Latest news with #Dagenham
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Teenagers flee after throwing fireworks into pensioner's house starting deadly blaze
Two teenagers have been jailed for manslaughter after a pensioner died as a result of fireworks thrown into his house. Robert Price, 76, died after sustaining injuries in the fire that followed at his home in Oval Road North, Dagenham on Saturday 27 July 2024. Videos showed a 16-year-old boy throwing fireworks through cardboard covering up a broken window at Price's house in Dagenham while Nathan Otitodilchukwu, 18, accompanied him. The incident was captured on CCTV and doorbell camera footage that helped identify the two teens. The pair appeared at the Old Bailey on 2 June (Monday). Otitodilchukwu was sentenced to six years in prison while the 16-year-old, who cannot be named, received two years and eight months.
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Shocking moment laughing teen yobs hurl FIREWORKS into home sparking huge blaze that killed OAP
THIS is the moment laughing teenage yobs hurled fireworks into a home sparking a huge blaze that killed a pensioner. OAP Robert Price had been victim of a years-long campaign of harassment and criminal damage before he died in the horror blaze. 4 4 4 The 76-year-old, who had the early signs of dementia, had been left with boarded up windows at his ground floor flat thanks to local youths. Doorbell footage shows the yobs approaching Mr Price's home on Oval Road North in Dagenham, East London, on July 27 last year. One youth can be seen climbing onto a wall to throw a firework through a blocked off window before running away. Paramedics and fire fighters had to force their way into the property and found the occupant's body. Mr Price was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem gave his cause of death as inhalation of fire fumes and burns. Nathan Otitodilchukwu, 18, and a 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were jailed on Monday after previously admitting manslaughter. Otitodilchukwu was given a six-year jail term, the unnamed teen was sentenced to two years and eight months. Mr Price's heartbroken family said in a statement yesterday: "We are grateful to the CPS, police and social services for the work and support they have given us during this difficult time. "We would ask that our privacy be respected to allow us to grieve in peace." The two killers had tried to hurl a firework into the same home earlier that day but ran when Mr Price opened the door. When they returned shortly after, the 16-year-old can be heard saying "come with me, come with me" and then "gonna f***ing torch this n****", the Old Bailey heard previously. They ran into the front garden before the unnamed teen managed to punch a hole in the window boardings, the court heard. Otitodilchukwu is heard on Ring doorbell footage saying: "Gonna f***ing torch this n*****", "Yo, you f***ing paedo", "yo you f***ing d***head" and "We are gonna f**k you up", before running away. Prosecutor Catherine Farrelly KC said: "A loud bang can be heard, followed by high-pitched laughing as the group run away." During the sentencing, Judge Rebecca Trowler KC told the younger boy: "Mr Price lost his life in circumstances of a planned attack where I am sure you intended some harm, and in any event it was highly reckless as to the risk of harm." Detective Chief Inspector Phil Clarke, from Specialist Crime North, said: "This is a deeply tragic case, which saw a man lose his life in his own home after a completely mindless and reckless act had devastating consequences. "The young defendants will now have to face the consequences of their actions by spending time in prison. "I hope Robert's family can take some solace in this outcome and am pleased the defendants spared them the ordeal of a trial. "I would like to thank the London Fire Brigade for their initial response and the fire investigation which followed." Do you know more? Email
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Moment teenagers lob a firework into a house that started a massive blaze and killed an OAP: Pair are jailed for manslaughter
This is the moment a hooded teenager threw a lit firework into a home that started a massive blaze and killed a widower pensioner. Robert Price, 76, had been the victim of a years-long campaign of harassment and criminal damage before he died in the horror fire. The OAP, who had early signs of dementia, had been tormented by local youths to the point where all of his ground floor windows had been boarded up. Doorbell video and CCTV captured the yobs walking up to Mr Price's property in Oval Road North, Dagenham, on 27 July 2024. One lout then climbs onto a brick wall to lob a firework through a boarded-up window, and then sprint away from the house before the camera visibly shakes. Paramedics and firefighters rushed to Mr Price's home and forced entry where they discovered his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene with a post-mortem examination later giving the cause of death as inhalation of fire fumes and burns. Nathan Otitodilchukwu, 18, and a 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were today both jailed after previously admitting manslaughter. Otitodilchukwu was handed a six year jail term, while the teenager was sentenced to two years and eight months. Mr Price's family today thanked the CPS, police and social services 'for the work and support they have given us during this difficult time'. 