UK Window Cleaning Thug Life

Navy personnel standing over the drugs seized from the yacht where Grimsby window cleaner was jailed for 8 years for role in £200m cocaine smuggling plot.

Grimsby window cleaner jailed for 8 years for role in £200m cocaine smuggling plot: Thomas Britteon, 28, of Convamore Road, was one of three men who were caught aboard The Makayabella – a yacht loaded with a tonne of cocaine – in the Irish Sea in September. At Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard, along with John Powell, 71, and Benjamin Mellor, 35, both from West Yorkshire, he pleaded guilty to having more that 13,000 euro worth of cocaine for sale or supply and having it on the yacht for the purpose of importation.

Window cleaner Britteon had been offered just over £14,000 – 20,000 euro – for his role in the operation – which had said he had thought would be like a Caribbean holiday. Powell’s 47-year-old son, Stephen Powell – who was jailed at Leeds Crown Leeds for 16 years last December for conspiracy to import the drugs – was described by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin as being the brains and the money behind the crime.

The court heard John Powell bought The Makayabella in March 2014 on instructions from his son and was to be paid a six-figure sum for this part in the operation. More than 1,000kg of cocaine, packed into 41 bales, had been collected from the coast of Venezuala in August 2014 and packed onto the yacht. The trio had planned to rendezvous with a smaller vessel the Sea Breeze 16 miles off Rosslare a month later, with the aim of bringing the drugs back to the UK.

However, the Makayabella ran low on diesel and was under observation drifting at sea for two days.

Food supplies for the three men on the yacht had run out and they were extremely low on drinking water. The court heard, when they were eventually boarded by the Irish Navy, the trio had run out of food and diesel and were so hungry, one of them had begun to take the drug to repress his appetite.

Garda Inspector Fergal Foley said yesterday: “To be quite blunt they were delighted to see the Navy.”

He told the court the movements of the Makayabella yacht in the Caribbean were reported to the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre after the RNLI came to rescue of the Sea Breeze 18 miles off Rosslare, on September 18. The vessel had run out of petrol but had several drums of diesel were found on board. Stephen Powell was also found on the ship.

A US naval vessel also observed the Makayabella appeared to be floundering 450 nautical miles off the coast and reported this to the US Maritime Information Centre. Backtracking information on the Makayabella to the Caribbean it was discovered that Mellor had to be rescued in the Caribbean where he was found floating in a dinghy and under the influence of cocaine.

The Makayabella was intercepted by the Irish Navy.

Acting on this information, a boarding party came aboard the ship on September 23, 217 nautical miles off the south coast of Ireland. The three immediately confessed their crime and the 41 bales of cocaine were seized. Powell was jailed for 10 years and Mellor – who had started to take the cocaine to stave off his hunger and was to be paid £71,636.35 – 100,000 euro – was jailed for eight years.

Judge Ó Donnabháin said: “This is a very significant crime in which the accused were involved knowingly. “They gave of themselves to go to sea in a yacht provided by Mr Powell from money from his son. “Mr Powell was more knowingly involved with the finances and sourcing of the boat and he stood get more out of it financially if the thing came to fruition. The other two men were roustabouts.”

Referring to the co-operation between intelligence agencies all over the world, he said, “It is encouraging to see the reach of agencies is in no way limited by territorial waters or economic areas of influence. It is encouraging to see there is no hiding place for drug importers.”

Ciarán O’Loughlin for Powell said the 71-year-old had a lot health difficulties and had no previous convictions of any kind. His father was a policeman. Alice Fawsett said Mellor, who broke his wrist on the voyage had been using drugs since the age of 12 and embarked on the operation to pay off a drugs debt, seeing this as the solution to all his problems. Michael O’Higgins said Britteon was working as a window-cleaner when he met Stephen Powell and that he agreed to sign up for what sounded to him like a Caribbean holiday.

The 51-year-old window cleaner, of Morgan Drive, Greenhithe, denied attempting to murder Dionne Norris, claiming he loved her and did not want to kill her. David Norris stabbed his wife at least nine times.

