Two men who carried out a spate of violent robberies in Southwark and across London have been jailed for a combined total of 22 years.
Asonu McKenzie, 29, and Reshaun Nembhard, 29, both of no fixed address, stole high-value watches from unsuspecting victims in twelve robberies between May 25 and July 15 last year, which police said left some of the victims with fractured skulls.
The pair would hit people in the back of the head with a blunt object before removing the watches from their incapacitated victims.
Police said people suffered ‘minor grazes and lacerations, to fractured skulls’. One victim is still being assessed for potentially losing his sight.
McKenzie received a fourteen-year sentence and Nembhard received a sentence of eight years at Southwark Crown Court on August 18.
Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery.
In Southwark, the duo targeted victims on Marine Street, Bermondsey, Crewthew Grove, East Dulwich and Camberwell Grove, Camberwell.
They also conducted robberies in Lambeth, Bromley, Croydon, Wandsworth and Hammersmith and Fulham.
The pair would locate their victims while driving around in a silver Audi Q2 – which proved key to the investigation.
Detectives from the Robbery Investigation Team analysed hundreds of hours of CCTV to identify the Audi and trace the occupants.
Acting Detective Sergeant Ash Francis said: “I am proud of the investigation that was undertaken by officers of the Robbery team on the Central South borough command unit.
“This case demonstrates their dedication and tenacity. Their diligent investigation resulted in the arrest and conviction of two violent offenders.
“We are doing everything in our power to ensure that criminals are brought to justice. We understand the impact of robbery on victims and know that the effects are more than just the loss of property. Robbery is a violent and often traumatising crime, and we remain committed to tackling robbery in all of its forms.”