The names and faces of Surrey criminals locked up in December from murderer to woman who poisoned partner

Surrey’s courts and those close to the county’s borders have been busy in December as police highlight 10 people who have been sentenced to time behind bars. This includes a jealous murderer, burglars, and a woman who poisoned her ex-partner and committed fraud. The county’s streets have been made a safer place as a result of police efforts to punish those found guilty of breaking the law and endangering others.

Ongoing efforts by law enforcement also mean cases and investigations remain ongoing. SurreyLive has listed December’s most notable cases linked to the county that have seen criminals locked up. Details of each can be found below with links to full reports.

Guildford drug dealer found with cash and cocaine

Edvaldo Dokaj, 38, has been jailed (Image: Surrey Police)

Guildford[3] drug dealer Edvaldo Dokaj was sentenced to four years and six months behind bars after a four-day trial at Winchester Crown Court (December 8). This was after the 38-year-old was found with cash and cocaine. Dokaj was stopped by police in Woodbridge Road, Guildford at 11.35pm on March 29 2023 when it was suspected his vehicle was involved in the supply of drugs.

He was detained under the Misuse of Drugs Act and found to be in possession of a sum of cash, a phone which contained messages relating to the supply of drugs, as well as a small bag of white powder, which was later analysed and confirmed to be cocaine. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, charged, and remanded into custody. Investigating officer, PC Shepherd, said: “We are committed to tackling drug dealing across Surrey.” The full story can be read here[4] .

Jealous Surrey woman who murdered ex’s new fiancee in ‘ferocious’ attack

Sara McKenzie, 62, from Ash (Image: Surrey Police)

Sara McKenzie, 62, of Fairview Road, Ash, was sentenced to 26 years in prison at Guildford Crown Court (December 4) after she was found guilty of the murder of 59-year-old Joy Boulton at her home in Church View, Ash, on May 11 2023.

McKenzie was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice on November 30, following a five-week trial at Guildford Crown Court. The ruling comes after a “sustained and ferocious” incident with a heavy object by the woman who attacked and killed her former partner’s new fiancee in a jealous rage. Police described how after the attack, McKenzie showed “absolutely no remorse”, tried to cover up the crime, and went to work as normal.

Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey from the Surrey and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, who investigated the case, said: “McKenzie’s motive for killing Joy was simple – she wanted what Joy had. McKenzie has a previous history of jealous behaviour including, although it was never proved, burning down a shed containing Trevor’s belongings after finding out he had got engaged to Joy. “McKenzie went to Joy’s that morning with the sole intention of killing her so that she could get Trevor back.

The rage and brutality McKenzie used when she attacked Joy cannot be overstated -sadly, Joy never stood a chance.” The full story can be read here[5].

Surrey man jailed for horrific campaigns of coercive and controlling behaviour against two women

Jacob Riordan, 33, of Whitewood Vale, Frimley admitted engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour (Image: Surrey Police)

Jacob Riordan, 33, of Whitewood Vale, Frimley[6] was jailed for four years at Winchester Crown Court (December 1) after he pleaded guilty to offences that included assault and controlling/coercive behaviour. It follows campaigns carried out against two women. Riordan was charged with two counts of assault by beating and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour in relation to the first.

In this case, he was said to have pulled his victim to the floor by her hair and dragged her across a carpet before kicking and punching her. He also demanded to see her phone and would question her about everyone she had contact with. Riordan became verbally and physically violent if she did not behave in a certain way.

In the second instance, Riordan was charged with assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour. This was after police received a further report that another woman in her 20s had been a victim of assault and ongoing coercive and controlling behaviour. Riordan is said to have caused the woman a number of injuries, including bruising to her arms, face and neck, a broken finger and broken skin after he bit her face.

On one occasion, when driving his van, he chased after the woman who was in her car and threatened to crash into her if she didn’t pull over. PC Elaine Hughes led the investigation and said: “The behaviour of Riordan towards two young women was both horrific and heartbreaking. The violence, control, manipulation and psychological abuse suffered by both poor young women was horrendous and left them feeling broken.” The full story can be read here[7] .

