A MAN who caused a collision where a taxi driver died, and then ran off from the scene, has been jailed.
Norman Bullock had been driving along Brentwood Road in Orsett at around 4.05am on 5 October when his red Peugeot 308 taxi was struck by a Black BMW X5.
Following the collision witnesses reporting seeing the driver of the BMW leave the vehicle and make off.
When emergency services arrived Norman, 65, was still in his vehicle and despite the best efforts of paramedics, sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Checks on the BMW established it had been stolen from an address in Hertfordshire around an hour before the collision.
Two days later officers stopped a vehicle in Wickford containing 22 year-old Edvinas Pupkis.
While booking him into custody on a separate matter, officers were able to establish he matched the description of the man who had made off from the collision in Orsett.
He was further arrested and later charged.
At Basildon Crown Court on Friday 11 December, Pupkis, of Devonshire Road, Ilford, admitted causing death by careless driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance, failing to stop at the scene of a collision, and failing to report a collision.
At the same court today (Tuesday 22 December) he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and banned from driving for four years.
Essex Police want to speak to the 35-year-old in connection with allegations of stalking and harassment.
He has links to Tilbury and Croydon.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact via https://www.essex.police.uk or use the ‘Live Chat’ button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm.
Alternatively, you can call 101.
Information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or https://crimestoppers-uk.org
GRAYS lorry tragedy must spur greater effort to stop trafficking from Vietnam reports The Guardian.
Trials in the UK of the drivers and haulage organisers involved in the Essex lorry tragedy in which 39 Vietnamese migrants perished ended in guilty pleas and convictions. Vietnam also convicted the agents who brokered the victims’ journeys to the UK and sentenced them to terms of imprisonment.
RECORD number of Essex Police officers and staff have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for 2021.
One member of police staff and five police officers have had honours bestowed upon them, with stories varying from hostage negotiation to supporting potential police officers of tomorrow.
And there are three, unique stories from the biggest investigation Essex Police has ever undertaken.
A THURROCK man who targeted more than 500 girls on Snapchat over the course of five years has been jailed for 11 years.
Akash Sondhi, 27 targeted 574 victims from across the globe – including the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, Romania and beyond. Some of his victims have still not been traced.
Between 2015 and 2020, Sondhi would hack into the Snapchat accounts of girls and young women, aged between 16 and 25, and blackmail them into sending him intimate images, or he threatened to expose existing images to their friends and family in their phone contacts.
His address in Hedingham Road, Chafford Hundred, was raided by officers from our Cyber Crime Unit on 19 March last year when several victims made reports to us.
A number of his victims have since been identified and have been supported by the Cyber team.
Sondhi admitted a total of 65 offences – including hacking, blackmail, and voyeurism – and at Basildon Crown Court today (Tuesday 5 January) was sentenced to 11 years in prison, a five year Serious Crime Prevention Order, and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.
Detective Sergeant Ian Collins, from the Essex Police Cyber Crime Unit said:
“This is an excellent result for the 573 victims in this case and the Essex Cyber Team.
“The sentence Akash Sondhi has received today reflects how much distress he caused to his victims.
“He targeted with no remorse purporting to be a friend on social media after hacking accounts, then once he got access to their intimate pictures he would attempt to blackmail them around disclosure of the images to friends and family demanding more images and videos of his own choice putting the victims through an ordeal causing extreme distress and embarrassment.
“Since his remand and now this sentence we have manged to stop this vile offender form targeting more victims.
“This is a wakeup call for anyone committing this type of crime we will catch you and bring you to justice, and you can go to prison for the distress caused to the victims.
“I urge anyone using social media not to store intimate images of themselves to secure and protect your data and make sure you don’t become a victim.
“Don’t share passwords even if you think it’s a trusted friend that asks you for them it might not be, its chat in a text”
“There are several ways to secure your online accounts which most online providers support such as the use of two factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) put this with a strong unique password for each online account will protect you and your data.”
DS Collins added: “We have received assistance from forces across the country in supporting victims and gathering information and I want to say particular thank you to Avon and Somerset Police, West Mercia Police, North Yorkshire Police, Merseyside Police and Police Scotland.
