Guildford Jewellery robbers
Three men have been sentenced to a total of 39 years in prison following an aggravated burglary in Ockham, and a linked robbery at a jewellery store in Cobham in October 2012
Damon Denham, 27, of Windsor, and Stephen Evers, 42, of Feltham, were each sentenced to 13 and a half years’ imprisonment, while Eugene Gunderman, 27, of Windsor was sentenced to 12 years after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery when he appeared at Guildford Crown Court on 21 July. Evers and Denham both denied the same charge but were found guilty of the offences on 25 July following a week-long trial.
The Judge directed that a separate charge of conspiracy to kidnap for all three defendants will lie on file.
The 47-year-old victim was at a residential property in Ockham on Sunday, 14 October 2012 when Denham, Evers and Gunderman, dressed in black and wearing balaclavas, forced their way into the address. The three men assaulted the householder, threatened him and then pulled a pillow case over his head.
Denham, Evers and Gunderman searched the property and stole numerous items, including a bronze copy of Degas' Little Dancer, valued at several thousands of pounds, before putting the victim into his own car, a Toyota iQ, and driving him to a jeweller's in the High Street in Cobham.
The three men then forced their way into window displays at the shop and were in the process of stealing items of jewellery when the victim escaped into the High Street, where he raised the alarm.
The victim was badly shaken and received injuries but did not require hospital treatment.
The three men were arrested on suspicion of robbery and kidnap after police carried out a series of warrants in Thames Valley and Surrey in February 2013. Five other people were also arrested in connection with the offences but no further action was taken against them.
Detective Inspector Jake Nuttall, who investigated the linked offences, said: "The sentences handed out to Denham, Evers and Gunderman in court today reflect the severity of the incident, which was a terrifying and traumatic experience for the victim. Not only did they break into his home and threaten and assault him, they then prolonged his ordeal by forcibly taking him to a jewellery store in Cobham. The three men were in the process of stealing a large quantity of jewellery when the victim managed to escape and raise the alarm.
"An investigation was launched immediately and following a number of extensive and complex enquiries, a number of suspects were identified and arrested. The hard work and effort put into this investigation by my officers has resulted in this successful outcome in court today and the removal of three very dangerous men from our streets.
"This investigation demonstrates our dedication and determination in the relentless pursuit of offenders and shows that we will not tolerate criminals coming into Surrey to commit crime.”