Kheirddine Fatmi, a 35-year-old Algerian asylum seeker from Wood Green, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison by Southwark Crown Court. The sentencing follows a high-value robbery at a John Lewis department store and a series of aggressive incidents at a local convenience store.
The £12,800 Mulberry handbag heist in the West End
The robbery at the John Lewis store in London's West End involved a coordinated theft of luxury goods on October 30. As reported by the source,Fatmi and four other masked individuals enntered the premises to steal 13 Mulberry handbags and a keychain, with the total value of the stolen items reaching £12,800.
CCTV footage captured the group fleeing the scene, though Fatmi was apprehended after failing to escape as quickly as his accomplices. During the theft, Fatmi reportedly shoved a security guard and spat on his bare arm, an act that left one member of the staff visibly shaken . Fatmi has since admitted to robbery, theft, and three counts of assault.
A pattern of aggression at the Baker Street Co-op
Aggressive behavior toward retail staff extended beyond the John Lewis incident to a local Baker Street Co-op.. According to the report, Fatmi was involved in several separate confrontations at the store, beginning with an incident on April 22, 2025, where he spat in the face of a worker.
The pattern of disruption continued when Fatmi returned to the Co-op six days later to throw a bag of food at an employee. He was also noted to have abused and spat at staff on April 30, 2025, and returned again on August 3 to steal alcohol. As a consequence of these repeated actions, the court has issued a five-year ban preventing Fatmi from entering the Baker Street Co-op location.
The "stealing to survive" defense in Southwark Crown Court
The legal proceedings revealed a complex motivation behind Fatmi's criminal activity, rooted in his precarious legal status. While he is a trained construction worker,the court heard that he felt driven to crime because he is unable to work legally while his asylum claim remains pending in the UK.
Recorder Jas Jandu addressed these circumstances during the sentencing, noting that Fatmi appeared to be "stealing to survive" due to his illegal status.. The personal toll on the defendant was also noted, including the fact that he is currently awaiting dental treatment in prison after losing 13 teeth in a previous violent assault. Fatmi, who has a young son in Algeria, sat in the dock assisted by an Arabic interpreter.
Will Fatmi face deportation after his 32-month sentence?
The long-term legal status of Fatmi remains a central uncertainty following his sentencing. While the court noted that he may now face deportation from the United Kingdom, it remains unverified whether the Home Office will initiate these proceedings immediately or wait until his 32-month prison term is completed.
Furthermore,the source does not clarify the current status of the four other masked men who participated in the Mulberry handbag robbery. it remains unknown if they have been identified by authorities or if they face similar charges in relation to the West End heist.
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