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July 24, 2015
Three men who gagged, tied up and assaulted an elderly couple during a violent robbery at their home have been jailed.
Two of the men forced their way into the home in Petts Wood, south-east London, as a 69-year-old was leaving his house at around 5am on a Monday morning in June last year.
They then attacked the victim, repeatedly punching him in the face, before tying him up with his 67-year-old wife during the terrifying raid.
After gagging them and further assaulting them, they ransacked the house over the course of the “horrific” hour-long ordeal.
Eventually the men left the house with the contents of a safe as well as cash, jewellery and watches worth a total of around £300,000.
The husband was left needing an operation to pin his shoulder back into place, while his wife was taken to hospital for facial injuries and shock.
It later emerged that one of the group involved was a member of the victims’ extended family and had arranged the robbery. He had previously worked for the victims’ company but had left over “financial irregularities”.
Detective Sergeant Gary Head, of Bromley Police, said after three men were jailed for the crime: “This was an extremely vicious and violent robbery. The victims were attacked and robbed in their own home and over £300,000 worth of property was stolen – none of which has ever been recovered.
“This robbery was made even more sickening as it was organised by Zahid Sait, a member of the victims’ own extended family.