POLICE have welcomed a tough sentence handed to a burglar whose victim died three days after being beaten up.
Daniel Raymond, aged 18, of Pope Road, Bromley, was jailed for seven years and three months at Croydon Crown Court last week for his part in the attack on former clothing manufacturer Costas Nicolaou.
Widower Mr Nicolaou, 66, of Downe Road, Keston, died from a heart attack days after being subjected to a beating which left him with eight broken ribs.
Mr Nicolaou went through "near torture" during the assault in March last year by Raymond and another attacker not yet caught, the court heard.
Raymond pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and unlawful imprisonment and will start the sentence handed out by judge Cedric Joseph at a youth detention centre.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola, who led the investigation, said: "This case demonstrates the tragic effect crime can have on victims and their families."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article