This is the moment a two teenage thugs stole an iPhone from a charity worker before stabbing him to death during a spree of violence inflicted upon a total of nine victims.
The moped riders in the video have each been jailed for more than 20 years. Nathan Gilmaney, 19, and Troy Thomas, 18, tried to rob as many people as possible, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake on October 16 last year.
They killed 28-year-old Abdul Samad for his iPhone and little more than ‘aggression and blood lust’ as they swept across west London on a scooter.
Police released dramatic footage showing their pursuit of Gilmaney and Thomas after the attackers also made off with the youth worker’s wallet.
Moped robbers Nathan Gilmaney, 19, and Troy Thomas, 18, have been jailed for a crime spree which terrified a series of victim and left a charity worker dead
Gilmaney was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 27 years and Thomas detained at Her Majesty’s pleasure with a minimum of 22 years at the Old Bailey on Friday.
They chatted to each other at times during the hearing, repeatedly smiling and laughing together in the dock.
Their sentencing comes amid a spate of violence across the capital, as today footage emerged of machete-wielding moped thugs threatening a doctor for his Rolex just five miles from where comedian Michael McIntyre was robbed of his watch.
Abdul Samad, 28, handed over his iPhone and other valuables when he was confronted by the teenagers in Paddington, west London – but they killed him anyway
The public gallery was packed on Friday, with several people dabbing their eyes as statements were read on behalf of Mr Samad’s mother and girlfriend, Sultana Ahmed, who said that she felt as though she had died when her adored boyfriend was killed.
In a victim impact statement she said: ‘He had the most amazing personality. He was caring, kind, loving and everyone adored him.
‘I had seen Abdul grow into a beautiful human being who always wanted to help people in whatever capacity he could.
‘The last thing Abdul said to me was, “watch, this year will be our year and we will be a family”.
‘He also said, “I will give my mum and dad the perfect gift in the new year – which is you as a daughter-in-law”.
‘Abdul lived for his job of helping children; he was the change we needed to see in the world.
‘Every time I close my eyes I remember his laughter, his infectious smile and I cry because I remember the day I went to the mortuary to see him and how my world shattered.’
Abdul’s mother, Layla Begum, said she feels like a dead woman since her son’s passing, which left her feeling as though a ‘vital organ’ was missing.
‘The death of my son has absolutely broken my husband, my eldest son, my entire family and me,’ she said. ‘Since his death there has not been a single moment that goes by for me without shedding tears.’
Gilmaney shouted obscenities moments after the sentence was passed and the public gallery had to be cleared after repeated outbursts.
Judge Richard Marks QC described the victims family’s statements as ‘heart-rending’ and added: ‘Abdul Samad was an outstanding young man in his 20s, engaged to be married and had his whole life ahead of him. Your wicked stabbing of him has left his family understandably utterly devastated.’
Gilmaney knifed the charity youth worker in the chest in an attempt to get the PIN for his phone, the judge said.
After being stabbed, Mr Samad collapsed on his doorstep in front of his horrified parents while the robbers prowled the streets for their next victim.
Their spree of violence was committed over four hours in north west London and involved nine knifepoint robberies.
Gilmaney stabbed four other victims, who all survived, and admitted that he attacked one man because he was ‘angry’ he had tried to run away.
The judge described CCTV footage of their crimes as ‘chilling’.
The culprits were arrested following a police chase, their pockets stuffed with stolen valuables.
Thomas admitted robbing the victims but denied responsibility for the violence while Gilmaney pleaded guilty to the robberies and violence.
The pair, from Maida Vale, west London, were found guilty of murder following a trial.
Michael Turner QC, representing Thomas, said he was acting as a getaway driver and had ‘no intention to kill’.
‘He was not the wielder of any weapon,’ he added.
Gilmaney’s barrister Dexter Dias QC said he suffers from ADHD and has an IQ of ‘barely 60’.
He has a number of previous convictions, including robbery and drugs offences, and wore a grey tracksuit in the dock.
Thomas, who wore a Gucci t-shirt, also has a string of convictions for other offences and was on bail at the time of the robberies.
How London’s never-ending toll of moped thefts, robberies and attacks keeps rising
The spotlight was thrown on moped crime following a spate of acid attacks and robberies last year, including one attempt to steal the phone of former Chancellor George Osborne.
The apparent impunity with which gangs stole mobile phones, wallets and watches from victims led to police vowing a crackdown on the crimes.
But a steady stream of shocking offences has continued into this year, with every region of the capital being affected by the crime plague.
The map below shows just some of the attacks reported so far in 2018.
1. January 10 – Moped thieves carrying knives rob a Tesco Express in Belsize Road, Swiss Cottage before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash.
2. January 24 – Two moped riding thieves spend an entire day robbing people in Cambridge Heath Road and Mile End Road, Tower Hamlets.
3. January 29 – Members of the public, including an 80-year-old grandmother, intervene when would-be robbers attempt to steal the moped of a man in Crouch End.
4. February 4 – Man is stabbed after he fought back against moped robbers in Oxford Street.
5. March 7 – Investment banker tackled moped thief to the ground after hearing him breaking into his car outside his apartment in Beaufort Street, Chelsea.
6. March 18 – Moped gang armed with sledgehammers and knives attack watch shop in Regent Street.
7. March 21 – Simon Jordan, the chairman of Crystal Palace Football Club, is robbed of his £100,000 watch by moped thieves in Sumner Road, Croydon.
8. March 22 – Gang armed with angle grinder attempt to steal £100,000 BBC cameras set up on Putney Bridge and Barnes Bridge to record the University Boat Race.
9. April 5 – Delivery driver is dragged from his moped and stabbed during a brutal attack in Ronnie Lane, Manor Park. Group of teenagers make off with his bike.
10. April 7 – Moped gang armed with metal bars break into shop on Oxford Street before stealing luxury watches.
11. April 19 – Two men on a motorbike armed with a machete confront 17-year-old on Marlborough Road, Sutton and steal his moped.
12. May 2 – Five masked youths demanded mobile phones and money from boys in Albert Road Recreation Ground, Muswell Hill.
13. May 10 – Masked youths on three mopeds drove at parents on the school-run in The Avenue, Muswell Hill in attempt to rob them.
14. May 11 – Courier is forced to fight off two would-be motorbike thieves after they attacked him in a side street in Shepherd’s Bush.
15. June 4 – Comedian Michael McIntyre is robbed of his watch as he sits in his car in Golders Green.
16. June 5 – Members of the public intervene to tackle gang of robbers raiding a watch shop on Regent Street.