A pregnant woman was pushed away and forced to look on as her husband was assaulted and robbed by “callous” criminals.
While Fred Odum-Jones has been jailed for the robbery, officers are appealing for information to trace a second man.
On the evening of Wednesday, July 20, the husband and wife were returning home, the man carrying a bag containing cash and jewellery.
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As the couple entered their Tower Hamlets block of flats, two suspects followed them into a communal area where they repeatedly punched the man and stole his bag.
The woman, who was six months pregnant at the time, tried to defend her husband but the suspects pushed her away.
After kicking the male victim as he lay on the floor, the suspects ran from the scene.
The husband was able to get up and chased the suspects to the vehicle, attempting to take back his bag by reaching into the car.
However, the suspects started to drive away, dragging the man along until he let go.
Both victims were taken to hospital. While the woman was thankfully uninjured, the man suffered cuts to his face and body.
Central East CID officers launched an investigation and swiftly identified Odum-Jones following detailed CCTV inquiries.
He was arrested three days later (July 23) at his home address and later charged.
DC Tom Lynch-Lawton, of the Central East CID, said: “This was an absolutely terrifying experience for the victims on their own doorstep.
“Odum-Jones and his associate showed no regard for the safety of the victims – in particular a visibly pregnant woman – in their determination to get their hands on cash and jewellery which did not belong to them.
“The extent of their callousness was revealed when, already in possession of the victim’s bag, they continued to assault him while he lay prone on the floor.
“The streets of London are a safer place with Odum-Jones behind bars. We continue to carry out inquiries to trace the second suspect.”
Odum-Jones was sentenced on November 2 at Snaresbrook Crown Court to four and a half years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to robbery, assault by beating and dangerous driving.
Officers have released images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.
He is a Black man, believed to be in his 30s and of stocky build.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 7655/20Jul22.
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