THURROCK Council has issued a warning to fly-tippers that the net is closing after the council’s Civil Enforcement officers confiscated a vehicle suspected of being involved in fly-tipping in a joint operation with Essex Police.

This is the latest action the council has taken as it cracks down on those who pollute the borough by illegally dumping their waste.

Cllr Rob Gledhill said: “I still hear residents saying we are not taking action on fly-tipping, this is now the fourth vehicle we have seized linked to fly-tipping since April, couple this with the 204 £400 fines we have issued in the same time period and it demonstrates that we are taking action.

“When anyone thinks they’re saving a few pounds by using an unauthorised waste carrier from social media or word of mouth it can end up costing them a huge amount more in fines and the risk of a potential criminal record. Someone trying to save a few pounds can also end up costing the tax payer thousands in clean-up costs.”

A £400 fixed penalty notice can be given to anyone involved in fly-tipping, including residents that don’t take the proper care and use an unauthorised waste carrier who ends up illegally dumping their waste.

Those responsible for larger dumps, or anyone who doesn’t pay their fixed penalty notice, will face a criminal prosecution which could land them in Magistrates Court and see them end up with a fine of up to £50,000 or a 12 month prison sentence.

Fly-tipped waste can be reported at thurrock.gov.uk/fly-tipping.

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TWO men who admitted stabbing a man in his own home while two young children were upstairs have been jailed for a total of nearly 16 years.

Archimede Kintadi and Alex King went to an address in Thackery Avenue, Tilbury at around 8.30pm on 1 October asking if someone they knew was inside.

When they were told they weren’t, Kintadi, who witnesses said had a knife in each hand, and King, who was seen holding a pole and a knife, confronted a man in his 40s, and stabbed him causing him to fall back on to a table.

Other people inside the address tried to intervene they were assaulted, before the pair stabbed the victim again.

After the men were finally convinced to leave the address the police were called and, less than an hour later, Kintadi and King were stopped in St Chad’s Road and arrested.

The victim sustained a number of serious injuries and has needed facial reconstruction surgery and has been left with no feeling to the right side of his face because of nerve damage and has difficulty speaking.

All during the attack, two young children had been upstairs.

Kintadi and King, who are both 24 and of no fixed addresss, were later charged and Basildon Crown Court on Thursday 7 November pleaded guilty to GBH with intent and having a bladed article.

Kintadi also admitted two counts of ABH.

They both pleaded not guilty to affray.

Kintadi was jailed for eight years while King was sentenced to seven years and eight months.

Following the sentencing, investigating officer PC Laura Curtis, from Grays CID, said: “This was a vicious and sustained attack which has had a lasting physical and psychological impact on the victim and his family who were witness to the attack on their father.

“Kintadi and King subjected the victim to a prolonged ordeal in his own home.

“They are dangerous men who are worryingly at ease using extreme violence.

“They will now spend a significant time behind bars and I believe Essex is a safer place with them in prison.

“I want to praise the courage of the victim and his family throughout the investigation and court process and I hope this sentencing goes some way to helping them move forward.”

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POLICE have named a 45-year-old woman who died during a party at The Magpie Pub in Little Stonham, Suffolk.

Officers were called to the pub, on the A140 between Norwich and Ipswich, in the early hours of Sunday 10th November.

The woman, who died at the scene, was Irena Kuzmina, from Purfleet.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Irena’s death.

A Post Mortem examination was inconclusive and further tests are required.

A 52-year-old woman from Dagenham was arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on bail until Sunday 8 December pending further enquires.

Photo: ITV Anglia

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A GANG member who breached an injunction by wearing a hoodie has been jailed for 12-weeks.

Talliq Mwalim, 19, is a member of the so-called C17 gang in Thurrock who were made the subject of a tough gang injunction.

Under the terms of the court order Mwalim and other specified C17 gang members are banned from large parts of Thurrock.

The injunction also prevents them from: wearing any hooded items of clothing except in bad weather, associating with other members of the gang specified by the order, or congregating in a public place in a group of two or more where the group is behaving in a way likely to make a personal feel intimidated or afraid for their safety.

Despite the order, on August 17 this year Mwalim was caught wearing a hoodie and associating with fellow gang member Sahin Korta-Haupt, 19, who is also a member of the C17 gang and subject of the gang injunction in Maidstone town centre in Kent.

