Three jailed for Hove robbery

Three men have been jailed for a total of 29 years after a violent robbery in Hove.

The thugs forced their way into a house in Hangleton Road, punched a woman in the face and threatened her and her partner with knives.

They stole a laptop, an iPad and some cash.

Lamin Ngobeh, 21, from Comber Grove, London, Ronald Mugumbwe, 28, of Haven Way, London, and Vin Che, 27, from New Kent Road, London,

They were found guilty by a jury at Canterbury Crown Court in November and remanded in custody until they were sentenced yesterday (Tuesday 19 March).

Ngobeh was given a nine-year jail term, Mugumbwe was given ten years and Che was also jailed for ten years.

The three men robbed their victim after knocking on her front door on the evening of 13 May last year.

She looked through the spy hole of the door and saw what she thought was a young woman.

But when she opened the door she was confronted by the men who burst in armed with knives.

When they left, the three men ran to a silver Vauxhall Vectra which was parked near by and sped off along Hardwick Road and into Downland Drive.

The male victim bravely ran out of the house and jumped into his own vehicle before giving chase. The cars then crashed into each other at the bottom of Downland Drive at the junction with Downland Crescent.

Detective Constable Caroline Gridley, from Sussex Police, led the investigation. She said: “Police arrived at both the scene of the robbery and the crashed vehicle, which was recovered and forensically examined.

“Property belonging to both the victims and suspects was in the car and four men, including those who were subsequently charged, were arrested shortly after.

“I’m pleased that justice has been done and that three men are behind bars for their part in what was a terrifying incident for the victims.”

No further action was taken against the fourth man who was arrested.