Three violent men have been given prison sentences totalling more than 20 years for setting up a “honey trap” robbery in Bradford.

Ringleader Rohail Khan, 22, was given the longest sentence of nine years after the trio were found guilty of robbing Dharmender Singh of a Jacob and Co watch valued at about £3,000 and a valuable gold chain.

Bradford Crown Court heard how the unsuspecting victim had been lured to the Moore Avenue area of Wibsey in the early hours to meet a woman, but after going for a drive with her he was then attacked as he sat in the passenger seat of her car.

Judge Robert Bartfield said Mr Singh tried to resist being pulled from the car and he was repeatedly kicked and punched before Tyrone Vanzie, 23, struck him with a “hard object” which might have been a knuckle-duster.

The judge said after Mr Singh was pulled from the car Khan took the chain, valued at about £1,500, from his neck and the expensive watch was also stolen from him.

“I'm satisfied then that he was kicked repeatedly and I am satisfied that all three of you joined in the violence on him,” said Judge Bartfield.

“He was given a severe beating. He was left significantly bruised all over his body and it was a great mercy that greater injury was not caused.”

The judge told all three defendants that it had been a terrible experience for the victim, who still has scarring above one of his eyes as a result of a cut, and he pointed out that none of them had shown the slightest remorse for the attack.

All three had pleaded not guilty to robbing Mr Singh back in April 2011, but after more than five hours of deliberation the jury found each of them guilty.

Judge Bartfield said Khan, of Priesthorpe Avenue, Pudsey, was a close friend of the woman involved, Sanya Garcha, and had the influence to get herto act as the “honey trap”.

He said the attack was Khan’s idea and he had been the ringleader.

Vanzie, of Roundwood Avenue, Ravenscliffe, was jailed for seven years for his part in the attack and the third defendant, Adnan Rehman, 25, of Woodhall Gardens, Pudsey, was also jailed for seven years.

After the case, Detective Inspector Ben McDonald said: “Khan, Vanzie and Rehman clearly targeted their victim because of his jewellery and used a female accomplice to lure him to a location, where they violently attacked and robbed him.

“We are very pleased at the sentences handed down by the court, which will hopefully act as a deterrent to anyone who would consider getting themselves involved in similar crimes.”

THE FEMALE ACCOMPLICE:

The woman who lured victim Dharmender Singh to a beating by the three violent robbers was spared immediate custody after giving evidence against her co-defendants in two trials.
Sentencing Sanya Garcha yesterday to a 12-month prison sentence suspended for a year and ordering her to do 200 hours of unpaid community work, Judge Robert Bartfield said it had taken a degree of bravery to testify and warned that in the future she would always have to look over her shoulder.
Garcha, 26, of Blackberry Way, Clayton, Bradford, had been charged with robbery but that was dropped when she agreed to be a prosecution witness. She admitted causing actual bodily harm on a basis she envisaged some physical force might be used against Mr Singh.
Judge Bartfield said Mr Singh had formed an attraction to her and she encouraged him to think he might have a chance of seeing her.
“I am satisfied you lured this man into a trap. That was a despicable thing you did,” the judge told her.
“You knew they were going to do him real violence. Rohail Khan was a violent man and you knew that perfectly well.
“You told Dharmender Singh to come out and meet you, appreciating he would believe he was going to have some sort of tryst with you.”
The judge added: “I believe your part in this was much more substantial than you ever let on. I haven’t swallowed your story about your involvement.”
But Judge Bartfield said she was entitled to substantial credit for giving evidence.