Justice at last for robbery victims

Inderdeep Bains • Published 13 Mar 2009 09:00 0 Comments

A WINDSOR woman who fought off a would-be diamond thief more than a decade ago has welcomed his recent conviction thanks to police forensics.

Millionaire bookmaker John Banks, his wife Anne-Marie and daughter Joanna were ambushed by Gary Mills and two accomplices, who tried to steal diamond jewellery in May 1998.

Now, 11 years later Mills, 32, has been jailed thanks to police scientists and the scars he received from Mrs Banks.

During the robbery the men blocked the entrance to the couple's mansion in Sunningdale, and attacked them in their car, punching and kicking Mr Banks in the process.

Mills tried to snatch Mrs Banks' jewellery including her engagement ring but she fought back biting his ear. Although the thieves escaped, Mills's injuries and the DNA from a hat he left behind led to his conviction for the offence.

Mrs Banks, who's husband died from cancer six years ago, said: "I'm delighted that forensic science has been able to catch up with one of the culprits. My husband never really recovered from the mugging as it wasn't something you could easily forget. He wanted to move right away and became ill soon after.

He would be absolutely delighted if he knew."

She added: "I remember it like yesterday, when I bit his ear he screamed and I could see it was hanging off. It was very disgusting and I was terrified. My husband worked very hard for anything that I have and I didn't feel I should allow anyone to take that away. I could see my daughter was being dragged out of the car so I just fought back. I told the police to look out for someone with a scar as I knew I had done some damage."

In August, Mills was found by Spanish police in Malaga, and arrested on an extradition warrant following an investigation by the Met. Forensic experts noticed the scars on his ear and hand matched the injuries sustained during the attempted robbery and his DNA linked him to the incident.

Mills of Chalfont St Giles was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Southwark Crown Court on February 26 for the crime and other firearms offences.

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This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 13 Mar 09

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