Book Keeper's Gang Jailed For Brutal Home Invasion

Turkan & Tuncel Ibrahim

 A disgruntled book keeper, who masterminded a £300,000 jewellery raid on his ex-employers' home by hiring thugs who terrorised the couple with threats of rape and murder, has been jailed along with his accomplices.

Zahid Sait, 42, of was sacked from the catering company run by the victims after they suspected him of stealing £20,000 nearly a decade previously.

He recruited six-foot six Junior Miller, 36, and Kyio Scarlett-Hudson, 20, giving them instructions on the location and most opportune time to raid the large detached house, where he claimed £1m was kept in a safe.

Sait, of Mitcham Close, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, whose cousin is married to the couple's son, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for what was described by Judge Peter Gower QC as: "A brutally and ruthlessly executed robbery of two elderly people."

He was convicted by a Croydon Crown Court jury of conspiring to rob Mr. Tuncel Ibrahim, 69, and 67 years-old Mrs Turkan Ibrahim at their home in Chislehurst Road, Petts Wood, Orpington on June 9, last year.

Both Miller and Scarlett-Hudson pleaded guilty to the same charge, with Miller additionally admitting two counts of false imprisonment and possessing a stun gun when his home was searched by police.

Former semi-professional basketball player, model and actor Miller, of Pyrland Road, Highbury, who pounced on Mr. Ibrahim as he left his house just after 5am and tied him up and beat him received 12 years.

Zahid Sait

Sales assistant Scarlett-Hudson, of Pound Lane, Willesden, who tied up the naked Mrs Ibrahim with her dressing-gown cord, received 8 years.

"You, Sait, identified the Ibrahim's as a wealthy couple. You were aware of their wealth because you worked for Mr. Ibrahim's catering company and believed they were likely to have a large amount of cash and personal possessions.

"You, Miller, threatened to rape Mr. Ibrahim's wife in front of him and you, Scarlett-Hudson, must have presented a terrifying sight to Mrs Ibrahim, who thought you were trying to strangle her and you threatened to kill her husband."  

Prosecutor Mr. Gino Connor told the court: "This was a planned robbery with the expectation of a second safe.

"Mr. Ibrahim was put to the floor, face-down, and struck on his side with punches and knees.

"He was tied-up with his own tie with his hands behind his back and was dragged along the hallway floor by Miller and suffered a dislocated shoulder.

"He was thrown face-down on the bed, a towel was shoved into his mouth and he was covered with a blanket.

Junior Miller

"She was in bed naked and was grabbed around the mouth and there were threats of strangulation by Scarlett-Hudson and threats her husband would be killed.

"She was very frightened and terrified."

Mrs Ibrahim also had a scarf tied around her neck and told: "Shut up or I will kill you, I'll kill your husband," by Miller.

"They threatened to rape her if the husband did not co-operate," explained Mr. Connor. 

Mr. Ibrahim gave the raiders his safe key from his briefcase and £300,000 worth of jewellery, much of it sentimental and in the family for generations, was taken.

They also helped themselves to £15,000 cash the couple had withdrawn for a foreign holiday.

The ordeal lasted twenty-five minutes and the couple were taken to Princess Royal Hospital with shock, where the husband was also treated for bruising and a laceration to his right eye.

Kyio Scarlett-Hudson

The gang were caught after Miller's DNA was matched to a button ripped-off his jacket and police were able to identify his accomplices via his mobile phone records.

Sait had the audacity to attend a family funeral in Edmonton he knew the Ibrahim's would be present at four months later and he was arrested on the spot.

He initially denied knowing the robbers, but later claimed he was "terrified for his life" and fed the gang information under duress to settle gambling debts.

"Mr. Ibrahim is still in a large amount of pain due to this vicious attack," added Mr. Connor.

The victim told police: "I still struggle to walk and will never regain full use of my body. My life has been turned upside down and I struggle to sleep because the pain is too much to bear.

"It is disturbing to know a family member is behind this sick and vicious attack. We did him no harm.

"This attack has shattered my mobility, confidence and self-esteem and I still fear opening my front door every morning."

Mrs Ibrahim said: "I still struggle to sleep and go to bed in constant fear and am terrified of the dark. I regularly break down and cry.

"I constantly visualise the incident over and over again and as long as I live I will never be able to erase these images from my mind.

"We have never done anything to Zahid. We have never bore him ill will, but were subjected to this violence."