Court cases which shocked News Shopper readers in 2024

There have been cases which have appalled and shocked us and readers in equal measure. They include the Bromley dad who paid for his 13-year-old son to see a sex worker, a mum who covered up an XL Bully attack on a child, and countless murderers who have taken and destroyed lives. As 2024 year comes to a close we reflect on the work of police and prosecutors, as well as the courage and determination of witnesses and victims who have ensured justice is done, by looking back on 11 of the cases we've reported on.

Erith mum tried to cover up XL Bully attack on 10-year-old girl

Danielle Roberts, 42, tried to cover up a horror XL Bully attack on a young girl (Image: Met Police/PA) A mum who tried to cover up a devastating XL Bully attack on her daughter's 10-year-old friend was jailed.

She was out when her boyfriend's dog mauled the young girl at her home in Erith. When her panicked daughter phoned to tell her about the attack, the mum said "sort that girl out or we'll be in trouble". The seriously injured young girl was then told to hide in the bathroom from police, who had been called by a neighbour.

She initially refused to let police inside the house until the injured girl staggered downstairs and called out "help me". Read the full story - Erith mum told girl, 10, who was mauled by XL Bully to hide from police in bathroom [1]

Bromley dad hired sex worker for 13-year-old son

A dad hired a sex worker for his 13-year-old son (Image: PA) A dad who hired a sex worker for his 13-year-old son was jailed for four years. The dad arranged for two sex workers to attend a hotel in Bromley then told his son "don't be a pussy" when he said he didn't want to have sex with a 26-year-old.

He also offered his son a line of cocaine, but his son replied "I'm f**ing 13, that's ridiculous". At his sentencing hearing at Croydon Crown Court the man claimed "I'm a good father". Read the full story - Bromley dad jailed for hiring sex worker for son, 13, and saying 'don't be pussy'[2]

'Cowardly' Bexleyheath driver ran from crash

Matthew Sparkes, from Bexleyheath, caused a horror crash which has left a woman with a severe brain injury (Image: Kent Police/Kent 999) A "cowardly" driver from Bexleyheath ran away from the scene of a crash which caused severe brain injury to a loving mum and teacher.

He swerved across all four lanes of the A2 before crashing into the back of a Ford Fiesta. One passenger in the Fiesta, a 40-year-old mum-of-three, suffered a severe brain injury in the crash. Her family have been told she will never be the same person again.

The driver and his girlfriend, who had ordered six cocktails between them at a restaurant, ran away from the crash on foot and so he was never breathalysed. He later claimed the crash was caused when he reached down to pick up a vape he had dropped. Read the full story - Bexleyheath 'coward' ran from scene of horror A2 crash after causing mum brain damage [3]

Abbey Wood creep who groped girl avoided prison

Iqbal Chand pictured leaving court after he was given a suspended sentence (Image: NQ) Big cases such as Huw Edwards and the riots sparked discourse over whether sentences are too lenient.

That debate was brought into sharp focus in south east London when we reported on the case of a 31-year-old man who avoided prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Abbey Wood. The victim was travelling with her nine-year-old sister on an Elizabeth Line train when the sex offender groped her from behind twice. He was seen laughing and smiling with his family while leaving court with a suspended prison sentence.

Read the full story - Creep who groped girl, 14, in Abbey Wood celebrates as he avoids prison [4]

Beckenham train stabber NOT guilty

A viral video of a stabbing on a south east London train shocked the country (Image: CrimeLDN/X) A 19-year-old was cleared of attempted murder after a viral video showed him repeatedly stabbing a man on a train between Shortlands and Beckenham Junction. The video made national news when it was posted online in March and a teen was soon charged with attempted murder. Passengers could be heard screaming "f***ing stop it" as a man was repeatedly stabbed with a 'Rambo knife'.

Witnesses said the man was stabbed "more than 20 times". But a jury found him not guilty after the teen claimed the other man was the one who had brought the knife to the scene, he had just managed to disarm him. "It was either him or me," the teen claimed.

Read the full story - Teen who stabbed man 'more than 20 times' on Beckenham train found not guilty [5]

Lewisham man murdered two women 16 months apart

Carl Cooper murdered Naomi Hunte (left) and Fiona Holm (right) (Image: Met Police) Lewisham handyman Carl Cooper has been jailed for life with a minimum of 35 years for murdering two women he had been in relationships with. Cooper stabbed 41-year-old Naomi Hunte to death at her Woolwich flat in February 2022, after she had made four complaints to police that he had been harassing her. He was arrested on suspicion of murder but was released under investigation and went on to murder 48-year-old Fiona Holm who went missing from Hither Green 16 months later.

Fiona's family remain "tortured" by the fact her body has never been found - a GBP20,000 reward has been offered for information which leads to her remains being located. Read the full story - 'Evil' Lewisham handyman who murdered two women 'likely to die behind bars'[6]

Unrest in London following Southport killings

Crayford man Alfie Arrowsmith tried to goad police into fighting him at a far-right demonstration in Whitehall (Image: Met Police/PA) The horrific killing of three young girls at a dance class in Southport, followed by misinformation on social media that the suspect was an illegal migrant, resulted in riots across the country. Protesters took the unrest to the Prime Minister's door at the 'Enough is Enough' demonstration near Downing Street on July 31.