“I also want to pay tribute to the professionalism, dedication, and tenacity of Detective Constable Arran Holmes whose commitment to this case has ensured Sondhi will be behind bars for a significant amount of time and unable to target anyone else.”
If you or someone you love has been impacted by a similar issue, please contact the National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre at Action Fraud to report on 0300 123 2040 or use Action Fraud’s online reporting tool. You can also seek support from the NSPCC by calling 0800 1111.
WHERE reasoned conversation has not been successful Essex Police will take enforcement action against people flouting Covid-19 rules, the force has outlined.
The position comes amidst warnings from the Metropolitan Police which has instructed officers to enforce lockdown laws more “quickly” and accept fewer “reasonable excuses” in an effort to save lives.
The Met has announced that people committing “obvious, wilful and serious breaches” will no longer be given the benefit of the doubt.
It comes as the Government faces calls to allow police to enter people’s homes to break up gatherings following an alarming rise in coronavirus cases.
The Met said that officers will accept fewer “reasonable excuses” for people being away from their homes, and those not wearing masks when they should be are more likely to be slapped with a fine.
Essex Police has said it will continue to use the four Es approach – engage, explain, encourage and enforce.
A spokesperson said: “With regards to how Essex Police plans to enforce the regulations and why it is important to ensure residents are following the rules, our position remains the same as it has always been.
“Essex Police will continue to use the same common-sense approach to the regulations that we’ve had throughout the pandemic – we’ll engage with people, explain the regulations, and encourage them to do the right thing.
“Where reasoned conversation has not been successful we will take enforcement action.
“We will also continue to respond to clear and blatant breaches of the regulations in order to protect and serve the county and take enforcement action when that occurs.”
Much like the lockdown in March, residents are instructed to stay at home except for a handful of permitted reasons. Exercise outdoors will be allowed only once a day and outdoor sports venues must close.
On Wednesday, January 6 director of health for Essex Mike Gogarty said around 1 in 18 people in parts of South Essex are now thought to have the virus.
He added that this infection rate could soon reach the whole of Essex.
It comes around latest figures that show there were more than 21,300 new cases registered in Essex in the past seven days – with Thurrock seeing England’s second highest rate of 1,514 per 100,000.
Brentwood saw 1,371 cases per 100,000.
Leader of Brentwood Borough, Councillor Chris Hossack has urged people to follow the rules.
Cllr Hossack said: “Our health services are supporting us in vital ways, primarily we should remember they are putting themselves at risk to provide often lifesaving treatment to others.
“We must support them in turn by curtailing what we may want to do, and doing what we must do – that is to stick to the new lockdown rules.
“We must each take responsibility for our actions and know that what we do now directly affects those around us and the speed at which we get out of this pandemic.
“If we are to cut the rate of infection and stay on track with the vaccinations we will see an end to this.”
ESSEX officers made more than 280 drink and drug driving related arrests over December and the New Year period as they continue to keep you safe on the roads.
Between 1 December and 6am on 2 January they made 139 drug driving arrests, 118 drink driving arrests, and 26 failing to provide a specimen arrests – a total of 283.
Temporary Chief Inspector Emma Bullock, Head of Roads Policing, said:
“Sadly we continue to see people their safety and those of other road users at risk.
“Driving with alcohol or drugs in your system can have a significant impact on your ability behind the wheel.
“We know that in many cases drug drivers are habitual drug users – it’s part of their daily routine.
“We also know that many people don’t realise there’s a drug driving limit or that you can test positive for drugs in your system days after you’ve last taken them.
“That’s why we continue to work as a partner of Safer Essex Roads Partnership to raise awareness of the issue to try and educate people on drug driving and it’s consequences.
“Because at the end of the day, if you drug drive you could lose your licence and that could mean you can’t work so you could lose your job. If you lose your job you might not be able to pay your bills so you might lose your home.
“Even worse, you could kill someone. Is the high worth the low?
“We are now entering another period where we’re being asked to stay home to save lives but I want to reassure you that my officers will continue to be out in your communities keeping you safe on the road.”
