A ‘Cinderella’ phone snatcher who was identified by his lost shoe after being tackled by furious Londoners has been jailed for 15 months.
Spencer Duarte, 29, was rushed by members of the public after he grabbed a phone from an innocent victim’s hand on Ludgate Hill, near St Paul’s Cathedral, on August 7 last year.
The dramatic aftermath – caught on CCTV – shows a quick-thinking pedestrian leap into the street and intercept the robber – who falls off his e-bike.
Duarte was eventually able to get away, but left behind his trainer containing DNA at the scene – leading police to dub him ‘the ‘Cinderella phone snatcher’.
Police failed to catch him for a month before he was finally spotted by officers and arrested. He was found guilty of theft at Inner London Crown Court in June.
Judge Freya Newberry said the incident had left his victim, Brian De Clare, a 66-year-old former advisor to Bill Clinton – scared to return to central London.
A staggering nine phones an hour were reported stolen in London last year, at a cost of £50million.
Police bosses have admitted phone theft is a ‘growing and very serious problem’ as they struggle to grapple with the ‘organised criminal enterprise’.
A man bravely attempts to physically tackle the thief who is dressed in fluorescent gear and dons a cycling helmet
In a last minute attempt at halting the robber, another four pedestrians reach out to try and grab hold of Duarte, who darted at speed between the different men before making a successful exit down the road
Spencer Duarte (pictured), 29, was sentenced to 15 months in prison following the theft in Ludgate Hill, London on August 7 last year
Jailing Duarte yesterday, Judge Newberry said: ‘You stole a phone from Mr de Clare, you were dressed all in yellow with a rucksack on your back.
‘You were speeding along on your bicycle in the area of Ludgate Hill and while he was using his phone you snatched it out of his hand.
‘There was a momentary struggle while he tried to hang onto it but you took it and off you rode with it, but a couple of people took it on themselves to stop you getting away with that.
‘You were taken off the bike and even then made off – showing some considerable athletic ability in both cycling and the struggle afterwards.
‘This incident was so shocking it has given Mr de Clare a fear of coming into the city.
‘In that quite busy area where one doesn’t expect to see that sort of incident it was so dramatic and striking – and makes a lot of people fear they cant walk around the streets, even in the city.
‘It looks as though from a relatively young age dishonesty and thieving were a way of life for you.’
Duarte arrived at Inner London Crown wearing beige cargo trousers, a beige t-shirt and glasses with a large rucksack packed with his belongings.
He was accompanied by his mother.
Duarte can be seen in the distance via CCTV footage as he is knocked off his bike by a member of the public
Eventually forced to abandon his bike, the phone thief then proceeds to run across the road away from the furious Londoners
Andrew Walker, physical forensics manager at the City of London Police, dubbed Duarte the ‘Cinderella phone snatcher’ after he left his trainer containing his DNA at the scene.
He said: ‘We were able to get sufficient levels of DNA from the shoe to obtain a single, major profile that was suitable for searching against the national DNA database.
‘This search generated a “hit” to a male whose profile had previously been uploaded.
‘The slipper fitted our Cinderella and we were able to bring him before the courts.’
In the initial struggle Duarte also lost his rucksack containing a pack of face coverings and two rolls of kitchen foil.
He had the silver foil in his bag to wrap around the phone so it could not be detected by trackers before being unlocked and wiped.
Prosecutor Patricia Deighan said: ‘The victim on this occasion was Brian de Clare, at about 12pm in the afternoon he was walking along Ludgate Hill using a mobile phone in his hand when it was snatched out of his hand, he described a slight struggle by a rider on a pedal cycle.
‘As the defendant made off down Ludgate Hill towards Ludgate Circus on a bicycle members of the public tackled him and knocked him off his bike.
Pictured: Duarte’s bike and bag he left behind following the struggle. The bag contained silver tin foil as well as face coverings
‘There was something of a struggle and other members of the public attend to assist and detain him.
‘He dropped the phone and also dropped a rucksack containing the items of foil and mobile phones.
‘He ran off chased by members of the public but did get away by jumping on a train.
‘The shoe was handed to police and he was identified through DNA.’
In a victim impact statement Mr de Clare said he worked in the City of London for 25 years and still visits frequently now he is based overseas.
Ms Deighan said: ‘He visits London frequently for travel or work and has always felt safe walking the streets until this happened.
‘When this happened he was in complete shock and the experience left his heart racing.
‘Since this happened when he returns to London he looks look at the city with a different perspective – one of fear.’
Mr de Clare said: ‘This and another incident where I had my wallet stolen has not stopped me coming to London but has made me nervous when walking even on major streets.
‘I warn others before they visit London to watch out at all times for these thieves who prey on normal people like myself.
‘I’m 65 years old and have concerns about older people being victimised for this sort of offence.’
Duarte told a probation officer that he owed his drug dealer £460 because of his cannabis addiction and he wanted to steal phones to give to him to pay off the debt.
He said his previous offences to theft were due to being involved with a gang in Islington.
He said he avoids going to London as it can ‘trigger’ his offending behaviour.
The probation officer said Duarte had been left with arthritis in his leg after a motorcycle accident in November 2021 so would not be suitable for unpaid work.
Defence barrister Parveen Mansoor said Duarte was unemployed at the time of the offences due to the accident.
Alex (originally from New Zealand, was on his lunch break from work when he said he first spotted a cyclist he described as looking ‘slightly off’
His Universal Credit had been stopped because he was sanctioned for not attending the job centre.
She said he wanted to apologise to Mr de Clare and he had been smoking cannabis from a young age and wanted help to stop.
Ms Mansoor said Duarte had been distressed by media reports referring to him as ‘Cinderella’.
‘He knows there is no fairytale ending here,’ she added.
Duarte, of Saffron Walden, Essex, admitted theft.
Jake Dean, Police Constable of the City of London Police, said: ‘Do not come to the City and think you can steal from residents, workers or visitors without paying the penalty.
‘Our targeted patrols, excellent police work and extensive CCTV will mean you will be caught and brought to justice.’
The replacement value of stolen phones for members of the public and insurance companies was estimated at £50m last year.
Duarte has seven convictions for 29 offences of theft and dishonesty.
He was part of a gang who grabbed 14 handbags worth £50,000 from the Louis Vuitton shop in Sloane Street, Chelsea, in 2015.
