Three men have been sentenced for a violent knifepoint robbery spree across Sutton, Croydon, and Lambeth in South London. Sean Tuso, 21, Joshua Norris, 22, and Joseph Hamilton-Peart, 20, were sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Wednesday, 16 June, after targeting local shops armed with weapons and stealing thousands of pounds worth of cash, alcohol, and cigarettes.
Sean Tuso, from Wallington, Surrey, received six years in prison for conspiracy to rob following a two-week trial. Joshua Norris, from Thornton Heath, was sentenced to four years and four months for robbery and handling stolen goods after pleading guilty. Joseph Hamilton-Peart, of SW16, was given three years for attempted robbery, also after a guilty plea.
The gang operated by riding mopeds and hitting convenience stores while wearing dark clothing and crash helmets. Armed with Rambo knives and hammers, they threatened shop owners and customers, stealing cash from tills, cigarettes, and bottles of alcohol. Although CCTV footage captured their raids, the helmets concealed their identities, leading police to rely on forensic evidence to solve the case.
A hammer left behind at one of the crime scenes yielded partial DNA that matched Joshua Norris. Sean Tuso was arrested on 31 December 2019 with a stolen Honda moped and a padlock key in his possession. CCTV footage from Tuso’s hostel showed Joshua Norris wearing the same clothes as during the robberies. Norris was arrested on 17 January 2020 with a crash helmet matching those seen in the CCTV footage. Stolen motorcycle plates were also linked back to him.
Joseph Hamilton-Peart was identified as an associate of the two men and was caught following a manhunt in April 2020. Fingerprint evidence connected him to a Rambo knife used in an attempted robbery. Videos found on Tuso’s phone showed the gang posing with weapons and stolen goods.
Police Constable Tadas Balnys, of Operation Venice, said: “These men terrorised south London shops over four weeks, threatening staff with knives and using violence to steal cash, alcohol, and cigarettes. Thanks to meticulous forensic work, we identified and brought these criminals to justice.”
He added: “This sentencing should reassure the community that the Metropolitan Police are committed to keeping London safe. We have zero tolerance for such violent offenders.”
The total value of the stolen goods was around £24,000, bringing an end to the gang’s reign of terror on local businesses.
Originally published by UKNIP.
