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Jewel thief gets life for street attacks on women
Benedict Moore-Bridger, Evening Standard04.03.08
A "professional" criminal who targeted lone women in Hampstead, stealing jewellery worth £68,000 while out on licence has been jailed for life.
Kevin Nevers, 41, violently robbed nine women during a 13-month crime spree stealing gold and platinum rings.
The women were grabbed around the throat either on their doorsteps or in quiet side streets in Hampstead and Belsize Park.
Two victims were pregnant, while five had young children with them as they returned home from shopping. Nevers threatened to stab the women unless they handed over their jewellery and cash.
The first offence, in June 2005 when he stole a £4,000 ring from a 30-year-old woman in Frognal Way, took place less than two months after Nevers was released from prison on licence having served a seven-year jail term for a similar robbery .
Police were able to connect him to the crimes because of their similarity, and used mobile phone logs to jewellers in Hatton Garden and Kentish Town to prove his participation.
He was sentenced to life at Snaresbrook crown court on Friday after being found guilty of nine counts of robbery.
Judge Inigo Bing said Nevers had acted with "swift efficiency" and used his physical strength to rob the women. He will serve a minimum of 12 years before being considered for parole.
Detective Sergeant Paul Lincoln, of Camden community safety unit, said all the women, including a 71-year-old grandmother, had been traumatised by the attacks.
He said: "Nevers was a calculating and professional criminal who preyed on vulnerable women whose only crime was to own a valuable ring."
Reader views (2)
I happened to sit throughout the entire trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Indeed, Nevers was so disturbed that he wanted me excluded from the public gallery, thinking that I was working with the police. He would make obscene gestures towards me and his barrister asked for me to be removed, but I saved the situation by hiding behind a filing cabinet.
The victims were very brave women, one of whom gave evidence on a live link from New York, and must have been about 70 years old. All Crown witnesses were really excellent.
Nevers had a Polish girl friend and she was questioned about a large sum of money found in his clothing, she claiming that it was for a "boob job". The jury disbelieved her of course.
He deserves to rot in hell for the trauma he caused these lovely people, many of whom had babies and small children with them.
I shall never forget his name and his excellent Queen's Counsel could not hide his criminality. He sacked him before sentence, because he was so arrogant.
- John, Ealing, U.K.
This man was released on licence for a previous offence, only to commit more crimes. He has destroyed more lives. Longer sentences are the only answer for scum like this!
- Ian, London, England