At a hearing at Chelmsford County Court on Tuesday 12 November Mwalim of Junction Road, Gillingham was jailed for 12 weeks for two breaches of the gang injunction.

Korta-Haupt, also of Junction Road, Gillingham has already been sentenced to 129 days in a young offender institution at an earlier hearing earlier this month.

Following the latest hearing Sgt Scott Fitzmaurice of the West Operation Raptor team said: “Mwalim is the third member of the C17 gang that we have successfully put behind bars in recent months.

“This gang thought they could deal drugs and perpetrate violence on the streets of our borough.

“We not only secured this tough gang injunction but we will continue to robustly police it and continue to put members of the C17 before the courts.

“The streets of this community belong to this community. If people think they can perpetrate violence, deal drugs or exploit the vulnerable, they can’t, we will continue to seek out these people, put them before the courts, and continue protecting and serving the people of this county.”

A total of 11 members of the C17 gang have now been put before the court and handed down the tough restrictions.

Under the terms of the order gang members are banned from: entering Grays town centre, park, Lakeside and Grays Beach Riverside Park.

They are also banned from making drill videos, wearing hoodies or face coverings, associating with C17 members and, for some, being in the company of girls aged under 16. The gang members must also give Essex Police all details of their social media profiles.

The gang first came to the attention of the Operation Raptor team in May 2017 as they became heavily involved in drug dealing and violence.

The gang had been plaguing the town centre, town park and beach areas of Grays as well as Lakeside, dealing drugs in those areas and committing crime and disorder.

Evidence gathered by police, included detail of how the gang have preyed on young children in the community, enticing them into the gang and then exploiting them by getting them to run drugs, carry cash from deals or knives.

The younger members are also used to act as “spotters” or “distracters” to look out for police whilst others are carrying out deals.

The C17 are also known to target vulnerable drug users, using violence and intimidation to take over their homes for use as a drug dealing base (a practice known as ‘cuckooing’).

Violence around the gang is mainly borne out of rivalry with other gangs and drug lines. The violence and rivalry has played out in numerous so-called ‘drill’ music videos filmed by members of C17 which feature weapons and provocative language and gestures.

Drill is a type of rap music that originated in South Chicago in America. It features dark, violent lyrics and often used to perpetuate and even escalate gang disputes.

If you spot the C17 gang in areas of Thurrock which they are banned from or breaching any of the specified terms of the order, call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Essex Police set up Operation Raptor teams in the North, South and West of the county to tackle drug and gang-related violence.

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A TILBURY man has been ordered to pay £6000 in compensation and given a two year prison sentence, suspended for 24 months after pleading guilty to burglary and theft.

Tony Burgess, 37, of Southey Walk admitted entering an address on Thackeray Avenue in Tilbury on 20 September stealing a motorbike jack and then returning to the same property on 25 September and stealing jewellery.

Burgess was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Friday 8 November and given a two year prison sentence suspended for 24 months, ordered to pay £6000 to the victim, required to attend a six month drugs rehabilitation programme and 20 days of rehabilitation activity. He will also be electronically tagged and have a curfew for three months.

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A LORRY driver was arrested after he collided with a vehicle near Lakeside on Saturday night.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We were called at around 9.50pm last night, Saturday 16 November, with reports that a lorry had collided with road signs and another vehicle in Arterial Road in Chafford Hundred near to Lakeside Karting.

“There were no reported injuries and we arrested a 68-year-old man on suspicion of failing to provide a breath test.

“He remains in custody for questioning.

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FOUR men who stowed away on an international container ship before crew members were threatened while it sailed within UK territorial waters have been convicted.

At Central Criminal Court today, Tuesday 19 November, Toheeb Popoola, 27, was found guilty of one count of making threats to kill and Joberto McGree, 20, was found guilty of two counts of making threats to kill.

Both men along with Samuel Jolumi, 27, and Ishola Sunday, 27, also of no fixed address, were found guilty of affray.

They were all found not guilty of attempted hijack and other counts of making threats to kill following a trial.

They are due to be sentence on Friday 3 January.

Essex Police were contacted at 9.15am on Friday 21 December 2018, by the Coastguard with reports that a cargo ship travelling from Nigeria to Tilbury had four stowaways on board.

They had gained access to all areas of the ship and three members of the crew were threatened – one by Popoola and two by McGree.

