Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, secures increased sentence for man responsible for a series of robberies and stabbings across the London Underground.
Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, secures increased sentence for man responsible for a series of robberies and stabbings across the London Underground.
Adel Kerari of Hammersmith and Fulham, London, had his sentence increased by one year and one month after the Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
The court heard how over two weeks in June 2023, Kerari and other gang members carried out a violent crime spree targeting commuters across the London Underground. Victims were robbed, assaulted and stabbed at stations including Holborn, Russell Square, Leicester Square, Goldhawk Road and Leyton.
During one particular day, Kerari and his gang brutally attacked and robbed one woman and two men in three separate incidents at underground stations. All the victims' phones were stolen, as well as some wallets and bank cards. Two of the victims were stabbed during the attacks.
A total of seven people were targeted across six separate incidents.
The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP said:
Adel Kerari purposely targeted lone passengers across the London Underground in a spree of appalling violence. The attacks and stabbings were shocking and vicious.
I welcome the court's decision to increase the sentence following my referral. Violent criminals and gangs threaten the safety of our towns and cities. I will always pursue action on behalf of victims to ensure sentences reflect the true severity of such violent crimes.
British Transport Police Detective Sergeant Tony Gittins said:
Kerari is an extremely dangerous and violent criminal who launched a rampage of brazen robberies across the London Underground and as such fully deserves to spend the foreseeable future behind bars.
We warmly welcome his sentence being extended today and crucially hope it offers some small comfort to the victims, who have shown considerable strength throughout the judicial process.
A Transport for London (TfL) spokesperson said:
These were extremely serious and violent offences that have no place on London's transport network, and we are pleased that the offender has been brought to justice.
The safety of our customers and staff is our top priority, and we continue to work closely with the police to tackle robbery and violent crime across the network - including with the Metropolitan Police and the British Transport Police to carry out targeted operations and patrols in hotspot locations and using our data and extensive network of CCTV to pursue offenders.
We remain committed to ensuring that anyone who commits offences on our network is brought to justice, and that our transport network remains a safe and secure environment to work and travel.
On 9 January 2025 at Inner London Crown Court, Adel Kerari was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months' imprisonment for six counts of robbery, and one count of fraud.
On Thursday 25 June 2026 at the Court of Appeal, Adel Kerari's sentence was increased to 3 years and 9 months.
