the public came to help the girl and flagged down a passing police car.

As the girl was shocked, she couldn’t remember the address she escaped from but Islam’s phone number was used to trace his address.

The 29-year-old was arrested that same day on suspicion of rape.

Detective Sergeant Michael Dixon, of the Met’s Central East Safeguarding Team covering Tower Hamlets, said: "Khayrul Islam is a dangerous sex offender who deliberately targeted a young vulnerable girl and lured her into a situation where he could sexually assault and rape her."

Appearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Wednesday (June 5), Islam was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault by touching against a 14-year-old girl.

He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order with strict conditions that will allow the police to monitor him for 15 years.

Islam had previously been convicted following trial at the same court on January 8.

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A man has been convicted of multiple sexual offences committed against a teenage girl who showed incredible bravery in coming forward to speak to police.

Colin Moore – 57 (04.06.66) of Grove Lane, Southwark was found guilty of four counts of rape and five counts of indecent assault following the conclusion of a trial at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, 24 May. Moore was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing at the same venue on 9 September 2024.

The court heard how Moore took advantage of the girl who was under the age of 16 at the time the offending started in 1995. Moore’s abuse took place over the next four years at locations in west and central London.

The girl, by now an adult, came forward and reported the abuse to police in 2020. Moore was arrested and subsequently charged with numerous offences.

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A world-renowned classical music conductor who pleaded guilty to child sex offences, including messaging someone he believed to be a 14-year-old boy, has been spared jail.

Jan Latham-Koenig had admitted arranging sex acts with someone he thought was a teenager, but was in fact an undercover police officer, London’s Southwark Crown Court had heard.

On Tuesday, the 70-year-old was given a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, by Judge Alexander Milne, who told him he has been “humiliated in the public eye”.

The judge also told him his successful career means that, unlike other defendants who may be “unknown before and unknown after, that is the not case for Mr Latham-Koenig”.

Latham-Koenig, from Belsize Park, north-west London, had previously pleaded guilty to three charges.

He was sentenced to 14 months each for attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and also arranging or facilitating the commission of a sexual offence with a child between December 9 2023 and January 11 this year.

He was also given 10 months’ imprisonment for engaging in sexual communication with a child.

All sentences are to run concurrently.

Latham-Koenig was made an OBE in 2020 for services to music and UK-Russian cultural relations.

He has conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and all the BBC ensembles.

The judge, who described Latham-Koenig’s actions as “deeply worrying behaviour”, told the court: “This is a gentleman of 70 years of age who has a long and distinguished cultural career behind him.

“I would give credit for the pleas and at an early stage.

“I accept that there is clear remorse on the part of the defendant and that he has suffered – effectively this would have brought his career to an end.

He is humiliated in the public eye
- Judge Alexander Milne at Southwark Crown Court

Latham-Koenig had used a dating app to make contact with someone he knew as Jacob.

He believed Jacob was a 14-year-old boy, who was in fact an undercover police officer.

Their conversations became sexual and Latham-Koenig gave him a train ticket to Victoria station in London so they could meet but instead the conductor was arrested.

No child was physically put at risk at any stage, the court heard.

The judge said: “What is clear is that, from the latter part of last year, he entered conversations on a dating app, accepted to be frequently used by bisexual and homosexual men, to strike up conversations with a person whom he believed was Jacob, a 14-year-old boy.

“Jacob did not exist.

“He was an undercover police officer.

“The conversations were of a sexual nature on a number of occasions.

“At one stage the defendant sent Jacob a photograph of a naked penis.”

The judge noted there were discussions about keeping their conversations secret.

Latham-Koenig was “particularly concerned” that Jacob’s mother should not know about it.

The judge added: “He believed Jacob was gay.

“He gave Jacob a train ticket to Victoria for travel for where they were to meet.

“It is clear that the defendant in these conversations – the defendant, who is 70 – had lied about his own age.

“He said he was 49.”

The judge said that “fondling between them was discussed and there was discussion of them going further than merely talking”.

Jacob was “encouraged to delete the electronic messages and any electronic trail between them”.

The judge also said that “a gift in the form of a train ticket was provided”.

Prosecutor Bill McGivern said the contact began on a dating app before moving on to WhatsApp messages.

Mr McGivern said that at one point during the conversations: “The defendant said he was a conductor in classical music and was dying to meet someone like Jacob.”