The ship was seven miles off the coast of Ramsgate, Kent, and the defendants had attempted to gain entry to its bridge by striking windows and shouting at a crew of 23 people.

The men attempted to intimidate the crew by smearing windows in faeces, blood and urine.

Negotiators made contact with the four men during the afternoon and a boarding party detained the men.

When the ship docked at Tilbury, police then boarded and arrested the men.

Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Julie Gowen, of Kent and Essex’s Serious Crime Directorate, said: “As the cargo ship approached the UK’s coastline, the stowaways escaped from an area where they had been secured by the crew for their own safety.

“Popoola and McGree made threats to kill people on board the ship.

“The crew followed protocol and retreated to the bridge where they secured themselves, thus ensuring there was no physical confrontation.

“As a result of their actions no harm came to any party involved.

“We worked with partners agencies to safely bring the boat to shore and secure the arrest of all four men.

“I would like to thank the crew for their support during this investigation. I’d also like to thank the shipping company, international freight shipping line Grimaldi Group.

“These offences involved defendants from other countries and the sensible actions of the crew ensured not only the safety of all those on board but that of other vessels in the immediate waterways.

“We have carried out a robust investigation into this incident and today four men have been convicted of their actions.”

Chief Superintendent Andy Mariner, Gold commander for the incident, said: “This was a complex emergency involving multiple partners and a 75,000 tonne vessel that was circling in a busy shipping lane.

“This was the first time I’ve had to deploy a military unit alongside our officers.

“Ultimately, the objectives were to take control of the ship and bring it and everyone on board – including the four defendants – to Tilbury safely.

“I believe we achieved these objectives quickly and successfully alongside our emergency partners.

“Following a period of many months and a trial lasting many weeks, four men have today have been convicted for their unpredictable actions aboard a vessel within our waters.”

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A 23-year-old man from Northern Ireland was arrested by officers from Thames Valley Police on behalf of Essex Police in the early hours of this morning on the M40 in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, in connection with our enquiry in to the deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals in a lorry trailer found in Grays on 23 October.

He was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to traffic people and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and remains in custody.

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A GRAYS man is set to stand trial charged with causing the death of his brother by dangerous driving.

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

On 12/04/2016 at Grays caused the death of James Benton who died 3rd June 2017 by driving a mechanically propelled vehicle, namely unregistered off road Husquvarna motorcycle, dangerously on a road namely Wood View, Grays.

A trial date of December 12th at Basildon Crown Court has been set.

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ONE of the teenagers among 39 people found dead in a refrigerated lorry in Essex had gone missing from an asylum centre in the Netherlands, it has emerged reports the BBC.

Ten teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, were among the Vietnamese victims found in the trailer in an industrial park in Grays on 23 October.

The Dutch government confirmed the minor had been at one of its centres.

Five people have so far been arrested in connection with the deaths.

The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA), which is responsible for the reception, supervision and departure (from the reception centre) of asylum seekers, refused to give any further details, including the name or age of the teenager.

Earlier this month the names of all 39 Vietnamese nationals who were found in the lorry were released by police.

Ten teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, were among the victims.

Bui Thi Nhung, 19, from Nghe An province, was also found dead in the lorry

The bodies were found on the Waterglade Industrial Estate in a container which had been shipped to nearby Purfleet from Zeebrugge in Belgium.

Lorry driver Maurice Robinson, 25, from Northern Ireland, has been charged with offences including 39 counts of manslaughter.

He will next appear at the Old Bailey in London on Monday.

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A MAN has been charged with human trafficking offences.

Christopher Kennedy, 23, was arrested on Friday 22 November in connection with a police enquiry in to the deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals in a lorry trailer found in Grays on 23 October.

The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised charges of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of people with a view to exploitation and conspiracy to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law.

Kennedy, of Corkley Road in Darkley, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday 25 November.

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A MAN faces trial on thirteen counts in connection with unlawfully packaged cigarettes.

Ismael Kadri, aged 22, of 40 Ibscott Close, Dagenham has been charged as follows.

