Down with the kids – 70-year-old arrested over theft in rioting

A 70-YEAR-OLD man was the oldest person to be arrested in connection with recent rioting, it has emerged.

Scotland Yard said the unnamed man, arrested on 8 August in connection with theft from a shop in West Ealing, west London, was given a caution.

A spokesman said yesterday: “The oldest person arrested was a 70-year-old man arrested on 8 August in connection with theft from a shop in West Ealing. He was cautioned.”

Ealing was one of the hotspots of trouble during riots in London. Richard Bowes, 68, who lived alone in Haven Green, Ealing, died several days after being punched to the ground during violence and looting in the area.

Mr Bowes, 68, who was attacked as he went to put out a fire in a dustbin, was put on a life-support machine but died later. A post-mortem examination revealed he died from head injuries.

Last week, a 16-year-old boy accused of his murder was refused bail at the Old Bailey.

The youth, from Hounslow, west London, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was remanded in custody to appear at the same court on 9 September.

He is also charged with violent disorder and four counts of burglary – relating to looting at a William Hill bookmaker’s, a Tesco Express, a Blockbuster video shop and a Fatboys restaurant.

The boy’s mother is accused of perverting justice by disposing of his clothing.

The Scotland Yard spokesman said that, while the 70-year-old was the oldest man to be arrested in connection with riots, the oldest person to be charged in connection with disorder was John Maughan, 63, from Camden, north London, who was charged on 12 August with handling stolen goods.

Meanwhile, a 28-year-old man has appeared in court in connection with the murders of three men who were killed as they tried to protect homes and shops from looters.

Liam Young, from Winson, Green, Birmingham, was remanded in custody by magistrates in Birmingham yesterday following a brief hearing, a court official said.

Young, of Bryant Street, is charged with perverting the course of justice.

He is the fifth man to be charged by detectives investigating the murders of Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31.

The three men were hit by a car in the early hours of 10 August during riots in Winson Green. They were pronounced dead later in hospital.

Four men – Ian Beckford, 30, Joshua Donald, 26, Adam King, 23, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named – have already been charged with murder.

A 33-year-old arrested by police on Friday was released a day later on police bail.

Three other males – aged 17, 23 and 32 – have also been arrested and bailed pending further inquiries.

Young will appear for a preliminary hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on 30 August.

A man accused of starting a fire that destroyed a furniture store during the riots was also remanded in custody yesterday after a brief court hearing.

Gordon Edward Thompson, 33, is accused of setting Reeves Furniture Store in Croydon, south London, ablaze on 8 August.

Thompson, of Croydon, appeared briefly at Inner London Crown Court, and was remanded in custody to appear for a plea and case management hearing at the same court on 26 September.

He is charged with two counts of arson, as well as with allegedly stealing a laptop and other items from a branch of House of Fraser. He is also charged with violent disorder in Croydon town centre.

Reeves Furniture Store was set up in 1867 and its current owner, Trevor Reeves, is the fifth generation of the family to run the business.