Two armed robbers walk free from court after 100mph armed police chase

Derick Dapaah and Samuel Mozimbi, both aged 18, were spared jail despite robbing a car at gunpoint and then taking police on a ‘high-risk’ pursuit.

The pair had a imitation firearm and knife as they  lured two victims into a robbery with the promise of buying a watch near Crowcroft Park in Levenshulme.

They stole clothing and valuables from the victims, aged 17 and 18, and the keys to a silver VW Golf they had arrived in, Manchester Crown Court heard.

The victims dialled 999 and with the streets relatively empty due to the coronavirus lockdown, armed police on routine patrol spotted the stolen Golf a short time later.

A pursuit began and Dapaah embarked on a ‘prolonged course of high-risk, dangerous’ driving from the city centre towards south Manchester reaching speeds of 100mph, travelling on the wrong side of the road and racing through several red lights.

The chase came to a dramatic conclusion when the Golf crashed on the A6 in Longsight and the two teens were arrested at gunpoint by armed police.

An investigation by GMP’s anti-robbery unit Operation Valiant pieced together how Dapaah, who had a pervious conviction for robbery, had set up the crime.

Due to their age, 16 at the time of the offences, both where granted bail, Dapaah then committed yet another nasty robbery in Levenshulme only months later in December 2020.

A student was robbed of his new Apple laptop and bank cards which were used to withdraw more than £400 in cash.

Despite his appalling record, Dapaah, of Parkin Street, Longsight, was spared custody and given a Youth Referral Order.

Judge Sarah Johnston conceded her sentence may be perceived as ‘lenient’ but pointed to the fact he had served ten months in both adult and youth custody while on remand.

While still grabbing the victim by the throat he said ‘I will f***ing stab you I don’t give a f***’, Meanwhile, Mozimbi, of Charnwood Road, Manchester, held a knife to the neck of the other victim, the court heard.

Sentencing, Judge Sarah Johnston said each of the defendants had ‘unique and complex histories’.

Mozimbi, who came to the UK from the Congo, has suffered ‘traumatic’ experiences including being stabbed in February last year.

He has also been issued with ‘threat to life’ warnings by police.

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Leon Cawley-Bowyer, of GMP’s Operation Valiant, said: “This pair had absolutely no regard for the safety of others, they threatened their victims with extreme violence before driving dangerously and at excessive speed through residential areas which could have easily resulted in catastrophic consequences for innocent members of the public.

“Although it was later discovered that the firearm was an imitation firearm, the victims would not have known this at the time. I cannot begin to imagine how terrifying this ordeal must have been for the victims who were subjected to a very real threat of violence.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the firearms officers who expertly pursued the car and arrested the suspects with no injury caused, and would like to reinforce the message that this behaviour is completely unacceptable and that the Operation Valiant team will continue to pursue criminals of this kind and ensure they face the consequences of their actions.”