February 7, 2023
Sentencing has taken place today (Tuesday 7 Feb) in the robbery case at the home of cyclist Mark Cavendish in Ongar, Essex.
Mark Cavendish jointly holds the record for most stage wins in the Tour de France and was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2011. He had been recovering from a serious cycling crash which had left him with broken ribs and a punctured lung at the time of the raid. He and his wife Peta were threatened in the early hours of November 27 2021.
Romario Henry, 31, of Bell Green in Lewisham, south-east London was found guilty of two counts of robbery and convicted by a majority verdict of 10 jurors to two, following 14 hours and 35 minutes of deliberation at Chelmsford Crown Court.
One of the defendants Ali Sesay had earlier pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court to robbing Mr Cavendish of a watch, phone and safe, and his wife of a watch, phone and a Louis Vuitton suitcase. He had previously denied the two charges, but changed his pleas to guilty at a hearing on Wednesday August 31.
Judge David Turner KC at Chelmsford Crown Court sentenced Romario Henry to 15 years in prison and Ali Sesay to 20 years.
Ed Renvoize and Joe Bird were instructed by the CPS Complex Crime Unit.
News stories here:
[BBC News]
[Standard]
[Sky Sports]
[BBC News]
[The Guardian]
[Sky News]
[The Times]
[ITV News]
[Telegraph]
[Standard]
[Cycling Weekly]
