A WOULD-BE robber posed as a delivery driver to get into the home of a terrified mother and her young children.

Jeanmelle Baptiste from Crawley was part of a gang of three men who targeted the woman.

He wore a company T-shirt and a face mask before ringing the doorbell of the victim’s home.

But after pretending to make a mistake over a parcel address, he rang her doorbell again, and his pal Ryan Roche jumped out from where he was hiding and forced his way into the property.

Baptiste, aged 28, and Roche, aged 27, demanded: “Where are the drugs?”

The Argus: Jeanmelle Baptiste from Crawley was jailed for attempted robberyJeanmelle Baptiste from Crawley was jailed for attempted robbery

She told them there were no drugs, but pointed where there was money to distract them.

Then ran into her garden to scream for help. But Roche dragged her back into the home.

Spooked, the thugs fled and got into a black Volkswagen Golf parked nearby driven by Cavelle Robinson, aged 26.

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Police caught up with the car and blocked it. Roche and Robinson were arrested.

But Baptiste tried to flee from the front passenger seat via gardens.

He took off his clothes as he ran, but was soon arrested.

Inner London Crown Court heard how the men carried out the incident at 6.50pm on July 3 last year in Dulwich.

The Argus: Inner London Crown CourtInner London Crown Court

The Metropolitan Police said the woman in her 30s was “terrified”.

Baptiste, of Juniper Road, Crawley, was jailed for three years and 11 months for attempted robbery.

Roche, of Melbourne Grove, Southwark, was jailed for four years and three months, while Robinson, of Grange Road, Croydon, was jailed for three years.

Met Police Detective Sergeant Chris Shepherd said: “This case of mistaken identity was an absolutely terrifying ordeal for the victim and her three young children.

“Luckily, she bravely used an opportunity presented to her to run outside and alert her neighbours.

The Argus: Ryan Roche and Cavelle Robinson were also involvedRyan Roche and Cavelle Robinson were also involved

“I’d like to thank her neighbours for being so vigilant and for calling the police, providing excellent descriptions of the suspects and the getaway vehicle.

“This allowed nearby response officers to swiftly apprehend and arrest the culprits of this abhorrent crime.

“The evidence we put together left the suspects no choice but to plead guilty.”