Greenhithe window cleaner David Norris stabbed wife Dionne at least nine times: A husband who tried to kill his estranged wife when he stabbed her at least nine times in a graveyard has been jailed for 20 years. David Norris wept as a judge told him: “I am satisfied this was a murderous assault.”

The 51-year-old window cleaner, of Morgan Drive, Greenhithe, denied attempting to murder Dionne Norris, claiming he loved her and did not want to kill her. But a jury of eight men and four women convicted him today by an 11-1 majority verdict. He had admitted wounding with intent. He will serve half the sentence before being released on licence.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Norris told his wife as he repeatedly plunged the knife into her: “I’m sorry, Dionne, if I can’t have you no one can.” He only stopped the attack when she “played dead” and a farmer disturbed him after hearing her screams.

The couple had been together for 30 years and married for 27 years. They had two children.

Mrs Norris, 45, said the relationship was good at first but it deteriorated as the years went by. “He treated me like dirt,” she said. An Arsenal supporter, she said she left him on August 28 last year, taking with her just her club shirt. She went to stay with Michael Bedford, who she met on Facebook and later started a relationship with.

On October 11 she and Norris agreed to visit her mother’s grave at Blue Bell Hill crematorium and then his grandmother’s grave at St Nicholas Church in Southfleet. Norris asked her if they could save their marriage, but she told him it was over. When they reached the churchyard in Southfleet he went to the boot of the car and she walked to the grave with flowers. “I noticed he was looking around,” said Mrs Norris. “I bent down to put flowers on the grave. He just lunged at me, He said: ‘I’m sorry, Dionne, if I can’t have you no one can.’

“He put his hands tight around my throat. I screamed. He put his hands over my mouth. I was on the ground by the grave. He was sitting on my legs. “I was trying to fight him off. I saw him taking a knife out of his pocket. I said: ‘Dave, think of the boys.’ He said: ‘---- the boys.’ “He stabbed me. I don’t know how many times. I was on my side. I couldn’t get him off. I was aware of a gentleman. David looked around and told him to ---- off.

“I thought he was going to kill me because of the evil in his eyes. I had to play dead. I said to him: ‘I can see my mum. Let me go and be with my mum.’ “I wanted to let him think he had killed me. He stroked my forehead and said: ‘Now go to sleep with your mum.’ I closed my eyes and held my breath. “I could see him slowly walking away. I opened my eyes and started screaming. The man came. He called the police and an ambulance came.” Mrs Norris was taken to a London hospital and treated for multiple stab wounds.

Jailed: Window Cleaner, Lee Brown turned violent after returning home from a night out.

Angry window cleaner breaks nearly every bone in man's face after discovering drunk babysitters with daughter: A furious father broke nearly every bone in a man's face when he discovered the people babysitting his 11-month-old daughter were drunk. Lee Brown turned violent after returning home from a night out to find a party going on at the home where his baby was being looked after.

The 23-year-old flipped and dragged Darren McKay out of the flat before punching him in the head in a brutal attack, reports the Newcastle Chronicle. When Brown finally backed-off, Mr McKay was taken to Wansbeck Hospital suffering from a broken forehead, nose, jaw and eye socket, as well as bruising, swelling and a deep cut to the face.

Now, Brown, of Katherine Street, Ashington, has been jailed for 17 months after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm at Newcastle Crown Court.

Sentencing him, Judge Penny Moreland said: “You went to the house where your daughter was being looked after and, because you were unhappy with how she was being looked after, you assaulted Darren McKay.” Judge Moreland added: “What you did has had a substantial impact on the way he lived his life.”

The court heard the attack happened when Brown and his partner Natasha Snow returned after a night out on September 12 last year after hearing the people in charge of looking after their daughter for the night were having a party. Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said Brown dragged Mr McKay by the shirt down some stairs and out of the house. He was found later by fellow revellers slumped on the ground before an ambulance was called. Mr Pallister said: “He had gross swelling and bruising to his face, especially around the eyes. "He had a full thickness laceration to his eye brow and bruising to the elbow.”

