UK Car Theft Crisis Pits Manufacturers Against High-Tech Gangs
Business
A growing number of stolen vehicles are being shipped overseas by technologically sophisticated criminal groups.
To the untrained eye, the red shipping container at Felixstowe looked no different to the thousands of others stacked up at Britain's busiest seaport.
Destined for Africa, its contents were listed as 'household goods,' but to police officer Adam Gibson, something didn't add up. So workers broke into the container.
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Mother's heart 'splintered into a million pieces' when daughter died following Christmas Day crash
A mother has said her heart "splintered into a million pieces" when her daughter died following a car crash. Lillie Clack, 22, from Morden in south London, was injured after the vehicle she was in smashed into a tree in the early hours of Christmas Day 2021. She died a few days later. The kitchen designer was among six people who had squeezed into a Mercedes following a night out. At the wheel was drink-driver Charlie Hilton, 25, who was chased by police and reached speeds of more than 100mph before the car struck the tree, flipped over and burst into flames. During an inquest into Ms Clack's death, her mother, Debbie Clack, told South London Coroner's Court on Friday: "Lillie is always on my mind. Did Lillie suffer? I know that she would have been scared and wanted her mummy. "My heart splintered into a million pieces and Lillie is the only medication that can fix it." Ms Clack's brother Michael also gave a statement - read out on his behalf - saying his sister's death had a "massive impact upon my family and everyone around". He added: "I will never forgive Charlie Hilton for what he did to Lillie as he has ruined my life and the life of my family." Ms Clack had gone to a pub in Morden with her friends before they accepted a lift home from Hilton. In February 2023, Hilton was jailed for 10 years and six months after pleading guilty to causing Ms Clack's death by dangerous driving, three counts of causing serious injury, failing to stop when directed and driving above the alcohol limit. He was also disqualified from driving for five years after his release from prison. The inquest heard Hilton had been told by his passengers that a police vehicle had turned its blue lights on behind them and was indicating for him to stop. Instead, he sped up and was driving so fast that the passengers bumped their heads on the roof of the car as they were chased by police. Boyfriend asked 'where's Lillie?' after crash Among those in the car were Ms Clack's boyfriend Jack Watson, who sat in the backseat, and her best friend Delia Casey, who was in the front. Mr Watson told the inquest: "I think I might have said 'Charlie what are you doing, why are you going so fast'. I think the girls were in shock." Read more from Sky News: He recalled Hilton telling him to shut up. Mr Watson said he does not remember the crash but does recall being pulled out on a stretcher and bleeding from his lip. He added: "I remember asking 'where's Lillie?'. I remember being in an ambulance and blood on my jacket but I do not know where the blood came from. "My clothing was cut off from me - and I knew then that it was bad."
Yahoo
an hour ago
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Authorities Searching Volcanic Lake for 34 Missing Gamblers as Suspect Hints it Contains Over 100 Bodies
Authorities in the Philippines are searching for 34 missing men, who were accused of cheating while betting on livestreamed cockfights during the COVID pandemic It's believed that the men were killed and dumped in a volcanic lake called Taal Lake by a group of six security guards One of the suspects has come forward to give an interview, claiming that they killed and disposed of more than 100 bodiesAuthorities are searching for 34 men who have gone missing amid allegations that they cheated while betting on cockfights in Manila, Philippines. The search is pointing toward Taal Lake, a volcanic lake, where it is believed that the men's bodies might have been disposed of, according to reporting by the BBC. Now, a suspect involved in the case is hinting that authorities will find even more victims. Per local outlet Philstar, the men went missing between April 2021 and January 2022. The outlet noted that "at least 10" of the missing men were last seen at the Manila Arena, where a group of six security guards that have become chief suspects worked. It's claimed that the men took part in fixing livestreamed cockfights, known as e-sabong, which became popular during the COVID pandemic. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Cockfighting is legal in the Philippines. While some industries suffered amid the pandemic, the BBC reported that turning online to livestream fights opened up an even greater revenue source in the business. Amid news of the disappearing gamblers, the livestreamed version of cockfighting has since been banned. Six security guards have been accused of kidnapping the men, with one of them coming forward to speak out, according to local outlet The suspect, identified under the alias "Totoy," implied the men were strangled to death with a wire before they were disposed of during a recent interview on GMA News, per the outlet. 