Jail for for young man involved in last summers riots

September 20, 2012, 1:40 pm

A man who threw bricks at officers in a police car has been jailed for a total of eight years for his part in last summer’s disorder.

Elliot – Joahill – Vandalising a Police Car by ukcrime

Alexander Elliott-Joahill, 19 (16.4.93) of Baring Road, Lee SE12 was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court today, Thursday 20 September.

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He had pleaded not guilty to attempted GBH with intent, but was convicted last month after a trial.

He had earlier entered guilty pleas to a number of offences which occurred in Lewisham – possession of an offensive weapon (in relation to a knife he was seen holding), violent disorder, robbery of Favorite Fried Chicken in Catford Road and burglary of Blackheath Antiques at 308-310 Lewisham High Street SE13.

Elliot-Joahill – Offensive Weapon – Favorite… by ukcrime

Elliott-Joahill was involved in significant disorder on the night of 8 August 2011. He deliberately concealed his identity using a distinctive hooded top which zips across the face. At approx. 17.00hrs disorder broke out where police officers were attacked, and key to these attacks was Elliott-Joahill.

The most serious offence was an attack on a stationary police car containing two traffic officers in Lewisham High Street at approx 17.45hrs.

He was seen to hurl a brick at the car, which struck the side of the vehicle. He was seen to approach the car and throw the brick at very short range through the side window of the car, striking the officer in the head. A number of other bricks were also thrown before Elliott-Joahill continued his spree.

The officer – a female PC aged 40 – suffered lacerations to her face and head, and cuts from flying glass. She has now recovered and returned to duties.

Elliott-Joahill was one of three people arrested in the early hours of 9 August 2011 in a car by police officers in the Greenwich Peninsula Retail Park SE10 – the others were Laura Johnson, 20 (15.2.92) a student, from Sheepcote Lane, Orpington, and Christopher Edwards (2.8.94), now 18, from Catford.

The car was found to be loaded with electrical goods which had been stolen from local retail parks in the area.

At earlier appearances in 2011 at Inner London Crown Court Elliott-Joahill pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods at Currys in Charlton; burglary at Comet in Greenwich; burglary at the BP garage in Woolwich Road, Charlton; handling stolen goods at Halfords and PC World at the Stone Lake Retail Park in Charlton.

DC Lisa Lathbury rom Operation Withern said: “Elliott-Joahill and those arrested with him went out on the evening of 8 August with the intention of stealing from local stores and joining in the mass disorder and looting.

“We can only be thankful that his violent and reckless attack on an officer with a brick did not cause far more serious injury.

“We continue to investigate and pursue those involved in the disorder and are still trawling through a large volume of CCTV footage. Suspects are being identified on a daily basis which is leading to further arrests and court appearances.

CO553-11ElliotJoahillCCTV3 by ukcrime

“We are grateful for all the help received and would like to encourage people to continue to assist us and provide us with information which may be pivotal to bringing criminals to justice.”

Detective Superintendant William Lyle, in charge of Operation Withern, said: “I would like to praise the officers from the Operation Withern team who worked tirelessly on this case. Their work has seen a violent man jailed for his reckless actions.

“I would also like to reassure Londoners that my team will continue to pursue those responsible for criminal acts during last year’s disorder, and put them before the courts to face justice.”

+ At Inner London Crown Court in May, Laura Johnson was found guilty of burglary at Comet on Greenwich Peninsula and handling stolen goods from Currys on Stone Lake Retail Park, Charlton. She was found not guilty of burglary at a BP garage on Woolwich Road, Charlton. She was sentenced to two years imprisonment for each count to run concurrently.

Christopher Edwards was found guilty of burglary at Comet on Greenwich Peninsula and handling stolen goods from Currys on Stone Lake Retail Park, Charlton. He had previously pleaded guilty to the burglary at a BP garage on Woolwich Road, Charlton. He was sentenced to a 12 month detention and training order