Defence counsel Eleanor Laws said the case has had a “devastating effect” on Latham-Koenig, who has suffered “a loss of his career” which was something he “worked very hard at and was his great passion”.

He is also dealing with the “feelings of distress” and “upset” he has caused to his family and has not shown “self-pity or a lack of understand as to what needs to be addressed”, according to Ms Laws.

She added that Latham-Koenig’s friends, who say he is “kind, humble and generous with his time”, are sticking by him and he has taken “considerable steps to address his offending behaviour”, including undergoing intensive therapy.

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A man from Surrey Quays, who sexually assaulted a young girl, has been jailed for four years and six months.

Ahmed Deq Mohamed, 20, who has a previous conviction for sexually assaulting a child under thirteen, violated another victim on June 16, 2023.

Police arrested and charged him just five days later, with forensic evidence and the victim’s “compelling video account” helping to convict him.

Detective Constable Oliver Colville, who led the investigation, said: “I would like to praise the victim for initially coming forward to police, and for reporting this repulsive behaviour from Mohamed. 

“The compelling video account provided by her assisted with the forensic evidence that we had, making it enough to convict Mohamed.”

Mohamed has been sentenced to four years and six months in jail with twelve months on license after he appeared at Inner London Crown Court on May 22. 

He was previously found guilty of sexually assaulting a child under thirteen by penetration, following a trial at the same court.

He will now also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A former Rotherham taxi driver has been found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting two girls more than 20 years ago.

Adam Ali, 43, attacked the girls between 2001 and 2004.

Sheffield Crown Court heard he repeatedly assaulted one victim, threatening to leave her stranded if she did not do what he told her.

Formerly known as Razwan Razaq, Ali was found guilty of four counts of rape and three of sexual assault after a trial.

He is due to be sentenced on 28 July.

'Clear message'

Ali was prosecuted as part of Operation Stovewood, the National Crime Agency's investigation into non-familial child sexual abuse and exploitation that took place in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

Liz Fell, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), praised the victims in the case for coming forward.

She said: "It is because of their evidence that we were able to secure a conviction and bring their abuser to justice.

"I hope this conviction sends a clear message that the CPS, working alongside law enforcement, will relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, whenever that abuse takes place."

Ali was previously sentenced to 11 years imprisonment in 2010, after being convicted of committing offences of a similar nature.

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A shameless paedophile who sexually abused schoolboys in a cupboard has refused to apologise for his sickening crimes.

Richard Gaines was back at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday, May 14, after a seventh victim bravely stepped forward and reported him to police after reading newspaper articles about his offending - MyLondon reports.

In 2019, the 79-year-old former geography teacher at St Martin's Preparatory School, in Northwood, North West London, was convicted and jailed for five years and two months for a string of offences against six boys dating back to the 1970s.

The predator's modus operandi was to offer sex education, show them porn mags, then take them into a storage cupboard where he would sexually abuse them.

On Tuesday, the court also heard about allegations of 'recent internet offences', but there was no update on the police investigation. Outside the courthouse, a reporter from one of our sister titles, MyLondon asked Gaines if he wanted to explain the so-called 'circumstances' at the time of the abuse.

However instead of apologising he repeatedly refused to explain or say anything to his victims, and then called the reporter a "really rather persistent little so-and-so'.

Prosecutor Edmund Fowler told the court the latest victim broke their silence after reading about the case, recognising the 'almost identical' abuse. The victim recalled being asked to look at pornography in the cupboard, along with younger and smaller boys, before Gaines abused them for around 30 minutes on two occasions between 1973 and 1977, the court heard.

Mr Fowler said it left the victim so traumatised and racked with guilt that they struggled to make friends and felt they could only work in solitary jobs. At a pre-trial hearing, Gaines admitted two counts of gross indecency with the child, bringing his total number of convictions for the historic abuse to nine, and his known victims to seven.

Mr Fowler explained the maximum penalty for the specific offence at the time, in the 1970s, was two years, but these days it would fall under laws against sexual activity with a child, which could earn a sentence of around six years. The prosecutor argued Gaines fell into the highest level of culpability under current laws due to the grooming, abuse of trust, and disparity in age.

