London, May 7: An Indian-origin man who was found guilty of a violent robbery in east London has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment along with two of his accomplices.
Ajaypal Singh, 28, had pleaded guilty to the charge of possession with intent to supply and possession of a pointed/bladed article and was found guilty of robbery at a trial in November last year.
He was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday to 20 years, with an extended licence period of five years allowing for a further term dependent on conduct.
“This result is the conclusion of a complex investigation into a serious and violent crime that had a significant impact on the local community,” said Detective Constable (DC) Darren Warner from the Specialist Crime Command of the Metropolitan Police, who conducted the investigation.
“It also left a family, including a young child, terrified. They will never be able to forget what happened to them that night. I am grateful to the members of the public who came forward to assist the investigation – in the Metropolitan Police we know that we are most effective when we police with the support of the public, working together to tackle those causing the most harm,” he said.
In her sentencing remarks on Friday, Judge Patricia Lees commended DC Warner for his “intelligent, honest and reasonable” approach to the investigation.
“It is clear to me that he is an outstanding officer of whom the MPS should be proud,” she said.
On May 1, 2020, police were called to a residential property in Upminster in east London and found an 11-year-old boy who was in a serious condition with a gunshot wound. A man, aged in his 40s, had also sustained stab wounds to his head. They were both taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service.
Detectives established that the man had opened the front door to a person who was later identified as Sargent. He had claimed to be a delivery driver and had left a parcel on the doorstep. As he bent down to collect the parcel, he was knocked to the ground by a group of men who forced entry to the property.
They demanded the homeowner hand over any money he had at the address and threatened to harm his 11-year-old son if the demands were not met. During the robbery, a shotgun that was legally held at the address was discharged, resulting in a gunshot wound to the child’s shoulder. The injuries were not life-threatening or life-changing.
The group left the property with around GBP 20,000 worth of jewellery and watches.
Met officers from the Specialist Crime Command began enquiries to trace the men, including a review of number plate and mobile phone data from the area.
They also recovered the digital doorbell footage of the suspects who were later arrested and charged.
Besides Singh, Anthony Lascelles, 34, was sentenced to 18 years with an extended licence period of five years after pleading guilty to the robbery.
A third accomplice, 28-year-old Christopher Sargent, pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to 15 years, with an extended licence period of five years. (PTI)
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