Mobile phone thief convicted

Police car. Pic: Pexels

In just one night Peter Abdel Ogunsakin stole nearly 20 mobile phones in Shoreditch worth more than £15,00), according to police.  Ogunsakin, a 45-year-old man from Stockwell Gardens Estate, Lambeth, admitted committing the crime and has been jailed.

Police found him with four mobile phones, one with a woman’s name on it, after he failed to stop for police in a routine traffic stop on April 6 last year. They later found out that the mobile phone belonged to a woman which he had stolen from her in a club early that morning on the same day.

The police arrested him on suspicion of handling stolen goods. They searched his car and found further 18 mobile phones which were hidden the backseat and in the front passenger footwell underneath the car mat.

Peter Abdel Ogunsakin. Pic: Met Police

At first Ogunsakin denied that he had stolen the mobile phones and claimed that they belong to a friend’s friend who had left the phones in his car while he was eating a kebab. He denied having been anywhere near Shoreditch that night and also told the police that he had bought two phones for cash on the street from a stranger without receiving a receipt, but evidence disproved his alibi.

Officers traced 17 victims whose phones had been stolen that night in different nightclubs and bars in Shoreditch. They viewed the CCTV from five venues and caught Ogunsakin on film on four of the places. In one of the videos he was caught with his hand inside a female’s bag.

PC Barry Ward, the investigating officer from the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, said:

“I am delighted the overwhelming evidence collected in this investigation by my team resulted in Ogunsakin pleading guilty. It is extremely rewarding to know the enquiries we carried out enabled us to return more than £15,000 worth of stolen mobile phones to 17 victims. Many of the phones had priceless photographs on them the victims’ may have never been able to retrieve”.

He added: “Ogunsakin went out that night on a pick-pocketing spree, and he did not care about the upset his actions would cause the victims.This case should act as a reminder to revellers to be aware of their surroundings whilst they are enjoying a night out.”

The post Mobile phone thief convicted appeared first on Eastlondonlines.

Great Hall is back

Graduation ceremonies for Goldsmiths, University of London will
be back in the Great Hall in summer 2020 after completion of a £1.3million
maintenance programme. The historic space will once more be available for the
local community.

The Great Hall is one of the foremost acoustic venues in
London and is the largest single space at the university. It was created in
1891 and is based on a design by J.W. Penfold.

The space, which can seat up to 580 people in the auditorium
and 140 in the balcony, has hosted a multitude of events, including live
television broadcasts, debates, recitals, concerts, graduation ceremonies,
meetings, conferences and exhibitions.

• 

Lenny Henry receives his Honorary Fellowship from Goldsmiths in 2017. Photo credits| Goldsmiths, University of London

The project saw specialist teams refurbishing the lantern
and change the external roof glazing which sits over the internal windows as
well as creating new access to ensure easier maintenance in the future. 

The project also saw some of the delicate original internal
glazing in the Grade II-listed building given its first clean for up to 30
years.

Anja Soetbeer, Associate Director of Estates and Facilities
at Goldsmiths, said: “The Great Hall is an important part of our campus and a
landmark for New Cross. Investing in our estate like this ensures it is
available for use by everyone at Goldsmiths and the local community.”

The Great Hall| Photo credits: Goldsmiths, Univerasity of London

Now the hall, is back in use for activities like student orchestra rehearsals, community bookings and the graduation ceremonies. Students and staff will particularly welcome the return of graduation to New Cross this summer after moving to the QE2 Centre in Westminster while the works were undertaken.

The post Great Hall is back appeared first on Eastlondonlines.

Tech start-up finds there’s money in food waste

Every year an estimated 1.6 million tonnes of  food is thrown away in the UK every year. Entrepreneurs Mette Lykke and Jamie Crummie, based in Shoreditch, realized the potential to develop a  brand new market and together founded an app  which they called “Too good to go”.

Their idea was to set up a way of connecting the needy and restaurants with an online application. They’ve managed to sign up more than 3,100 business partners fighting food waste in the UK and more than 30,000 outlets in 12 countries across Europe. They claim that 30 million meals have been saved, preventing almost 77,000 tonnes of CO2 being emitted as a result.

