A personal trainer has been jailed for 12 years for conspiracy to commit robbery after setting up his female client.

Herbert Namdi Osuji, 39, of Fitzhugh Grove, Wandsworth, was a personal fitness trainer to a 36-year-old woman.

Wandsworth Times:

An e-fit of another man they are searching in relation to the robbery

She told him she had ordered some trainers, on his recommendation, and expecting their delivery she opened the door, to her Battersea home, to callers at 6pm on July 20, 2013.

She was confronted by two men and one of them grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against the hall wall.

They threatened to kill her if she screamed, and one said: "I know all about you."

The thugs demanded money, hit her and started searching her home. One said if she did not give them money they would throw acid on her.

They picked the woman up by her hair, forced her into a wardrobe and locked her in.

When things went quiet she managed to get out of the wardrobe to find watches, jewellery and cash had been taken which altogether valued over £45,000.

The woman suffered only minor injuries but was left scared and afraid to be in her own home.
She told Osuji about the robbery and he visited her on July 30 offering support. She paid him for a previous personal training session out of a box where she had hidden $5,000.

In the morning Osuji used the spare bathroom and was given a new toothbrush. When he left the woman noticed her money box, containing the dollars, was slightly open.

Through analysing DNA left on the toothbrush police found Osuji was on license from prison from an earlier robbery.

CCTV footage showed the two robbery suspects with Osuji.

Police arrested him and when they asked for his phone Osuji broke it open and swallowed the SIM card.

Wandsworth Times:

On September 5, 2013, he was charged with conspiracy to rob and theft of the cash. He initially pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea to guilty on the seventh day seven of his trial at Kingston Crown Court. He was sentenced on Thursday, May 22 to 12 years in prison.

Detective Constable Ailsa Jardine, of Wandsworth CID, said: “The sentence imposed on Osuji is merited by the horrible robbery he helped organise, his long criminal history and the gross betrayal of trust.

“I want the public to know we will continue to pursue the two men who carried out this violent and vile robbery. These men terrorised a lone woman in her own home and I would appeal to the public to help bring these men to justice.”

Wandsworth Times:

An e-fit of the second man police are searching for


Police are still looking for the other two men. It is thought the two men may have links to the Barnet.

One is described as a light-skinned black man with wide-set brown eyes, 21-23 years old, 5ft 9in tall and of slim build.

The second is a dark-skinned black man, 22-23 years old, 5ft 6in tall and of medium build.
Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 and quote crime reference number 0315416/13.