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A student today told of the moment she was attacked by a serial robber who targeted lone women in north London.
Adeboye Agoro, 21, was jailed for eight years for a series of armed attacks on women walking home late at night. He would approach his victims with a knife and threaten to stab them or punch them in the face if they failed to give him their handbags.
Rowena Fellows, 19, was attacked in Islington in March as she made her way home following a night out with friends. The RADA theatre studies student had her mp3 player, mobile phone and money taken, worth a total of £500.
It was the second time in two weeks the student had been mugged. A fortnight earlier she was robbed as she made her way home after attending her great-grandmother's funeral. The following day her best friend committed suicide.
She said: “I was walking up my road and heard a couple of footsteps behind me. I had my handbag on my shoulder, and he grabbed it and pulled it really hard which swung me round.
“He tried to punch me in the head but I ducked and screamed. I had got mugged two weeks previously to the day on the way home from my great grandmother's funeral. I was already a bit paranoid, so I had got a rape alarm.
“When I was attacked on the second time I pulled it but it didn't work.”
To compound her misery, she was hit by a van a couple of months later, breaking her hand. She said the attacks left her so scared she was forced to move house. She is still afraid to walk alone at night.
Ms Fellows, who lives in Fitzrovia, said: “It was not a good few weeks for me. The day after my great grandmother's funeral my best friend committed suicide. Then I was mugged twice and then hit buy a van.
“It was really really horrible. When I'm out now I always think I should be getting home, it's a bit late' - I can't relax. Half my family are from Somerset, the other from the Isle of Skye. It was not the best of starts to life in London.”
Agoro's campaign of terror spanned three months, between March and May this year.
In one incident, on 20 April, a 26-year-old a publisher, was on her way home from work when she realised she was been followed by a man from Caledonian Tube station.
Agoro had what appeared to be a knife in his hand. He threatened her and grabbed her bag before she managed to run away from him and call police.
A week later a 22-year-old woman was walking in Islington when she was accosted by Agoro who threatened to “shank” her if she didn't hand over her bag.
Detectives soon discovered a link between the crimes, and identified him after enquiries showed that he had used one of the stolen credit cards on the internet.
He was arrested on 4 June, 2009 and subsequently charged with seven counts of robbery, which he later admitted in court.
He was jailed for eight years at Blackfriars Crown Court on 5 October.
Investigating officer PC Paul Phillips said: “This was an in-depth and thorough police investigation to find a man who was preying on women in Islington.
“His lengthy sentence should act as a deterrent and send a message that Islington police are committed to tackling violent criminals.”
A 21 year old man has been jailed for eight years for a series of robberies on lone women.”
Reader views (11)
Did you ever think hwe did this because of peer preasure
- fabz, harlesden, 14/05/2010 13:38
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According to a news story on this site about two years ago: the avg jail time for a convicted murderer serving a "life sentence" is about 8 years. This guy will be out by Christmas.
- Trunk, US, 16/10/2009 00:14
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Wouldn't disgaree with stupid and cowardly, just about sums him up. Careful not to overestimate the efficiency of the police though!
- Nolan, Londonist, 15/10/2009 16:23
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“His lengthy sentence should act as a deterrent and send a message that Islington police are committed to tackling violent criminals.”
8 Years for being a serial mugger, hardly a long sentence if he serves only half.
Hope he gets knocked about inside prison.
- P Staker, London., 15/10/2009 16:01
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If he'd been born here he wouldn't have made it to 21 before committing crimes and being arrested - he'd have been at it from his early teens and caught long ago as he's obviously stupid as well as cowardly.
- Squiz, Islington, 15/10/2009 13:02
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Good point Dominique Marion, except that Islington Council has been run by the Liberal Democrats (not Labour) for the last 10 years! Apparently you haven't been paying much attention.
However, just because this scumbag has an African name, there's nothing in this article to sugest he's not British.
- Nolan, Londonist, 15/10/2009 12:15
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It never ceases to amaze me the amount of filth that 'live' in this City.
- Eddie, London, 15/10/2009 12:10
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Good posting Squiz, why no deportation? Probably born here.England, The Unlucky Country.
- Martin, London, 15/10/2009 11:10
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Steady on Squiz from Islington. I live in Islington too. You, as an Islington resident, should know that the borough is run by these loony-leftwing bleeding-heart liberal Labour party do-gooders who will have you in front of a Judge for infrindging this `cowardly scum's` human rights.
- Dominique Marion, london, 15/10/2009 10:52
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EDITED by admin @ 10.47 on October 25 2009
- Jock, London, 15/10/2009 10:42
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he'll be out in four years at the most. He should be deported straight back to his country of origin. I am sick of reading about these cowardly scum attacking lone women, I live in Islington and would have happily ripped his head off if I'd seen him mugging a young woman.
- Squiz, Islington, 15/10/2009 09:12
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