Court Report: 16/11/2020 @ Snaresbrook Crown Court
I’m in Courtroom 5 before His Honour Judge O Del Fabbro for hopefully the final part of a case I have been following for some months – ‘HK the iPad stealer’.
I first came across Mr HK on the 20th August 2020 before HHJ Inyundo. He appeared unrepresented at that occasion and had written a “very articulate” letter to the judge. Describing the proceedings as “very stressful” the defendant told the court he was told he would be dealt with in July but “wasn’t collected”. Case adjourned to allow HK to get a lawyer.
The next occasion he appeared at Snaresbrook was on 16th October 2020 before HHJ A Gordon. Despite being represented now the judge told the court that he “simply cannot sentence matters not on the system” – it turns out that one of the files had failed to be uploaded. It was at this hearing HHJ Gordon criticised the “political decision” that had left “the listing and admin team at Snaresbrook severely depleted”. Matter adjourned until Nov 11th 2020.
…And he was not produced. Adjourned again to today, 16th Nov 2020.
Having been seized of all five cases the court is told the details of each indictment:
#1 – 10/07/2019
Victim Mr PA was at the Itsu restaurant within Euston Train Station at around 8am when his bag containing an iPad was stolen. Mr PA successfully tracked the iPad using an application on his iPhone and travelled with police officers towards it. HK was found with the bag and £100 in cash. The only thing missing was approx. £100 equivalent in Chinese money and it was suspected the defendant had exchanged this prior to being caught.
#2 – 28/08/2019
Victim Ms PB was at the Nando’s restaurant in Islington at around 1.15pm. She had placed her handbag on the back of her chair which contained among other things some bank cards and an iPhone.
The court is told the defendant was spotted by a patrolling police officer who recognised him as a “well known” individual. The bank cards were found on him and he was also wearing the victim’s handbag at the time. The defendant also had receipts on him which were linked to the victim’s bank card. These included £110 of phone vouchers bought at Tesco, and a transaction with TFL.
Ms PB had provided a victim impact statement to the court which was read out and stated that she was “completely distraught” following the theft. The incident had brought back “traumatic memories of being burgled as a child” and she now “felt violated”. She had also feared that photos of her young child, which were on the phone, had been lost.
#3 09/01/2020
Victim Mr PC was at a restaurant when his bag containing a work laptop, a notepad and some bicycle lights went missing. This defendant was sat at an adjacent table and had been for some 10 minutes before CCTV showed him placing the bag under his jacket and walking out.
In a victim impact statement Mr PC said he was “upset and stressed” following the theft and was concerned over “personal data” that was on the machine.
#4 21/01/2020
Victim Ms PD was at the Costa Coffee shop on the Kings Cross Road when again the defendant was seen placing his coat over her bag and walking off with it. The court was told a Macbook and other personal items to the value of £2500 was taken in the theft.
#5 Part A 22/01/2020
Victim Mr PE was at the Hoop and Grape public house in Aldgate and had placed his black rucksack on the floor. The defendant was seen on CCTV knocking over the bag, placing his coat over it and walking out. The court was told a “work iPad” containing client info was taken.
#5 Part B 22/01/2020
Victim Ms PF was at the “Wrap Shack” and CCTV showed the defendant taking the bag, which had been placed over a chair behind her.
#5 Part C 25/01/2020
Victim Mr PG was in a restaurant and had placed his jacket over his chair. CCTV showed the defendant “pretending to be on his phone” before grabbing the jacket. Some 200EUR cash was in the jacket and was taken.
In their application for a Criminal Behaviour order the judge enquired why it was restricted only to London. HHJ O Del Fabbro said it appeared “the sole reason” for the defendant to enter café’s and restaurants “was to steal”.
In mitigation the defendant’s barrister tells the court Mr HK “fell in with the wrong crowd” growing up and having “cleaned himself up wants to make a positive change”.
The court is told HK’s father was a drug addict and an alcoholic which resulted in HK ending up in care from age 9 until 17. Self-harming from a young age we’re further told HK became addicted to cannabis at age 12, Ecstasy at age 15 before moving onto crack cocaine at age 16.
Having “done the hard work in prison” by becoming drug free, the court is told his mother now supports him. HK is keen to get back home, learn to cook and look after his brother. He “wants to build a life he hasn’t had before”.
In passing judgment His Honour Judge O Del Fabbro describes HK as having a “terrible record of offending”. “However sad your upbringing … no amount can justify this constant reoffending”.
Describing the defendants “very well-rehearsed technique” the judge summarises that “this must have been a spree you embarked on”. Listing the stand out features of the criminality which included “a significant degree of planning” the court passed a sentence of 34-weeks concurrent for each crime. A previous 34-week suspended sentence is also activated and runs consecutively.
So all-in-all a total sentence of 68-weeks. Having spent the equivalent of 70-weeks in prison so far it appears this defendant is time-served and can be released any day. His names has become a regular feature on the cause list here, seemingly popping up every few weeks only to be adjourned. Hopefully one won’t see it again.
Mouse in the Court 