Snaresbrook Crown Court Sentencing Results

Abdul Ahmed assisted Ronnie Hill in evading arrest following the shooting on 26 October 2024 in Canning Town that left one victim paralysed. He was not involved in the shooting itself.

Guilty of assisting an offender by helping Ronnie Hill evade arrest.

On 26 October 2024, Esmaela Seidi, along with others, travelled from South Woodford to Canning Town armed with knives and a loaded firearm. They chased two brothers walking their dog in Thorne Close, E16, and fired seven gunshots from a stolen Audi, injuring one victim through the hand and paralysing the other down one side of his lower body. A balaclava containing Seidi's DNA was found at the scene.

Guilty of two counts of attempted murder.

On 26 October 2024, Kennedy Senga, along with others, travelled from South Woodford to Canning Town armed with knives and a loaded firearm. They chased two brothers walking their dog in Thorne Close, E16, and fired seven gunshots from a stolen Audi, injuring one victim through the hand and paralysing the other down one side of his lower body. Five 9mm Makarov bullet casings were recovered from the scene.

Guilty of two counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

On 26 October 2024, Ronnie Hill, along with others, travelled from South Woodford to Canning Town armed with knives and a loaded firearm. They chased two brothers walking their dog in Thorne Close, E16, and fired seven gunshots from a stolen Audi, injuring one victim through the hand and paralysing the other down one side of his lower body. Hill evaded capture until March 2025, when he was found hiding inside a divan bed at a friend's house, where a loaded handgun, imitation firearm, and live ammunition were recovered.

Pleaded guilty mid-trial to possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition. Guilty of two counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Barthimaus Ehiemere groomed seven boys aged 12 to 16 online using Snapchat and Spotafriend, sending gifts, money, and praise in exchange for indecent images, which he sold to other offenders. He raped and sexually assaulted multiple victims, including serious assaults on boys aged 12 and 16. The offences occurred prior to his initial detection in September 2020, with further evidence found after his arrest on 28 October 2024.

Pleaded guilty to 32 offences; convicted by jury of 15 charges. Judge praised DC Lindsey Luscombe for her work on the case.

Mark Stavrou, 33, of Sherwood Close, Walthamstow, stole more than £16,000 worth of goods from Morrisons Petrol Station in Salisbury Hall Gardens and Sainsbury’s Low Hall between January and July 2025. He targeted these stores more than a hundred times, brazenly stealing items such as crates of drink while staff restocked shelves, often filling suitcases and leaving on an e-bike. Stavrou used violence and threats towards staff. He was arrested on 20 July 2025 in connection with a theft and assault at Morrisons. Following an investigation involving CCTV footage, he was linked to over 100 offences and pleaded guilty on 21 August 2025 at Thames Magistrates’ Court.

Pleaded guilty to 102 shoplifting offences, one count of criminal damage, assault, and theft of a bicycle. Targeted stores over 100 times, using violence and threats towards staff.

Kishan Patel possessed a large number of indecent images of children on his device, which was sent for repair and alerted police to videos of child sexual offences committed by his brother Vruj against a young girl known to them. The images included Category A (765 stills, 183 moving), Category B (401 stills, 52 moving), and Category C (944 stills, 28 moving), along with possession across all categories. The device was seized in February following a third-party report.

10-year sexual harm prevention order. Sentenced for possession of indecent images of children.

Vruj Patel committed child sexual offences against a young girl known to the brothers in 2018, including rape of a child under 13, assault of a child under 13 by penetration, and four counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. He also raped a woman over 16 and committed sexual assault by penetration against a second victim following a university night out, plus voyeurism against a young girl and possession of indecent images of children. The offences were uncovered after videos on his brother’s device revealed his involvement, identified by his face, clothing, and jewellery. The voyeurism preceded 2018, with concerns of more recent offending.

Placed on the sex offenders' register for life. Pleaded guilty to multiple sexual offences.

Gareth Viccars, 47, a former assistant referee, messaged a teenage girl on Snapchat and met her in the car park of a supermarket in Huntingdon in December 2023, where he sexually assaulted her in his car. The victim noted his white Mercedes registration and escaped. They communicated again, and he met her a second time near a park in Huntingdon, driving her to another car park for a 20-minute sexual assault before dropping her off. The school reported the assaults in June 2024. Viccars also sexually assaulted two other teenage girls in London and Northamptonshire.

