Burglars who terrorised mother and son get 19 years

Three burglars who held a mother and son at knifepoint as they ransacked their house have been jailed for a total of more than 19 years.

Hassanan Raja, 26, Azroy Dawes Clarke, 28, and John Bley, 24, and an unidentified man kicked in the door of the Gillingham home wearing full-face masks demanding money and drugs at 5pm on 14 April last year.

Two of the men held the mother and son at knife-point while the other masked men ransacked the house, stealing an estimated £400 worth of cannabis, £800 in cash and a £250 Hugo Boss watch from the young man’s bedroom.

One man threatened to stab the young man as he went through the drawers.

After they ran out 15 minutes later, the mother found they had stolen the £1,500 Tag Heuer watch she had given her late husband as a 20th wedding anniversary present.

She told the court it was a “heartbreaking loss” for her family.

The crew were spotted by a neighbour piling into a silver Vauxhall Corsa with their haul before heading off towards London.

Father of three Dawes Clarke and Raja appeared at Southwark Crown Court via videolink from HMP Elmley, which musician and youth worker Bley appeared in the dock with a scowl on his face.

Prosecutor Nina Ellin said: ‘The mother heard a loud bang and saw a man dressed in black holding a large knife.

‘He told her to be quiet and she thought she was going to be killed.

‘She watched as they went through her son’s drawers, taking drugs or money, and a £250 Hugo Boss watch.

‘One man shouted “Stab him, stab him!”

‘They didn’t, but one of the males did punch him in the face.’

Neighbour Mary Howard saw the burglars run in and out of the Cleave Road address then called the police.

Ms Ellin continued: ‘She said their facial coverings were more than was necessary for the Covid situation.’

Phone records showed Raja and Bley were in contact on the day of the burglary.

Judge Tony Baumgartner said: ‘It is an absolute waste, where Mr Bley is today, he is obviously bright and needs to be encouraged along the right path.

‘She has lost sleep over what happened, she described the loss as “heartbreaking”

‘It is fair to say that they were left traumatised by what happened to them.

‘They were clearly vulnerable in their home, I find this aspect of your offending particularly despicable.’

All defendants were given a court order to not contact the victims directly or indirectly for 10 years.

Raja, of Railway Street, Chatham, admitted committing burglary and possessing a bladed article and was sentenced to 8 years 9 months in prison.

Dawes Clarke, of Romford Road, Forest Gate, admitted burglary, then denied but was convicted of possession of a bladed article and was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.

Bley, of White Road, Chatham, denied and was convicted of burglary along with possession of a bladed article and was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment.