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A mugger on a "power trip" who strangled and robbed six women after sneaking up on them from behind in the dark has been sentenced to 18 years in jail.
Temman Dias, 25, of Battersea, was convicted of the string of robberies between August 2007 and October last year. His victims were lucky to survive.
Many were left unconscious in the street by the attacks and are now terrified to venture out at night. In each case Dias took their handbags.
Judge Martin Binning said: "All these attacks were on lone women approached in the darkness. They were unaware you were behind them until they were gripped by the neck and each was strangled to the point of unconsciousness.
"You knew by strangling them how dangerous it was, this method of attack is easily capable of causing death.
"The impact on the women has been great. They had bruising to the neck and other physical injuries but the emotional trauma remains. It's obvious that each person who was attacked has suffered an erosion of personal safety and security."
Dias was told it will be at least nine years before he is even considered for parole. A 17-year-old who was involved in the last attack, in September last year, was convicted of robbery and sentenced to five years. Three of the victims were in court to hear the sentence at Kingston crown court. Judge Binning told them: "I am now hoping some of the consequences caused by these offences and the emotional suffering will be eased by the sentences.
"I hope you will now have some closure that has not been offered to you through these proceedings and you can return to being the stable people you were and able to enjoy life."
Outside the court, Detective Sergeant Rory Wilkinson said: "Women were terrified while the attacks were being carried out. There may well have been a bit of a power trip going on because he only attacked women. He just seems to be a cowardly person who has been violent towards all sorts of people in the past. It was just callous - causing that much damage to someone for very, very little reason."
Reader views (5)
I totally understand the hurt that this person has caused to the people involved but there are 2 sides to every story. locking him up for 9 years could only make him worse. He obviously has pychological issues that need to be assessed. For now these women feel that they are safe but my question for them is... wouldn't they feel much more reassured knowing that he is remorseful and rehabilitated not just institutionalisted he will be free one day and let back into society what then. Please answer me that?
- Destiny, london, 14/10/2009 19:54
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Bj is right; no mention of a minimum tariff. This violent scum has been sentenced to 9 years, not 18 and not long enough!
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 05/10/2009 17:03
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Everyone knows that even brief strangulation can cause someone to die from heart failure.
It's therefore thanks only to the grace of God that none of these women were killed, and the right sentence is surely the same as that for murder. Fifteen years behind bars, minimum, with the threat of recall to jail to serve the rest of his life sentence should he ever reoffend.
- Nigel, London, 05/10/2009 13:14
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Surely the whole point of a parole hearing is to assess if he's still a risk and keep him banged up for the whole sentence if it's thought he will be. You'd hope that being in jail until you're 43 is going to go some way to dealing with his "power trip".
- Nolan, Londonist, 05/10/2009 09:52
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At least 9 years before parole is considered for this piece of scum who has ruined these women's lives? NOT LONG ENOUGH - he should serve at least 25 years plus for what he did. What makes the government think that when he comes out he won't do it again. I bet he does.......
- Bj, Australia, 05/10/2009 08:54
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