Disabled pensioner held down during violent burglary

Three men have been jailed after a disabled pensioner was held down during a violent burglary at her Swanscombe home.

Amos Vincent (left image), Amos Beaney (top right) and William Dennard were all involved in a plot last year, which led to the victim being restrained while her property was ransacked. 

Dennard drove his accomplices to the victim’s address on 17 September 2021.

Vincent and Beaney then knocked on her door and told the victim a car parked outside was linked to a burglary. They asked her for a pen and paper and followed her inside.

Vincent suddenly grabbed and pushed the victim to the floor. He wrapped his arms around her so tightly she was unable to move, despite protests she was unable to breath.

At the same time Beaney searched the house looking for items to steal. Both men left the address, leaving the victim, aged in her 70s, in pain and struggling to move.

She was able to crawl to a chair and dial 999. Police attended and a handbag was found to be missing which contained cash and other items including a bank card.

Planned in advance

An investigation led to the recovery of CCTV which identified a suspicious van and showed Dennard at the wheel.

A witness also told officers she remembered seeing the van parked on double yellow lines near to the victim’s home and noticed two men walking towards her who appeared to be acting strangely and were pulling on gloves. 

Beaney, 31, of Bow Road, Wateringbury and Dennard, 55, of Darenth Wood Road, Dartford were arrested on 30 September. Vincent, 39, was also later detained on 11 October.

Forensic analysis of the suspects’ phones provided further evidence that all three had travelled together and colluded to target their vulnerable victim.

At Woolwich Crown Court, Beaney and Vincent both pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and robbery. Dennard admitted a single count of burglary, as well as an unrelated and separate offence of dangerous driving.  

On Thursday 10 March 2022, Vincent and Beaney were both sentenced to six years’ imprisonment. Dennard was jailed for four years. 

Cowardly and despicable

PC Emma Laimbeer, of the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad, said: ‘The cowardly actions of Vincent, Beaney and Dennard were clearly premeditated and utterly despicable. They have preyed upon a vulnerable and elderly woman, bringing terror to her home and long-term distress and anxiety that will likely stay with her for the rest of her life. ‘Thankfully, we were able to identify them from an early stage. Our investigation has proved without any doubt the role played by each of these heartless thieves and I hope that these sentences will at least provide some comfort and reassurance to the victim.’