Seven Kings man sentenced to more than six years in prison for conspiring to rob a chemist

Jhosaim Chaudhury, 35, of Second Avenue, Manor Park, was sentenced to a total of nine years and eight months. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob and possessing an imitation firearm. He was also sentenced for an unrelated case.[Picture: Metropolitan Police Service] (Image: Archant)

Dewan Uddin, 35, of Norfolk Road, pleaded guilty to targeting the business in Chingford, Waltham Forest, and was given a punishment of six years and nine months at Snaresbrook Crown Court today.

Jhosaim Chaudhury, 35, of Second Avenue, Manor Park, was also sentenced today, to a total of nine years and eight months.

He was given eight years for one count of conspiracy to rob and two years for one count of possession of an imitation firearm.

These sentences will run concurrently.

Rameez Malik, 22, of Oakdale Road, Forest Gate, pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on October 1 for one count of conspiracy to rob. [Picture: Metropolitan Police Service] (Image: Archant)

Chaudhury was also sentenced for an unrelated case. He was given 20 months in jail for one count of burglary, to run consecutively, 14 months for another count of burglary and one month for a count of theft, to run concurrently.

A third man, Rameez Malik, 22, of Oakdale Road, Forest Gate, will be sentenced at the court on October 1, for one count of conspiracy to rob.

Both men also pleaded guilty.

The incident at the chemist, in Station Road, Chingford, occurred on December 8 2013 at approximately 3.45pm.

A CCTV image of the back of the premises. [Picture: Metropolitan Police Service] (Image: Archant)

Chaudhury and Malik entered through a back entrance and hid in a consultation room until the shop was closed.

They then came out and threatened female members of staff with what appeared to be a gun, contained inside a black plastic bag.

The employees were forced to hand over the keys for the safe before being locked in the consultation room.

Chaudhury then went onto the shop floor and threatened a security guard with the gun. He too was locked inside the room.

CCTV image of Jhosaim Chaudhury threatening the store's security guard. [Picture: Metropolitan Police Service] (Image: Archant)

Shortly afterwards, shop assistant Uddin came down the stairs from cashing up and was seen on CCTV to be confronted by Chaudhury, before being taken back to the safe.

Uddin opened it and the week’s takings, £14,562, were placed in a carrier bag. Uddin was then locked in the consultation room before Chaudhury and Malik made their escape.

While reviewing the CCTV, investigating officers from the MPS Flying Squad discovered Uddin had been in and out of the back entrance numerous times in the hour leading up to the incident.

He was seen to enter several times without using the security key pad - which showed he was not locking the door.

CCTV image of Jhosaim Chaudhury on the shop floor. [Picture: Metropolitan Police Service] (Image: Archant)

Investigating officer Det Con Shona Wilkinson, of the MPS Flying Squad, said: “Through our investigations there were clear indications that Chaudhury and Malik had inside knowledge of the premises and further research was able to connect all three to the robbery.

“Despite the gun being an imitation firearm, Uddin’s innocent co-workers were subjected to a frightening experience and I hope that these sentences serve as a comfort to them.”