He swiped a phone belonging to a staff member from the counter of a food outlet
A shameless phone thief stole an £800 phone from Victoria station while plain clothes police watched on. Hamza Esguioui, 28, pleaded guilty to theft at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, September 25.
Esguioui swiped the phone belonging to a staff member from the counter of a food outlet. Plain clothes police officers, who had been watching, immediately intervened – stopping and arresting Esguioui as the staff member came to report the phone being stolen.
The phone-snatcher showed no remorse and offered no explanation for his actions during a later police interview. Esguioui was also found to be on bail for a theft at Paddington railway station which he had committed only five days before on Friday, September 19.
He was jailed for two months for the theft offence, and a further four months for offending during a suspended sentence for fraud by false representation. Investigating officer PC Robert Whitehead said: “I’m very pleased with the result in this case. Esguioui acted with a remarkable degree of impudence in attempting to swipe a phone in full view of our officers.
“I hope that this result encourages Esguioui to change his ways, and that it sends a message to would-be criminals that we do not tolerate theft or robbery on the railway network and will continue to prosecute those that would target others for their own gain.”
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