Here are the names and faces of the men judges have put behind bars in December 2024.
Stratford Centre car park killer
Chaudhary’s body was discovered in the early hours of January 10 last year.
The previous day the 45-year-old had been lured to the car park by fraudster Gorghescu under the pretence of selling him mobile phones.
However, Gorghescu was planning on scamming Chaudhary by giving him a box filled with fizzy drinks rather than phones.
When Chaudhary discovered this, Gorghescu launched a frenzied attack stabbing him 27 times.
Det Ch Insp Joanna Yorke said: “Vasile Gorghescu drove to meet Chaudhary Mahmood armed with a weapon and clearly with the intention of resorting to violence should his fraudulent plan be uncovered.
“Chaudhary – who went to the car park in Stratford with the intention of buying mobile phones – realised this was a scam and was defenceless in the face of Gorghescu’s attack.”
Gorghescu, 42, of Rayners Gardens in Southampton, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years for the murder.
Read the full story – Man stabbed to death in shopping centre car park by thug who tried to scam him
Man arranged to meet 13-year-old girl at Romford McDonald’s
He sent sexual images of himself, images of naked children and asked the girl to meet him for sexual activity.
But the girl he was messaging did not actually exist. It was a decoy account run by members of the paedophile sting group Broken Dreams.
Prosecutor Nana Owusuh said at first Kllogjri lied that he was 19, before confessing “I’m actually old enough to be your dad”.
“The messages can only be described as vulgar messages, pictures of children’s anatomy and also images of himself,” Mr Owusuh said.
“He was quite forceful and intense with it and kept asking for more compromising images than what was sent to him.”
Kllogjri later asked the girl to meet him at McDonald’s in Romford after school so he could perform sex acts on her, the court heard.
On September 21 he was outside the fast food restaurant when he was met with the presence of the police and the paedophile hunter team, who filmed the sting for thousands to watch online.
He was jailed for a year and two months after he pleaded guilty to sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a child following grooming.
Read the full story – Pervert arrested outside Romford McDonald’s where he arranged to meet girl, 13
Walthamstow murderer who fled to Italy
Jordan, 25, died at the scene of a stabbing in Tottenham Hale on March 5, 2023.
Di Murro was found to be part of a group of five men who ambushed Jordan after he was lured to his death by a phone call made by a woman asking about buying drugs.
Jordan’s last movements were captured on CCTV as he left his house to make the deal, before doorbell footage from 9.53pm that evening caught the moment he was surrounded by the group.
They had a conversation with him for 11 minutes, probing him about drugs, his name, age and religion.
The fatal attack occurred off camera, but one person could be heard saying “let’s go, let’s go” before they were seen leaving the scene.
Di Murro was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years for Jordan’s murder.
Read the full story – Murderer fled to Italy after taking part in deadly ambush of drug dealer
Plaistow drug dealer had £6,000 haul in car
A police dog indicated something suspicious was behind the centre console armrest.
The flooring of the centre console was hinged allowing the flooring to be lifted.
A search revealed £6,000 of drugs including cocaine, magic mushrooms, LSD and MDMA.
Officers also found a lock knife in the armrest.
Gherghe was jailed for two years after he pleaded guilty to possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply, possessing a knife in a public place and driving whilst disqualified.
Read the full story – Dealer who hid £6,000 of drugs in car armrest caught out by police dog
Ilford estate agent who attacked woman
Patel had arranged to meet with a sex worker at her home in Westminster where he launched a “brutal assault” on the woman, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The attack left her with severe injuries including a broken nose, swelling, cuts, and extensive bruising.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police were called to the address after neighbours heard her screams.
Patel was arrested at the scene.
Det Con Lloyd Leech said: “The victim suffered a horrific attack in her own home, where she was most vulnerable.
“Patel inflicted significant injuries and it is thanks to the quick actions of the public, who alerted police, we were able to intervene.
“Sex workers are among the most vulnerable in society, and we want to ensure they are heard and supported.
“We encourage anyone who has experienced any form of violence to come forward. You will be listened to, supported, and we will work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.”
Patel was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and was jailed for four years.
Read the full story – Ilford estate agent who brutally attacked woman in her own home jailed
Rainham drug dealer
His car was flagged by the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) for a disqualified driver and licence revocation.
During the stop officers noticed that Ali was “extremely nervous”, prompting a search of his vehicle.
The search produced quantities of Class A, B and C drugs, including cocaine, MDMA and ketamine.
Further evidence from a mobile phone revealed that he had been supplying drugs.
He has been sentenced to 31 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to supply Class A drugs.
