News in brief

Pic: Peter Trimming (CC by 2.0)

Pic: Peter Trimming (CC by 2.0)

Croydon tram crash leads to amputations

Four people injured in the Croydon tram crash are still in hospital, two of them having had limbs amputated, the police have revealed.

Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson told the Croydon Advertiser that the pathologist reports so far indicate that the seven victims died almost instantly.

Assistant Chief Constable Robin Smith also revealed that 70 police officers that had been involved in the crash’s aftermath were being offered specialist treatment to avoid post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Croydon man sentenced to 16 years for sexually assaulting child  

 A Croydon car mechanic has been convicted of grooming and raping a child.

Frederick Skinner, 59, of New Addington, was yesterday sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court to 16 years in prison and ordered to sign on to the sex offender’s register for life.

 Skinner preyed on the 12-year-old victim over the course of a year. The police launched an investigation after the victim’s family discovered text messages from Skinner on her phone.

 Detective Constable Ken Tran of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse command, said: “A dangerous child rapist has been put behind bars. The victim has shown great courage in coming forward and disclosing the details of Skinner’s despicable crimes and I hope that this sentence can assist in some small way in helping her to move forward with her life.”

 Hackney missing girl sighted in Enfield 

 Police are appealing for information on a missing girl from Hackney.

 Ellie Adams, 16, was last seen at home in Hackney on November 16. Police were called after she was sighted at Enfield College and Ponders End on November 18.

 Adams is vulnerable and police are concerned she could be exploited.

 She is described as white, 5 foot, with blonde hair and was last seen wearing light blue jeans and a short black jacket.

 Anyone with information is urged to contact Hackney police on 101.

Man stabbed in head in Croydon

 A young man was in a critical condition last night after being stabbed in the head in Croydon.

Paramedics took the man to a major trauma centre after being called to a residential address on Costance Road.

The victim, a 21-year-old, is thought to have staggered into the South London house after being injured elsewhere.

A spokesman for Croydon Police said: “The man was knifed at a different location. Then he managed to make it to the home in Constance Road before emergency were called”.

 According to Metropolitan Police, his injuries are not life threatening. Police officers from Croydon CID are investigating and enquiries continue.

Reporting by Eve Watling, Kirty Verma and Carlotta Dotto.

Leave a Reply