London Crime Spree: Nigerian-Born Man Jailed for Five Years

​A 26-year-old Nigerian-born man, Wasiu Smith, has been sentenced to five years in prison following a “violent and out-of-control” robbery spree near Farringdon Tube station in London.

​Smith, who holds a Dutch passport and has resided in the UK since 2019, terrorized four men during a series of attacks on November 4. During the proceedings, the court heard how Smith targeted victims in broad daylight, using intimidation tactics—including feigning the possession of a weapon—to steal valuables such as mobile phones, a work laptop, and a £600 heirloom opal ring.

​Among those targeted was Alex Belsham-Harris, a senior charity executive, who was lunged at and struck behind the ear before having his bag stolen. The assault left the victim disoriented and forced him to seek refuge in a nearby shop. Another victim, Bonny Wambulu, was confronted on Farringdon Road by Smith, who ran at him at speed and aggressively demanded money while gesturing as if concealing a weapon in his pocket.

​Following his arrest on a bus—where officers discovered him in possession of the stolen items and a quantity of crack cocaine—Smith offered a series of implausible excuses to authorities. He claimed he had traveled to the area solely to view Christmas lights, despite the fact that the displays were not yet illuminated. Furthermore, he dismissed the possession of the stolen goods as a setup, alleging he had been a victim of an assault himself, and suggested his hand-in-pocket behavior was merely a response to the cold weather.

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​The presiding judge dismissed these defenses as “absurd,” noting that the defendant’s erratic behavior and lack of credibility compounded the fear inflicted upon his victims. The court concluded that the motivation behind the crime spree was likely to fuel an ongoing drug addiction.

​In addition to the five-year custodial sentence, the court emphasized the severity of the violence and the psychological impact on the individuals targeted during the spree.