Violent Robbers Who Terrorised Elderly Couple Jailed
Two thugs who brutally attacked an elderly couple in their Chatham home have been locked up. Mark Bishop, 41, from Bostall Hill, London, and Darren Donnelly, 44, from Thamesmead, faced the judge after being found guilty of robbery and burglary.
Brutal Home Invasion in Chatham
The terrifying break-in happened on 2 July 2019 around 3.20pm in Star Mill Lane. Inside the house, the pair punched a man in his 70s multiple times and also assaulted a woman in her 60s. A second woman in the home was threatened during the raid.
Stolen Mercedes Leads to More Crime
After assaulting their victims, the duo stole a mobile phone and the keys to a Mercedes. They drove the stolen car to Longfield, where at about 4.45pm they burgled another property, stealing jewellery before speeding off.
Police Hunt Ends in Arrest
- kent-police/" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Kent Police spotted the vehicle around 5pm in Green Street Green but the robbers managed to escape.
- The stolen car was later found abandoned in Woolwich at 5.45pm.
- Bishop and Donnelly were caught at 7pm in a pub nearby after a disturbance was reported.
Investigators pieced together CCTV footage showing the pair approaching the Chatham home and driving the stolen Mercedes around Woolwich High Street. Dashcam evidence also confirmed Bishop behind the wheel during the crime spree.
Detective Constable Dan Bister said: “These men targeted an elderly couple in a frightening and violent incident before stealing their vehicle and using it to commit a further crime nearby. They brazenly evaded officers and didn’t try to hide their identities.”
At Maidstone Crown Court on 2 September, Bishop was sentenced to seven years behind bars, while Donnelly picked up six years.