'We would ask that our privacy be respected to allow us to grieve in peace,' they said in a statement released by Scotland Yard. The teenage killers were involved in trying to hurl a firework into Mr Price's home earlier that day but they fled when the pensioner opened his front door. Doorbell footage showed Mr Price open the door slightly and say something, before the 16-year-old ran away shouting 'he saw me fam' as the youths aborted their attack. A short time later, they walked back towards the house, with doorbell footage capturing him saying, 'come with me, come with me' and then 'gonna f****** torch this n****', the Old Bailey previously heard. The duo ran into the front garden of the house before the 16-year-old stepped on the gas meter box, reached above the boarded-up section of the window and punched a hole, the court was told. Otitodilchukwu is heard on Ring doorbell footage saying: 'Gonna f***ing torch this n*****', 'Yo, you f***ing paedo', 'yo you f***ing d***head' ' 'We are gonna f**k you up,' before running away. Sentencing the duo today, Judge Rebecca Trowler KC told the younger boy: 'Mr Price lost his life in circumstances of a planned attack where I am sure you intended some harm, and in any event it was highly reckless as to the risk of harm.' She noted the older defendant had 'poor impulse control' and a 'lack of appreciation of the impact on others'. However, his was a 'determined effort to carry out this offence and cause harm just short of serious harm', she said. The judge accepted that the younger defendant may have been 'encouraged' by the other boy who had previously been involved in criminal behaviour. She also noted that he had expressed 'remorse' and awareness of the 'gravity' of the offence. Previously, prosecutor Catherine Farrelly KC had told how Mr Price's terraced home caught fire in July 2024, with black smoke filling the house before he could be saved. 'Robert Price was killed in a fire which was started at his home address by the two defendants who smashed a window at his property and threw a firework inside,' she told the court. John Shoesmith, who had been friends with Mr Price for 10 years, said he would never leave his house because 'kids would disturb him,' Ms Farrelly said. Mr Shoesmith described him as socially awkward and said his lack of social skills and poor hearing meant some people found him 'hard to get along with'. The harassment included acts of criminal damage to his house, the court heard. According to Mr Shoesmith, Mr Price's windows were regularly smashed by a number of the local children, to the point that he had his downstairs windows boarded up. 'In Mr Shoesmith's words, this would happen all the time and they would make his life hell,' Ms Farrelly said. The most recent incident of criminal damage had occurred three days before Mr Price's death, when a brick had been put through his window, the court heard. CCTV footage from the day of the fire showed that in the hours before the attack, Otitodilchukwu, who was living in care, met up with the 16-year-old boy. They filmed themselves launching a firework into a lake, the court was told. At around 5.30pm, they walked towards Mr Price's house with the 16-year-old holding what was believed to be a firework, Ms Farrelly said. Doorbell footage showed Mr Price open the door slightly and say something, before the 16-year-old ran away shouting 'he saw me fam' shortly before the youths returned and carried out the attack. 'A loud bang can be heard, followed by high-pitched laughing as the group run away,' the prosecutor said. A few minutes later, smoke could be seen coming out of the window, before flames and black smoke engulfed the room, the court heard. A neighbour who had seen the flames knocked on the door and briefly spoke to Mr Price, but his 'responses became less clear', the court was told. The neighbour tried to get into the house to rescue Mr Price, but the door was locked, Ms Farrelly said. Firefighters were later able to get inside and put out the fire, but Mr Price could not be saved. When Otitodilchukwu, of Romford, returned to his care home that evening, he spoke to a support worker and said, 'I'm going to do 20 years in jail' and 'Don't check for news about what happened in Dagenham', the court heard. A little later he also told his support worker: 'I was drinking with my friends on Saturday and we were shooting fireworks.' A few days later, he asked a woman if she had heard about the fire, before telling her, 'If anyone asks, don't say I was in Dagenham,' the court was told. When asked why, he said: 'Maybe I started the fire with a firework.' He went on to say that he was drunk with two of his friends, that he had put a firework through a letter box and that it was funny. Otitodilchukwu was arrested the same day and the 16-year-old was arrested the following month. In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Price's family said he was a 'kind' and 'generous' man, and described the 'suffering' that he must have endured. Detective Chief Inspector Phil Clarke, from Specialist Crime North, said: 'This is a deeply tragic case, which saw a man lose his life in his own home after a completely mindless and reckless act had devastating consequences. 'The young defendants will now have to face the consequences of their actions by spending time in prison. 'I hope Robert's family can take some solace in this outcome and am pleased the defendants spared them the ordeal of a trial.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Teenagers jailed over fireworks attack on widower Robert Price
