A WOMAN from Chelmsford has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering an elderly woman in Stanford-le-Hope.

Keeley Barnard, 52, of Hopkins Mead appeared at Chelmsford Crown court today, Tuesday, February 13 and was found guilty of murdering 70-year-old Margret Sims at an address in Milton Road on August 20, 2017.

Police were contacted by ambulance service colleagues shortly after midnight on August 20, 2017, with reports a woman aged in her 70s had died.

A post mortem examination later found the cause of death for Mrs Sims was compression of the neck.

Following the verdict, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Stuart Truss said: “This was a very sad case, which left Margaret’s family shocked and devastated by her sudden death.

“She was a vulnerable, elderly lady who was unable to defend herself and Barnard took advantage of this when committing this terrible crime.

“This verdict ensures that justice has been served for Margaret and her family.”

Barnard was sentenced to life imprisonment and will serve a minimum of 18 years.

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TEAMS from across the force are carrying out activity across Essex this week under the nationwide Operation Sceptre (Monday, February 12 to Friday, February 16).

Every day of the year, our officers deal with knife related crime, and Op Sceptre’s February week of action is a chance to highlight our ongoing work targeting and disrupting offenders.

Operation Sceptre – which is led by the Metropolitan Police – is aimed at those who carry and use knives, with the added objective of cracking down on the supply, access and importation of weapons.

It is part of our ongoing work with partners to tackle gang crime and associated gang activity, as well as other violent crime, including domestic abuse.

Throughout the county, officers and Special Constables from local policing teams, the Operational Support Group and Operation Raptor teams, will be executing warrants, carrying out roadside checks and high-visibility patrols.

Where appropriate, they will be using intelligence-led stop and search powers.

They will also be working with Trading Standards teams to raise awareness among shop owners about the importance of challenging underage customers and selling knives and bladed objects within the law.

Knife crime increased by 21% nationally in 2017, and Essex as a county saw a 26% rise in knife crime between June 2016 and June 2017.

Assistant Chief Constable, Andy Prophet, said:

“Carrying a knife or bladed item means you could receive a prison sentence of up to 4 years.

“We know how concerned our communities are about knife crime.

“In Essex, as in the rest of the country, knife-related crime has gone up.

“Enforcement alone will not prevent more young people becoming involved in this type of crime. For those involved in drugs or gangs the threat of violence is something that hangs over them every day: an arrest does not necessarily act as a deterrent.

“Education is often the most effective way of changing the behaviour of those caught up in gang life or knife carrying.

“We are committed to steering people away from the knife-carrying culture, and making clear that there is help available to move away from a path that all too often results in prison or a coffin.”

“During last July’s Operation Sceptre, we seized a broad range of weapons spanning from a machete to an iron bar. A total of 40 people were arrested, 74 retail premises were visited, and officers also visited 50 schools throughout the county.

“Make no mistake, the fight against knife crime is a significant one. It is both a daily battle and a long term challenge. An important part of this is about the public reporting concerns and incidents to us, and actively getting behind preventative measures, such as education in schools.

“We would also encourage young people worried about knife crime to find out about Fearless.org.

“Crucially, if you know someone who carries a weapon, please tell us – keeping quiet helps no one and even worse, puts people in danger.”

For more information about knife crime in Essex, visit: www.essex.police.uk/knifecrime

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ESSEX Police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of two men wanted in connection with four burglaries.

Detectives want to question Jack McGrath and George Wilderspin about burglaries committed in south Essex overnight between November 14 and 15, 2017.

Properties were broken into and car keys stolen between 10.30pm and 6.45am.

A Kia Ceed was stolen from Francisco Close, Chafford Hundred, a Fiesta was stolen from Gainsborough Avenue, Tilbury and a Ford Fiesta was stolen from Stanford Gardens in Aveley. Attempts were also made to steal a second vehicle from Francisco Close, Chafford Hundred.

Detectives also want to speak to McGrath and Wilderspin, both 19, about the possession of an imitation firearm.

