Ravenscourt Park man caught by Flying Squad after spree of raids
A 43 year old man from Ravenscourt Park has been jailed for 6 years after being found guilty of being involved in a spate of armed robberies in the area last year. Hamid Terrachet who lived at Ravenscourt Court on Paddenswick Road had pleaded guilty to the robberies including a raid on the Threshers off-licence on the Avenue in Chiswick.
His accomplice 47 year old Perry Campbell of Carslake Road was sentenced to eleven years imprisonment for holding up six separate premises. The pair were caught red handed following a Flying Squad operation that found them in the process of robbing an HSBC bank in Church Road, Barnes last August.
They came to notice the notice of the police following a two-week spate of armed robberies against Ladbrokes bookmakers and Threshers off licences. The incidents occurred at Askew Rd, W12 on 18.7.06, Threshers off licence, Lower Richmond Rd, SW15 on 20.7.06, Ladbrokes bookmakers, Raynes Park SW20 on 21.7.06, Ladbrokes bookmakers, Crown Rd, Twickenham on 26.7.06, Threshers off licence, The Avenue, on 29.7.06, where a total of over £1,300 was stolen from the various premises.
Flying officers mounted an intelligence-led operation and observed Terrachet meeting up with Campbell in Elm Grove Rd, Barnes. Both men put on boiler suits before carrying out a 'recce' of the HSBC bank in Church Road, Barnes and then left the area in Terrachet's blue Rover car.
They returned approximately an hour and twenty minutes later at 12.52 where they were again seen to put on boiler suits and walk into the bank. Campbell threatened the cashier with a black handgun, forcing £21,285 to be handed over into a green carrier bag. During the confrontation Terrachet guarded the door.
Both men, scattering some of the money as they ran, made off to their parked car, which they had left on Elm Grove Rd, SW13. As they drove away they were stopped in an armed arrest where two BB guns and the cash was recovered.
A Taser was deployed to control Campbell after he failed to comply with the officers. DI Tom Murray, from Barnes Flying Squad, said: "This was a prolific series of armed robberies carried out over a short time span and I believe without our proactive interception further robberies would have been committed.
"The Flying Squad is renowned for its success in targeting criminals committing commercial robberies involving firearms and today's result will help make London a safer place for businesses to trade."
September 21, 2007