A TikTok prankster has been given a community order and ordered to pay a fine after snatching a phone out of a woman’s hand while riding an e-bike in central London.
Mizzy, whose real name is Bacari-Bronze O’Garro, was riding a Lime bike on 15 June 2022 when he stole the £1,000 iPhone as the woman was texting, Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard.
Police officers in the area pursued the teenager, who was 17 at the time, after they “noticed Mr O’Garro cycling in a way that they deemed him to be trying to get away from something”, prosecutor Amy Gault said.
He was later arrested and in April was found guilty of theft.
Sentencing the teenager, Judge Michael Oliver gave O’Garro, now 19, a 12-month community order and said he must pay £500 in compensation to the victim.
The community orders requires O’Garro to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity.
The judge said the sentence will “serve to punish you and make reparation to the community at large”.
More on London
Related Topics:
The court heard Ruby Hewitt was left “stressed, anxious and quite scared for my safety” after the theft on Highbury New Park in Islington, north London.
Image: The TikTok prankster pictured outside court last August. Image: PA
Three Metropolitan Police officers in an unmarked police car – who did not witness the incident – became suspicious of O’Garro due to “erratic behaviour, going in and out of the road and moving on to the pavement”, PC David Clifford previously told the court.
The defendant fled the officers and threw the phone into a bush. When he was forced off the e-bike, he ran away on foot before being detained.
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
O’Garro’s lawyer Keren Weekes told the court his previous time at a young offenders institution had “had a detrimental effect on his mental health” and said the TikTok star is now “working to make a positive change in society”.
O’Garro, who has a son, is undertaking two internships and a vocational qualification in creative media, she added.
Ms Weekes said O’Garro is co-leading the production of an anti-knife crime video as part of one of his internships.
O’Garro had three previous convictions at the time of the theft and had been sentenced for a separate robbery in July 2022, the court heard.
The UK has joined US forces in attacking a Houthi target in Yemen for the first time since Donald Trump was re-elected.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the strikes took place on Tuesday as part of the government’s response to Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The ministry said careful intelligence analysis identified a cluster of buildings used by the Houthis to manufacture the sort of drones used to attack ships, located 15 miles south of the capital Sanaa.
RAF Typhoon FGR4s conducted strikes on several buildings using Paveway IV precision-guided bombs.
The planes had air refuelling support from Voyager tankers.
The ministry said the strike was conducted after dark to reduce the likelihood of civilians being in the area.
All the aircraft returned safely.
Image: John Healey. Pic: Reuters
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “This government will always act in the interests of our national and economic security.
“Royal Air Force Typhoons have successfully conducted strikes against a Houthi military target in Yemen and all UK aircraft and personnel have returned safely to base.
“We conducted these strikes, supported by the US, to degrade Houthi capabilities and prevent further attacks against UK and international shipping.”
Houthis a ‘persistent threat’ to ‘freedom of navigation’
Mr Healey said Houthi activities in the Red Sea are a “persistent threat” to “freedom of navigation”.
“A 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already cost billions, fuelling regional instability and risking economic security for families in the UK,” he said.
“The government is steadfast in our commitment to reinforcing global stability and protecting British working people. I am proud of the dedication and professionalism shown by the service men and women involved in this operation.”
Follow The World
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
The group began launching attacks on shipping routes in November 2023 saying they were in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
0:31
Footage showing people being pulled from rubble has been released by Houthi rebels in Yemen
No criminal charges will be brought over the death of an ice hockey player who died during a match in Sheffield, prosecutors have announced.
Nottingham Panthers’ Adam Johnson died in October 2023 after his neck was cut by an opposition player’s skate during a match at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.
The Sheffield Steelers player, Matthew Petgrave, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and later bailed – but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has now said it will not bring criminal charges against the Canadian.
Michael Quinn, deputy chief crown prosecutor, said: “This was a shocking and deeply upsetting incident. The CPS and South Yorkshire Police have worked closely together to determine whether any criminal charges should be brought against the other ice hockey player involved.
“Following a thorough police investigation and a comprehensive review of all the evidence by the CPS, we have concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offence and so there will not be a prosecution.
“Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Adam Johnson.”
Image: Tributes were left outside the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham following the ice hockey player’s death. Pic PA
Before joining Nottingham Panthers, the Minnesota-born Johnson played in Pennsylvania for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Sweden for the Malmo Redhawks.
He also played in California for Ontario Reign and in Germany for Augsburger Panther.
A post-mortem examination confirmed the 29-year-old died as a result of the fatal neck injury.
The crowd of 8,000 spectators watched in horror as desperate attempts were made to save his life as he lay on the ice, shielded by fellow players.
The game was abandoned and spectators were asked to leave in the aftermath.
Image: Pic PA
Kari Johnson, Johnson’s aunt, was watching the match via a livestream with his father and grandmother when he was fatally injured.
Speaking to Sky News at the time, Ms Johnson said: “It was a mess, it was a nightmare, it was like it wasn’t real. We were in shock, we couldn’t believe this was happening.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:21
Kari Johnson said her nephew was ‘a kind soul’
Ms Johnson described her nephew as a “kind soul” and a “private kid” who “never would have wanted to be in the limelight like this”.
He simply wanted to be “good at hockey and have fun”, she said, adding he was “having the time of his life in the UK” and was planning to get engaged to his girlfriend.
In January 2024, Sheffield’s senior coroner, Tanyka Rawden, suspended her investigation while the police inquiry took its course.
It later emerged that Ms Rawden had issued a Prevention of Future Deaths Report to Ice Hockey UK and the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) about the use of neck guards in the sport.
In the report, Ms Rawden said she was “sufficiently concerned that deaths may occur in the future if neck guards or protectors are not worn”, with the bodies given 56 days to say what action had been taken – or why action had not been taken.
Neck guards have been mandatory in the Elite League (EIHL), in which the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers compete, since January 2024.
This followed the International Ice Hockey Federation’s decision in December to mandate the use of neck laceration protectors for its competitions.