Both men were last known to be living in Broxburn Drive, South Ockendon.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of either of the men should call Grays CID on 101. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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ESSEX Police have charged two people on suspicion of aggravated burglary following an incident at a laundrette in Grays.

Jerome Johnson, 36, and Harrison Fryer, 24, both of Charter Place, Watford, are due to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court today (Friday, February 16).

The charges follow an incident at Baylee’s laundrette in Southend Road, Grays, on Monday December 4, during which Paul Robertson, 39, of Milton Keynes, died from multiple injuries.

We previously charged Michael Williams, 35, of Old Farm Park, Milton Keynes, and Joseph Pearl, 28, of Charter Place, Watford, with conspiracy to rob and both are due to stand trial on Monday, June 4.

A 38-year-old man from Bushey, Hertfordshire, arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary on Thursday, February 8, and he was released under investigation.

A 39-year-old man from Grays arrested on suspicion of murder has today been released without charge.

The post Grays launderette murder investigation: Two charged appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A PURFLEET woman has been fined £780 for selling fake designer goods.

Cristina Rocha, aged, of Windermere Avenue, Purfleet, pled guilty to the following at Basildon magistrates court.

On 03/08/2017 at Purfleet, with a view to gain for yourself or another, or with intent to cause loss to another, and without the consent of the proprietor, sold goods, namely “Louis Vuitton Bag”, bearing, or the packaging of which bore, a sign identical to, or likely to be mistaken for, a registered trade mark, namely Louis Vuitton.

On 07/11/2017 at Purfleet, with a view to gain for yourself or another, or with intent to cause loss to another, and without the consent of the proprietor, sold goods, namely “Louis Vuitton Clutch Bag and Louis Vuitton Make up/Wash Bag”, bearing, or the packaging of which bore, a sign identical to, or likely to be mistaken for, a registered trade mark, namely Louis Vuitton.

On 07/12/2017 at Purfleet, with a view to gain for yourself or another, or with intent to cause loss to another, and without the consent of the proprietor, sold goods, namely Pair of Mulberry Gloves, bearing, or the packaging of which bore, a sign identical to, or likely to be mistaken for, a registered trade mark, namely Mulberry.

Rocha was fined £790.00

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ESSEX Police have charged a man with theft, possession of drugs and two counts of assault following an incident in Stanford-le-Hope.

Jeremiah Connors, 27, of Queenwood Road, Stanford-le-Hope, is due to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, March 22.

Police received reports at 6.55pm on Wednesday, November 22, that a man assaulted a woman in the Co-Op store, in High Street, after she challenged him about a theft.

We also received reports that the man assaulted a woman who filmed the incident outside.

We arrested a man today (Friday, February 16) and while he was in custody we found a bag of class A drugs.

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A MAN from South Ockendon has pleaded guilty to possessing images of child abuse on his computer.

Stephen Taylor, aged 37, of Queenstown Road, London pleaded guilty to the following.

Between 12/05/2009 and 15/10/2017 made indecent photographs of children namely the indecent photographs of children recovered from a Black Dell Computer recovered from Daiglen Drive, South Ockendon on the 15th October 2017.

Category A: 49
Category A: 12 moving images
Category B: 16
Category B: 4 moving images
Category C: 247
Category C: 4 moving images

Taylor will be sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on March 15th, 2018.

He has been released on conditional bail.

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TWO women have been handed suspended sentences for keeping dogs and puppies in dire conditions at a puppy farm in Essex.

Teresa Wade (DoB: 4/5/59) of Ship Lane, Aveley, in Essex, and Victoria Montgomery (DoB: 5/12/61) of Melford Avenue, Barking, in London, both pleaded guilty at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (20 February) part-way through a trial for a string of animal welfare offences.

The duo admitted keeping dogs and puppies in dirty, unsuitable conditions following an investigation into puppy farming by the RSPCA.

Wade pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences and was disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years and was given a five-month prison term, suspended for 11 months. She was also ordered to pay £500 in costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Montgomery admitted one animal welfare offence and was given a three-month jail term, suspended for 11 months, and was also ordered to pay £500 in costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

The RSPCA launched a large-scale investigation – called Operation Excel – in the breeding and selling of puppies in Essex in 2014 after receiving a string of calls from members of the public who had bought puppies that had become extremely sick or, in some cases, even died.

