Woolwich Crown Court Sentencing Results

Glyn Walters, 60, from North London, was linked to a roofing scam between March and September 2021 that fleeced homeowners in Bexley, Greenwich, Sutton and Croydon of almost £245,000. Victims paid for roof repairs that were either never done or shoddily completed. Walters lent his name to fake roofing businesses and had bank accounts set up under his identity to receive fraudulent payments.

Gordon Curtis, 44, from Gravesend, subjected a woman to repeated physical, financial and emotional abuse. On 26 November 2020, concerned neighbours heard a disturbance; he had thrown items including a pair of scissors at her. Further evidence showed he prevented her from being home alone, leaving the flat without him, locked her in, refused her a mobile phone and smashed it if found. Released on bail not to contact her but repeatedly breached conditions. Arrested again on 24 February 2021.

In 2022, Emmanuel Nkrumah-Buansi, Jacob Afolabi and Habib Kanu planned to rob people using information supplied by Lee Garrard. At around 7.15pm on 2 April 2022, Nkrumah-Buansi and Afolabi arranged to meet a 22-year-old man near Mallard Close. They approached their target who was sitting in a car and, during their attempt to rob him, Nkrumah-Buansi stabbed the victim. They then fled the area and despite medical assistance, the man died at the scene. Also involved in an earlier robbery in Dartford on 25 March 2022.

On 17 September 2020, police stopped a vehicle in Dagenham containing four handguns and ammunition as part of a firearms deal arranged by Blaine Nurden from prison. Phone analysis and CCTV identified Hayden Nurden as involved; examination of his handset showed a text to Billy Flynn asking to bring the ‘5500 x 2’. An address in Dagenham was linked to the Nurden family.

Leon Samuel, 46, from Gravesend, attended a property at Westree Court near Maidstone town centre after a night out. During an altercation in the early hours of 26 October 2020, he grabbed a knife from a knife block and attacked two men. One victim was trapped on a balcony, stabbed several times after Samuel screamed 'I will kill you'. The second victim suffered deep lacerations to his arms while trying to intervene. Samuel looked for other weapons but was pulled away by witnesses and fled towards East Farleigh train station, boarding a train to Strood. He handed himself in the following day.

Lai Uong, 47, from Gravesend, was a stockroom worker at John Lewis Bluewater store where he stole laptops, phones and other gadgets worth £45,598 and sold them online. He was caught after a search of his property revealed stolen items and buyers.

In 2022, Emmanuel Nkrumah-Buansi, Jacob Afolabi and Habib Kanu planned to rob people using information supplied by Lee Garrard. At around 7.15pm on 2 April 2022, Nkrumah-Buansi and Afolabi arranged to meet a 22-year-old man near Mallard Close. They approached their target who was sitting in a car and, during their attempt to rob him, Nkrumah-Buansi stabbed the victim. They then fled the area and despite medical assistance, the man died at the scene. Also involved in an earlier robbery in Dartford on 25 March 2022.

Leona Kamio participated in the raid on the Elbit Systems factory near Bristol in August 2024, which caused £1.2 million in criminal damage. The raid was livestreamed and posted online. Kamio was convicted of criminal damage following a retrial.

Marcus Nadon, 51, from Erith, subjected his former partner to violent abuse over a two-year period. The attacks included punching her face and putting his thumbs into her eyes. In 2023, he delivered a savage punch that broke her cheekbone, requiring reconstructive surgery. The victim stated she now struggles to feel safe and trust people.

Jason Smart co-ran Home to Home letting agents in Forest Hill, South London, with Aidan Lynch, allowing properties managed by the agency to be used as cannabis factories. On 14 February 2013, police raided Crystal Palace Parade SE19 finding a large cannabis factory worth £497,000. Smart arrived with Lynch during the raid claiming to be the letting agent. Investigation revealed multiple properties used for cannabis production with potential £2m annual revenue.

RSPCA officers and police found four emaciated dogs and two dead puppies at his Bexleyheath home in February 2024. A vet confirmed the animals had suffered neglect for at least three weeks. While on bail he was found with more dogs, breaching his ban.

