Rachel Morgan writes that a London Underground robber has had his sentence increased after a review by the Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves KC MP. Adel Kerari, of Hammersmith and Fulham, was initially handed a two-year and eight-month term for six counts of robbery and one count of fraud, but this has now been revised to three years and nine months.
The referral was made under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, which allows the Solicitor General to request that the Court of Appeal reviews sentences they believe are too lenient. In Kerari's case, it was argued that his initial sentence did not adequately reflect the gravity of his actions during a two-week crime spree in June 2023.
During this time, Kerari and his associates targeted commuters at various stations, including Holborn, Russell Square, Leicester Square, Goldhawk Road, and Leyton. On six separate occasions, they attacked seven individuals, stealing their phones, wallets, and bank cards, with two victims suffering stab wounds. One particularly disturbing day saw three separate incidents involving Kerari and his associates attacking and robbing a woman and two men at Underground stations.
Solicitor General Reeves praised the court's decision, stating that Kerari 'purposely targeted lone passengers across the London Underground in a spree of appalling violence.' She welcomed the outcome, reiterating her commitment to ensuring sentences reflect the severity of violent crimes and protecting victims. British Transport Police Detective Sergeant Tony Gittins described Kerari as an 'extremely dangerous and violent criminal', whose actions warranted a longer sentence.
Transport for London (TfL) has also welcomed the outcome, with a spokesperson reiterating that such serious offences have no place on the network. They highlighted their ongoing collaboration with the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police to maintain a safe environment for customers and staff.
This collaborative effort includes targeted operations, patrols in hotspot locations, and the use of CCTV networks and data to identify offenders. TfL has reaffirmed its commitment to safety across the network, including London Underground.