Serial armed robber jailed

Tim Dickens
Monday, December 17, 2012
3:41 PM

An east London robber who terrorised bookmakers staff and customers with an AK47 rifle has been jailed for seven years.

Mohammed Ali was sentenced to seven years in jail

Mohammed Ali, 26, of Maitland House, Bow, pleaded guilty two a string of robberies at five branches of William Hill and a branch of Barclays Bank in 2009. He was jailed by a judge at the Old Bailey today.

It emerged that Ali had bought a deactivated AK47 rifle and had it delivered to his work address in Aldgate. The firearm has yet to be recovered.

Detective Sergeant Neil Turner the investigating officer said: “We are pleased at today’s sentencing which means a very dangerous man is now behind bars. Ali used a military weapon on the streets of London to commit armed robberies, terrifying his victims who were just trying to carry out their everyday business.”

He added: “His conviction comes after a lengthy investigation by the Flying Squad which demonstrates our tenacity and commitment to tackling these types of crime.”

Ali surveys the scene at Barclays, before returning with the assault rifle

On July 25 2009 Ali and an accomplice entered Barclays in Bethnal Green Road, E2. Ali ran up to the counter and pointed the AK47 at staff, demanding money. He smashed the gun against the glass, cracking it with the force he used

The staff hid and both suspects fled empty-handed.

Ali had been seen entering the bank 15 minutes earlier to ‘survey’ the venue.