Hit squad with imitation police uniforms targeted shopkeeper

ARMED GANG MEMBERS HAVE BEEN JAILED FOR 32 YEARS BETWEEN THEM

- By PETER CRAIG

AN armed hit squad from London travelled 180 miles to rob a shopkeeper at his home in Scunthorpe and had weapons and fake police uniforms.

The convenience shop owner, 41, was praised for his bravery and putting up “a spirited defence” by the judge at Hull Crown Court who sentenced the gang to a total of more than 30 years in prison. Prosecuting, Richard Holland said the armed robbery had “all the hallmarks of a job to order by other organised criminals.”

Evidence from the mobile phones seized from gang members showed instructions from a man named “Chabe.” But he has yet to be traced, Humberside Police confirmed.

Armed officers responded when a neighbour heard the shopkeeper fighting off two men who were armed with an imitation firearm. It had been pointed in his face and used to strike him a number of times over the head and face in the late-night robbery on November 28, 2023.

Following a 22-day trial at Grimsby Crown Court, all four men were found unanimously guilty of the following offences:

■Mark Baguena, 44, of King Henry's Mews in Enfield, found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery

■Vincent Bennett, 45, of Government Row in Enfield, found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to possess an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence

■Safin Mohammed, 45, of Upper Tollington Park in London, found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery

■Sukhvinder Singh-Degwa, 45, of Fassett Square in London, found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to possess an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence

Mr Holland said: “Their joint plan was to rob the complainant, as he entered his home address at Dale Street. They had brought two vehicles - Mr Baguena's Transit works van and Mr Singh-Degwa’s Addison Lee private hire VW Sharan taxi. Bennett had, with the knowledge and agreement of Singh-Degwa, brought along an imitation handgun.”