Yahoo News Gang of robbers caught in victims’ restaurant photo night before violent £100,000 raid
A gang who robbed a couple of more than £100,000 worth of jewellery at gunpoint were caught after they were pictured in the background of a family photo taken by their victims in a restaurant.
Daniel Inamder, 35, and Isaac Duncan, 20, were photographed in their BMW outside a restaurant by the unsuspecting couple as they took a family picture inside it.
The night after surveilling the couple at the Flying Pizza in Roundhay, they followed them as they drove their Ferrari to their home in a village north of Leeds.
Along with another man who hasn’t been traced, the pair broke into the couple’s home through a patio door as they lay in bed on July 31.
They shouted “police, police” as the pair awoke, pistol-whipping the male victim in the face and causing a cut that needed 35 stitches while demanding access to their safe.
Another raider ripped a gold necklace from around the woman’s neck and took her diamond engagement ring valued at £92,000.
They also stole a pair of diamond earrings, a second diamond ring and two Rolex watches.
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Leeds Crown Court was told how one of the robbers asked the woman “Where’s your big diamond?” during the raid.
Prosecutor Michael Smith told how Inamder planned the raid and had contacts to sell on the jewellery – none of which has recovered been by police.
The man now suffered from nervousness and anxiety and the woman could not sleep or go out and is nervous all the time, the court heard.
Prosecutor Michael Smith said: “They were subjected to a terrifying ordeal.”
Jailing the pair, along with their getaway driver, on Friday, Judge Christopher Batty said: “This was sophisticated, professional offending targeting high-value property.
“It involved significant planning and recruitment of a number of people. Telephones were purchased to assist in carrying it out but also in an attempt to escape detection.
“An imitation firearm was taken and gratuitous violence was used.
“It’s difficult to imagine how you feel if you have jewellery ripped from your person while you are lying in bed.”
Inamder, from Leeds, admitted conspiracy to rob and was jailed for 12 years. Duncan, from Leeds, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an imitation firearm and was jailed for 10 years and five months.
Getaway driver Ali Agha, 27, denied robbery but was convicted after a trial and jailed for ten years.
Mark McKone, mitigating for father-of-three Inamder, told the court: “The violence that was used was not something Mr Inamder anticipated.”
Kenton Sargeant, for Agha, said he did not go in the house and was the driver, adding: “He didn’t know about the gun – he wasn’t involved in the violence.”
Baltaj Bhatia, for Duncan, said: “He is an immature young man who is easily led. There is genuine remorse.”
