International sports

Man jailed for trying to rob Arsenal stars Mesut Özil and Sead Kolasinac

An armed mugger who tried to rob Arsenal footballers Mesut Özil and Sead Kolasinac has been jailed.

Ashley Smith admitted attempting to steal luxury watches worth £200,000 from the pair in Hampstead, north-west London.

A second man, Jordan Northover, 26, has also admitted his role in the robbery.

Smith, 30, of Archway in north London, was jailed for 10 years at Harrow Crown Court on Friday. Northover will be sentenced at a later date.

CCTV footage showed Kolasinac chasing off two masked attackers on 25 July.

In a video that circulated on social media, the 26-year-old Bosnian defender could be seen fighting off two knife-wielding men.

Smith was described by judge Ian Bourne QC as a prolific “career criminal” who was well known to police.

He was out on licence for a 42-month sentence for burglary in 2017 when he tried to rob the Arsenal duo.

The court heard Smith and his accomplice did not count on the bravery of Kolasinac in fighting back.

The would-be robbers used a stolen moped, were dressed in helmets and dark clothing to try and conceal their identities.

Özil drove the group away from the scene pursued by culprits throwing stones at the car, the court heard.

Kolasinac and the Germany midfielder were left out of the Arsenal side ahead of the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign after the incident.

 

Source: bbc.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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