Pleaded guilty to six counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child, two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of inciting/causing a child under 16 to engage in a sexual act, one count of engaging in sexual communications with a child, and one count of engaging in sexual activity with a child. Also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life, and given restraining orders.

Genald Sekja was part of an organised crime network supplying cannabis and cocaine across London. He was arrested while getting into a taxi with a box containing 3kg of cannabis. Police raids on 14 August 2024 uncovered over 36kg of cannabis and a shotgun at a property in Shrubland Road, Hackney, with evidence from seized phones showing images of cocaine blocks valued at £33,500 each.

Found guilty after a five-week trial for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, and possession of a shotgun without certificate.

Eugen Aliaj was involved in an organised crime network supplying cannabis across London. Police operations on 14 August 2024 led to the discovery of over 36kg of cannabis and a shotgun at a property in Shrubland Road, Hackney, with evidence from seized phones linking the group to drug offences, including cannabis hidden in various parts of the property.

Found guilty after a five-week trial for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and possession of a shotgun without certificate.

Julian Palushi was part of an organised crime network supplying cannabis and cocaine across London. He was arrested with 5kg of cannabis during police raids on 14 August 2024 at a property in Shrubland Road, Hackney, where over 36kg of cannabis, a shotgun, and ammunition were discovered. Seized phones revealed messages and images linking the group to cocaine supply worth nearly £500,000 in street value.

Found guilty after a five-week trial for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, and possession of a shotgun without certificate.

Leke Gjergjaj was part of an organised crime network supplying cannabis and cocaine across London. Police raided a property in Shrubland Road, Hackney on 14 August 2024, where they found him inside with over 36kg of cannabis hidden in kitchen cupboards and a sofa bed, along with a shotgun and ammunition. The network was involved in storing and packaging illegal narcotics, with messages on seized phones linking them to cocaine supply worth £33,500 per kilogram block.

Found guilty after a five-week trial for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, and possession of a shotgun without certificate.

Pjeter Gjergjaj was involved in an organised crime network supplying cannabis across London. Police raids on 14 August 2024 at a property in Shrubland Road, Hackney revealed over 36kg of cannabis and a shotgun, with the property used as a safe house for storing and packaging narcotics. Evidence from seized phones linked the group to further drug offences.

Found guilty after a five-week trial for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and possession of a shotgun without certificate.

Ricardo Rupi was part of an organised crime network supplying cocaine across London. The network was uncovered through police investigations, including raids on 14 August 2024 at a property in Shrubland Road, Hackney, where large quantities of drugs were found. Seized phones showed images of kilogram blocks of cocaine valued at £33,500 each, with the total drugs seized worth nearly £500,000.

Found guilty after a five-week trial for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property.

Mohammed Gulzar Ahmed was part of an organised crime group that stole more than 70 vehicles, including Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota models, using key emulators and by breaking into homes to obtain keys. The group was linked to 73 car thefts and one van theft across London between July 2024 and October 2024, with stolen vehicles valued between £1.1 and £1.7 million. Some cars were stolen to order, shipped overseas, or sold with cloned plates, and 27 vehicles were recovered during the investigation.

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal motor vehicles and conspiracy to conceal criminal property.

Muhammed Imran Ali was part of an organised crime group that stole more than 70 vehicles, including Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota models, using key emulators and by breaking into homes to obtain keys. The group was linked to 73 car thefts and one van theft across London between July 2024 and October 2024, with stolen vehicles valued between £1.1 and £1.7 million. Some cars were stolen to order, shipped overseas, or sold with cloned plates, and 27 vehicles were recovered during the investigation.

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal motor vehicles and conspiracy to conceal criminal property.

Paul Barringer was part of an organised crime group that stole more than 70 vehicles, including Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota models, using key emulators and by breaking into homes to obtain keys. The group was linked to 73 car thefts and one van theft across London between July 2024 and October 2024, with stolen vehicles valued between £1.1 and £1.7 million. Some cars were stolen to order, shipped overseas, or sold with cloned plates, and 27 vehicles were recovered during the investigation.

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal motor vehicles and conspiracy to conceal criminal property.

Kabir Ahmed was part of an organised crime group that stole more than 70 vehicles, including Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota models, using key emulators and by breaking into homes to obtain keys. The group was linked to 73 car thefts and one van theft across London between July 2024 and October 2024, with stolen vehicles valued between £1.1 and £1.7 million. Some cars were stolen to order, shipped overseas, or sold with cloned plates, and 27 vehicles were recovered during the investigation. Video evidence showed him stealing a car in Brockley on 18 July 2024.

