In a busy January for the county’s courts, here are three Hertfordshire criminals who have been convicted this month, including a teenage county lines drug dealer from Hitchin.
1. Reggie Barton
Teenage county lines drug dealer, Reggie Barton, of Kingswood Avenue in Hitchin, was sentenced to three years behind bars for possession with intent to supply class A drugs, and possession of criminal property.
The 18-year-old appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday, January 3 and pleaded guilty, after he was arrested and a substantial amount of cocaine and cash were seized from an address in Hitchin.
"This will have a significant impact on drugs use and associated crime in the county," said Detective Constable Jamie Nye, from the North Herts LCU.
"It also sends a clear message that drug dealing will not go unpunished and anyone involved will be caught and jailed."
2. Kusai Al-Jundi and Mohamed El-Abboud
Kusai Al-Jundi and Mohamed El-Abboud both wept in the box at the Old Bailey as they were found guilty of murdering 71-year-old Potters Bar businesswoman Louise Kam.
The pair lured Ms Kam to her home in Barnet on July 26, 2021, and strangled her with a hairdyer cord before dumping her body in a bin.
She was killed by Al-Jundi, 25, and El-Abboud, 28, after their plans to fraud her out of £4.6 million went wrong.
"Two young men have preyed on an elderly lady in order to try and plunder her life savings, and then take ownership of her property before unceremoniously dumping her in a rubbish bin," said Detective chief inspector Brian Howie, of the Metropolitan Police.
"It was all driven by greed. Louise had money, she had cars, she had property and she had a life that both of those people wanted."
3. Stuart Cheek
After being jailed for 12 months back in November for possessing extreme pornographic images, former Herts police detective superintendent Stuart Cheek has now been banned from all policing for life.
The illegal images - which included bestiality - were sent and received via WhatsApp under the display name ‘Cheeky’.
Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Constabulary, Charlie Hall, has now barred Cheek from ever being re-employed in policing.
"Had this officer not already resigned, I would have had no hesitation in dismissing him immediately and without notice," he said.
"I now require that his name be added to the College of Policing barred list to prevent his re-employment in policing ever again."
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