Organized diamond Jewellery robbers jailed in London

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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London police investigation into a large UK-based robbery network has resulted in 17 people being jailed for a total of more than 130 years today, 3 February.

In all, 29 men and one woman were involved. The rest will be sentenced tomorrow.

They conspired to commit a string of highly organised robberies and burglaries across London, the home counties and one offence in Antwerp, Belgium, and were convicted at Kingston-Upon-Thames Crown Court throughout 2009 and 2010.

21 additional gang members were jailed in separate court hearings spread across the country between 2008 and 2010.

A gang, of up to 3 or 4 members, dressed in white overalls complete with balaclavas, would arm themselves with sledge hammers, axes, and CS spray, smashing their way into jewellery shops and stealing high-value goods. The total value of all the goods stolen was in excess of £3.5million.

On one occasion a gang traveled to Antwerp to commit a robbery during which they fired CS spray at passers by and the owner of the shop.

Members of the gang also targeted motorcycle dealerships. They would tie up staff which allowed the gang time to load numerous motorcycles into stolen vans. They then committed robberies using these stolen motorcycles as getaway vehicles.

The Met’s Flying Squad was first alerted to the raids in January 2009. Working closely with, and supported by, industry and each of the police forces concerned they took over the investigation.

Officers quickly identified the ringleaders who would target the jewellery shops, conduct research and reconnaissance missions before purchasing equipment including overalls, sledge hammers and other weapons. They would then recruit south-east London-based associates to commit the raids.

A covert operation was mounted on 31 March 2009 resulting in the arrest of James Stewart, Malcolm Hambleton, Charles Sadler, Aaron Phillips and Andrew Peterson whilst committing a raid on Mappin & Webb jewellers in Guildford.

A further covert operation on 18 May 2009 resulted in the arrest of Anthony Bado, John Chambers, Marc Hardy and Lee Rawlings as they prepared to raid David Dudley jewellers in Marlborough.

A total of 30 people were subsequently arrested and charged. The majority of them pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

The ringleaders of the plots; James Stewart, Anthony Bado, John Chambers and brothers Billy Johnson and Danny Johnson, were convicted of carrying out 18 conspiracies to commit robbery as well as 16 counts of conspiracy to burgle from 2008 to 2010.

James Stewart, Anthony Bado, John Chambers and brothers Billy Johnson and Danny Johnson

Detective Inspector Jason Prins, of the Met’s Flying Squad based at Barnes, said: "These sentences are the result of a lengthy operation by the Met’s Flying Squad. We targeted these violent individuals who have shown they were prepared to use significant force to steal large quantities of jewellery.

"The incidents were terrifying for the staff members and their customers who were caught up in them; it is our duty to protect people from this level of violence.

"These defendants operated as an organised criminal network, meticulously planning and carrying out the most brazen daylight raids.

"I am very grateful to, and extend my thanks to, the industries concerned and colleagues from other police forces who worked very closely with us to ensure this extensive operation gathered sufficient evidence to present the strongest case to the court.

"The sentences also demonstrate our commitment to deal with violent and organised crime in our communities and sends out a strong message that this type of criminal behaviour will not be tolerated."

Those convicted and sentenced on Thursday 3 February are:

James Stewart, 28 years, (20.06.82), of McKenzie Court, Fair Meadows, ME14 convicted of 10 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 7/4/08, 19/7/08, 23/10/08, 8/11/08, 14/11/08, 21/11/08, 3/12/08, 30/12/08, 3/3/09 and 31/3/09. He was also convicted of 5 x conspiracy to commit burglary on 7/4/08, 6/2/08, 13/2/08, 21/2/08 and 7/11/08. Sentenced to 14 years.

Billy Johnson, 28 years, (18.06.82), of Sturdy Road, Peckham, SE15, convicted of 3 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 11/9/08, 7/10/08 and 14/10/08, also 7 x conspiracy to commit burglary on 7/1/08, 21/1/08, 6/2/08, 13/2/08, 22/2/08, 23/6/08 and 30/10/08. Sentenced to 10 years eight months.

Danny Johnson, 29 years, (22.06.81), of Sturdy Road, Peckham, SE15, convicted of 4 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 11/9/08, 7/10/08, 14/10/08 and 23/10/08, also 4 x conspiracy to commit burglary on 21/1/08, 6/2/08, 13/2/08 and 30/10/08. Sentenced to 11 years four months.

