Saturday 19 November 2022 08:20 PM Burglars who posed as police and stamped on mother to snatch puppy and ... trends now
Three men who dressed up as police officers before violently assaulting a mother during a burglary in which they stole a beloved two-month-old puppy have been jailed for a total of 35 years.
Michael Cloherty, 58, of Orpington, Simon Ludlow, 50, of Mitcham and Michael Cook, 54, of London, attacked the woman in front of her three young young children before beating and stamping on her.
This week Cloherty was sentenced to 12 years in prison, Ludlow to 12 years and Cook to 10 years.
It comes after the gang were all found guilty of aggravated burglary following a seven day trial at Kingston Crown Court on November 9.
Confronting their victim as she was leaving her flat in Arabella Drive, Putney, with her three children on November 29 last year, the men claimed they had come to the property to conduct a drugs search.
The men were wearing caps with the word 'Police' on the front whilst carrying friction-lock batons. One of the men also produced a fake ID badge.
Simon Ludlow, 50 from Mitcham pictured after his arrest on suspicion of aggravated burglary
Michael Cook, 54, from London was arrested alongside Ludlow and Cloherty
Michael Cloherty, 58, of Orpington, was one of three criminals who dressed up as police officers in a bid to fool their victim
The men also snatched this two-month-old American Bulldog puppy in the raid, which took place in front of the women's three young children
The woman, aged in her 30s, challenged the men, who then grabbed her around the throat and forced her back inside her home, the Met Police said.
The force added the men attacked her by stamping on and punching her, before tying her
