Violent robbers sentenced
Overwhelming evidence from FVS brings violent robbers to book
Expert CCTV analysis carried out by leading forensic imagery specialists, FVS, has proved key in securing lengthy prison sentences for two violent armed robbers who went on a 48-hour crime spree in the Birmingham area.
Donroy Joseph and Kendell Farrell broke into three homes and terrorised six victims — stabbing two and sexually assaulting another. In the first robbery the men pointed a realistic replica gun at a young mother, before picking up her two-year-old child and forcing the mother to hand over iPads and just £3 in cash.
The following night the pair stabbed a young man after first putting the replica gun to his head. Just one hour later they broke into a student house where three females were sleeping. Joseph subjected one student to a sickening sexual attack, before stealing her phone and bank card and forcing her to tell him her PIN number. Another student was stabbed by Farrell.
Within days of the robberies, West Midlands Police had obtained CCTV footage of a man using the student’s stolen card at a cash machine. At this point FVS was brought in to analyse the footage.
FVS director, Bill Platts, said: “The police believed the man in the footage to be Donroy Joseph, and it was our task to either discount him, or prove it.
“In order to do this we used a variety of techniques, including Facial Mapping. This is a scientific process involving the measurement and comparison of various facial features and proportions and how they interrelate.
“We also undertook a clothing analysis to compare the clothing worn by the subject and the person on the CCTV footage.
“It was clear from our findings that the man in the footage was indeed Joseph, and the report we produced put forward overwhelming evidence, and proved successful in securing an early guilty plea from Joseph for the robbery offences. He was also found guilty at trial of the sexual offences.”
Bill Platts added: “An early plea saves the court a great deal of time and money — Crown Court costs £20k per day to run — so our role is to help the smooth running of prosecutions by providing forensic evidence that either identifies guilty parties, or eliminates suspects from enquiries. It’s a very scientific and reliable process that has become invaluable in crime investigation.”
On 26 May 2016, Donroy Joseph and Kendell Farrell were sentenced to a total of 40 years in prison.
Kendell Farrell (left) and Donroy Joseph
Robber at cashpoint
Robber rides away