Man Who Wanted to Remain in the UK Regrets His Actions After a Judge Reveals What Will Happen to Him Over What He Was Caught Doing
A 44-year-old man who tried to rob a homeless woman while she was sleeping on the streets of Scarborough has been jailed for three years and nine months.
Abubakarr Moiba, who has no fixed address, was sentenced at York Crown Court on Tuesday, November 10, after admitting to attempted robbery. He is also expected to be deported after serving his prison sentence.
The incident happened in the early hours of June 17 in Scarborough town centre. Moiba approached the woman, who was sleeping rough, made serious threats against her and tried to steal her mobile phone.
Less than two weeks later, on June 28, police received another report involving the same woman. This time, her AirPods had been stolen.
Police officers immediately began searching the area and checking CCTV footage to identify the suspect.
Within an hour, armed police officers found Moiba sitting outside the One Stop shop on Falsgrave Road. He was wearing the same clothes seen in the CCTV footage and was carrying a kitchen knife with a black handle.
A detective who had gone to buy fish and chips nearby also recognised Moiba. The officer remembered seeing him in the area around the time of the incident, wearing the same clothes and behaving suspiciously.
When police searched Moiba’s home address, they discovered a bicycle and a black baseball cap that matched items seen in the CCTV footage. Officers also recovered the woman’s white AirPods and a black-handled knife.
While being taken to Scarborough Police Station, Moiba made an unexpected statement to officers.
He said: “I didn’t rob anything from her. She owed me money. She gave me the headphones.”
However, police had not yet told him what had been stolen or who the victim was.
Moiba later pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. A separate robbery charge and a charge of carrying a knife in public were left on file. He was also ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge.
During the court hearing, the woman explained how the frightening experience had affected her life.
She told the court that she had moved to Scarborough hoping to start a new life after escaping abuse and violence in her previous home.
However, what happened with Moiba left her living in fear.
She said she was now too frightened to leave her home alone and constantly worried that something bad might happen to her.
The woman explained that she no longer felt like the person she used to be. She was always looking over her shoulder and feared what might happen because she had reported the incident to the police.
She told the court: “I felt like a sitting duck with nowhere to go for safety.”
She also said Moiba had ruined her life and made her afraid to continue living in Scarborough.
Despite everything she had experienced, the woman said she simply wanted to forget what happened and move forward with her life.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Alfie Thomlinson, who led the investigation, described Moiba’s actions as frightening and cruel.
He said Moiba had deliberately targeted a vulnerable young woman who was sleeping on the streets and attempted to steal the few belongings she had.
According to the detective, the incident had caused serious fear not only for the woman but also among people living in the local community.
He praised the officers who quickly identified and arrested Moiba through CCTV footage, local knowledge and their investigation.
The detective also thanked the woman for showing courage by reporting what happened and giving evidence against Moiba.
He described Moiba as a violent and dangerous individual and said he was pleased that he had been brought to justice.
He added that he hoped the prison sentence would help the woman feel safer and reassure other people living in Scarborough.
Moiba will now serve a prison sentence of three years and nine months before his expected deportation.
