Three men who believed they were above the law have been sentenced to jail after being found guilty of conspiring to commit robberies in Greenwich and Bromley. The crimes included a shocking incident where a toddler was held at knife point at a residential address in Greenwich.

The investigation, led by Detective Chief Inspector Laura Hillier from the Met’s Flying Squad, was described as immensely complex and required dedication and skill to manage the extensive amount of communication data and evidence. The officers involved worked tirelessly day and night to bring these dangerous individuals to justice.

The two main culprits, Kwesi Caven, 39, and Elijah McPhee-Young, 25, were sentenced after a five-week trial that concluded in June. Caven received a 16-year prison sentence for conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, conspiracy to commit robbery, and two counts of handling stolen goods. McPhee-Young was sentenced to six years and six months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of a knife.

Another man involved in the conspiracy, Lewis Dormer, 38, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and received a sentence of seven years and two months’ imprisonment.

The first incident occurred on August 20, 2020, when McPhee-Young and Caven drove a stolen car at high speed towards a security guard who was carrying cash cassettes in Middle Park Avenue, Mottingham. McPhee-Young, wearing a scarf to hide his face, approached the guard while holding a large serrated knife. He threatened the guard, causing him to drop the cassettes, which McPhee-Young then grabbed before fleeing with Caven in the waiting car. The vehicle was later found in Eltham, along with evidence linking McPhee-Young to the crime.

The second incident took place on November 15, 2021, at a residential address in Greenwich. Dormer and Caven entered the home of a male victim who was with his three-year-old son. They demanded money and one of the suspects even threatened to harm the child if the victim didn’t comply. Fearing for his son’s safety, the victim handed over £10,000 in cash. The suspects then bound the victim’s hands with cable ties until he was able to free himself after his partner returned home.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the group had placed a tracker on the victim’s car a week before the robbery, allowing them to monitor its movements. Detectives launched a surveillance operation after identifying McPhee-Young as a suspect, leading to the identification of Caven through telephone investigations. Caven’s forensics were also found on the tracking device used on the victim’s car.

Additionally, Caven was found to be involved in the handling of two stolen vehicles between May and August 2020. Dormer’s involvement was established through his connection to one of the stolen vehicles used in the Greenwich robbery.

In July 2022, all three men were arrested by detectives and subsequently charged.