A Kingston Crown Court sitting in the United Kingdom, has sentenced ten members of a violent phone robbery gang, including four Nigerians, to 55 years in prison for a string of coordinated attacks on mobile phone stores across London.
According to a statement from the UK Metropolitan Police, the convicted individuals are David Akintola, Ayomide Olaribiro, Olabiyi Obasa, David Okewole, James Adodo, Robert Hills, Nelson Joel, Michael Babo, Mushtakim Miah, and Laville Bloise.
The gang carried out 13 armed robberies between September and November 2024, primarily targeting EE retail stores. They reportedly used threats of violence to force staff to unlock secure stockrooms, escaping with high-value smartphones and electronic devices worth around £240,000.
Investigators linked the group to the crimes using DNA evidence, mobile phone records, and vehicle tracking data. Detectives monitored the suspects as they planned more robberies and arrested four members in the act during an attempted raid at an EE store in Kilburn on November 19, 2024.
Subsequent searches at several addresses led to the recovery of stolen devices and additional incriminating evidence. All ten suspects were charged, and eight pleaded guilty to conspiracy to robon January 30, 2025.
The sentences handed down on Friday, November 7, are as follow; James Adodo to serve 10 years, David Akintola — 6 years, 6 months, Michael Babo — 6 years, 10 months, Robert Hills — 5 years, 3 months, Ayomide Olaribiro — 4 years, 6 months, Nelson Joel — 3 years, 3 months, Olabiyi Obasa — 3 years, 6 months, while David Okewole would serve for 7 years, 6 months.
Two additional defendants who pleaded guilty to attempted robbery received; Laville Bloise to serve 2 years (suspended for two years), while Mushtakim Miah would spend 8 years, 6 months in jail.
The Metropolitan Police said the sentencing concludes an extensive investigation into the gang’s organized and high-impact crime spree that targeted multiple phone stores across the London area.
