Essex Police Dispatch - issue 171
Essex Police Weekly Update
News 30 September to 6 October
Man jailed for 16 years for sex offences
A man who was previously convicted of multiple sexual offences has been jailed thanks to work by our specialist officers.
Brett Baker appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Friday 4 October where he was given a 17-year sentence following an investigation by our Child Abuse Investigation Team.
An investigation into the 33-year-old was launched on 27 January 2021, after Essex Police received a report regarding concerns for a child in the Thurrock district.
Baker, of River View, Grays, was charged with two counts of rape, three counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault.
He denied all charges but was found guilty by a jury of all counts on Tuesday 28 May following a week-long trial at Basildon Crown Court.
He appeared at the same court on Friday 4 October where he was given a 17-year sentence, made up of 16 years in custody and one-year on licence.
He will be on the sex offenders register for life and was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for an indefinite period.
Two arrested following Southend disturbance
Detectives investigating a disturbance in Southchurch Road, Southend on Sunday 6 October have made a second arrest.
We were called to reports of an incident involving a large group of people at around 1.40am.
Officers were quickly on scene and a 28 year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and affray within an hour.
A 16 year-old boy became the second person arrested in connection with the incident.
We are aware of a video circulating on social media which relates to this incident and we have that in our possession.
Officers are continuing to work to identify all those involved.
At this time, we don’t believe the incident poses a risk to the wider public and our enquiries are ongoing.
We are still keen to speak to anyone who witnessed what led up to the incident so we can establish the circumstances around it.
Two more arrests thanks to Live Facial Recognition
Two people have been arrested thanks to our Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology in Chelmsford.
Our two LFR vans were deployed in the city centre on Friday 4 October was focussing on people wanted in connection with offences such as violent crime and shoplifting.
There were six positive alerts with two women arrested – one in connection with an assault and the other in connection the an investigation into shoplifting.
Five other people were also arrested by officers during the deployment, but not as a result of being identified by the LFR vans.
The three men and two women were all arrested on suspicion of theft and shoplifting related offences.
Man charged after officer assaulted
A man has been charged in connection with an incident on Friday 4 October where an officer was assaulted.
It was reported an officer had been assaulted while arresting a man in response to allegations people had been assaulted on Southend High Street.
He has been charged with assault by beating, ABH, intentional strangulation, using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence.
Victim of violent robbery and sexual assault thanks detectives
A woman who was robbed and sexually assaulted by a stranger has thanked our investigative team for helping to restore some of her faith in humanity.
Detectives secured a 13-year sentence for the dangerous offender who carried out the attack near to Mill Lane in Chelmsford.
Speaking following this sentence, the victim said:
“It’s important the general public know how much they supported the investigation in supplying vital information to the police, I would firstly thank those who came forward.
“I can’t fault how great the police have been in how they’ve looked after me. I am incredibly grateful.
“The officers who supported me were incredible in how they spoke to me and in how they restored a little bit of faith in humanity.
“That was one of the things that upset me most, is that my faith in the goodness of people was very shaken by this – in thinking how could someone do something like this?
“The police have helped restore some of that faith.”
33-year-old Reece Park was arrested in connection. He denied sexual assault, but admitted the charge on Monday 19 August, the day of the trial.
He was handed an extended sentence, comprising eight years’ imprisonment and five years on extended licence.
A Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order prohibiting contact of any kind with the victim will run indefinitely.
PC Phil Pentelow and PC Paul Gerrish
Officers recover £216k of stolen vehicles in a single day
Officers from our Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit identified and seized stolen cars and parts valued at £216k in a single day as part of a national operation.
The team of PC Paul Gerrish (pictured right) and PC Phil Pentelow (pictured left) recover stolen cars and use the intelligence gathered to hunt down other missing vehicles and tackle the criminal gangs behind the thefts.
Since the start of the year, the team of have recovered 546 vehicles worth £11.6 million. They also work with manufacturers including Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, and Toyota-Lexus to improve vehicle security.
The team were involved in the recent six-force intensification week led by the national organisation that leads in serious acquisitive crime, alongside the National Crime Agency, the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service and ports police.
Nationally, 180 people were arrested and 316 stolen vehicles with a value of more than £4m were recovered.
Read more about the team and what a working day looks like for them, on our website.
Man who stole cigarettes from shop jailed
A man who admitted stealing hundreds of pounds worth of cigarettes from a shop in Waltham Abbey has been jailed for two years.
