A Kenton man has been jailed for the cowardly robbery of an elderly woman he duped in a charity scam.
Kevin Patel, 34, of Kenmore Avenue, teamed up with Nikhil Patel, 21, from Harrow, to carry out their crime on an 84-year-old in Pinner.
Isleworth Crown Court heard the pair visited the victim’s home in Cuckoo Hill Drive claiming to be collecting for a sponsored walk in support of the Macmilllan Nurses Cancer charity in January last year.
They also targeted 20 other addresses in the area with a similar ploy and also properties in Moor Park on the pretence of collecting for Children in Need.
Detectives believe it allowed them to identify potential targets.
The victim gave them £10 and two days later a pair of youths visited her asking to be let in as they had lost their pet rabbit in her garden.
When she refused they returned with Nikhil who said he was their cousin.
Patel punched her in the face and subjected her to a violent and sustained attack after she asked them to return the next day because it was dark.
He fled with £100 and other valuables.
The victim was treated for head and body injuries.
Police arrested Kevin Patel the following day and laboratory analysis of his footwear identified the DNA of blood from the victim.
The other were snared after being traced through his phone.
Kevin Patel admitted robbery and conspiracy to defraud and was jailed for seven-and-a-half year.
Nikhil Patel pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and was sentenced to 20 months in jail.
A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of conspiracy to defraud and given a youth referral order and a 14-year-old was acquitted.
DC Paul Matthews, investigating officer, said: “These cases show the importance of householders checking carefully for anyone coming to the door purporting to be charity collectors.
“Such people should always have a verifiable identification, and if there is any doubt, the police should be called.
“In this case the scam led to a robbery and a cowardly and sustained attack on an old lady, for which the culprits have been brought to book after careful and thorough police work.”
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