Nicola Foster, Chairman of SERP said: “Last year we launched Vision Zero, the vision and goal that no one dies or is injured on our roads in Essex. We all have a responsibility to work towards this, whether it’s driving within the speed limits or putting your phone out of reach or not driving under the influence of drink and drugs.
“We see every single report of death and injury on our roads and the devastation they cause to families. They are absolutely avoidable so please do not contribute to this heartache, not during a pandemic and not ever.” If you have any information about a drink or drug driver please call us on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
WANT to know how police and fire services are keeping people safe in Thurrock? Residents of the district can pose their questions direct to Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex online via a Facebook live session taking place between 7pm and 8pm on Tuesday, January 19th.
The question time session will be chaired by Jane Gardner, Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. Roger will be joined on the panel by Chief Inspector Richard Melton, Thurrock Council Leader Councillor Rob Gledhill as well as a senior representative from the Fire and Rescue Service.
Roger said: “Our online public meetings are a great way to hear directly from local communities about concerns they might have and areas of activity that are in place and working well, especially as many people have questions about the policing of Coronavirus legislation and how our emergency services are working hard to keep them safe during this pandemic.
“The meetings are also a great opportunity for me to brief residents on how we are working together with a range of partners to achieve the priorities in both our Police and Crime Plan and Fire and Rescue Plan. There are updates on how we are delivering the funding for more police officers, helping those suffering from domestic abuse, protecting vulnerable people and tackling gangs and serious violence. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service are carrying out excellent prevention work across the area which is really useful for residents to find out more about.”
Residents can watch live via Facebook on the night and post questions in the comments. Or they can submit questions in advance by emailing them to pfcc@essex.police.uk
Head over to @PFCCEssex on Facebook for more information and visit www.essex.pfcc.police.uk for details of the Police and Crime Plan and Fire and Rescue Plan.
THE efforts of the volunteers who run and fundraise for Thurrock Neighbourhood Watch have been praised by the county’s police commissioner and his deputy.
The organisation, which continues to expand across the borough by introducing new local watch schemes has once again produced a free calendar which is now available for distribution.
It was produced thanks to support for a third consecutive year by Lycamobile UK Ltd and contains useful community information designed to help local residents feel safer in their communities.
Thurrock Neighbourhood watch is currently celebrating its 31st year of helping local people and its members hope the 5,000 copies of the calendar now available to local residents will continue to help make a difference.
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Roger Hirst, is a keen supporter of the calendar and said: “Thurrock Neighbourhood Watch is really committed to helping local residents feel safer in their communities.
“I am delighted to once again endorse this calendar. It’s a useful tool for residents and local businesses and helps to raise the profile of the great work that Neighbourhood Watch members do, especially in these times when community support is so vital.”
His deputy, Jane Gardner, Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, supported Mr Hirst’s view and added: “We are proud to be able to support both the Thurrock Neighbourhood Watch and all of the Watches across Essex.
“All of the volunteers do a great job, giving up so much of their own time to help others. On behalf of the people of Essex, thank you.”
If you would like to get involved in Thurrock Neighbourhood Watch contact the team via the Essex Neighbourhood Watch website.
The work carried out by Neighbourhood Watch was detailed by Kevin Blake, Essex Police’s local Neighbourhood Watch liaison officer who said: “I am one of four Essex Watch Liaison Officers employed by Essex Police and one of our main duties is to facilitate NHW through the county.
“We work closely with all members and are visibly active with major events all year round promoting not just NHW but other watch schemes we support include dogs, rural and farm, heritage, caravan and marine to name but a few. We pass on crime data for each area plus notify members if there are any scams that taking place.”
The calendar was created by Aveley and Uplands Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator Srikanth Panjala and produced for free by Lycamobile UK.
Mr Panjala said: “I believe firmly “Prevention is better than the cure”. Bringing awareness through the New Year calendar will help us keep our members’ momentum and spirit throughout the year. It will attract many more people to join Thurrock Neighbourhood Watch for better and safer communities.
“We are going forward to make more awareness of what our members are doing for the Thurrock District to keep the communities safe from crimes and scams. By doing this, we are merging communities into safer ones. The results of us working together is immensely satisfying and we have had many excellent outcomes.
