Man 'tied up and doused in boiling water' in robbery at West Bromwich flat, court hears

Uche Ogwuegbu was visited at home by his ex-partner Chito Adichie and her two friends Michael Spence and Isaiah Ambersley.

It is alleged the trio carried out a brutal attack before making off with watches, jewellery, mobile phones, a laptop and £10,000 in cash.

All three deny charges of robbery, false imprisonment and assault causing grievous bodily harm and are standing trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Opening the case, prosecutor David Swinnerton told the jury Adichie and Mr Ogwuegbu, both Nigerian, had been in a relationship but split in 2012. Mr Swinnerton said the alleged victim was living in the UK illegally and while together Adichie, aged 37, of Churchill Walk, Tipton, had 'made arrangements' for him which included the use of a false name linked to her home address.

Because of that, when Mr Ogwuegbu took out a loan for £10,000 in October last year the confirmation letter was sent to his former partner, it was said.

Mr Swinnerton, added: "The prosecution case is that from the end of October, Mr Ogwuegbu stopped making regular payments to Chito Adichie and she knew he had a substantial amount of money available. Our case is that this was set up by Chito Adichie and the other two defendants were brought in to carry out the robbery, false imprisonment and assault."

The jury heard that on returning home on November 9 last year, Mr Ogwuegbu was greeted by Adichie and invited her in.

After a short time there was a knock on the door and Adichie let Spence, 26, of Tame Street, West Bromwich and Ambersley, 44, of Shurbbery Avenue, Tipton, inside, said Mr Swinnerton.

He added: "The men pushed Mr Ogwuegbu back into the flat. Michael Spence grabbed him around the throat and strangled him while Isaiah Ambersley punched him to his body."

Spence and Ambersley demanded money from Mr Ogwuegbu and a struggle ensued, the court heard. It is alleged Ambersley tied Mr Ogwuegbu's hands and feet with telephone cablee while Spence held a knife to his neck.

Mr Swinnerton added: "Michael Spence filled and boiled the kettle. When it had boiled Isaiah Ambersley poured the boiling water in his feet, moving up his leg while demanding to know the log-in details to his computer."

CCTV footage shown to the jury shows the three defendants leaving the block of flats at Camberley House, Beacon View Road, after around two hours.

Adichie, Spence and Ambersley accept being in the flat but deny that anything criminal took place. The trial continues.