Local News

Shortly after 5pm on 20 September, Surrey Police received a report of a concern for the safety of a teenage boy in the water near to The Cascade waterfall in Virginia Water. When officers arrived on scene, he had already exited the water. The boy was taken to hospital by ambulance having sustained injuries not believed to be life threatening.

A burglary gang have been jailed for a combined total of 17 years. Between 3 November and 11 December 2024, they carried out at least 11 burglaries at addresses across Surrey and London and stole more than £80,000 worth of property.

The gang, posing as tourists, would usually target flats and houses in affluent areas, climbing up to the first or second floors and forcing entry through windows or doors, often using tools. They ransacked the properties they targeted, looking for watches, designer clothing, and jewellery, before making good their escape. At one burglary in Epsom, the occupants’ Christmas presents had been unwrapped and abandoned in the lounge. Officers were given the first piece of the puzzle when Israel Contreras dropped his phone fleeing over the fence of a home in Hillingdon. The phone contained five screenshots from a mapping app, with pins dropped on residential properties around London. Contreras’s DNA was also found at the scene of a burglary in Esher, connecting offences in London and Surrey. He was detained and arrested by police attempting to board a flight from Heathrow Airport to Chile, and charged, but officers knew he wasn’t acting alone. The remaining members of the gang were stopped several days later by officers from Surrey Police on Fulham Palace Road in London. Having attempted to reverse and ram their way to freedom, their car was tactically stopped by police and the three occupants detained. The car and their pockets were full of jewellery, designer goods, and tools. Driving the getaway car was Eduardo Marquez. He was searched and found with jewellery in his pockets from burglaries committed earlier that day, a large crowbar tucked into his waistband, and a torch and screwdriver concealed in his pockets. The passengers were Yeico Fernandez and Michael Carrasco. Fernandez had arrived in the UK from Chile at 7am that morning. By 5pm he was in police custody, having immediately met up with the group and gone straight on an offending spree. Over the summer, the defendants were sentenced at Guildford Crown Court as follows:

Israel Contreras, 22, (17/01/2003), was sentenced to five years and three months.

Eduardo Marquez, 29, (09/11/1995), was sentenced to six years and nine months.

Yeico Guzman Fernandez, 25, (18/06/2000), was sentenced to two years and nine months.

Michael Carrasco, 28, (01/04/1997), was sentenced to two years and nine months.

Investigating officer, Sergeant Ben Deacon, said: “We know the devastating physical and emotional impact burglary has on victims and the wider community. It gives me great satisfaction that on this occasion we have been able to deliver some justice to the victims of these crimes, and I thank them for their patience and support. “This investigation involved many officers and staff from multiple teams, disciplines and forces – thank you all for your hard, diligent work and dedication which enabled us to get this result. “Finally, on the off chance any would-be-burglars are reading this, I want them to understand the following: Contreras thought he had got away with his crimes, but was arrested on his way home at Heathrow, minutes from freedom. Fernandez entered the UK with sole intention of thievery but spent less than 12 hours at large prior to spending years in prison. And Marquez and Carrasco did not see us coming and won’t be free for a long time.”

Two men have been jailed for murder following a fatal collision in Sunbury Cross in July 2024. On Monday, 22 July 2024, members of the public discovered a black Talaria Sting e-bike and its two riders in the carriageway of the exit slip road between the southbound carriageway of the A316 at the junction with the M3 and the Sunbury cross roundabout. It had been involved in a collision with another vehicle which had failed to stop. Both riders had catastrophic injuries, and 21-year-old William Birchard died at the roadside. 22-year-old Darren George died later that same day in hospital. A subsequent investigation and trial found Alex Rose, 30, and Charles Pardoe, 25, guilty of their murder. On Monday, 22 September they were sentenced at Guildford Crown Court as follows:

Alex Rose, 30, (03/04/1995), of Sunbury-upon-Thames, was sentenced to life imprisonment for two counts of murder, to serve a minimum of 34 years. He will also serve 21 months concurrently for perverting the course of justice.

