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Eight teenagers in a gang called the “Smooth Money Makers” have been sentenced to between two and four years each for attacking and robbing terrified Tube and bus passengers.
The thugs surrounded victims and threatened them with broken beer bottles to force them to hand over phones and cameras.
Others were punched and kicked as the gang targeted people on the Central and Bakerloo lines and then a packed bus in Bethnal Green.
The eight, aged between 17 and 19, also robbed day trippers after last year's Notting Hill Carnival, Snaresbrook crown court was told.
Judge Georges Khayat, QC, said: “Society and the law will not tolerate a gang culture. People are entitled to go about their lawful business, travelling on either the Underground or on a bus — without having to fear that people like you will attack them.
"Any person travelling on an Underground or a bus becomes a vulnerable victim because of the weight of sheer numbers but also because he is in an enclosed carriage.”
Eight defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to rob and were sentenced to terms in young offender institutions. They are: Reece Gray, 18, of Dagenham; Gasconi Lingomba, 18, and Lekan Awoskia, 19, both of East Ham; Dimitri Kasongo, 17, and Katakyie Addae-Kodua, 18, both of West Ham; Earl Webb, 18, of Plaistow; Fhazio Mulwinda, 19, of Stratford; and Dwayne Mattison, 18, of Enfield.
A ninth, Julian Mathangana, 18, had his 12-month term suspended for two years and was ordered to carry out 240 hours unpaid work. Some of the gang are already serving lengthy jail terms.
Mulwinda and Addae-Kodua were convicted last May of carrying out an £8,000 security van robbery in Leyton. Others have previous convictions for theft, robbery and drugs offences.
At the Carnival, several of the gang rounded on Revanth Katakamsetti and his friends. Mr Katakamsetti was slapped in the face before his £200 mobile phone was snatched from his pocket. “They had beer bottles in their hands,” he said. “They were trying to show to us that they would use them to beat us up.”
Mr Katakamsetti described to the court how his friend Keshava Sanam was kicked by one of the thugs but kept a cool head and tried to shield him and their friend Narender Booragadda.
Reader views (39)
Firstly most of thes boys have been released and none of them have re offended. Secondly the did not just target white people they also targeted black people and asian people.
The ignorant comments I have read are appauling.
One of the members of this gang is my cousin and I am utterly ashamed of his and his friends actions.
- michael, hackney, 07/06/2011 13:53
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As a businesswoman and commuter who has been on the receiving end of a vicious attack by thugs like these, I can only say they should get and serve the maximum penalty. As a lone woman just trying to get home I was terrorized beaten up and robbed by scum like this.
- Christine Lamont, London UK, 25/02/2010 07:26
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I agree with Gareth Bailey , obviously these 'yobs' deserve severe punishment however 20 years is an exaggeration considering that thankfully noone was was killed or even injured.
Futhermore how do you know they were targetting white commuters? Black people also commute and I am sure they also suffered at the hands of these people.We shouldn't allow ignorance to lead us down the road of rascim !
- Susan Mccarthy, Laindon, 18/02/2010 19:45
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real talk yuh dnt knw wt da streets is like livin in poverty nd you're all quick to run you're mouths like you ever lived in forest gate or plaistow or dagenham let lone hoxton. You should't be critising them like you wouldn't turn to crime if you was in their sitution or living in poverty.
- Slitsz, Plaistow all day every fuckin day E13, 11/02/2010 02:05
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So many people commenting, talking complete RUBBISH. 10 years for a train robbery with glass bottles? peadofiles get 10 years! Before you comment you should actually know the law. There are even foolish people talking about giving them life? 20 years? are you serious?. Ok i know that teenagers in this country are getting out of hand but hey if the guys who are trained in law are getting it wrong what makes you think you'll get it right? Too much ignorance and knot even actual knowledge, "The sentance is an insult to the victims"<---- what? Did someone die? was anyone actually injured? they will miss the rest of their teenage lives then they will come out of prison with nowhere to go and nothing to do if thats not punishment i dont know what is. Not backing them up just speaking out against ingnorance. P.S. Two years is the standard amount of time to be served however they will probably only serve half iif they "behave" whilst inside.
- Gareth Bailey, London, 10/02/2010 22:16
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You Lot Need To Keep Negative Comments Quiet. I Know One Of These Boys And From When Your Criticising Them As A Whole, You Need To Stop And Think About What Your Saying. If You Have Seen Or Been Involved With Them Victimising You Or Others, Then You Can Say What You Want But In My Opinion No One Knows What They Have Actually Done, I Know The Whole Story, And In My Opnion They Dont Deserve That Big Of A Sentence. I Suggest You People Need To Stop JUDGING AND STOP THE CRITICISM!
