Jail for ‘violent’ gang of jewellery thieves who tortured Finsbury Park couple

Published: 6th May, 2011
by ANDREW JOHNSON

A CRUEL gang of jewel thieves who broke into a couple’s flat and subjected them to an horrific torture ordeal before stealing £1million worth of gems were jailed for up to 10 years on Tuesday.

The couple, aged 50 and 56 – their identities have not been revealed – had returned to their home in Moray Road, Finsbury Park, last May after an evening out, unaware that the gang had smashed their patio doors in order to break into their house and were lying in wait for them.

They waited until the woman had gone to bed and the man was in the bath before they struck. 

At about 11.30pm two masked men burst into the bathroom and hit the male victim on the head with a brick. They dragged him naked from the bath into the bedroom.

Meanwhile, more masked men grabbed the woman who had fallen asleep. 

The pair were then handcuffed behind their backs and the man threatened with an axe to his face and neck. 

He was told his fingers would be cut off unless he provided keys to the jewellery shop run by the couple in Enfield and revealed the combination to the safe. 

Two of the gang then left with a set of keys and their male victim’s mobile phone. 

A short while later, a call was made from the mobile and the couple quizzed about the shop’s alarm and security system and how to find other keys.

The other robbers then left the house, leaving the couple handcuffed on the bed. They eventually raised the alarm after the man managed to open the front door with his teeth and call to neighbours for help. 

Police enquiries revealed that their shop, Blingers, had been ransacked with £1million worth of jewellery and watches stolen. 

More than £200,000 worth of items are still to be recovered.

On Tuesday, four members of the gang were sentenced after being found guilty of charges connected to the robbery. 

Gary Williams, 38, of Whittle Close, Waltham Forest, was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years for concealing £800,000 of stolen jewellery. 

He was arrested three days after the raid after being stopped by armed police who found a holdall containing some of the jewellery in the boot. 

He was also wearing two watches worth £100,000.

Also in the car was Kady Wilson, 24, of Medici Close, Ilford. Police found more of the stolen jewellery in her home. She was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years for concealing jewellery. 

Leon Williams, 37, of Cranley Gardens, Haringey, was sentenced to 10 years for conspiracy to burgle and Turker Mustafa, 28, of Foundry Gate, Waltham Cross, to eight-and-a-half years. 

Detective Inspector Mark Raymond said: “This violent and audacious crime was well-planned and co-ordinated with every effort made to avoid detection and arrest. Their purpose was to steal £1million worth of jewellery with no regard to the victims.”