On 13/04/2018 at Grays supplied a tobacco product for smoking, namely 200 packets of Richmond Cigarettes , the unit pack of which did not carry a combined health warning as required by regulation 5 of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, in that product did not carry a combined health warning in English (as required by Regulation 11 (4)(a)) containing one of the text warnings listed in Annex 1 to the Tobacco Products Directive together with the corresponding colour photograph, as specified in the picture library in annex II of the Directive and the following smoking cessation information ‘Get help to stop smoking at www.nhs.uk/quit’.

The case has been brought by Thurrock Council.

He has been remanded in unconditional bail until November 27th when he is set to reappear at Basildon magistrates court.

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A LORRY driver who is accused over the deaths of 39 migrants in Grays has admitted plotting to assist illegal immigration reports the BBC.

Maurice Robinson pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to conspiring with others to assist illegal immigration between 1 May 2018 and 24 October 2019.

The 25-year-old, from County Armagh, is accused of being part of a larger plot to bring people into the UK illegally.

Mr Robinson was not asked to plead to 39 charges of manslaughter.

The charges relate to the deaths of 39 Vietnamese people, including children, who were discovered in the back of a refrigerated lorry being driven by Mr Robinson in Grays on 23 October.

Mr Robinson, who appeared via video-link from Belmarsh prison, also admitted acquiring criminal property – namely cash – between 1 May 2018 and 24 October 2019.

As well as the manslaughter charges, Mr Robinson is accused of conspiracy to commit human trafficking offences and transferring criminal property.

The defendant, of Laurel Drive, Craigavon, was remanded into custody until a further hearing on 13 December.

Eight women and 31 males, including two boys, aged 15, were among those who died.

Christopher Kennedy, 23, of County Armagh, Northern Ireland, has also been charged with human trafficking offences in relation to the deaths.

He also faces charges of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of people with a view to exploitation, and conspiracy to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law.

Three other people who were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people have been released on bail.

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A SOUTH Ockendon man has been arrested and charged with harassing the Conservative politician, Jackie Doyle-Price.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “Jack Barnes, 45, of Colne Close, South Ockendon, was arrested on Saturday 23 November.

The charge relates to a woman being verbally abused on a number of occasions between 2015 and Friday 22 November 2019.

“He is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday 25 November”.

YT understands that arrest took place near to the Thurrock Conservative Party HQ on London Road, West Thurrock.

Barnes is known as “megaphone man” for his local and nationwide campaign for justice after his daughter was placed into care.

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A 36-year-old man from Purfleet was arrested this morning, Monday 25 November, at a property in Dalston, east London, on suspicion of manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, in connection with our enquiry in to the deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals in a lorry trailer found in Grays on 23 October.

He remains in custody for questioning

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A SOUTH Ockendon man arrested and charged with harassing Conservative politician Jackie Doyle-Price has appeared in court.

Jack Barnes, aged 45, of Colne Close, South Ockendon appeared at Basildon magistrates court on Monday afternoon.

Barnes was released on bail and is now due to reappear at Basildon magistrates court on January 9th.

He has had a number of bail restrictions imposed upon him including not to contact a number of Conservative activists and stipulations regarding the use of his megaphone.

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ESSEX Police is appealing for information following an attempted robbery in Grays.

It was reported man in his 30s was stopped by a group of men on his moped outside The Oak in Lodge Lane at around 7.15pm on 21 November.

The man was assaulted and the group attempted to steal his moped.

A passing van flashed its headlights causing the group to make off.

Three 18 year-old men from Grays have been arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery and subsequently released on bail until 15 December.

They are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward, in particular the driver of the van which flashed its headlights.

If you saw anything, have any CCTV or dash cam footage, or have any other information please call us on 101 quoting the crime reference number 42/185195/19 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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A DRIVER convicted of dangerous driving in June 2018, has been sentenced to an additional five years in prison after a pedestrian he collided with died.

On 16 May 2018, a driver was in collision with two pedestrians on Coronation Avenue, East Tilbury after losing control of the car he was driving, crashing into a garden wall before returning to the road and colliding with 65-year-old Barbara Holland and an 11-year-old girl.

At Basildon Crown Court on 22 June 2018, the then 25-year-old Liam Jones-Bell of Markhams Close, Laindon, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop after a collision, aggravated vehicle taking, drink-driving, driving while unfit through drugs, driving without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He was sentenced to a total of three years and four months in jail and banned from driving for eight years and eight months.

On 7 September 2018, Barbara sadly died.

