A FLAKY DEFENCE
Jury not fooled by gangster’s ‘eczema’
THE ringleader of a gang of violent moped robbers is facing jail after a jury finally rejected the defence he has been using for years.
Courtney White, 22, led a band of raiders who repeatedly attacked mobile phone shops, armed with hammers, knives and a gun in a £1million crime spree.
But he claimed his bad eczema means he sheds his skin, which is why his DNA was found at crime scenes.
White twice previously used his skin condition as a defence and was cleared. He was acquitted of stealing a Rolex watch from a man as he tried to park his Ferrari last year. He was also forensically linked to a balaclava found after a moped raid at a pawnbrokers in January, 2015.
White claimed he had borrowed the mask and was again cleared.
But after the latest spree, a 9mm handgun found in a car used in the raids had his DNA on it. White once again used his eczema excuse.
But a jury at Wood Green crown court were not convinced and he was found guilty of conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and possession of the firearm. White, of Tottenham, North London, faces sentence next week.