Met Police issues mugshots of London's most wanted suspects in time for Christmas

Police are hoping to catch a number of suspects in time for Christmas (Picture: Police)

f The Met Police has released mugshots of 19 suspects it’s hoping to catch before Christmas.

The force is planning to display the images on the side of police vans across London from Wednesday.

The suspects are wanted for several offences, including robbery, drugs charges, GBH, kidnapping and possessing offensive weapons.

Detective Chief Superintendent Lee Hill, head of the Met’s Violent Crime Taskforce, said: “We are asking the public to be additional eyes and ears to help us locate people we need to speak to in connection with a number of serious offences.

“We often get asked by the public how they can help keep their communities safe, and providing information such as this is enormously helpful both in preventing and detecting crime. 

“People shouldn’t just view it as ‘helping the police’, you are directly helping your communities and the wider London community."

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The individuals include suspects from specific incidents, breached bails or probation conditions and people who have not turned up to court.

The Met said anyone who supplied information would be treated dealt with in strict confidence and could supply details anonymously to Crime Stoppers.

Jailed: 'Cowardly' speeding driver who killed girl, 10, while 'off his face'

A ‘cowardly’ speeding driver who fled after he knocked down and killed a 10-year-old girl while ‘off his face’ was jailed today.

Connor Marsden, 24, had downed pints of lager and cider in a local club an hour before he hit Melissa Tate while driving at 47mph in a 20mph zone.

He broke down in tears when the arresting officer told him the much-loved schoolgirl had died, following the crash in Kenton, Newcastle.

Melissa’s family donated her organs after the crash on September 25, saving the lives of sick children.

Prosecutors said Marsden was aware he had hit the girl and fled Newcastle after the crash, hiding in Easington, County Durham.

His actions were described as ‘an appalling act of cowardice and self-preservation’ as he was jailed for seven years and four months on Thursday.

Judge Amanda Rippon jailed him then praised the girl’s mother who made a moving victim impact statement.

Melissa (left) with her sister Lila, and right with her father Michael. (PA)

Addressing the family about the sentence, the judge said: “I know it’s not enough, it’s all I can do. They have my very best wishes.”

Melissa died in hospital a day after being struck by the uninsured, unlicensed driver’s Renault Kangoo.

Mark Guiliani, prosecuting said a witness saw Marsden afterwards, saying: “He described him as off his face, incoherent.”

Another witness, a member of the Institute of Advanced Drivers, saw the van approaching the scene of the collision and recalled Marsden was driving “like a maniac”.

The witness said a group of children was clearly visible at the side of the road.

Mr Guiliani said Melissa was playing with friends and was knocked down as she tried to cross the narrow residential street, about 150 metres from her home.

She died in hospital the next day – her sister’s sixth birthday.

Police arrested Marsden in Easington 20 hours after the collision. He refused a police request to provide a blood sample.

Connor Marsden was jailed for seven years four months. (PA)

CCTV footage showed he had drunk two pints of snakebite – lager and cider – in a local club an hour before the collision.

The court was told that had he been arrested within 18 hours, he could have been compelled to provide a sample.