Woman Jailed For Midnight Tube Train Attack On Passenger

Gloria Makanjuola

A late-night tube train passenger was attacked by a violent woman, who rifled through his pockets for cash and his mobile phone during a midnight ordeal.

The male victim's fingers were bent back and he was tackled to the floor of the carriage as he tried to flee the attack onboards the Central Line train in east London.

Gloria Makanjuola, 35, of Cranbrook Road, Ilford, received nine months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to assault and attempted theft.

Woolwich Crown Court heard how on Friday March 3, 2023, just before midnight, the victim was travelling on an Eastbound train to Hainault, reading a newspaper.

Makanjuola sat down next to the victim and asked for money before she began to rummage through his coat pocket. 

She took his phone out of his pocket, saying she would give it back if he gave her some money.

The victim attempted to get his phone back, but Makanjuola was still rifling through his pocket and pulled out his wallet, taking £60 cash and dropping his phone.

The victim later reported that Makanjuola was hitting him across his body in order to get his wallet. 

Makanjuola chased him, tackling him to the ground near the doors as the train arrived into Hainault Underground station. 

She got off the victim, gathered her things, and left the station while members of the public and railway staff helped the victim up, who discovered his phone had been smashed and broken.

Officers nearby were informed of the incident, and at 1.00am an officer at a nearby petrol station saw a woman matching the description of Makanjuola.

The woman was quickly identified as Makanjuola and the officer arrested her.

British Transport Police Detective Sergeant Bronwyn Prew said: "This was a targeted attack on a member of the public minding his own business, so I'm very pleased to see Makanjuola jailed for her erratic and aggressive behaviour.

"There is absolutely no place for violence, robbery, or theft on the railway, and we will continue to prosecute those who seek to use the network for their own criminal gain.”