Teenage ‘highwaymen’ jailed for life after stabbing charity youth worker

Abdul Samad, 28, was fatally stabbed for his iphone Two teenage moped riders have each been jailed for more than 20 years after stabbing a charity youth worker to death during a violent robbery spree in west London.

Nathan Gilmaney, 19, and Troy Thomas, 18, tried to rob as many people as possible, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake on 16 October last year.

They killed 28-year-old Abdul Samad for his iphone and little more than “aggression and blood lust” as they swept across London on a scooter.

Gilmaney was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 27 years.

Thomas was yesterday detained with a minimum of 22 years at the Old Bailey.

They chatted to each other at times during the hearing, repeatedly smiling and laughing together in the dock. The public gallery was packed, with several people dabbing their eyes as statements were read on behalf of Mr Samad’s mother and girlfriend.

Gilmaney shouted obscenities moments after the sentence was passed and the public gallery had to be cleared after repeated outbursts.

Judge Richard Marks QC described the victims family’s statements as “heart-rending”. He said: “Abdul Samad was an outstanding young man in his 20s, engaged to be married and had his whole life ahead of him.

“Your wicked stabbing of him has left his family understandably utterly devastated.”

Gilmaney knifed the charity youth worker in the chest in an attempt to get the PIN for his phone, the judge said.

After being stabbed, Mr Samad collapsed on his doorstep in front of his horrified parents while the robbers prowled the streets for their next victim.

Their spree of violence was committed over four hours in north-west London and involved nine knifepoint robberies.

Gilmaney stabbed four other victims, who all survived, and admitted he attacked one man because he was “angry” he had tried to run away.

The judge described CCTV footage of their crimes as “chilling”.