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Crime Desk On Tuesday 23 March 2010, an 18-year-old woman from Islington was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment for a knifepoint robbery on the Regent's Canal towpath. During the robbery, Natsena Quatome-Takab, 18 (dob 01.08.91) from the Packington Estate, Islington, egged on her male accomplice shouting "stab him, stab him". She was also sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for possession of a knife - even though she was not holding the weapon. She pleaded guilty to both offences on 23 March at Blackfriars Crown Court. The sentences will run concurrently. On 17 November 2009, a 28-year-old local man was walking along Danbury Street, N1, where it meets the Regent's Canal towpath, when he saw Quatome-Takab and an unidentified male. The victim was approached by the pair and threatened by the male youth who was holding a three-inch bladed knife. The pair demanded he hand over his wallet and mobile phone. Quatome-Takab shouted "stab him, stab him" as the male moved the knife closer to the victim. Fearing that he was going to be stabbed, the victim ran away. A Nokia mobile phone worth £130 was stolen from the victim. The robbers were captured by CCTV cameras walking down the canal but they could only be seen from behind. Quatome-Takab was arrested a few days later by officers who recognised her from her description. She was interviewed at Islington police station where she confirmed that she was the person caught on CCTV before fully owning up to the offence. She refused to divulge who her accomplice was. On 30 November 2024 she was charged with robbery and possession of an offensive weapon. The robbery was investigated by DC Kevin Johansen from Islington's Robbery Squad. He said: "The structured interview technique we used was vital in securing this conviction, as there was no other evidence. The turning point came when she owned up to the fact that it was her on the CCTV. "Towards the end of 2009 and start of 2010, there was a spate of robberies in the Regent's Canal area, which thankfully now seem to have stopped. I would like to warn Natsena's associates that if you commit knife-point robbery, you can expect to receive a long prison sentence if you are caught." Upon sentencing Judge Hillen said he would have given Quatome-Takab the maximum sentence had she been the one holding the knife.
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