Legal News Round-Up – January 2024

Our first look in 2024 at some Law Articles From Around the Web Last Month…

As the first month of the year comes to an end we’ll take our look back at some of the law news we didn’t get chance to feature in our blog this month.

Focusing on criminal law, motoring law, sexual offences and regulatory law, we’ll keep you abreast of the big cases, law changes and latest legal features.

Magistrate Reprimanded following conviction under the Dangerous Dogs Act

A magistrate from the London bench has been reprimanded after his dog killed another dog. the Law Gazette reports.

Peter Weekes was out walking two of his dogs, when of them attacked another dog, injuring the other dog and it’s owner. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said the incident ‘ultimately resulted in the death of the other dog’.

The dog later died as a result of it’s injuries.

Weekes was charged with two counts of the person being in charge of a dog which caused injury whilst being dangerously out of control in a public place.

To read more about the article in the Law Gazette, click here.

Tesco Driver Paid to Stage Crashes” Told to Pay £18,000.

Also in the Law Gazette this month was the case of a Tesco’s delivery driver – Reyhan Safi – who staged FOUR “crash for cash” accidents in the space of just three months.

The Court heard that two individuals put in a claim against Tesco following an incident involving a collision with a delivery van driven by Safi in 2019 – leading to a claim totalling over £75,000 including PI and credit hire.

Following an investigation, Tesco’s then subsequently made a counter-claim, alleging Safi intentionally drove into the claimants vahicle.

Tesco then identified a further 12 cases which were linked to this action, and potentially a further 20 cases which haven’t yet been subject to lititgation.

You can read the full article on the Law Gazette website by clicking here.

Police given safety warnings before 3 were killed in Nottingham stabbings.

The Guardian reported that an official report was scathing over Nottinghamshire Police’s management practices – before a wanted man with paranoid schizophrenia stabbed and killed 3 people in Nottingham last year.

The official policing inspectorate report – from April 2022 – said that the force should immediately review their approach to managing low-risk offenders, with focus on ensuring they are “effectively monitored and managed”.

Whilst the report was following an investigation into the handling of sex offence cases, it did include broader suggestions about the handling of all cases.

Just over a year later, 32-year old Valdo Calocane stabbed two 19 year-olds, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and 65-year old school caretaker Ian Coates whilst attempting to kill 3 others. Following a guilty please to three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility – he was given a hospital order and is likely to spend the rest of his life in a high-security unit.

But following the terrible incidents in Nottingham, it transpired that Calocane was wanted by the police, having had a history of violent outbursts and had been detained FOUR TIMES under mental health laws.

Ron Griffin – assistant Chief Constable – said “I have personally reviewed this matter and we should have done more to arrest him”.

To read the full article, click here.

Prisoner Fearful of “Revenge Hit” After Discovering Bounty on His Head.

The Guardian also reported this month on the story of a man convicted of a murder in 2005 is fearful for his life in prison after discovering there is a £10,000 bounty on his head.

Jason Moore is HMP Oakwood following the murder of Robert Darby in an East London pub car park in 2005. Moore is pleading his innocence as his conviction relied heavily on witness testimony, which is now in doubt.

You can read more about this in the article here.

And Finally – Mona Lisa target of environmental protesters in Paris

We end this month’s round-up with the news that environmental protesters have thrown soup at the Mona Lisa in the Louvre in Paris.

The 16th Century artwork by Leonardo Di Vinci is arguably the most famous painting on display – making it a target for a group called Riposte Alimentaire (Food Counterattack).

The group were protesting about the right to healthy, sustainable food for all with calls for a “food card” to be given to everyone – as well as better working conditions for farm workers.

But was the painting damage? You can read the full article here.

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