Mr Pallister added: “There was a fracture to the forehead, the eye socket, the upper jaw and a possible nasal bone fracture.” Mr McKay was in Wansbeck Hospital for 48 hours, where his cuts were stitched but his fractures were not deemed to need further treatment. Mr Pallister said a foot imprint was also found on Mr McKay’s face, but Brown denied that was him.

Richard Bloomfield, mitigating, said some of the injuries were caused by someone else. He said: “He [Brown] made arrangements for the child to be baby sat so he could, if he wished, have a drink. “He then saw what he perceived to be a party going on around the child. There was loud music and alcohol being consumed. “He accepts he lost his temper and set about Mr McKay.” Brown, who has started his own window cleaning business, also pleaded guilty to one count of common assault for punching another reveller at the party.

Window Cleaners Get Justice

Attacker jailed as judge praises pub customers' bravery after vicious assault (Plymouth, UK): A judge has commended two customers injured while trying to save a pub manager from a vicious beating. Recorder Paul Derbyshire said Connor Price could have suffered more serious injuries and Peter Newnham could have faced more serious charges but for the brave intervention of Gary Tucker, a window cleaner and Richard Foot. He said: "Too often people walk away; they are to be commended." Prosecutor Alastair Verheijen told Plymouth Crown Court that Peter Newnham had already been asked to leave the Mutley Crown pub on March 11. When he came in again, Mr Price asked him to leave, and sensing trouble moved to the glass-washing area to radio the police as Newnham shouted: "Why?" But Newnham, 38, followed and attacked him, raining down punches, kicking him on the ground and hitting him with a glass. Mr Foot intervened, dragging Newnham away and grappling with him.

As Newnham left, Mr Tucker tried to restrain him but was put to the ground and then kicked so hard that his arm was broken. Newnham went on the run, but handed himself in to police a month later, being picked out at an ID parade by barmaid Aelwyn Cowan. Mr Verheijen said Mr Price escaped with bruising and Mr Foot was bruised to the head, shoulder, chest and hand. But as well as suffering a scalp wound, Mr Tucker had to have an operation to pin his broken arm, which did not heal properly. He then faced further surgery, was unable to work more than two days a week as a self-employed window-cleaner and suffered financial hardship. He told police: "My life has been turned upside-down because of someone who couldn't control their temper."

Newnham, who had previous convictions for offences including assault causing actual bodily harm, affray and assaulting police, pleaded guilty to three counts: wounding Mr Price with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Tucker & assaulting Mr Foot by beating. Newnham's barrister, Jason Beal, said: "He had too much to drink and lost his temper and behaved in an utterly disgraceful way." He said Newnham, whose address was given by the court as Cumbrian Way, Southampton, had packed his belongings into an old caravan some eight years ago and moved to Plymouth, where he had found work. He was saving up to send his daughter to university, having not supported her in other ways. He could not explain his behaviour on that night.

Recorder Derbyshire told Newnham: "Pub managers are there to provide a useful service to the people of Plymouth, not to be beaten up by you. "If people hadn't intervened, I think you would have been facing even more serious charges today. "I would like to make it clear that this court is very grateful to Mr Tucker and Mr Foot for going to the aid of Mr Price." He sentenced Newnham to 40 months in jail.

Suspect in July stabbing death in Liberty Hill found in California, officials say: A 20-year-old man suspected in the July stabbing death of a Liberty Hill man has been caught in California after a month long search by law enforcement officials, the Williamson County sheriff's office said Friday. The search for Zachary Price (pictured) ended shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday in California, where he was apprehended by California Highway Patrol near a music festival, sheriff's officials said. He will be extradited to Texas in the coming days. On July 3, 51-year-old Richard Meyers was stabbed to death at his home in the 300 block of Spring Grove Drive, west of U.S. 183, after a dispute with Price "over the death of a cat," officials have said. Meyers lived at the home with two sons he had with Lisa Price, the suspect's mother. Zachary Price lived with the family, sheriff's officials have said.

