A cabbie was part of a three-strong armed gang who

A cabbie was part of a three-strong armed gang who carried out a
ruthless robbery on what they thought was a drugs den, a court heard
today (Fri).

But of the trio, who fired live ammunition in victim Nicoloau
Miltasides’ (correct) home in Bickerton Road, Upper Holloway, only
Paul McNicholl, 33, has ever faced justice.

After more than four hours of deliberation a jury found Jamaican
born McNicholl, of Graham Road, Hackney, guilty of robbery on July 23
last year – by a majority verdict of ten to two.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court Judge Alan Simmons sentenced him to
10 years jail for the offence.

Jurors had heard how McNicholl was holding a loaded hangun as he
and his two accomplices – one armed with a sawn-off shotgun and the
other with a pistol – smashed their way into Mr Miltasides’ flat and
demanded cash.

Mr Peter Clark, prosecuting, said that shots were fired by the
man holding the lethal shotgun while the terrified victim could only
hand over pnds stlg 40 and his mobile phone.

The trio had to make off with what they were given while armed
police officers, who had been alerted to the sound of gunfire, made
their way to the incident.

The court heard that the two unknown raiders raced off in a car
and were never caught, but McNicholl was left with the short straw as
he made his get-away on foot.

Cops grabbed him just minutes away from the scene of the
robbery.

Giving evidence McNicholl claimed that he was ‘minicabbing’ when
the other two men kidnapped him and forced him to drive to Bickerton
Road and then take part in the robbery.

ENDS