THE THREE elderly victims of burglar and kidnapper Kazm Saed are to be recommended for a commendation for their bravery.

Graham Deacon, Graham Fuller and Rachel Fuller have the full admiration of Recorder Paul Garlick for their courage and fortitude in their dealings with their armed assailant and in giving their evidence afterwards.

Recorder Garlick, the judge in Saed's trial at the Isle of Wight Crown Court this week, told the jury this afternoon (Friday) he congratulated the three victims and would be recommending them for a commendation.

As exclusively reported in the County Press this week, Saed terrorised the three victims after burgling their homes.

The first victim was 84-year-old Mr Deacon, who underwent a terrifying ordeal after coming face-to-face with the knifeman in his bedroom at his home on Riverway, Newport.

Saed stole his bank card, took away his mobile phone and cut the light cord with his knife, leaving Mr Deacon in darkness.

Mr Deacon called the police as soon as he was able and outlined exactly what had happened to him.

A few days later Saed burgled the home of Mr and Mrs Fuller, on Nunnery Lane, Newport.

They were in bed at the time, and he woke them up demanding money.

They didn't have much cash in the house so he forced them, a knifepoint, to drive to a cashpoint.

The couple, fearing for their lives, drove their kidnapper as a passenger but Mr Fuller bravely defied his instructions to drive out of town, and instead took Saed into the middle of Newport hoping they could somehow raise an alarm.

The couple were robbed of £600 at the cashpoint.

Afterwards, once Saed had run off, they drove straight to Newport Police Station to report the crime. It was closed so they instead phoned 999 from a phonebox.

Their interviews with police were aired in court and led Recorder Garlick to tell the jury at the end of Wednesday: "We will end today with the image of that extraordinarily courageous woman there (on the screen)."

The couple's calm description of the horror they endured helped convict Saed — although he also left fingerprints, DNA evidence and footprints along the way, which helped the jury decide his fate.

Kazm is due to be sentenced this afternoon at the Isle of Wight Crown Court.

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