Judge praises mum's 'cool courage'

Judge Anthony Niblett praised the "cool, calm, self-assured courage" of Jo Mooney after she and her then seven-year-old daughter Kia were tied up.

It happened when their Ninfield Road home was raided.

Taxi driver Jason Howard was also tied up by the armed gang in June last year.

Three of the criminals were jailed last Friday. Luke Willis, 17, of Hastings, Javier Farrell, 21, of Eastbourne and Daniel Doran, 20, were all given six years.

Engineering student James Cole, 22, of Richmond Grove, Bexhill, was given a three -year community order.

He did not take part in the raid but drove a gang member who was being sought by the police. Four other gang members were sentenced earlier this month.

They included ringleaders Carl Elliott, of St Leonards, and Michael Saldana, of Hastings, who were given life sentences.

Trainee nurse Jo Mooney, 32, said after sentences were passed: "While we are very satisfied overall with the outcome... we are disappointed with James Cole's sentence.

"Although we can understand the judge's reasoning in passing it - Cole's harrowing time in Wandsworth and his health issues - Cole has still be extremely fortunate. He has been given a second chance.

"I hope he thinks carefully about myself, Kia and Jason when deciding whether he is going to make the most of it.

"Myself and Kia, and I am sure Jason and his family, are now trying to put this horrendous ordeal behind us and move on with the rest of our lives.

"I am very pleased with how the police handled this operation. It took a lot of painstaking hard work and dedication."

Judge Anthony Niblett said in court of Jo Mooney: "Had it not been for the cool, calm, self-assured courage of Joanne Mooney, this incident could have been incalculably worse.

"There was a real risk of loss of life."