Dagenham scooter thief gets 18 weeks in jail after trying to evade capture

Abderrahman Hassan, who lives in Reede Gardens, was caught by officers on Thursday, May 17 driving round Paddington, weaving in and out of traffic on both sides of the road, on a scooter with its registration plate hanging by a wire.

On Monday, the 20-year-old was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to 18 weeks in prison, and was given a driving ban for four years, a youth referral order and a £115 fine.

Officers from Westminster used DNA spray to catch the thief, who tried to evade capture.

After seeing him driving recklessly down Norfolk Crescent, officers checked the registration plate, which confirmed it had been stolen from another scooter in Hammersmith.

They tried to speak to Hassan, but he drove off quickly. Officers managed to use DNA tagging spray before he escaped, hitting his back and the scooter.

He got away momentarily, before they caught him in the back streets of Edgware Road. They checked the scooter and found it had been stolen a few days earlier.

Hassan was taken into custody in a central London police station, where he stood beneath UV lights and the DNA tagging spray was revealed. He was charged on May 18.

He pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, handling stolen goods, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and possession of a Class A drug.

Det Supt Jess Ruddell said: “Hassan has been caught through the diligence and tenacity of officers who will leave no stone unturned in bringing any of these riders to justice, no matter how big or small their offence.

“Our DNA spray is a very effective tactic in evidentially linking offenders to these crimes and its worth has been proven yet again.

“This arrest is another example of the Met’s commitment to keeping the public safe and making the streets hostile territory for criminals who steal scooters, and then use them for other crimes.”