Met investigation sees two men jailed for stealing mobile phones

A speedy investigation by Met detectives has seen two men sentenced to almost six years in prison between them for robbing mobile phones whilst riding E-bikes in central London.

Kymani Wilson 22, (23.10.01) of Brent was sentenced to 3 years and 2 months in prison, whilst Claude Parkinson, 25, (06.09.99) of Islington was handed a 2 years and 8 months’ sentence for four counts of theft at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday, 11 November.

They were also sentenced to one count each of dangerous driving, whilst Parkinson was also convicted for one count of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order.

Detectives found on Thursday, 23 May of this year, between 14:00hrs and 15:00hrs, Wilson and Parkinson committed a series of robberies and thefts of mobile phones on E-bikes in the boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea.

Followed by a National Police Air Service helicopter at the scene, as well as armed police vehicles, the suspects travelled from central London towards Islington where they were found to have dropped off stolen items to associates in a pub on Caledonian Road before entering a nearby estate to hide from police.

Armed officers located the estate and proactively stormed the property around 20 minutes later, where they arrested the two men and took them to custody.

Officers gathered evidence from multiple victims and witnesses which helped them build a case against the two men.

Detective Chief Inspector Scott Ware from the Central West Robbery Squad unit, said: “We know mobile phone theft is a huge worry for people, and it is particularly frightening to have something snatched out of your hands from someone on a bike.

“We’ve worked hard to build a case and gather evidence to convict these two offenders and get them put behind bars.

“We know what a significant impact this type of a crime has on victims so please rest assured cracking down on it and getting these villains off our streets is a priority for us.”

If you witness or are a victim of a crime, it is crucial to report it promptly by calling 999 in the case of an emergency. For non-emergency situations, you can call 101 or report online.

For advice on how to stay safe from mobile phone theft please our website for further information.