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Burglar who lied about being a Grenfell victim jailed for six years Burglar who lied about being a Grenfell victim jailed for six years
(5 months later)
A man who masqueraded as a former Grenfell Tower resident to avoid a jail sentence for burglary has been jailed for six years.A man who masqueraded as a former Grenfell Tower resident to avoid a jail sentence for burglary has been jailed for six years.
Derrick Peters, 58, was put up in the Park Grand hotel in Paddington, west London, after claiming to have lost a friend and all his possessions in the blaze on 14 June last year.Derrick Peters, 58, was put up in the Park Grand hotel in Paddington, west London, after claiming to have lost a friend and all his possessions in the blaze on 14 June last year.
He ran up a £40,000 bill while staying in the £192-a-night room, spending more than £5,000 on food, drink and laundry.He ran up a £40,000 bill while staying in the £192-a-night room, spending more than £5,000 on food, drink and laundry.
Peters was arrested on 10 August after burgling a nearby flat, stealing jewellery and other items worth about £3,000.Peters was arrested on 10 August after burgling a nearby flat, stealing jewellery and other items worth about £3,000.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea continued to pay for his room for two months while he was held on remand in Wandsworth prison.The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea continued to pay for his room for two months while he was held on remand in Wandsworth prison.
He returned to the hotel having been handed a community order after repeating his Grenfell lies in mitigation to the judge sentencing him at Isleworth crown court on 16 October.He returned to the hotel having been handed a community order after repeating his Grenfell lies in mitigation to the judge sentencing him at Isleworth crown court on 16 October.
The judge, who had no reason to doubt his story, said: “How on earth can one even begin to understand what it is like to lose a friend in a tragedy like Grenfell?”The judge, who had no reason to doubt his story, said: “How on earth can one even begin to understand what it is like to lose a friend in a tragedy like Grenfell?”
Peters continued the pretence and was even offered a flat meant for genuine victims of the disaster, which killed 72 people.Peters continued the pretence and was even offered a flat meant for genuine victims of the disaster, which killed 72 people.
However, his story unravelled after Rebecca Ross, a Grenfell survivor whose father Steve Power perished in the fire, confirmed Peters had not lived with them and their three dogs as he had claimed.However, his story unravelled after Rebecca Ross, a Grenfell survivor whose father Steve Power perished in the fire, confirmed Peters had not lived with them and their three dogs as he had claimed.
Peters pleaded guilty to perverting the court of justice and two counts of fraud at Isleworth crown court and was sentenced to six years in jail on Friday. He was also resentenced for the original burglary charge.Peters pleaded guilty to perverting the court of justice and two counts of fraud at Isleworth crown court and was sentenced to six years in jail on Friday. He was also resentenced for the original burglary charge.
The judge, Robin Johnson, told Peters he was sure he had been previously spared jail because of his “brazen lie” in court. “It was designed to pull heart strings. It succeeded, just as the similar lies were providing you with hotel accommodation and money,” he said.The judge, Robin Johnson, told Peters he was sure he had been previously spared jail because of his “brazen lie” in court. “It was designed to pull heart strings. It succeeded, just as the similar lies were providing you with hotel accommodation and money,” he said.
“Your conduct from June last year was utterly disgraceful. You cheated and lied for your own ends, trading on others’ misery. There can be little mercy in such a case.”“Your conduct from June last year was utterly disgraceful. You cheated and lied for your own ends, trading on others’ misery. There can be little mercy in such a case.”
Johnson said Peters’ crimes had reached “such depths as any right-minded member of the public would find repulsive”.Johnson said Peters’ crimes had reached “such depths as any right-minded member of the public would find repulsive”.
“Not only did you burgle a person’s house, but when caught you latched on to the same idea that had enriched you for weeks,” he continued. “You advanced bogus mitigation which was designed to, and which did, spare you from condign punishment.“Not only did you burgle a person’s house, but when caught you latched on to the same idea that had enriched you for weeks,” he continued. “You advanced bogus mitigation which was designed to, and which did, spare you from condign punishment.