Lee Fairbank, 31 years, (20.05.79), of NFA, convicted of 5 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 14/11/08, 21/11/08, 3/12/08, 25/2/09 and 3/3/09. Sentenced to 15 years.

Anthony Bado, 28 years, (22.09.82), of St Clements Road, Bournemouth, convicted of 4 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 30/12/08, 19/2/09, 12/3/09 and 18/5/09, 1 x conspiracy conspiracy to steal on 27/4/09 Sentenced to 12 years.

Albert Bado, 50 years, (22.03.60), of Middle Park Avenue, London, SE9, convicted of 5 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 19/2/09, 25/2/09, 26/3/09, 31/3/09 and 1/4/09, 1 x conspiracy to steal on 27/4/09. Sentenced to nine years four months.

Daniel Tait-McKenzie, 20 years, (10.12.90), of Halliwell Court, Barry Road, SE22, convicted of 2 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 7/10/08 and14/10/08, also convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit burglary on 30/10/08. Sentenced to seven years eight months.

Jason Fergus, 28 years, (13.01.82), of Nunhead Green, London, SE15, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 7/10/08 and 1 x conspiracy to steal on 22/2/08. Sentenced to eight years eight months.

Tony Hough, 21 years, (10.02.89), of Pincott Place, Brockley, SE4, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 7/10/08 and one robbery on 01/06/10 Sentenced to 11 years.

Olawale Korodo, 20 years, (17.11.90), of Wood Vale,SE23, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 7/10/08. Sentenced to 17 months in a young offenders’ instiution.

Michael Stephenson, 23 years, (08.05.87), of Crawthew Grove, East Dulwich, SE22, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 7/10/08. Sentenced to four and a half years.

Hassan Ibrahim, 20 years, (26.05.90), of Kimberley Avenue, London, SE15, convicted of 2 x conspiracy to commit burglary on 8/11/08 (Frazer Hart) and 12/11/08. Sentenced to four and a half years in a young offenders’ institution.

John Chambers, 35 years, (03.05.75), of Swiftsden Way, Bromley, BR1, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 01/04/09 and 5 x conspiracy to commit burglary on 25/2/09, 12/3/09, 26/03/09, 27/4/09 and 18/5/09. Sentenced to nine years nine months.

Mark Hardy, 25 years, (07.02.85), of St Clements Road, Bournemouth, convicted of 4 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 3/3/09, 12/3/09, 26/3/09 and 1/4/09, 1 x conspiracy to commit burglary on 27/4/09. Sentenced to eight years.

Grant Findlay, 24 years, (24.04.86), of NFA, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 1/4/09. Sentenced to seven years.

Caroline Bado, 32 years, (03.02.78), of Guildford Grove, Greenwich, SE1, convicted Handling stolen goods (jewellery stolen in the raids). Sentenced to 12 months suspended for 12 months.

Lee Rawlings, 29 years, (07.12.81), of Rayfield Close, Bromely, BR2, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 18/5/09. Sentenced to six years.

Those convicted and to be sentenced on Friday 4 February are:

Richmond Prepah, 29 years, (12.08.81), of Westdean Avenue,SE12, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to burgle on 23/6/08.

David Martin 34 years, (15.04.76), of Blythe Vale,London SE6, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 19/7/08.

Aaron Phillips, 22 years, (21.05.88), of Westhorne Avenue,London SE12, convicted of 3 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 8/11/08, 21/11/08 and 31/3/09 1 x conspiracy to steal on 26/1/09.

Sean Leo, 37 years, (18.05.73), of NFA, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 8/11/08 (Cox and Son).

Aaron Stillwell, 26 years, (14.09.84), of Churchberry Road,SE9, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 4/3/08.

Charles Sadler, 22 years, (18.02.88), of Glenalvon Way,London, SE18, convicted of 6 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 8/11/08, 14/11/08, 21/11/08, 3/12/08 and 3/3/09, 1 x conspiracy to burgle on 07/11/08 and 1 x conspiracy to steal on 26/1/09.

Andrew Peterson, 24 years, (11.05.86), of Kingsley Wood Drive, SE9, convicted of 1 robbery on 31/10/08 and 1 conspiracy to commit burglary on 31/3/09.

