A former solicitor who defrauded clients at his firm of almost £2 million has been jailed.

Hugh Lansdell, 74, was today (22 September 2023) sentenced to four years imprisonment at Norwich Crown Court for committing fraud by abuse of position over almost a two-year period.

A man who pretended to be a teenage girl on social media to blackmail young boys into sending him nude images has been sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Jay Morgan Taylor Lang, 24, appeared at Basildon Crown Court today (22 September 2023) for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to a total of 46 charges including blackmail, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, causing child sexual exploitation and arranging the commission of a child sex offence.

Lang received a 21-year prison sentence and was given an additional six-year extended licence.  

Nick Price, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “The CPS has authorised a charge of conspiracy to conduct espionage against three men and two women suspected of spying for Russia.

“Orlin Roussev, 45, Bizer Dzhambazov, 41, Katrin Ivanova, 31, Ivan Stoyanov, 31, and Vanya Gaberova, 29, will be charged with conspiring to collect information intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy for a purpose prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state between 30 August 2020 and 8 February 2023.

Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “Following a thorough review of the evidence provided by the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct), the CPS has authorised a charge of murder against a Metropolitan Police officer following the death of Chris Kaba. 

“Mr Kaba died on 6 September 2022 after he was struck by a single bullet in Streatham Hill, south London. 

“The CPS reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the officer are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.

“I contacted the panel and got a response really quickly. It was such a relief to feel that someone was listening and taking my enquiry seriously.”

Victims and survivors of child sexual abuse are being urged to contact a scheme which helps to achieve the justice they deserve during a month-long campaign which launches this week and concludes on Friday 13 October. 

A man who blackmailed children into sending him indecent images of themselves over social media has been convicted. 

Ishmael Lance Duncan, 24, has pleaded guilty to a total of 50 charges relating to child sexual abuse including blackmail, causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child, making and possessing indecent image of children (IIOC) and possession of extreme pornographic images. 

The CPS authorised the charges against Duncan, of Lambeth, London, following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The CPS has authorised Surrey Police to charge Urfan Sharif with the murder of his 10-year-old daughter Sara.

Charges of murder have also been authorised against Beinash Batool, Mr Sharif’s partner, and his brother Faisal Shahzad Malik. A further charge of causing or allowing the death of Sara has been authorised against all three individuals. 

They have been remanded in custody and will appear at Guildford magistrates' court on Friday 15 September.

Criminal proceedings are active and all those charged have a right to a fair trial.

Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “The CPS has authorised Greater Manchester Police to charge four men following the death of Jack Barnes in 2016.

“Mr Barnes died on 2 December 2016 following an incident in Manchester city centre on 11 October 2016.

“Paul Fogarty, 50, Brian Gartside, 59, Stephen Rowlands, 67, and Matthew Sellers, 29, who were staff members subcontracted by Metrolink at the time, are to be charged with unlawful act manslaughter.

A man who was caught smuggling millions of counterfeit cigarettes into the UK has been convicted of evading more than £2.4 million in excise duty.

Timothy James Goodlad, 58, of Barnetby, Lincolnshire, has been found guilty today (12 September 2023) of fraudulent evasion of duty following a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

On 28 November 2019, a lorry driven by Goodlad was stopped by Border Force Officers at the Eurotunnel UK Control Zone in France.