A number of south east Londoners were jailed for their role in that disorder - including a roofer from Crayford who squared up to police and a Bromley scaffolder who kicked at metal barriers. Read the full stories:

Abbey Wood double murder

Emma and her son, Charlie, who was stabbed to death in Abbey Wood (Image: Supplied) A tragic Abbey Wood double murder case came to a conclusion early in 2024, as four teens were found guilty of two both murders and were jailed for life. In November 2022, Charlie Bartolo went for the first ride on his new motorbike, a Christmas present from his mum that had arrived a month early.

"Charlie went out that evening an innocent 16-year-old boy enjoying a bike for the first time that he had begged me for," said Charlie's mum. "Before he left his smile was from ear to ear. He was so grateful and thankful.

Never did I think that would be the last time I saw my boy." At around 5pm that evening Charlie and two friends were riding their motorbikes along Sewell Road in Abbey Wood when he was deliberately rammed by an SUV. As he laid defenceless on the ground, three of the five teenage boys in the car jumped out and stabbed Charlie to death.

Kearne Solanke was one of the teens who jumped out of the car to attack Charlie, but during the violence he was accidentally fatally stabbed by his own friend. Read the full story - 'I couldn't dress my dead son due to the horrific knife wounds all over his body'[7]

Penge man tortured with boiling water for benefits money

Stafford Manahan, 43, tortured his so-called friend with boiling water (Image: Met Police) A man from Penge was tortured with boiling water by a supposed friend who wanted to steal his Universal Credit money. The thug abused his friendship with a vulnerable man by getting him drunk then threatening to pour boiling water over him unless he told him his PIN number.

When the victim refused, he carried out the threat multiple times. The man, who had suffered severe burns to 55 per cent of his body, wasn't found for three days because he was unable to walk due to his burns and his attacker had taken his phone. Stafford Manahan was jailed for 13 years.

Read the full story - Penge man tortured with boiling water by 'friend' who wanted his Universal Credit [8]

Bexley man murdered partner then friend helped him escape

Richard Ray (left) helped Tony Curant (right) escape Bexley after a frenzied attack on his partner (Image: Met Police) In January a man repeatedly stabbed the mother of his children as their terrified kids hid in the room next door at their home in Bexley. Leila Young had been planning on leaving abusive Tony Curant before he murdered her. In texts Leila described Curant as "the biggest bully she had ever met" and said their relationship was over.

Described as a fun and loving mummy who was the life and soul of her family, Leila suffered 57 stab injuries including 18 to her head, face and neck. Curant then phoned his friend and told him "I've just killed my missus". His friend drove him to a brothel in Dartford where he hid for several days.

The killed was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years whilst his friend got 18 months. Read the full story - Bexley killer stabbed partner 57 times as their terrified kids hid in room next door [9]

Truck driver crashed into 14-year-old boy in Blackheath

Frederick Mansfield (left) drove his truck into a bus stop, killing Logan Finch (right) (Image: Met Police) A truck driver was jailed after he crashed into a bus stop in Blackheath, killing a 14-year-old boy. Logan Finch was waiting for the 321 bus on Eltham Road with his aunt and cousins on December 21, when a truck veered onto the pavement.

Logan was tragically pronounced dead at the scene after he was pinned between the truck and the bus stop.

The driver, who was not injured, blamed a previously undiagnosed sleep condition for Logan's death, as he claimed he had drifted off seconds before the crash.

After he was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving he was jailed for seven years.

References

^ Read the full story - Erith mum told girl, 10, who was mauled by XL Bully to hide from police in bathroom (www.newsshopper.co.uk)
^ Read the full story - Bromley dad jailed for hiring sex worker for son, 13, and saying 'don't be pussy' (www.newsshopper.co.uk)
^ Read the full story - Bexleyheath 'coward' ran from scene of horror A2 crash after causing mum brain damage (www.newsshopper.co.uk)
^ Read the full story - Creep who groped girl, 14, in Abbey Wood celebrates as he avoids prison (www.newsshopper.co.uk)
^ Read the full story - Teen who stabbed man 'more than 20 times' on Beckenham train found not guilty (www.newsshopper.co.uk)
^ Read the full story - 'Evil' Lewisham handyman who murdered two women 'likely to die behind bars' (www.newsshopper.co.uk)
^ Read the full story - 'I couldn't dress my dead son due to the horrific knife wounds all over his body' (www.newsshopper.co.uk)
^ Read the full story - Penge man tortured with boiling water by 'friend' who wanted his Universal Credit (www.newsshopper.co.uk)
^ Read the full story - Bexley killer stabbed partner 57 times as their terrified kids hid in room next door (www.newsshopper.co.uk)