Jail for car jackers(posted 8035 days ago)Old Bailey: Two knife-wielding robbers who terrorised motorists in violent car-jackings have been jailed.
Trevor "Tiny" Hodges, 18, was given eight years for his part in the car-jackings, one of which happened in Aldersbrook Road, Wanstead.
His accomplice Linden George, 19, received five years, after the pair were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday.
Sentences for the pair, who pleaded guilty, also took in other charges of robbery, motoring and disorder.
The court heard how the pair terrorised their victims in four different incidents and had a string of previous convictions.
The case comes just two months after Hodges was found not guilty of murdering Wanstead law student Sajid Chishti.
Hodges, of Manor Park, and George, of Poplar, started their trail of terror on May 26 last year when, with a third man, they threatened a minicab driver in Bow.
They put a knife to him and forced him from the vehicle, a Toyota Corina, stealing his takings and the car.
The vehicle was later found in KENNINGTON with the fingerprints of both men inside.
Their next victim was a 34-year-old woman who was driving her VW Golf in Aldersbrook Road around 5.35pm on June 14.
After noticing a Ford Fiesta in front of her, she was suddenly surrounded by the men, who held a knife to her face and forced her from the vehicle.
They drove off in her car, leaving behind the stolen Fiesta they had arrived in.
Just over an hour later they struck again. This time they pounced on a 73-year-old man who had stopped his Mercedes in Forest Gate to let them pass.
Instead they got out, threatened the pensioner with a knife and ripped a gold chain from his neck.
They then tried to steal the Mercedes but couldn't start it because they could not drive an automatic. They drove away in the earlier victim's VW Golf which was abandoned in Manor Park, near where Hodges and George were later arrested.
Two months ago Hodges was found not guilty of murdering Mr Chishti but guilty of robbing him. The court heard how Hodges had performed a victory dance after Mr Chishti was fatally attacked at Ilford station in May last year.
He was also arrested after the murder of a shopkeeper in Forest Gate in 1999, but charges were dropped.
Investigating officer DC Mark Robson said later: "We're pleased with today's sentencing. Hodges and George are violent criminals who threatened their victims with a knife, leaving them fearful for their safety if they didn't hand over their property.
"Tackling street crime is one of our top priorities and the public deserves to be protected from dangerous criminals like Hodges and George."
April 25, 2002 11:00
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