Blackheath burglars who pointed gun at six-year-old are jailed

4:11pm Friday 28th November 2008

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TWO men who held a gun to a six-year-old girl's head in a raid on a family home have been jailed.

Linton Bert, aged 20, of Brooklands Park, Greenwich, and 20-year-old Adebayo Balagun, of Ebdon Way, also in Greenwich, were each sentenced to 12 years in prison at Woolwich Crown Court on November 24.

The pair were found guilty of aggravated burglary after carrying out a terrifying attack on a couple and their daughter - who have not been named by police.

Bert and Balagun, along with a third man, burst into the family home in Dursley Close, Blackheath, at 7.40pm on January 8 and immediately attacked the parents.

The convicted pair hit the father in the face with a pistol and threatened his wife with a handgun.

They demanded the family hand over £90,000, wrongly thinking the cash was hidden in the house, and put a gun to the little girl's head while her parents pleaded for her life.

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, heard screaming at the time of the attack. She said: "I am so glad that they are going to pay for their crime.

"It was very very scary. I heard shouting and screaming and the dog wouldn't stop barking.

"The dad ran out of the house and chased the gunmen before coming back to his family.

"He was bleeding and told me they had dragged his little girl out of bed to hold a gun to her head. The little girl was terribly upset."

The trio forced the parents to open their safe and escaped with £2,000. The family moved out of London the following day.

Following a police appeal, Bert and Balagun, who were both known to police as gang members, and a third suspect, were arrested in February.

Bert and Balagun were identified in an ID parade and were linked to the scene by forensic information. They denied the charges but were found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court on October 6.

The third suspect was released without charge.

Investigating officer at Lewisham police, Detective Inspector Brian Willis, said: "This was a terrifying attack, which changed the life of an entire family.

"I am extremely pleased with the results of the investigation.

"Officers will always conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that criminals are brought before the court.

"The safety of our community is paramount and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure that Greenwich remains a safe place for all."