#Article (Archive)

Gambian featured in UK ‘Crime Watch’ programme finally jailed

Jul 13, 2015, 11:11 AM | Article By: Alhagie Mbye, The Point’s Europe Correspondent

[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]Whereas dozens of Senegambian men and women have graduated from various colleges and universities across Europe, lots of them with flying colours and become publicly successful, others unfortunately had fallen afoul of the law and often get into trouble with the authorities.

Some of our citizens even had their “Leave to Remain” extended, and are allowed to pursue further studies in various fields ranging from Economics, Law and other Social Studies. They end-up securing good jobs. The Point even reported Senegambians amazingly voted into the Bundestag (German Parliament).

But this was a complete contrast, in the case of one Lamin T (surname withheld by this correspondent for privacy reasons), who was widely featured on BBC’s Crime Watch – a high-profile television programme watched by millions of people in order to help the Police in solving important and imperative cases.

Lamin, who is in his late 30s, was described as a ‘predatory sex attacker’ who was brought to the attention of various police agencies to be arrested.

The immigration was also involved as he was described as an “overstayer” who came in the UK in 2009, to attend a wedding ceremony, but later “absconded”.

Even though his case was reported by some section of the media, Lamin’s actual sentenced was not confirmed, as an ’appeal was to be filed’. Others even reported that he was to be sentenced for 16 years.

However The Point can now substantiate that the sentence is now ‘finalised’ and he was jailed for 12 years, with four years extended licence on his release.

Furthermore, a judge had ordered his ‘sentencing remarks to be forwarded to the Parole Board and Home Office’ for ‘possible deportation’. The Judge was so upfront and blunt describing him as ‘a significant risk because you are a man who randomly attacks females who are strangers to you’.

Lamin who was living in Leeds, where he was first accused of a similar offence, was in 2013 brought before a magistrate in the city. He was charged, among others, with ‘targeting women walking alone’. However, he was bailed and reportedly left the city and was ‘at large’.

Interestingly, another report of a similar offence was filed against him until he was caught. The police said that he was arrested with the aid of ‘CCTV and DNA left behind his crime scene’, and that he was linked to ‘another assault in Wales’.

In the wake of this unfortunate development, respected Senegambians in the community have called on their fellow citizens to continue to guide and protect their well-known position of being law-abiding, honest and hard-working members of the society.

[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE <![endif][if gte mso 9]> <![endif][if gte mso 10]> <![endif]