Brothers sentenced after Croydon Costco robbery (From Croydon Guardian)

Brothers sentenced after Croydon Costco robbery

1:12pm Wednesday 1st September 2010 in

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A pair of robbers who blasted a security guard in the chest during a robbery have been sentenced today.

The two brothers, Yohan Clarke, 31, and Yamani Clarke, 23, were sentenced for their part the robbery of the Costco cash and carry which left a shop supervisor fighting for his life.

They were caught after a stop and search of a car Yohan Clarke had been travelling in uncovered a digital camera with pictures of the robbers posing with their ill-gotten gains.

Yohan Clarke pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial at Croydon Crown Court on 6 July to conspiracy to rob, possessing a firearm at the time of committing an offence and grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment on all counts to run concurrently, with a minimum term of 22 years.

On the same day, Yamani Clarke of Crowther Road, South Norwood, pleaded guilty to handling the proceedings of the robbery. He was sentenced to 40 months.

In his statement the judge, His Honour Judge Ainley, said Yohan posed a significant risk of causing serious harm to the public, hence the gravity of the sentence.

On Thursday, September 17 last year at 7.40pm, Yohan Clarke was one of five men who entered the Costco cash and carry store on Imperial Way in Croydon.

In the store, the gang threatened staff and used a claw hammer to smash a triple-glazed display cabinet containing £70,000 of jewellery - including a single 18 carat white gold ring valued at about £3,500.

While being chased from the store by Costco employees one of the robbers fired a shot, hitting 24-year old shop supervisor, Colin Thomas, in the abdomen.

Police and the London Ambulance Service (LAS) arrived at the scene and the wounded employee was taken to hospital where he underwent emergency life-saving surgery to remove pellets from near his aorta.

He also suffered blast injuries to his colon, gun shot wounds to his bowel, stomach, pancreas and spent a substantial amount of time in intensive care.

On September 25 last year police officers in Redhill, Surrey, stopped a car containing Yohan Clarke. During a search of the vehicle officers found a digital camera.

Further searches of the camera's memory card revealed a number of photographs of the Clarke brothers posing with substantial amounts of cash and a ring which was identified as the ring taken during the Costco robbery.

Detective Inspector Neil Williams said: "I am pleased with today's sentences and pleased that a dangerous criminal will be spending a substantial amount of time away from the public.

"This incident could have easily turned into a murder enquiry and whilst we always encourage people to dial 999 in an emergency, I applaud the bravery of staff in Costco who intervened on that day and helped to give first aid.

"Enquiries to trace the three outstanding suspects and various items of jewellery continue and I am appealing to anyone who may have information that could help us to contact the police and ensure that all of the violent individuals involved in the robbery are brought to justice."

Proceedings against 28-year old Leigh Tipple of Dahomey Road, London, were discontinued today.