Armed thug who posed as an Amazon delivery driver before brandishing a shotgun at a father who wrestled him to the floor is jailed for more than six years

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A thug who disguised himself as an Amazon delivery driver and pulled a shotgun on his victim has been jailed for six years and nine months.

Doorbell footage captured the moment Vicente Forde, 32, disguised himself as a delivery driver before brandishing the firearm, only to have the weapon ripped from his grasp as he was wrestled to the floor by the victim and his dog. 

Forde knocked on the door dressed in a high-vis jacket and carrying an empty package before pulling the loaded shotgun from his jacket, in East Dulwich, south London. at 9.30am on July 13 last year.

The thug, of Gaveston Road, Greenwich, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence at Croydon Crown Court.

He was sentenced to three years and six months for possession of a prohibited firearm by a prohibited person and four years for possession of a firearm to cause fear of violence in court on Thursday. The sentences will be served concurrently. 

The victim did not want to proceed with a trial. 

Vicente Forde, 32, was sentenced to six years and nine months in court on Thursday after posing as an Amazon delivery driver and pulling on a gun on victim Rachid Ben-Mhamedi

Forde was addicted to crack cocaine and said he was forced to carry out the attack to settle his debt with Class A drug dealers. 

Subsequent investigations revealed Forde had carried out reconnaissance in the area the week before. 

Matthew Bagnall, in mitigation, said that Forde had written an open letter to the court expressing his sorrow and remorse. 

He said: 'I am sorry for the pain I caused the victim.

'I know what I done was very wrong. and I hope I have not affected the victim and his daughter too much.

'I'm sorry to them both. They did not deserve to be hurt by me and I still can't believe I got into this situation.

'I feel sick to my stomach when I think about what I did to my victims.

'Since being in custody I've begun to right my wrongs by seeking help for my mental health and drug problems and engaged with a psychologist for the first time in years.'

Vicente Forde, 32, attacked Ben-Mhamedi at his home on Crystal Palace Road in East Dulwich, south London

Investigations found that Forde had scoped out Ben-Mhamedi's place the week prior to the attack and said he was 'forced' to carry out the attack to settled his debts with Class A drug dealers

Forde wrote to the court to an open letter to the court expressing his sorrow and remorse, stating that he was 'sorry' for the pain he caused the victim

Doorbell footage shows the victim - who had been at home with his seven-year-old daughter and was on the phone to a friend at the time - prise the firearm from Forde and throw it under a nearby car. 

Forde kicks and punches at the victim during the struggle, threatening to stab the young man if he doesn't let go of the gun. 

Ben-Mhamedi was reportedly punched in the face by Forde. Ben-Mhamedi managed to Forde in a chokehold during the attack and, assisted by builders, managed to restrain him until the police arrived.  

Members of the public, including some builders working nearby, came to the victim's aid and restrained Forde until police arrived to detain him. 

The firearm was seized and found to be viable and loaded with two live cartridges.

Forde was arrested and taken into custody, while the victim was taken to a south London hospital for treatment for bruising and a broken nose. Forde was later charged and remanded in custody. 

At the court on Thursday, Judge James Lewis QC said: 'This is an extremely serious case.

'The sawn-off shotgun was loaded, the right barrel was cocked, and when it was test-fired it was in full working order. The serial number and identifying numbers had been filed off.

'Thankfully, the gun did not go off when you pointed it at the victim or during the struggle. If it had done so, it's quite possible you would be facing a murder charge.'

The shotgun Forde brandished at another man as he opened his front door (pictured)

Detective Constable Imran Hansraj, of the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: 'The victim had no idea what was about to unfold when he saw what he thought was a delivery man bringing a parcel to his address.

'He had been home with his young daughter and was going about his business as usual when he was thrust into an incredibly frightening ordeal in which he fought for his life. 

'His life was turned upside down in a split second by Forde's actions, which were wicked and cowardly in the extreme.

'He was disguised and armed with a lethal weapon but the victim displayed incredibly bravery to disarm him.

'He was lucky that a number of members of the public took heed of his cries for help and came to his aid.

'They too deserve enormous recognition. I hope Forde will now spend a substantial amount of time in prison, and I am sure that London will be all the safer for it.'