October 2008 - Crime in the News

• 85 year old man dies after shotgun raid

  An elderly man, 85, died after a raid in his Berkshire home in which he was threatened with a shotgun. [31 October 2008]

• Accused says he's innocent

  The man accused for the murder of a Hells Angel on the M40 motorway gave testimony that he didn't know anything about the shooting until he read about it in a newspaper. [31 October 2008]

• DNA hope over 25-year-old murder

  A DNA profile could help catch a killer 25 years after he dumped 16-year-old Colette Aram's body in a Nottinghamshire field. [30 October 2008]

• Killer threatened to eat murdered stepdad

  A woman who killed her stepdad and threatened to eat him was jailed for life yesterday. [30 October 2008]

• YouTube video could show 'Rhys gun'

  The Rhys Jones murder trial was told yesterday that a video posted on YouTuve could show the gun that was used to kill him. [30 October 2008]

• Kercher's family 'satisfied' with verdict

  Following the conviction of Rudy Guede, 21, for the murder of British exchange student, Meredith Kercher, her family have said they are "satisfied" with the verdict. [29 October 2008]

• Four arrests made over cadet murder

  Four people have been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of Army cadet, Joseph Lapin. [29 October 2008]

• Two teenagers appeal over goth murder

  Two teenage boys who murdered 20-year-old Sophie Lancaster, who was dressed as a Goth,will hear later if judges have granted their appeal. [29 October 2008]

• Electronic tagging allows breaches

  Criminals given electronic tags can break their curfews for up to 11 hours and not be arrested, according to a report by probation inspectors, police and court inspectors. [28 October 2008]

• Four terror suspects charged after raids

  Four men who were held following raids in Birmingham have been charged with offences under the Terrorism Act. [28 October 2008]

• Accused murderer 'disgusted' at shooting

  A man accused of murdering a Hells Angel on a motorway has told a jury he was "disgusted" at the shooting. [28 October 2008]

• Unit for rape victims opens

  A support centre for sexual assault victims - the first of its kind - has opened today. [27 October 2008]

• Missing woman's house searched

  Forensic experts are investigating the home of missing grandmother Anne Brown after she went missing a week ago. [27 October 2008]

• Violent crime under-recorded for 10 years

  Police have not been properly documenting the most serious violent crimes as figures reveal a 22% increase in such crimes this year. [24 October 2008]

• Brit dies violently in Spain

  Spanish police are investigating what they describe as the "violent" death of a British man in Spain. [24 October 2008]

• Ear sliced for debt

  A drug dealer has been found guilty of cutting part of a woman's ear off because she owed him £10. [24 October 2008]

• Crime fight suffers

  Strategies to reduce violent crime have been hampered because the government has not properly funded crime reduction projects, according to a group of MPs. [23 October 2008]

• Teen arrested over youth club stabbing

  A 16-year old has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a teenager outside a youth club in Liverpool. [23 October 2008]

• Rhys witness told to change story

  The teenager accused of murdering Rhys Jones asked a key witness to change her story. [23 October 2008]

• Honour crimes need addressing

  A new police document aims to help forces identify potential victims and ensure steps are taken in order to protect them. [22 October 2008]

• Wanted man found dead

  Detectives investigating a murder in Berkshire have found a man wanted in connection with the murder dead in a car. [22 October 2008]

• Man snapped baby daughter's spine

  A father has been convicted of murdering his 16-month-old daughter after he snapped her spine in two. [22 October 2008]

• Sex offender figures increase

  The number of registered sex offenders in England and Wales increased by 3% last year, according to the Ministry of Justice. [21 October 2008]

• Teen killed in stabbing

  A 16-year-old boy has been stabbed to death outside a youth club in Liverpool. [21 October 2008]

• Kerchers want compensation

  The family of British student Meredith Kercher, who was murdered in Italy, want £20million in compensation for her death. [21 October 2008]

• Pilot arrested for being drunk

  A pilot has been arrested on board a plane at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of being drunk while working. [20 October 2008]

• Man shot in bed

  Detectives investigating the murder of a man who was murdered in bed are urging witnesses to come forward. [20 October 2008]

• Web content disturbs children

  Up to 75% of children have seen images on the internet that disturbed them, according to an NSPCC poll. [20 October 2008]

• Internet phone calls hinder fight against crime

  A massive growth in internet telephone traffic is affecting police capabilities to investigate almost every crime type. [16 October 2008]

• 70 guns and ammunition discovered

  Seventy guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition have been found in a loyalist area of north Belfast. [17 October 2008]

• Ineffective knife sentencing

  Longer jail sentences are not effective at deterring teenagers from carrying knives, according to research by a prison governor. [16 October 2008]

• Sex on beach couple jailed

  A British man and woman have been sentenced to three months in prison after they were found guilty of having sex on a beach in Dubai. [16 October 2008]

• Murdered girl called 999

  A teenager made a desperate 999 call as she was being driven away in a van by a man who went on to rape and murder her. [15 October 2008]

• Petrol carjacker jailed

  A man who poured petrol over a man and threatened to set him alight during a carjacking has been jailed for more than five years. [14 October 2008]

