By News Editor Declan Wilkes

A gang of seven youths who snatched gold chains from Tube passengers during a summer robbing spree have been sentenced to a total of 18½ years’ jail.

The court heard how the group’s rampage took place over a two-week period between 1 and 14 June 2024 at Dollis Hill and Neasden Tube stations, as well as on two occasions at street-level.

Terrifying ordeals

The victims were put through terrifying ordeals by the gang, who targeted them for their gold chains.

During one of the incidents, the group approached a 42-year-old man from behind on the platform at Dollis Hill station, working together to restrain his arms before snatching a gold chain from around his neck and fleeing the station.

In another, the group approached a 51-year-old man in the subway at Dollis Hill station on Wednesday 4 June and used similar tactics, grabbing him by the neck from behind and ripping a gold chain from his neck before fleeing.

Later the group boarded a Jubilee Line train at Wembley Park and targeted a 42-year-old woman, again attempting to snatch a gold chain from her neck. A fellow passenger attempted to come to the woman’s rescue but backed down after the gang turned on him, who then dragged the woman from the train onto the platform at Neasden station before fleeing with her chain.

'A law onto themselves'

DC Mark Bradwell, one of the investigating officers, said the gang thought that they "were a law unto themselves" - "behaved as though they would never be caught" and had "no concept of the trauma and fear" of those they targeted.

Cops caught the gang after spotting them from CCTV stills.

When interviewed, the youths gave answers of ‘no comment’ to all questions put to them by detectives.

CCTV footage placed them at the scene of each crime and a search of their home addresses turned up clothing that matched the footage.

Howard Collins, Chief Operating Officer of London Underground said:

"These violent thugs who targeted our passengers last year are now behind bars where they belong".

The sentences

18 year-olds Abdinasir Abdi of Helperby Road, Willesden and Isak Mohamad of Cobbold Road, Willseden was sentenced to 3½ years and one year in prison respectively.

Three 17-year-olds from Willesden, who cannot be named for legal reasons were sentenced to 4 ½ years’, 3 ½ years’ and 1 ½ years’ respectively.

Two 17-year-olds from Harlesden were sentenced to 3 years’ and 1 ½ years’ prison.

The youths were all sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on Monday 19 January.