When the RSPCA and police executed a warrant at a site in Essex – and two other residential addresses, one in Essex and one in London – officers found 76 dogs and puppies, including poodles, cocker spaniels and some of the popular designer crossbreed types such as cavachons, cockerpoos and golden doodles.

The dogs were seized and placed into the RSPCA’s care and a number of pregnant bitches went on to have 27 puppies in the charity’s centres. Of the 103 dogs in total, four sadly died, but courts ordered for the remaining 99 dogs to be rehomed ahead of the court hearing.

RSPCA inspector Carroll Lamport, who led the investigation, said: “After a number of calls from people who had bought puppies that had fallen ill we became suspicious of a gang who appeared to be selling a large number of puppies.

“The dogs were being bred on an industrial scale at a site in Aveley and were kept in disgusting conditions in makeshift kennels and pens in outbuildings.

“When it was time to sell the puppies – for hundreds of pounds each – they would be moved to two houses being used as front addresses to sell the puppies from. The staged houses to gave the impression that the dogs were much-loved family pets. The reality was far from that.

“These dogs were kept in dark, damp pens covered in filth. They were in terrible conditions, riddled with worms and fleas, with matted, dirty coats. Many of them were extremely poorly with campylobacter and giardia – both serious and potentially deadly parasitic illnesses.”

RSPCA investigations determined that while many of the dogs were being bred on-site, a number of puppies were also being imported from abroad.

“These dogs were being kept in horrendous conditions, it must have been hell for them,” inspector Lamport added.

“Sadly, we lost a few of the pups but, thanks to the wonderful dedication of our animal centre staff and fosterers, the rest have all flourished and are now happy, healthy dogs in loving homes.

“Many of them still carry the scars – both mental and physical – from this part of their life, though. Some have ongoing health problems caused by the conditions they were kept in while others have developed behavioural issues because they were not properly socialised as pups.”

“It’s clear that this gang didn’t have a care in the world for the welfare of these dogs. All they saw when they looked into their dark, sad eyes was a way to make thousands and thousands of pounds.”

One of those puppies rescued from this awful life was Khaleesi, now three. Her heavily pregnant mother, Mia, was rescued from the puppy farm before giving birth to seven pups.

Khaleesi, or Kizzy as she’s known at home, now lives with Jemma and Rob Notley in Horsham, West Sussex.

“She was really timid as a puppy,” Jemma said. “She wouldn’t go outside but would sit on the doorstep and tremble. She was frightened of everything: leaves, the wind, even her own shadow.

“In her first year she was allergic to everything. She was on antibiotics and steroids a lot.

“She is still very nervous in crowded places and is frightened of loud noises. She also still struggles with allergies, we have to be really careful with what she eats and in summer it gets much worse.

“But generally she’s a very happy, healthy dog – and she’s spoiled rotten.

“When I think about what life had in store for her before her mother was rescued by the RSPCA it brings tears to my eyes. Thinking of her hiding in the corner of a cold, cramped pen is heartbreaking.”

The RSPCA encourages prospective puppy buyers to use its online Puppy Contract to help ensure they find a responsible breeder and buy a happy and healthy puppy. The charity also has lots of advice for buyers on its website: www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy/sales.

Anyone who is concerned about a puppy breeder or seller should report their concerns to the RSPCA by calling the charity’s 24-hour cruelty hotline on 0300 1234 999 and also report to their local Trading Standards.

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A MAN has been ordered to pay more than £7,000 in fines, compensation and costs after he admitted leaving mixed commercial waste on land owned by Thurrock Council.

Billy Prince illegally dumped the waste at a compound located on land at Stanford Road, Stanford-le-Hope, Essex in May 2015.

The compound is used to store street cleaning and highways team equipment and is not an authorised waste collection facility or site permitted for authorised waste disposal.

