A teenage gang dubbed the 'not so Artful Dodger' by his defence solicitor was caught red-handed snatching phones on a night out in Liverpool. Ahmed Mohammed, the 19-year-old ringleader, had a simple answer when police asked what he did for a living: ‘I sell weed.’ 🚔
Mohammed and four friends, Ayuub Hassan, Hussein Hassan, Abdullahi Osman, and Mohamed Yusuf, travelled from London to Liverpool under the guise of 'going clubbing.' Instead, they targeted unsuspecting victims in Mathew Street and Bold Street. The gang used distraction tactics, hugging and engaging victims before making off with their phones.
The crew was quickly apprehended by police, thanks to CCTV footage showing them in action. Osman was found near a parked BMW, claiming he was just 'up for some clubbing.' Mohammed’s shoes were searched, revealing the stolen phones. 📱
At Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Katherine Pierpoint handed down sentences. Mohammed got 22 months in a young offenders' institute, Hussein Hassan and Yusuf each received 16 months, while Osman was sentenced to two years and two months. Ayuub Hassan got a suspended sentence with a curfew and rehabilitation requirements.
The judge noted the gang’s deliberate targeting of vulnerable victims, calling it a 'clearly planned activity.' Mohammed had previously been caught importing £420,000 worth of cannabis from Hong Kong, showing his involvement in more than just street-level crime. 🚗