Local News

Two men have been charged following four burglaries across the county over the last few weeks. The burglaries occurred in Mytchett, Staines, Egham and Cobham between Friday 12 September and Thursday 25 September. Billy Smith,(DOB 30/06/2000) , of Staines, and Lee Cooper, (DOB 03/02/2005), of Bagshot, have been charged with conspiracy to commit burglary. They have been remanded in custody and are due to appear at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday 30 October. Runnymede Borough Commander, Ian Nash said: “We are committed to investigating burglaries and will continue to do everything we can to ensure our communities feel safe, and their homes are protected.”

A 44-year-old man who conducted burglaries at multiple addresses in Shepperton has been sentenced. Raymond Agyemang-Gyamfi, 44 (DOB 23/06/1981) of Shepperton, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of burglary and three counts of attempted burglary. On Thursday, 29 May, Agyemang-Gyamfi entered a property at around 1.45am, stole several power tools and around £400 in cash. That same night, CCTV showed him at a neighbouring property, trying the handle of the garage and searching around the garden. A week later, Agyemang-Gyamfi targeted another home three times. In the early hours of 1 June, he entered via the rear door and was chased out of the address by the family dog. Later that day, Agyemang-Gyamfi attended the same house but was unable to enter the garden due to a padlocked gate. On 3 June at 4.30am, he made his third and final attempt to burgle the address. CCTV showed Agyemang-Gyamfi struggle to lift a side gate before once again being deterred by the family dog. These CCTV images were circulated to officers in Spelthorne and at 10pm on 3 June, he was stopped on the High Street and arrested on suspicion of burglary and attempted burglary. Investigating officer PC Rebecca Clarke from our Proactive Investigations Team, said: "Burglary is an intrusive crime which causes immeasurable distress to its victims. “Agyemang-Gyamfi targeted a particular street and house multiple times which understandably created a sense of fear among residents in the community. Everyone should feel safe in their own home and Agyemang-Gyamfi took this away. Despite admitting his behaviour was not justified, he still could not understand the detrimental impact his actions had caused. “Surrey Police are committed to thoroughly investigating burglary and will continue to pursue offenders like Agyemang-Gyamfi relentlessly to bring them to justice.”

A prolific burglar who targeted vulnerable victims has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison. Jesse Webb, 50 (DOB: 24/07/1975) of no fixed address, was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on Friday, 26 September, after pleading guilty to:

• Two counts of burglary other than a dwelling

• Five counts of burglary of a dwelling

• Two counts of burglary with violence

• One count of theft from a motor vehicle

• Three counts of fraud by false representation

• One count of attempted burglary

Webb was identified as a significant suspect following a series of burglaries across Walton and West Byfleet in May this year. The burglaries followed a similar theme of targeting vulnerable people - often elderly - during daylight hours, entering their homes before stealing bank cards and cash. Care homes were also targeted. On one occasion, Webb told the victim that he was a carer attending for a visit before snatching their handbag. On 4 June, a member of the public identified Webb in Woking town centre following a media appeal. Officers dispatched and he was quickly arrested. Upon arrest, it was discovered that he had bank cards in his possession that were not in his name. Enquiries to trace his steps determined that these had been stolen from handbags of people who had been volunteering at a Church service nearby. Thankfully, officers intercepted Webb before he had the opportunity to spend any money on these cards. The actions of officers were so swift that the owners of the bank cards had not yet noticed them missing until contact from police shortly after. Webb was charged and subsequently plead guilty to all offences on 10 July and 4 September Guildford Crown Court.

Officers have charged a man and a woman with possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, and possession of criminal property, after a stop check was carried out on a vehicle outside Sainsbury’s in Cobham last Thursday (25 September). The pair appeared at Guildford Magistrates Court on Saturday (27 September). Robert Dorado, (DOB 23/02/1976), of Haslemere, has been remanded in custody to appear at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday 30 October. Gemma Damon-Aspen (DOB 26/09/1986), of Haslemere, has been released on conditional bail and is due to appear at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday 30 October.

