On Wednesday, 7 November, at approximately 11:09 pm, a woman was walking home along Mill Lane, Carshalton when a man approached her from behind on a pedal cycle. The man stole the woman’s bag after threatening her with what she reported as being a handgun.

Officers worked quickly and were able to obtain CCTV footage from a private residence that caught the crime on camera.

Among the items stolen was the victim’s mobile phone which was traced to an address in Wallington where officers apprehended a man who came out of the property and cycled away on a bike very similar to the one being ridden in the CCTV footage.

On Monday, 15 April, at Croydon Crown Court, Stephen Hale, aged 35 (d.o.b. 26.01.83) of Tull Street, Mitcham was found guilty of Robbery and Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Commit an Indictable Offence.

Hale was sentenced to 8 years for robbery and 5 years for possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, the sentences will run concurrently.