A Nigerian, Miracle Osondu, will spend the next 11 years in a United Kingdom jail for his involvement with an acid gang who robbed unsuspecting victims including Gumtree sellers and taxi drivers.
Reports in the UK said Osondu, 19, and two others -Antoine Mensah, 21, and Mohammed Ali, 17 – used strong acids, alkalis and knives to attack their victims.
The trio were said to have carried out 19 robberies in north and east London.
Reports said some of their victims will never recover from their horrific injuries.
During their trial at a Wood Green Crown Court, prosecutors said the trio carried out series of robberies between April and May. They added that the convicts targetted taxi drivers and sellers of smartphones on an online website, Gumtree.
READ ALSO! THEY ARE PENIS DEALERS! Gang member reports leader to police because he didn’t fulfil his promise [Video]
Prosecutors said Osondu and his gang robbed the taxi drivers at knifepoint, while people they had arranged to buy and sell smartphones via Gumtree were sprayed with strong chemicals.
The court heard that the first offence they committed occurred on 26 April, where the three took a taxi to a street in Enfield where they robbed their taxi driver, threatening to stab him.
This quickly escalated to physically restraining taxi drivers and on two occasions producing a knife with which they threatened the drivers. Following this, they moved on to targeting unsuspecting victims from Gumtree.
In one incident on 11 May, the trio arranged to meet their victim, a 40-year-old male, in High Road, Barnet N12, pretending that they were going to buy a phone from him. There Mensah and Osondu sprayed ammonia in the victim’s face, tackling him to the ground and stole his phone. The victim was left with serious eye injuries with irritation, burning and permanent impact on his vision. The psychological impact on the victim has been considerable and ongoing.
In another, on 12 May, the trio arranged to meet a different victim, a 49-year-old male, in Meadow Close, Barking IG11, on this occasion pretending that they were going to sell a phone to him. There they sprayed acid in the face of the victim before stealing cash and the contents of his wallet from him, then returned and sprayed him again before making off. The victim has sustained life-changing injuries, losing the majority of the vision in one eye, causing him to have to leave his previous employment.
READ ALSO! SINCE I REJECTED A MEETING WITH OLUKOYA! The GO has gone bunkers threatening brimstone and fire – Omoyele Sowore
On 14 May Enfield Proactive Unit officers, using a wide range of policing tactics, tracked the suspects to a taxi travelling from Enfield to Ilford en-route to commit another robbery. The trio were stopped in Mortlake Road, IG1 with the assistance of armed officers. Mensah, Osondu and the 17-year-old were stopped in the taxi and were found in possession of a bottle of PH1 acid, a 22cm long knife, nearly £2,000 in cash, balaclavas and multiple phones.
They were taken into custody where they gave no comment interviews. All three were charged on 17 May.
In a Victim Personal Statement, one of the victims who suffered life-changing injuries said:
“The initial injuries were that my skin was burnt all over, even in my mouth and on my tongue. The whole thing was just so excessive. Even after I gave them what was in my pockets, they kept pouring acid over me, just because they could.
“When I looked in the mirror and saw my injuries for the first time, I felt like I had become a zombie in just two hours. They could have taken my money or physical possessions if they had just threatened me, I wouldn’t have fought back because they’re just possessions. Even when they threw acid over me, I still didn’t fight back and just tried to shield my face from them. It was horrid trying to wash my face and feeling the acid all over me and it was so hard to clean it off and so painful. My right eye went entirely white, which was horrible to see. Friends came to visit me and I didn’t want them to see me because I knew it would upset them.
“Socially, my life has been really impacted. I used to be an outgoing, bubbly person. I enjoyed running, cycling and other activities, and anything that relied on my eyesight has been robbed from me. My mood from day to day hinges almost entirely on my vision and my medical condition. I feel happier when it improves, but that rarely lasts, and when it hasn’t improved or is worse, I feel worse too. Even things that don’t rely on my eyesight I have been less willing to do. I used to never be at home and would always be out socialising, but now I’m always at home, I feel tired and sleep a lot. I used to be a really trusting person, but since what happened I have lost so much confidence in other people.”
READ ALSO! #EGOT! John Legend becomes first black man to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award
Investigating officer Detective Constable James Rush, from Enfield Major Crime Unit, said:
“These males appeared to feel no guilt over their actions, using strong acids, alkalis, and knives, to rob and maim their victims without a second thought for the impact the injuries they inflicted would have.
“Over the course of their offending they carried out 19 robberies, leaving victims with life-changing injuries. They also conspired to rob many more.
“They are dangerous individuals and these lengthy prison sentences are the only way to ensure the public are kept safe.
“Their behaviour is truly shocking. I commend the bravery of all the victims and witnesses who provided the evidence to help secure these convictions.
“I would also commend the efforts and teamwork of the many officers across multiple units whose work contributed to this excellent result.”
Osondu was sentenced to 11 years, extended to 15, in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy to rob comprising 19 counts of robbery as well as a planned robbery, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a bladed article. A separate charge of theft from 2017 will remain on file. Osondu will serve a minimum of seven years and four months in prison.
Mensah was sentenced to 13 years, extended to 17 years, in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy to rob comprising 19 counts of robbery as well as a planned robbery, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a bladed article. Mensah also pleaded guilty to six counts of assault in an unrelated case. Mensah will serve a minimum of eight years and eight months in prison.
Reporting restrictions were lifted on Ali involved at the instruction of the judge. He was sentenced to eight years, extended to 12 years, in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy to rob comprising 19 counts of robbery as well as a planned robbery, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a bladed article. Ali will serve a minimum of five years and four months in prison.
