Pensioner picks out 'hand-biting attacker' in ID parade from her front window

robber who bit an elderly woman’s hand to steal her wedding ring was facing jail today after being picked out in an ID parade conducted in lockdown through the front window of her victim’s home.robber who bit an elderly woman’s hand to steal her wedding ring was facing jail today after being picked out in an ID parade conducted in lockdown through the front window of her victim’s home.

Monique Roach, 23, rang the doorbell of 75-year-old Victoria Adenle’s house in Hackney at 11.30am on March 28.

When Mrs Adenle answered, Roach started crying and asked her for £10. Roach then blocked the victim from closing the door and bit her left hand, snatching the ring before running off in a “callous and heartless” theft.

Mrs Adenle immediately contacted her daughter who called the police. Roach left a palm print on the door and was captured on CCTV nearby.

Although arrested and charged within days, detectives needed to strengthen the case. But Mrs Adenle’s age and vulnerability meant detectives were unable to bring her to a police station to carry out a normal identification parade.

Detective Constable Jack Downey refused to allow the case to be delayed until lockdown lifted because of the risk of further offending. Roach has a 2018 conviction for robbery and had been released from prison three months earlier.

The Met’s offender identification team set up a bespoke identification centre at Mrs Adenle’s home.
Another officer arrived and changed into full protective clothing outside. He entered, ensuring social distancing, and laid out the computer identification material before leaving.

The policeman then explained the process through a front window to Mrs Adenle, who picked out Roach.

Roach pleaded guilty to robbery at Wood Green crown court in June.

Judge David Aaronberg QC said at an earlier hearing: “Having received a sentence for robbery, within a period of three months of being released, she has committed another robbery.

“This is an extraordinarily nasty attack. She has bitten a member of the public and it’s a second conviction for robbery in the last three years.”

Reference: Eveining Standard: Anthony France, Tristan Kirk 3 hrs ago:28th July 2020