Mum and son jailed for trying to rob friends' Sikh wedding fund

Kalwant Kaur and Jung Singh Lankanpal were jailed on Friday, December 22, after trying to steal £8,000.

Southampton Crown Court heard how a group of women from the local Sikh community had helped organise a collection to pay for the wedding and were counting up the money at an address in Clovelly Road on Friday, September 15.

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Suddenly, a man with a gun burst inside the property, threatened the women and demanded they hand over the money.

But in a shocking twist, the court heard that the getaway vehicle, a red Hyundai, was found to be registered to Kaur, who was in the address and helping with the collection.

Kaur, 41, of Union Road, Southampton, and Singh Lankanpal, 22, of the same address, were both arrested the same day the offence took place.

DC Jess Swift, from the Western Area Crime Team, said: "Kaur and Lankanpal made a cold and callous decision to steal such a large sum of money from people they knew, money which was meant to help people in their community.

"Despite Kaur trying to present herself as a witness to a crime, it was quickly established she had used her knowledge to help orchestrate this burglary."

The pair were charged with conspiring to commit a burglary, which they both pleaded guilty to back in October.

Kaur was jailed for 15 months and Lankanpal handed a 30-month jail term.

DC Swift added: "Through some very comprehensive enquiries, we have been able to ensure both pleaded guilty to these offences and will serve a jail sentence.

“I hope this provides the local community some reassurance and gives them some justice for what happened."