Chigwell: Three sentenced for ‘appalling’ aggravated burglaries

A judge has describe the violent burglary of an innocent family as “everyone’s worst nightmare”, after three criminals terrorised two women and two children in their home in Chigwell.

The two men and teenage boy targeted the wrong addresses while trying to rob a drug dealer before one of the victims managed to contact police without the attackers’ knowledge.

They burgled and attempted to burgle three homes before fleeing the scene and being tracked down by police in the following days.

Myron Onyuta, 28, Reece Mitchell, 20, and a boy who was 16 years old at the time and cannot be named due to his age, forced entry to a flat in Copperfield, Chigwell, in the early hours of 16 May 2024.

They mistakenly believed they were burgling a drug dealer, but when they discovered their mistake they instead threatened to kill the two women and two girls, aged 12 and four, living there.

Mitchell and the teenager threatened them with a knife and Onyuta threatened them with a gun. They took all their victims’ phones and jewellery, and while Mitchell continued to hold them hostage and wreck their home Onyuta and the teenager left and attempted to burgle a second address nearby, in Bracken Drive.

They realised this was also the wrong address and fled the property after frightening the home owners and their two children who were disturbed by the burglars trying to enter through an open window.

Returning to Copperfield and again leaving Mitchell at the first address, Onyuta and the teenager then took one of the women there with them as a hostage to burgle a third address.

He was unaware that this woman had managed to take her mobile phone back and was calling police for help.

As the resident of the third address, also in Copperfield, opened their front door, Onyuta brandished his handgun at them and ransacked their property, terrifying three more children who were also in the property.

When they heard the victim’s phone they realised police had been called and quickly fled the scene, as did Mitchell shortly after.

Mitchell, of Hayter Road in London SW2, was arrested on 18 May by Surrey Police. He pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary.

Onyuta, of Vickers Close in Wallington, was arrested 22 May. He pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated burglary, one count of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence, and one count of burglary.

The teenager, now 17 years old from Deptford, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated burglary and one count of attempted burglary.

In a statement submitted to the court, one of the victims of these burglaries explained the terrible impact the crimes have had on her:

“This has left me feeling that I am constantly looking over my shoulder. Ever since that day every day is a struggle to live.
“I feel I am being watched and followed everywhere I go.
"When to go back home and I am alone I cannot stop myself from crying, and I wonder what I did to deserve this.”

In their sentencing remarks the judge condemned their actions as “appalling attacks on people who were completely innocent in their own homes”.

They added:

“You each took part in what must be everyone’s worst nightmare.
“Imagine your own parents quietly in bed, your brother and sisters, and this happening to them – one can hardly imagine a more terrifying event.
“[The victim’s statements] just begin to tell us all how awful those events were and how much they continue to plague their lives.
“Your attacks will probably continue to do so for the rest of their lives.”

All three appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday 27 November – Onyuta was sentenced to 12 years, Mitchell was sentenced to 10 years and the 17-year-old was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

Sergeant Victoria Jarvis said:

“First of all I’d like to thank the victims in the case for their bravery and involvement in our investigation.
“Despite this horrendous ordeal they have supported all our work and have been an important part of ensuring justice is done in this case.
“These were incredibly violent and chaotic crimes using deadly weapons.
“When Onyuta and Mitchell didn’t find their intended victims they said they would kill the people they found instead.
“They invaded the homes of innocent members of the public, some as young as four years old, only motivated by what they could take from who they found, no matter who they were.
“It was only right they were given custodial sentences and can now consider their actions from prison.”

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