Drug addicts from Chessington jailed for robbing vulnerable women late at night

Kingston Crown Court heard today the men, both from Chessington, committed the crimes last January to fuel their drug habits.

David Mortimer, 25, of Newlands Way, saw a potential eight-year jail sentence reduced to five after he admitted committing three robberies around Surbiton and Tolworth, including two while carrying a knife.

Rafal Ochenowsi, 30, of Rollesby Road, was convicted of a single robbery after a trial last week, and was jailed for three years.

Judge Paul Dodgson told Mortimer: "These were horrible offences. It is the fear of all of us that if we're vulnerable, alone at night, and we fear people like you who come out of the darkness and, by threats and violence, steal from us property that they can then turn into money for drugs.

"Three times you did that, within a 24-hour period. On two occasions you carried a knife.

"You have shown some remorse. You have, by your own efforts in prison, and it is not easy, taken the help that has been there, got yourself drug free, spent your time on a lot of courses that will be helpful to you.

"You also had the sense to plead guilty."

Mortimer, who has been in prison since his arrest last January, first fell into drugs after the death of his father when he was 17, the court heard. He was supported in court by his stepfather.

Helena Duong, defending, said: "He is completely clean at the moment. The remorse is genuine.

"Mr Mortimer was written letters directly addressing the victims themselves, being fully aware of the impact that the crimes have had on them. They weren't ever sent on."

Prosecutor Daniel Follon told the court Mortimer accosted his first victim in Claremont Road, Surbiton, early on January 15 last year as she walked home from work. She handed over her phone and purse.

His second victim was held up at the Ace of Spades Shell garage late that evening, where Mortimer was spotted on CCTV. Holding a "long, kitchen knife", he robbed the woman of £250 she had just withdrawn from a cashpoint.

He committed the third robbery alongside Ochenowski. The pair trailed a woman from Surbiton station in a car, and pounced as she entered a block of flats.

Mortimer left the car armed with a knife, which he held to the woman's face, cutting her cheek. She dropped her phone and bag, with which he escaped.

Judge Dodgson told Ochenowski: "I am quite satisfied that you knew that Mortimer had a knife with him when he left the car. You knew that he could well use that knife to threaten. I cannot be sure that you knew that he would use it [to injure].

"It is quite clear that you and he tracked her from the station. You and he were seeking to prey on a vulnerable woman so you could get money to buy drugs.

"You have made great progress in the last nine months. You have, by your own efforts, with the help of the probation service, become drug-free and you have obtained employment."

Defending, Nicholas Goss said: "He has obviously taken great steps, and as many steps as he can in the circumstances, to tackle the root [of the problem]."

Ochenowski and Mortimer, who both have previous convictions, had been "eased into this web of offending by your drug addiction", Judge Dodgson added.

Kingston Crown Court

DC Tony Holley, of Kingston police, said: "These were violent and appalling offences.

"David Mortimer not only followed these women to a dark and quiet location, he did it whilst armed with, and using, a knife.

"The sheer calculated planning and behaviour displayed in the tracking of the third victim is particularly alarming.

"The prolific and escalating offending was a major concern and my thanks goes to the local media for assisting in circulating CCTV images and to the team of detectives at Kingston.

"The victims have been significantly affected by these crimes and can now hopefully begin to try and put these incidents behind them."