The morning case file
London Crime Briefing
Significant incidents, hearings, outcomes and public-data changes across the capital.
Area
Southwark crime
75 stories from and about Southwark, mostly courts, community safety, violent crime. The most recent ran on 14 September 2026. Page 2 of 4.
Public records for Southwark. Explore the Home Office street-level crime figures for this area.
Reported from Southwark
Policing · SouthwarkMet Inspector cleared of sexual assault after judge criticises investigation
Inspector Dave Newman was acquitted of three sexual assault charges at Southwark Crown Court. Judge Bartle criticised the Met Police investigation, calling delays in witness statements 'baffling'. The force defended the probe, citing the jury's unanimous not-guilty verdicts.
Southwark4 min readTrust 66 · Craft 62 · Hype 15- Courts · Southwark
Met Police inspector cleared of sexually assaulting three colleagues in Soho
Dave Newman, 39, was found not guilty of three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court on 13 August 2026. The judge raised concerns about the police investigation’s handling of witness statements and described the Soho drinks event as ‘very troubling’ due to excessive alcohol consumption.
Southwark4 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 15 
Courts · SouthwarkAdjoa Andoh keeps licence after speeding in Dulwich 20mph zone
Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh admitted driving at 25 mph in a 20 mph zone on Lordship Lane, Dulwich on 13 February 2024. Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court ruled on 12 August 2026 that losing her licence would prevent her reaching her 85-year-old mother, who lives alone four hours away without carers.
Southwark4 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 65
Policing · SouthwarkBritish Transport Police seek witnesses after attempted sexual assault on City Thameslink train
British Transport Police are appealing for witnesses after a man on a mobility scooter attempted to sexually assault a woman on a train between City Thameslink and London Bridge on 28 July 2026. Two passengers intervened, and police have released a description of the suspect.
Southwark3 min readTrust 44 · Craft 60 · Hype 15- Policing · Southwark
Met Inspector Michael Richards convicted of sexual assault in central London pub
Inspector Michael Richards was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman at a pub near Leicester Square in September 2024. A jury convicted him of one count of sexual assault on 10 August 2026, while acquitting him of a second charge. He faces sentencing and an accelerated misconduct hearing.
Southwark4 min readTrust 66 · Craft 70 · Hype 12 
Violent Crime · SouthwarkPeckham High Street stabbing suspect and victim both arrested after 3.45am attack
A man in his 40s was taken to hospital after being attacked with a glass bottle on Peckham High Street on 8 August 2026. Both the victim and a man in his 30s were arrested after police recovered a knife and treated an injured officer at the scene. The bus stop remained cordoned until mid-morning.
Southwark3 min readTrust 54 · Craft 62 · Hype 15
Violent Crime · SouthwarkMan arrested after Peckham garden fire triggers road closures
A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire broke out in a garden on Mission Place, Peckham, on 8 August. Police and the London Fire Brigade evacuated the area and closed roads between Peckham High Street and Commercial Way. No injuries were reported, and investigations continue.
Southwark3 min readTrust 54 · Craft 60 · Hype 12
Violent Crime · SouthwarkTwo arrested after man suffers skull fracture in Waterloo BrewDog fight
A pubgoer was left with a fractured skull after a fight at BrewDog Waterloo station following England’s World Cup match against Mexico. Two men were arrested on suspicion of common assault and affray and released on bail. Police are urging witnesses to come forward.
Southwark4 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 50
Policing · SouthwarkMet Officer Cleared of Misconduct in Chris Kaba Shooting, Commissioner Welcomes Decision
A Metropolitan Police officer who shot Chris Kaba in Streatham in 2022 will not face misconduct proceedings, the IOPC confirmed. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley called the decision a milestone but warned the accountability system remains unbalanced for officers and the public.
Southwark5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 30
Courts · SouthwarkJan Repko cleared of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court
A jury at Southwark Crown Court found Jan Repko not guilty of sexual assault by touching and assault by penetration after a four-hour deliberation. The alleged incident occurred during a 2022 consultation session at the Royal College of Music in London.
Southwark5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 15
Also affecting Southwark
Borough-wide and national stories that name Southwark or bear directly on it.
Policing · Waltham ForestWaltham Forest Council Condemned Over Immigration Raid Stance
Waltham Forest Council has been criticised by London Assembly members for its decision not to cooperate with Home Office immigration raids. The council stated it is committed to being a 'borough of sanctuary' and protecting vulnerable people.
Waltham Forest3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 45- Crime Data · London
Westminster has highest murder rate in England and Wales
More than 500 murders were recorded by the Metropolitan Police in London over the past five years. Westminster has the highest murder rate per 100,000 people in England and Wales, while Lambeth recorded the highest number of killings in London.
London3 min readTrust 48 · Craft 65 · Hype 68 
Community Safety · HackneyHackney Council investigates security guard after protester pushed to ground
Hackney Council is investigating an incident where a security guard allegedly pushed a protester to the ground during a demonstration concerning overcrowded temporary accommodation. The protest at Hackney Town Hall involved members of Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth.
Hackney3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 63 · Hype 45
Courts · EalingCouple told to take adoption leave before councils scrap plans
A London couple were advised to take a year of adoption leave from work and buy children's items before Ealing, Hounslow, and Southwark Councils abandoned their adoption plans. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found multiple failures in the process.
