Ipswich: Men Sentenced After Robbery
23 February 2012, 16:38 | Updated: 23 February 2012, 16:47
Three men have been sentenced to nearly 30 years for a raid on Goldsmith's Jewellers on Tavern Street in Ipswich.
The incident took place on the morning of Wednesday June 15 2011 at Goldsmiths jewellers on Tavern Street in Ipswich where a group of men entered the premises and threatened the staff.
A sledgehammer and an axe were used to smash the interior of the shop window and one of the glass counters in the robbery.
The staff involved were all left extremely shaken by the crime. The sledgehammer, axe, along with three vehicles and two motorcycles, used in connection with the crime were later all recovered and provided the source for valuable forensic evidence to which, along with witnesses, assisted to convict the group. A total of nearly £80,000 of high value watches were stolen in the raid.
At Ipswich Crown Court today the three men were sentenced to a total of 29 years.
Benjamin Murphy, 26, a railway worker from Austen Close in Loughton has been sentenced to 11 years imprisonment.
Danny O’Bryan, 22, a mechanic from Church Lane in Bulphan has been sentenced to 9 years imprisonment.
Charles Onyemelukwe, 24, a social worker from Cubitt Street in Camden, north London has been sentenced to 9 years imprisonment.
Detective Sergeant Darren Bruce who led the investigation into the robbery said: “The sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court today is a true reflection of the seriousness of this crime. This was a violent robbery that was carefully planned and executed by the offenders.
“Acts of criminality like this, with the level of violence used will not be tolerated and we will always do everything possible to find those responsible and put them before the courts.
“I would like to thank all those witnesses, including the shop staff and members of the public who came forward to help us secure these convictions – their support and assistance certainly helped us in reaching this result.”
George Paget who is 20 and unemployed from Roden Street in London pleaded guilty at a hearing in October last year, while 20-year-old Dean Armstrong, a scaffolder from Popham Street, Inworth Walk in London also pleased guilty at a separate hearing in November last year. Both men are due to be sentenced on a date to be confirmed.
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