Knife-Wielding Gang Busted After Series of London Robberies
Three Jailed for Knifepoint Raids Across South London
Sean Tuso, 21, from Belmont Road, Wallington, Surrey, was locked up for six years after being found guilty of conspiracy to rob at Croydon Crown Court. Joshua Norris, 22, of Thornton Heath, copped a four-year and four-month sentence for robbery and handling stolen goods following a guilty plea. Joseph Hamilton-Peart, 20, from Craignish Avenue SW16, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years for attempted robbery.
All three were sentenced on Wednesday, 16 June, for a spate of violent knifepoint raids on convenience stores across Sutton, Croydon, and Lambeth between October and November 2019.
Mopeds, Helmets and Rambo Knives: How the Gang Struck
The gang arrived at their targets on mopeds, wearing dark clothing and crash helmets to hide their identities. Armed with Rambo knives and hammers, they threatened shopkeepers and shoppers before making off with cash, cigarettes, and booze.
CCTV footage captured their actions but their masked faces proved tricky. Police had to rely on forensic evidence to crack the case. A hammer left behind at the first robbery held a partial DNA match to Joshua Norris, and a fingerprint on one of the weapons linked Hamilton-Peart to the crime.
Forensic Work and Surveillance Nail the Trio
Police found a stolen Honda moped locked up in Tuso’s garden with the key in his possession. CCTV from his hostel linked Norris to the crimes based on matching clothes from the robberies. Norris was arrested in January 2020, with stolen motorbike parts and a crash helmet found at his home.
Hamilton-Peart, an associate of the other two, was caught after a manhunt. Phone videos recovered from Tuso’s device showed the suspects posing with the robbery gear.
£24,000 Stolen Cash and Goods Recovered
In total, the gang made off with £24,000 worth of cash, alcohol, and cigarettes. Police Constable Tadas Balnys of Operation Venice praised the “meticulous investigation” that used fingerprint, phone, and DNA evidence to bring the criminals to justice.
“These men terrorised shops in south London over a four week period, threatening staff with knives and using violence to steal cash, alcohol and cigarettes,” said PC Balnys. The verdict and sentencing should reassure the community that the Metropolitan Police are committed to tackling violent crime with zero tolerance for senseless violence.”
