Dreadlock Congo Bongo I

Congolese, Cameroonian (?), French. All doing the jobs the natives won't do. I know postmen are badly paid, but ...

Cyprian Noumema
Charge Conspiracy to defraud
Sentence 21 months
DoB 15 October 1980 (aged 26)
Occupation Unemployed
Address No Fixed Abode
Nationality Congolese
Mobile phone records link Noumema to John Crimee, a Leeds postman, and fingerprint evidence links him to a number of stolen giros cashed in the West Midlands. He is the link between Leeds and Birmingham.

John Crimee*
Charge Conspiracy to defraud
* Failed to appear in court. Warrant issued for his arrest.
DoB 31 July 1976 (aged 31)
Occupation Postal worker
Address 30 Scott Hall Avenue Leeds LS7 3JE
Nationality French
Crimee was employed as a postman in Leeds from February 2005 and stole almost 350 giros, most of which were cashed in the West Midlands. When arrested, he had 49 giros in his possession. From October 2005 until the day of his arrest more than £10,000 in cash was deposited in his Halifax Building Society account as payment for his part in the conspiracy.

Massamba Lubamba
Charge Conspiracy to Defraud
Sentence 4 years
DoB 2 August 1972 (aged 35)
Occupation Postal worker
Address 12 Baldmore Lake Road, Erdington, Birmingham
Nationality Congolese
Lubamba was employed as a postman in Birmingham from November 2002 and stole around 500 giros. He was arrested on 20 December 2006. During 2005 and 2006 around £5,000 in cash was paid into his bank accounts. In addition, he spent almost £900 on designer clothes over two days in July 2006, despite having a weekly wage of just £250.

Basimo Ngolo
Charge Conspiracy to Defraud
Sentence 3 1/2 years
DoB 24th June 1967 (aged 40)
Occupation Unemployed
Address Flat 7, Trinity Court, Aston, Birmingham B6 6AL
Nationality Congolese
Ngolo had a central role as the forger and was at the centre of the conspiracy. When arrested, in addition to post office receipts and stolen bank and credit cards, investigators found a typewriter at his address which has been linked to a large number of stolen giros from both Leeds and Birmingham. Investigators also found a 'manipulation kit' containing scalpels, crayons, glue, tippex and typewriter ribbons.

Willy Mazele
Charge Conspiracy to defraud and 3 attempts to obtain property by deception
Sentence 21 months
DoB 1 February 1972 (aged 35)
Occupation Unemployed
Address 16 Geach Tower, Uxbridge Street, Newtown, Birmingham
Nationality Congolese
Mazele would visit post offices, or arrange for others to do so, and present the stolen and altered giros to obtain cash.

Bridgette Nawal
Charge Conspiracy to Defraud and Obtaining property by deception.
Sentence 12 months
DoB 15 May 1973 (aged 34)
Occupation Unemployed
Address 21 South Road, Hockley, Birmingham
Nationality Cameroonian
Nawal was employed by the conspirators to visit post offices and present the stolen and altered giros to obtain cash. When arrested investigators found that she had £8,000 in a bank account under an assumed name, and had purchased designer goods from Prada, Luis Vuitton and Harvey Nicholls, despite having no apparent income.