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28 Jul 2010 15:00
FEMALE ROBBERS JAILED FOR TOTAL OF SIX-AND-A-HALF-YEARS AFTER PASSENGERS COME TO VICTIM’S AID – NEW CROSS, SOUTH EAST LONDON
Two women who viciously attacked a passenger before robbing her mobile phone and handbag at New Cross Gate rail station have been jailed for a combined total of six-and-a-half years.
Appearing at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, 27 July, Shukri Warsame (24), of Mulberry Court, Leytonstone, was jailed for three-and-a-half years and Saida Mohamed (20) of Oxford Road North, Gunnersbury was jailed for three years.
The pair, who pleaded guilty to robbery, were caught after fellow passenger’s rushed to the victim’s aid.
A 15-year-old from Ilford, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will be sentenced in connection with the incident at a later date.
The court heard that the victim, a 29-year-old from New Cross, was left shocked and bloodied after the attack, which took place around 10.25pm on Friday, 20 November 2009.
Detective Sergeant John Wolstenholme, of British Transport Police’s Robbery Squad, said:
“Warsame approached the victim and asked for a cigarette as she walked along the platform at New Cross.
“She then stood in front of the victim, with Mohamed and the other girl moving to surround her.
“Warsame then attacked her with a large glass vodka bottle, striking her repeatedly on the back of the head and demanding she hand over her mobile phone.
“Mohamed and the other girl joined in the attack, punching and kicking her until they had managed to prise the mobile phone from her hand.
“They then took the victim’s handbag, despite the wound on the back of her head streaming with blood, before Warsame threw the bottle onto the tracks, where it smashed.
“The group tried to flee the station after the attack, with Mohamed and the other girl making a dash for the stairs and Warsame crossing the tracks to the opposite platform, but they were restrained by passengers, who had come to the victim’s aid.”
The victim’s handbag was recovered and police and the London Ambulance Service were called to the station by concerned passengers.
After passengers pointed out Warsame, Mohamed and the other girl - a 15-year-old from Ilford - as the culprits they were arrested and taken into custody for further questioning. Officers also recovered the victim’s phone from Warsame’s pocket.
Paramedics took the victim to hospital, where she required stitches for the wound on the back of her head.
After Warsame and the 15-year-old failed to return on police bail they were circulated as wanted on the Police National Computer.
Warsame was caught after being arrested for an unrelated matter in Plaistow a few weeks later while the 15-year-old - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was later arrested at her home address.
DS Wolstenholme added: “This was a vicious, despicable and cowardly attack that left a passenger who had no chance of defending herself against three others badly injured.
“We welcome the sentences handed down to Warsame and Mohamed and hope they send out a clear message about the consequences for those who think it is acceptable to target innocent people.
“I would also like to pass my thanks to victim’s fellow passengers, who acted as good Samaritans and came to her aid. Had it not been for their brave intervention this trio may not have been captured so swiftly.”
The 15-year-old girl from Ilford, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of robbery and will be sentenced at a later date.
Notes to Editors:
- Shukri Warsame changed to a plea of guilty to robbery and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. She was jailed for three years and six months.
- Saida Mohamed was found guilty of robbery. She was found not guilty of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and a separate charge of unlawful wounding.
Please find attached a custody images of Shukri Warsame and Saida Mohamed. Images can also be emailed separately via Outlook if required.
BTP retains copyright of the attached images and will not permit them to be distributed, reproduced, or published in any form of media, electronic or otherwise, except in relation to the sentencing of Shukri Warsame and Saida Mohamed. Under no circumstances will the police accept liability if the photograph(s), including photographs of the above named individual(s), are distributed, reproduced, or published in any form of media, electronic or otherwise, other than for the above purposes. Permission to reproduce this image is given for one month only from today.
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British Transport Police is the specialist, national police service for Britain’s railways. BTP deals with major and minor crime, disorder and incidents, and covers the rail system in England, Wales and Scotland, including London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, the Glasgow Subway and the Midland Metro and Croydon Tramlink systems. Its 2,914 police officers, 322 Police Community Support Officers, 190 Special Constables and 1,316 support staff are recruited and trained like those of local forces and have the same powers. Find out more at www.btp.police.uk
The London South Area of British Transport Police covers the National Rail system in south London and the southern Home Counties, as well as the Croydon Tramlink. It employs 401 police officers, 53 Police Community Support Officers, 47 Special Constables and 79 support staff.