Two armed-robber brothers who wore old men latex masks to raid a jeweller were jailed for 31 years
ARMED-robber brothers who wore old men latex masks to raid a jeweller have been jailed.
Ben Murphy, 37, and George Murphy-Bristow, 28, looked like balding pensioners tottering up to the shop.
They completed their disguise with Covid face-coverings, elderly outfits and long coats.
But the thugs were also brandishing a knife and axe and threatened staff to let them in.
They restrained one worker with cable ties and took a £15,000 Rolex from their wrist.
The brothers searched a staff area but the alarm was raised and they fled in a vehicle in Epping, Essex, in September 2021.
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Weeks later, officers on patrol 36 miles away in Canvey Island stopped a suspicious car.
George Murphy-Bristow was driving and in the boot were two full-face old man masks and clothing identical to that worn in the robbery.
Police also found dodgy car number plates and a black duffel bag containing a hatchet, knife and cable ties.
Forensic officers carried out tests on saliva found in the masks and it matched the brothers’ DNA.
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They were arrested at separate locations last June and refused to answer any questions during their interviews.
Both men were charged with robbery and possession of a bladed article and were remanded in custody.
The brothers, of Islington, North London, denied their part in the robbery when they appeared at Southend-on-Sea magistrates’ court on June 22, 2021.
A jury took just over an hour to find the pair guilty following a three-day trial at Basildon crown court.
Murphy was jailed for 18 years after he was convicted of robbery and two charges of possessing a bladed article.
His younger brother was convicted of robbery, two counts of possessing a bladed article, and going equipped for theft.
He was sentenced to 13 years in jail.
The stolen Rolex has never been recovered.
Det Insp Yoni Adler, of Essex Police, said: “Benjamin Murphy and his brother George Murphy-Bristow planned this robbery, to use masks that would help them avoid detection.
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“But it was the forensic examination among other detailed detective work and proactive policing that proved the pair were directly linked to the robbery.
“I want to thank the store’s staff for supporting our investigation following an undoubtedly frightening incident, but I hope that they can now move on.”
