A Nigerian-born man, Wasiu Smith, has been sentenced to five years in prison in the United Kingdom after carrying out a string of robberies targeting pedestrians near Farringdon Tube Station in London.
The 26-year-old, who was born in Nigeria but holds a Dutch passport, was convicted for attacking and robbing four men during the crime spree on November 4. Smith has lived in the UK since 2019, initially settling in Shropshire before relocating to Walsall.
According to court proceedings reported by the Daily Mail, Smith stole several mobile phones, a work laptop and an opal heirloom ring valued at £600 during the attacks.
One of the victims, Alex Belsham-Harris, an executive with Citizens Advice, was reportedly leaving a gym when Smith, with his face partially covered by a scarf, assaulted him from behind before making away with his bag containing a work laptop.
The victim was said to have suffered injuries that left him disoriented and struggling to stand before seeking help at a nearby supermarket.
Another victim, Bonny Wambulu, was standing outside his office on Farringdon Road when Smith allegedly rushed at him, demanded money and pretended to be carrying a weapon concealed in his pocket. Wambulu escaped after informing the suspect that he had no money.
Smith also allegedly confronted Alexander Burgess, who had just collected an opal ring from a jeweller. Prosecutors told the court that the suspect threatened to punch him while pretending to possess a weapon, forcing him to surrender the ring.
His fourth victim, Michael Evesque, a managing director of a lighting company, was reportedly accosted while walking to his office, with Smith blocking the pavement to stop passers-by.
Police later arrested Smith aboard a bus, where officers recovered the stolen items along with a wrap of crack cocaine.
During interrogation, Smith denied the allegations, claiming the ring and rucksack belonged to him, that he had been attacked by unidentified persons and that the drugs recovered by police had been planted.
The court, however, found him guilty and sentenced him to five years' imprisonment for the robbery offences.
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