An ‘Avon lady’ who turned wicked lady to help plan
An ‘Avon lady’ who turned wicked lady to help plan a violent armed attack on a helpless businessman was jailed for nine years today.
(Fri)
The pretty mother-of-two lured the affluent victim into a trap before leaving him at the mercy of armed footpads.
Robert Njantang was attacked by six masked robbers – at least two carrying handguns – repeatedly pistol whipped and relieved of pnds stlng 28,000 in cash and a Cartier watch worth a further pnds stlng 10,000.
The 40-year-old, originally from Cameroon but living in Hampstead, north London, was left lying unconscious in a pool of blood, later needing hospital treatment for a serious headwound.
Katerina Doherty, of (8) Drackley Court, Albert Park, Highbury, denied conspiracy to rob Mr Njantang, a car dealer who exports vehicles to Africa, on June 20 last year but was convicted by a jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court.
The 39-year-old brunette had rung Mr Njantang whom she had known for four months and said she had some friends who wished to do business with him.
Taking the bait, the car dealer was driven from a Hackney rendezvous to outside Havering House on the Woodberry Down Estate, Manor House.
Doherty ran off cruelly leaving Mr Njantang to his fate, later ‘phoning police to say her car had earlier been stolen.
She sobbed as Judge Peter Fingret told her: ‘This was an appalling offence.
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He said: ‘It was a very serious violent attack in which handguns were in the possession of the robbers.
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He said Doherty chose not to give evidence and repeatedly denied any knowledge of the robbery.
‘I have no information about the nature of the agreement or your level of involvement.
‘The only conclusion I can draw is the attack was planned between you and the others in this way, and you will be sentenced accordingly.
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The judge added: ‘It is clear to me you were the source of the information for the robbers that he was a likely victim who displayed obvious signs of affluence.
‘It is equally clear you set then set him up and put him in the position he could be robbed of money and an expensive watch.
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it was a carefully planned and executed robbery.
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The judge said after the businessman was ‘lured’ into the trap, Doherty ran off and reported her car was earlier stolen ‘all part of the plan.
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As the judge passed sentence Doherty, a Greek-Cypriot, let out a howl of anguish before being led from the dock shaking.
Michael Shaw, prosecuting, earlier told the jury: ‘This was a particularly nasty and violent robbery by armed men wearing balaclavas.
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He asked the panel to ignore Doherty’s claim it was all coincidence.
‘You have a better chance of winning the National Lottery than this being a coincidence.
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Andrew Judge, defending, said Doherty had no idea such a level of violence would be used in the attack.
He said the defendant had lost her job with Avon Cosmetics and faced a lengthy separation from her children aged seven and four.
DC John King, of Hackney Police, said Mr Njantang had been out looking at cars on the fateful day and was returning home empty handed but carrying a large amount of cash when he got the call from Doherty.
He revealed that none of the robbers had yet been arrested.
ends
