Lockdown robber who bit granny’s hand for wedding ring gets seven years
A heartless female thief who bit an elderly woman’s hand to snatch her wedding ring during lockdown has been locked up for seven years. Monique Roach, 24, with no fixed address, was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday, 17 August.
Granny’s doorstop horror as robber demands cash and bites hand
On the morning of 28 March, the 75-year-old victim was at home in Dalston Lane, Hackney, when Roach rang her doorbell. The woman, moved by Roach’s tears, answered, only for Roach to block the door when she tried to shut it.
Then Roach bit the victim’s left hand, yanked off her wedding ring, and fled the scene.
The terrified victim called her daughter, who alerted police immediately.
Detectives nail suspect with lockdown bust and innovative ID parade
Roach left a palm print on the door, which forensic officers recovered, and CCTV caught her in the area. She was arrested on 17 April and charged on 29 April.
However, with London in full lockdown and the victim shielding due to her age, detectives faced a hurdle: they couldn’t bring the frail victim to the police station for a traditional ID parade.
Determined not to delay justice and risk Roach striking again, officers set up a bespoke identification centre at the victim’s home. Dressed head-to-toe in protective gear, an officer maintained social distancing and showed the victim photos safely through a window.
This clever tactic worked—Roach was positively identified.
Lockdown blackmailer’s cash con adds a year to sentence
Roach was also convicted of blackmail after exploiting a vulnerable man in Hackney. In April, she pressured him into handing over £105 by threatening to accuse him of assault.
She was caught after a conventional ID parade in Hornsey and pleaded guilty on 28 July. This earned her an additional year in prison, running after her robbery sentence.
Detective Constable Jack Downey said: “This was a callous robbery where Roach targeted a vulnerable lady in her home during an already frightening time. Despite lockdown challenges, we made sure justice was served. The victim’s bravery was incredible, and Roach has rightly been brought to justice.”
