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Britain's hero boy helps police jail two violent robbers

Xinhua, May 2, 2017 Adjust font size:

Two men were starting prison sentences totally more than 14 years Tuesday after the heroic actions of a 10-year-old boy helped detectives catch the criminals.

The two violent robbers grabbed Tania Levenfiche, round the throat and snatched her jewellery during a robbery at her home in north west London.

Her young son, Didier, witnessed the attack on his mom, and not only activated an intruder alarm at his home, but also memorised the faces of the two robbers, brothers Eugene and Devlin Williams, both Londoners and both in their 30s.

Didier's 48-year-old mom described Tuesday what happened. She said: "My son did not know what to do as he stood helpless but thank goodness had the sense of mind to push the panic button. As he said to me after the attack "Mummy I felt so bad I couldn't save you".

"He has since had continuous nightmares about the attack and is so scared to get in and out of the car in our driveway at any time of the day or night. He has not slept a whole night since the incident and also is very disturbed by the fact that the attackers kicked our dog over and over as she tried to jump up at them to help me. Please remember that he watched this whole incident and the face of the attacker staring at him."

Metropolitan Police crime squad detective Martin Thomas said: "Eugene and Devlin Williams are dangerous criminals who targeted innocent people across London. Thanks to Didier's attention to detail, both men were arrested and successfully picked out at an ID parade. Didier's brave actions directly led to them being brought to justice."

Didier's actions earned him the title of the Met Police's hero of the year.

The two brothers carried out a spate of robberies in the capital, with Eugene Williams handed an eight year sentence by a London judge Tuesday, while his brother was jailed for six years and eight months.

Detective Thomas added: "The level of violence used against the victims was gratuitous and has left them traumatised. Westminster Crime Squad have worked tirelessly to convict these robbers who used the proceeds of their crime to fund their lifestyle. London is much safer with these violent men bought to justice and behind bars." Endit