Food waste has gradually caught people’s attention as sustainability becomes an important issue around the globe. In the EU, it is estimated that one-third of food ends up going into a bin. According to Waste & Resources Action Programme, a UK charity which aims to improve resource efficiency, every household in the UK discards food worth £60 every month. That means the problem is causing almost £19 billion lost annually in the UK.

The market is reckoned to have such potential that Karma, a Swedish company, is also competing for it. They have 1,800 outlets in the UK currently, and have raised £13 million to expand even faster to reach more customers. It means the two pioneers are often directly competing with each other in big markets like London. 

Short video: Jason Lu

Orcunoz, a manager of Cafe Route, a restaurant in Hackney, said the two applications save around 3 to 4 meals every day combined, but also admitted that it is still inevitable that left-overs will be produced. Asked whether this is profitable, he said: “If course we make a few (pence) from then, but that’s not the point. We do this to help on solving this (food-waste) problem.”

Karma charges 25% from every transaction made on the app, while Too Good To Go takes half from it. Both apps hope they are doing their bit to reduce food waste, as it is believed the problem contributes to almost 8% of total CO2 emissions. 

The post Tech start-up finds there’s money in food waste appeared first on Eastlondonlines.

Skateboarding finals ahead of 2020 Olympics

Skateboarders. Pic: Shahir Al Kindy & Delfina Mocorrea

Skateboarding is set to make its debut at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, with British skateboarders now vying for a place in the GB team.

The Street League Skateboarding finals will determine who will be participating in the games.   in Tokyo 2020 games. The finals will be held this May at the Copperbox Arena in Queen Elizabeth Park, , a multi-sport venue where specialized concrete along with unique skating elements will be temporarily installed.

The purpose of the custom layout is to help competitors take advantage of the space while performing tricks. 

Alessio, from London Skateboarding, has been one of the strongest advocates for the sport finally being in the Olympics. Throughout his 30 years of skateboarding, he’s witnessed how the public villainized the sport, he says.  In an interview with EastLondonLines he said:  “As a representation, as an event, it’s full of all the glittery-ness of a huge business, you can feel it through the interviews, cameras everywhere, people, fans.”

With the SLS finals taking place in London, and the Olympics recognizing skateboarding as a professional sport, the skate scene in London is receiving plenty of notoriety. Organisations such as England Skateboarding have also contributed towards the exposure, by aiming to build 30 skateparks around England, some of which will be in Hackney. 

In a statement by Helena Long, a professional skateboarder in London who also participated in the opening of the Copperbox Arena, she said she thinks the Olympics will influence skateboarding worldwide. She added: “I think that the Olympics will really put skateboarding on a very accessible platform.  It’ll hopefully be a kickstarter for those that are interested in taking up skateboarding but previously may not have had the confidence or haven’t been exposed to the worldwide community that is there for anyone and everyone who wants to join and take up skateboarding.”

As for skateboarding being a professional sport, she added: “I personally think there’s more to skateboarding that one’s ability to land technically hard tricks in a very short time. There’s style and creativity that I think is sometimes lost in a competitive scenario. I hope those who start skating based on exposure from Olympic coverage do it for fun and also have the opportunity to explore the wonderful world of skateboarding outside a competition format.”

The post Skateboarding finals ahead of 2020 Olympics appeared first on Eastlondonlines.

Mobile phone thief convicted

Police car. Pic: Pexels

In just one night Peter Abdel Ogunsakin stole nearly 20 mobile phones in Shoreditch worth more than £15,00), according to police.  Ogunsakin, a 45-year-old man from Stockwell Gardens Estate, Lambeth, admitted committing the crime and has been jailed.

Police found him with four mobile phones, one with a woman’s name on it, after he failed to stop for police in a routine traffic stop on April 6 last year. They later found out that the mobile phone belonged to a woman which he had stolen from her in a club early that morning on the same day.

The police arrested him on suspicion of handling stolen goods. They searched his car and found further 18 mobile phones which were hidden the backseat and in the front passenger footwell underneath the car mat.