On 11 May 2015, Prince used a vehicle owned by his employer to unlawfully deposit a quantity of mixed commercial waste at the compound.

CCTV showed a vehicle which was later found to have been driven by Prince depositing waste at the site. There was a large yellow sign at the compound entrance that stated ‘No Tipping’.

The Environment Agency investigated the incident and determined that the offending was deliberate and undermined legitimate waste management activities. The offending caused inconvenience to the council and clean-up costs.

Prince was sentenced at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court last week. The court heard Prince had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and was ‘very remorseful’ of his actions, having lost his job as a result.

He was fined £2,000, ordered to pay compensation to Thurrock Council to the value of £3,970, costs of £1,105 and a victim surcharge of £120.

Environment Agency Enforcement Team Leader Lesley Robertson said she was pleased with the sentencing outcome, and it showed that the courts were taking such incidents seriously. She said:

A community order or custody, as well as a financial penalty, could have been imposed. As this was a single offence the penalty was reduced and the magistrates felt a financial penalty, which totalled more than £7,000, was appropriate.

This shows that even with a single fly tip the penalties are very high.

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SIX men and one teenage boy are in custody following an operation led by the Serious Organised Crime Unit today (Tuesday, February 20).

Officers from OSG, Op Raptor, Op Titan and Basildon CPT carried out simultaneous arrest attempts at addresses in Basildon, Grays and Chelmsford.

The arrests were made in connection with an investigation between May and December 2016, during which undercover officers were sold stolen goods.

A 17-year-old boy, two men aged 22, and one man aged 26, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

The 26-year-old man was additionally arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs.

Another man, aged 18, was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary, after voluntarily attending a police station this evening.

Two men aged 21 and 22 were also arrested on suspicion of theft from a vehicle, following reports yesterday (Tuesday, February 20) that a blue Renault Megane was broken into at an address in Wetherland, Basildon.

During the operation, a three figure sum of cash was seized, plus what was believed to be cannabis, an extendable baton, a tomahawk axe, scales, and a mobile phone believed to be connected to drug crime.

Anyone with information which they believe could help the investigation are asked to contact the Serious Organised Crime Unit on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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ESSEX Police is continuing their investigation into the attempted murder of a 64-year-old man in Purfleet and would like to trace a man who may be able to help us.

Shortly before 8.30pm on Tuesday, January 16, the victim was walking his dog along London Road, when two men, described as having their faces covered and wearing dark clothing, approached the 64-year-old and stabbed him in the chest with a knife. He was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Prior to the incident, the victim’s had a brief conversation with a man wearing a beige coat when his dog crossed the man’s path. The man was described by the victim as being white, aged between 30 and 40 years, around 5ft 10ins tall and of an average build with dark hair.

If you think this was you, or you have any information about the incident, please contact with Dc Nicola Hadfield at Grays CID on 101. Alternatively contact the Crimestoppers charity completely anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information.

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ESSEX Police want to speak to this man following reports of a quad bike being ridden dangerously in the Derwent Parade and the Gatehope Drive areas of South Ockendon.

The incidents took place on Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18.

A spokesperson said: “We appreciate it is not the clearest image but anyone who recognises him is asked to contact the Thurrock community policing team on 101.

“We also ask residents to contact us if they have any information on motorbikes, quad bikes and off-road bikes being ridden in an anti-social or a dangerous manner and in areas where they are not allowed to be ridden without the landowner’s permission”.

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ESSEX Police is appealing for witnesses after a member of staff was assaulted at a pub on Lodge Lane, Grays, on December 30, 2017.

Around 12.30am, it was reported that the victim, a man in his 50s, had been verbally abused, assaulted and had his phone damaged, after he approached a group of two men and two woman and asked them to leave the premises.

The victim did not require medical treatment but was understandable left shaken by the events.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information relating to it, are asked to contact Grays police station on 101, quoting reference 42/183321/17.

Alternatively contact the Crimestoppers charity completely anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information.

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A FIFTEEN year jail term has been handed to a man found guilty of a serious assault in Chafford Hundred last year.

