Eight years in prison for man who targeted and robbed two lone women – London

A dangerous man who targeted and robbed two lone women on the DLR has been jailed following a British Transport Police investigation.

Edward Ampeh, 33, and of Carpenters Road in Stratford, was found guilty of two counts of robbery and was sentenced on Friday 7 February at Inner London Crown Court to eight years imprisonment

The court heard how just after midnight on Friday 6 May 2022, Ampeh followed a woman off of a DLR service into Greenwich DLR station. He began to verbally abuse her, swearing at her and threatening her and forcing her towards the railings on the platform.

The woman turned away at which point Ampeh struck her head from behind. He continued to follow the woman down the stairs and through the station, asking what was in her bag.

She handed over a phone charger and some money, before Ampeh began to ask where she lived. He then asked her to email her phone number to him as well as follow him on Instagram. Ampeh then left the station.

A month later on Sunday 5 June 2022, Ampeh approached a woman from behind at Limehouse DLR station grabbing her handbag strap and pulling hard. The woman began to scream as she attempted to pull her bag back.

The ensuing struggle caused the woman to be swung down the staircase, landing on her leg and twisting it. After she fell to the floor, Ampeh began to go through her handbag before running out of the station, discarding her handbag on the floor.

During police interview, Ampeh showed no remorse for his actions and denied any connection to either incident. He was found guilty of both offences on 4 November 2024 at Inner London Crown Court.

Investigating Officer DC Tom Bolton said: “I am extremely pleased with the outcome in this case. Ampeh acted in a predatory and violent manner, targeting lone women for his own gain. His actions will have a lifelong impact on his victims, and I hope this result will bring them some closure.

“Violent and abusive behaviour will never be tolerated on the railway, and we will ruthlessly investigate these sorts of dangerous offenders and hold them to account before the courts. Anyone who witnesses this sort of offending, or any other crime on the railway, is urged to text us on 61016 or call 999 in an emergency.”