“Even though the home burglary crime rate has reduced, we are still noticing vehicle thefts and regular attempts. Our members feel that if we have CCTVs put at important junctions, roads and police patrolling every now and then, crime rate will reduce to a very low rate.”
Thurrock branch chairman Roger Passfield added: “We at Thurrock Neighbourhood Watch have been working harder with increasing membership throughout the year. Thurrock is reaching 31 years, so I would like to take the opportunity by saying that you for your support and if you know someone who is interested in starting a watch then let us know.”
To obtain a copy or offer your help to the Watch scheme contact Mr Passfield either by email to roger.passfield@gmail.com or calling on 07538195221 or Mr Panjala by email at panjala.srk@gmail.com or calling 07878044041.
A DRUG dealer has been jailed after trying to evade police and committing further drugs offences while under investigation.
Officers from Operation Raptor, our specialist team targeting drugs gangs, were patrolling Purfleet on the evening of 2 July last year when they saw a Mercedes travelling at speed through a housing estate.
It appeared to be trying to avoid them and eventually pulled over in Wood Avenue, but the driver, William Mulenga, ran off.
He threw items from his pockets along the way, but was caught off Arterial Road.
Officers searched him and found wraps of drugs on him. They then searched for the items he had thrown, and recovered a mobile phone with drugs marketing messages, and two more wraps.
The wraps were later found to contain a mixture of cocaine and ketamine, and one wrap had cannabis in it.
Mulenga was released under investigation while we carried out further enquiries.
But he was arrested again on 13 December after officers from the Thurrock Town Centre Team spotted him in Caspian Way, Purfleet, standing outside a Toyota Prius with a cannabis joint on the ground next to him.
Mulenga gave a false name and when officers searched the car, they found cocaine with a street value of around £200 and a mobile phone. He had £196.70 in cash on him, which was also seized.
The 28-year-old, of Schoolfield Way, Grays, appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Monday 18 January.
He admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possession of cannabis.
He was jailed the same day for two-and-a-half years. The mobile phones and drugs seized will be destroyed, and £196.70 seized will also be forfeited.
PC Joe Gillman said: “Our investigation showed Mulenga was running the Rico drug line between the end of June and mid-December last year.
“His efforts to try and avoid arrest failed twice and he has now lost his freedom.
“We continue to track down those trying to sell drugs in our communities and make sure they can’t earn money by taking advantage of other people’s misery.
“Anyone thinking it’s an easy way to make money should think again.
“The moment you get involved in drug dealing, you not only risk being caught and losing your freedom but you are at risk of reprisals from rivals, and the serious levels of violence that gangs use. “It’s not worth your life or that of your loved ones.
“Working together with communities is vital in tackling violent crime and I urge anyone with information to contact us or Crimestoppers.”
You can submit a report online at https://www.essex.police.uk or use the
‘Live Chat’ button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm. Alternatively, you can call 101.
Information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or https://crimestoppers-uk.org
FIVE men have been arrested as part of an investigation into a drugs line which began operating in Essex and expanded into London and the West Midlands.
Essex Police worked with the Metropolitan Police Service and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit to carry out warrants at four addresses in South Ockendon and Hackney this morning (Tuesday 19 January). We also attended an address in Coventry.
Four men aged 19, 22, 23 and 24 from Hackney were detained at three addresses in Lansdowne Drive, Brownlow Road and Fisher Close in Hackney.
A 21-year-old man from Coventry was detained at an address in Waterloo Street, Coventry.
They were all arrested on suspicion of being concerned in supplying a controlled drug and remain in custody for questioning.
Mobile phones and about £3,800 in cash has been seized.
The investigation has been led by officers from Operation Raptor, who specialise in targeting and dismantling drugs gangs.
Detective Sergeant Russ Chamberlain said: “Today’s warrants are the culmination of an investigation that began in January 2020.
“We have been investigating the Flip Flop drugs line, which had been supplying drugs in Thurrock, before expanding into east London and the West Midlands.
“The line has now been taken out of operation, and we regularly work with other forces to target and dismantle gangs that work across our borders to make it even harder for them to operate.
“Drugs gangs breed off greed, violence and using vulnerable people, and we are taking robust action to drive them out of our communities.
