Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB Published: 21 December 2007
Robber who trailed women jailed for eight years
A ROBBER who stalked lone women in his car before pouncing has been jailed for eight years. John Wakefield, 32, pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to three counts of robbery and one of theft, all in Islington.
Details of the offences, which all took place in May, were heard in court last week. In the first robbery, on May 15, Wakefield followed his victim along Basire Street, in Angel, in his car. He snatched her bag in a struggle in which the victim struck a wall.
A week later, he pounced on a woman as she was running for a bus in Packington Street, Angel. He blocked her path with his car, jumped out and grabbed her bag.
The following day, he pulled up in his car beside a woman in Halliford Street, Canonbury, asked for directions and then grabbed her bag, dragging her along the ground.
Wakefield stole a mobile phone and £30 in cash from his final victim, a 14-year-old girl, outside Gardener Court in Finsbury.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Rasheed Alawiye said: “Much time and effort has gone into this investigation. That Wakefield was sentenced to eight years imprisonment despite pleading guilty reflects the seriousness of his crimes. “A prolific offender, he targeted lone females and threatened them, using excessive force. “I hope this acts as a warning to other robbers that you will be caught and punished accordingly.”