In the Media

Compare yourself to our Olympians, judge tells rioter who was foiled by Dan Snow

PUBLISHED August 8, 2012
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Convicted robber Karl Jensen, who was detained by TV presenter Dan Snow after grabbing boxes of trainers from a shoe shop, was jailed for three years and was one of a gang of eight rioters sentenced for a total of 35 years.

Sentencing the gang at Inner London Crown Court, Judge Usha Karu said: "This was the third night of the disorder, and it is a year today that you were involved in the mayhem and mob criminality which caused disturbances to law abiding public.

"Today, in stark contrast to those scenes of arson, looting and damage in august last year, London is hosting the Olympics and demonstrating excellence can be achieved in sports and an inspiration to all.

"However, those involved in the events of August 2011 were intent on doing the opposite."

She described how the mob had for more than an hour terrorised the streets of Notting Hill, culminating in an assault on the Michelin-starred Ledbury restaurant.

Judge Karu also said evidence showed traditional street rivalries had been ditched on that particular occasion.

"The evidence was the two gangs had put aside their differences in order to get together to perpetruate serious disorder which happened that night," she said.

"The object was to meet on the streets to cause chaos and damage and to loot."

Many of the gang's actions, described by the judge as a 'journey of destruction' were caught on local council CCTV as well as on cameras put up by individual shops.

Describing the raid on Mr Haroon's business, she said: "The group were like a pack of hounds in the shop, with both alcohol stolen and the till emptied.

"For Mr Haroon, the experience can't be underestimated."

Gyasi Skinner, 20, was locked for nine years and two months while Kalem Hinds, 19, was jailed for nine years for a violent raid on an off-licence in Notting Hill exactly a year ago.

Hinds repeatedly beat shopkeeper Mohammed Haroon over the head with a champagne bottle as a mob looted his SuperSave store.

They were joined by Rico Myers, 16, and Karim Lamquindaz, 17, as they rampaged through Notting Hill, raiding the Bumpkin restaurant and trying to set fire to a number 70 bus.

Myers received four years in a young offenders' insitute and Lamquindaz was sentenced to a three year rehabilitation order.

Tyler Brewer and Liam Hodge, 21, who helped conceal the stolen goods and were today detained for four years and one month and four years and four months respectively.

Jazz Dedier, 18, another participant in the riot, who was spotted passing a pair of shears to Skinner was sentenced to 18 months in a youth offenders institute.

He had been out of jail for just 10 days after serving a five year term for a series of robberies when he took part in the riots. But having spent nearly a year in custody, he realised he will be due for early release in Febuary next year.

On leaving the dock, he said "thank you your honour", before shouting: "Six months left baby, oh sh*t".

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