THREE members of the C17 gang are wanted for breaching a court-imposed injunction against them.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We want to speak to the three 19-year-olds, Talliq ‘Zedz’ Mwalim, Sahin ‘SJ’ Korta-Haupt and Roland ‘Valenti’ Douherty, in connection with various breaches, including appearing in a drill video, being in contact with one another and wearing hoodies.

Mwalim is described as being of stocky build and is around 5ft 9ins tall. He has a short beard and short black hair worn in an afro. He was last known to be living in Gillingham in Kent.

Korta-Haupt was also last known to be living in Gillingham. He is 5ft 4ins tall and of slim build, he has a tattoo on his left hand and also wears his hair in an afro.

Douherty was last known to be living in Northampton and is described as being of slim build and 5ft 7ins tall. He has tattoos on his left arm.

All three have links to Grays and South Ockendon and may have come back to the Thurrock district.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call Grays police station on 101 or, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can speak to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or submit an anonymous report through their website.

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A CORRUPT agency worker at the Port of Tilbury has been jailed for 14 years and five months after pleading guilty to assisting offenders to import or supply cocaine.

Michael Fowler, 60, from Stanford-Le-Hope, Essex, was arrested by National Crime Agency officers following an investigation into a number of drug importations which went through the port between January and July 2015.

Fowler pleaded guilty on the third day of his trial and was sentenced yesterday (Wednesday) at Isleworth Crown Court.

Four consignments were intercepted by NCA, Border Force and the police, leading to the recovery of more than three-quarters of a tonne of cocaine with an estimated street value of £114 million. These drugs would have fuelled violence and exploitation on the UK’s streets.

Fowler acted as a go-between, informing a ‘collection team’ when a container which he knew held consignments of cocaine had arrived at the port. The containers had usually been shipped from South America.

After the tip-off from Fowler, the team gained unauthorised entry to the port and recovered the drugs from the containers for onward distribution.

The final importation attempt took place in the early hours of 21 July 2015. On that occasion a team working with Fowler’s son-in-law, Danny O’Sullivan, entered the port unaware that they were under NCA surveillance.

They were arrested by officers from Essex Police and the Metropolitan Police Service as they drove away from the port, and 194kg cocaine was seized. Four men, including O’Sullivan, were later convicted and sentenced to a total of 57 years in prison.

NCA investigators worked with the Port of Tilbury and its owners, Forth Ports Limited, to provide evidence that containers had been moved without authorisation.

NCA branch commander Jacque Beer said:

“Fowler used his position to enable serious breaches of port security in what was a major criminal enterprise. He played a crucial role in bringing hundreds of kilos of cocaine, worth many millions of pounds, into the UK.

“The NCA and our partners in the public and private sectors are determined to root out corruption and stop those who would seek to circumvent border controls for criminal purposes.

“This case shows we have the capabilities to track and stop corrupt insiders, and I hope it sends out a message to others who would consider getting involved in this type of criminality.

“This has been a long and complex investigation and we are grateful for the assistance provided by the port authorities. This was critical in bringing this group to justice.”

A spokesperson for Forth Ports Limited said:

“We will continue to work with our own Port of Tilbury Police Force as well as other local and national crime agencies to fully investigate any criminal acts that are undertaken at any of our facilities.

“We would like to thank the NCA for the support they have given us in working with them on this case.”

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A SOUTH Ockendon woman has been found guilty of assaulting an member of the ambulance staff.

Fiona Campbell, aged 51, of Avon Green, South Ockendon, was found guilty at Basildon magistrates court.

On 01/04/2019 at South Ockendo assaulted an emergency worker, namely ambulance technician, acting in the exercise of her functions as such a worker

Campbell was discharged conditionally for two years and fined £320.00

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ESSEX Police’s new recruits completed their training by proudly ‘passing out’ during a special ceremony surrounded by family and friends at our HQ in Chelmsford.

They were welcomed into the force by Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst, Home Secretary Priti Patel, Lt Col Steve Caldwell (Colchester Garrison Commander) and other Chief Officers.

A police spokesperson said: “The 73 officers started their journeys in our Essex Police College and have been put through their paces over the last 18 weeks as they trained to become police constables. Their journey started in Chelmsford but it will take them across the county, as our officers are posted to our different stations to help keep Essex safe.

“At the ceremony, after pledging their commitment to serve the residents of Essex, they were welcomed into the force in front of their loved ones. Mr Harrington thanked the officers for all of their hard work during their training and welcomed them into the Essex Police family”.

Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said: “It’s an honour for me to welcome and congratulate another 73 new police constables in to the Essex Police family.

“Their journey as police officers is just beginning and they have today sworn their oath to serve in front of their friends, family, police officer colleagues and honoured guests including in a first for the force, the Home Secretary.

“The passing out ceremony today is a celebration at the culmination of 18 weeks intensive training before they go out on patrol to serve our communities; helping people, keeping them safe and catching criminals.

“I am looking forward to hearing where their journeys take them.”

Together with chief officers, the officers thanked the trainers and staff for their support and hard work during their 18 weeks at Essex Police College.

Out of the 73 officers, nine of them have completed their training through the ‘Police Now’ graduate programme. The officers have taken an alternative course to those who come through our Essex Police College. ‘Police Now’ works in partnership with more than 30 police forces across England and Wales to attract, train and develop outstanding graduates to become inspirational police officers.

During their training, the officers were split into four intakes, L1, L2, L3 and L4. As part of their training course to become police constables, they held fundraising events for their chosen charities.

Intake L1 chose to raise money for ‘Kids inspire’ dedicated to providing disadvantaged young people, their parents and young carers (siblings) a bespoke service package consisting of individual therapy. They raised £2,648.95 and presented a cheque to a representative of the charity.

Intake L2 chose to raise money for ‘Help for Heroes’ dedicated to providing lifetime support for the armed forces community and their families. The students raised £2,640 and presented a cheque to a representative of the charity.

Intake L3 chose to raise money for ‘Open Road SOS buses’ dedicated to operating SOS bus services in Colchester High Street and Chelmsford City Centre. Their specially adapted buses are on site at weekends to provide a safe haven and medical support to people who need it. They raised £1,200 and presented a cheque to a representative of the charity.

Intake L4 chose to raise money for ‘Essex & Herts Air Ambulance’ who’s aim is to save lives, reduce or prevent disability, or suffering from critical illness and injury, by delivering a pre-hospital emergency medical service to the people of Essex, Hertfordshire and surrounding areas.. They raised £2,193.50 and presented a cheque to a representative of the charity.

The event saw PC Verity Worster awarded the Essex Police College Shield and PC Marinela Carstoiu, PC Mark Stonebank, PC Jordan Calder and PC Robert Teather winning the ‘Class Trophy’ for each of their intakes.

The final award, The Kirste Snellgrove Student Officer award, was won by PC Thomas Semple. The award was introduced in June 2012 to celebrate the achievements of an exceptional student in each intake, in honour of our late Essex Police Training Sgt Kirste Snellgrove who sadly passed away at the beginning 2012 after a long challenge with cancer. This award represents all the core values and behaviours of a Police Constable, which Kirste herself not only practiced but tried to instil in her students

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A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of breaching a gang injunction.

Roland ‘Valenti’ Douherty, 19, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court this morning, Monday 9 September.

He has since been released on bail until 17 September.

We continue to appeal for the whereabouts of two other 19-year-olds, Talliq ‘Zedz’ Mwalim and Sahin ‘SJ’ Korta-Haupt, in connection with various breaches, including appearing in a drill video, being in contact with one another and wearing hoodies.

Mwalim is described as being of stocky build and is around 5ft 9ins tall. He has a short beard and short black hair worn in an afro.

Korta-Haupt is 5ft 4ins tall and of slim build, he has a tattoo on his left hand and also wears his hair in an afro.

Both have links to the Thurrock district.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call Grays police station on 101 or, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can speak to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or submit an anonymous report through their website.

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A MAN who was fined more than £12,000 after making his neighbours’ lives a misery by keeping a house full of dogs has also been hit with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).

On Wednesday (4 September) Basildon Magistrates’ Court was presented with evidence by Thurrock Council deemed so serious that a 10 year CBO was awarded against the defendant.

Abdullah Al-Hassan Chowdhury, who was found guilty for a breach of noise abatement notice last June, had been keeping up to 20 dogs at a house in Lea Road, Chadwell St Mary, with concerned neighbours having to log complaints on an almost daily basis.

Due to the severity of nuisance, investigating officers then applied for a CBO against Mr Chowdhury, meaning he must not bring onto, or keep, any animals within any residential address, use any residential address for commercial or business purposes, and engage in any threatening or abusive behaviour.

Leader of Thurrock Council, Cllr Rob Gledhill said: “This is one of the most serious noise nuisance cases relating to dogs barking that the council have ever investigated.

