Kings Cross Environment

It’s important that local justice is seen to be done. For Kings Cross, justice is mainly dispensed by Highbury Corner Magistrates Court. Despite their best efforts and community outreach programmes busy courts like Highbury Corner can seem remote from the community – wrapped up in complex procedure and language. This site does its best to support local police and I’d like to extend this to the local courts.

At a basic, literal level people can’t see justice being done from the public gallery if they don’t know what local cases are coming up at the court. I am grateful to the support team  at Highbury Corner who now send me the weekly list of upcoming cases. I publish  extracts below with approximate times etc. that have a local connection to Kings Cross.

Some important points to remember: people below are innocent until proven guilty, I have not published listings where minors are named, I have edited out most personal details (DOB, address etc) as, even though this is public information, the data protection position is unclear and it’s worth re-iterating that this is public information that will be read out in open court.

The comments section below enables anyone to correct errors but, other than correcting errors I won’t accept comments on individual cases to avoid problems with contempt. Listings times like trains are variable, cases can fall or be withdrawn or come forwards and it might be worth checking with the court before you visit.

Of course, many of the issues above could be avoided if I could get hold of a list of results – the outcomes of cases. But I am told that such a weekly list isn’t available – it’s the kind of thing the community should see.  I shall try to report what the result was in these cases.

24 April 2012
1000-1300
Block: 10:00 – 10:05 First Time Charges

Mr Nathan ALAKIJA (M)

1 CD98070 Racially / religiously aggravated common assault / beating
On 02/02/2012 at Caledonian Rd and Frederica St N7 assaulted [xxxx] by beating her, and the offence was racially aggravated within the terms of section
28 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 Contrary to section 29(1)(c) and (3) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
Contrary to section 29(1)(c) and (3) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
2 CD98070 Racially / religiously aggravated common assault / beating
On 02/02/2012 at Caledonian Rd and Frederica St N7 assaulted [xxxx] by beating him and the offence was racially aggravated within the terms of
section 28 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 Contrary to section 29(1)(c) and (3) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
Contrary to section 29(1)(c) and (3) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
3 RT88026 Drive a motor vehicle dangerously
On 02/02/2012 at Caledonian Rd and Frederica St N7 drove a mechanically propelled vehicle, namely a white Ford van index [xxx] dangerously on a road,
namely Caledonian Rd and Frederica St N7 Contrary to section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988

Mr Jake DEEGAN

1 PR52028A Attempt to bring / throw / convey a List ‘ B ‘ prohibited article into / out of a prison
On 15/02/2012 at HMP Pentonville, Islington, London without authorisation attempted to bring, throw or otherwise convey an article, namely a sim card, which was specified by section 40A(3) of the Prison Act 1952, into or out of Her Majesty’s prison situated at Pentonville Contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981.
Contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981.

Sentencing 25 April 1400-1500
Mr Zak Francis ZORT
1 CD71038 Criminal damage to property – value over £5000
On 26/02/2012 at XXX Conistan Way, London N7 without lawful excuse, damaged a front door to the value of an unknown amount [..] intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged Contrary to sections 1(1) and 4 of the
Criminal Damage Act 1971
Contrary to sections 1(1) and 4 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
Plea: G Plea Date: 13/03/2012
Adjourned from 04/04/2012, for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. [1]

26 April

Block: 10:00 – 10:05 First Time Charges

Mr Clive COLLINS
(1st Listing)
1 PU86107 Use threatening words / behaviour to cause harassment alarm or distress
On 11/04/2012 at White Lion Street, N1 used threatening abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely
to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby Contrary to section

Licensing hearing
26 April 1000-1300

Court Room 5
ODESSE FOOD & WINE
59 COPENHAGEN STREET, LONDON, N1 0JH (1st Listing)
Estimated duration: 1
1 LG03504 Appeal against a decision of the licensing authority relating to a premises licence
Appeal against a decision of the London Borough of Islington licensing authority relating to Odesse Food & Wine to reject an application for a premises licence under
section 18 of the Licensing Act 2003 on the ground that having received notice of the decision of the council on 15/03/2012.
In accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 5 to the Licensing Act 2003.

At the far North of the Kings Cross patch comes news of an especially callous robbery at a signing centre for deaf people.  Police text follows:

The victim wishes to remain anonymous but said:

“I would appreciate the help of the public in identifying this person. This man cruelly took advantage of me as a deaf person and stole a laptop that contained work of great value to me. I do not want him to be able to commit a similar crime in the future.”

Detectives in Islington are appealing for help from the public to identify a man who stole a laptop from Femaura Deaf Centre in Caledonian Road, N7.

On Saturday 11 February 2012, at around 09:38, the suspect walked into the location, as the door was unlocked as staff at the location are deaf and would not hear the door bell. He then took a Mac book Pro from the top of a desk and left the premises. This was caught on CCTV.

The suspect is described as a black man, aged 20 -25, of slim build with short black hair.

Investigating officer, Police Constable Alex Bingley said:” We are very keen to trace this man and anyone with information on his identity should call police.”

If you have any information that can help police identify this man call 020 7421 0220 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

After an Easter break we return with some awful news. Every now and then the bad past of Kings Cross returns.  In this case a man severely assaulted in Keystone Crescent in August 2004 finally lost his struggle with life last summer.  The case remains a mystery.  The police and his family are appealing for any information – police text follows:

The family of a 41 year old man who died on 1 August 2011, after being found in the street with serious injuries in 2004, have issued a heartfelt appeal for help and information from the public.

On Wednesday 11 August 2004, at 07:45hrs, Gerard Allison, who was 34 years old at the time, was found unconscious with serious head and internal injuries in Keystone Crescent junction with Caledonian Road, N1.

The injuries he sustained from the assault left him with severe traumatic brain injuries. Gerard’s family are desperate to find out what led to his injuries which finally contributed to his death.

His sister, Bridget said:” Gerard’s family, including his two young children, were devastated when he was found but held on to the hope that he would recover to some kind of normality. Through the support of his family, and intensive treatments, he had a gradual but limited recovery over the following seven years; however, his injuries led to his death on 1 August 2011.

“The loss of such a young father and brother has been made much worse for the family, as we have never found out what happened and why.”

Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Kerena Hammond said: “We are determined to find out what happened to Gerard on that fateful day. Although it was several years ago, someone out there knows what happened and I appeal to them to come forward and speak to police in confidence.

Anyone with information should call Islington Police Case Progression Unit on 0207 421 0145 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.