Two teenagers have been locked up for a firework attack which led to the death of widower in his terraced home in east the years leading up to the attack, Robert Price, 76, had been the target of a prolonged campaign of harassment and criminal damage, the Old Bailey was Otitodilchukwu, 18, and a 16-year-old who cannot be named due to his age threatened to "torch" the pensioner before punching a hole in his window and pushing a firework into his home on Oval Road North, Dagenham, last pair had admitted manslaughter and were sentenced on Monday by Judge Rebecca Trowler KC. 'Poor impulse control' Otitodilchukwu was jailed for six years and the youth was handed a custodial sentence of two years and eight Trowler told the younger boy: "Mr Price lost his life in circumstances of a planned attack where I am sure you intended some harm, and in any event it was highly reckless as to the risk of harm."She noted the older defendant had "poor impulse control" and a "lack of appreciation of the impact on others".However, his was a "determined effort to carry out this offence and cause harm just short of serious harm", she judge accepted that the younger defendant may have been "encouraged" by the older teenager who had previously been involved in criminal also noted that he had expressed "remorse" and awareness of the "gravity" of the offence. Previously, prosecutor Catherine Farrelly KC had told how Mr Price's terraced home filled with black smoke on 27 July 2024 before he could be saved."Robert Price was killed in a fire which was started at his home address by the two defendants who smashed a window at his property and threw a firework inside," she told the Shoesmith, who had been friends with Mr Price for 10 years, said he would never leave his house because "kids would disturb him," Ms Farrelly Shoesmith described him as socially awkward and said his lack of social skills and poor hearing meant some people found him "hard to get along with".The harassment included acts of criminal damage to his house, the court to Mr Shoesmith, Mr Price's windows were regularly smashed by a number of the local children, to the point that he had his downstairs windows boarded up."In Mr Shoesmith's words, this would happen all the time and they would make his life hell," Ms Farrelly said. 'High-pitched laughing' CCTV footage from the day of the fire showed that in the hours before the attack, Otitodilchukwu, who was living in care, met up with the 16-year-old filmed themselves launching a firework into a lake, the court was around 17:30 BST, they walked towards Mr Price's house with the 16-year-old boy holding what was believed to be a firework, Ms Farrelly footage showed Mr Price open the door slightly and say something, before the 16-year-old ran away shouting "he saw me fam" shortly before the youths returned and carried out the attack."A loud bang can be heard, followed by high-pitched laughing as the group run away," the prosecutor said.A few minutes later, smoke could be seen coming out of the window, before flames and black smoke engulfed the room, the court heard.A neighbour who had seen the flames knocked on the door and briefly spoke to Mr Price, but his "responses became less clear", the court was neighbour tried to rescue Mr Price, but the door was locked, Ms Farrelly were later able to get inside and put out the fire, but Mr Price could not be saved. 'Kind and generous' When Otitodilchukwu, of Romford, returned to his care home that evening, he spoke to a support worker and said, "I'm going to do 20 years in jail" and "Don't check for news about what happened in Dagenham", the court heard.A little later he also told his support worker: "I was drinking with my friends on Saturday and we were shooting fireworks."A few days later, he asked a woman if she had heard about the fire, before telling her, "If anyone asks, don't say I was in Dagenham," the court was asked why, he said: "Maybe I started the fire with a firework."He went on to say that he was drunk with two of his friends, that he had put a firework through a letter box and that it was was arrested the same day and the 16-year-old was arrested the following a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Price's family said he was a "kind" and "generous" man, and described the "suffering" that he must have endured.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Prison guard's kisses with inmate are caught on her own bodycam
A female prison officer in England was caught kissing a drug dealer inmate when footage from her own body-worn camera was viewed. The film shows Tracy Boateng, 27, lean in multiple times as she got affectionate with Vincent Ojo at Pentonville prison in London. Boateng had admitted misconduct in a public office through engaging in an inappropriate relationship with Ojo between February 25 and April 19 last year. At Snaresbrook Crown Court in London the senior prison officer was handed a 12-month sentence, suspended for 24 months. Evidence against Boateng, who is from Dagenham, London, included the camera footage of the pair kissing and hugging, the court heard. Sentencing, Judge Caroline English told her the 'exceptional' feature of the case was her three-month-old daughter and that Boateng had avoided prison because of the impact it could have on the young girl. Messages found on Boateng's mobile phone after she was arrested revealed she had discussed the relationship with another prison officer who had replied: 'This guy really believes you are his fairytale ending.' The couple were also filmed taking a selfie together during which Boateng made a V sign and asked Ojo to 'say cheese', prosecutor Laura Kenyon said. None of the footage was played at the sentencing but in one of the clips since released by police, Boateng asks Ojo to 'shut the door' as she informs she had 'picked' him over another inmate. Ojo also accompanied Boateng to an office in the prison 'multiple times' where she had appeared to 'reveal details' of organizational information and permitted him to look at her computer screen, the prosecutor explained. Ms Kenyon told the court that Ojo, 34, is serving a sentence for possession of heroin with intent to supply, and had been on the prison wing since 2020. Of Boateng's relationship with Ojo, the prosecutor added: 'Her behavior became known to other prisoners which had the potential to disrupt discipline in the prison.' The court heard that the prison officer had found a phone in Ojo's cell in November 2023, after which he became threatening towards her, called her by her first name and referenced her home address. She complained about his behavior and 'nothing was done', said Ioana Nedelcu, defending.
