A man has been jailed for a spree of “smash and grab” raids at luxury shops in wealthy parts of London.

crime reporter(wp/es):
A man has been jailed for a spree of “smash and grab” raids at luxury shops in wealthy parts of London.
Connor Patterson, 20, was part of a gang which caused over £200,000 in loss and damage when they burgled high-end shops while armed with sledgehammers.
Patterson, of Priory Road, Kilburn, was jailed on Thursday after a trial lasting nine days at Southwark Crown Court.
The gang carried out the burglaries – including 11 overnight smash and grabs – over a period of two weeks at the start of the year, between January 17 and February 2.
The thieves used stolen mopeds, hammers and sledgehammers to smash their way into the shops in Westminster, Camden, Kensington, Chelsea and Hackney.

They would run in, steal the goods before speeding off on mopeds at high-speeds through red lights and against ‘no-entry’ signs across the city. It was often impossible for officers to safely chase them, police said.
Often the mopeds would carry the driver and a second rider on the back to carry the stolen goods.
Patterson was arrested in Camden on March 23, on one of the bikes used in the raids, after detectives from Westminster Crime Squad launched an investigation.
He was sentenced to six years imprisonment for conspiracy to burgle.

Other culprits involved in the raids are still wanted by police.
Detective Constable Tony Holley, of the crime squad, said: “My message to them is clear: we will not stop until all those involved are brought before the courts and taken off of London's streets.
“I would also like to appeal to all those who have information concerning these incidents and are yet to speak to police, to come forward."
Speaking about the burglaries, he said: “An organised group of criminals selected their targets for maximum gain.
“They caused thousands of pounds of damage in the course of their spree and stole high value goods.

"As the gang wore bike helmets this was and remains a complex investigation.
“However, a committed and detailed investigation from Westminster Crime Squad ensured that the case has so far resulted in a successful conviction.”


 Anyone with information that could help police is asked to call Westminster Crime Squad on 101. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

East London cafe fined nearly £27k

staff reporter(wp/es):
A rodent-infested café in London’s East End has been fined nearly £27,000 after mice chewed through food in the stockroom.
Inspectors for Tower Hamlets Council found a packet of Kit Kats and spaghetti had been gnawed by mice at Café Fresh in Whitechapel.
Photos show nibbled food as well as a hole in the wall surrounded by smear marks which inspectors believe was the work of mice.
The café, in Commercial Road, was closed by public health inspectors last October after contaminated foods were discovered.
Last week it was fined a total of £26,579.

The café was closed by environmental health on October 30 after they discovered a “severe mouse infestation” and contaminated foods.
Nearly two months later, returning inspectors found the owners, Fresh Frill Café, had not complied with food hygiene improvement notices – so charged them with 12 hygiene offences.
 Director Mahbub Alam pleaded guilty to the charges and was fined £5,220. He was also ordered to pay some of the council’s legal costs and a £54 victim surcharge.

The café was also fined £12,000 and ordered to pay the rest of the legal costs to the sum of £2,685.15 with a £120 victim surcharge.
The full amount owed by the company is £18,805.15, the council said.
On a return to the café, inspectors found standards have improved “to a satisfactory condition”.
Councillor Shiria Khatun, deputy mayor and cabinet member for Community Safety, said: “We take breaches in hygiene regulations very seriously in Tower Hamlets, and will not hesitate to prosecute in such cases.
“I am glad to note that the café in question has now improved standards to a satisfactory condition.”

'in January or February' Brexit to be triggered by Theresa May

political correspondent(wp/es):
Theresa May has declared that she wants to begin the formal process of Brexit by February next year, according to one of Brussels' leading figures.
European Council president Donald Tusk said the Prime Minister told him during their meeting at Downing Street last week that she would be ready to trigger Article 50 to begin Brexit by February.
Formal negotiations between the UK and the EU cannot begin until she starts the two year process, which Brexit Secretary David Davis has insisted will be triggered without a parliamentary vote.
With Britain's withdrawal clouded in confusion and no clear signal on whether the country intends to stay in the single market or not, Europe's 27 other leaders gathered for an informal summit in the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, without the Prime Minister.

Speaking about his meeting with the PM, Mr Tusk told a summit press conference: "Prime Minister May was very open and honest with me.
"She declared that it's almost impossible to trigger Article 50 this year but it's quite likely that they will be ready maybe in January maybe in February next year."
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon vowed to block any proposals for an EU army while Britain remains a member of the union in a move likely to anger European leaders.

In his state of the union address on Wednesday, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker called for EU countries "to pool their defence capabilities in the form of a permanent structured co-operation", and proposed a European Defence Fund by the end of the year.
But Sir Michael said the UK would veto plans for any EU army that may rival Nato.
"That is not going to happen," he told The Times. "We are full members of the EU and we will go on resisting any attempt to set up a rival to Nato.
"We have always been concerned about unnecessarily duplicating what we already have in Nato."In Bratislava, Mr Juncker insisted Britain cannot get access to the European single market without accepting the free movement of workers.

The conundrum has become central to the Brexit debate and has caused friction within the Government as ministers weigh up how to maintain the benefits of the trading bloc while regaining full control of the UK's borders - a goal deemed by Mrs May as essential to properly implement the referendum result.
The PM slapped down Mr Davis for saying it was "very improbable" that the UK could be in the single market and end free movement, and then insisted the Government would not offer a "running commentary" on negotiations.
Commenting on the issue, Mr Juncker told the press conference: "There's a clear interlink as we made clear since the very beginning between the access to the internal market and the basic principles of the internal market, mainly the one of the freedom of movement of workers.
"We are sticking to that position and this is not a game between prime ministers leaving and prime ministers remaining, this is about people in Europe.
 "It's about the rights of ordinary people and workers, of those living in Europe, and so I can't see any possibility of compromising on that very issue."