Four men have been jailed after a Nottingham student was “frogmarched” into an alleyway and robbed during a terrifying ordeal lasting around 40 minutes.
In the early hours of Tuesday 18 April 2023, a 19-year-old student was grabbed by three masked robbers on Wellington Street in Nottingham city centre.
The student was dragged into an alleyway where the robbers closed a gate and prevented him from getting away.
They took the student’s iPhone and made him hand over his passcodes, before accessing the victim’s banking app and transferring £1,539.63 into another account.
The robbers then fled the scene, keeping the student’s mobile phone.
A police investigation was launched and CCTV enquiries identified three suspects. They were tracked to an eatery in Hockley, where one of them made a bank card transaction.
Financial checks enabled detectives to identify Oliver Sapounov as one of the three robbers, with further enquiries finding he was one of three directors at a company set up two months before the robbery.
The other two directors were Aqeel Hussain and Sefa Duzgan, who previously attended a Luton college with Sapounov and whose appearances matched those in the CCTV images of the robbery suspects.
After some extensive enquiries, a number of warrants were completed and this resulted in Nottinghamshire Police securing a plethora of evidence along with large amounts of cash.
Detectives first executed a warrant at Sapounov’s address and discovered the victim’s iPhone in a bedroom. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of robbery and money laundering.
Hussain was also arrested during a warrant, with Duzgan handing himself in.
A fourth person, Adeel Din, was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and bank enquiries linked him to the criminal enterprise.
Faced with overwhelming evidence, Hussain, Duzgun and Din entered guilty pleas to multiple offences at Nottingham Crown Court, while Sapounov was found guilty by a jury.
At their sentencings hearing today (21 November), a victim impact statement was read out on behalf of the student, who the court heard had been “frogmarched” into the alleyway.
The statement read: “I truly believe they have no idea of the impact that their actions have had on me. The defendants attacked me from behind, they took away my liberty by taking me off the street against my will.
“Like a prisoner, they held me against my will and then stole my mobile and money. Throughout the whole incident I was put in fear as they had face coverings, and I genuinely felt at their mercy as I thought I would get physically hurt had I tried to struggle or not have property they could steal.
“I still feel very uncomfortable walking home alone and I am wary who is around me at night. These feelings do not go away and this is all because of the actions of the defendants.”
Before passing sentence, Judge Michael Auty KC said the robbery had been “meticulously planned” and instilled “real terror” into the victim.
The judge added: “He was inevitably terrified and he preferred, no doubt wisely, compliance – having discovered just how far his three attackers were prepared to go.
“The reality is when faced with three disguised men prepared as they were and issuing threats, in those circumstances only a fool would have resisted.”
The defendants were sentenced as follows:
Oliver Sapounov, aged 23, of Huntingdon Street, Nottingham
Found guilty of: Kidnap, false imprisonment, robbery, money laundering.
Sentence: Jailed for six years.
Aqeel Hussain, aged 23, of Avebury Avenue, Luton
Pleaded guilty to: Kidnap, false imprisonment, robbery, money laundering.
Sentence: Jailed for five years and three months.
Sefa Duzgun, aged 22, of Hazellville Road, Islington, London
Pleaded guilty to: Kidnap, false imprisonment, robbery, money laundering.
Sentence: Jailed for five years and three months.
Adeel Din, aged 23, of Manton Drive, Luton
Pleaded guilty to: Money laundering.
Sentence: Jailed for 18 months.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable John Hollis, who was commended in court by the judge for the “high calibre” and “real skill” of the investigation, said:
“The victim in this case was subjected to a horrific crime. The defendants pursed the victim who was walking home alone after a night out.
“They attacked the victim from behind, took the victim off the street, held the victim against their will and then stole property.
“It is clear the defendants worked together, by purposefully targeting a lone student and by covering their faces they thought they could get away with their crimes.
“Extensive police enquiries identified the perpetrators involved and arrests were made. The property was recovered and the defendants were clearly shocked to be caught.
“Despite trying to deny the offences the evidence presented prompted the defendants to admit their guilt during trial and another being found guilty by jury.
“The victim in this case has shown bravery by reporting and supporting police action. This has assisted us in bringing the defendants to justice and prevent further students being targeted.
“I welcome the custodial sentences and I hope the defendants now realise the impact of their cowardly behaviour and crimes.”