“We also work closely with other organisations and charities to support people who are affected by gangs and drugs lines, through education, rehabilitation and diversionary activities.”
If you have concerns about drug dealing in your area, or are worried about someone who is involved in drugs gangs, please contact us. You can submit a report online at https://www.essex.police.uk where you can also use the ‘Live Chat’ button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm. Alternatively, you can call 101. Information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.
FIVE men have been charged with drugs offences as part of an investigation into a drugs line that operated in Essex, London and the West Midlands.
They were arrested yesterday, Tuesday 19 January, at addresses in Hackney and Coventry, and have been charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.
They are due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court today, Wednesday 20 January.
Those charged are: Davis Gomes, 19, and Anselmo Gomes-Co, 23, both of Lansdowne Drive, Hackney Emmanuel Kwegan, 24, of Fisher Close, Homerton Olaiwola Ladejobi, 21, of Waterloo Street, Coventry Norley Botaka, 22, of Brownlow Road, Hackney.
ESSEX Police are appealing for information following a robbery in Chafford Hundred.
It happened at an address in Drake Road at around 10.50pm on Monday 18 January.
A man was robbed by a group of men and had money and jewellery taken. Our investigation is ongoing and we need anyone with information to come forward.
Officers are also appealing to members of the public that saw a group of people on the Chafford Hundred Estate, some of which were in possession of crash helmets on the evening of 18 January just prior to the time of the incident or afterwards.
At present we believe this was a targeted attack and that there is no risk to the wider public.
Anyone with information, dash-cam or CCTV footage can call police on 101, quoting incident 1237 of 18 January or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
FOUR men have been jailed for the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese migrants found dead in a lorry trailer in Grays.
The migrants died “excruciatingly painful” deaths, having suffocated in the container en route from Belgium to Purfleet in October 2019, a judge said.
Ronan Hughes, 41, and Gheorghe Nica, 43, played “leading roles” in the smuggling conspiracy and were jailed for 20 and 27 years respectively.
At the Old Bailey, two lorry drivers were also jailed for manslaughter.
Eamonn Harrison, 24, who towed the trailer to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before their journey to the UK, was sentenced to 18 years.
Maurice Robinson, 26, was given 13 years and four months, having collected the trailer and opened it in an industrial estate to find the migrants dead.
Sentencing, Mr Justice Sweeney: “I have no doubt that the conspiracy was a sophisticated, long-running and profitable one to smuggle mainly Vietnamese people across the channel.”
He said on the fatal trip the temperature had been rising along with the carbon dioxide levels throughout, hitting 40C (104F) while the container was at sea on 22 October 2019.
“There were desperate attempts to contact the outside world by phone and to break through the roof of the container,” the judge said.
“All were to no avail and, before the ship reached Purfleet, [the victims] all died in what must have been an excruciatingly painful death.”
The victims had used a metal pole to try to punch through the roof, but only managed to dent the interior.
The court has heard some of their final desperate phone messages, including one where a man spoke with ragged breaths as he apologised to his family.
“I can’t breathe,” he said. “I want to come back to my family. Have a good life.”
TODAY, seven men have been sentenced to a total of more than 92 years in prison following our investigation into the tragic deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals in October 2019.
The men appeared at the Old Bailey in front of his Hon. Mr Justice Sweeney earlier today, Friday 22 January, and have received a total of 92 years and 10 months imprisonment between them.
The men had worked together to smuggle people illegally into the UK, with some receiving astonishingly high payment for their services, across three dates in October 2019.
Chief Constable of Essex Police, Ben-Julian Harrington, acknowledged that the result upheld the promise he had made to the families more than a year ago.
He said: “On 23 October 2019 we were called to a scene that no officer could ever have prepared for. I know the officers who attended that morning will never forget what they saw in that trailer.
“Every person in that trailer had left behind a family. They had been promised safe passage to our shores and they were lied to. They were left to die, all because of the greed of the men who have been sentenced today.
“Their families, most of them thousands of miles away, have had their heartbreak played out for the world to see. They’ve kept their dignity, and they put their trust in us to deliver justice. I promised them that we would, and my teams have done just that.
