Four Men Found Guilty in Armed Robbery Spree Across London and Surrey
Four men, including three soldiers from the elite Grenadier Guards, have been found guilty of a string of armed robberies hitting convenience stores across London and Surrey. The jaw-dropping verdict came at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday, 23 January, following a high-stakes Flying Squad investigation.
Robbery Rampage With Imitation Firearms
Kristopher James-Merrill, 20, of Lyham Road, SW2, and Marlon Wright, 25, from Grove Road, Mitcham, faced jury conviction after an intense eight-day trial. Both men were found guilty of seven robberies and attempted robberies involving fake guns used to threaten shopkeepers late at night. Surprisingly, they were cleared of possessing the imitation firearms themselves.
Earlier, two fellow Grenadier Guards soldiers, Dillon Sharpe, 23, of Lovelace Road, SE21, and Elnur Bracegirdle, 21, of Chapel Lane, Preston, Lancashire, had pleaded guilty. Sharpe admitted to 12 robberies, 11 counts of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear, and one count of owning a prohibited stun gun. Bracegirdle pleaded guilty to one robbery and carrying a knife in public.
Shocking Details of the Robbery Spree
Detective Sergeant Jamie Witts of the Met’s Flying Squad slammed the men: “This case is both shocking and disheartening. These men were entrusted with responsibility—and three served their country—but instead, they targeted hardworking shopkeepers under threat.”
The chilling crime spree included a brazen raid on 10 January 2019 at a Brixton Hill convenience store. Dressed all in black, Sharpe wielded a stun gun that sparked visibly while demanding cash. Bracegirdle kept watch armed with a knife. As the terrified shopkeeper complied, the pair filled a bag with stolen cash before fleeing.
Police swiftly caught the suspects matching the description nearby—Sharpe still wearing his balaclava and clutching the loot, stun gun, and gloves. They were promptly taken into custody, where Sharpe was recognised as a wanted criminal involved in multiple earlier offences.
Robbery Timeline: From Norwood to Croydon
- 9 Feb 2018: Attempted robbery on Norwood Road
- 10 Feb 2018: Robbery on Upper Tulse Hill
- 12 Feb 2018: Robbery and attempted robbery on Leigham Vale and Tulse Hill
- 24–26 July 2018: A chilling spree of seven robberies and attempts in Croydon, Wallington, Merton, Streatham Vale, West Molesey, and Kingston
All July offences involved the same firearm and a robbing figure in a blue Adidas hoodie.
James-Merrill, who initially dodged arrest at his barracks, handed himself in at Wandsworth police station on 10 January 2019. Police found a replica gun matching the offence weapon at his home. DNA evidence from a victim matched the firearm’s dropped magazine found at a Croydon robbery.
Wright played a key part by scouting targets and acting as getaway contact. James-Merrill drove Sharpe to the heists and even scouted inside one store before the raid.
Sentencing Forthcoming for Armed Robbers
All four defendants await sentencing. Police vow to keep cracking down on violent crime, warning anyone flouting the law:
“The Met’s Flying Squad will continue to bear down on armed robbers, ensuring they face justice in the capital.”
