Gt Yarmouth: Facebook Robbery

13 May 2013, 15:55 | Updated: 13 May 2013, 16:22

Four people have been jailed after a man was befriended on facebook and then robbed in Great Yarmouth.

A gang of four who terrorised and robbed a 37 year oldman in Great Yarmouth have been jailed for more than 12 years.

Samantha Craddock, 32 of Nelson Road South in Yarmouth, Leighann Carlisle, 19 of Deneside Road in Yarmouth

John Ewer, 29 of Deneside in Yarmouth and Christopher Wright, 29 of Sandown Road in Yarmouth were all sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on Thursday 9 May 2013.

All four had previously pleaded guilty to offences of robbery and Craddock, Carlisle and Ewer also pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The offences related to an incident at an address in the town in February 2012 where the victim had been lured after befriending Craddock on Facebook. He was subsequently robbed and had his cash card and car keys taken. The victim was also assaulted and forced to remain in the flat while a large quantity of cash was taken from his bank account after he was made to reveal his PIN number. A number of electrical items were also stolen from the victim's car.

On arrest Craddock, Carlisle and Ewer gave false accounts to the police and it was not until later that Wright was linked to the robbery and arrested.

Wright was sentenced to five years and five months in custody, Craddock was sentenced to three years and two months in custody, Ewer received 22 months in custody and Carlisle received 20 months in juvenile detention.

This was a complex investigation carried out by Great Yarmouth CID over a number of months, and resulted in the guilty pleas of all those involved in court.

Detective Constable David Cushway, who led the investigation, said: "This was a pre-meditated robbery, involving violence and a vulnerable victimwho was too trusting in Craddock who befriended him and set him up to be robbed. There was also a clear attempt by three of the defendants to implicate another person by giving false information.

"We are very satisfied with the sentencing which reflects the seriousness of the robbery and the deliberate ploy to mislead the police."

Note to editors: custody images of the four offenders are attached.