Machete Robber Jailed For Nicking Watch

A robber, who threatened his victim with a fearsome machete and snatched the £8,000 watch his father gave him, has been caged.

Abdalla Zachriah, 20, of Oxford Gardens, Ladbroke Grove, North Kensington received six-and-half years.

He was convicted at the Old Bailey of robbery and possession of a knife.

Zachriah robbed his victim, who he knew, near Acklam Road in Ladbroke Grove on the afternoon of July 5, last year.

He demanded his watch after a brief exchange of words and lifted his shirt to reveal a large machete-style knife with a blade measuring nearly half a metre.

The victim resisted, but Zachriah managed to unclip the watch strap and take it from him.

Police were called and after getting an account of the incident they located Zachriah a short distance from where the robbery took place.

Officers recovered the knife - concealed in the waistband of his trousers - and watch, a gift given to the victim by his father and worth around £8,000.

Detective Constable Lee Moon, of Kensington and Chelsea CID, said: “This was a terrifying robbery, committed against the victim by someone he knew as an acquaintance.

“Zachriah was arrested within an hour of the incident, and officers recovered a large machete from his waistband.

“Carrying a knife in public itself shows intent to either threaten or cause serious injury to others, and in this case it was used to commit a robbery.

“I hope this sentence sends out a clear message that we are committed to ridding London’s streets of dangerous weapons, and that both police and the courts deliver firm justice to anyone who is intent on carrying them.”