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal motor vehicles and conspiracy to conceal criminal property. He was arrested after being seen attempting to access a stolen Toyota Prius.

Daniel Whybrow stabbed his neighbour, Raish Ahmed, multiple times outside their home in Hartington Road, Newham, on 5 October 2024, following a dispute about the main door entrance to their flats. Whybrow shouted threats, attacked Ahmed's friend, and continued stabbing Ahmed even after he fell and tried to defend himself with a steering lock. A teenage boy was also injured while attempting to protect Ahmed. Emergency services responded, and Whybrow was arrested shortly after.

Found guilty after a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Also sentenced for grievous bodily harm, to run concurrently. Acquitted of racially aggravated assault and threats to kill.

Jonathan Carl engaged in rape and reckless transmission of a sexually transmitted disease. Offences included a rape reported in January 2024 related to incidents in August 2023 and October 2022. He used dating apps like Grindr and SCRUFF to meet victims, with up to 400 men potentially affected. Police investigation involved digital evidence from his phone, leading to his arrest on 25 January 2024.

Pleaded guilty to one count of grievous bodily harm and was found guilty of one count of rape. Additionally, handed a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Detectives believe he had sexual contact with up to 400 men via dating apps, and the investigation involved digital analysis.

Torben Stig Hersborg, a 64-year-old Danish national residing in Tower Hamlets, east London, covertly filmed and photographed approximately 2,000 women over more than a decade. This included setting up secret cameras at his Old Street clinic, as well as recording women on beaches, footpaths, at bus stops, Tube stations, and in the privacy of their own homes. His offences came to light following a tip-off to the police in December of the previous year, when he was found in his vehicle outside student lodgings with a telescope and video camera. Authorities discovered thousands of photographs and videos on his devices capturing women in various states of undress and intimate situations.

Pled guilty to eight counts of voyeurism. Labelled as one of London's most prolific voyeurs by the Crown Prosecution Service. Abused trust of patients and targeted strangers for sexual gratification.

Morgan Telesford met the victim via Snapchat and invited himself to her address in 2024. Upon arrival, he assaulted her by hitting her with a bag of cannabis and grabbing her, then raped her in the bathroom. On another occasion, he became aggressive, pulled her hair, and damaged her PlayStation 4 by throwing it out the window, leaving her in fear for her safety.

Convicted of rape and two counts of assault; admitted criminal damage. Judge described his behaviour as 'obnoxious' and noted his lack of remorse, with previous convictions for GBH, knife possession, and dealing cannabis.

Chloe Scott was involved in a large-scale drug supply network, selling cocaine and heroin in London and the south-east. She instructed a 15-year-old boy to sell and transport drugs on her behalf, as discovered after a stop at Tower Hill Underground Station in December 2022. On 3 June 2023, armed officers stopped her car in Seven Sisters Road, Islington, finding approximately half a kilogram of cocaine and five large hunting knives. She was in regular contact with Miles Addy, directing the delivery of firearms and drugs. Videos on her phone showed involvement in selling weapons, including firearms linked to a murder investigation. Another firearm connected to her was recovered on 20 November 2023.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, two counts of selling or transferring a firearm, one count of conspiracy to possess firearms, one count of conspiracy to possess ammunition, one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog, and one count of possession of hunting knives. She was a registered children’s social worker and was suspended from her role. Additionally disqualified from animal ownership for 12 years.

Miles Addy was involved in running a large-scale drug supply network with Chloe Scott, selling cocaine in London and the south-east. He directed Scott to deliver firearms and drugs to customers. Investigations linked weapons from videos on Scott's phone to a murder case, and he was found to be coordinating the operations while serving a prior sentence for a firearms offence.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, one count of conspiracy to possess firearms, and one count of conspiracy to possess ammunition. He was a convicted criminal serving a prison sentence for a firearms offence at the time and was recalled to prison.

Leanne McDonnell, 33, from Stratford, was responsible for a pitbull named Prince, a banned XL Bully breed, which mauled her friend Akif Mushtaq, 42, to death at her flat on December 4, 2024. Mr Mushtaq died in hospital 24 hours later. The dog had escaped weeks earlier and attacked a seven-year-old boy. The flat was in a deplorable state, littered with needles, and toxicology reports showed the dog had consumed cocaine.

Judge Oscar Del Fabbro described the fatal attack as a tragedy waiting to happen. The dog had previously attacked a child and was kept in a filthy flat scattered with needles.

