Teenage Armed Robbers from Shepherd's Bush Jailed
Three aged 17 -19 sentenced to a total of 32 years
Three teenagers have been jailed for a total of 32 years for carrying out a linked series of violent gunpoint robberies across London.
All three were sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on Friday, February 13 after being found guilty on all charges on Friday, December 19 following a three week trial.
Faisal Masood, 18, of Goldhawk Road, W12 was found guilty of conspiring to commit robbery and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. He was further found guilty of possession of an imitation firearm and was sentenced to six years to run concurrently.
Melchezidec Williams, 19, also of Goldhawk Road was found guilty of conspiring to commit robbery and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. He was also further found guilty of possession of an imitation firearm and was sentenced to 6 years to run concurrently.
A 17 year-old was found guilty of conspiring to commit robbery and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment. He was also found guilty of possession of an imitation firearm and was sentenced to four years to run concurrently.
s39 of the Children and Young Person's Act was lifted by the judge and the 17 year-old has been named as Kyan Bhola, age 17 of Rosedale Terrace, W12, pictured right.
Between March and June 2014, the defendants carried out a series of robbery and burglary offences targeting brothels. A total of 13 offences were committed across the boroughs of Westminster, Harrow, Barnet, Brent, Kensington and Chelsea and Hounslow. The court heard that the three men were highly organised and each offence involved a significant amount of planning.
The men would identify the premises on the internet and visit them, posing as clients, after arranging an appointment. They would force entry and once inside, would threaten the occupants with violence. Some victims were held at knifepoint with weapons being held to their throats or guns to their heads.
Officers from Brent Police’s Priority Crime Unit identified the linked series and on Friday 27 June, two search warrants were executed simultaneously at two addresses in Goldhawk Road, W12. Sixteen people in total were arrested and later released on bail.
A specialist search team searched both addresses, which resulted in the seizure of over 400 exhibits. During the course of the searches, officers recovered an imitation firearm and a large quantity of property, believed to be stolen.
All three denied any involvement and pleaded not guilty, but after a three-week trial the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict and they were sentenced as above.
Detective Sergeant Tony Bellis of Brent CID said: "This was a highly complex and protracted investigation. These offences were committed during hours of darkness with the use of weapons and disguises and were a harrowing and terrifying ordeal for all those targeted.
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Even in the face of overwhelming evidence, those responsible for committing these despicable crimes insisted on calling a number of the victims and witnesses to court to relive their ordeal.
He added: "We are particularly thankful to those witnesses who attended court and in some instances returned to the UK to give evidence. These convictions send out a clear message that these offences will not be tolerated and that the police will work tirelessly to bring those who commit such crimes to justice.
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The sentences reflect the seriousness of the crimes and I hope they will act as a deterrent to anybody else who is considering committing such crime."
February 15, 2015