Matthew Sparkes, driving an Audi S3 Quattro on the A2 in Gravesend, suddenly swerved from the outside lane to the inside lane, hitting the rear of a Ford Fiesta. The Fiesta spun across the road and crashed into another vehicle. Three women in the Fiesta were injured and taken to hospital, one with life-changing injuries. Sparkes continued driving for 500 metres before hitting a barrier, then made no attempt to assist the victims. He later pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court.

Michael Seed, 58, from Islington, was the key member of the Hatton Garden gang who broke into the premises and disabled the security system during the Easter weekend raid in 2015. The gang stole an estimated £14 million in gold, silver, diamonds, and jewellery from 73 safety deposit boxes. Seed was the last gang member to be brought to justice, caught after a lengthy Metropolitan Police Flying Squad investigation using CCTV, witness statements, and forensic evidence.

At about 09:50hrs on Tuesday, 20 March 2018 on the A13 eastbound between Ferry Lane and New Roundabout, Rainham, the victim had pulled his Vauxhall Astra on a hard shoulder to clear debris from his vehicle. At the same time Mohammed Ali was driving a blue BMW 335D along the same road. Several drivers described seeing the car overtake them travelling at speeds estimated to be over 100mph. As the car attempted to overtake one car it was blocked and attempted to undertake. The BMW moved at speed from lane three, to lane one and then back into lane three. At this point Ali lost control of the car, which collided with the victim’s stationary Astra. The victim was just getting out of the car when Ali’s car struck his vehicle; he was fatally injured and pronounced dead at the scene.

Patrick McArdle was an accomplice recruited by Jason Smart to produce cannabis in properties let by Home to Home estate agents, including one on Dartmouth Road SE26 discovered in September 2013. A tenancy agreement in his possession was dated August 2013, but forensic evidence showed the plants were already growing prior. Also involved in separate cannabis production in Essex.

Paul Rigby abused a young victim during an incident in Maidstone between 2008 and 2009. Allegations were made to Kent Police in 2017. He was interviewed by police but denied wrongdoing. Charged with two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Philip Spence, 52, partner of Nicola Stevens, assisted in laundering illicit cash for the crime group that supplied over 500kg of cocaine and laundered millions. Arrested with Stevens in April 2020 at their house in Gravesend, Kent, where £200,000 cash, encrypted phones, money counting machine and drug paraphernalia were seized. Group evidenced moving 786kg cocaine and £5 million cash.

On 26 February 2017, Nicquan Taylor drove his Mercedes while intoxicated and sleep-deprived, having been awake for 22 hours after a nightclub. He fell asleep at the wheel, mounted the pavement outside a car wash on Bromley Road, Bellingham, and struck five pedestrians. One victim, the victim, 31, died the next day from his injuries. Four others sustained serious injuries. Taylor attempted to flee but was stopped by staff and an off-duty police officer.

On 24 April 2018, during a routine search at HMP Swaleside, prison officer Martin Fazakarley, who was on duty, confessed to carrying prohibited items. He handed over two specially modified crisp tubes and a drinks bottle containing cannabis, crack cocaine, and tobacco. He claimed he believed the package only contained cannabis. Later that day, officers raided inmate Kevin Hutchinson-Foster’s cell and found a mobile phone and rigged drinks cans. Fazakarley was part of a conspiracy to smuggle drugs for financial gain. He admitted the offence.

Samuel Corner, a former Oxford University student, participated in the raid on the Elbit Systems factory near Bristol in August 2024. During the raid, he struck Police Sergeant Kate Evans with a sledgehammer, fracturing her spine. The attack left Sgt Evans with long-term physical and emotional damage, forcing her to relinquish her rank. The group caused £1.2 million in criminal damage, and the raid was livestreamed on social media.

Sebastian Birzu, aged 23 from Dartford, beat his partner with a cast iron frying pan during the morning of Saturday 19 March 2022 in a flat in Heath Street, causing multiple skull fractures. The victim was taken to hospital, spent six days in a coma, and endures lasting physical and psychological effects. Birzu left the scene before police arrived but was arrested the following morning in Greenwich, London. He claimed the injuries resulted from the victim falling and hitting her head on a radiator, but confessed to family members abroad.