Video: Lee teenager jailed for Lewisham and Greenwich riots rampage (From News Shopper)

Video: Lee teenager Alexander Elliott-Joahill jailed for Lewisham and Greenwich riots rampage

2:49pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in News By George Sargent

"Shameful and abhorrent" - Alexander Elliott-Joahill

A 19-YEAR-OLD Lee man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after committing a catalogue of offences during last summer's London riots.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard today how Alexander Elliott-Joahill, of Baring Road, went on a rampage from 4.20pm on August 8 to 2.15am the following day.

He wore a black hoody zipped over his face, which bore a white skull design, while committing the offences.

He was also a passenger of the car driven by Laura Johnson, 20, of Orpington. She was jailed for two years in May for driving rioters around London, stealing and handling stolen goods.

Alison Wilkes, prosecuting, told how Elliott-Joahill was first seen at 4.20pm in Lewisham High Street with a large serrated fishing knife, which he jerked at police.

He then led a group of rioters who attacked a police car with two officers inside.

He threw a brick at the passenger window, smashing glass all over one female police officer. She received serious cuts to her hands and arms.

In a statement the officer said: “There was a real atmosphere of panic and terror.

“If we didn’t get the car started we would’ve been dragged from the car, seriously hurt or killed.”

The court was shown CCTV footage of Elliot-Joahill then moving to Black-Heath Antiques in Lewisham High Street.

Its owner, Mohammed Mazir, had barricaded his shop and was washing, with his son, before evening prayer.

His shop was raided and all his items were stolen. He was also assaulted.

Elliot-Joahill then raided a skip for bottles and bricks which he hurled at a line of police officers. He also threw a large gas canister at officers.

He then returned to the antique shop and was seen running away from it with a bundle of DVDs and games under his arm.

At 7pm Elliott-Joahill burst into Favorite Fried Chicken in Catford Broadway, Catford.

CCTV showed him jumping on top of the counter. Members of a rioting group then threw chairs and tables at staff behind the desk while two young customers with a baby looked on in shock.

The looters fled after the shop's owner repeatedly threw boiling oil at them. But not before they left with his till.

Elliott-Joahill then joined up with Laura Johnson.

She drove Elliott-Joahill and Christopher Edwards, from Catford, who was 17 at the time, around as they stole from various shops.

Elliott-Joahill and Christopher Edwards loaded the car up with cigarettes and alcohol from a BP garage, electrical goods and other items from Comet, Currys, PC World and Halfords.

The trio was arrested early that morning.

Elliott-Joahill told police at the time: “I was picked up by a friend who asked me to help carry some TVs from Comet.

“We were just putting stuff in our cars,” he added.

Elliott-Joahill pleaded guilty to 10 charges. These included three of burglary, one of violent disorder, one criminal damage offence, one of possessing a knife, one of robbery and three charges of handling stolen goods.

A jury previously found him guilty of attempted GBH with intent to harm a police officer.

Daniel Kersher, defending, said his client recognised his crimes were "shameful and abhorrent" and "utter lunacy on his part", but that he was just 18 at the time.

Judge Julian Malins said in sentencing: "This is one of the worst series of incidents committed during the riots which occurred on the 8th and 9th of August last year."

He sentenced Elliott-Joahill to a total of eight years in jail. He will serve the first part of his sentence in a young offenders’ institute before being moved to an adult jail when he is 21.

Police confirmed after the sentencing there are thousands of people left to be contacted by the police in connection with the riots.