Kevin David Cook, 28 years, (22.06.82), of Maswroth House, Wiston Road, Hackney, E2 convicted of 3 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 14/11/08, 21/11/08 and 3/12/08.

Terry King, 35 years, (26.12.75), of Green Lane, London, SE9, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 8/11/08 and 1 x conspiracy to commit burglary on 7/11/08.

Funda Drummonds, 19 years, (13.09.91), of Waldeck Grove, SE27, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 19/7/08.

Frank Bishop, 31 years, (01.05.79), of Ringsfield House, Bronti Close, SE17, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit robbery on 23/10/08.

Sean Nammock, 29 years, (21.10.81), of Westbourne Park Road, W11, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit burglary on 4/3/08.

Malcolm Hambleton, 63 years, (24.09.47), of Bracondale Road, Abbeywood, SE29, convicted of 1 x conspiracy to commit burglary on 31/3/09.

List of venues targeted:

9.1.08 – KT Ruff Ltd, 57 King Edward Court, Windsor, Berkshire.

21.1.08 – W Bruford Ltd, 11-13 Cornfield Road, Eastbourne, West Sussex.

6.2.08 – Parkhouse & Wyatt, 96 Above Bar, Southampton.

13.2.08 – Frazer Hart Jewellers Ltd, 1 Fremlin Walk, Maidstone, Kent.

22.2.08 – KT Ruff Ltd, 57 King Edward Court, Windsor, Berkshire.

4.3.08 – Ernest Jones Jewellers,147 Kensington High St, London W8.

7.4.08 – Michael Matthews Jewellers Ltd, Westover Road, Bournemouth.

23.6.08 – Ernest Jones Jewellers, 57-58 George Street, Richmond, TW9.

19.7.08 – Millenium 2 Jewellers, 21-25 The Arcade, Bristol, Somerset.

21.8.08 – Michael Spiers Jewellers, 54 Cornwall Street, Plymouth, Devon.

11.9.08 – Wharton Goldsmiths, 1 George Street,St Albans, Hertfordshire.

7.10.08 – Des Helyars Motorcycle Shop, 5 Pamber Heath Road, Pamber Heath, Tadley, Hampshire.

14.10.08 – K & S Racing Kent (motorcycle shop), 2529 Milton Road, Sittingbourne, Kent.

23.10.08 – W Bruford Jewellers, 11-13 Cornfield Road, Eastbourne, West Sussex.

30.10.08 – Ernest Jones Jewellers, 57-58 George Street, Richmond, TW9.

7.11.08 – Ernest Jones Jewellers, 172 High Street, Southend.

8.11.08 – Frazer Hart Jewellers, 1 Fremlin Walk, Maidstone, Kent.

8.11.08 – Cox & Son Jewellers, 3 Northgate Street, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

12.11.08 – Ernest Jones Jewellers, 57 George Street, Richmond, TW9.

14.11.08 AE Halfhide & Son, 41 Wimbledon Hill Road, London, SW19.

21.11.08 – Watches of Switzerland, 57 Ship Street, Brighton, Sussex.

3.12.08 – Michael Mattews Jewellers, 11 Westover Road, Bournemouth, Dorset.

30.12.08 – Jewellers, Antwerp.

26.1.09 – Goldark Jewellers, Brighton Place, The Lanes, Brighton, East Sussex.

19.2.09 – Eternal Jewellers, 13 High Street, Wimbledon, London , SW19.

25.2.09 – Austen’s Jewellers, 75 North Street, Chichester.

3.3.09 – GH Pressley & Son Jewellers, 46 South Street, Worthing.

12.3.09 – Scotts Jewellers, 70 high Street, Dorking.

26.3.09 – Solitaire Jewellers, High Street, Rickmansworth.

31.3.09 – Mappin & Webb Jewellers, 96 High Street, Guildford, Surrey.

1.4.09 – Thurlow Jewellers, 14 Abbeygate Street, Bury St Edmunds.

27.4.09 – CH Moody & Son, 14 Pillory Street, Nantwich, Cheshire.

18.5.09 – David Dudley Jewellers, Marlborough.

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1 Comment

  1. easy john, james, billy and danny. one dont need to tell you the ins and outs of what to do. it was a privledge to have met you all and even share the cells at hmp highdown. funny times john. all the best and good luck for the future and remember everyone goes home eventually. take care and yous represented the robbery crews elite with upmost efficency. bless you all.
    german

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