Stevens: Struck off earlier this year
Police want to speak to a solicitor struck off earlier this year over convictions for two ‘dine and dash’ incidents after she failed to answer bail over more allegations.
Kerry Ann Stevens, who was a criminal defence solicitor, was struck off after she was convicted of failing to pay a combined £104.38 at a Harvester restaurant and to a Just Eat delivery driver.
In an appeal for information, Essex Police said they were also looking for Daniel Alani.
“Officers are looking to speak to them in connection with ongoing investigations into incidents where individuals are reported to have failed to pay for taxi fares and restaurant bills, as well as a failure to answer police bail,” the appeal said.
They failed to answer bail last month. As part of their bail conditions, they are not permitted to attend any licenced premises in which food is served where that food cannot be purchased before consumption.
Both are 38 years old. The police said Mr Alani was around five foot eight inches in height and of stocky build, while Ms Stevens around five foot in height and of small build.
The investigations are being conducted under Operation Raker – a dedicated policing response targeting theft, assaults and public order offences in the Southend area. Essex Police said that, in less than a year, the Operation Raker team has secured almost 500 charges and convictions in 55 cases.
The convictions for which Ms Stevens was struck off occurred in 2020 and 2021. She claimed that she had been unable to pay at the Harvester because her boyfriend, who had already left the restaurant, had her bank card.
She told the Just Eat delivery driver that she had paid for it when placing the order and closed the door while he sought to confirm this, and did not reopen it despite him knocking for several minutes.
Daniel Alani
In March 2022, Suffolk Magistrates’ Court convicted Ms Stevens of making a false representation and a false statement contrary to sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.
She was fined £440 and ordered to pay £100 compensation for each offence, plus £775 costs and a victim surcharge of £88.
The tribunal said: “In assessing culpability, the tribunal found that the motivation was personal financial gain. The offences were premediated and deliberate. Ms Stevens had complete culpability for these matters, as reflected in her convictions.”
