The
ringleader of a ruthless band of robbers was caught smiling on CCTV
moments before the gang twice squirted ammonia in the face of a
terrified lone female supermarket worker.
Peter
Brown, 29, of Hope Avenue, Stanford-Le-Hope, Essex is starting a
ten-year prison sentence for the east London raid involving four
masked intruders.
He
pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and throwing a corrosive fluid
with intent to burn, maim, disfigure or disable or to do some
grievous bodily harm.
Wood
Green Crown Court also ordered Brown to remain on licence for an
additional four years once he is released.
On
the evening of Friday, March 10, last year, the victim - a woman in
her early fifties - was alone in the supermarket in Mare Street,
Hackney when four males wearing masks and gloves entered.
Before
making demands and in an effort to incapacitate the victim, one of
the men squirted high-strength ammonia in her face, causing burn
injuries.
The
victim screamed for help and tried to resist and she was sprayed
again with the substance.
She
pressed the store panic alarm and the gang made off with no cash.
As
the victim lay burnt on the ground, one of the gang stamped on her
with such force it left a visible footprint on her body.
The
court heard that Brown travelled from Essex to Hackney.
There
he met with four other men - two of whom have already been convicted
in relation to this offence - and Brown provided the gang with
bottles of ammonia for them to commit the robbery.
CCTV
footage showed that the gang had previously visited the supermarket
to carry out reconnaissance before the robbery.
Detective
Constable Ben Kahane from the Hackney Crime Squad, who led the
investigation, said: "Peter
Brown is a dangerous man.
“Even
though he did not physically enter the shop and throw the ammonia,
Brown provided it and planned the attack in detail so is equally
culpable.
"It
was shocking to see Brown grinning in CCTV footage seconds before the
gang struck, knowing full well what was in store for their victim as
he cowardly waited nearby.
“The
level of violence used was unnecessary and barbaric."
Sadik
Kamara, 25, of Booth Road, Newham and Joshua Jordan, 21 of Ruscoe
Road, Newham were sentenced to extended sentences of 14 years each in
October 2017 for the same offence.
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