Imran Mostafa says he began offending after being isolated from society
Hate preacher Abu Hamza's son Imran Mostafa - who was today (Nov. 8) jailed for his part in a robbery in Norfolk - has blamed his crime on his father's notoriety. Mostafa, 20, claimed he was shunned by schoolmates because of the terror suspect's reputation.
Norwich Crown Court was told that Mostafa was sucked into offending
because he had been isolated from society as parents warned their children to
stay away from the extreme Islamist cleric's son. Mostafa’s barrister told how
he had a 'normal relationship' with his father until the age of 11 when Hamza
was jailed.
Roderick Price said: 'He had an unusual childhood and young adulthood. 'In
his early childhood he had a very good relationship with his father who, at
that time, was not in prison. But attempts to socialise outside his home often
failed because of who his father was. He became more and more isolated and his
social life became centred around his family. Friendships proved difficult
because children would be told by their parents not to play with him.'
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| Abu Hamza |
Mostafa, one of Hamza's nine children, threw himself into schoolwork
gaining 11 GCSEs at A or B grade followed by A-levels, Mr Price added. But he
dropped out of a civil engineering course at university after attempts to break
away from his reputation faltered and he experienced similar isolation. Since
being remanded in custody over the offence, he was placed in segregation
because of the identity of his father. Mr Price said Mostafa had been hit hard
by Hamza’s recent extradition to the US, adding: 'He knows he will never see
his father again. 'This is very hard for him because his father treated him in
an entirely normal way as a son.'
Mostafa, of Slough, was part of a gang who used a handgun and
sledgehammer in a 'sophisticated and well planned' raid. The robbery happened
at the Francis Wain store in King’s Lynn just before 10am on January 31. Gems
worth about £70,000 were stolen in the smash and grab raid. Prosecutor Ian
James said: 'Some kind of smoke-producing device was set off causing the
attention of the public to be diverted to the van they used and shielding from
public view the identity of those involved.' Mr James added that the 'violent
intrusion' was captured on CCTV and showed one of the robbers waving a handgun.
'For those who had the misfortune to be working in the premises it must have
been an absolutely terrifying experience,' he said. Mostafa had denied robbery
and possessing a firearm with intent to commit an offence along with
18-year-old Jonathan Abdul from London but both were convicted after a trial in
September.
Today they were sentenced alongside Ossama Hamed, 19, of Fulham and
Ahmed Ahmed, 20, of Enfield, who had previously admitted the same charges. Passing
sentence, judge Peter Jacobs said: 'This was plainly a terrifying robbery. 'Staff
were praying that they would not be shot and they continue to suffer trauma.' Mostafa,
who looked relaxed and wore a grey tracksuit with the initials of USA Track and
Field across it in court, was jailed for 11 years. Abdul will serve 11 years in
a youth offenders institute, Hamed will serve eight years and three months and
Ahmed seven years and four months.
Hamza, pictured with his lawyer Jeremy Schneider, pleaded not guilty to terror charges in a New York court
Nicholas Wells, mitigating for Hamed, argued the raid had not been well
planned. 'He is not set on a criminal future,' he added. Stephen Spence, for
Ahmed, said his client was not a sophisticated criminal and regretted his
actions. Mr Spence added: 'To quote Captain Mainwaring, "He’s a stupid
boy".' David Bird, for Abdul, said he had lived a 'life of turmoil' moving
around various countries after leaving his homeland of Eritrea. The judge had
ordered that details of Mostafa’s parentage should not be reported until the
jury had reached its verdict. Hamza last month pleaded not guilty to terror
charges in a New York court following his extradition from the UK. He denies
charges that he conspired with US nationals to set up a terrorist training camp
in the state of Oregon. Hamza will stand trial next August and will also face
charges of abducting tourists in Yemen.
Source: Daily Mail UK
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