Masked robber posed as government official to steal £100k from elderly couple's home

Masked robber posed as government official to steal £100k from elderly couple's home Johnny Boy Doherty was sentenced to serve eight years and three months in prison after he forced his way into a couple’s home by masquerading as a government official A robber who forced his way into a couple’s home by pretending to be a government official has been sentenced to eight years in jail. Johnny Boy Doherty and two other men forced their way into the house in Woodford Green, East London in January. The homeowner asked to see their credentials but the trio, who were wearing face coverings, told the victim, who is aged in his 80s, that they were armed and threatened him with weapons if he did not comply. They demanded money and started searching round the house. One of the men went upstairs and discovered the victim’s wife and again demanded to know where the money was being kept, Essex Live reports. After starting to ransack the room, he found a bag which contained a large amount of cash, a court was told. The trio also grabbed valuable jewellery and other items including a phone and bank card before fleeing the scene with an estimated £100,000 worth of goods. In the days before the robbery the second victim, who is aged in her 70s, told police she had sold some of the family’s jewellery for cash. Essex Police launched an investigation, and early enquiries revealed the gang had used a car stolen in the Metropolitan Police area. The forces worked together to gather intelligence and in April the 26-year-old was stopped by Met Police officers in Hayes and arrested. Doherty, of High Street, Feltham, refused to answer any questions during interview, but was left with no option but to plead guilty. He was sentenced to serve eight years and three months in prison for one count of robbery and given a restraining order not to contact the victims. Investigating officer Detective Constable Alexander Cove, from Loughton CID, said: “This was a frightening experience for the couple and was exacerbated by the fact that it happened in their own home. “Doherty and his accomplices initially tried to trick the victim, before using violence to force their way into their home and searching for cash and jewellery. This couple’s home was clearly targeted by Doherty and his accomplices. Using CCTV and other tactics we worked closely with our colleagues in the Metropolitan Police to locate him and ensure he was arrested, charged and brought before the courts. “Let us be clear, anyone who comes to Essex to commit crime will be fully investigated and we will work hard to ensure they face justice.” A spokesperson from the force added: "Our investigation to locate the other suspects involved in this incident is ongoing and we would appeal for anyone with information to contact us."