Deputies who were called to the home last month discovered Meyers lying on the kitchen floor, according to an arrest warrant. Meyers was stabbed at least four times in the upper torso, according to an arrest affidavit issued last week. Lisa Price and her two sons told a deputy that Zachary Price had stabbed Meyers, the affidavit said. Price "became angry and was arguing with his mother because of a deceased cat," the affidavit said. Price struck a wall inside the house and then argued with Meyers in the kitchen, the affidavit said. Price then grabbed a large kitchen knife and stabbed Meyers several times, the affidavit said. Meyers yelled that he had been stabbed and asked for someone to call 911, the affidavit said. One of Meyers' sons asked Price why he stabbed his father. "He deserved it," Price said, according to the affidavit. Price then grabbed his computer and fled from the home, according to the affidavit.

On Thursday, Price was taken into custody without incident after his vehicle was located in Laytonville, Calif., near the site of a music festival in northern Mendocino County, sheriff's officials said Friday. "Details of Price's arrest will be guarded at this time to protect the integrity of the case against him," the sheriff's office said in a statement. Meyers, who owned a window cleaning business called Squeegee's Windows, was described by family and friends as an active church volunteer who served food to the homeless in downtown Austin.

Suspect in Liberty Hill homicide located in California, sheriff’s official says: A 20-year-old man suspected in the July death of a Liberty Hill man has been apprehended in California, the Williamson County sheriff’s office said today. The national search for Zachary Ryan Price ended shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday in California, where he was apprehended by California Highway Patrol, sheriff’s officials said. On July 3, after a dispute with Price at his home “over the death of a cat,” 51-year-old Richard Meyers was stabbed to death at his home in the 300 block of Spring Grove Drive, west of U.S. 183, a sheriff’s official said. Meyers had two sons with Price’s mother, and the suspect lived with the family of four, Sgt. John Foster of the sheriff’s office said last month.

Price’s vehicle was located in Laytonville, Calif., near the site of a music festival in Northern Mendocino County. “Details of Price’s arrest will be guarded at this time to protect the integrity of the case against him,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement today. “He was taken into custody without incident and will be extradited back to Williamson County in the coming days.”

Meyers, who owned a window cleaning business called Squeegee’s Windows, was described by family and friends as an active church volunteer who served food to the homeless in downtown Austin. They said he would assist them when they moved, baby-sat and had been organizing a blood drive this summer. Sheriff’s officials said Price is believed to have stabbed Meyers after they argued over a pet’s death, Foster has said. The mother and two younger sons were at home at the time of the incident. Friends said the boys are in middle school and high school. Meyers also had an adult son in San Antonio, a friend said.

Window Cleaners Pencil

Window cleaner killed himself with giant souvenir pencil, inquest hears: A window cleaner died after stabbing himself in the groin repeatedly with a jumbo souvenir pencil, an inquest heard. Jeffrey Burton’s family and friends were baffled by his bizarre death, which was recorded as an open verdict because there was no evidence he was trying to commit suicide. Mr Burton, 57, was found by police in a blood-soaked room in his house in St Leonards, East Sussex, on September 27. Worried neighbours raised the alarm after they were unable to get hold of him. When police broke into his house they found Mr Burton lying on his back, wearing only his underpants. The room was splattered with blood and music was still playing on his stereo. The giant blood-covered pencil was beside him. He had a deep gash in his upper thigh.

East Sussex coroner Alan Craze told the Hastings inquest: “It’s a mystery to me. If you were choosing to take your own life, that’s not the way you would do it. “It seems to me that it can’t have been a single stab wound. He seems to have worked on it. The pencil was blunt.”

Mr Burton’s sister Patricia Goodell told the hearing the pencil had sentimental value to her brother as it once belonged to their late mother. The inquest heard Mr Burton had suffered a single psychotic episode in 2006 but when he died he was sociable and healthy and looking forward to a holiday. He had never tried to commit suicide before and did not leave a note. Mr Craze said: “It doesn’t stack up. Something very strange has gone on. We will never know what has caused him to create this awful wound.”