Two men jailed for moped enabled robberies

Two men who committed robberies and thefts in central London while riding a scooter have been jailed for a total of 36 months at Blackfriars Crown Court on Friday, 20 July.

 

Michael Moss, 19, (16.02.99) of Lloyd Baker Street, Islington WC1X received:

• 18 months’ imprisonment for robbery;

• 12 months’ imprisonment for theft person to run concurrently;

• Six months’ for aggravated vehicle taking and driving away and dangerous driving to run concurrently;

• Disqualification from driving for one year;

• No insurance, no licence and failed-to-stop – to lie on file;

• Criminal Behaviour Order granted for three years.

 

Wade Spencer, 18, (12.02.00) of Newington Green, Islington, received:

• 18 months’ imprisonment for robbery;

• 12 months’ imprisonment for theft person to run concurrently;

• Allow to be carried – Disqualified from driving for one year;

• Criminal Behaviour Order granted for three years.

 

Both had pleaded not guilty at the same court on 2 June.

 

Moss and Spencer committed their offences on Thursday, 31 May, between 23:38 – 23:50hrs on a stolen scooter. Moss drove the scooter with Spencer as pillion.

 

At 23:38hrs, they robbed a man in Guildford Street, WC1N. After riding onto the pavement behind him, they grabbed his phone after a brief struggle.

 

At 23:40hrs, they stole a phone and headset from a man as he waited outside a shop in Holborn Circus.

 

At 23:42 hours, two patrolling police officers watching the junction of Russell Square and Southampton Row saw them ride onto the pavement behind two members of public.

 

The officers followed and indicated for the scooter, frequently speeding at 45mph in a 20mph area, to stop, which it did not. The suspects eventually abandoned the vehicle and ran off towards Kingsway, taking different routes. Both discarded items and clothing as they went.

 

Moss was caught and detained by members of the public while Spencer was detained by officers.

 

Items they had stolen and clothing they had discarded were recovered – the abandoned scooter was also recovered.

 

The owner of the phone stolen in Guildford Street had activated the Find My IPhone app, tracked it to where police had detained Spencer.

 

The stolen headset was found attached to the abandoned scooter and CCTV footage showed their criminal activity in Holborn Circus.

 

Moss and Spencer were charged on 1 June.