Four Men Sentenced for 180-Mile Robbery Journey

Four individuals are awaiting sentencing after traveling 180 miles to assault and rob a man on his driveway. The 41-year-old victim, a Scunthorpe resident, sustained facial injuries, and his house and car keys were stolen during the incident on November 28, 2023. Following a 22-day trial at Grimsby Crown Court, the four assailants were found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery. Their sentencing is scheduled for January at Hull Crown Court. All four men were unanimously found guilty of the offences, despite having entered pleas of not guilty. Humberside Police stated that the four men traveled to Scunthorpe in a rented van and a VW vehicle. As the 41-year-old victim approached his front door, Bennett and Singh-Degwa accosted him from behind, with Singh-Degwa initiating the attack with a blow. Bennett subsequently retrieved a weapon from his pocket, aimed it at the victim, and issued a threat to shoot him, the force further stated. He then used the butt of the firearm to strike the man, inflicting an injury. The assailants departed the location after a neighbor noticed the disturbance and were subsequently located by law enforcement within the VW. Armed police personnel searched the VW and discovered two bags containing items resembling police uniforms, such as stab vests, baseball caps, and t-shirts. Bennett was additionally found to be carrying a police warrant card. Detective Constable Scott Belton, of Scunthorpe’s criminal investigation department, stated: “He was targeted, four on one, in an unprovoked attack within touching distance of his own home.” He characterized the four men as “sinister attackers,” further noting that they journeyed over 100 miles to assault an innocent individual they did not know.