Labroun Blake-Smith and an accomplice targeted a 21-year-old man on a train on March 31, 2021. They approached him at Upminster railway station, boarded the same train, and threatened him with a knife before robbing him of a luxury watch and a cross body bag. The pair left the train at Chalkwell railway station.

Found guilty of robbery after a hearing.

Melike McAdam, along with Labroun Blake-Smith, targeted a 21-year-old man on a Southend-bound train. They watched him at Upminster railway station, boarded the train, and at Basildon, threatened him by suggesting they had a knife, robbing him of a luxury watch and a cross body bag. The pair then left the train at Chalkwell railway station. McAdam was found in possession of the victim's luxury watch during a police search. The incident occurred on March 31, 2021, and evidence from CCTV and forensics led to his conviction.

Pleaded guilty to robbery at an earlier hearing and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge.

Bilal Iqbal, along with Ummad Ahmed, produced and sold more than 40,000 fake identity documents over an eight-year period, charging £70 for a fake driving licence and more for extras. They supplied these to criminals, including an international drug trafficker who used them to import Class A drugs. Iqbal was arrested on January 21, 2025, with 19 fake UK driving licences in his possession, and additional items were seized from his home in Ilford.

Made over £1 million from producing and selling fake IDs; laundered profits through a window cleaning company; will serve half of the sentence on licence.

Ummad Ahmed, along with Bilal Iqbal, produced and sold more than 40,000 fake identity documents over an eight-year period, charging £70 for a fake driving licence and more for extras. They supplied these to criminals, including an international drug trafficker who used them to import Class A drugs. Items seized from Ahmed's home in Hornchurch included an ID card printer, laminator, blank plastic cards, holographic foil, and over £20,000 in cash.

Made over £1 million from producing and selling fake IDs; laundered profits through a window cleaning company; will serve half of the sentence on licence.

Stephen Lott, 47, of Kingsbridge Road in Harold Hill, groomed an eight-year-old boy over nine months in late 2023 by buying him gifts and presents, then kissed him and invited him to his home with the intention of committing further sexual abuse. He has a history of child sexual abuse dating back to the mid-1990s, including repeatedly orally raping a girl aged five to seven and groping girls aged five and eight in 2016 at South Kensington station. His actions were captured in court statements from the victim's mother, highlighting the emotional impact.

Convicted by jury of sexual assault on a child and meeting a child following grooming; Judge Cohen described his behaviour as sexualised and predatory, and noted his previous convictions for child sexual abuse; Lott claimed his actions were accidental but was deemed dangerous, leading to an extended sentence.

Hamza Nasir, of Pembroke Road in Ilford, committed two rapes. The first occurred on January 23, 2022, when he met a woman in a car park outside a nightclub in Basildon, offered her a ride to a party, but instead drove to an alleyway near Newbury Park underground station where he raped her and fled. The second took place on March 15, 2023, after he arranged to meet a teenage girl he had befriended on Snapchat at a home in Goodmayes, where he raped her; she escaped and sought help. Nasir was identified through hotel records and Snapchat images, arrested, and linked to both crimes via DNA evidence.

Pleaded guilty to two separate rapes. Victims did not have to testify due to the guilty pleas. DC Chloe James praised the victims' bravery and noted that Nasir will be on the sex offenders register for life after his sentence.

Hafiz Ahmad, 29, of Redbridge, carried out a campaign of abuse against a woman starting in 2018, which included raping her on four occasions and making threats to kill. The woman reported the incidents to the police on November 13, 2020, leading to his arrest the following day at his house. The abuse involved multiple attacks, and text messages showed the woman confronting him about the assaults.

Convicted after a woman reported a campaign of abuse, including pressure from the defendant to withdraw allegations. She continued to support the prosecution.

Michael Costin, a former scout leader and teacher, sexually abused young boys over two decades starting in the 1980s. As a scout leader at St Augustine’s Church in Rush Green, Romford, he indecently assaulted boys aged 11 to 15, performing sex acts on them and encouraging some to engage in sexual activity with each other. The abuse continued in the 1990s in Sussex, where he worked as a teacher in Ipswich and volunteered as a scout leader in Kirton. Later, in Oxfordshire, he abused a 13-year-old boy and his girlfriend, plying them with drugs and alcohol. He was convicted of 22 offences of indecent assault.

Denied some offences until late in proceedings; judge described crimes as repeated, brazen, manipulative and abusive; lost appeal, with judges noting he was partly responsible for delays and showed no remorse.

