Teen mugger avoids custody over mugging of Lord Glasman

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was with his 15-year-old accomplice in Stoke Newington Church Street at 11.30pm on June 15.

Michael Mallon, prosecuting, said Mr Glasman had alighted from the 149 bus near Stoke Newington Church Street and was walking towards a Nando's restaurant when he was approached by two minors, both riding bikes.

One of the teenagers attempted to pull the briefcase from the peer’s right hand.

"There is a short struggle that lasts five to ten seconds, Lord Glasman focuses on hanging onto the bag," Mr Mallon told the court.

The pair, both wearing balaclavas to cover their faces, were arrested a short time later.

Volunteers from Jewish neighbourhood watch team Shomrim witnessed the attempted mugging, just metres from the peer's home, and chased the two teenagers.

They detained the pair - who are banned from seeing each other by the courts - on Stoke Newington Church Street until Metropolitian Police officers arrived.

The 15-year-old had already admitted attempted robbery but the younger boy was to face trial accused of being in joint enterprise after initially denying the offence. 


Lord Glasman was spared a second trip to the court to give evidence because of the guilty plea. 


On the first occasion he became “irate” and stormed out of court to meet the Governor of the Bank of England before he was able to give evidence against the teen.


The peer dashed out of the building in order to make the meeting with governor Mark Carney after being delayed in taking the stand for up to two hours on July 26.

That day, Sena Frimpong, prosecuting, said: "Lord Glasman has an important meeting and has left the court.

"He said he can't keep the Governor of the Bank of England and other members of the cabinet waiting for this meeting. He has to be there and has left.

"He was irate. He was talking to me rather bluntly and walked out. "He said we have kept him for an hour and a half here when he's got an important meeting with the governor. I did try and explain, but he was having none of it. He found out about his meeting late last night. That's why he didn't have the opportunity to inform the CPS."

The 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was sentenced to three months curfew with a tag at an earlier hearing.

District Judge Susan Williams today spared his friend youth detention by giving him a one-year youth rehabilitation order.

She ordered that for half of this he must live at a place directed by Islington council.

She said: "[He] is one of the best known boys in the building. He and his friends are back to court so many times we all know you. We have seen you so many times in the last 18 months that you are coming quite famous for all the wrong reasons.”

She said: "I am beginning to wonder whether one day I'm walking home from court and your and your friends are going to jump on me and try to take my handbag.

"I know you and you know me. I'm going to give you one chance and one chance only. ou won't get another one, I'm fed up of seeing you. If you see me again I will have no choice but to lock you up."

He was also handed a £15 victim surcharge, which will be paid by the council.

The boy also admitted a string of court order breaches and stealing a £400 mountain bike.

Simon Handcock, in mitigation, said he had been trapped in the "revolving doors" of the justice system but is showing signs of improvement.

Lord Glasman is a senior lecturer in political theory at the London Metropolitan University.

He coined the phrase "Blue Labour", which he defined as a small-c conservative form of socialism, and founded a think tank of the same name in 2009.

Maurice Glasman was made Baron Glasman, of Stoke Newington and of Stamford Hill, and introduced to the House of Lords in 2011.