• Teenager admits cutting up woman

  A 19-year old has admitted to murdering a Lithuanian migrant worker, cutting off her head and hands and dumping her in the sea. [15 October 2008]

• Man admits to failed suicide bomb attack

  A convert to Islam has pleaded guilty to launching a failed suicide bomb attack on a restaurant in Exeter. [15 October 2008]

• Three deny Kinsella murder

  Three men have pleaded not guilty to the murder of 16-year old Ben Kinsella. [14 October 2008]

• Arrests over Beckham theft

  Two former housekeepers of David and Victoria Beckham's mansion in Hertfordshire have been arrested for theft. [14 October 2008]

• Anti-terror plan vote due

  The House of Lords will be voting on whether to extend the terror detention limit to 42 days. [13 October 2008]

• Man dies after stolen car crash

  Police are questioning six people who were arrested after a man was killed after two stolen cars collided and crashed into flats. [13 October 2008]

• Fear over Muslim inmates

  Staff at Whitemoor high security jail in Cambridgeshire "fear" the radicalisation of Muslim prisoners. [10 October 2008]

• Rhys Jones trial continues

  A court has seen CCTV footage of innocent victim Rhys Jones being shot in the crossfire of a violent gang feud. [10 October 2008]

• Mother arrested over children fire deaths

  A mother has been arrested over the death of her two sons in a fire in their home. [9 October 2008]

• Boxer murdered in smoking argument

  A man has been found guilty of murdering a former champion boxer in a London nightclub over a row over smoking. [9 October 2008]

• Bank accounts jeopardised by fraudsters

  Reports point to bank account holders being targeted by fraudsters during the current credit crunch. [8 October 2008]

• Biker's murderers on trial

  The court was told that the murderers waited for their target to drive by before they shot him dead. [8 October 2008]

• Cage fighters accused of robbery

  A jury heard that two cage fighters organised the £53million raid on a Securitas depot in Kent and then fled to Morocco. [8 October 2008]

• Muslim youths to advise ministers on extremism

  A group of young British Muslims are being selected by ministers as part of a drive to prevent radicalisation and tackle community concerns. [7 October 2008]

• Crippled prisons at risk

  The president of the Prison Governors Association is warning of a "serious risk" of disturbances in jails because of a shortage of resources. [7 October 2008]

• Gang appeal over Goth murder

  A gang who have been jailed after they attacked a couple because they were Goths are appealing against their sentences. [7 October 2008]

• Listing dead to prevent fraudsters

  Information about everyone who has died in the UK will be released to try to prevent fraudsters from using their identities for fraud. [6 October 2008]

• Met racism concerns

  London's Mayor Boris Johnson will order an inquiry into alleged racism faced by ethnic minority officers in the Metropolitan Police. [6 October 2008]

• Man dies after beating

  Police have launched a murder inquiry after a man died in a vicious attack in Warwickshire. [6 October 2008]

• Controversial jackets sold with knives

  National clothing chain, T.K. Maxx, released for sale a jacket that came “tooled up” with a 2½ inch blade. [3 October 2008]

• New approach to dealing with UK terrorism

  In order to prevent the radicalization of Muslims, the BBC has learned that the government is updating its counter-terrorism strategy. [3 October 2008]

• Two in court over banker's murder

  Two brothers have been charged with the murder of Norwich banker, Frank McGarahan, 45. [3 October 2008]

• Capgemini Sailing Challenge raises thousands for charity

  Last weekend saw 23 boats sail around the Isle of Wight all taking part in the Capgemini Sailing challenge in aid of Crimestoppers. The event included 20 of the UK's police forces and was a resounding success raising over £185,000 for the charity – the single biggest amount ever raised from a corporate event run in aid of the charity. [2 October 2008]

• Multi-million pound fraudster faces jail

  A woman who conned auction houses and boutiques out of £2million worth of paintings, jewellery and antiques is facing jail. [2 October 2008]

• Triple murderer awaits sentencing

  A 21-year old drug dealer who killed three men in a gangland killing in Hertfordshire is due to be sentenced. [2 October 2008]

• Ex-royal butler guilty of sex abuse

  A former butler to the Queen and Queen Mother has pleaded guilty of a number of child abuse offences, including sexual activity with a child. [2 October 2008]

• Three arrested over banker death

  Three local men are being questioned in connection with the murder of a banker who was killed while trying to stop a couple from being attacked. [1 October 2008]

• Youth guilty of stabbing boy in head

  A 17-year old youth has been found guilty of attempted murder after he stabbed a 16-year old boy in the head with a kitchen knife. [1 October 2008]

• Card fraud losses up by 14 per cent

  Figures released today by APACS, the UK payments association, show that total card fraud losses increased by 14% in the first six months of this year, compared to the same period in 2007. [1 October 2008]

• Fraudster website closed

  A website used by criminals to buy and sell credit card details and internet banking log-ins has been shut-down after a police swoop. [17 October 2008]

• Lead community figure arrested for ‘sex attack'

  Under suspicions of sexually assaulting a 25-year-old woman, a head figure in the Blackburn community has been arrested. [October 31 2008]