Surrey mum on school run watches men in balaclavas rob her home

Esteban Llancaman (L) and Alvaro Agudelo (R) (Image: Surrey Police)

Alvaro Agudelo, 33, and Esteban Llancaman, 40, were sentenced (December 1) after convictions for burglary and attempted burglary in relation to homes in Surrey that were targetted.

Agudelo was sentenced to 20 months for burglary and attempted burglary, while Llancaman was sentenced to 15 months for burglary. The case comes after a woman in Banstead[8] was notified by her home security that movement had been detected while she was on the school run. The incident happened on June 28 2023 and the victim was able to do nothing but watch as the thieves stuffed a backpack with a selection of jewellery, watches, and foreign currency.

They left before police arrived but officers were able to identify a grey Toyota Corolla parked near the house. Checks showed the vehicle was not local and officers from the Met Police stopped it in Lambeth a week later after a marker was placed on its licence plate. Agudelo and Llancaman were inside along with a number of mobile phones and a rucksack containing screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches and specialist lock-picking equipment.

Both men were arrested on suspicion of going equipped for burglary and for the burglary in Banstead. Agueldo was further charged with an attempted burglary in 2021. Detective Constable McBain, from Surrey’s Proactive Investigation Team, said: “I am incredibly pleased to see these two thieves behind bars.

Burglary is an invasive crime which can leave people feeling unsafe in their own homes. “Often the items taken are not even particularly high value but are hugely sentimental such as wedding gifts and family heirlooms. These men came into our county with the sole intention of committing crime but were brought to justice by digital technology and some good forensic work.” The full story can be read here[9] .

Drunk and aggressive Surrey man who lashed out at paramedics

Callum Parker, 38, has been given a 12-week prison sentence after he assaulted a police officer and a paramedic on the day he was released from prison for a similar offence.

Parker was sentenced on December 16 at Guildford Magistrates’ Court. The 38-year-old, of Brighton Road, Redhill[10], pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating an emergency services worker, one count of assault by beating and one count of being drunk and disorderly after he was arrested in Staines-upon-Thames on Thursday (December 14). He was also ordered to pay GBP50 compensation.

The court heard that a call was made to police reporting that Parker was behaving aggressively to members of the public in Staines[11] High Street. When police arrived, it was clear that Parker, who had been released from prison on licence that day for assaulting an emergency worker, was severely intoxicated due to his slurred speech, smell, and staggering. There were also smashed bottles of vodka nearby.

An ambulance was called as a precaution after witnesses reported that Parker had fallen and hit his head. It was also reported that Parker had taken a quantity of pills, but it was not known how many or what they were. Parker was said to be extremely agitated when officers arrived and was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly after lashing out while paramedics were trying to help him.

He was further arrested for assaulting a member of the public who had tried to help him prior to police being called. The full story can be read here[12] .

Burglar caught after targetting four homes in five days

James McDonagh was an ‘opportunist’ said police (Image: Surrey Police)

James McDonagh, 42, of no fixed address was sentenced to 45 months in prison after he was caught red-handed with stolen goods. This followed a spate of burglaries in Lingfield and Woldingham across five days.

McDonagh broke into four homes in October but was captured on CCTV and Ring doorbell footage in back gardens where he tried doors and looked through windows to see if homes were empty or unlocked. At one house in Woldingham, he could be seen throwing rocks to smash through the glass back door. When inside, he went into the bedroom and stole items including designer leather goods and jewellery.

Returning home soon afterwards, the quick-thinking owners checked their footage and posted a description of him on their community social media groups. He was later spotted at Woldingham train station and police were able to tell residents he had been located and arrested, and that their property had been recovered. McDonagh was described by police as “an opportunist thief” and was linked to additional break-ins.

He broke into two homes in Lingfield on Oct 26, 2023, and then two more in Woldingham four days later. Detective Constable McBain said: “I am extremely pleased he was able to be located quickly, could be linked to other offences by police work, and that some of the items he took could be safely returned to their owners.” The full story can be read here[13] .