'Fun for all'

Gaines - who still "shows very little remorse" - accused his victim of looking for a payout and even described his sickening abuse as "fun for all" during an interview with a probation officer. Defence counsel Richard Davies interpreted his 'very little remorse' as 'some remorse' as he called for a suspended sentence and a doorstep curfew.

The barrister said his client had already served a sentence, and argued, accounting for the legal principles of totality and concurrency, the jail term in 2019 would not have been much longer for an identical offence.

Mr Davies said: "The real point I can put forward in mitigation, is the fact he has served a prison sentence previously for other boys in the same circumstances."

Mr Davies also said Gaines was needed at home to care for his sick wife and had suffered from cancer himself. He added: "This is someone who could be dealt with in the community, but monitored to make sure it does not happen again in his life.

'Repulsive observation'

Sparing him custody, Judge John Robins said his "hands are tied" by the previous conviction and five-year sentence Gaines served from 2019. The judge concluded his sentence would "not have been much longer" had the latest offence been added to the indictment before the previous judge, and therefore it did not warrant another immediate jail term.

Judge Johnson told Gaines: "Your pre-sentence report shows very little remorse, and your perversion was demonstrated when you described your offending as 'fun for all'.

"Your remark that this man came forward for compensation is a repulsive observation... Having said those things, in many ways, my hands are tied by what has happened to you since this offending."

"I have to sentence you as the facts are and the law is before me, and it gives me no pleasure that you will not be returning to prison. The victim may be disappointed in this, but he will appreciate the law.

"I was appalled to see in your license report that it is alleged you were still committing internet offences when police visited you... Those alleged offences took place relatively recently."

Suspending his 18-month sentence for two years, the judge added: "I cannot think of a worse case of this type of offending, taking into account the ages of the victims and the abuse of trust... I hope you are thoroughly ashamed of yourself for this offending."

Gaines was also ordered to complete the Horizon sex offenders programme and to do 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirement. He will also pay costs of £1,000. The court also heard a civil action is apparently underway, which may allow victims to receive compensation. Legal firm Irwin Mitchell previously said it had been instructed by one victim to help them access specialist support.

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A sex offender has been jailed for nearly 20 years after subjecting two children to vile abuse.

Samuel Anifaloba sexually abused the children separately at an address in Rainham between 2004 and 2006.

The offences were reported to police on April 30, 2018, and he was arrested on June 25 of the same year.

Anifaloba, of no fixed address, was charged and later found guilty of rape and six other sexual offences involving a child, following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

The 49-year-old was jailed for 17 years at the same court yesterday (May 14).

His Honour Judge Branston described Anifaloba as a selfish and self-centred man and added him to the Sex Offenders Register for life.

He will also be subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A predatory paedophile who silenced his victim for 25 years by using threats of suicide as a warped form of 'moral blackmail' is finally behind bars.

Mechanical engineer Howard Grieve attacked the girl around 1999 in Poynton, Cheshire when she was a minor and he 44, but then vowed to kill himself if she went to police saying: 'I won't be here anymore.'

The woman eventually plucked up the courage to go to the authorities more than two decades on, but Grieve falsely accused her of faking the attack. 

She was then left destitute and frozen out by relatives, and had to 'rebuild' her life both emotionally and financially, the court heard.

Despite suffering severe financial hardship, PTSD and other mental health issues including anxiety and depression, the victim gave a statement to police and bravely endured cross-examination in court to help convict her tormentor of one charge of indecent assault.

It emerged Grieve assaulted the victim in her home following a night out at the pub. 

At Chester Crown Court, Grieve, now 69, and of Enfield, Herts, was jailed for four years after Judge Steven Everett branded him a 'selfish man'

The judge said: 'He was forever blackmailing her, threatening to commit self-harm, and suicide, whilst at the same time really controlling her. There was a lot of moral blackmailing going on and his behaviour destroyed her life, destroyed her teenage years and adult years and she suffered with complex PTSD and other mental health issues, anxiety and depression.

'She was seeking support, seeking therapy, there was self-harm, she regularly suffered from panic attacks, insomnia, stress, feelings of isolation, difficulties with relationships. She talks about how he pretended to be the victim. When she gathered the courage to make the complaint, he made false allegations against her.

'Financially that caused problems and she had to rebuild her life financially. The effects on her have been significant, there has been significant psychological harm. One can only hope that she will get some sort of closure. This is something she may well live with for the rest of her life.

