Crime adviser exposed as leader of armed robbers

Drizzt · June 25, 2002, 11:00 AM

Copyright 2002 Associated Newspapers Ltd.
The Evening Standard (London)

June 24, 2002

SECTION: Pg. 5

LENGTH: 642 words

HEADLINE: Crime adviser exposed as leader of armed robbers

BYLINE: Justin Davenport;Paul Cheston

BODY:

A LOTTERY-FUNDED youth charity worker who advised the police on crime issues was exposed today as the leader of a gang of violent armed robbers known as London's Reservoir Dogs.

Emmanuel de Silva, 39, was the chairman of the Buyaka Charity, which he set up with a £5,000 Lottery grant to help underprivileged black youths in Notting Hill.

He also worked closely with Scotland Yard on issues such as stop and search.

But today he and six members of his ruthless gang were convicted of a series of armed robberies. He will be sentenced later this month by Judge Timothy Pontius.

The seven were found guilty at the Old Bailey today after a three-month trial held amid heavy security.

The court heard how they used axes, iron bars and a sawn-off shotgun to terrorise security guards and operated from lockup garages that had been hired on the pretext of storing costumes for the Notting Hill Carnival.

The gang kept security vans under surveillance and stole a fleet of cars, vans and high-powered motorcycles as they netted more than £50,000.

A Brinks van and a number of Securicor vans in East London, Kilburn, Neasden, and Middlesex were targeted between January 2000 and May 2001.

De Silva's nephew, 27-year-old Orson de Silva, was a leading member of the "Underground Gs" gang, along with "inside man" Brian Mason, 43, a guard for the security firm Brinks Ltd.

When police raided the lockups, police discovered a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver, uniforms for a parking attendant and postman used in the robberies, a giant set of fire brigade cutters, which they planned to cut open security vehicles with, and gas masks.

Flying Squad Detective Sergeant Jed Hodgson said: "Inside it was like something out of the movie Reservoir Dogs.

There were handguns and uniforms they used in raids as well as their getaway motorbikes."

The men were finally arrested after a lengthy police surveillance operation.

They were difficult to follow and fled police at 120mph on the North Circular.

Finally, detectives planted hidden surveillance cameras to watch the lockups and caught the gang coming and going from robberies.

The de Silva family, originally from Grenada in the West Indies, had close connections with the security business.

Emmanuel's brother and Orson's father, Michael, was a bodyguard for the former president of Grenada, Morris Bishop, when he was assassinated in the capital Georgetown 20 years ago.

Following the assassination, he set up a security business with friends and became involved in the jewellery trade.

Most of the raids took place on security vehicles but in one the gang tried to break into a Post Office in Kilburn.

The men were foiled when the postmaster-put up a fight and they were forced to flee empty handed.

Key police evidence rested on DNA samples left on clothing discarded at the crime scenes that connected members of the gang to the robberies.

When Orson de Silva was arrested, he was carrying a passport with a false name. Police also found 28 dye-stained banknotes and equipment thought to have been used to track the security vans.

Police found an 8mm Umarex self-loading pistol and a .22 Browning self-loading pistol and four cartridges at Emmanuel de Silva's address in Hammersmith, along with £2,720 in red-stained notes in a carrier bag.

De Silva, 39, of Hammersmith Grove, Hammersmith; Orson de Silva, 27, of Emden Close, West Drayton; Mason, 43, of Headbrook Crescent, Hayes; Ian Joseph, 29, of Stone Street, Marylebone; David Samuel, 22, of Broughton Road, West Ealing; Antonio Bryan, 27, of Ladbroke Grove; and Nathan John, 24, of no fixed address, all denied charges of conspiracy to rob.

Both de Silvas also denied possession of firearms.

Bryan had admitted five robberies involving that of cash and jewellery.

Dave P · June 25, 2002, 11:22 AM

"The men were foiled when the postmaster-put up a fight and they were forced to flee " Why isn't that postmaster being charged with assault?

"Police found an 8mm Umarex self-loading pistol and a .22 Browning self-loading pistol and FOUR cartridges" Sounds like an arsenal to me!

Brett Bellmore · June 25, 2002, 11:35 AM

Postmasters work for the government. Defending yourself is ok if you're part of the government, it's only subjects who have to permit themselves to be victimized.

Beowulf_93 · June 25, 2002, 11:46 AM

This brings up a question: what affect has Britain's liberal immigration policy had on overall crime? It seems that prior to WW2, the UK had a low rate of violent crime. After the 1950's, it skyrocketed. Many of these crime gangs are ethnic in nature and use immigration to set up a new operation.

Brett Bellmore · June 25, 2002, 12:34 PM

Let's see, a seven man gang, with extensive equipment and organization, neted more than fifty thosand pounds. That's about $75,000, or roughly $11,000 a piece. Once again I'm reminded of just how stupid your average criminal is; They could have probably netted as much doing people's lawns, and been free men today.

Ben Swenson · June 25, 2002, 12:43 PM

Heh ... 8mm Umarex self loading pistol eh?

Something they neglected to mention about 8mm Umarex pistols ... they're blank guns.

Cal4D4 · June 25, 2002, 06:22 PM

Fabulously financed Fagan frolics unfettered until forced to flee.

Scix · June 26, 2002, 02:03 AM

And filching funds with fake firearms?