“Our environment protection team worked tirelessly with the local community, RSPCA and Essex Police to ensure this thoughtless individual was brought to justice.

“What people living near this house had to endure is downright unacceptable and the council will continue to take whatever action is necessary to protect our residents from all forms of nuisance and anti-social behaviour.”

For information on how to report anti-social behaviour, go to thurrock.gov.uk/asb

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A GRAYS man has been arrested and charged with a number of offences involving offensive weapons and police assault.

Joe Benton, aged 20, of Ashley Gardens, Grays was charged with the following.

On 12/07/2018 at Grays assaulted a Detective Superintendent in the execution of his duty.

On 12/07/2018 at Basildon assaulted a constable in the execution of his duty

On 01/09/2019 at Grays had with you, without good reason or lawful authority, in a public place an article which had a blade or was sharply pointed, namely one combat style Black spring loaded lock knife.

On 01/09/2019 at Grays without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, had with you in a public place an offensive weapon, namely one black knuckle duster.

Benton has been remanded in custody until September 18th when he will reappear at Basildon magistrates court.

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Have you seen Luke Wall?

The 25-year-old is wanted on a recall to prison.

Wall, who is also known as Luke McCarthy or John O’Reilly, has links to the Blackshots area of Grays, Stanford-le-Hope, Dagenham, Sidcup in Kent and Suffolk.

He is described as being 5ft 9ins tall and of slim build. He has strawberry blonde hair which is cropped short and may have facial hair.

If you have any information regarding Wall’s whereabouts please call Grays police station on 101 and ask for Operation Halfback.

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TWO men have been disqualified from driving after quickly being stopped by a Town Centre Team officer in Stanford-le-Hope.

Mark Cook, 48, of Victoria Road, Stanford-le-Hope, was banned from driving for 24 months, and was ordered to pay a £230 fine at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 5 September.

Darren Grant, 39, of King Street, Stanford-le-Hope, was given a 20 month ban from driving at the same court on Monday 2 September and was fined £692 for driving under the influence of drink.

On Thursday 7 July, Mark Cook called us to say that there was an obstruction outside his home and PC Stuart Mackinnon from Stanford-le-Hope’s Town Centre Team attended while on patrol.

Cook arrived at the scene in his car minutes later before becoming abusive to PC Mackinnon, who quickly established that his breath smelt like alcohol and his words were slurred.

A reading in custody found he was four times over the drink drive limit.

On Saturday 27 July, PC Mackinnon activated his body-worn camera after Darren Grant was seen using his phone behind the wheel of his car in London Road.

Grant also smelt like alcohol and a reading showed he was three times over the drink drive limit.

Sergeant Ben Forbes, who leads the Thurrock Town Centre Teams, said: “These results are thanks to the dedication and commitment of our Thurrock Town Centre in delivering a proactive high visibility presence within our three town centres, with Stanford-le-Hope being one of them.

“As promised when we launched in July, your Town Centre Team are absolutely committed to removing any risk of harm or violence and making our town centres a safer place.

“Following these two arrests and successfully convictions, which have been possible thanks to PC MacKinnon’s proactive policing, we have now prevented these drivers from causing a risk to public safety whilst they remain disqualified.

“My plea to the public is if you are thinking of drinking and driving, then don’t as you will be prosecuted and if you suspect someone of drink driving, then please make sure you call police.

“The support from the public has been absolutely amazing and I thank every person who has approached me, my team and contacted us so far.

“We all look forward to the future and my vision for the next few months is to further build upon our success and to continue to make a successful impact within our town centres.”

Councillor Rob Gledhill, leader of Thurrock Council, said: “It is fantastic to see the Thurrock Town Centre Teams having such an impact already and these prosecutions should reassure our residents that we and Essex Police take crime and anti-social behaviour seriously and that we will come down with the full force of the law on anyone committing offences in our borough.

“These seven new officers of the town centre team are a welcome presence on our streets and a visible deterrent to anyone thinking of committing crime in Thurrock.

“I would like to offer my thanks to PC Stuart Mackinnon for the diligence he has shown in arresting these two men and ensuring they faced justice and a lengthy driving ban instead of recklessly getting behind the wheel after drinking.”

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ESSEX Police are investigating after a boy was robbed by a group of other boys in Grays.

A police spokesperson said: “We were called at around 5.45pm on Friday 13 September with reports two 14 year-old boys had been approached by six other boys in the Delafield Open Space.