'I do not wish to understate the huge effects it had on her. She is worried that he will track her down.'

The judge told Grieve: 'Your selfish desires have had a huge effect and you have ruined her life. It is clear to me that you have absolutely no understanding or empathy - it is all about you.

'You destroyed her teenage years and her adult life, giving her all sorts of mental health issues that she would have not have suffered otherwise.

'Her personal statements made truly awful reading. They are the longest and most detailed I've ever seen. They talk about the complex PTSD that she is suffering and other mental health issues including anxiety, depression, support, therapy, issues of self-harm, fatigue, and insomnia.

'She suffered stress, isolation and relationship difficulties.

'Right at the end when she had the courage to tell police you told a pack of lies about her. You wanted her to be prosecuted as some sort of smoke screen to prevent you from being prosecuted. But you were prosecuted and she had the courage to stand up to cross-examination. That would have made this so much worse for her.

'I saw you sitting in the dock rather smugly, thinking that you had pulled the wool over the jury's eyes. Well, they saw through you and rightly so. Even now she is worried that you will track her down.

'The very fact that she was not able to tell anyone for 25 years shows the psychological harm that she suffered. Because she has suffered so much psychological harm I am satisfied that she has suffered severe psychological harm.'

Earlier, Prosecutor Simon Parry said: 'The complainant's mother was at home clearly unaware of what was going on. In the aftermath the defendant told her that if she said anything "I won't be here anymore."'

Grieve's barrister, Justin Hugheston-Roberts, said his client continued to maintain his innocence and added: 'He will not cope with custody well. He is a man who has to face up to what happened at a point decades ago.'

Grieve was also made subject of a lifetime restraining order and will sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life. He will be barred from ever working with children under the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A criminal network who conducted extreme body modifications and illegal surgeries have been jailed after Met detectives uncovered their horrendous crimes

Specialist Met officers leading a unique investigation into the extreme body modification of men have seen seven men jailed today, Thursday, 9 May for a total of 79 years after a hearing at the Old Bailey.

Met detectives launched an investigation into the illegal surgical procedures after a victim was first identified by Devon and Cornwall Police in November 2020 after it was established the offending had taken place in North London.

Marius Theodore Gustavson, 46 (7.12.77), of Haringey was identified by detectives as being the primary offender following a lengthy and complex investigation. Alongside the six other men, he was jailed for life today with a minimum tariff of 22 years for:

• Conspiring to commit grievous bodily harm
• Five counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent
• One count of making an indecent photograph of a child
• One count of distributing an indecent photograph of a child
• Possession of extreme pornographic images
• Distributing indecent pseudo images of children

The court heard how Gustavson used the internet to seek out and manipulate vulnerable people, coercing them to take part in the procedures.

Detective Inspector Amanda Greig, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “I would like to highlight the excellent work of the Met’s investigation team, who have examined thousands of hours of horrific material seized from the suspects. Their diligence and professionalism have ensured no one else will suffer at the hands of these men.

“This lengthy and complex investigation demonstrates that we are determined to protect Londoners from harm and bringing those that threaten the safety of our communities to justice.”

Following the court hearing today, DI Amanda Greig also thanked the victims for their bravery throughout the investigation. She acknowledged their immense suffering – with many victims having profound mental health issues as a result of the group's brutal actions. The victims were supported by specialist officers and signposted to support services by the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity GALOP.

Detectives worked closely with partners from a number of UK police forces, NHS, London Ambulance Service, the General Medical Council and the Midwifery Council to help identify and support victims.

They discovered that Gustavson owned and managed the website ‘Eunuchmaker.com’ where he advertised extreme body modification services, including castration and penis removal. He also owned a production company, where he would record all the illegal mutilations and upload them to his site, which captured an international audience.

Officers interviewed and obtained statements from victim-survivors, who had been assaulted between February 2017 and January 2020.

In at least three cases, the injuries inflicted on the victims were life threatening, with one victim coming close to losing his life due to blood loss.

Officers sought the expertise of Consultant Urological Surgeon, Mr Chris Dawson, who stated “The procedures performed in these cases have highlighted the dangers involved in 'back street surgery'.

