Rival gang members who ‘put differences aside’ to raid
diners at Michelin-starred Ledbury restaurant together
during the summer riots are jailed for 20 years
- Rival gangs’ night of violence saw moped burned, passengers forced off bus and shops looted
- Sentences come one year after their crime spree
- Diners robbed at knifepoint as trio burst in to demand valuables
- Pizza delivery man, shopkeepers and drivers injured by pack of thugs
- Presenter Dan Snow stopped looter by pinning him down and sitting on him as tried to flee the scene
By EMILY ALLEN and ANNA EDWARDS
PUBLISHED: 20:26, 8 August 2012 | UPDATED: 20:28, 8 August 2012
Two rival street gangs who joined forces for a ‘devastating’ night of rioting which at the Michelin starred Ledbury restaurant have been jailed for almost twenty years today one year on from the violence.
At the height of the London riots members of the mob stormed the restaurant in Notting Hill, west London, demanding diners hand over their jewellery and mobile phones and even ripping a woman’s wedding ring off her finger.
The attack, on 8 August last year, came after two rival gangs ‘put aside their differences’ to team up for a night of violence in the area which saw a moped burned, passengers forced off a double-decker bus and looting of shops.
Sentencing at Inner London Crown Court today, Judge Usha Karu said the scenes were in ‘stark contrast’ to the sporting excellence that has been shown as London hosts the Olympics.
Destruction: Ahmed Al-Jaf, left, and Anas Ibrahim, right, have been jailed after they looted the Ledbury
Targeted: Diners at The Ledbury, Notting Hill, London rated among world’s 50 best restaurants, were robbed at knifepoint
Anas Ibrahim, Ahmed Al Jaff and a 15-year-old who cannot be named were today jailed for their part in the Ledbury raid.
They were part of a group of 16 defendants sentenced at Inner London Crown Court for a total of 74 years, including Karl Jenson, 25, who was pinned down by television presenter Dan Snow as he came out of looting the Office shop.
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Judge Karu said: ‘This was the third night of the disorder. It was a year ago today that you were involved in the mob criminality that so disturbed the law-abiding members of the public.
‘Today, in stark contrast to the scenes of arson, looting and damage, London is hosting the Olympics, which demonstrates the excellence which can be achieved in sport and is an inspiration to all. However, those involved in these events were intent on the opposite.’
She said of the attack on the Ledbury: ‘Many of those who burst in were wielding bottles and sticks. Some had knives and other sharp instruments.
Citizen’s arrest: Dan Snow pinned Jenson (left) to the floor to stop the thug fleeing the scene of his destruction
‘The restaurant was busy and 30 or 40 diners were told to get down on the floor and systematically robbed of mobile phones, jewellery and even a wedding ring was pulled off the finger of a female diner.
‘Some of the customers and staff were physically attacked. They must have been terrified. The restaurant itself was ransacked.’
The violence began in the Queensway shopping centre at around 8.30pm and that ‘two gangs had put aside their differences in order to get together to perpetrate the more serious disorder which happened that night.
‘The object was to take to the streets to cause chaos and damage and to loot’, she said.
A van driver was assaulted, a Gala casino and Office shoe and a restaurant called the Bumpkin looted and attacked.
A pizza delivery man was pulled off his bike, beaten and his moped was then set alight and a double-decker bus was then targeted while driver was injured by broken glass.
Mohammed Haroon, the owner of a Supersave off-licence, was repeatedly hit over the head with a bottle of champagne as his shop was turned over and taxi driver Barry Keegan was robbed of his mobile phone when the rioters came across his cab.
Referring to the mob in the Supersave shop, Judge Karu said: ‘The gang was like a pack of hounds.’