Charles Pardoe, 25, (11/12/1999), of Feltham was sentenced to life imprisonment for two counts of murder, to serve a minimum of 29 years.

Tara Knaggs, 25, (10/06/2000), of Great Ayton in Yorkshire was sentenced to three years imprisonment for assisting an offender, to serve a minimum of one year and two months prior to being considered for licence.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Debbie Birch, from the Surrey and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, said: “My thoughts and sympathies remain, as always, with the family and friends of William Birchard and Darren George. Today’s outcome will not change the fact that William and Darren’s lives were cut so unfairly short, but I hope that their loved ones will take some small comfort from seeing justice served. I am grateful to the hard work of our officers and staff who worked so hard to secure these convictions.”

William’s dad said, “Today’s court outcome brings a measure of justice for our son William and his friend Darren. While no sentence can ever undo the devastation of losing him, we take some comfort in knowing that those responsible have been held accountable. “William was not just a victim of a senseless crime — he was our beloved son, a brother, and a friend to many. His life was filled with promise, and his loss has left a gap that will never be filled. William had a kind heart, a bright smile, and a love for life that touched everyone who knew him. We will remember him for his laughter, his loyalty, and the joy he brought into our lives. “The past months have been an incredibly painful journey for our family. Sitting through the trial and hearing the details of how William’s life was taken has been almost unbearable. But throughout it all, we have held on to the hope that justice would prevail. Today’s verdict cannot bring William back, but it does bring us some peace in knowing that the truth has been heard. “We want to express our deepest gratitude to Surrey Police. From the very first moment, their officers have shown extraordinary dedication, professionalism, and compassion. They have worked tirelessly to investigate William’s murder, to uncover the truth, and to support us as a family through the most difficult time of our lives. We will never forget their hard work and the humanity they showed us when we needed it most. We are also grateful to the prosecution team for presenting the case with such care, to the jury for their attention and courage, and to all those who have stood by us with love and support. “As a family, our lives will never be the same. William’s absence is felt every single day, and we carry a grief that words cannot fully express. But we also carry his memory, and we will continue to honour him in the way we live our lives.” Darren’s mum said, “Darren should still be with us – but he is not. A guilty verdict doesn’t change the past. Justice being served doesn’t heal the loss of our son. “We have had so much support from friends and family which has been invaluable. But it is those who have shown kindness even though they do not know us who have helped support us from afar – the lorry driver that stopped, the paramedics, and the Air Ambulance crew. Our family have further been supported by the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, and I have nothing but praise for our emergency services and encourage people, in turn, to support them. “Darren was always coming and going – he couldn’t sit still. He would arrive at home with friends, repair cars with his dad, then he would then be off, and then he would be back again. The coming and goings have stopped. The repairs of the cars have stopped. The buzz of a busy home has stopped. Darren’s dad is a man of few words. When he read the statement I had written for court, my husband simply uttered quietly, 'I loved that boy.'"

Last week, Surrey Police presented some special awards to some of our brilliant colleagues who selflessly perform to the highest of standards to protect our communities, catch criminals, and deliver outstanding service.  Four of those awards are especially close to our hearts as they are given in honour of colleagues who passed away during their time with Surrey Police.   PC Charlie Buckley received the PC Richard Gunn award for the neighbourhood policing team officer of the year which remembers Richard, who died in 2004 as he responded to an emergency call. Charlie was recognised for his unwavering work ethic, ability to manage complex investigations and eagerness to share his knowledge with others.   PC Lee Newman received the Alan Craggs cup for proactive investigator of the year, in honour of former inspector Alan. Lee has detected and tenaciously disrupted crime across Tandridge borough and beyond.   Spelthorne’s neighbourhood team received (for the second year running!) the Derek Willott award for outstanding community problem solving in honour of Derek, who spent much of his service at Guildford. The team was awarded for doubling their crime detection rate and increasing their responsiveness and visibility. And a member of that very team, Sergeant Thea Jackson, was awarded the Ben Sutton award for neighbourhood officer of the year given in memory of Ben who worked in Egham and Woking and was just 23 when he died. Thea is an inspiration to many.   Congratulations everyone!