A thug who ‘terrorised’ a pretty young teenager in

A thug who ‘terrorised’ a pretty young teenager in her own
home into paying a bogus decorating bill was jailed for 15 months
today Friday.

Neville Melvin, 21, was recruited as a heavy to coerce his
victim to cough up pnds stlng 400 for work supposedly done for a
former tenant at her council flat.

Miss Shaneeza Yusuf, 18, was threatened by Melvin and others
at her flat in Mount Pleasant Lane, Clapton, but bravely refused
to give in to their extortion.

They returned three days later, on October 28 last year, and
forced their way in, roughed her up and repeated their chilling
demand for cash.

She feigned compliance but later went to the police.

A month later, Miss Yusuf had to undergo the added ordeal of
meeting Melvin in the street and being threatened not to pick
him out on an identity parade.

Again, she courageously went to the police and told them of
his latest threat.

The sixth former’s bravery continued to the Old Bailey where
her evidence was vital to the conviction of Melvin on charges of
blackmail and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Melvin, unemployed of Narford Court, Clapton, had denied the
charges.

He admitted possessing cocaine and cannabis at the time of
his arrest.

Melvin further admitted handling stolen goods, obtaining
money by deception and assaulting a policeman with intent to
resist arrest for an unrelated cheque fraud.

Miss Adrienne Barnett, defending, said Melvin was not the
instigator of the attacks on Miss Yusuf.

‘Other members of the gang were not proceeded against
despite being arrested.

‘Melvin has been left to face the music alone.

‘
The judge, Mr Recorder William Denny QC, told him the
crimes against Miss Yusuf were serious and deserved a prison
sentence.

‘You and your associates terrorised that young woman over a
period of three days.

‘For strong, tough young men to burst into the home of a young
woman and treat her in the way you did to get money from her,
regardless of the merit of the claim, was atrocious conduct.

‘It cannot be overlooked.

‘You contested the matter, challenging what she had to say
and making her relive the episode in the witness box.

‘You attempted to frighten her not to go through with her
complaint to the police.

That was also serious.

‘
Melvin did not react as he was sentenced to 12 months jail
for the blackmail and a further three months jail for attempting
to pervert the course of justice.

Shorter jail terms on the other charges were ordered to run
concurrently, making 15 months in all.

ENDS