- H, London, 10/02/2010 21:12
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they should have got 20 years with no parole
life means life
martin
ireland
- Martin, navan co meath ireland, 10/02/2010 00:16
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Lovely British citizens lovely British law.!!!
- Mr S.Port, London, 09/02/2010 23:35
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When these wasters are released, they will go back to crime. But hey, this is UK 2010! SOFT on crime, SOFT on criminals, SOFT on the causes of crime - TOUGH on the victims of crime. What a pity their victims were not Labour MP's or Judges - the story might just have been different. What a shame we can't deport this scum.
- Joannie, Newham, London, 09/02/2010 21:26
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I think it is quite hilarious how all of you people comment like you know the lives of these boys. Sure they deserve to go to prison, but that doesn't give you the right to make assumptions about their family backgrounds and whether they were born in this country or not. I don't think racism comes into this argument at all, these young offenders have been given a sentence even though it may not be long enough. They will serve their time and suffer the consquences for the rest of their lives.
- Wise One, London, 09/02/2010 20:22
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my god that is one ugly bunch,,four of them look like they,re doing a handstand,,,2-4 years out in half the time will teach them a lesson,,,i hope the prison officers get really tough and not let them use a play station,,,,,that,ll show ,em crime does,nt pay,,,,,good thing they did,nt assist in a humane suicide,,they would have got twice as long,,,,,
- Les, crowborough england, 09/02/2010 17:42
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Two to four years? And this is called justice?
- David Griffiths, Llanfyllin, Wales, 09/02/2010 15:30
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........and I bet all really weak fools on their own, brave souls ehhhhh. Glad they finally got behind bars where they belong.
- Tony, Hove England, 09/02/2010 15:14
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On top of the old bailey theres a lady holding a scales, Crime on one side balanced by punishment on the other, I think they call it justice, though it hasnt been seen for a long time so nobody could really tell. When you balance the punishment to the crime you'll get justice. by the way 2-4 yrs in a cushy jail doesnt balance with the crimes they commited
- Mike Spalding, London, 09/02/2010 14:58
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These scumbags deserve at least 20 years hard labour, and should be stripped of all their worldly possessions.
If any of these scumbags are not British citizens then after they have served their sentences they should be deported.
If a victim of their crimes had defended themselves against these scumbags; then I bet that because the law in this country is so biased against the victims of crime, they would have found themselves behind bars instead of this band of dog crap! the law has to be changed in favour of victims of crime!
- Roger, Buckinghamshire, England, 09/02/2010 14:34
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More pathetic sentencing! When will the judiciary take seriously the need to protect law abiding members of the public. I'm not one of the tedious hang em/flog em brigade but lengthy sentencing coupled with hard labour is needed. A properly thought through 3 strikes policy is also a must given the amount of repeat offending!
Yes, anyone can racist. Were these attacks racists? Did these scum bags hurl racist abuse at their victims? Did they pick out their victims because of their ethnicity? Did they ignore the black passengers on the busses and tubes and only attack the non black ones? Unless the answer is yes to any of these questions I guess we won't know - much to the disappointment to those trying to play the race card.
- Veritas Noire, Purley, 09/02/2010 14:11
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Hmmm, Young Offenders...were they will get access to pool tables and various other kinds of entertainment and yo top all off meet other thugs to plan future crimes!
Great British law eh...gotta love it!
- Rail Employee, London, 09/02/2010 13:57
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how is it the mercy killing lady got 9 years and pondlife like this are allowed to get away with slap on the wrist? String them all up!
- Albert Munn, Eltham, London , UK, 09/02/2010 13:56
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This country is soft on criminals and soft on crime. The government whether it be tory, labour, lib dems will never get tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime because they have there snouts so far in the trough claiming for duck pond houses and second homes.
It is time we built more prisons with harder regimes that enforce change on a persons personality, this could take the form of hard labour and brain washing.
And all criminals should face this whatever their age if they get caught doing something they should not have been doing more than two times in their lives.
Three strikes and its hard labour and a course of brainwashing.
- Justice Of The Peace., London, 09/02/2010 12:46
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Labour,Conservatives and the Lib Dem MPs are to bussy looking for ways to claim expenses instead of bringing the three strikes and you are out law into force,they will never change the law to enforce tough sentences on crime,as they all live in Rich mans land were police patrols still operate.The only way to change our pathetic justice system,is to vote all three out of power.
