These are some of the most serious, high-profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the final month of 2023.
All information comes directly from Surrey Police.
1. Locked up in Surrey: These are some of the criminals jailed in December 2023
Lily Cartier, 53 of Mill Lane, Felbridge, was found guilty of two counts of administering a poison to cause grievous bodily harm and two counts of fraud. In February 2017 Cartier’s victim, John Sharrard, 71, began to feel unwell and was referred for medical tests. The cause of his symptoms was unconfirmed, though doctors suspected he had Parkinson’s disease due to difficulties he was having with muscle spasms and his mental faculties slowing. John continued to feel unwell through to October that year when he collapsed twice and was admitted to hospital on each occasion. His brother raised concerns that Cartier, who was living with John at the time, may have been poisoning him and reported this to Surrey Police. Further tests by medical professionals found warfarin in John’s blood - an anticoagulant drug that could lead to serious bleeding. A head hair sample taken by a Surrey Police Scenes of Crime Officer also detected haloperidol, an antipsychotic drug. John confirmed he had not knowingly taken either of these drugs and began to suspect his partner had put them in his food or drink. His brother also shared concerns that Cartier, as a pharmacy worker, had access to drugs through her work. In November 2017 Cartier was arrested and haloperidol was found in her handbag at the time, with warfarin found later in her bedside cabinet. Whilst Cartier was in custody, John made a full recovery. The investigation continued after it was discovered that whilst John was in hospital, several transactions were made on his bank cards without his permission including jewellery, clothes and cash withdrawals totalling more than £6,000. Cartier was charged on 11 August 2020. She pleaded not guilty to all offences and her case went to trial, where she was found guilty by jury on 23 October 2023. Since Cartier’s arrest in 2017, John Sharrard has sadly passed away due to an unrelated medical issue. Lily is also know as Laila Al-Berrawi. Photo: Surrey Police
2. Locked up in Surrey: These are some of the criminals jailed in December 2023
A burglar who broke into four homes in five days across Lingfield and Woldingham has been sentenced to a 45 month prison term after being caught red-handed with stolen goods. James McDonagh (11/06/81) of no fixed address broke into two homes in Lingfield on October 26, 2023, and then two more in Woldingham four days later. McDonagh was captured on CCTV and RING doorbell footage prowling around back gardens trying doors and looking through windows to see if homes were empty or unlocked. At one house in Woldingham he can be seen flinging rocks to smash through the glass back door. Once inside he went into the bedroom and stole items including designer leather goods and jewellery. Returning home soon afterwards, the quick-thinking owners checked their footage and posted a description of him on their community social media groups. Later that night, police were able to tell them he had been located and arrested and their property had been recovered after he was spotted at Woldingham train station by local residents. Investigating officers then conducted extensive house-to-house enquiries, forensic examinations and a CCTV trawl which enabled them to link McDonagh to the other local offences. Photo: Surrey Police
3. Locked up in Surrey: These are some of the criminals jailed in December 2023
A man who assaulted a police officer and a paramedic on the day he was released from prison for the same offence was sentenced to spend 12 weeks in prison when he appeared at Guildford Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 16 December .Callum Parker, 38, of Brighton Road, Redhill, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating an emergency services worker, one count of assault by beating and one count of being drunk and disorderly after he was arrested in Staines-upon-Thames on Thursday, 14 December. He was also ordered to pay £50 compensation. The court heard that a call was made to police reporting that Parker was behaving aggressively to members of the public in Staines High Street. When police arrived, it was clear that Parker, who had been released from prison on licence that day for assaulting an emergency worker, was severely intoxicated due to his slurred speech, smell, and staggering. There were also smashed bottles of vodka nearby. An ambulance was called as a precaution after witnesses reported that Parker had fallen and hit his head. It was also reported that Parker had taken a quantity of pills, but it was not known how many or what they were. Parker was extremely agitated when officers arrived and was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly after lashing out while paramedics were trying to check him over. He was also arrested for two counts of assaulting an emergency services worker after assaulting a police officer while he was being arrested and kicking a paramedic while he was being escorted into the ambulance. He was further arrested for assaulting a member of the public who had tried to help him prior to police being called. Photo: National World
4. Locked up in Surrey: These are some of the criminals jailed in December 2023
A drug dealer is facing the next 4 years and 6 months behind bars after he was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on 8 December. Edvaldo Dokaj, born 28/01/1985, was stopped by officers on Woodbridge Road, Guildford at 11:35pm on Wednesday, 29 March 2023, as it was suspected that his vehicle was involved in drug supply. Dokaj was detained under the Misuse of Drugs Act and found to be in possession of a sum of cash, a mobile phone containing messages relating to drug supply and a small bag of white powder which was later forensically tested and confirmed to be cocaine. He was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and charged and remanded into custody. The defendant was found guilty after a four day trial where he received a custodial sentence. Photo: Surrey Police