Moped riders who murdered youth worker for iPhone each given more than 20 years
Two teenage moped riders have each been jailed for more than 20 years after stabbing a charity youth worker to death during a violent robbery spree.
Nathan Gilmaney, 19, and Troy Thomas, 18, tried to rob as many people as possible, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake on October 16 last year.
They killed 28-year-old Abdul Samad (pictured) for his iPhone and little more than “aggression and blood lust” as they swept across west London on a scooter.
Gilmaney was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 27 years and Thomas detained at Her Majesty’s pleasure with a minimum of 22 years at the Old Bailey on Friday.
They chatted to each other at times during the hearing, repeatedly smiling and laughing together in the dock.
The public gallery was packed, with several people dabbing their eyes as statements were read on behalf of Mr Samad’s mother and girlfriend.
Gilmaney shouted obscenities moments after the sentence was passed and the public gallery had to be cleared after repeated outbursts.
Judge Richard Marks QC described the victims family’s statements as “heart-rending” and added: “Abdul Samad was an outstanding young man in his 20s, engaged to be married and had his whole life ahead of him.
“Your wicked stabbing of him has left his family understandably utterly devastated.”
Gilmaney knifed the charity youth worker in the chest in an attempt to get the PIN for his phone, the judge said.
After being stabbed, Mr Samad collapsed on his doorstep in front of his horrified parents while the robbers prowled the streets for their next victim.
Their spree of violence was committed over four hours in north west London and involved nine knifepoint robberies.
Gilmaney stabbed four other victims, who all survived, and admitted that he attacked one man because he was “angry” he had tried to run away.
The judge described CCTV footage of their crimes as “chilling”.
The culprits were arrested following a police chase, their pockets stuffed with stolen valuables.
Thomas admitted robbing the victims but denied responsibility for the violence while Gilmaney pleaded guilty to the robberies and violence.
The pair, from Maida Vale, west London, were found guilty of murder following a trial.
Michael Turner QC, representing Thomas, said he was acting as a getaway driver and had “no intention to kill”.
“He was not the wielder of any weapon,” he added.
Gilmaney’s barrister Dexter Dias QC said he suffers from ADHD and has an IQ of “barely 60”.
He has a number of previous convictions, including robbery and drugs offences, and wore a grey tracksuit in the dock.
Thomas, who wore a Gucci t-shirt, also has a string of convictions for other offences and was on bail at the time of the robberies.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2018, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) MetropolitanPolice / PA Wire.