June 25, 2002, 11:00 AM	#1
Drizzt Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2000 Location: Going Out of My Head at a Rapid Pace..... Posts: 2,511	Crime adviser exposed as leader of armed robbers Copyright 2002 Associated Newspapers Ltd. The Evening Standard (London) June 24, 2002 SECTION: Pg. 5 LENGTH: 642 words HEADLINE: Crime adviser exposed as leader of armed robbers BYLINE: Justin Davenport;Paul Cheston BODY: A LOTTERY-FUNDED youth charity worker who advised the police on crime issues was exposed today as the leader of a gang of violent armed robbers known as London's Reservoir Dogs. Emmanuel de Silva, 39, was the chairman of the Buyaka Charity, which he set up with a £5,000 Lottery grant to help underprivileged black youths in Notting Hill. He also worked closely with Scotland Yard on issues such as stop and search. But today he and six members of his ruthless gang were convicted of a series of armed robberies. He will be sentenced later this month by Judge Timothy Pontius. The seven were found guilty at the Old Bailey today after a three-month trial held amid heavy security. The court heard how they used axes, iron bars and a sawn-off shotgun to terrorise security guards and operated from lockup garages that had been hired on the pretext of storing costumes for the Notting Hill Carnival. The gang kept security vans under surveillance and stole a fleet of cars, vans and high-powered motorcycles as they netted more than £50,000. A Brinks van and a number of Securicor vans in East London, Kilburn, Neasden, and Middlesex were targeted between January 2000 and May 2001. De Silva's nephew, 27-year-old Orson de Silva, was a leading member of the "Underground Gs" gang, along with "inside man" Brian Mason, 43, a guard for the security firm Brinks Ltd. When police raided the lockups, police discovered a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver, uniforms for a parking attendant and postman used in the robberies, a giant set of fire brigade cutters, which they planned to cut open security vehicles with, and gas masks. Flying Squad Detective Sergeant Jed Hodgson said: "Inside it was like something out of the movie Reservoir Dogs. There were handguns and uniforms they used in raids as well as their getaway motorbikes." The men were finally arrested after a lengthy police surveillance operation. They were difficult to follow and fled police at 120mph on the North Circular. Finally, detectives planted hidden surveillance cameras to watch the lockups and caught the gang coming and going from robberies. The de Silva family, originally from Grenada in the West Indies, had close connections with the security business. Emmanuel's brother and Orson's father, Michael, was a bodyguard for the former president of Grenada, Morris Bishop, when he was assassinated in the capital Georgetown 20 years ago. Following the assassination, he set up a security business with friends and became involved in the jewellery trade. Most of the raids took place on security vehicles but in one the gang tried to break into a Post Office in Kilburn. The men were foiled when the postmaster-put up a fight and they were forced to flee empty handed. Key police evidence rested on DNA samples left on clothing discarded at the crime scenes that connected members of the gang to the robberies. When Orson de Silva was arrested, he was carrying a passport with a false name. Police also found 28 dye-stained banknotes and equipment thought to have been used to track the security vans. Police found an 8mm Umarex self-loading pistol and a .22 Browning self-loading pistol and four cartridges at Emmanuel de Silva's address in Hammersmith, along with £2,720 in red-stained notes in a carrier bag. De Silva, 39, of Hammersmith Grove, Hammersmith; Orson de Silva, 27, of Emden Close, West Drayton; Mason, 43, of Headbrook Crescent, Hayes; Ian Joseph, 29, of Stone Street, Marylebone; David Samuel, 22, of Broughton Road, West Ealing; Antonio Bryan, 27, of Ladbroke Grove; and Nathan John, 24, of no fixed address, all denied charges of conspiracy to rob. Both de Silvas also denied possession of firearms. Bryan had admitted five robberies involving that of cash and jewellery. __________________ "That a free citizen should have to go before a committee, hat in hand, and pray for permission to bear arms - fantastic! Arm your daughter, sir, and pay no attention to petty bureaucrats." Robert Heinlein - Red Planet

June 25, 2002, 11:35 AM	#3
Brett Bellmore Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 1999 Location: Capac, MI, USA Posts: 1,932	Postmasters work for the government. Defending yourself is ok if you're part of the government, it's only subjects who have to permit themselves to be victimized. __________________ Sic semper tyrannis!

June 25, 2002, 12:34 PM	#5
Brett Bellmore Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 1999 Location: Capac, MI, USA Posts: 1,932	Let's see, a seven man gang, with extensive equipment and organization, neted more than fifty thosand pounds. That's about $75,000, or roughly $11,000 a piece. Once again I'm reminded of just how stupid your average criminal is; They could have probably netted as much doing people's lawns, and been free men today. __________________ Sic semper tyrannis!

June 25, 2002, 11:22 AM	#2
Dave P Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 1999 Location: Melbourne, Florida Posts: 793	"The men were foiled when the postmaster-put up a fight and they were forced to flee " Why isn't that postmaster being charged with assault? "Police found an 8mm Umarex self-loading pistol and a .22 Browning self-loading pistol and FOUR cartridges" Sounds like an arsenal to me!

June 25, 2002, 11:46 AM	#4
Beowulf_93 Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2002 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 221	This brings up a question: what affect has Britain's liberal immigration policy had on overall crime? It seems that prior to WW2, the UK had a low rate of violent crime. After the 1950's, it skyrocketed. Many of these crime gangs are ethnic in nature and use immigration to set up a new operation.

June 25, 2002, 12:43 PM	#6
Ben Swenson Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2000 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,210	Heh ... 8mm Umarex self loading pistol eh? Something they neglected to mention about 8mm Umarex pistols ... they're blank guns.

June 25, 2002, 06:22 PM	#7
Cal4D4 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2001 Location: southern california Posts: 679	Fabulously financed Fagan frolics unfettered until forced to flee.

June 26, 2002, 02:03 AM	#8
Scix Member Join Date: February 20, 2002 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 41	And filching funds with fake firearms?