If The Trains Weren't Bad Enough Eh?

A gang of violent robbers, who targeted passengers on the train and bus network, have been sentenced.

Victims were punched, kicked,threatened with a knife and often had gold and silver chains ripped from their necks during the campaign of terror.

Elias Angulo Ruiz, 22, (top left) of Ivatt Place, West Kensington received six years imprisonment.

Juan Martinez Vargas, 22, (top right) of Sudley Grange Road, Ealing received three years and one month's imprisonment.

Starling Rodriguez Jose, 24, (bottom left) of Kildare Road, Canning Town received three years and six months imprisonment.

Yoscar Lake, 22, (bottom right) from Thornton Heath was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He must also complete 80 hours community service work and must comply with a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order. 

All three of the imprisoned defendants received an eight-year Criminal Behaviour Order, which prevents them from:

Travelling on any form of TfL public transport unless they’ve paid with their own Oyster Card or contactless payment card.

Carrying a mobile phone, unless they can demonstrate it is registered to them, their employer or their parents.

Associating with or being in the company of any of the co-defendants.

All four were convicted at Inner London Crown Court of conspiracy to commit robbery, with Angulo Ruiz also convicted of an additional two counts of possession of a bladed article.

Their convictions relate to robberies that occurred on the London public transport system in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Over six weeks in the summer of 2019, the group committed 14 robberies.

They targeted people at train stations including Elephant & Castle, Tulse Hill and Sydenham, south London taking phones and jewellery.

In several of the robberies, they ripped gold chains from their victims’ necks.

In one particularly violent robbery on board a train between Tulse Hill and Streatham, a victim was punched and kicked in the face. 

In this robbery, the group took a silver chain that was worth just £36.

Investigating officers used CCTV to identify all of the suspects.

In March, 2020, Angulo Ruiz was part of a group found to be in possession of a bag containing two knives at West Croydon Railway Station. 

In September, 2021 he attempted to rob a man a knifepoint on board a train between Nunhead and Elephant & Castle.

Further offences by members of the same group relating to a robbery on board a bus in Thornton Heath and in the Old Street underpass formed part of the case.

Detective Sergeant Tulin Akdam said: “Criminals like this should know that we’ll make sure they face justice for the crimes they inflict on innocent members of the public.

“This cowardly group worked together to intimidate and target passengers across South London. 

“The rail network is covered by extensive CCTV, which we successfully used to prove that they were behind this crime spree.

“Our uniformed and plain-clothes teams patrol the rail network every day to deter robbery and make sure passengers have safe journeys. 

“Fortunately, incidents like this are rare. 

“If a robbery has just happened, always dial 999 – our officers will quickly deploy to your location and begin immediate enquiries to trace the culprits.”