Police Searching For Lost Memory Man

Police are releasing a picture of a man who was found last year having lost his memory. The man was found on 29 August in Albert Street, north west London, wandering and in a confused state. The man, who does not speak English, appeared frail, had a cut to his ear and was unsure of where he was or how he got there; although he stated that he came from Southall. Despite enquiries, both locally and with immigration services, officers have been unable to identify the man who remains in hospital care. The man is described as dark skinned, in his 40's, thin build, with a grey beard. When found he was wearing an orange turban, blue zip up jumper with blue stripes on the arms, denim jeans and black trainers. He speaks Punjabi. PC Lisette French from the Metropolitan Police Service, Missing Persons Unit at Barnet said: "We hope that someone will recognise this man. He was found in a frail and confused condition but despite now being physically well has not regained his memory. We have some information that his name may be or he may have used the name Maninder Singh in the past."

Payback Time For Cigarette Smugglers

Three members of a European wide cigarette smuggling gang have been ordered to repay a total of over £1.6 million from the proceeds of their crimes or face further time in prison. The gang members, Donald Southall, Robert Horton and Julie Henworth, masterminded the organised crime syndicate which led to five complex investigations by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Assets restrained include: a motor yacht, residential properties in the West Midlands and Spain, high performance classic vehicles including an E-type Jaguar and a Norton Commando motorbike, and expensive designer jewellery. Horton controlled the European end of the operation from his base in Hungary. He would meet with potential suppliers and arrange the bulk transportation of the smuggled cigarettes by the lorry load. Meanwhile, Southall operated the UK side of the criminal network and overseeing the arrival and distribution of the cigarettes. Henworth sat at the heart of the operation as an administrator and ‘travel agent’. She arranged and paid for flights for numerous covert meetings between Horton and Southall in Europe and beyond. Adrian Farley, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation for HMRC, said: “We all pay extra to compensate for the money these criminals stole from the UK taxpayer and with the economic challenges being faced by businesses and the public we will vigorously seek to recover their ill-gotten gains. This latest case sends the strongest message yet of our relentless action to seek justice.”

Warrington Worker Paralysed In Roof Fall

A fine of £5,000 has been issued after three workers fell through skylights at the same industrial unit in Warrington on three separate occasions – leaving one of them paralysed. During a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution, Warrington Crown Court heard that a caretaker from Accrington, employed by Bizspace Investments Ltd, fell through a fragile skylight while cleaning guttering on 20 March 2007. The worker suffered multiple rib fractures and severe bruising. Another Bizspace employee was sent to take photographs of the scene, at the industrial unit on Craven Court industrial estate at Winwick Quay, but fell through a different skylight. He landed feet-first on a mezzanine floor and escaped injury. Three weeks later, a 62-year-old man from Bury, employed by Massey Roofing and Building Contractors, was sent to repair the skylights. While fixing a skylight, the worker, who asked not to be named, fell more than four metres to the ground below. He sustained severe spinal injuries, leading to him being paralysed from the waist down. Bizspace, the building’s owner and the employer of the first two men, and Anthony Massey, trading as Massey Roofing and Building Contractors, were prosecuted by HSE for putting workers’ lives at risk. Bizspace Investments Ltd, of Finchley, London, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. The company was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9,000 at Warrington Crown Court. Anthony Massey, 67 of Sunnybank Road, Bury, pleaded guilty to breaching the same Act. As he has been declared bankrupt, Mr Massey received a conditional discharge which means that he will not be fined as long as he does not commit another offence in the next twelve months.

(BMcN/GK)