“This was the biggest investigation in Essex Police’s history, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the public – many of whom spoke to us when they were scared to do so – and without the help from our partners, locally, nationally and internationally.
“Together, with the Crown Prosecution Service and help from the National Crime Agency, we’ve worked tirelessly to bring this case to court.
“We’ve managed to convict those who did not have the decency of entering guilty pleas, despite the overwhelming evidence against them, and today, we’ve seen the sentences passed down and justice done.
“Our thoughts and our prayers will always be with the families of the victims and we’ll continue to support them in any way we can.”
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Stoten of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “I welcome the sentences given today, a reflection of both the serious criminality and the tragic nature of this case.
“The quality of evidence ensured the successful prosecution of Nica, Harrison and others, who refused to own up to their guilt.
“In doing so, they put the victims’ families through even more pain, especially Nica, who gave contemptible evidence, telling lie after lie in the most shameful way.
“I hope that the quality and the detail of the evidence, and the high level of exposure that this case has had, demonstrates that our pursuit of those involved in these wicked crimes is unrelenting.
“May this serve as a warning to those who think it’s okay to prey on the vulnerabilities of migrants and their families, transporting them in a way worse than we would transport animals. My message to you is that we will find you and we will stop you.
“Across Essex, we’re continuing to make sure that victims of organised immigration crime are treated as such, and we’re trailblazers in changing national protocol and policy on this matter. We’re also working closely with the haulage industry, to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again.
“39 victims died in the trailer. Two of them were just 15-years-old and had travelled half the world unaccompanied – all of them left behind families, memories, and homes, in the pursuit of a false promise of something better. Instead they died, in an unimaginable way, because of the utter greed of these criminals.
“I hope it will bring the families some comfort to know that they will serve a [significant amount of] time in prison, but I know that their pain will never go away.
“It is my great privilege to have led this investigation, to have achieved this outcome, but it doesn’t change the overwhelming sense of loss and sadness that has been felt throughout by us all, by families, friends and by loved ones.
“They are in our thoughts, today and always.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “The pain and suffering endured by the families of the victims of this terrible tragedy is unbearable. They will always remain in my thoughts and prayers.
“The inhumanity of these callous people smugglers and their dangerous organised criminal networks has rightly been reflected in the sentencing today.”
Deputy Director of the National Crime Agency, Matthew Long, said: “There can be no greater demonstration of how dangerous the organised criminal networks involved in people smuggling can be than this tragic case.
“As a result of the callousness and greed of these individuals, 39 men, women and children lost their lives in the most horrific of circumstances.
“The loved ones of those victims have to live with that every day, and I can only hope that with these sentences passed today they can at least feel that justice has been done.
“For us, it does not stop here. There are undoubtedly other criminal networks out there who seek to exploit migrants in just the same way, without care for their safety, putting lives at risk day in, day out.
“Cases like this make us even more determined to do all we can to stop these gangs, and the NCA will continue to use the full range of tools at our disposal to disrupt and dismantle people smuggling networks impacting the UK, no matter where in the world they operate.”
Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “On behalf of the people of Essex I would like to say thank you to each and every police officer, firefighter, paramedic, staff member and volunteer who was involved in this case beginning with the heart-breaking discovery of the crime, right through to catching those involved and bringing them before the courts.
“Now those responsible have been sentenced and while the punishments will offer little comfort to the families of the 39 souls who lost their lives in this tragedy, I hope they will see that justice has been served. I also hope it sends a strong message to those heartless criminals who exploit people for their own gains.”
Cllr Rob Gledhill, Leader of Thurrock Council, said: “This appalling crime has affected so many lives, not only the 39 victims discovered here in Thurrock but their families back home in Vietnam it also had an impact on the lives of those who had to deal with the scene, including emergency services and council staff.
“This type of despicable crime is still continuing to this day with criminal gangs putting lives at risk. It’s imperative that authorities in Europe, where people are boarding vehicles being operated by criminal gangs, take strong action rather than relying on our excellent border force to find people and protect them – which as we have seen can be too late to save lives.
“I was pleased that Thurrock Council could play a role in showing just how deeply touched we all were by this terrible event by opening a book of condolence, which hundreds of people signed at our civic offices. I am glad that this book is now in Vietnam thanks to Essex Police and hope it brings some small measure of comfort to the families at this incredibly difficult time.”
