Man jailed for Sydenham bank robbery after fast-time enquiries led to his identification

A man has been sentenced for an armed robbery carried out at a bank in Sydenham after swift analysis of evidence helped police to identify him.

Mohammed Basheeru, 44 (28.01.80), also known as Sonni Reid, of London Road, Croydon appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, 28 June where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison having pleaded guilty to robbery at an earlier hearing.

Police were called at 11:26hrs on Monday, 14 February 2022 to reports of an armed robbery at a high street bank in Sydenham.

The court heard that two men wearing face coverings entered the premises and demanded that the cashier open the till while she had a gun pointed at her by his accomplice.

The pair stole a quantity of cash. They then made off with the money down Venner Road, where they were seen by a witness.

Detectives from the Met’s Flying Squad seized CCTV footage which captured the two men four minutes later in a road close to the incident, leaving in a car, away from the scene. Officers established that the same vehicle was used to collect Basheeru from his home address before travelling towards the bank.

CCTV footage inside the bank showed suspects entering the bank. Officers were able to identify Basheeru using the footage by the slight deformity on his left ear, as he was already known to them.

The evidence collected led to Basheeru being interviewed where he denied any involvement in the robbery. He was charged with the offence and pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court on 9 April, 2024.

Dorian Rankine, 43 (10.08.80) of Beulah Road, Thornton Heath, appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Friday, 27 January 2023, where he pleaded guilty to robbery and two other unrelated robberies. He was sentenced to ten years in prison.

Detective Constable, Craig Prout from the Flying Squad said: “This was a terrifying incident for the people involved. We’re grateful for their support, which has now meant that the two offenders have been brought to justice.”