It was reported they were threatened with a knife and had their bikes stolen.

The group of boys are all described as black and in their late teens.

The boy with the knife has been described as around 6ft 5ins tall, black, muscular build with facial hair and wearing a black Northface coat and black trousers.

Another of the boys is described as 5ft 7ins tall, of muscular build, and wearing a black jumper with ‘Abode’ in white writing on.

A third member of the group has been described as having a bright blue lanyard on.

If you saw anything, have any CCTV or dash cam footage, or have any other information please call us on 101 quoting incident 1058 of 13 September or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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A MAN has been sentenced for his role in a violent break-in in Horndon-on-the-Hill.

A group of men forced their way into an address in Saffron Gardens during the early hours of 27 September 2017.

The men were all wearing masks and gloves and armed with a variety of weapons including firearms and knives.

They entered one of the bedrooms and threatened the people inside, demanding money.

They subjected the people living inside the house to an ordeal which included physical assault and threats of violence.

A man in his 30s was repeatedly assaulted, hit round the head with a firearm, struck to the hands and legs with a hammer, and burned on his hands, arms, and shoulder with an iron.

He also had a gun pointed at him.

A woman was assaulted and had duct tape put around her arms and across her mouth.

A seven year-old boy was assaulted while a four year-old young girl had a knife held to her throat and assaulted.

The men also ransacked the house causing a four-figure sum of damage and stole money, jewellery and electrical items worth a four-figure sum.

The victims were then put into their own cars before they were driven to a field where the men forced them out and drove off, dumping the vehicles at another location.

Nicky Cosans, 35, of Leicester Road, Tilbury was arrested in February and later charged with robbery.

He initially denied the charge but pleaded guilty on the second day of his trial at Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday 17 September and was sentenced to eight and-a-half years. He is to serve half of his sentence in prison and the other half on licence.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Steve Nelson, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “This was a horrifying incident where the victims were subjected to an ordeal which has been described as ‘torture’.

“Nicky Cosans was part of a dangerous and violent gang who have showed little, if any remorse, for what they have done.

“He can now look forward to joining his friends for an extended spell behind bars.

“I hope this conviction will help bring some closure to the victims.”

In sentencing Her Honour Justice Leigh said this case was on par with the worst she had ever seen saying the man assaulted “is left with permanent scars, both physically and mentally” and that the incident had caused serious physical and psychological harm to the victims.

She added: “Through good, solid Police work those inside were caught”

Five other men were jailed in January for their roles in the break-in.

This sentencing follows a previous trial into this break-in and another in Tilbury which saw six men jailed in January for a total of 127 years.

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A MAN will appear at court today, Wednesday 18 September, charged with the 2017 murder of Daniel Adger in South Ockendon.

Luis Jordan, 34, of Church Road in Manor Park, has been charged with murder, conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, robbery, possession of a firearm, and causing grievous bodily harm. He has been remanded to appear at Basildon Magistrates Court.

Mr Adger, who was 34-years-old at the time of his death, passed away at 1pm on 21 August 2017 in Eden Green.

A number of people have already appeared in court in connection with this incident.

The post South Ockendon: Man in court over Daniel Adger murder appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A 36-year-old woman from Basildon has been ordered to pay £150 in compensation and undertake 70 hours of unpaid work after she admitted stealing cash from an elderly man.

On Monday 8 October, 2018, a man in his 80s had £150 in cash stolen from him as he was shopping on Derwent Parade in South Ockendon.

Following CCTV enquiries, a woman was arrested and later charged with theft from another person.

Catherine Martin of Gardenia Court appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Friday 13 September and pleaded guilty to the offence.

In addition to the compensation costs and the unpaid work, she was ordered to pay £190 in costs and participate in rehabilitation activity.

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A WOMAN who works for Thurrock Council has avoided jail after having a sex act performed on her, in front of young children on a busy London to Pitsea train.

Deborah Tobyn, aged 57 and Raymond Burr, aged 64 were travelling on a c2c train from London towards Basildon on May 19 last year when the pair became involved in ‘lewd behaviour’ in one of the carriages a court heard.

A woman approached the pair and asked them to stop, but they continued. As soon as they left the train at Pitsea, the pair were stopped by a transport officer who asked them to identify themselves. Both pleaded guilty to an act of outraging public decency earlier this year.

Both Burr and Tobyn were sentenced for their crimes at Basildon crown court last Friday, where the judge heard there were children aged from one to six present on the train.