Matthew Collins scammed residents in Redbridge, South Woodford, Woodford Green, and Wanstead by accepting payments for construction works that were never completed, including new patios, major house refurbishments, and large landscape gardening projects, with one victim paying £38,900 alone, totalling nearly £70,000 in losses. He was reported to Redbridge Council in 2017 and 2018 following multiple complaints.

Served with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) banning him from building, roofing, gardening, or landscaping professions for seven years; disqualified from becoming a director for seven years; complaints received by Redbridge Council in 2017 and 2018.

Dang Tran set up a cannabis factory with 109 skunk weed plants in his council flat in Frampton Park Road, Hackney. He tampered with the electrics to bypass the meter, which caused a fire on June 1, 2012. Firefighters discovered the plants and flames in the loft, and police found the illegal setup, including modified electrics and equipment that posed a serious risk. The plants were intended for personal use to alleviate his haemorrhoids and angina symptoms.

Pleaded guilty to producing 109 cannabis plants and abstracting electricity. Judge noted it was a relatively sophisticated and dangerous venture, with 21 days already served in custody. Ordered to pay £425 in prosecution costs.

Danny Grant, aged 44, assisted Pele Watson in supplying crack cocaine to an undercover officer outside a bookies on Bow Road, Mile End, east London. Grant emerged from the shop and offered to supply 'white' (crack), asking the officer to break off a piece for them. He waited with the officer while Watson fetched the drug and made light-hearted comments about potentially being an undercover officer himself.

Judge could have jailed him for three and a half years but opted for a community order due to exceptional circumstances. He joked with the undercover officer about being the biggest smoker in the area and waited while Watson obtained the drugs. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack.

Michael St John, a 58-year-old GP, sexually assaulted a 28-year-old married Muslim patient who was seven months pregnant during an antenatal check-up at his surgery in east London in October 2007. He sucked her left breast like a baby and performed a sex act on her after she complained of back pain. The victim, who was Somali-born, had removed her hijab and Muslim dress for the examination and later gave birth to a healthy girl. St John claimed the acts were consensual but was convicted, with the incident involving a significant breach of professional trust as the patient was in a vulnerable position.

Pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury. Judge Timothy King highlighted the breach of trust involved in abusing a vulnerable patient. Ordered to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely, pay £2,000 costs, and comply with a sexual offences prevention order banning him from providing clinical advice or treatment to women.

Pele Watson, a 40-year-old man, was caught selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer outside a bookies on Bow Road, Mile End, east London. He initially denied being a drug dealer but, along with his friend Danny Grant, supplied 0.17g of crack to the officer. Watson asked for £20 and delivered the drug outside his flat on Wellington Way, Tower Hamlets. He admitted to being an addict and not profiting from the offence.

Defendant is an addict with dwarfism, paranoid schizophrenia, and depression. Judge noted exceptional circumstances due to potential loss of specially modified home if imprisoned. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack.

Edward Restarick, 72, a retired sailor, hurled bottles at his Muslim neighbours, brothers Irfan and Imran Iqbal, and shouted racist and Islamophobic abuse on January 22, 2009, in Sunningdale Avenue, Barking, Essex. He denied the offenses, claiming he was swearing at his cat, but was convicted based on evidence including a mobile phone recording. Restarick has a history of similar convictions, including racially aggravated common assault in 1999 and damaging property in 2007, and his behavior was linked to excessive drinking following personal loss.

Pleaded not guilty but was convicted. Judge Recorder Anne Studd warned that further offenses could lead to imprisonment due to excessive drinking and prior racism convictions.

Chad Duncan posed as a Nazi soldier from Rommel's Afrika Korps and was caught with a revolver and live ammunition. He admitted to transferring the revolver and ammunition to Ufuk Kaygisiz on July 12, 2007, at the request of Robert Carter, who was acquitted of related charges.

Admitted to transferring a revolver and ammunition. Described as a 'gopher' for Robert Carter and allegedly groomed into the role.

Ufuk Kaygisiz, a former trainee motor technician, was convicted of supplying firearms and ammunition to the criminal underworld. He manufactured live cartridges at his home in Hackney, east London, and was involved in plotting to deal in arms between March 5 and August 16, 2007. Police surveillance captured him bragging about test-firing guns in a park.

Convicted of supplying firearms and ammunition despite Robert Carter's acquittal. Was recorded using rhyming slang to discuss his trade and claimed fascination with firearms.