"To become a highly qualified surgeon takes a number of years, and these procedures should not be carried out by anyone without the necessary experience or expertise as it risks serious complications such as significant bleeding, or sepsis. When performed in hospital, these procedures are performed under general anaesthesia in a sterile environment, with the surgeon wearing sterile gown and gloves.

"The consent process is a very important part of any surgical procedure, and surgeons are held to very high standards about this. It is imperative that patients are aware of the potential complications of any surgical procedure."

A search of Gustavson’s address found various items, including

• Boxes of medical needles and syringes
• Local anaesthetic packs
• Surgical tools
• A wooden chopping board and a mallet
• A body board with leg and arm restraints attached
• Disposable skin staplers
• Numerous medical procedure videos linked to Gustavson’s digital devices

As Gustavson’s pattern of offending began to unravel, detectives were able to piece together that he was not working alone

Following an interrogation of more than 120 digital devices the remaining offenders were identified by video footage, as well as phone communication with Gustavson. Ashley Williams, David Carruthers, Peter Wates, Janus Atkins, Ion Circuir were arrested at addresses in London, Scotland, Birmingham and South Wales. Stefan Scharf, a German national, was arrested whilst in transit at Heathrow Airport.

The majority of the offences occurred at Gustavson’s former home address, as well as a rented hotel room in London.

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A man who sexually assaulted multiple women in their own homes was caught by police trying to board a flight at Gatwick Airport. A masseur by trade, Yuliyan Dimov, 45, from Enfield was found guilty on Thursday, May 2, at Wood Green Crown Court of 20 different offences including sexual assault and voyeurism.

In November 2022, a woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted during a massage at her home address. Following this report, police visited other women who had appointments with him.

One woman who had reported him in 2021, but had withdrawn support for the investigation, got back in touch upon learning she was not his only victim. Dimov denied all of the allegations, but when his mobile was examined police found over 30 pictures of different women that had been taken without their knowledge when he provided the home-service.

After contacting all of Dimov’s female clients, more victims came forward. On June 15 last year Dimov was arrested at Gatwick Airport attempting to board a one-way flight back to Bulgaria - his nation of heritage.

Despite the evidence against him, he insisted the pictures were solely for professional purposes. Dimov was convicted of six counts of voyeurism, two counts of attempted voyeurism, nine counts of sexual assault, and three counts of sexual assault against a total of ten victims. He will be sentenced at Wood Green Court on Friday, June 28.

Detective Constable Abigail Butler, who was the lead investigator on the case, said: “Dimov preyed on women who trusted him and were in a vulnerable state when he assaulted them.

“The great work carried out by officers to build this case is only overshadowed by the bravery of the women who came forward. If anyone believes they have been assaulted at the hands of Dimov I urge them to get in touch - we want to help you.

“We are dedicated to protecting vulnerable women and girls in London and we will do all we can to make them feel safe.”

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A sports therapist from Hornsey was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment for sexually assaulting one of his clients whilst he treated her at her home.

Jerry Okoye, 39, attended his client's home in Surrey. As he was treating her, Okoye took down his shorts and underwear, sexually touched and then penetrated the victim with his fingers by putting his hands down her pants.

The attack was notified to the police later that day by the victim's partner. The whole attack was also captured on a camera in the victim’s home which she had installed to keep an eye on her new puppy while she was out.

Okoye was arrested three days later and was subsequently charged and remanded in custody. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by touching at an earlier hearing.

After Okoye pleaded guilty, the victim said she had initially felt that the assault was her fault. She said: “When the police got to my house, I still felt so dirty and hated the fact that I had to stay in the same clothing. The officers were lovely to me. I just couldn’t process what had happened and it felt like such a whirlwind.

“I knew I was not responsible for anything that he did to me, but I found it hard not to blame myself. I just felt totally numb. Every time I shut my eyes, he was there in front of me and so I didn’t sleep at all.”

“I never wanted to go back to my flat, so I had to start renting it out. It was my safe haven until he destroyed this. I don’t feel safe or comfortable knowing that there are people in the world like him and you just never know who they are.”

Detective Constable Wood, who investigated the incident, said: “The fact that Okoye violated and took advantage of the victim in her own home in his position as her sports therapist is simply untenable.

"While the victim will have to live with the long-term impact for the rest of her life, I hope the fact that Okoye has been brought to justice for the offences he committed will help her to be able to move on with her life."