A 16-year-old has been jailed after a spree of moped mounted phone snatches using stolen scooters.
The youth, from NW2 and aged 15 at the time of his offences, was sentenced on Wednesday at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court to 14 months youth detention having pleaded guilty to 16 offences.
The court heard the youngster, routinely armed with a knife, snatched three mobile phones and attempted to grab a couple more during two crime sprees carried out across Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea in April.
On Monday, April 24 he carried out a series of offences including knocking into a man after mounting a pavement in Vincent Street, Whitehall.
On the same day he mounted a pavement before stealing a woman’s mobile in Hyde Park Gardens, W2, during which he dropped a knife, later found by police.
He carried out a third mugging in Chepstow Villas, Notting Hill, when he mounted a pavement before taking a man’s phone.
A fourth snatch attempt in Ledbury Road, W11, failed.
Three days later he tried to rob a 40-year-old man in broad daylight in Hyde Park Square.
He mounted the pavement on a Honda scooter, stolen from the Brent area earlier that day, and made an unsuccessful attempt to snatch the man’s phone. The pair argued before the suspect fled after brandishing a knife.
However, the victim took the suspect’s picture on his phone and sent it to the police.
The image led officers to identify the youth - even though he was wearing a helmet - and he was arrested the next day.
Clothing matching that worn by the suspect in the picture was found at his address along with a key to a lock on the stolen Honda.
The teen admitted another 11 offences including three counts of possessing a knife, aggravated vehicle taking and traffic offences.
He carried out his offences using two stolen scooters.
PC Daisy Mather said: “This youth was responsible for a large number of snatches while armed with a knife. I am delighted we have been able to take him off the streets. He would have continued his spree had he not been caught.
“I am grateful for the bravery of the victim who managed to get an image of the youth which was crucial evidence,” she added.
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