Ealing4 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 45
Courts · City of LondonMan jailed for strangling theatregoer had hired hitmen
Malcolm Potier, 75, has been jailed for two years after strangling a theatregoer during a performance. He had previously been imprisoned for attempting to hire hitmen.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 77 · Hype 45
Courts · City of LondonMalcolm Potier jailed for strangling woman at London Coliseum
Malcolm Potier, 75, has been sentenced to two years in prison for strangling Kirsty O'Donnell at the London Coliseum in June 2023. The attack followed an argument after the victim sang along to a show. Potier has a previous conviction in Australia for inciting murder.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 77 · Hype 41
Courts · City of LondonHousehold Cavalry soldier jailed for 12 years for child sex offence plot
A soldier from the Household Cavalry has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempting to arrange child sex offences. Graham Jarvis plotted to rape a seven-year-old girl and a 10-month-old baby he met online, before being arrested by an undercover police officer.
City of London3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 65 · Hype 41- Policing · Westminster
Westminster E-bike Operation Leads to 187 Arrests
A major police operation in Westminster targeting thieves using e-bikes and mopeds has resulted in 187 arrests and 157 vehicles seized. The operation, which ran from February to July, also saw a 22 per cent drop in e-bike related crime in areas like Lambeth and Southwark.
Westminster3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 75 · Hype 40 
Fraud & Cybercrime · WandsworthWandsworth hotelier jailed for £450k Covid loan fraud
A Wandsworth hotelier has received a suspended prison sentence for defrauding the government of £450,000 through fraudulent Covid support loan applications. Richard Courtenay made nine false applications for Bounce Back Loans, using the funds for personal gain. He was ordered to complete unpaid work and rehabilitation.
Wandsworth3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 77 · Hype 20
Community Safety · LondonEnfield dog owner fined £1,850 for persistent barking
An Enfield dog owner has been ordered to pay £1,850 in fines and costs after his dog's persistent barking led to a breach of a noise abatement notice. Enfield Council stated that continuous loud noise from dogs is considered antisocial behaviour.
London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 45
Courts · City of LondonMan receives suspended sentence for Liverpool Street sexual assault
Sofiane Belasri, 41, has received a two-year suspended sentence for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl and attempting to bribe her with a vape near Liverpool Street station. The incident occurred on July 4, 2024, and Belasri was arrested at the scene.
City of London2 min readTrust 60 · Craft 60 · Hype 45
Courts · WestminsterMan denies stealing £100,000 watch from actor
Rachid Bouchibane has denied robbing actor Alexander Johnson of a Patek Philippe watch valued at £100,000. The trial is scheduled for January 2029, and Bouchibane has been released on bail.
Westminster2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 65 · Hype 25
Fraud & Cybercrime · City of LondonHotelier Richard Courtenay jailed for £450k Covid loan fraud
A London hotelier has been sentenced to a suspended prison term for fraudulently obtaining £450,000 in Covid 'bounce back' loans. Richard Courtenay pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering charges and has repaid the full amount.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 71 · Hype 41
Courts · LewishamTwo deny Lewisham murder after nightclub dispute
Two friends who met while studying master's degrees in Scotland have denied murdering Taiwo Ekerin outside a Lewisham nightclub. Chibueze Chukwurah and Maxwell Uguanya pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter.
Lewisham3 min readTrust 48 · Craft 65 · Hype 45- Courts · Haringey
Three jailed for minimum of 22 years for Haringey murder
Three men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Gregory Catillo Volquez in Haringey. Benito Ramirez Kones, Carlos Akum Metumbe, and Luiggi Perelli Santana will serve minimum terms of 23, 22, and 23 years respectively.
Haringey3 min readTrust 70 · Craft 77 · Hype 45 
Courts · HaringeyThree jailed for life for Tiverton Estate murder
Three men have received life sentences for the murder of Gregory Catillo Volquez, who was stabbed 22 times and beaten on the Tiverton Estate in Haringey. The court heard of an 'arsenal of knives' found on the estate.
Haringey3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 75 · Hype 45
Violent Crime · WestminsterTwo jailed for Mayfair robbery of £137,000 watch from designer
Two men have been convicted of robbing fashion designer Catalin Botezatu of a £137,000 Richard Mille watch in Mayfair on 28 January 2026. The victim, who feared for his life, was restrained and injured during the attack outside Amazonico restaurant near Berkeley Square.
Westminster4 min readTrust 55 · Craft 65 · Hype 30
LatestThree directors jailed for £70m tree-planting investment scam
Three directors of Ethical Forestry Ltd have been jailed at Southwark Crown Court for their roles in a £70 million investment scam. The scheme, which ran from 2008 to 2015, defrauded nearly 3,000 victims, who lost savings and pensions. The directors spent millions on luxury goods and properties.
4 min readTrust 45 · Craft 55 · Hype 70
Courts · WestminsterMayfair watch robbery trial: Defendant says he was threatened with fire
A 22-year-old man accused of robbing a £137,000 Richard Mille watch in Mayfair said he was threatened with being set on fire if he refused. The trial at Southwark Crown Court heard Ali Eldahouzze and Abdel El Habchi deny robbery charges after Catalin Botezatu was targeted in January.
Westminster4 min readTrust 48 · Craft 85 · Hype 35
Courts · WestminsterAli Eldahouzze denies Mayfair watch robbery after death threats
A 22-year-old man has told a court he was threatened with being set on fire if he did not help steal a £137,000 watch in Berkeley Square. Ali Eldahouzze denies robbery but admits meeting the victim’s assailant minutes before the attack on 28 January 2026.
Westminster5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 35