CENTRAL NEWS SERVICE, 33 GOODGE ST, LONDON, W1. 3
CENTRAL NEWS SERVICE, 33 GOODGE ST, LONDON, W1.
323 2899
OLD BAILEY
MAY 23, 1986
PETROL 1.
A GANG LEADER WHO ‘MASTERMINDED’ A VICIOUS ARMED RAID ON A
JEWELLER’S SHOP WAS JAILED FOR 14 YEARS AT THE OLD BAILEY ON FRIDAY.
RICHARD ‘CHOPPER’ JOHNSON, 22, AND HIS RAIDERS TERRORISED
STAFF OF HATTON GARDEN JEWELLERS, SHORNBURY LTD.
, BY DOUSING THEM
WITH PETROL AND THREATENING TO TURN THEM INTO HUMAN TORCHES.
THEY ESCAPED WITH NEARLY #250,000 WORTH OF GEMS AND GOLD.
FLYING SQUAD OFFICERS RECOVERED ONLY #4,000 FROM THE RAID.
DIAMONDS AND EMERALDS WORTH #400 WERE FOUND AT THE HOME OF JOHNSON
WHO WAS SAID TO BE PENNILESS.
THE COURT HEARD THAT THE ROBBERY WAS CARRIED OUT WITH THE
UTMOST PROFESSIONALISM.
JOHNSON AND TWO OTHER ARMED BANDITS
STRUCK ON SEPTEMBER 21, 1984 WEARING CHARACTER MASKS AND BOILER
SUITS.
AND, WORKING WITH INSIDE INFORMATION, THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHERE
TO LOOK, THE COURT HEARD.
JUDGE ROBERT LYMBERY QC TOLD JOHNSON, HAMMERS LANE, MILL
HILL: ‘I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU WERE THE MASTERMIND AND THIS IS A
VERY GRAVE CASE OF ROBBERY.
‘
EARLIER THIS MONTH HE JAILED EACH OF JOHNSON’S TWO
ACCOMPLICES – GREGORY BIGLAND, 21, UNEMPLOYED OF HILLSIDE DRIVE,
EDGWARE, AND PETER CROLL, 20, A FORMER MARINE OF STONEGROVE ESTATE,
EDGWARE, MIDDLESEX – TO 13 YEARS IMPRISONMENT.
THE COURT HEARD THAT THREE STAFF MEMBERS WERE JUST PACKING
UP TO GO HOME WHEN THE RAIDERS BURST IN.
TWO WERE USHERED INTO A BACK
ROOM AT GUN POINT.
PETROL WAS POURED OVER THEIR HEADS AND SHOULDERS.
‘TO ADD
TO THEIR HORRIFYING ORDEAL THREATS WERE MADE TO IGNITE THEM,’ SAID MR
BRUCE HOULDER, PROSECUTING, ‘BUT MERCIFULLY THIS WAS NEVER CARRIED
OUT.
‘
THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY, MR.
DAVID KEEN, WAS SEPARATED
FROM HIS STAFF AND TAKEN INTO A BACK ROOM WITH A RIFLE POINTING AT
HIS TEMPLE.
HE WAS STRUCK ON THE HEAD AND FORCED TO OPEN THE SAFES.
THE ROBBERS FLED WITH CASES STUFFED WITH GEMS AND GOLD,
LEAVING THEIR VICTIMS BOUND AND GAGGED.
THE COURT HEARD THEY AT FIRST
THOUGHT THEIR HAUL WAS WORTH A #1 MILLION.
BUT, SAID MR HOULDER,
THE ESTIMATED VALUE WAS #250,000.
EIGHT MONTHS LATER, AFTER NATIONWIDE PUBLICITY, FLYING
SQUAD OFFICERS ACTED ON A TIP OFF AND ROUNDED UP THE GANG.
SELF-EMPLOYED JEWELLER CHRISTOPHER LEE, 23, OF THE
BROADWAY, HENDON, ADMITTED HANDLING A TINY AMOUNT OF JEWELLERY FROM
THE RAID AND A GOLD BAR FROM A THEFT IN APRIL 1984.
HATTON GARDEN
JEWELLER BARRY PALACHE HAD A BAG OF GOLD AND JEWELLERY SNATCHED AS HE
WAS TAKING IT TO HIS SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX.
THE JUDGE ORDERED LEE TO PAY #1000 COMPENSATION TO MR
PALACHE.
JOHNSON, UNEMPLOYED, WAS FOUND GUILTY OF ROBBERY AND
FIREARMS OFFENCES.
HE ALSO PLEADED GUILTY TO POSSESSING CANNABIS,
HANDLING GOODS FROM A #30,000 BURGLARY AND POSSESSING AMMUNITION.
ENDS.
