Dagenham robber caught “purple handed”

A bungling robber who booked a cab from a Dagenham house to escape from police after pulling off a security van raid was jailed for four years today.

Ashley Montaque, 19, was easily traced by Flying Squad detectives who had arrived at the house of fellow gang member Brian Decktor, 22.

Montaque and a third unknown robber, who did evade capture, were holed up with Decktor at his house in Raydons Road, Dagenham, to share the �25,000 loot.

When the trio spotted they were under surveillance, Montaque sprinted from the scene but stopped to order a taxi to his home on Waltham Way, Chingford.

Decktor was caught “purple handed” after he opened his front door to officers clutching wads of banknotes stained with security dye after an earlier heist in East Ham.

Decktor was last month jailed for six years after both robbers were convicted of of conspiracy to commit robbery at Snaresbrook Crown Court.