'How can they survive when they were already buried in Taal Lake?' Totoy asked during the interview, which was conducted in Filipino. 'All of them. If we dig them up, it's just bones. How can we recognize them?" Totoy hinted that authorities would uncover the bodies of more than 100 victims if they searched, saying, "And it's not just missing cockfighting enthusiasts who are being thrown there, even drug lords." The suspect, who came forward amid alleged threats against him and other loved ones, vowed to "cooperate" with "the mothers and relatives" of the missing, saying that he would help in "the pursuit of justice." Per the outlet, he alleged that the men were bound after they were taken. He said he was responsible for talking to people who were accused of cheating. After that, "another group of persons" took charge. Totoy expressed surprise at how many men they were targeting in a brief period of time, alleging that he expressed concerns about the speed. Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla told the press on Thursday, June 19 that divers would be deployed in the Taal Lake, which encompasses an active volcano, to search for human remains, according to the BBC. "We can't just let it pass and just let it go. We have to be responsible enough to seek the truth especially in cases like this," he said. Following the revelation, Remulla also said that they would search for additional witnesses who might be able to corroborate the allegations. Philstar reported that five witnesses had already been spoken to. Philippine Navy spokesperson Capt. John Percie Alcos told the press on Friday, June 20, per Philstar, that the organization was "ready to help any agency of the government for the safety and welfare of Filipinos." However, he added that the navy has not yet been drawn into the seach. "Likely, once there's a notice from other government agencies in this particular case, we will refer this to the Naval Special Operations Command because that's where we have our technical divers," he said. PEOPLE has contacted the Philippine National Police and Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla for comment. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Three men guilty of repeatedly raping 12-year-old girl over three days
Three men are facing jail after being found guilty of rape after drugging a young girl and 'using her for their own horrendous gratification' over multiple days. Kevin Horvath, 26, and Ivan Turtak, 38, saw the 12-year-old victim in a supermarket car park in Dover and encouraged her to get in their car on August 11 2024, a Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesperson said. She was then plied with drugs including crystal meth and amphetamine before she was raped and subjected to sexual acts by them and a third man, Ernest Gunar, 27, over a three-day period. The girl managed to escape from her captors after waking up before them on August 13. On Thursday, jurors at Canterbury Crown Court found the three men guilty of a series of sexual offences including rape of a 12-year-old girl after over 14 hours of deliberation. After trial, Gunar was convicted of two counts of rape against a child under 13; Turtak was convicted of one count; and Horvath was convicted of sexual assault. Horvath had already admitted three counts of rape against a child under 13, and one charge of assault by penetration of a child under 13, and Gunar, who is thought to be his cousin, had also admitted one charge of rape. Turtak initially denied rape but did admit taking indecent photos of a child. During the three-day period, whenever they went out in public, the girl was told that she would be killed if she tried to talk to anyone or tried to run away, a CPS spokesperson said. She was found by police on August 13 after escaping from the three men. Her phone had been taken from her and was later found in Horvath's car. Senior Crown Prosecutor Catherine Wear said: 'The three defendants took a 12-year-old from the street, took full advantage of her, plying her with drugs and using her for their own horrendous gratification. 'None of us can underestimate the impact this has had on her. When she was first found by police, she was unable to tell them what she had been put through, as she was so scared, and the details only came out gradually after that. 'Thanks to her courage in detailing what happened to her, despite the obvious distress that caused her, these three dangerous men have now been brought to justice for the appalling and callous crimes they committed against her. 'We hope these verdicts bring some small comfort to her as she starts to rebuild her life.' Horvath and Turtak, of Dover, along with Gunar, of Folkestone, will be sentenced on September 12.
