A young man from North London has been handed a seven-year ban from entering the city of Peterborough after being convicted for his part in a violent attempted robbery of a high-value bicycle.
Violent Assault at BMX Track
Yasir Mohammed, aged 20, of Woodcote Avenue in Barnet, was one of three individuals who targeted a man at a BMX track in a Peterborough suburb in May of last year. The group attempted to steal the victim's bicycle, which was valued at £2,000.
The court heard that Mohammed, along with 19-year-old Josiah Charles from Peterborough and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named, attacked the bike's owner. The assailants punched the victim in the head and demanded he hand over his expensive bike. A second man who was present managed to escape, film the incident on his phone, and call the emergency services.
Swift Police Response and Arrests
Officers from Cambridgeshire Police viewed the footage and successfully tracked down two of the three suspects the very next day. Yasir Mohammed was apprehended in Peterborough city centre two weeks later, completing the trio's arrests.
All three denied the charge of attempted robbery but were found guilty after a trial at Peterborough Crown Court in December. The victim sustained severe bruising but did not require hospital treatment.
Sentencing and Court Orders
At a sentencing hearing on Monday, January 12, the judge imposed significant penalties. Mohammed was sentenced to two years and eight months in a young offenders' institution.
In a notable additional measure, he was also given a seven-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), which expressly forbids him from entering the city of Peterborough for the duration of the order.
His accomplice, Josiah Charles of Medworth, Orton Goldhay, received a stiffer custodial sentence of three years in jail. The sentencing for the 16-year-old involved was adjourned until May 8.
Detective Constable George Corney, who led the investigation, condemned the attack. "This was a frightening ordeal for the victim," DC Corney stated. "The behaviour of the defendants, and the violence they inflicted, was shocking."
He praised the quick thinking of the witness who recorded the crime. "I’d like to commend the second man for his quick thinking in capturing crucial video evidence using his phone and immediately seeking help. This evidence allowed officers to identify the suspects quickly and was instrumental during the court process," DC Corney added.
