Gunman Robbed Locals

A lazy robber who committed a series of terrifying gunpoint street muggings in and around his local area during a month-long spree has been locked-up for four-and-a-half years.

Akinni Constantine, 23, of Granville Road, Wood Green, North London, was reluctant to travel far from home when pulling off the stick-ups, which netted cash, jewellery, mobile phones and cigarettes.

Wood Green Crown Court heard Constantine, (pictured) who lived just around the corner from where he committed the offences, approached his victims in the street, threatening them with a realistic imitation gun.

Detective Constable Saima Hussain said: "Constantine showed no remorse for the fear that he caused his victims, one of whom was so frightened that she collapsed in the street when he pointed the gun at her.

“Another victim, a young boy of just 14 years of age, was robbed while Constantine held the gun to his chest.

“None of his victims would have known that the firearm was an imitation and they would have been absolutely terrified for their lives.

"This conviction is good news for the victims, who have shown courage and public spirit in assisting us with this case, and I am really pleased that this violent offender has been brought to justice."

Haringey's Robbery Squad arranged for their Video Sentry Unit to place CCTV cameras overlooking the location where the robberies had been taking place.

The cameras captured footage of a man matching the suspect's description acting suspiciously in the area.

Detectives were carrying out enquiries at a block of flats in Granville Road, Wood Green on September 16, last year when they found an imitation firearm wrapped in plastic bags hidden inside a chest of drawers in the communal hallway.

Officers remained and saw Constantine, who they recognised from the CCTV images, and his fingerprints also matched those on the plastic bags.

He pleaded guilty to armed robbery in The Roundway, Tottenham, on August 12, 15, 24, September 12 and 13 and armed robbery in Darwin Road, Wood Green, on August 25 and armed robbery in Ellenborough Road, on September 3.