Local Nightmare Locked-Up

A vicious doorstep robber, who sank her teeth into a pensioner's hand and snatched her wedding ring, has been locked-up.

Monique Roach, 24, initially asked the 75 year-old victim for £10 when she turned up crying at her front door in east London.

She blocked the pensioner's attempt to close the door to the address in Dalston Lane, Hackney during the March 28 robbery and took the ring after biting the victim.

At Wood Green Crown Court Roach was sentenced to a total of seven years imprisonment.

She pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one count of robbery and a separate blackmail when she obtained £105 from a man in his fifties by threatening to make a false assault claim. 

Roach rang the woman's doorbell at 11.30am and after failing to pull at her heartstrings with fake tears, launched the violent attack.

Roach left a palm print on the victim’s door, which was recovered by forensic officers. 

She was also captured on CCTV in the vicinity.

She was arrested on April 17 at an address in Rendlesham Road, Clapton.

Due to the Covid-19 lockdown the pensioner could not attend a live identity parade so an officer wearing full protective clothing visited the victim's home with a photo line-up.

He explained the process to the victim through a front window of the address and via this process, the victim successfully identified Roach.

Investigating Officer Detective Constable Jack Downey, of the Central East Basic Command Unit, said: “This was a callous and heartless robbery, whereby Roach targeted a vulnerable lady in her own home. 

“The violence she used left the victim terrified and fearing for her safety, at a time of significant uncertainty as we all navigated our way through Coronavirus restrictions and risks.

“I am pleased that Roach has been brought to justice for this brazen crime.”

The blackmail offence, which occurred on Monday, April 13 at an address in Spenser Grove, Hackney targeted a vulnerable victim. 

A few days earlier she had manipulated the man into giving her money after approaching him at his address and claiming she needed cash for her children.

She returned to his address and told the victim to give her a further £20 or she would call the police, saying that he had hit her. 

She left with the cash and the victim reported the incident to police.

She tricked him into giving her a total of £105 in cash.