Chiswick Robber Jailed for Stealing from Two Elderly Women

One of his victims left needing 24 hour care after suffering from a stroke

A 37-year-old robber from Chiswick has been sent to jail for eight years after being found guilty of two separate incidents involving elderly women.

Andrew Alexander of Sutton Lane South, Chiswick was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, 15 December to eight years' imprisonment for the burglary of an 87-year-old woman and the robbery of an 84-year-old woman.

Andrew Alexander

The first incident occurred at around 10pm on 22 November 2016 when Alexander followed Stella Magarshack, an 87-year-old pensioner, into the communal area of her flat in Albert Street, Camden.

She asked him who he was there to see but Alexander did not reply and stole her handbag before making off. She entered her flat and told a relative who she lives with what had happened. Shortly afterwards she collapsed having suffered a brain haemorrhage. After months of treatment she was discharged from hospital, but now requires 24 hour palliative care.

Ms Magarshack, studied at St Martins and Royal College of Art and then worked as a secondary school Art teacher. She taught at King Alfred's School, Hampstead where she became head of the art department from the 1970s to 1989. On her retirement she continued to paint and her work had been exhibited at Lauderdale House in Highgate, in 2011.

Stella Magarshack

On Monday, 2 January an 84-year-old woman was walking along Sutton Court Road, Chiswick when Alexander approached her from behind. Despite the victim being frail and elderly he pushed her to the ground and stole her handbag. The victim received an injury to her knee, but thankfully was not seriously physically hurt, but she was left very distressed by the attack.

Alexander was identified as a result of evidence he left at the scene and was arrested later that same day. When arrested he was found in possession of property stolen from the first victim.

Alexander was charged with burglary and robbery following a joint investigation by Hounslow CID and the Central North Command Unit. He was found guilty of both offences following an eight-day-trial.

Detective Constable Brett Jones of the Central North Command Unit led the investigation and said: "I would like to thank all of those who have assisted in this investigation. Alexander's crimes have had a devastating effect on his victims; his actions were both callous and predatory.

"I hope this sentence will bring some satisfaction and relief to the victims, their families, and the public in general. Alexander is a man that preys on the most vulnerable members of our community and I am glad he has been brought to justice."

December 15, 2017