London Bangla A Force for the community…
THE POLICE investigation began with a phone call from a man who said that he had been stabbed in Mare Street. He said that a group of men were going round stabbing people – and one of them had stolen his bike too.
Police officers went to the scene, along with the London Ambulance Service. A second report then came in from CCTV operators who had see the bike being stolen – and their evidence was crucial in helping the police find and ultimately convict the suspects.
The CCTV operators had been able to monitor two men whom they believed had taken the bike as they moved away from the immediate area. The operators told police to go to a bus stop on Lower Clapton Road. Officers went there – and found a man, later identified as Reece Bailey, who matched the description police had been given. Bailed tried to run away, but police officers managed to detain him. They searched him and found he was carrying a knife in his waistband.
Police then received a report that there was a man in a local hospital. He had been stabbed, and police quickly realised he was a second victim. The police continued their investigation, which included scrutinising more CCTV footage. They saw two more suspects: one threw away a plastic cup and then grabbed a man who was on a bicycle, pushed him to the ground and assaulted him. The other took the bicycle an rode away. Police were able to collect enough forensic evidence to identify the man who threw the cup away as Azemema Ewubare.
The first two suspects appeared at Wood Green Court last August, where they both pleaded guilty. They returned earlier this month and were sentenced.
•Reece Bailey, 30, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to Grievous Bodily Harm and possession of a knife. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
•Azemema Ewubare, 30, of Well Street, Hackney, pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to one year and ten months in prison.
The third suspect was later identified as Dorlan Stewart, 28, of Ridley Road, Hackney. He pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to a Section 37/41 Hospital Order under the Mental Health Act 1983.
DC Ben Stone from the Central East Command Unit said: “These horrifying attacks left the victims seriously injured and afraid for their lives. The sentences received today reflect the severity of the crimes that took place. I hope that is of some comfort to the victims.”
●If you know someone who is involved in knife crime, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111 and give information anonymously. Doing this may save a life or save someone from serious injury.
●Read more about it:
Three Newham men jailed for rape and robbery in Hackney
Hackney is the centre of catalytic car crime
●Watch East London’s weekly news magazine programme,
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