Mohammed Fremoule, 29, of Cazenove Road, Walthamstow, has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for violently snatching a £28,000 Rolex watch from a man with a broken ankle. The robbery occurred on March 29 this year after Fremoule followed the victim from Liverpool Street Station.
Details of the incident
The victim, who was already suffering from a broken ankle, was targeted by Fremoule outside the station. Fremoule stalked him before ripping the expensive watch from his wrist and fleeing the scene. The watch, which was uninsured, has never been recovered. Fremoule was later apprehended after being caught with a stolen phone.
Police response and investigation
Detective Constable Marcus Fairclough of the City of London Police described the crime as a 'callous and opportunistic robbery' carried out against a vulnerable victim. He stated: 'The offender targeted him, stalked him outside Liverpool Street Station and then violently ripped a watch worth approximately £28,000 from his wrist, before making off.' The investigation relied heavily on the extensive CCTV network in the City, which captured the incident and allowed police to trace Fremoule's movements. Collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Service and British Transport Police helped build the evidence needed for a conviction.
Sentence and impact
Fremoule was jailed for two years and eight months. Detective Constable Fairclough added: 'This sentence sends a clear message that those who come to the City to commit crime will be relentlessly pursued. Through our investigations, partnerships and world-class CCTV coverage, we are identifying offenders, bringing them to justice and helping to keep the City’s streets safe by locking up criminals who pose a threat to the public.' The case highlights the effectiveness of the City of London Police's CCTV network and inter-agency cooperation in tackling street crime.
