IT ONLY COMES round once every four years, but 29th February last year was an unlucky day for a 69 year old man in Upton Park. When he opened his front door, he found a woman, who said she was a courier and had a parcel for him.
As she said this, another man forced his way past her and into the house – where he assaulted the resident with a Stanley knife. A second man arrived and the two tied the victim up and put tape over his mouth. A third man came in and searched the house – finding jewellery and cash, which the gang of four then stole.
Fortunately, the victim was able to free himself and raise the alarm after the robbers had left. Detectives from Newham CID investigated – assisted by a CCTV camera at the victim’s property.
The woman who called herself a courier was the first to be identified and arrested – just three days later. She was Iona Ruxandra Costache, 28, of Ripple Road, Barking. On 26th May, she was found guilty of conspiracy to rob at Southwark Crown Court. She was not taken to the Court on the day of the trial and will have to attend on 30th June for sentencing.
Newham CID continued to investigate, and the three men who took part in the crime were arrested over the course of the following days.
The first man who pushed his way into the house was Mohammed Auckburally, 43, of Ripple Road, Barking. He pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to rob and on Tuesday, 30th May he was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court to eight years in prison.
The second man who came into the house, and who helped tie up the victim, was Abdool Auckburally, 26 – Mohammed’s brother – of Drake Avenue, Great Yarmouth. The third man, who searched the house, was Rajdeo Aubeelock, 35, of Hampton Road, Ilford. The pair were found guilty of conspiracy to rob at Southwark Crown Court on 26th May. They returned to the Court on 30th May, where Auckburally was sentenced to nine years in prison and Aubeelock to seven years in prison.
Police recovered a total of £12,000 from the criminals’ homes, which was believed to be proceeds from the crime. The stolen jewellery has not been recovered.
Detective Constable Chloe Wilson of Newham CID said, “Whilst the victim suffered relatively minor physical injuries as a result of the incident, it is the mental scars that still remain. [..] but I hope the victim will take some comfort in knowing this violent quartet have been caught and brought to justice.”
•Read more about it: E14 robber appears in Court http://eastlondonnews.co.uk/e14-robber-appears-in-court/
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