Man jailed after knifepoint robbery in Sunbury layby

Gary Light of Feltham pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to time behind bars (Image: Surrey Police)

Gary Light, 37, from Feltham has been sentenced to 54 weeks in prison after a knifepoint robbery in a layby in Sunbury[14]. Light pleaded guilty when he appeared at Guildford Crown Court.

The victim had been in the layby off the A316 near Browns Breakfast Bar around 1.45pm on August 21 when he was approached by Light and another man, who has not been identified. Threats were made with knives and Light made off with the victim’s phones, wallet, and motorbike. Light was arrested after information was provided to police following an appeal for information.

Surrey Police’s Detective Constable Adam Patterson, who investigated the offence, commented: “Light was identified, arrested and brought to justice thanks to a member of the public coming forward with information as a result of the witness appeal.” The full story can be read here[15] .

Woman behind bars and ‘banned from town’ after stealing from high street chains

Abbie Folkes, 31, of East Street, Farnham[16], has been jailed for five months and banned from Aldershot for five years. This is after stealing items worth more than GBP600 from chain stores in the town including Boots, Lidl, and Bargain Buys. The 31-year-old admitted seven counts of theft from a shop at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on Friday, December 15.

She was said to have walked away from stores with meat products, bedding, and fragrances between November 30 and December 12. Folkes received a custodial sentence and a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which was approved for the maximum period of five years. Police Sergeant Rob Tiller, from the Aldershot Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Abbie Folkes is a prolific shoplifter who brazenly stole items from a number of stores in Aldershot.” The full story can be read here[17] .

Pharmacy worker who poisoned ex-partner and used his bank cards

Lily Cartier, 53, of Mill Lane, Felbridge (Image: Surrey Police)

Pharmacy worker Lily Cartier, 53, of Mill Lane, Felbridge, has been sentenced to seven years behind bars after she slowly poisoned her ex-partner and used his bank cards while he lay in hospital.

Cartier was found guilty of two counts of administering a poison to cause grievous bodily harm and two counts of fraud The 53-year-old’s victim John Sharrard, 71, began to feel unwell in February 2017 and was referred for medical tests. The cause of his symptoms was unconfirmed, though doctors suspected he had Parkinson’s disease due to difficulties he was having with muscle spasms and his mental faculties slowing.

John continued to feel unwell through to October that year when he collapsed twice and was admitted to hospital on each occasion. His brother raised concerns that Cartier, who was living with John at the time, may have been poisoning him and reported this to Surrey Police[18]. Further tests found the anticoagulant drug warfarin in John’s blood, which could lead to serious bleeding.

Hair samples taken by Surrey Police also detected haloperidol, an antipsychotic drug. John confirmed he had not knowingly taken either of these drugs. Cartier was arrested in November 2017 and haloperidol was found in her handbag at the time, with warfarin found later in her bedside cabinet.

An investigation found that several transactions were made on John’s bank cards without his permission while he was in hospital totalling more than GBP6,000. John made a full recovery while Cartier was in custody. Cartier was charged on August 11, 2020.

She pleaded not guilty to all offences and her case went to trial, where she was found guilty by the jury on October 23, 2023. DC Kieran Gamble said: “This is a horrific case in which Cartier deliberately poisoned someone who trusted her over a prolonged period of time. “She was planned and meticulous as she carried out her crimes and showed no remorse for John’s suffering when he lay in hospital.” The full story can be read here[19] .

You can see the latest crime and court news from Surrey in our free newsletter here .[20]

References

1. ^ New Year’s Eve weather for Surrey as BBC, Met Office and WX Charts give verdict (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
2. ^ Runnymede council warned over ‘significant debt’ after borrowing 71 times its spending power (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
3. ^ Guildford (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
4. ^ here (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
5. ^ here (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
6. ^ Frimley (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
7. ^ here (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
8. ^ Banstead (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
9. ^ here (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
10. ^ Redhill (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
11. ^ Staines (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
12. ^ here (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
13. ^ here (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
14. ^ Sunbury (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
15. ^ here (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
16. ^ Farnham (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
17. ^ here (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
18. ^ Surrey Police (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
19. ^ here (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
20. ^ here (www.getsurrey.co.uk)