Jones-Bell was re-sentenced for causing death by dangerous driving and was yesterday, Tuesday 26 November, given an additional five years to his existing prison sentence.

Senior Investigating Officer Inspector Rob Brettell said: “This was a tragic incident where a driver’s selfishness and complete disregard for others not only caused a family significant trauma but the loss of a loved one too.

“Through the hard work and dedication of the Essex Police Serious Collision Unit, we were able to help secure the highest custodial sentence which has been imposed in the county for a death by dangerous driving offence, and whilst no sentence can ever bring Barbara back, I hope her family will take some comfort from this.

“Jones-Bell will now serve additional time for his callous actions and we will continue to prosecute those who choose to drink and drug drive so that we can deter other people from doing that same, in a hope that we can prevent tragic cases like this from happening again.”

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ESSEX Police new Town Centre Teams in the west of the county will be continuing to keep our towns welcoming places as they prepare for one of the busiest times of year in the run up to Christmas.

The seven teams in the Harlow, Epping Forest and Thurrock districts were launched in July and August as part of the force’s ongoing commitment to investing in visible, frontline officers.

Collectively they have made more than 60 arrests and carried out more than 130 investigations.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the work they’ve been doing over the last few months:

Officers in Harlow have been working closely with businesses to tackle issues such as shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

This has resulted in less anti-social behaviour associated with people drinking alcohol on the streets and work is ongoing to tackle this issue and provide support to vulnerable people.

The team have also been carrying out patrols to deal with and deter incidents such as assaults and drug dealing.

In Grays, officers have been working closely with Thurrock Council’s civil enforcement team to tackle anti-social behaviour in the town centre, including joint patrols to enforce the public spaces protection order.

Their work has resulted in 33 community protection notices being handed to individuals whose behaviour is having a detrimental effect on the community’s quality of life.

They are also working with the council, Thurrock Community Safety Partnership and other partners to tackle the causes of anti-social behaviour and help prevent reoffending.
South Ockendon’s Town Centre Team regularly attend the South Ockendon Community Hub to speak to volunteers and members of the public about any concerns they have, offer advice and reassurance, and to help tackle any concerns they have about anti-social behaviour.

The Stanford-le-Hope Town Centre Team are investigating reports of car thefts and anti-social behaviour.

Brentwood Town Centre Team work closely with the community policing team to carry out patrols and look for hidden weapons. This is part of Operation Sceptre, our ongoing work to tackle violent crime and knife crime.

They also regularly speak to retailers to find out about any concerns they have, and work with Brentwood Borough Council to enforce the public spaces protection order and tackle anti-social behaviour.

Loughton Town Centre Team have worked closely with officers from other teams to carry out Operation Sceptre patrols and operations to deter and catch anyone who might be involved in violent crime and knife crime.

This work has included looking for hidden weapons and targeting drug dealers.

In Waltham Abbey, the Town Centre Team has been carrying out regular patrols in areas where there has been anti-social behaviour and shoplifting.

They have also been working with officers from other teams to target those involved in drugs supply, resulting in a number of arrests.

If you see our Town Centre Teams out and about, please say hello and let them know of any concerns you have.

You can also find out more about what they’re doing on Facebook, where you can also find details of how to get in touch with them, including Coffee with Cops events and local community meetings.

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A MAN who admitted stabbing another man in South Ockendon has been sentenced to four and-a-half years in a young offenders institute.

The victim, who is in his 20s, was stabbed following an argument involving a group of men in Daiglen Drive shortly after 8pm on 3 August.

The victim sustained a six inch wound to his head which later required 14 stitches.

The incident had followed a disturbance on Broxburn Parade involving an argument between a group of people.

Daimar Roach was arrested a short time later and then charged.

Roach, 19, of Wrights Road, London E3, admitted GBH with intent and threatening a person with a blade and was jailed for three years and nine months at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday 27 November.

He was also sentenced to nine months for unrelated drugs offences with the sentences to run consecutively.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Samantha Lewin, of Grays CID, said: “This was a violent attack which could have left the victim really seriously injured.

“Daimar Roach is a dangerous person comfortable with endangering the safety of others and carrying a weapon.

“He will now spend a significant amount of time behind bars and Essex is a safer place as a result.”

Another man, 19 year-old Samuel Greenberg, of Annifer Way, South Ockendon, had been charged with affray but was later told he faced no further action.

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