Yahoo News Violent robbers held Swanscombe family and fractured man's skull in 'appalling ordeal'
A trio of violent robbers held Swanscombe family in their home while they searched for valuables and fractured a man's skull in an 'appalling ordeal'. One of Ashley Henry, Morgan Tinpeloo and Marvrick Elba's victims suffered very serious injuries that will cause him considerable pain for the rest of his life.
During the evening of November 2, 2023, a husband and wife, along with their children, were at home when Henry, Tinpeloo and Elba broke in. All three were armed with knives.
Elba used his weapon to hold the wife and children in a front room and took their phones to prevent them calling the police. Henry and Tinpeloo took the husband up to the first floor while they searched for valuables.
READ MORE: Man committed fatal Dover assault after text exchange
Whilst there, Henry threatened to harm one of the children with his knife if money wasn’t handed over. They then threw the victim down the stairs where he lay on the floor surrounded by his attackers.
Henry retrieved a 10kg dumbbell from a bedroom and hit the husband’s head with it three or four times. The offenders then fled the scene, and the victim was taken to hospital for treatment to multiple skull fractures and two bleeds on the brain.
An investigation was commenced by crime squad detectives and the examination of CCTV in the area showed the perpetrators running towards a white Vauxhall Vivaro van. A forensic examination of the dumbbell also recovered Henry’s DNA.
Further complex enquiries showed Henry, Tinpeloo and Elba had travelled together in the vehicle to the scene of the crime. All three men were arrested on November 9 and their mobile phones were seized.
A video on Henry’s phone showed Tinpeloo in a Gravesend public house on November 2. He was wearing clothing identical to that worn by one of the offenders in CCTV recovered near the scene.
CCTV from the pub also showed Henry in clothing that matched the same footage. Henry, of Crescent Wood Road, Sydenham, London; Tinpeloo, of Main Road, Longfield; and Elba, of White Road, Chatham, were charged and pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery.
Henry also pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent. On Wednesday, November 13, Henry, 29, received an extended sentence of 20 years.
This has a custodial period of 17 years and, when he is released, he will have to serve a further three years on licence. Tinpeloo, 26, was jailed for 14 years and nine months and Elba, 29, was given a prison sentence of 11 years and nine months.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Ben Slocombe, said: ‘These cowardly men put an innocent family through an appalling ordeal. One of the victims suffered very serious injuries that will cause him considerable pain and discomfort for the rest of his life.
"The violence used by these men could have resulted in a fatality and their lengthy sentence reflects the seriousness of their offending. I would like to thank the victims who have shown considerable courage in supporting our investigation and ensured these criminals have been brought to justice."
