‘Honest guv, I’m going straight’

A career criminal who once tried to blackmail a world-famous actress over nude photos found on a stolen laptop claimed he is finally ready to stop offending.

Vernon Fevrier, 42, was jailed for two years in 2012 after he and brother Lee broke into the offices of a solicitor’s firm in London and stole a computer containing intimate snaps.

Before deciding to blackmail the unnamed actress, the pair had attempted to sell the 50 paparazzi photos to national newspapers and gossip magazines.

They were arrested after demanding a £4,000 ‘reward’ for the safe return of the intimate snaps from the star, whose identity was protected by the court.

Vernon Fevrier was given 21 months jail in 2014 for stealing nearly £15,000 in casino chips, laptops, mobile phones, and pens from an office complex in Grosvenor Gardens, west London.

He now faces sentence for breaking into Wells Street Studio offices in Hackney, and stole computer equipment last July 11.

Bearded Fevrier, who has dozens of convictions for offences including burglary and robbery, appeared at Southwark Crown Court via video link from Wandsworth prison.

Liam Edwards, defending, told the judge: ‘You will see from his previous convictions he is heavily convicted.

‘He has multiple convictions for burglary and they resulted in custodial sentences.

‘In my submission that approach didn’t work.

‘He has never been offered any assessment.

‘He has been a victim of crack cocaine since the age of 14.

‘For the first time in his life he is working in changing.’

The court was told that while in custody, Fevrier had worked with programs in the prison and achieved enhanced prisoner status.

‘In my submission, this is a defendant who perhaps for the first time, there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and the court can break that cycle of offending,’ said his barrister.

‘He has been told by his family this is it.

‘After this case, if there is any more offending, they want nothing to do with him.

‘That was a wake-up call.’

Fevrier also indicated he would be pleading guilty to another non-domestic burglary charge currently listed at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Ordering reports, Judge Martin Griffith told Fevrier: ‘No promises, but let us see if we can find a way that can stop the court from sentencing you to four years and four years and four years, time after time.’

Fevrier, of Colchester, Essex, admitted burglary and was remanded in custody ahead of sentence at Southwark Crown Court on June 24.
ends