Car tracker used by killers to trap victim

Two brothers and their cousin were today starting prison sentences totalling more than 18 years for manslaughter after trapping their victim using a car tracker.

Sandeep and Saranjeet Lotey, aided by Pritpal Panesar, each played their part in the brutal attack on 61-year-old accountant Vijay Thaper.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the brothers were "furious" about his relationship with their mother Jisbeer and used a tracking device on her car to follow her movements so they could confront him.

She had left their father Kulwant in 2008 and rekindled her relationship with ex-partner Mr Thaper, who ran an accountancy practice in Handsworth.

But despite efforts to save their parents' marriage of more than 20 years, Sandeep, aged 24, and Saranjeet, 22, of Cranborne Avenue, Milton Keynes, failed.

Mr Graham Reeds, prosecuting, said: "It was obvious neither of her two sons would accept her relationship with their father was over. Each was hostile to her. They pressured her to return to the family home." During October 2009, Mrs Lotey attempted suicide by taking an overdose and spent a short time in hospital.

Mr Reeds said a few months later divorce proceedings were brought to court and the brothers decided to fit a tracking device to their mother's car. He said: "This allowed them to log on to a website and observe the position of their mother's car in real time."

The car's movements were monitored on January 13 last year when Panesar, 21, of Newcombe Road, Handsworth, and Sandeep drove to Mr Thaper's home in Stoney Lane, Bloxwich, and awaited their return. Saranjeet did not accompany them.

Mr Thaper was then punched, beaten and suffered a broken right leg when it was stamped on.

Mrs Lotey was also punched in the face and knocked unconscious, but Mr Reeds said the attackers fled after Mr Thaper's screams alerted a passer-by.

On March 8, 2010, Mr Thaper died from a pulmonary embolism caused by his injuries. A murder inquiry was launched and the three were charged with the crime in August last year.

They initially denied any part in the offence but pleaded guilty to manslaughter in June.

After the brothers were arrested, a diary found in their home outlined the surveillance operation on their mother's car and police found Saranjeet had been in communication with his brother and Panesar on the day of the attack. Mobile phone evidence proved Panesar and Sandeep had made calls from Bloxwich on the same day and a number plate recognition camera captured Sandeep's blue Volkswagen Polo in Holyhead Road, Birmingham.

Mr Reeds said the car had been sold two days later to try to cover up Sandeep's role in the attack. Cars belonging to Mrs Lotey and Mr Thaper had also previously been vandalised when Sandeep and Panesar had been in the vicinity.

Mr Nicholas Valios, mitigating for Sandeep, said his mother had expressed wishes to return to the family home and he had gone to Mr Thaper's house to find out her intentions. He said

Sandeep "struck out" at Mr Thaper after losing his temper, but left the scene after he fell to the floor. Mr Valios and Mr Jerome Lynch, mitigating for Saranjeet, denied their actions had been to "honour" their family.

The court heard that although Mrs Lotey divorced her husband, they had since remarried. In mitigation for Panesar, Mr Benjamin Aina said he had driven Sandeep to Mr Thaper's home but had not left the car.

Judge John Warner said the attack involved "premeditation" but accepted the "disastrous consequences" had been unintended. Referring to Mr Thaper's two children, Seema and Sunil, he added: "They, understandably, are in the grip of unbearable grief." Sandeep was jailed for six years and nine months, while Saranjeet and Panesar were both given five years and nine months.

Mr Thaper's daughter Seema Trimby spoke of her disappointment after yesterday's case. The 30-year-old from London, who described her father as the life and soul of the party, said:

"We have lost our father and they will be out of prison when they are still in their 20s. It's quite a difficult pill to swallow. It doesn't seem like justice has been done."

Det Insp Gary Plant, from Force CID, added: "Our thoughts are with Vijay's family during this difficult time, as it must be remembered they have lost a loved one and have to live with the consequences of this terrible crime for the rest of their lives."