Man had 'gun' pointed in face by London gang

The gang included (clockwise from top left) Mark Baguena, Sukhvinder Singh-Degwa, Vincent Bennett and Safin Mohammed

A businessman had a replica gun pointed at his face during a robbery outside his home, police said.

The "terrifying" incident happened "within touching distance" of the victim's Scunthorpe home on 28 November 2023, according to Humberside Police.

Following a trial lasting 22 days at Grimsby Crown Court, Vincent Bennett, 45, Sukhvinder Singh-Degwa, 45, Mark Baguena, 44, and Safin Mohammed, 46, were all found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Bennett and Singh-Degwa were also found guilty of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. All four men, who had travelled from London to carry out the raid, were jailed at Hull Crown Court on Thursday.

Bennett, of Government Row, Enfield, and Singh-Degwa, of Fassett Square, London, were each jailed for nine years.

Baguena, of King Henry's Mews, Enfield, and Mohammed, of Upper Tollington Par, London, were sentenced to seven years' imprisonment.

Officers said Singh-Degwa and Bennett had contacted each other days prior to the attack to arrange a robbery, before recruiting Mohammed and Baguena.

The men travelled to Scunthorpe in a van and a VW car, arriving in Dale Street shortly after 16:00 GMT.

Pistol-whipped

The victim was walking to his front door when Bennett and Singh-Degwa approached him from behind, with Singh-Degwa launching the first blow, police said.

Bennett produced what the victim thought was a handgun from his pocket and pointed it towards him while threatening to shoot him.

Bennett then pistol-whipped the victim on the head, injuring the left side of his face.

Baguena got out of the van and acted as "lookout" for Bennett and Singh-Degwa, police said.

In the commotion, the victim fell over a wall, but Singh-Degwa and Bennett continued their attack.

The men fled when a neighbour came out to investigate the commotion.

The victim reported his house and vehicle keys had been stolen.

'Four on one'

Speaking after the men were sentenced, Det Con Scott Belton, who led the investigation, said: "This was just another Tuesday evening for the victim who was returning home after a day's work. He was targeted, four on one, in an unprovoked attack within touching distance of his own home.

"He was threatened, and what he believed to be a gun was pointed in his face, leaving him fearing for his life."

Det Con Belton described the attack as "terrifying".

Phone records showed Singh-Degwa and Bennett had been "planning the attack for a while", said the detective.

Baguena and Mohammed had been recruited "to reap fear and violence upon a defenceless man", he added.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.