A mobile phone snatcher – who even targeted a partially-sighted woman who crashed to the ground during his Square Mile spree - has been locked-up.
Custody Mug: Brady
Riding around on an illegal electrical bike Oliver Brady, 27, got his hands on nine phones in the City of London.
He is now starting a prison sentence of two years and three months after pleading guilty to stealing two phones and handling seven more stolen phones.
His capture was assisted by a ceremonial Beadle outside Haberdashers' Hall, who grabbed a dropped phone as Brady was detained by private security officers.
Brady, of Grange Road, Edmonton was also convicted of assaulting Assistant Beadle Alex South in West Smithfield on February 6.
He further admitted driving without a licence and insurance and breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order, imposed for previous crimes.
The Old Bailey heard Nicola Jones was checking her location on her phone when it was snatched by Brady.
Mr South, who fulfils a ceremonial role and is a Toastmaster blocked the thief, causing him to drop the stolen phone.
Afterwards Ms Jones said: “I picked up my phone and called 999. I’m so glad I was able to get back my phone back and I am also grateful for the police for coming so quickly and arresting him.
“I was quite shaken up and shocked when he took my phone, it happened so quickly. I was already really careful about having my phone out in public before this incident, but this experience has made me even more cautious.”
Earlier that morning, Neda Rana had her phone snatched by Brady on Fetter Street.
“I have a visual impairment, so I cannot see further than two metres,” Neda said.
“I felt my phone being removed from my hand. The force of this caused me to fall to the floor and I landed on my left side.”
Neda added: “I couldn’t even process what was happening. The shock, the pain, the aftermath and the disbelief.
“The stress of then having to navigate myself and then still having to go to work. I was very distressed throughout the entire day.
Nicked: Brady
“It caused me a lot of stress as I didn't know where to go and I couldn't call someone and ask for help. This was an emotionally exhausting incident and feels surreal.”
Brady continued onto Cock Lane where he attempted to steal a mobile phone from another member of the public.
The phone was dropped and recovered by the victim six of the phones found on Brady have been returned to the victims.
Detective Sergeant Amy Westall said: “The successful capture and prosecution of a prolific phone snatcher shows City of London Police’s focus on detecting and bringing to justice those who steal from people on our streets.
“Thanks to members of the public who intervened before officers arrived shortly afterwards, we were able to return some of the mobile phones and bring Brady to justice.
“Phone snatching has a significant impact on victims and our key priority has been to reduce the number of phones stolen and relentlessly target those criminals responsible.
“It is important for us to get any recovered phones back to their owners.”
The other six phones were snatched from victims outside of the City of London, in the Metropolitan Police area.
One of those was Tim Collier on Malet Street, Bloomsbury. He was on a video call to his father when Brady took his phone.
Further phones were snatched from outside the Virginia Woolf Building at King’s College London and Oakley Square, near Camden Town.
The three victims have had their phone returned them after turning up to collect them at Bishopsgate Police station.
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