Knifeman who targeted Rolex watchers on the Tube is put away for eight years
A ‘brazen and dangerous’ robber who armed himself with knives has been jailed after threatening victims with the weapons in repeated attempts to steal their watches.
Muridi Bahdon, 24, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court to eight years’ imprisonment with an extended period of five years on licence.
He was found guilty by a jury of two counts of attempted robbery, one count of robbery, two counts of threatening a person with an offensive weapon and possession of an offensive weapon.
The court heard how, on July 1 last year, one of his victims was in the concourse at Earl’s Court Tube station waiting to pay for some items when he was approached by Bahdon, who was brandishing a large knife, and demanded his Rolex.
The victim used the jacket he was carrying to fend off Bahdon, who proceeded to lunge towards him with the knife. The victim then fled to behind the shop counter where he was able to call the police while Bahdon fled.
Three days later, on July 4, at around 1.40pm, a second victim was on board an underground service heading towards Sloane Square. As he arrived at Victoria station, Bahdon boarded the train and sat next to him, despite there being plenty of empty seats.
He also noticed Bahdon looking at his watch which made him uncomfortable and nervous. Due to Bahdon’s behaviour, the victim decided to leave the train at Sloane Square, but Bahdon rushed him, grabbed him by his shirt and produced a knife, demanding his watch.
The victim attempted to flee, almost tearing the shirt off his body and causing injury to the back of his head, shoulders and legs. He was taken to hospital by ambulance, although his injuries were determined to be not life-threatening or life-changing.
An urgent appeal was circulated with an image to find Bahdon and he was later found and arrested. Following this arrest, Bahdon was further linked to robbery on August 20, 2022. In that instance, at around 5.30pm, Bahdon pulled out a folded knife from his pocket and approached a passenger saying: “I’m a killer.”
Fearing for his life and the safety of other passengers in the carriage, the man handed over his Rolex watch worth about £10,000. The victim immediately left the train at the next station, Gloucester Road.
He was charged on August 3, 2023 with two counts of attempted robbery, robbery, two counts of threatening a person with an offensive weapon, and possession of an offensive weapon.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Steve Faulkner said: “Bahdon is a calculating and dangerous offender whose actions will have a life-long impact on his victims. I am glad to see this sentence imposed for his actions and hope this will go some way in helping the victims get closure from these incidents.
“His brazen and determined level of violence were carried out in public, CCTV heavy settings, meaning we could quickly capture and circulate images to our policing counterparts and the public.”
Picture: Custody image of Muridi Bahdon (Picture: BTP)