Huseyin Abuzet, 37, of Cumberland Road, Chafford Hundred, was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Friday, February 23, after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of a knife or bladed article.

Police were called to reports of an assault in Cumberland Road, Chafford Hundred at around 2.50pm on Sunday, August 27 and found a man in his 40s with stab wounds to his body.

He was taken to hospital for treatment for his injuries, which Abuzet had caused with a knife.

Abuzet was arrested nearby a short time later on suspicion of GBH with intent.

He appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, August 29, charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.

He was then remanded in custody and pleaded not guilty to the charges on October 13 at Basildon Crown Court.

Following his court appearance on Friday, February 23, he was also issued with a restraining order meaning he cannot contact the victim.

Dc Steve Tilley, from Grays CID, led the enquiries.

He said: “This assault had a significant impact on those involved and today’s result will allow the victim and his family to move on.

“This case is just one example of how Essex Police tirelessly work to bring offenders to justice and ensure they are placed before a court to face the consequences of their actions.”

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A man who committed terrorist offences online has been jailed for seven years today (Monday, 26 February) at Kingston Crown Court.

Mohammed Kamal Hussain, 28 (11.05.89) from east London was found guilty of two counts of encouraging terrorism and one count of supporting a proscribed organisation on 6 February at the same court.

Hussain’s activities came to the attention of counter terrorism police after a man reported receiving an email from him.

The court heard how the witness, who lives outside the UK, emailed the Home Office in March 2017 after receiving a private message on Facebook, from someone he did not know, inciting him to join Daesh.

The matter was referred to the national Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit – a team of Met Police officers who specialise in identifying and seeking the removal of terrorist material online. Their enquiries established the message was from Mohammed Kamal Hussain.

They identified that Hussain had posted a number of messages on Facebook which glorified the violent activities of the terrorist organisation Daesh.

A fast-time investigation was launched by the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command who arrested Hussain on 30 June 2017.

Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This investigation started with one conscientious individual trusting his instincts and reporting something suspicious. He could have ignored the message Hussain sent him but instead he took a screenshot of the message and contacted the UK authorities immediately. It is in great part thanks to him that police were able to bring Hussain to justice.”

Detectives trawled thousands of messages Hussain had sent on Facebook, Telegram and Whatsapp. Among them were Facebook posts encouraging terrorism, including a speech from the so-called “leader” of ISIS, Abu bakr al Baghdadi.

Commander Haydon said: “I encourage anyone who sees something online that they have even the slightest feeling could be terrorist, or extremist-related, to follow this example. Please report it to police via the ACT website. We have a team of specially trained officers who will look at everything that is reported and decide if action is required.

“Hussain was actively seeking to recruit Daesh followers. We know from the disturbing material we found on his devices that he supported Daesh. The material included videos of barbaric Daesh violence and warped reasoning for killing people, including children and Muslims.”

To report material online, simply fill in the confidential form at www.gov.uk/act.

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ESSEX Police is appealing for witnesses after a man was stabbed in Aveley last night, Saturday, March 3, leaving him with serious and potentially life changing injuries in hospital.

The assault happened just after 9pm in Shannon Way near Belhus Park.

A 35-year-old local man suffered a number of stab wounds, broken jaw, nose and eye sockets.

The victim is being treated at a London hospital.

We need any witnesses to the assault or anyone else who has any information to contact detectives at Grays CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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ESSEX Police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of a man wanted in connection with burglary.

Detectives want to question Dean Crooks about a break-in in Grays in which jewellery and cash were stolen.

A property was broken into on Palmerston Road between 4pm and 6.10pm on March 1, 2018.

Dean Crooks, 31, also goes by the names Dean Ariba, Steven Crooks and Dean Cross.

He’s described as 5ft 7in and of stocky build with collar length black hair and a black beard and moustache.

He has a tattoo of the name ‘Violet’ on his left forearm and one of ‘Marcie’ on his left hand.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Dean Crooks is asked to call Pc Beth Finch at Grays CID on 101. Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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THIS is what we know.

