'Career criminal' jailed for 10 years for attempting to rob Arsenal stars Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac
The armed man who attempted to mug Arsenal football stars Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac has been jailed after admitting to stealing $250,000-worth of luxury watches from the Premier League stars.
Ashley Smith from Archway, North London, admitted attempted robbery after the incident in Hampstead in July. Another man, Jordan Northover, has also admitted involvement in the attempted robbery.
The pair were unsuccessful in their attempts, thanks to the actions of Kolasinac, who chased away the knife-wielding robbers, with CCTV footage of the incident subsequently going viral.
Also on rt.com Mesut Ozil targeted by knife gang as teammate Kolasinac fights off attackers with bare hands (VIDEO)The original footage of the incident showed Bosnian international defender Kolasinac fighting the two men, who were wearing dark clothing and crash helmets. The pair had used a stolen moped to conduct the would-be robbery, but didn't bargain on the actions of the nerveless Arsenal star.
Eventually, Kolasinac fought off the robbers before Ozil drove away from the incident, while the robbers hurled stones at his car.
Also on rt.com New footage shows Arsenal star Kolasinac face down knife thug as 2nd man pleads guilty to attempted robbery (VIDEO)In a hearing at Harrow Crown Court in North West London, Smith was described by judge Ian Bourne QC as being a "career criminal" and a man who was already well-known to the local police.
He had previously been convicted of burglary offenses in 2017 and was handed a 42-week sentence, but was out on conditional release when he attempted his robbery of the Arsenal stars.
After being found guilty, Smith was jailed for 10 years. Northover's sentencing has been deferred to a later date.
