Last year, a family was travelling towards Gatwick Airport from London Bridge station, where their bag was stolen from the overhead storage on board the train.

Ayoub Alshirredi boarded the train at the same time as the family on the 27th October last year. He walked through the train and positioned himself on a seat near the bag just before arriving at East Croydon station.

He then grabbed the bag as the train arrived at the station and left, with the missing bag not being reported until the family arrived at Gatwick Airport.

An investigation was launched by the British Transport Police, where he was arrested in February and pleaded guilty in March.

Alshirredi was sentenced on 20th March to 16 weeks’ imprisonment at Willesden Magistrates’ Court.

 “I’m pleased that the court have taken Alshirredi’s offending seriously and imposed a custodial sentence. His actions were self-serving and opportunistic, as he targeted a young family going on holiday.

“In thinking only about himself, he put the family through considerable anxiety and stress, so I hope that they can feel a sense of closure now justice has been served.

“We take every report seriously, and anyone who witnesses or is the victim of a crime on the railway is encouraged to report it by texting us on 61016.”

BTP Police Constable Imogen Gates