Police are on the lookout for Kerry Ann Stevens, a criminal defence solicitor previously struck off following convictions for two ‘dine and dash’ incidents, who has now failed to appear for bail concerning further allegations.
Stevens was removed from the roll earlier this year after convictions related to failing to settle a £104.38 bill at a Harvester restaurant and a Just Eat delivery. Her defence posited that on one occasion, the inability to pay was due to her boyfriend having departed with her bank card. In another incident, she assured a delivery driver that payment had been made and closed the door, ignoring subsequent knocks as the driver attempted to confirm the transaction.
Essex Police, in a recent call for information, have included the search for Daniel Alani, in connection with similar offences. According to the police, they are interested in speaking with both individuals about ongoing investigations involving unpaid taxi fares, restaurant bills, and a failure to adhere to police bail conditions last month. Notably, as part of their bail stipulations, Stevens and Alani are prohibited from visiting licensed eateries where payment precedes consumption.
The enquiries fall under Operation Raker, a focused police strategy addressing theft, assaults, and public order offences, which in under a year, has led to nearly 500 charges and convictions across 55 cases.
Further back in March 2022, Stevens was convicted at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court for making false representations and statements, breaching sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006. The court fined her £440, mandated £100 in compensation for each charge, and imposed £775 in costs along with an £88 victim surcharge. The tribunal concluded her motivation was personal financial gain, highlighting the offences as premeditated and deliberate, thus underscoring her full culpability as per the convictions.
The ongoing investigations highlight the efforts to clamp down on financial misdemeanours in the region, with Stevens’ case exemplifying the actions taken under Operation Raker.