Jerome Lamaswala, of Hainault Road, Chigwell, was arrested within 20 minutes of officers receiving reports of an incident at the Co-op in Sun Street, on Saturday 20 July.
The 30 year-old was found with a plastic bag full of cigarettes, dark clothing and a knife.
Man jailed for child sexual abuse
An 85-year-old man was sentenced to 18 months in prison for sexually abusing two young girls following a complex investigation by officers from our Child Abuse Investigation Team.
An investigation into non-recent allegations was launched in May 2022 after Essex Police received a report detailing multiple offences of sexual abuse against young girls.
Stuart Hart, of Seaway, Canvey Island, appeared at Basildon Crown Court, on Thursday 3 October, where he was jailed for the offences which happened over a 10-year period.
Following his conviction, one of his two victims, who were both very young when the abuse started, said:
“This has had a major impact on my life, I think it will affect me for the rest of my life.
"It had been difficult going through this process, but it has definitely been worth it.
"I’m relieved to see him go to prison for what he has done.
"I would like to tell anyone who has been through something similar that if you tell the police, you will be believed, and they will do their best to get justice.
"Please don’t suffer in silence"
Couple charged in Class A drugs investigation
Two people have been charged as part of an investigation into the supply of drugs in Thurrock.
Anti-drug officers investigating the supply of Class A drugs in the area executed a warrant in Tilbury early on Tuesday 1 October.
During that, a man and a woman were arrested on suspicion of drug offences.
During the search, a number of items of significance to our investigation were seized. Officers also uncovered a knife, as well as an amount of cannabis and a nitrous oxide cannister.
Both people arrested were questioned throughout the day and have now been charged with a series of offences.
Man convicted of indecent acts outside schools
man has admitted carrying out indecent sexual acts in front of children outside three schools in Colchester following a thorough investigation led by community policing team officers.
Lee Murray, 39, had been due to stand trial charged with three counts of carrying out acts outraging public decency.
But he changed his pleas and admitted each charge at a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday 23 September.
An investigation led by officers with Colchester’s Community Policing Team was launched after receiving a number of reports from children.
National Young Riders Day
As part of the second National Young Rider Day (Tuesday 1 October), Essex Police took part in an educational roadshow, attending The Colchester Institute and Writtle College on Monday 30 September, to talk to young motorcyclists and students about staying safe on two wheels.
Students had the opportunity to take part in a number of activities designed to show the level of focus and concentration needed to stay alert and ride safely.
The students also enjoyed using the motorbike simulator, kindly brought by Devon and Cornwall Police, to experience some of the aspects of riding a motorbike.
A key part of the day was to promote the Street Spirit campaign which urges young riders to brush up on their skills and knowledge.
Drug dealer jailed and supply base shut down
A drug dealer who supplied cocaine from his flat in Southend has been jailed after officers responded to concerns raised by the community.
Officers with Southend’s Community Policing Team had been working with partners to crack down on drug dealing and associated anti-social behaviour at a block of flats in Sutton Road.
From left: Ricky Wilson, Daniel Wilson and Scott Flemming
Jewellery store burglars jailed for a total of six-and-a-half years
Three men who burgled a jewellery store on Canvey Island have been jailed following a comprehensive investigation by detectives.
Basildon brothers Ricky Wilson, 30, and Daniel Wilson, 27, together with Scott Flemming, 29, appeared at Basildon Crown Court for sentencing on 27 September 2024.
They had all previously admitted stealing £1,300 of jewellery after breaking into Paradise Jewellery in Furtherwick Road on 9 May 2022.
Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex this week
Monday 7 October
9:30am to 10:30am: Mothers Kitchen, 6 Felmores End, Basildon SS13
9:30am to 11am: Elmstead Markateers, Community Centre, School Road, Elmstead.
Tuesday 8 October
10am to 12pm: Ardleigh Friendship group, St Mary's Church, The Street, Ardleigh.
10am to 11am: Morrison's Supermarket, Centenary way, Little Clacton.
