A man who murdered the mother of his children, his friend who helped him escape and a retired train driver who was involved in violent disorder in Whitehall are some of the south London criminals who have been jailed in August so far.
Some of them will spend their entire lives behind bars, others will be out in weeks.
Here's are the names and faces of south London criminals judges have put behind bars in August 2024 so far.
Tony Curant and Richard Ray
Richard Ray (left) helped Tony Curant (right) escape Bexley after a frenzied attack on his partner (Image: Met Police) Tony Curant murdered the mother of his children by repeatedly stabbing her while their terrified kids hid in the room next door.
His friend Richard Ray then picked Curant up and drove him from Bexley to Dartford, stopping for alcohol and cigarettes on the way.
Curant, 33, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years for murder while Ray, 34, was sentenced to 18 months for perverting the course of justice.
The court heard that at their home on Penhill Road Leila Young, 33, suffered 57 stab injuries including 18 to her head, face and neck.
Her mum Caroline Young said: “My beautiful daughter Leila was brutally taken from us all by the father of her children and the man she trusted. The man she tried to hard to help.
“Leila was not just my daughter. She was my best friend who I spoke to every day and laughed like I did with no other.”
Caroline said Leila was the life and soul of their family, bringing them all together.
“Our family has been shattered by this senseless act of violence. Joy and laughter has been replaced by tears and grief,” she said.
Read the full stories:
- Bexley killer stabbed partner 57 times as their terrified kids hid in room next door
- Bexley murderer who stabbed mum with kids next door has minimum prison time reduced
- ‘Laughing’ friend who helped Bexley killer escape will be freed from prison in weeks
David Spring
Spring was part of a group who confronted police officers during a gathering of around 700 people near Downing Street on July 31.
Spring pleaded guilty to violent disorder after footage showed him at the forefront of the crowd while threatening and chanting at officers.
Prosecutor Alexander Agbamu said: "Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo in some circles, organised a demonstration in Whitehall.
“Members of the far-right responded to that call with the seeming intention of replicating scenes seen earlier in the week, precipitated by false information relating to the religion and immigration status of the perpetrator of the Southall murders.”
He said protesters broke out of an enclosed area of Richmond Terrace and towards Whitehall, directing their anger towards police officers.
Spring's role in the disorder was shown on police body worn camera footage in court where he was seen making threatening and hostile gestures towards police, calling officers "c****" and joining in chants of "you're not English anymore" and "who the f*** is Allah".
Read the full story - Sutton man, 61, jailed for 18 months for violent disorder
Anthony Matthews
Anthony Matthews, 43, of Lovelace Green in Eltham, was jailed for three years and one month for domestic abuse offenses, including grievous bodily harm and making threats to kill.
He violently attacked his ex-partner, fracturing her arm and strangling her as well as calling her mobile more than 3,000 times in a 12-day period.
Matthews' ex-partner first contacted the police following an incident on September 6, 2023 after he strangled her, and she only managed to escape and call 999 after freeing herself from him.
Met officers began gathering evidence and documenting the victim's injuries, including a fractured wrist caused by being thrown into a wardrobe during the assault.
In collaboration with Lewisham Council, police also installed a security system and panic alarms in her home and secured a restraining order against Matthews to ensure her continued safety.
The case escalated further when the victim called the police again on February 24, 2024, after Matthews breached his bail conditions.
Officers said that this demonstrated his increasingly erratic and threatening behaviour.
Matthews had called her over 3,000 times within a 12-day period.
A detailed analysis of phone records revealed 30 voicemails filled with abusive and threatening language, including references to Matthews watching the victim from outside her property.
Read the full story - Eltham man jailed after fracturing ex partners arm and calling 3,000 times in 12 days
Amir Tofangsazan
Tofangsazan, 36, of Sidney Road in Brixton, used images of male models on his dating profiles while claiming to be a barrister, surgeon or a property tycoon.
After finding victims on Tinder, Bumble and Plenty of Fish he told some victims he fantasised about watching them have sex with other men, then turned up himself pretending to be the second man.
He also tricked them into lending him cash, which he never paid back.
After spending most of his life behind bars between 2015 and 2024, Tofangsazan was released from prison in January.
He has now been jailed again for 10 months after he breached a Criminal Behaviour Order by attending a speed dating event at an All Bar One in Guildford.
When he was arrested police found he was in possession of two mobile phones, one of which hadn’t been registered with police.
Recorder James Lofthouse told Tofangsazan: “You are not a stupid man, that is plain. You were aware of the terms of your Criminal Behaviour Order and you broke it.”
He added: “The use of a speed dating service shows a targeting of the type of person this order is designed to protect.”
Read the full story - ‘Catfish’ who used model's photos to trick women into sex is jailed AGAIN
Rogel Dumitru
They gained entry to the house then woke the family up, threatened them and assaulted one of them.
The thugs then stole two watches and two phones before fleeing the property.
Detective Constable Dan Bister said: “This was a premeditated crime during which a family were terrorised in their own home.
“The threats with weapons will have left a lasting impact on the victims and those responsible should be ashamed of their actions.”
The gang were rumbled due to a mask found near the crime scene contained DNA belonging to Dumitru.
Enquiries revealed Dumitru had travelled from Bexleyheath to Chatham and that he had also been in contact with accomplices on Ion Vasile, Denis Calin and Robert Maytum.
Dumitru was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.
Read the full story - Masked Bexleyheath burglar armed with knife ‘terrorised’ family during break-in
Avram Stoica
On December 3, a teenager stole £8,142 worth of iPhones from the shop in Bromley.
Stoica was identified as the suspect and was charged.
He later pleaded guilty to theft from a shop in May and was remanded on bail until sentencing with instructions not to enter The Glades and to sleep each night at his home address.
Stoica was given a four-month prison sentence.
Read the full story - Teen who stole £8,000 of iPhones from The Glades Apple store is jailed
Roberto Rossi
Roberto Rossi, 37, from Hollingbourne Avenue, Bexleyheath, was jailed for 16 months while Branscombe, 44, from Samson Close, Dartford, was given a 22 month suspended sentence.
Read the full story - Dealer couple from Dartford and Bexleyheath caught with huge stash of drugs
The court heard that on February 24, BTP’s County Lines taskforce observed Rossi at Dartford station attempting to evade uniformed officers.
When approached, Rossi admitted to possessing cocaine.
A search revealed he was carrying an iPhone, which he denied owning, despite incoming messages asking for drugs, as well as more than £1,000 in cash.
Following his arrest, a search of the address he shared with Branscombe uncovered a substantial amount of class A and class B drugs, leading to Branscombe’s arrest and subsequent sentencing.
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