A man has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving following a collision in Godstone. On 7 March 2025, Thomas Murphy, 36 (DOB: 05/02/1989) of St Leonards-on-Sea failed to stop for police, driving recklessly and at excessive speed through Limpsfield and Oxted before colliding head on with another vehicle on the A25 Oxted Road in Godstone. A family of three suffered serious injuries as a result, and were all taken to hospital. Their injuries were life changing for the mother and daughter involved and impacted both their careers in the performing arts. Murphy was arrested at the scene and blood samples taken after the collision later showed that he was at least three times over the legal drug limit. In her victim impact statement, the daughter of the family said: “For as long as I can remember I have been a dancer, singer and actor. All of my performing potential was snatched away on 7th March 2025. The trauma of this crash, the physical damage to me and my parents and the loss of my dream has had a profound effect on my confidence and optimism for the future and who I am now. People say we were lucky, but I don’t feel lucky.”

"I hoped that one day I would find someone who would love me and want to spend time with me, but I lost everything.” These are the words of a woman who fell victim to an organised crime group who used false identities to target online dating sites and trick people into sending money. On 30 September, five members of that OCG have all been given prison sentences for money laundering and fraud related offences following a six-week trial earlier this year. Kwabena Edusei, 37, (DOB: 28/09/1988), from East Finchley, and George Melseaux, 41, (DOB: 18/6/1984), from Hounslow, both pleaded guilty prior to trial. Edusei pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud in relation to operating at least one of the false identities and was later found guilty of operating a further three false identities during a further hearing. He also pleaded guilty to money laundering the proceeds of romance fraud, making articles for use in fraud and possession of identification documents for improper use.  He was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in prison. Melseaux pleaded guilty to money laundering in relation to receiving money directly from romance fraud victims and via other members of the organised crime group. He also pleaded guilty to possession of identification documents for improper use. He was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. A further defendant, Fawaz Ali, 27, (DOB:12/10/1997), from London, was found guilty of one count of money laundering in relation to receiving money from a romance fraud victim and one count of money laundering of hundreds of thousands of pounds from other forms of fraudulent activity following a trial at Guildford Crown Court on 3 April 2025. He was sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison. Following the same trial, Michael Quartey, 38, (DOB: 22/11/1986), from London, and Ebenezer Tackie, 42, (DOB: 4/11/1982), from Alton, were found guilty of two counts of money laundering each in relation to receiving money directly from romance fraud victims via other members of the organised crime group. Quartey and Tackie were sentenced to five years and six months and four years and six months respectively. The wider organised crime group is believed to have used at least seven false identities to defraud a total of 99 victims, with the total loss amounting to £1.8 million.

A total of £2.37 million was laundered by Edusei, Melseaux, Ali, Quartey and Tackie from the proceeds of this romance fraud and other fraud offences. The romance fraud victims, who were almost all women, entered into what they believed were genuine relationships, which formed similar patterns. The contact began via a dating website, moving to WhatsApp, with occasional video or voice calls, but no meetings in real life.  The relationships developed into declarations of love and commitment at an early stage, but with a business transaction to be completed before any meeting could take place. Investigating officer Detective Constable Sarah Shaw, from Surrey and Sussex Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “This was a very lengthy and complex investigation which involved victims who all fell prey to the manipulation and cruelty of this organised crime group. “Romance fraudsters gain their victim’s trust and build a relationship with them. They create a story that sounds believable and start the relationship in a normal way, however, the relationship quickly becomes very intense with the victim being bombarded with declarations of love. “The fraudsters then invent a problem or situation where they urgently need financial help and manipulate the victim into believing that if they don’t help, there will be dire consequences for the fraudster. “Please remember – if you believe you are a victim of romance fraud – it’s not your fault. But please report it to us or tell a friend or a family member."

A serving Surrey Police officer appeared at Reading Magistrates' Court on 26 September, after being charged with one count of controlling and coercive behaviour. PC Thomas Thorpe, 26, entered a plea of not guilty and will next appear at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday, 28 October. The charge relates to offences reported to have been committed between September 2022 and March 2024.