10:30am to 11:30am: Grays Library, Thameside Complex Orsett Road, Grays
11am to 12pm: Morrisons - 175 London Road, Hadleigh, Benfleet
7pm to 8pm: Belfairs Woodlands Centre, Eastwood Road North, Leigh
Wednesday 9 October
10am to 2pm: Broomfield Hospital Atrium, Court Rd, Broomfield, Chelmsford CM1 7ET
10am to 11am: Costa Coffee 76/78 High St, Billericay CM12 9BT
10am to 11am: Holland Library, Baby & Toddler Rhyme Time, Public Hall, Frinton
10am to 11am: M&S Food, Unit 1, Brook Park West, T Grove, Clacton
11am to 12pm: Knightswick centre - Furtherwick Road Canvey Island
1pm to 2pm: The Beacon Centre, Drake Road, Chafford Hundred
Thursday 10 October
10am to 11am: Jaywick Community & Resource Centre, Brooklands Gardens, Jaywick
10:30am to 12pm: Gt Holland coffee morning, The Ship Inn, Rectory Road, Frinton
10:30am to 11am: St Mary's Church, Steeple Bumpstead
11am to 1pm: Waterside Farm Leisure Centre - Somnes Avenue, Canvey Island
11am to 12pm: Hadleigh Library, 180 London Road Hadleigh, Benfleet
2pm to 3pm: Orleto Lounge, 2 East Sq, Basildon SS14 1HS
10am to 12pm: Pams Place, Vicarage Mead, Thaxted
Friday 11 October
11am to 12pm: Old School Community Cafe, Takeley
11am to 1pm: Friendship Friday, Homeland coffee morning, Garden Road, Walton
11am to 12pm: South Benfleet library 264 High Road, South Benfleet
12pm to 1pm: Henham Community Shop, High Street, Henham
1pm to 2pm: Tea on The Heath, Pond Lane, Hatfield Heath
2pm to 3pm: Chadwell St Mary Information Centre, Brentwood Road
3:30pm to 4:30pm: Bulphan Village hall, Church road
Saturday 12 October
9am to 10am: Parkrun, Central Park, Chelmsford
9am to 11am: Gunpowder Park Run, Gunpowder Park, Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey
10am to 11am: Brambles Cafe, Quadrant Department Store, 220 Moulsham St, Chelmsford
10am to 11am: Priors Hall Farm, Lindsell
11am to 1pm: Unit 17, The Grove Shopping Centre, Witham
11am to 12pm: The Snug Cafe, High Easter
Sunday 13 October
9am: Village Hall, Great Canfield
10am: Tesco Express, Priors Green, Little Canfield
11:30am: Takeley Community Cafe, Dunmow Road, Takeley
2pm: Barnston Village Hall, Chelmsford Road, Barnston, CM6 1LR
3:30pm: Tesco, Stortford Road, Great Dunmow
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
Check out our tips to help boost your home safety
Secure Your Doors and Windows: Ensure all entry points are locked and use burglar-proof locks.
Install Security Lighting: Deter thieves by making it harder for them to go unnoticed.
Protect Your Garden and Shed: Keep your garden tools and shed locked and secure to prevent burglars from using them to break into your home.
Be fraud smart
Amazon scam alert!
We have seen an increase in reports of criminals calling people pretending to be from Amazon, saying that your account has been hacked.
They will then proceed to ask to access your device where they will encourage you to open a Revolute account to secure a refund.
These criminals are experts at persuasion, as you are speaking to someone on the phone it can seem more real.
Stop.
If anyone asks for access to personal accounts or details always take a moment to check, they are who they say they are.
Hang up and contact them directly or check your account through a trusted source. If it is real, they will be happy to help.
Join our team
Police staff jobs
Assistant Caseworker Professional Standards Department £23,121
Business Services Assistant £23,121
Campaigns and Partnerships Manager £45,546
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
This week we remember
William Campling
William Campling was the High Constable of Saffron Walden Borough in 1949 - the equivalent today of the Chief Constable. In the early days of policing in Essex, there was no one single county force. Instead, there were four smaller borough forces of which the Saffron Walden Borough force was one. It was a very small body of officers amounting to a handful of regular and part-time employees.
William was shot 40 to 60 times outside his home in Bridge Street Saffron Walden on 31 October 1849. He died of shock 9 day later on 9 November 1849. The case remains unsolved.
Jo-Ann Jennings
Jo-Ann Jennings was nearly 21 when she joined the regular force after serving as a special constable in her home town of Benfleet for almost two years. Her first posting was to Grays, where she met her responsibilities with vigour and determination, soon becoming a respected and valued member of the relief.
She welcomed the challenge of a transfer to Corringham in the autumn of 1989, and was readily accepted by her new colleagues. Jo-Ann Jennings was enthusiastically settling in at her new station when tragedy struck.
During the early hours of Remembrance Sunday 1989, she was passenger in a police car which was involved in an unexplained accident in Brentwood Road, Orsett. So severe were her injuries that she died shortly afterwards. Jo-Ann's Jennings colleagues remember her warmth, sincerity, strong sense of commitment, and the obvious pride with which she served the community.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.