Vile: Nasir Muhsen, left, and Rico Myers, right, were part of the ‘pack of hounds’ who wreaked havoc
Gyasi Skinner, left, received 38 months in a young offenders’ institution while Kalen Hinds, right, was sentenced to nine years
Liam Hodge (left) went on the crime spree after two gangs united to loot, along with Ali Abdul Waga (right)
The Ledbury attack followed and at around 11pm, police officers found themselves faced with a ‘large, hostile and confrontational gang throwing bottles.’
One of them took it upon himself to return to the police station to fetch shields and helmets for his colleagues but he was attacked en route.
He said he had ‘never been so scared in my life as I was then’ and that ‘the group saw this as fun for them and were laughing and joking.’
The night of August 8 was a ‘particularly devastating night’, she said, and as the scenes were broadcast on the national and international media, ‘Londoners watched with fear and horror at what was happening in the city. The loss to businesses, homes and livelihoods cannot be underestimated.’
Kalem Hinds, 19, was sentenced to nine years in a young offenders’ institution for conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to commit violent disorder, wounding and robbery of Mr Haroon.
Rio Myers, 16, received four years for conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to commit violent disorder, robbery of Mr Haroon and robbery of the taxi driver.
Gyasi Skinner, 20, received 38 months in a young offenders’ institution for conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to commit violent disorder.
Aiman Ibrahim (left) and Dean Burke (right) were part of the gang who attacked innocent people in London
Jazz Dedier (left) and Travis Williams-Carter (right) have been handed their punishment one year after the night
Caught: Tyler Brewer (right) and Karim Lamguindaz (left) were handed their sentences after their parts in the looting
With matters from Wood Green Crown Court added, a conspiracy to commit violent disorder, and committals for three residential burglaries and possession of cannabis with intent, the total went up to total of nine years, two months.
Karim Lamguindaz, for conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to commit violent disorder, received a three year rehabilitation order and a tagged curfew.
Liam Hodge, 21, was sentenced to 21 months for conspiracy to handle stolen goods. Matters from Harrow and Isleworth Crown Court, including possession of cannabis and fraud bought his total to 52 months.
Tyler Brewer, 19, received 28 months for conspiracy to handle stolen goods with a total of 49 months thanks to a burglary matter from Harrow Crown Court.
Jazz Dedier, 18, received 18 months in a young offenders’ institution for conspiracy to commit violent disorder. Extended ISSP (Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme) and a 7pm and 7am for three months which will be electronically monitored.
Karl Jenson, 25, received three years for conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to commit violent disorder.
Referring to his looting of the office shop and subsequent citizen’s arrest from Dan Snow, Judge Karu said: ‘Unfortunately for you, a member of the public who had witnessed the violence decided to apprehend you as you came out. You were the only one to be arrested that day but you were one of a pack.’
Travis William-Carter, 21, who was identified from a palm print left on the upturned van, received 16 months for conspiracy to commit violent disorder.
A 15-year-old who cannot be named but who was identified from his bloody on a Ledbury chef’s apron, received three years for conspiracy to commit violent disorder and robbery of the Ledbury.
Ahmed Al-Jaff, 19, received a total of nine years for conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to commit violent disorder, robbery of Mr Haroon and robbery of the Ledbury, as well as other matters of conspiracy to rob and to commit violent disorder from Wood Green Crown Court.
Aimen Ibrahim, 17, was sentenced to a 33 months for matters of conspiracy to rob and violent disorder from Wood Green Crown Court. No extra penalty was added for the charge of conspiracy to commit violent disorder from Inner London Crown Court.
Anas Ibrahim received a total of seven years for conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to commit violent disorder and robbery of the Ledbury, combined with a charge of theft from Isleworth Crown Court.
Dean Burke, 19, received two years and nine months for conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to commit violent disorder.
Ali Abdul-Waga, 20, who was cleared of the attack on the Ledbury restaurant, received a total of seven years for conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy commit violent disorder and robbery of the taxi driver.
Nasir Muhsen, 18, received total of six and a half years for conspiracy to commit violent disorder and robbery of Mr Haroon.