Peter Abdel Ogunsakin. Pic: Met Police

At first Ogunsakin denied that he had stolen the mobile phones and claimed that they belong to a friend’s friend who had left the phones in his car while he was eating a kebab. He denied having been anywhere near Shoreditch that night and also told the police that he had bought two phones for cash on the street from a stranger without receiving a receipt, but evidence disproved his alibi.

Officers traced 17 victims whose phones had been stolen that night in different nightclubs and bars in Shoreditch. They viewed the CCTV from five venues and caught Ogunsakin on film on four of the places. In one of the videos he was caught with his hand inside a female’s bag.

PC Barry Ward, the investigating officer from the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, said:

“I am delighted the overwhelming evidence collected in this investigation by my team resulted in Ogunsakin pleading guilty. It is extremely rewarding to know the enquiries we carried out enabled us to return more than £15,000 worth of stolen mobile phones to 17 victims. Many of the phones had priceless photographs on them the victims’ may have never been able to retrieve”.

He added: “Ogunsakin went out that night on a pick-pocketing spree, and he did not care about the upset his actions would cause the victims.This case should act as a reminder to revellers to be aware of their surroundings whilst they are enjoying a night out.”

The post Mobile phone thief convicted appeared first on Eastlondonlines.

Great Hall is back

Graduation ceremonies for Goldsmiths, University of London will
be back in the Great Hall in summer 2020 after completion of a £1.3million
maintenance programme. The historic space will once more be available for the
local community.

The Great Hall is one of the foremost acoustic venues in
London and is the largest single space at the university. It was created in
1891 and is based on a design by J.W. Penfold.

The space, which can seat up to 580 people in the auditorium
and 140 in the balcony, has hosted a multitude of events, including live
television broadcasts, debates, recitals, concerts, graduation ceremonies,
meetings, conferences and exhibitions.

• 

Lenny Henry receives his Honorary Fellowship from Goldsmiths in 2017. Photo credits| Goldsmiths, University of London

The project saw specialist teams refurbishing the lantern
and change the external roof glazing which sits over the internal windows as
well as creating new access to ensure easier maintenance in the future. 

The project also saw some of the delicate original internal
glazing in the Grade II-listed building given its first clean for up to 30
years.

Anja Soetbeer, Associate Director of Estates and Facilities
at Goldsmiths, said: “The Great Hall is an important part of our campus and a
landmark for New Cross. Investing in our estate like this ensures it is
available for use by everyone at Goldsmiths and the local community.”

The Great Hall| Photo credits: Goldsmiths, Univerasity of London

Now the hall, is back in use for activities like student orchestra rehearsals, community bookings and the graduation ceremonies. Students and staff will particularly welcome the return of graduation to New Cross this summer after moving to the QE2 Centre in Westminster while the works were undertaken.

The post Great Hall is back appeared first on Eastlondonlines.

Tech start-up finds there’s money in food waste

Every year an estimated 1.6 million tonnes of  food is thrown away in the UK every year. Entrepreneurs Mette Lykke and Jamie Crummie, based in Shoreditch, realized the potential to develop a  brand new market and together founded an app  which they called “Too good to go”.

Their idea was to set up a way of connecting the needy and restaurants with an online application. They’ve managed to sign up more than 3,100 business partners fighting food waste in the UK and more than 30,000 outlets in 12 countries across Europe. They claim that 30 million meals have been saved, preventing almost 77,000 tonnes of CO2 being emitted as a result.

Food waste has gradually caught people’s attention as sustainability becomes an important issue around the globe. In the EU, it is estimated that one-third of food ends up going into a bin. According to Waste & Resources Action Programme, a UK charity which aims to improve resource efficiency, every household in the UK discards food worth £60 every month. That means the problem is causing almost £19 billion lost annually in the UK.

The market is reckoned to have such potential that Karma, a Swedish company, is also competing for it. They have 1,800 outlets in the UK currently, and have raised £13 million to expand even faster to reach more customers. It means the two pioneers are often directly competing with each other in big markets like London. 

