Robbers jailed after breaking into Chatham home and assaulting elderly couple
13:01, 03 September 2020
updated: 17:03, 03 September 2020
Two robbers who broke into the home of a Chatham couple and assaulted them have been jailed for a total of 13 years.
Mark Bishop, 41, of Bostall Hill, London, and Darren Donnelly, 44, of Abbotts Close, Thamesmead, were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday after they were both charged with robbery and burglary.
The court heard the duo had forced their way inside a home at around 3.20pm in Star Mill Lane, Chatham, on July 2 last year, and assaulted a man in his 70s by punching him in the face several times.
A woman in her 60s was also punched in the face while a second woman was threatened, before the pair stole a mobile phone and a set of car keys for a Mercedes.
They then drove the car to Nuthatch, Longfield , where at around 4.45pm they burgled a house and stole jewellery before driving away.
Both incidents were reported to Kent Police and at around 5pm the vehicle was seen by officers in Green Street Green, Longfield.
The vehicle was able to evade officers but further inquiries led police to find it abandoned in a car park in Woolwich at around 5.45pm.
"These men targeted an elderly couple in a frightening and violent incident before stealing their vehicle and using it to commit a further crime nearby."
Both men were arrested in the High Street at around 7pm after police were called to a disturbance at a pub.
As part of the investigation officers reviewed CCTV and both Bishop and Donnelly were seen approaching the house in Chatham before the stolen car was then seen on further CCTV in and around Woolwich High Street.
Dash cam footage was also handed to police following a media appeal and this showed Bishop driving the stolen vehicle earlier that day in Green Street Green. They were subsequently charged with the offences.
Bishop denied the charges but was found guilty by a jury on August 28.
Both men were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday, with Bishop being handed a seven-year sentence and Donnelly being jailed for six years.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Dan Bister said: "These men targeted an elderly couple in a frightening and violent incident before stealing their vehicle and using it to commit a further crime nearby.
"They attempted to evade officers and were brazen and did not try to conceal their identity during these incidents and were clearly caught driving the stolen vehicle as well as being in the areas at the time that the crimes were committed. We work hard to bring offenders to justice, and I’m pleased they have been sentenced for these crimes."
