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| Moped-riding robbers who targeted George Osborne are jailed | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Moped-riding robbers who carried out more than 100 crimes against victims including former chancellor George Osborne have been jailed. | Moped-riding robbers who carried out more than 100 crimes against victims including former chancellor George Osborne have been jailed. |
| The gang operated in the London boroughs of Camden, Westminster, Islington, and Kensington and Chelsea over five days, and included three teenagers and a fourth unknown robber, who was armed with a hammer, Southwark crown court was told. | The gang operated in the London boroughs of Camden, Westminster, Islington, and Kensington and Chelsea over five days, and included three teenagers and a fourth unknown robber, who was armed with a hammer, Southwark crown court was told. |
| Osborne was among the victims when an attempt was made to snatch his mobile phone outside the BBC. | Osborne was among the victims when an attempt was made to snatch his mobile phone outside the BBC. |
| The judge, David Tomlinson, said: “What happened here was prolific moped-enabled crimes involving a series of robberies and attempted robberies on five separate dates over a period of two and a half weeks, riding around on mopeds primarily targeting pedestrians who were holding their mobile phones in their hands.” | The judge, David Tomlinson, said: “What happened here was prolific moped-enabled crimes involving a series of robberies and attempted robberies on five separate dates over a period of two and a half weeks, riding around on mopeds primarily targeting pedestrians who were holding their mobile phones in their hands.” |
| Claude Parkinson, 18, of Islington, north London, and boys aged 15 and 16, who cannot be named because of their ages, chatted and joked as they were sentenced. All three had previously admitted conspiracy to commit robbery. | Claude Parkinson, 18, of Islington, north London, and boys aged 15 and 16, who cannot be named because of their ages, chatted and joked as they were sentenced. All three had previously admitted conspiracy to commit robbery. |
| Another man, Shamsul Chowdhury, 40, of Tower Hamlets, east London, was sentenced to four years and 10 months in jail after admitting handling stolen goods. | Another man, Shamsul Chowdhury, 40, of Tower Hamlets, east London, was sentenced to four years and 10 months in jail after admitting handling stolen goods. |
| Parkinson was sentenced to five years and three months while the teenagers were each sentenced to four years and two months. | Parkinson was sentenced to five years and three months while the teenagers were each sentenced to four years and two months. |
| In the 18 days between 18 April and 5 May this year, there were 212 moped robbery and snatch offences in Westminster alone, of which 83 were committed by the gang. | In the 18 days between 18 April and 5 May this year, there were 212 moped robbery and snatch offences in Westminster alone, of which 83 were committed by the gang. |
| The judge said: “By 4 May 2017, you had resorted to the use of weapons to enforce your intentions. With or without weapons, throughout this course of conduct there was a risk to the safety and wellbeing of members of our community. | The judge said: “By 4 May 2017, you had resorted to the use of weapons to enforce your intentions. With or without weapons, throughout this course of conduct there was a risk to the safety and wellbeing of members of our community. |
| “By 4 May, your willingness to use weapons to threaten violence showed that your offending had spiralled out of control. I consider what happened here was not far away from a professional organised robbery which involved a significant degree of planning. | “By 4 May, your willingness to use weapons to threaten violence showed that your offending had spiralled out of control. I consider what happened here was not far away from a professional organised robbery which involved a significant degree of planning. |
| “By using mopeds, you were able to commit multiple offences, which you could not have if you had simply been out and about on foot. I am sure that this was a professional enterprise and the motives for you were financial.” | “By using mopeds, you were able to commit multiple offences, which you could not have if you had simply been out and about on foot. I am sure that this was a professional enterprise and the motives for you were financial.” |
| The gang used untraceable mopeds, many of which were stolen, in order to rob pedestrians. After the gang was arrested, the Westminster police team reported a 40% drop in this type of offence. | The gang used untraceable mopeds, many of which were stolen, in order to rob pedestrians. After the gang was arrested, the Westminster police team reported a 40% drop in this type of offence. |
| In a victim impact statement previously read out to the court, Osborne said he had felt “shocked and stunned” after the attempted snatch of his phone. He said the scooter had brushed close to him but had not made contact and he was unhurt. | In a victim impact statement previously read out to the court, Osborne said he had felt “shocked and stunned” after the attempted snatch of his phone. He said the scooter had brushed close to him but had not made contact and he was unhurt. |
| Chowdhury would offer £55 to £200 for the stolen handsets, the court heard. | Chowdhury would offer £55 to £200 for the stolen handsets, the court heard. |
| The judge told Chowdhury: “You plainly exploited these young offenders, however streetwise they may have been when they negotiated prices with you. | The judge told Chowdhury: “You plainly exploited these young offenders, however streetwise they may have been when they negotiated prices with you. |
| “The enterprise was commercial and plainly sophisticated because it was part of a network that could defeat technology.” | “The enterprise was commercial and plainly sophisticated because it was part of a network that could defeat technology.” |
| The judge also imposed a criminal behaviour order on the 16-year-old, which is to last for three years, and disqualified all the teenagers from being able to hold a driving licence for two years after they are released. | The judge also imposed a criminal behaviour order on the 16-year-old, which is to last for three years, and disqualified all the teenagers from being able to hold a driving licence for two years after they are released. |