December saw criminals jailed for a range of offences in south east London, as the justice system continued its work during the festive period.
Two men committed their violent crimes as a 999-call handler listened at the other end of the victim's phone.
We have summarised some cases below.
David Hucker, a former police firearms instructor, shot dead his daughter’s partner in Dartford as a 999-call operator listened.
The 69-year-old fired two shots at 43-year-old Robert Williamson as the pair argued inside his home in May.
According to the Mirror, the pair had been arguing over the possibility of the couple moving in.
He was found guilty of murder, which he denied, following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday, December 20, and sentenced on the same date to serve a minimum term of 26 years' imprisonment.
Ian Masterman, described as a “violent bully” repeatedly struck a woman in the face before strangling her.
As in the previous case, a 999-call handler listened as the crime took place.
The 55-year-old, from Brockley, also pulled out a clump of the victim’s hair while he subjected her to a prolonged period of abuse inside an Ashford home in February 2021.
He denied actual bodily harm and assault by beating, but was found guilty following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court November 23. He was also issued with a five-year restraining order.
Paul McMullen targeted shops in Bexleyheath and Gravesend, using tools to pry open cash tills, has been jailed for 18 months.
The 41-year-old stole from seven businesses across Kent, Essex and south London, making off with more than £1,500 between August 2019 and June 2021.
He was arrested after officers identified him through CCTV on June 16, 2021, when he stole from a large store in Ilford.
Further enquiries were then carried out and he was identified as being the offender responsible for the other thefts and he was subsequently charged.
McMullen, of Fencepiece Road, Ilford, was sentenced to one year and six months in jail after he admitted seven charges of theft.
Taye Francis, a serial abuser of women, fatally stabbed his girlfriend in the neck in a Greenwich hotel.
“Self-obsessed” Taye Francis had convictions for rape and violence when he killed 23-year-old Khloemae Loy in a Premier Inn room last July.
Francis, 40, of no fixed address, had admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility and was found guilty of murder following a trial at the Old Bailey.
In early December, Francis was jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years.
Eduard Janki threw boiling water over a man during an argument in Gravesend, leaving him with burns on 20 per cent of his upper body.
Eduard Janki doused the victim with recently boiled water from a kettle during a dispute at a flat on Milton Place in 2019.
Janki, of Darnley Street, Gravesend, was jailed for five years and six months following a trial at Woolwich Crown Court on December 2, having been found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent, which he denied.
He was also ordered to serve one year on licence upon his release.
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