Police warn of Triad gangs recruiting in schools

POLICE today warned headteachers of the dangers of Triad gangs recruiting teenagers in schools across London.

The appeal follows the conviction of A-level student Jerome Castrillo, who killed a drug dealer on an afternoon off from his studies.

Castrillo was 17 when he joined the Wo Shing Wo triad. He was then a pupil at The Latymer School in Edmonton. He had nine GCSEs and three ASs and was due to take A levels in maths, history and media studies. The court heard he had been recruited by "older boys" who "said that if you joined, you would be invited to parties where there would be girls and free drinks".

Detective Inspector Bob Campany, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Directorate, said: "The Triads are quite happy to recruit charlies who can be easily led, but they also go for intelligent, well brought up kids with a bright future ahead of them. They may offer a superficially glamorous lifestyle but, as Castrillo has found out, it will lead to a long prison sentence. Headteachers should be vigilant at all times for the dangers these organised gangs pose in the playgrounds and around the school gates."

Castrillo, now 18, of Enfield, was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter. Ryan Parker-Saunders, 23, of West Norwood, Cho Wei Leong, 22, of Haringey, and Yu Xiang Liu, 25, of Islington, were all convicted of murder. They will be sentenced next month.