Chief Inspector’s Update

By Southend District Commander Chief Inspector Jo Collins.

I THINK it’s important to ensure that we keep you updated on the ending of an incident, especially when it’s something that shocked the community.

Many of you will remember the very sad news on Tuesday 7 November last year when Sharon Butler, 64 was found unconscious at the home of her brother, Kevin Shepherd in Whitehouse Meadows, Leigh.

The family of Sharon Butler say “she will never be forgotten” as the man who killed her is sentenced to life in prison following work by our detectives.

Fifty-five-year-old Shepherd had called us shortly after 9pm claiming he’d fought with her, and she was unconscious. When officers arrived, they found Sharon seriously injured in Shepherd’s Garden and covered with a tarpaulin.

Close to where Sharon’s body was found, officers discovered a knife stabbed into a plant pot.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, she was declared dead at the scene and Shepherd was arrested. He was later charged with her murder and was due to stand trial on 7 May but, ahead of the trial, he changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.

At Basildon Crown Court on Monday 13 May he was sentenced to life in prison and must spend a minimum of 13 years and 6 months behind bars before he is eligible for parole.

A Westcliff convenience store staff member has been fined after pleading guilty to receiving stolen goods.

Palanisamy Karthikan, 33, was identified on the CCTV system of his own store in West Street on four occasions between 11 and 21 September 2023 buying goods, which had been stolen from the nearby BP garage shop in West Road.

He admitted four counts of dishonestly receiving stolen goods at the Premier store, when he appeared before Southend magistrates on 24 April 2024.

The court heard he’d purchased a total of 20 cans of energy drink, 92 packets of chocolate bars and six packets of tea bags, valued at £325.90. On each occasion, he paid £15 for the goods he received.

Magistrates fined Karthikan, of Springfield Drive, Westcliff, £200 and ordered him to pay an £80 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Investigating officer PC Lois Greenlees, of Southend Town Centre Team, said after the case:

“People who buy goods they know to be stolen are committing a crime and running the risk of getting a criminal record.”

Operation Raker was launched last year to target prolific repeat offenders, including shoplifters who steal in order to fund an addiction.

PC Greenlees explained: “A key part of tackling this offending is to cut off the buyers they have lined up and break the cycle of crime.

“If offenders can offload their stolen goods quickly, stealing means easy money for them and a quick ‘fix’ if they are addicted to drugs or alcohol.

“So those who knowingly buy stolen goods are exploiting people with serious addictions for their own financial gain.

“While customers buying the goods will have no idea how the items they are purchasing were obtained. There are many health and safety concerns around this.”

The officers dedicated to Operation Raker work in tandem with our specialist business crime and licensing officers, who visit stores and other licensed premises in Southend and across Essex to promote Operation Pedlar.

Staff are reminded that buying and selling stolen goods is illegal and that they have the power to refuse entry to people who do so or remove them from the premises.

Officers ask business owners and retail staff to sign up to our Responsible Retailer agreement, which asks them to buy stock from legitimate sources only, display public awareness and staff guidance posters and share information with us about people who offer them stolen goods.

Our Business Crime Team is dedicated to supporting businesses and advising them how to stop crimes from happening in the first place, providing security, staff safety, crime prevention, fraud, and cyber-crime advice. Please get in touch with us if you need advice or support from them.

Events in your area – come along and speak to us at the following locations.

Saturday 1st June	10am – 11am	Let’s Talk	Leigh Library
Monday 3rd June	10am – 11am	Let’s Talk	Wakey Wakey Café, London Road, Leigh
Monday 10th June	11am – 12pm	Let’s Talk	Kent Elms Library
Thursday 20th June	2:45pm – 3:30pm	Street Meet	Outside North Street School, Leigh

 

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