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Man jailed for trying to rob Arsenal stars Mesut Özil and Sead Kolasinac | Man jailed for trying to rob Arsenal stars Mesut Özil and Sead Kolasinac |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An armed mugger who tried to rob Arsenal footballers Mesut Özil and Sead Kolasinac has been jailed. | An armed mugger who tried to rob Arsenal footballers Mesut Özil and Sead Kolasinac has been jailed. |
Ashley Smith admitted attempting to steal luxury watches worth £200,000 from the pair in Hampstead, north-west London. | Ashley Smith admitted attempting to steal luxury watches worth £200,000 from the pair in Hampstead, north-west London. |
A second man, Jordan Northover, 26, has also admitted his role in the robbery. | A second man, Jordan Northover, 26, has also admitted his role in the robbery. |
Smith, 30, of Archway in north London, was jailed for 10 years at Harrow Crown Court on Friday. Northover will be sentenced at a later date. | Smith, 30, of Archway in north London, was jailed for 10 years at Harrow Crown Court on Friday. Northover will be sentenced at a later date. |
Smith was also ordered to pay a £181 victim surcharge. | |
CCTV footage showed Kolasinac chasing off two masked attackers on 25 July. | CCTV footage showed Kolasinac chasing off two masked attackers on 25 July. |
In a video that circulated on social media, the 26-year-old Bosnian defender could be seen fighting off two knife-wielding men. | In a video that circulated on social media, the 26-year-old Bosnian defender could be seen fighting off two knife-wielding men. |
Smith was described by Judge Ian Bourne QC as a prolific "career criminal" who was well known to the police. | |
The judge said Smith had "an appalling criminal record" of 20 convictions from 38 offences dating back to when he was 14 years old. | |
He was out on licence for a 42-month sentence for burglary in 2017 when he tried to rob the Arsenal duo. | He was out on licence for a 42-month sentence for burglary in 2017 when he tried to rob the Arsenal duo. |
The court heard Smith and his accomplice did not count on the bravery of Kolasinac in fighting back. | The court heard Smith and his accomplice did not count on the bravery of Kolasinac in fighting back. |
The would-be robbers used a stolen moped, and were dressed in helmets and dark clothing to try and conceal their identities. | |
The weapons were described as a 10-12 inch long screwdriver and a smaller instrument about six inches long. | |
The players managed to flee but stones thrown at their vehicle caused "significant" damage. | |
Kolasinac and the Germany midfielder were left out of the Arsenal side ahead of the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign after the attack. |