Essex Police Report
Our officers were called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 1.40am on 23 October 2019, following a 999 call from lorry driver Maurice Robinson.
When our officers arrived at the scene, they made the tragic discovery of 39 Vietnamese victims in the trailer of the lorry. Our brave officers went into the trailer and checked each person, one by one, to determine if there were any signs of life.
Robinson had picked up the trailer at the Port of Tilbury shortly at around 1am, before parking up in Eastern Avenue to ‘give [them] some air’, as per a Snapchat message from his boss, Ronan Hughes.
Upon opening the doors and realising that the people inside were not breathing, Robinson closed the doors again and made a series of phone calls to his bosses, driving around West Thurrock until he had abandoned his burner phone and come up with a plan.
Half an hour later, he parked up on Eastern Avenue for a second time, and that was when he made the call to the ambulance service. Robinson, who had denied any knowledge of people being in the trailer, was arrested at the scene. The investigation identified that he had been involved in the conspiracy for some time. He was charged several days later.
The 26-year-old, from Laurel Drive in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property prior to the beginning of the trial.
Today, he was sentenced to a total of 13 years and four months.
The leader of the conspiracy was Robinson’s boss, 41-year-old Ronan Hughes. Hughes left Thurrock and boarded a plane back to Ireland on the day of the discovery. We issued him as a wanted man on 29 October 2019, but he remained steadfast in his home in Co. Monaghan, where we were unable to arrest him without a European Arrest Warrant.
On 20 April 2020, the European Arrest Warrant was granted, and Hughes was brought back to Essex to face the charges against him. He pleaded guilty to all offences and was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison today.
Working alongside Hughes to head up the conspiracy was Gheorghe Nica, 44, of Mimosa Close in Langdon Hills. Nica and Hughes would arrange the collection of the migrants in France and their transport to the UK. Nica would also arrange drivers to pick up migrants from Collingwood Farm in Orsett once they had successfully been taken there by the lorries. It’s believed that these cars would be taken to locations in London.
He, along with lorry driver Eamonn Harrison, was found guilty of 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist illegal immigration following a ten-week trial at the Old Bailey last year. Today, he was sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison.
Harrison, 24, of Mayobridge in Northern Ireland, had the job of picking up migrants at designated drop-off points in France and Belgium on a number of occasions. The last time he would undertake this task was for the fatal trailer on 22 October 2019. He would load migrants onto the airtight trailer and lock them in – leaving them with no method of escape, before dropping the trailer at Zeebrugge for its onward journey to Purfleet.
As a result, he has been sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison.
Another lorry driver, 24-year-old Christopher Kennedy, of Corkley Road in Darkley, County Armagh, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for conspiracy to assist illegal immigration after working with Hughes and Nica to transport migrants on the 11 and 18 October 2019.
Valentin Calota, 38, of Cossingham Road in Birmingham, worked with Nica to transport migrants into London once they had arrived in Essex. He was the only onward driver to stand trial at the Old Bailey, as two others had previously entered guilty pleas. He was sentenced to four and-a-half years for his part in the conspiracy.
Alexandru Hanga, 28, of Hobart Road in Tilbury, was another of those onward drivers. He pleaded guilty last April to a count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. He was sentenced to three years in prison.
Finally, 43-year-old Tottenham man Gazmir Nuzi, of Barclay Road, was sentenced on Monday 11 January, after entering a guilty plea to assisting the unlawful immigration of two men who had been smuggled into the UK by the group. After picking them up from Collingwood Farm, he was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, which he had already served.
WE would like to thank the public of Essex for doing the right thing in continuing to stay at home and protect the NHS.
We continue to take a common-sense approach to policing the Government guidelines, by first engaging with people, before explaining the situation and encouraging them to do the right thing.
However, when there are clear and blatant breaches we will pursue enforcement.
Sadly, in the last month, we have seen scenarios which required action to keep you and your loved ones safe from the unnecessary spread of coronavirus.
Among them was a Braintree woman who was issued with a £200 fixed penalty notice for failing to self-isolate despite testing positive for Covid-19.
