Jail for pair who robbed teenage rugby players in south west London park

Jailed: Karim Mansouri
Metropolitan Police
Hannah Al-Othman19 May 2016
WEST END FINAL

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Two men have been jailed for robbing a teenage rugby team at knifepoint in a Hampton park.

The victims - five 17-year-old friends - had just finished playing a rugby game when they decided to go to Tangley Park.

The friends were sitting in the park when they saw three men walk through an entrance closeby.

One of the robbers, Sahal Farhaan, approached the group and warned them that he had a knife, telling the boys to get their phones out.

However, another of the robbers, Karim Mansouri, then realised he recognised one of the rugby players, and told the boys to put their phones away.

Sahal Farhaan and a third robber, Warsame Farhaan, then turned their attentions to a bike that one of the boys had with him.

The victim refused to let go of the bicycle but one of the robbers held a knife to his side, and Sahal Farhaan punched him in the face, forcing him to hand it over.

The thieves also decided to take the victim's mobile phone, and all three men ran from the park.

On the run: Sahal Farhaan is wanted by police
Metropolitan Police

Police were called to the park following the robbery, which happened at about 10.30pm on August 11 last year.

As one of the victims had recognised Mansouri, officers were able to trace him and he was arrested the following day, along with Sahal Farhaan and Warsame Farhaan.

At Kingston Crown Court on Friday, May 6, Karim Mansouri, 19, and Warsarme Farhaan, 20 - both from Feltham - were sentenced for their parts of in the robbery.

Karim Mansouri, 19, of Main Street, Feltham was found guilty on March 31 of four attempted robberies at the same court and was sentenced to 21 months detention in a young offenders' institution

Warsarme Farhaan, 20, of South Road, Feltham pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one robbery and four attempted robberies and was sentenced to 32 months detention in a young offenders' institution.

The third man Sahal Farhaan, 19, of South Road, Feltham had pleaded guilty to robbery and attempted robbery at an earlier hearing but was also found guilty on March 31 of possessing a knife.

However, he failed to attend court and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Detective Constable Paul Wright, from Richmond CID, said: "Mansouri and the Farhaan brothers decided that day they had nothing better to do but to intimidate and threaten a group of boys who were simply enjoying themselves and socialising.

"For them, as young people, this was a frightening experience in which their personal possessions were taken with one even having a knife held against his body.

"I am pleased with the outcome of our investigation and the punishment imposed. I would like to praise the victims for coming forward as their evidence helped convict these men."

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