Two armed robbers locked up for 22 years after terrifying London hotel raids
Relentless police hunt ends with swift justice
Dymtro Shcherbinskyy and Ghislain Kiamuangana were sentenced to a combined 22 years behind bars on Tuesday, 12 December, after a high-stakes trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court. The pair launched a series of brutal robberies across three London hotels, carrying out raids at gunpoint that left staff traumatised.
Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad detectives partnered with City of London officers for a gritty investigation, relying on days of surveillance, double shifts, and hours of CCTV analysis. Their hard work took two dangerous criminals and a CO2-powered firearm off the streets of London for good.
Armed robbery spree exposed by sharp detective work
The crime spree began on 3 January 2022 when Shcherbinskyy and Kiamuangana stormed a Southwark Bridge Road hotel in the early hours. With faces covered, they threatened staff, tying them up and forcing them to open a safe. They escaped with around £4,000.
Following this, CCTV revealed the robbers used a stolen white Sprinter van with cloned number plates. Six days later, they hit a hotel in Canning Town, again with a gun – but left empty-handed after staff resisted. A third robbery in the City saw £3,000 stolen at gunpoint.
Stolen van clues and CCTV footage seal their fate
Police tracked the stolen Sprinter to a petrol station in Essex, and further surveillance in Romford spotted the van outside an address where Shcherbinskyy was believed to be staying. After nine days of intense police surveillance, officers caught a key meeting between Shcherbinskyy and Kiamuangana in Greenwich, leading to their arrests.
Officers seized the CO2-powered gun, live ammunition, stolen vehicles, clothing and multiple sets of false plates.
Justice served: lengthy sentences for brutal criminals
Shcherbinskyy, 42, from Romford, received 12 years for his leading role. Kiamuangana, 34, a French national with no fixed address, got 10 years. He also admitted to a previous theft of £12,000 from a hotel safe in 2021 during his hotel work.
Detective Sergeant Lee Warrington of the Met’s Flying Squad said: “Bringing these criminals to justice required teamwork and specialist detective skills. Our aim was to stop anyone else coming to harm. The impact of this crime on the victims cannot be overstated – their bravery throughout this ordeal is commendable. Thanks to the dedication of all involved, a firearm and ammunition are now off the streets.”
Detective Inspector Colin Bishop, City of London Police, added: “This was a terrifying ordeal for our victims. Using CCTV, we linked these crimes to others previously investigated by the Met. Working closely with the Flying Squad, we ensured these offenders faced justice swiftly.”
Thanks to sharp police work, London’s streets are safer – and these armed robbers face years behind bars where they belong.