On Saturday (March 3rd), a concerned daughter told fellow members of a Facebook page that it took Essex Police two hours to attend a 999 call to her 75-year-old mother’s home.

She claimed that the mother had rung 999 as there were “Two men in a black 4 x 4 trying to get into her back door”.

The mother lives in Darenth Lane, South Ockendon.

The daughter claimed that they rang at 8pm and the police attended at 10.15. She also claimed that they only attended when they rang up further to complain re (non) attendance.

So, we contacted Essex Police and asked them “Do you have any details re report and attendance at poss break in Darenth Lane
on Sat March 3rd please?”.

“Could you tell us what time call came in and what time officers attended at location?”

Essex Police responded: “We were called to an address in Darenth Lane, South Ockendon at around 8pm on Saturday, March 3 following reports of damage to the back door of a property there.

“If you have any information please call us on 101 quoting the crime reference number 42/29593/18 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111″.

Needless to say, we have contacted Essex Police and asked them (as we did in our original e-mail)…”What time did you attend at location?”

We have yet to establish what was said in original 999 call.
Was it…”I have had my back door damaged” or “Men are trying to break in”

We will keep you updated.

Readers may recall that we ran a story in 2016 regarding Essex Police, 999 calls and response times.

http://www.yourthurrock.com/2016/03/22/why-did-essex-police-not-attend-the-scene-of-a-999-at-lidls-in-south-ockendon/

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A MAN has been jailed for 34 months after hacking into more than 270 iCloud accounts, stealing sensitive images, and posting them online.

The offences came to light after a woman from Grays reported to Action Fraud that her iCloud account had been hacked and private photographs had been taken and published online.

Through thorough and extensive work by our Cyber Crime Unit, it was established software allowing you to recover data from an iCloud account had been used to access the account and take the images.

The purchase of the software was linked back to Craig Steinberg, 31, of Lily Street, Sunderland.

Further investigations identified Steinberg had used the software to get access to 272 iCloud accounts between December 9, 2015 and March 7, 2017.

He then posted private images, sensitive and sexual in nature, on a website for which he charged people for access.

In total he was paid approximately £2,300 for access to the site by users between November 29, 2015 and February 28, 2017.

A warrant was executed at Steinberg’s address on April 11, 2017 where he was arrested.
On December 6, 2017 he was charged with 14 counts causing a computer to perform a function to secure or enable unauthorised access to a programme or data.

Appearing at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on January 29, 2018, he admitted the charges and at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, March 5 he was sentenced to 34 months in prison.

He has also been given a restraining order that will significantly restrict his future ownership and operation of computer equipment.

Detective Inspector Claire Talbot, the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate Cyber Crime Unit, said: “Hacking into someone’s account and stealing personal images is a complete invasion of their privacy.

“To then exploit this by selling access to these images is totally repugnant.

“Craig Steinberg targeted hundreds of people, accessing their accounts without their permission and with no regard for their welfare, leaving them feeling violated and scared.

“While we’ve not been able to physically speak to all of the people he targeted we have made contact with them to let them know about this investigation.

“I hope this sentence provides them with some solace.

“I also hope Steinberg uses his time in prison to reflect on his actions and their consequences and this will act as a deterrent to anyone else considering something similar.”

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A man has been arrested today (Thursday, March 8) on suspicion of conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary in connection with an incident at a launderette in Grays.

The 31-year-old man from Watford was also arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis with intent to supply and remains in custody for questioning.

His arrest follows an incident at Baylee’s laundrette in Southend Road, Grays, on Monday December 4, during which Paul Robertson, 39, of Milton Keynes, died from multiple injuries.

We previously charged Jerome Johnson, 36, Harrison Fryer, 24, and Joseph Pearl, 28, all of Charter Place, Watford, and Michael Williams, 35, of Old Farm Park, Milton Keynes, with aggravated burglary.
Johnson and Fryer are due to appear at Basildon Crown Court on Friday, March 16, and Pearl and Williams are due to stand trial on Monday, June 4.

A 39-year-old man from Grays arrested on suspicion of murder has been released without charge.

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