A “violent quartet” has been sentenced to at least 24 years in jail after they subjected a pensioner to “mental scars” by robbing him in broad daylight.
The 69-year-old victim was distracted by Ioana Ruxandra Costache, who posed as a courier before her husband Mohammed Auckburally assaulted him with a knife and tied him up at his home in Upton Park.
The 43-year-old, of Ripple Road, Barking, was handed an eight-year jail term at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to rob. His wife failed to appear at yesterday’s sentencing after she was found guilty after trial on Friday.
As Costache, 28, spoke to the victim on his doorstep, her husband approached the door and forced his way into the property using a Stanley knife to assault the victim as he entered.
Once inside, Mohammed Auckburally struck the victim over his head and used tape to bind his hands, legs and mouth. His brother Abdool Auckburally, 26, of Drake Avenue, Great Yarmouth, helped him bind the victim, putting a towel over the victim’s head and pushing him to the floor.
They were joined by Rajdeo Aubeelock, 35, who searched the house before the gang made off with thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and cash.
The brave victim freed himself and raised the alarm. CCTV footage at his address helped identify the suspects, who were arrested on different dates in March and April last year following the incident on February 29.
Police recovered £2,000 in cash from Costache’s address and £10,000 from Aubeelock’s home, believed to be stolen in the raid.
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.
“Much of the money and jewellery stolen has still not been recovered, but I hope the victim will take some comfort in knowing this violent quartet have been caught and brought to justice.”
Abdool Auckburally and Rajdeo Aubeelock, of Hampton Road, Ilford, were sentenced to nine and seven years in jail respectively after they were found guilty of conspiracy to rob on Friday.
Costache, who was also found guilty of the crime, failed to appear at court yesterday and is due to appear for sentencing on June 30.
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