Jailed: Robbers who attacked off-duty Met officer and stole warrant card

An off-duty Met police officer was ambushed by 12 robbers who hit him with a glass bottle before snatching his warrant card and designer watch outside a west London bar.

A Good Samaritan intervened to stop the mob “raining down blows” on the constable but was knocked unconscious and left sprawling in the road, a court heard last Friday.

Harrowing CCTV then captured Daniel Agyeman, 30 - one of five men jailed for a total of nearly 25 years - riffling through the man’s pockets for items to steal as he lay helpless on the ground.

The officer, 25, was enjoying a night out at the bar in Rayners Lane, Harrow when he became aware of two men watching him on November 17, 2019.

As he left at 3am with a friend, a thug came from behind and looped his arms around his neck, pulling him backwards and back onto the pavement.

A dozen males then rushed around the victim and began a frantic attack, smashing the bottle on his arm in the process.

One suspect yanked a chain from around his neck, whilst another man punched him repeatedly until he handed over the valuable watch.

The officer’s friend was punched in the face and suffered a broken nose and fractured jaw.

A brave passer-by, not known to either man, attempted to halt the attack. He was punched before falling unconscious into the road.

The jury watched footage of Agyeman pulling at his pockets, apparently looking to steal any possessions.

Another man attempted to make his way through the crowd to help but had punches thrown at him. He escaped without suffering any injuries.

As the suspects left the scene, the policeman realised his police ID, bank cards, driving licence and Oyster card were missing.

He immediately ran to a police station to report the incident and was later treated for bruising to his ribs, back and shoulders.

Officers poured over hours of CCTV to identify five of the 12 individuals involved.

Further work placed vehicles and mobiles belonging to Agyeman, Christian Bangisa, 29, and Rodney Abrokwa, 31, in the area.

In February last year, the trio and Iraawoosan Alba, 31, were arrested at various addresses in south and east London.

Police found clothing matching those worn by the men on CCTV. Shariff Fussaini, 29, was later arrested in Westcliff-On-Sea, Essex.

In a statement, the officer said as well as continuous pain, he lives in fear of a similar attack.

After being convicted of violent disorder and robbery at Harrow Crown Crown, Agyeman, of Sandfield Place, Croydon was jailed for five years; Bangisa, of Fair Street, Southwark, four years and one month; Abrokwa, of Great Cambridge Road, Enfield, four years and six months; Alba, of Fuller Road, Dagenham six years; and Fussaini, of London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea five years.

Detective Inspector Gavin Collins, from the Met’s Operation Venice team, said: “The group became aware that the victim was a police officer when they found his warrant card.

“They subsequently continued to rain blows down on the victim and committed further violence against others in the area, demonstrating their arrogance and total disregard for the fact that they were assaulting an emergency worker.

“I hope that knowing this group of men will be spending a significant time in prison provides some reassurance to the victims, and those who witnessed this awful incident.

“The Met and the judicial system will not tolerate violence in any form, not least when it is committed against a person who regularly and knowingly puts themselves in harm’s way for others.”

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