The woman left her home at least twice after receiving a positive result despite the legal requirement to self-isolate for ten days.
Officers from the Chelmsford Town Centre Team also handed out fines to four people from different households who travelled together from Maldon to Chelmsford for a takeaway on the evening of Saturday 16 January.
We also seized a number of quadbikes after being called to reports of nuisance riding in woods near to Tiptree on the same day.
In Epping, officers stopped two people after they travelled from Grays to High Beech car park on Tuesday 12 January.
When questioned, the pair – one adult and one juvenile – told officers they made the 25-mile journey to the beauty spot to go for a jog.
One fixed penalty notice was issued to the adult.
On December 21 when the county was under Tier 4 restrictions, roads policing officers stopped four performance cars at the A414 at junction 7 of the M11.
It was then confirmed that the vehicles had travelled from the London and Hertfordshire areas, for a car cruise.
In total, eight people were dealt with for breaches of coronavirus legislation.
Each driver was also issued with Section 59 warnings for antisocial (inconsiderate) driving.
This means should the driver drive that same or any other vehicle in a similar manner again within 12 months of receiving the warning, the vehicle can be immediately seized by police.
DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses to a burglary in which two men forced their way into a home and assaulted a young boy.
The incident happened at around 12.50pm on Thursday 28 January in York Avenue, Corringham.
Two men were seen to get out of a light blue Ford Focus before forcing their way into the house.
Once inside they assaulted a 16-year-old boy inside the property while demanding he hand over valuables. They were disturbed and made off empty-handed leaving the young boy shaken but fortunately not seriously injured.
The pair were seeing driving off in the Ford Focus along Lampitts Hill Avenue.
Both men were described as waring black tracksuits and it is believed a third man was driving the car.
Anyone with information about the incident can contact Grays CID by calling 101 and quoting reference 42/15029/21. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A RAPIST rapper will have his ten year jail term reviewed by the Court of Appeal for being too lenient, it has been confirmed.
The Attorney General has officially referred the case of Olawale Hassan to the Court of Appeal after he was jailed for ten years and two months last year.
Hassan, 33, of Falcon Avenue, Grays, also known as “Goldie 1”, was convicted of three counts of raping a woman in his car outside Genting Casino in Southend in February 2017.
He maintained that he was innocent throughout the trial and when sentenced he shouted that the court was “racist”.
Any member of the public can ask the Attorney General’s office to examine sentences handed down by Crown Courts in England and Wales within 28 days of sentencing under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme (ULS).
Hassan was jailed on October 6 and a request was made to the Attorney General at the end of the month.
Now, the chief legal advisor’s office has referred the case to the Court of Appeal, and a date for the hearing will be confirmed in the near future.
The Court of Appeal is the highest court within the Senior Courts of England and Wales, and deals only with appeals from other courts or tribunals.
The court will have the final say on whether Hassan’s jail time should be increased.
Hassan was with his victim at various nightclubs in Southend on the same night of the attack.
He bought her a drink and before accompanying her and her friend to another nightclub.
Throughout the evening he repeatedly asked for her number and asked if she wanted to go back to his hotel room, which she rejected on each occasion.
At closing time, the victim was promised by Hassan that he would get her home safely. Her friend had left with her partner.
Initially, Hassan drove in the wrong direction along the seafront and has smoked cannabis in the car. After turning the car around, the victim realised that she was not safe.
Following his sentence, his victim described Hassan as “evil and delusional” and praised police for helping her throughout the criminal proceedings.
ESSEX Police have issued a man a £10,000 fine after he admitted being an organiser of the unlicensed music event at a disused church in East Horndon on New Year’s Eve.
Hundreds of people attended the event at All Saints Church which was a clear and blatant breach of the Government’s COVID-19 regulations.
A 32 year-old man from Wickford was arrested on suspicion of burglary at Heathrow Airport yesterday (Tuesday 2 February).
When interviewed he admitted being an organiser of the event and, while he was told he would face no further action in connection with the burglary offence, he was issued a £10,000 fixed penalty notice.
Our investigation into the unlicensed music event continues.
Four other people have already been arrested in connection with and have all been released under investigation while we continue our enquiries.