The court heard that Burr and Tobyn, both from Basildon, were drinking at the time of the incident on the train.

Patrick Duffy, prosecuting, told the court: ‘The first witness was with her grandson. There were children in the carriage, confirmed by the second witness who said there were children aged between one and six on the train. It was lewd behaviour.

‘After the incident, the two got off the train at Pitsea and were stopped by a transport officer. Mr Burr gave his name but Ms Tobyn gave her name as Janet Green.

The judge also heard that Ms Tobyn initially pleaded not guilty during her first court appearance in June this year, but changed her plea to guilty at Basildon crown court on August 2.

Tobyn was handed a two-year community order, ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work and was also given a 40-day rehabilitation requirement.

YT understands that Mrs Tobyn works for Thurrock Council’s Children’s Services Department. We submitted a number of questions to Thurrock Council regarding Mrs Tobyn but they informed us that they do not comment on individual employees.

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SHOPS in Thurrock were tested yesterday, Thursday 19 September, on whether they would sell knives to children as part of our week of action for Op Sceptre.

Test purchasing has been taking place in Lakeside Retail Park, Thurrock and 10 retailers were tested.

Nine refused to sell a knife to someone under the age of 18 so passed the test but one failed.

Each retailer was given a letter confirming whether they had passed or failed.

Inspector Paul Ballard, from the Thurrock Community Policing Team, said: “Test purchasing is a really useful way to check whether retailers are carrying out their responsibilities in helping keeping our community safe.

“There is an onus on retailers to ensure their staff are trained to check someone’s ID before they sell them something like a knife and it’s really positive that so many have passed.

“It’s obviously disappointing when a retailer fails the test but hopefully this will be an opportunity to provide some learning for those stores.

“Test purchasing is one of a range of activities we carry out to tackle knife crime and are just another way we’re protecting Essex.”

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ESSEX Police are appealing for information following an incident last night, Friday 20 September, at around 10.30pm in Parnell Close, Chafford Hundred.

We received reports that a group of up to eight people were engaged in an altercation in the street, during which the windows of a silver Audi were broken and a vehicle was seen driving on the pavement.

No one is reported to have been seriously injured.

Anyone who was in the area at the time or has CCTV or dash cam footage is asked to call Grays CID on 101, quoting the incident number 1486 of Friday 20 September.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or submit an anonymous report via their website.

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OFFICERS investigating an incident in a park in Aveley are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

A man in his 20s reported that he was walking through Aveley Recreation Ground at 2am on Thursday 22 August when he was approached by two teenagers.

They asked for a lighter and, when the victim said he didn’t have one, he was assaulted with an unknown object, leaving him with serious injuries to his legs.

The two boys left on foot in the direction of Mr Pizza and Chicken. Both are believed to be between the ages of 17 and 20, one was black and another was white.

After conducting initial enquiries, we are asking for anyone with information about this incident to speak to Thurrock’s Local Policing Team.

If you can help us identify the two people mentioned please call us on 101 and quote the crime reference number 42/135015/19.

Alternatively, you can speak to Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or submit anonymous reports through their website.

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ESSEX Police are continuing to appeal for information to find Stephen Dowman, 45, from Tilbury, in connection with burglary investigations.

They would like to talk to him about a burglary at St James Church, in Church Road, between 8.30pm and 8.50pm on Tuesday 2 July and a burglary in Portsea Road, Tilbury, at around 1.10am on Saturday 6 June where a man entered a property and stole a bag.

Dowman is 5ft 7ins, uses the alias Jamie Goyette and has links to East Tilbury.

Anyone with information is asked to call Grays police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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THURROCK Council Leader Cllr Rob Gledhill has welcomed the tough sentence given to a man who removed a fence which the council had erected to prevent illegal encampments being set up.

The man appeared at Basildon Magistrates earlier this month where he was given a 12 month conditional discharge and forced to pay £500 in costs to the council and £105 court costs after he was caught on camera taking down the fencing in Clyde, East Tilbury.

Cllr Gledhill said: “It is incredibly disappointing to learn that someone would attempt to remove fencing which had only recently been erected to prevent people setting up illegal encampments on public land.

“I was pleased to see Basildon Magistrates handing down such a tough sentence and I hope this serves as a warning to anyone who is thinking of damaging council property. We will always prosecute to the full letter of the law.

“Now we have an interim injunction preventing illegal encampments we will no longer have to rely on creating physical barriers and have the legal means to move encampments on in just a few hours.”

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