- Dave, london, 09/02/2010 12:19
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Send them to a prison in Turkey. Remember the scenes in
Midnight Express. None of their prisons are holiday camps. The sentance is an insult to the victims.
- Frank, Copenhagen, Denmark, 09/02/2010 12:07
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@Richard Edmunds - why should us Scots have to put up with the rubbish from one of your cities? We've already got enough troublemakers up here as it is - and more than our fair share of immigrant crime.
I think we should send them all to Rayleigh for a fortnight. They should be so overcome with boredom that they'll never want to have a repeat experience. I know that's what happened to me when I was there.
- Jock, Glasgow, 09/02/2010 12:07
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If some of them are already serving tough sentences surely the should be given even tougher sentences,two to four years just seems to lenient.Do the people that hand out these sentences know what its like to even walk past a gang of beasts like these,or to see them coming towards you and be really scared wondering what the hell they're thinking of doing to you.
- Lindona, italy, 09/02/2010 12:06
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What happened to "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime"? Obviously the current government thought this fantasy policy would be a vote winner. How about 10 years hard labour ... ploughing fields with their bare hands for example?
Let's face it the ones with 2 year sentences will be out within 12 months and we'll be reading about them again.
- I Taylor, Preston, Lancs., 09/02/2010 11:57
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This lousy Government does not recognise racism unless it comes from a white person,the laws have been inverted and perverted to suit their twisted marxist ideology.
- Jacob, Cesspit Britain, 09/02/2010 11:45
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I agree with Tony Barnet,we should build a prison on the outer Hebrides and make them break rocks, prisons at the moment are better than home for this lot
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh UK, 09/02/2010 11:42
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'Young offenders institution'?
What's that all about?
These scum are as worldly wise as they're ever going to get!
And a damned sight older than some of our brave boys and girls facing death in our armed forces!
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland, 09/02/2010 11:25
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Why has the judge been so lenient? Surely people who think that they can go round doing this sort of thing really MUST be removed from society for much longer than this?
- Jethro Penzance, Bodmin, 09/02/2010 11:19
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I expect the civil rights idiots who claim that young black males are unfairly tageted by authorities wont be too noisy around this one....
- Mr B, London, 09/02/2010 11:12
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I agree with you Rodders. There is even a "National Black Police Association". If they had a National White Police Association there would be uproar amid screams of police racism blah, blah, blah. It seems to be there is more racism from other minorities against whites in this country than any other group - yet there is no place for white people to complain. These kids should have been charged with racist attacks because they most definitely would have been if they were white kids attacking asians and blacks.
- Kate, London, 09/02/2010 11:09
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I love this country !!!
- Grim Reaper, Hell, 09/02/2010 11:07
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Julian Mathangana, 18, had his 12-month term suspended for two years and was ordered to carry out 240 hours unpaid work. Some of the gang are already serving lengthy jail terms.
The sentencing is a joke - 240 hours community service, try a thousand if courts are too gutless to lock them up. I also, agree with Rodders, Feltham. The gang were targetting white commuters.
- Darren, london, 09/02/2010 11:04
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Their sentences are not long enough - they should have been sentenced to at least ten years each.
What are they going to do when they are released? Find a job and settle down to home life? Hardly!
Enough is enough when it comes to soft sentences.
This country needs to get to grips with the penal code and do something drastic.
- Stephen Odonnell, Bexhill, 09/02/2010 11:01
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Loki, very likely they don't have mums as you and I imagine mums to be. They probably don't have dads around either so no role models which is what I'm told makes the difference.
- Peter, London, 09/02/2010 10:58
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I wonder if they attacked other black people..?? {Asians are not black people}. If not then why isn't this type of crime also classed as racist. If they were white attacking others of a different race then the authorities would fall over themselves to class this a racist crime.
- Rodders, Feltham, 09/02/2010 10:47
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Two to fours years for armed robbery. That'll teach 'em.
- Tony, Wanstead, London, 09/02/2010 10:31
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Didn't their mums tell them that only gutless cowards need to be in a gang?
- Loki, Roskilde, DK, 09/02/2010 10:29
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“Smooth Money Makers” ??? they don't look very smooth to me. They look like a complete waste of space. Set them all to hard labour and bring back the chain gangs. Lets get some use out of these lot.
- Tony, Barnet, 09/02/2010 10:28
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Another round of "tough" sentences, they should get a minimum 10 years for using violence against innocent people.
- Dannyp, Egham, 09/02/2010 10:26
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