24/03/2011

Other UK News In Brief

Prisoner Jailed Over Corruption

A prisoner who ran a criminal empire from his cell, dealing in drugs and the theft and ringing of luxury cars, after corrupting a prison officer, a police constable and a member of police staff has been jailed alongside those who helped him. Robert Talbot, 33, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 12 years at Southwark Crown Court following an investigation by the Met's Anti Corruption Command. The investigation uncovered that Talbot corrupted HM Wandsworth prison officer Ian Cooper to smuggle mobile phones and drugs into prison hidden in large cartons of orange juice. He used an outside 'runner' Thomas King to handle the theft and cloning of high value vehicles totalling £500,000. Talbot encouraged Cooper to corrupt his partner, MPS Police Constable Hayley Cloud, to carry out vehicle checks on cars he could 'ring'. He instructed MPS staff member Natalie Ricketts, corrupted by Cloud, to unlawfully authorise the release of a seized Lamborghini from an MPS car pound. Talbot then ordered that checks be carried out on criminal associates, including checks made on behalf of associate Stephen Palmer. Talbot was jailed alongside: Ian Cooper, 35, Thomas King, 27, Stephen Palmer, 28, Hayley Cloud, 28. Natalie Ricketts, 28, received a ten month suspended sentence.

Preferred Candidate For BBC Trust Vice Chairman Selected

Jeremy Hunt has requested the Queen’s approval to appoint Diane Coyle as Vice Chairman of the BBC Trust. Ms Coyle, an economic consultant specialising in new technologies and globalisation, was selected following an open recruitment process. Under the terms of the BBC Royal Charter, appointments to the Trust, including the Chairman and Vice Chairman, are made by the Queen on the recommendation of Ministers. Last month, former Hong Kong Governor Lord Patten was announced as the preferred candidate to succeed Sir Michael Lyons as Chairman.

Images Released In East Dulwich Murder Appeal

Police investigating the murder of Daniel Graham have released seven images of people they would like to trace in connection with the incident. Officers were called at approximately 00:10hrs on 29 January following reports of an assault close to East Dulwich rail station. Daniel Graham, of Fellbrigg Road, south east London was taken by ambulance to a south London hospital where he was pronounced dead at approximately 02:15hrs. Police have now released seven images of people who they believe may either be connected to, or have vital information in relation to, the murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Manning, leading the investigation, said: "We would like to hear from anyone who may recognise these people, especially if you know who they are. We would like to speak to all of them as we believe they may have information that will help us in this investigation. Some of them may have been involved in the incident or just been witnesses that night, however we urgently need to speak with them and appeal to them to come forward."

(BMcN/KMcA)

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