Deaf & Dumb Serial Robber Banged Up

A heartless one-man crimewave, who targeted vulnerable and elderly bus passengers - robbing them and raiding their homes – has been caged for eleven years.

Michael Felicien, 35, (pictured) struck all over London in Brixton, Camden, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Wandsworth and Westminster.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard he was caught by the Metropolitan Police's Safer Transport Command (STC) after a string of violent attacks.

He pleaded guilty to two robberies; one attempted robbery and four residential burglaries.

Felicien came to the attention of the STC - which is funded by Transport for London - after committing three offences where he robbed people on buses or followed them from buses into their homes and attacked them. 



The offences took place between May 4 and August 12, last year and the victims, a mixture of men and women, aged between 56 and 84 years-old were targeted for cash.



On May 4 Felicien followed an 84-year-old man onto a Route 36 bus after leaving a betting shop in Westminster.

The victim got off outside his home, where Felicien attacked him and stole cash.



Then, on August 5 Felicien attacked a 72-year-old man at his home after following him from a betting shop in Wandsworth, onto a Route G1 bus, and attempted to make off with cash.



On August 9 a 56-year-old man was travelling on a Route 29 bus when he felt Felicien take his wallet from his pocket.

He challenged Felicien, who attempted to communicate with the victim in sign language and gave the wallet back.

The victim then got of the bus, however Felicien followed him and attacked him, stealing his mobile phone. 



His offences were identified by the STC intelligence unit and passed on to the Priority Crime Team to investigate. 



Comprehensive checks established that there were further offences.

The description given, coupled with the CCTV images, led officers to identify Felicien, who is deaf and without speech, as a suspect.

They travelled to Islington where Felicien was known to frequent and was he arrested on September 4. 



Chief Superintendent Sultan Taylor, of the Safer Transport Command, said: "This is an excellent result which has seen a prolific offender who targeted the elderly receive a substantial prison sentence. 



"If you commit an offence, you will be caught and if convicted every avenue of punishment will be considered.

“So the message is clear. Crime on London's bus system will not be tolerated."



Steve Burton, TfL's Director of Enforcement and On-Street Operations, said: "Tackling crime on the bus network is a priority for the Mayor and TfL, and we are delighted that the time and effort put in by the TfL funded Safer Transport Command to catch and prosecute this prolific criminal has led to this successful sentencing.

“We care about every journey our passengers make, and will continue to work hard with our policing partners to keep bus crime at its lowest level."