Short video: Jason Lu

Orcunoz, a manager of Cafe Route, a restaurant in Hackney, said the two applications save around 3 to 4 meals every day combined, but also admitted that it is still inevitable that left-overs will be produced. Asked whether this is profitable, he said: “If course we make a few (pence) from then, but that’s not the point. We do this to help on solving this (food-waste) problem.”

Karma charges 25% from every transaction made on the app, while Too Good To Go takes half from it. Both apps hope they are doing their bit to reduce food waste, as it is believed the problem contributes to almost 8% of total CO2 emissions. 

The post Tech start-up finds there’s money in food waste appeared first on Eastlondonlines.

Skateboarding finals ahead of 2020 Olympics

Skateboarders. Pic: Shahir Al Kindy & Delfina Mocorrea

Skateboarding is set to make its debut at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, with British skateboarders now vying for a place in the GB team.

The Street League Skateboarding finals will determine who will be participating in the games.   in Tokyo 2020 games. The finals will be held this May at the Copperbox Arena in Queen Elizabeth Park, , a multi-sport venue where specialized concrete along with unique skating elements will be temporarily installed.

The purpose of the custom layout is to help competitors take advantage of the space while performing tricks. 

Alessio, from London Skateboarding, has been one of the strongest advocates for the sport finally being in the Olympics. Throughout his 30 years of skateboarding, he’s witnessed how the public villainized the sport, he says.  In an interview with EastLondonLines he said:  “As a representation, as an event, it’s full of all the glittery-ness of a huge business, you can feel it through the interviews, cameras everywhere, people, fans.”

With the SLS finals taking place in London, and the Olympics recognizing skateboarding as a professional sport, the skate scene in London is receiving plenty of notoriety. Organisations such as England Skateboarding have also contributed towards the exposure, by aiming to build 30 skateparks around England, some of which will be in Hackney. 

In a statement by Helena Long, a professional skateboarder in London who also participated in the opening of the Copperbox Arena, she said she thinks the Olympics will influence skateboarding worldwide. She added: “I think that the Olympics will really put skateboarding on a very accessible platform.  It’ll hopefully be a kickstarter for those that are interested in taking up skateboarding but previously may not have had the confidence or haven’t been exposed to the worldwide community that is there for anyone and everyone who wants to join and take up skateboarding.”

As for skateboarding being a professional sport, she added: “I personally think there’s more to skateboarding that one’s ability to land technically hard tricks in a very short time. There’s style and creativity that I think is sometimes lost in a competitive scenario. I hope those who start skating based on exposure from Olympic coverage do it for fun and also have the opportunity to explore the wonderful world of skateboarding outside a competition format.”

The post Skateboarding finals ahead of 2020 Olympics appeared first on Eastlondonlines.

Man jailed for violent attack

Mark Hosang Pic: Met Police

A 50-year-old Hackney man has been jailed at the Old Bailey for a total of 13 years for a ‘brutal attack’ on a woman whom police say he knew. Mark Hosang had pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent after police were called to a residential address in Paragon Road last July just before 6.30am on a Wednesday morning.

Police were alerted by a member of the public who heard screams coming from the address. The police arrived shortly afterwards and found the victim, in her early 40s, suffering badly from head wounds and a suspected broken arm. Her wounds showed that she had been attacked with a claw hammer. She had apparently been struck across the head and arm as she tried to protect herself from the attack.

Mark Hosang was arrested later that morning and taken to an East London police station.In court at the Old Bailey on Friday January 31^st he was sentenced to 10 years in prison with an extended licence period of three years.  

The detective leading the investigation, Detective Constable Mark Symonds, described it as a “sustained, brutal attack, aggravated by the use of a weapon which could easily have had fatal consequences”.

He added: “I would like to praise the bravery of the victim who has shown great courage and resilience in supporting this investigation. The professionalism and care of staff at the Royal London Hospital has enabled her to make significant improvements in her recovery and I can only hope the sentence handed down to Hosang further aids this.”

He also praised the actions of the passer-by who called the police, saying: “Their actions allowed us respond swiftly and arrest Hosang while his victim could receive immediate medical attention.

“I would always encourage anyone to call police if they see someone else in trouble – your actions could save a life.”

The post Man jailed for violent attack appeared first on Eastlondonlines.