Mugging victim Kyle Thomas will ‘never wear hoodie’
Dad’s vow after thug is jailed for violent mugging
Published: 20 August, 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB
A YOUNG father left with pins in his jaw after a violent mugging has vowed never to wear a hoodie again because he fears it could attract further aggression.
Kyle Thomas, 19, spoke to the Tribune this week after his attacker was sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Blackfriars Crown Court.
Mr Thomas believes his hoodie blocked his peripheral vision and stopped him from seeing Ahmed Qasim, 20, approaching.
He said: “It was chilly. I had my hat on and my hoodie so I couldn’t see beside me. I don’t wear hoodies anymore. It can portray the wrong image.”
Mr Thomas was left with a broken jaw after he was punched and dragged to the ground in the early morning assault in March. His hat and necklace were stolen during the assault.
He had just left Club Imperial in Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, and walked two women friends to a bus stop.
Qasim, 20, from Ilford House, Canonbury, Islington, admitted causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Thomas.
The attack was caught on CCTV and Safer Neighbourhoods police officer James Rabett instantly recognised Qasim. He was arrested and police recovered the stolen chain.
Mr Thomas said: “Something just hit me in the face. I thought someone had thrown something at me. My glasses flew off and my vision was impaired. I turned around and was hit straight in my face. I heard something click.”
Mr Thomas fell to the ground and was dragged along the floor. He managed to grab some railings and pull himself to his feet but when he turned to defend himself, Qasim fled.
He said: “It was very quick. I can’t say it traumatised me but I’m more aware. The healing process was more stressful. At the time I didn’t know who to trust, I didn’t want to go out and enjoy myself. I’ve been to nice small gatherings but as for clubs, I still don’t want to go out.”
Mr Thomas’s grandmother Stephanie Coogan, a Tube train driver, said: “It was completely unprovoked. He had no chance to defend himself. He was shocked, left not feeling safe anymore. When you’re attacked like that it does affect you. You lose your confidence. He’s still recovering but he seems okay now. I think he’s got over it.”
She added: “The sentence was justified. But that young man has wasted the next few years of his life for a silly thing, for nothing, a hat and a chain.”
His grandfather Dave Maxwell said: “He was really hurt. They gave him a general anaesthetic, and put his jaw back together. When he came out of surgery, he opened his eyes and the first thing he said was, ‘I’m back’. The police did an amazing job of catching the man who did this.”
Sentencing Qasim, Aiden Marron QC said: “There have been repeat offences and serious violence used which resulted in the victim having to have an operation. I have no option but a custodial sentence. This is one of the clearest cases of robbery I have seen in a long time.”
Detective Constable Kevin Johansen said: “Pc Rabbett’s local street knowledge was imperative for the identification, arrest and recovery of the victim’s property.”