“On hearing your mitigation, the sentencing judge was sufficiently moved to spare you, a person who has a long and unenviable criminal record, from prison.”“On hearing your mitigation, the sentencing judge was sufficiently moved to spare you, a person who has a long and unenviable criminal record, from prison.”
The court heard Peters has 40 convictions for 90 offences, including 24 for fraud and 73 for theft. He is the sixth person to be sentenced for fraud relating to the Grenfell fire and received the longest prison term yet.The court heard Peters has 40 convictions for 90 offences, including 24 for fraud and 73 for theft. He is the sixth person to be sentenced for fraud relating to the Grenfell fire and received the longest prison term yet.
In a statement read in court, Edward Daffarn, a member of the Grenfell United survivors group, said he was left “sickened” by what Peters had done.In a statement read in court, Edward Daffarn, a member of the Grenfell United survivors group, said he was left “sickened” by what Peters had done.
The judge told Peters: “The facts of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy are well known. The effect on those who died, their families and friends, cannot be imagined by those who were not directly affected.The judge told Peters: “The facts of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy are well known. The effect on those who died, their families and friends, cannot be imagined by those who were not directly affected.
“Members of the public, indeed the nation, were shocked by the dreadful event. The fact that the unscrupulous sought to enrich themselves with accommodation, room service and money is the more shocking in the light of the outpouring of grief and sympathy that followed the disaster.”“Members of the public, indeed the nation, were shocked by the dreadful event. The fact that the unscrupulous sought to enrich themselves with accommodation, room service and money is the more shocking in the light of the outpouring of grief and sympathy that followed the disaster.”
Five others have been convicted of taking advantage of the Grenfell tragedy:Five others have been convicted of taking advantage of the Grenfell tragedy:
- Serial conman Anh Nhu Nguyen, 53, was the first to be jailed after claiming his wife and son died in the fire to obtain more than £10,000. He was photographed beside the Prince of Wales when he met survivors. Nguyen was handed a 21-month prison sentence in February - Joyce Msokeri, 47, was called "the lowest of the human race" by a survivor as she was jailed for four-and-a-half years in April after claiming she had escaped the fire in which her husband and sister-in-law had perished. She tried to claim hundreds of thousands of pounds in funds and donations meant for those desperate for help. - Mohammad Ali Gamoota, 31, was jailed for 18 months in June after claiming his father died in the blaze, naming a genuine victim who perished on the 24th floor. - Elaine Douglas, 51, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and Tommy Brooks, 52, was handed a jail term of three years and three months in July. The couple, both illegal immigrants, claimed £125,000 before being caught out when officials discovered the flat they said they lived in did not exist. - Yonatan Eyob, 26, is due to be sentenced on 7 September, while five other cases are also awaiting outcomes, police said.- Serial conman Anh Nhu Nguyen, 53, was the first to be jailed after claiming his wife and son died in the fire to obtain more than £10,000. He was photographed beside the Prince of Wales when he met survivors. Nguyen was handed a 21-month prison sentence in February - Joyce Msokeri, 47, was called "the lowest of the human race" by a survivor as she was jailed for four-and-a-half years in April after claiming she had escaped the fire in which her husband and sister-in-law had perished. She tried to claim hundreds of thousands of pounds in funds and donations meant for those desperate for help. - Mohammad Ali Gamoota, 31, was jailed for 18 months in June after claiming his father died in the blaze, naming a genuine victim who perished on the 24th floor. - Elaine Douglas, 51, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and Tommy Brooks, 52, was handed a jail term of three years and three months in July. The couple, both illegal immigrants, claimed £125,000 before being caught out when officials discovered the flat they said they lived in did not exist. - Yonatan Eyob, 26, is due to be sentenced on 7 September, while five other cases are also awaiting outcomes, police said.
CrimeCrime
Grenfell Tower fireGrenfell Tower fire
LondonLondon
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