Ghanaian woman crippled by gang of violent burglars

A 34-year-old woman left wheelchair-bound after jumping from a 30ft-high window to escape a gang of violent burglars has talked about the devastating impact it has had on her life.

Ghanaian-born Patricia Osie-Assiby was speaking after five men were jailed last week for a total of 38 years for their part in two separate burglaries within three days at the same Colindale home.

It was during the first raid at the third-floor flat, on August 14, 2005, that Ms Osie-Assiby leapt from the window after being threatened with a knife and having clumps of hair torn from her scalp.

Advertisement continued...Ms Osie-Assiby, who lives with her husband and children in Italy, was staying with relatives at the flat, in Deerfield Close, Rookery Way, Colindale, while studying to be a teacher.

Ms Osie-Assiby told police in a statement: "It has affected me physically; at the age of 34 I am a cripple and have been declared 100 per cent invalid. Walking, sitting down and bending are all painful exercises for me. Even though there has been some improvement compared to my situation after the incident, the doctors say that there is no hope of further improvements and that I will have to bear these pains for the rest of my life.

"Emotionally and psychologically the incident has had a great effect on me. I now live in a constant state of fear; I never want to be left alone in the house; I go through periods of great anguish, other moment of sadness; and sometimes there are moments when I just sit down and cry, something that often leads to fits of anger."

At Harrow Crown Court last Friday, four men were jailed for their part in the burglaries. Frank Agyeman, 31, of Mulberry Court, Leytonstone, was identified as the ringleader and jailed for seven years without a chance of parole.

He is likely to face further court action after Judge Alan Greenwood was shown what the prosecution said was a fabricated letter purporting to be from an officer at Wormwood Scrubs prison, where Agyeman was being held during trial.

Agyeman's barrister, David Bateup, told the court Agyeman admitted the letter, which painted him in a favourable light in the hope it might reduce his sentence, was a fake.

Sentencing Agyeman, Judge Greenwood said: "The evidence is very clear: that Mr Agyeman was the boss directing operations throughout the planning and entering; a man whose word was obeyed by the others, and in my judgement there's no doubt the evidence bears that out."

Jude Greenwood added that Agyeman was a dangerous and devious man. That is absolutely clear'.

In another twist, it emerged the Ghana Police service is also interested in Agyeman in relation to a gun fight between rival gangs, in Accra, the capital of the west African country, in December 2004.

Also jailed for the burglaries were Eric Damoa, 29, of Rogers Road, Canning Town, who received seven years; Daniel Mooney, 26, of Parkwood, New Southgate, seven years and ten months; and former professional footballer Charles Antwi, 31, of Exchange Walk, Pinner, two years.

Nigel Prescod, 26, of Queensbridge Road, Hackney, was given three sentences adding up to 14 years of imprisonment, to be served concurrently. This means he will serve a maximum of five years behind bars.