A 35-year-old Nigerian woman has been sentenced to nine months in prison after assaulting a male commuter and attempting to steal from him on a late-night London Underground train.
Gloria Makanjuola, of Cranbrook Road in Ilford, was jailed at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday, February 19, after pleading guilty to assault and attempted theft. The conviction followed an investigation by British Transport Police (BTP) into the violent incident, which took place nearly three years earlier.
The court heard that just before midnight on Friday, March 3, 2023, the victim was travelling alone on an eastbound Central Line train heading toward Hainault in East London. He had been quietly reading a newspaper when Makanjuola sat beside him and began asking for money.
What started as a request quickly escalated.
According to prosecutors, Makanjuola began rummaging through the man’s coat pocket without permission. She pulled out his phone and reportedly told him she would return it only if he handed over cash. As the victim attempted to retrieve his device, she continued searching through his pockets and managed to pull out his wallet.
During the struggle, she allegedly removed £60 in cash while dropping his phone in the process.
The situation turned violent as the victim later reported that Makanjuola repeatedly struck him across his body in an attempt to gain control of his wallet. She also bent his fingers backwards in a bid to overpower him.
Despite the assault, the victim managed to break free and ran down the carriage toward the other end of the train, grabbing his phone as he escaped. However, the confrontation was not over.
As the train pulled into Hainault Underground Station, Makanjuola reportedly chased after him and tackled him to the ground near the train doors. Witnesses on board and railway staff intervened, helping the victim to his feet as Makanjuola gathered her belongings and exited the station.
It was only after the ordeal that the victim discovered his phone had been smashed and rendered unusable during the attack.
Police officers in the vicinity were quickly alerted. Around 1 a.m., an officer at a nearby petrol station spotted a woman matching the description given by the victim. She was identified as Makanjuola and arrested shortly afterward.
Following the sentencing, British Transport Police Detective Sergeant Bronwyn Prew described the incident as a targeted and unprovoked attack on an innocent commuter.
“This was a targeted attack on a member of the public who was simply minding his own business,” she said. “I am very pleased to see Makanjuola jailed for her erratic and aggressive behaviour.”
She stressed that violence and theft have no place on the railway network and reaffirmed the force’s commitment to prosecuting offenders who exploit public transport for criminal activity.
Authorities also encouraged members of the public to report any incidents of robbery or assault on the railway network by texting 61016, calling 0800 40 50 40, or speaking directly to railway staff.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance on public transport and the swift response of law enforcement in ensuring accountability for violent offences.