A man and woman have been jailed after carrying out at least 11 robberies on pensioners at cashpoints across east London.

Anton Welio grabbed the cash while his accomplice Stephanie Smillie kept lookout.

The 34-year-olds from Philpot Street in Stepney targeted elderly men and women withdrawing money from cash machines outside banks in Stratford, Whitechapel, Forest Gate and Plaistow.

The biggest hit was a £500 robbery in Whitechapel at the cashpoint outside Lloyd's Bank in Commercial Road.

Welio approached the victims from behind and started talking to them, then pushed them aside and grabbed their money as it came out of the machines while Smillie kept watch, before both run off.

But they were identified by Det Con Raf Patel and Det Sgt Keith Faris, from the Met’s North East burglary and robbery unit, while trawling through CCTV footage. Both were arrested in January.

“This pair carried out cowardly robberies on elderly people,” Det Con Patel said. “This sort of crime creates fear in some of the most vulnerable people who may already been concerned about going out in public during the height of the pandemic.”

They have each been jailed for five years. Anton Welio admitted 13 robberies and Stephanie Smillie 11, both pleading guilty when they appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 10.

East London Advertiser: Anton Welio from Philpot Street, Stepney... 13 robberies at cashpointsAnton Welio from Philpot Street, Stepney... 13 robberies at cashpoints (Image: MPS)

Diary of Welio's robberies outside banks in 2020:

January 9 and 29: Barclays, Romford Road, Forest Gate, £300 both times from women.

September 11: Nat West, Stratford Broadway, £200 from a man.

October 19 and November 10: Nat West, Stratford Broadway, £200 each time from men.

December 17: Lloyd's, Whitechapel Road, £200 from a man.

December 23: Barclay's, Barking Road, £10 from a man.

December 21: Nat West, Stratford Broadway, £206 from a man.

December 23: Nat West, Whitechapel Road, £200 from a man.

Diary of Welio's 2021 Whitechapel robberies in January:

2: HSBC, Whitechapel Road, £200 from a woman.

11: Lloyd's, Commercial Road, £500 from a man.

12: HSBC Whitechapel Road, £100 from a man.

19: HSBC Whitechapel Road, £200 from a woman.

East London Advertiser: Stephanie Smillie from Philpot Street, Stepney... 11 robberies at cashpointsStephanie Smillie from Philpot Street, Stepney... 11 robberies at cashpoints (Image: MPS)

Diary of Smillie's robberies with Welio in 2020:

January 29: Barclay's, Romford Road, £300 from a woman.

September 11 and October 19: Nat West, Stratford Broadway, £200 each time from men.

November 11: Nat West, Stratford Broadway, £200 from a man.

December 17: Lloyd's, Whitechapel Road, £200 from a man.

December 20: Barclay's, Barking Road, £10 from a man.

December 21: Nat West, Stratford Broadway, £206 from a man.

December 23: Nat West, Whitechapel Road, £200 from a man.

Diary of Smillie's 2021 Whitechapel robberies with Welio in January:

2: HSBC, Whitechapel Road, £200 from a woman.

11: Lloyd's, Commercial Road, £500 from a man.

12: HSBC, Whitechapel Road, £100 from a man.