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Work by our detectives has led to four men being jailed for a total of 33 years for a violent burglary in Loughton.
A group of men armed with knives and pepper spray forced their way into an address in Queens Road shortly before 6.25am on 21 July last year.
They had tried to get in through an open window and an occupant in the address tried to stop them, he was sprayed with the pepper spray. Hearing the commotion, another person inside the address went outside to try and get the group to leave but was chased and assaulted.
Witnesses saw the men leaving the area, running towards a dark grey Audi parked nearby and making off in it. CCTV footage shows the group arriving and leaving in that car.
Shortly before 9am the vehicle is stopped between junctions 15 and 16 on the M6 motorway. During a search of the vehicle a kitchen knife was found in the boot, and a lock knife underneath a rear passenger seat.
Four people inside the vehicle – Mohammed Fathi, 22, Bailey Ruscoe, 21, Peter Clegg, 20, and Kai Hurst, also 20 – were arrested.
The clothing Hurst, Ruscoe, and Fathi were wearing when they were arrested was consistent with that of the suspects seen on CCTV. Fingerprints of Hurst, Ruscoe, and Fathi were also found at the scene.
Fathi, of Meltham Avenue, Manchester was charged with aggravated burglary, affray, aggravated burglary with intent and possessing a knife or bladed article in a public place.
Ruscoe, of Elliston Square, Manchester was charged with aggravated burglary, affray, aggravated burglary with intent and possessing a knife or bladed article in a public place.
Clegg, of Wrenbury Crescent, Stockport, was charged with aggravated burglary, affray, aggravated burglary with intent, possessing a knife or bladed article in a public place and driving without insurance.
Hurst, of Pickmere Road, Wilmslow, was charged with aggravated burglary, affray, aggravated burglary with intent and possessing a knife or bladed article in a public place.
They all denied the charge but on Thursday 28 March, following a 3 week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, they were all found guilty of conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary.
They were sentenced at the same court on Friday 21 June.
Hurst and Fathi were sentenced to nine years in prison each, while Ruscoe and Clegg were each given seven and-a-half.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Alexander Cove, from Loughton CID, said:
"Kai Hurst, Mohammed Fathi, Bailey Ruscoe and Peter Clegg all conspired together to break into a family home and attack the occupants inside.
"These four men had travelled to Loughton while armed, with the intent of getting into an address and using violence to do so. They carried out a frightening attack, which could have led to the victims being seriously injured.
"No-one should be left fearing for their safety in their own homes and I'm glad we've been able to bring this group to justice.
“I also want to thank our colleagues in West Midlands Police & Staffordshire Police, for their assistance and their role in putting them behind bars.”
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