A pair of Brazilians who robbed three people at gun point have been jailed.

A major investigation was launched by Merton police in January following a series of armed robberies in the Wimbledon area.

On December 27 a 21-year-old man was threatened with a handgun and robbed of his wallet on Kingston Road.

A second robbery took place on December 31 again on Kingston Road where a woman was threatened with a gun to hand over money before the robber fled the scene.

A further unsuccessful robbery took place on Sunday, January 13, in Longmead Road, Epsom where a woman walking alone at night fled after confronted by two men.

The pair were arrested and charged following a raid by Merton Police officers on January 18.

Diego Barbosa, 19, of Mortimer Crescent in Worcester Park and Lohan Souza, 18, of Kingston Road in Wimbledon appeared before Kingston Crown Court for sentencing on August 8.

Barbosa was sentenced to three years and nine months after he was convicted of one count of robbery, one count of attempted robbery and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence.

Souza, 18, of Kingston Road in Wimbledon, was sentenced to four years in prison after he was convicted of two counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, three counts of possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and one count of handling stolen goods.

Both men are Brazilian nationals and will be deported following their jail terms.

Sergeant Danny Taylor, of Wimbledon CID, said: "This was a major investigation for my own investigation team and I'm extremely pleased with the result and I would like to thank my team for their work.

"It's a great success in keeping the people of Merton safe and was a fantastic result for DC Leslie MacGrath who was the officer in charge."

Chief superintendent Darren Williams, Merton’s borough commander, also praised the team and said those officers involved would be formally recognised at Merton Police’s next commendation ceremony.

 

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