London Underground robber jailed after 11-day crime spree

A man responsible for a string of violent robberies on the London Underground has been sent to prison after a lengthy investigation by British Transport Police.

Adel Kerari, 27, of Lisgar Terrace in Hammersmith and Fulham, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on 9 January 2026 to two years and eight months in custody. He had previously admitted six counts of robbery and one count of fraud by false representation.

The offences stem from a concentrated series of attacks carried out across London in June 2023. Over an 11-day period, Kerari and several other young men carried out six violent robberies, deliberately moving between Underground stations to target lone passengers.

Stations affected by the crime spree included Holborn, Chancery Lane, Leicester Square, Russell Square, Notting Hill, Shepherd’s Bush, Piccadilly Circus and Leyton. In each case, victims were confronted with violence or the threat of violence as the group sought to steal mobile phones and other personal belongings.

The first reported incident took place on 1 June, when a woman was approached on a train heading towards Holborn. After leaving the train, she was followed through the station, pushed from behind, punched in the face and robbed of her phone and headphones before the group fled.

On another evening, two robberies were carried out within just ten minutes. One victim was targeted at Leicester Square, losing their phone and wallet, before the group travelled on to Russell Square where a second person was robbed of their phone.

The final robbery in the series occurred on 11 June at Leyton Underground station. A man was pushed to the ground and assaulted, with his phone and wallet stolen. Within hours, his bank card was used at an off licence by Kerari and others.

Kerari was identified by investigators later in 2023 but was found to be outside the UK. Following his return in 2025, officers arrested him at an address in West London on 4 September 2025. His co-conspirators were jailed in 2023 and 2024, receiving combined sentences totalling more than 10 years.

Detective Sergeant Tony Gittins, investigating officer in the case, said:

“Criminals like Kerari should know that we’ll make sure they face justice for the crimes they inflict on members of the public. Tackling robbery on the London Underground is a top priority for us, and we're working around the clock to catch offenders and ensure they have their day in court. Kerari and the rest of the cowardly group worked together to intimidate and target passengers across London for their own benefit. The rail network is covered by extensive CCTV, which we successfully used to prove that they were behind this 11-day crime spree. Our uniformed and plain-clothes teams patrol the rail network every day to deter robbery and keep passengers safe. Fortunately, incidents like this are rare, but We take every report of robbery extremely seriously and will continue to come down hard on those who use the railway network for criminal gain. If a robbery has just happened, always dial 999 or speak to an officer or a member of staff – our officers can then quickly deploy to your location and begin immediate enquiries to trace the culprits.”

Image: British Transport Police