Jailed: 'Cowardly' thugs who left Bermondsey taxi driver with bleed on brain in mobile phone robbery

Jailed: Derron Brown
Mark Chandler13 May 2017
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Two men who randomly attacked a pair of brothers on their way home from a family party, leaving one lying unconscious, have been jailed for a total of 20 years.

Jamal Hislop-Whall and Derron Brown, repeatedly punched and kicked the men, aged 57 and 24, after coming across them near the Longfield estate in Bermondsey.

After attacking the pair, the men fled with a mobile phone and a pair of car keys.

The pair, alongside another man, confronted their victims beside a communal staircase, with one demanding: “What have you got for me?"

Both brothers were then set upon in a vicious attack, being repeatedly punched and kicked.

The elder of the two was dragged down the concrete steps of the block and left unconscious.

His younger brother told Inner London Crown Court: "I thought they had killed him. I thought my brother had passed away".

The elder brother was left with a bleed on the brain, smashed front teeth, and a detached lens in his left eye.

Attacker: Jamal Hislop-Whall

When visited by family within this time he could not remember who his 13-year-old daughter was.

Now out of hospital following the September 25 attack, he needs a stick to walk around and still has impaired vision.

The younger brother suffered bruises and cuts following blows to his face, arms and legs.

In his victim impact statement, the elder brother, a father-of-four who has since given up work as a taxi driver, said: "This has had a tremendous emotional impact on me.

“I feel stressed all the time and frustrated, I don't like to go outside anymore and don't enjoy socialising. It is without doubt that I am a different person now than before the attack. I have lost my profession, my health and my confidence."

Hislop-Whall, 24, of Copleston Road, Southwark, and Brown, 24, of Harewood Gardens, Croydon, were sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in prison each.

They were each previously convicted of two counts of robbery, one count of grievous bodily harm, and actual bodily harm.

Detective Constable Matt Griffiths, from Southwark CID, who investigated the case, said: "This was a truly shocking and despicable attack on two members of the local community who have lived in the area for over 20 years.

“The brothers were simply walking home and were most likely identified as easy targets in this unprovoked assault. They were savagely beaten all for a mobile phone and a set of keys.”

He added: “The family were supported in court by several residents of the estate who gave evidence for the prosecution.

“This shows how the community is willing to come together to help each other in the face of such a cowardly and brutal attack.”

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in