Teenager sentenced after spree of robberies – South London

A teenager responsible for a spree of robberies on trains across South London has been sentenced, following a British Transport Police investigation.

The 16-year-old, from South Norwood, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on 24 April where he pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery, possession of an offensive weapon, and theft from a shop.

Six other robbery offences were also taken into consideration. The judge sentenced him to an eighteen month Detention Training Order.

Detention Training Orders are custodial sentences for under 17’s, which combine time spent in a Young Offenders Institute with training and education to prevent young people reoffending.

• On 12 December 2020 at around 7.45am, the teenager approached the victim on a train towards Hayes and showed him the blade of a knife in his sleeve before demanding his phone and PIN code.
• On 15 December 2020 at around 10am, he approached the victim on a train at Lewisham DLR station and told him he had his “shank on him”, before demanding he hand over his Airpod earphones and iPhone.
• On 24 December 2020 at around 4.45pm, an 18-year old man was robbed of iPhone and Airpod earphones at Bromley South.
• On 26 December, an 18-year-old victim was robbed of his iPhone on the DLR at Greenwich.  
• On 30 December 2020 he began speaking to the victim about his electric scooter on a 4.06pm train towards Clapham Junction. He told him he had a knife on him and said he’d stab him in the chest if he didn’t hand the scooter over. He also stole his Airpod earphones.
• On 31 December 2020 the teenager boarded a 3pm train at Eden Park and approached the victim who was sat texting. He threatened to throw a can of drink at his head and stab him multiple times, before demanding the victim’s phone.

The teenager was arrested in connection to the robberies after he was caught trying to steal a claw hammer from a Wickes store in Lewisham on 8 February. Police were called to the shop after claimed to a store detective: “I ain’t got my thing on me and I got pagens round here so I need this to defend myself.”

Detective Constable Steve Crisp said: “This was a prolific and determined offender who brazenly robbed six people in the space of the less than three weeks last December.

“It is all the more shocking that he is only 16-years-old and I am pleased the judge saw fit to hand him a custodial sentence, showing how seriously violent offences like these are taken.

“We have absolutely zero tolerance for dangerous weapons or those who carry them on the railway network, and I’d encourage anyone who has any concerns while travelling to text us discreetly on 61016.”