"Relentless" thief ran across railway tracks to escape from police

A burglar who burgled offices in Hammersmith, Fulham and across West London and ran from police across railway tracks has been sentenced.

On July 15 at Isleworth Crown Court Shadrack Graham-Blake age 35 of Freston Road, London W10 was sentenced to; 24 months in prison suspended for 18 months, 18 months supervision order and a 12 month drugs rehabilitation order.

At an earlier hearing he had pleaded guilty to eight offences of burglary and one count of attempted burglary.

The court heard how Graham-Blake had carried out a string of non-residential burglaries across central and west London and was finally arrested after a chase through a train station.

The burglaries began on November 18 2013 at Westcross Way, Brentford where laptops valued at over £1,000 were stolen. At an earlier hearing he had pleaded guilty to eight offences of burglary and one count of attempted burglary.

The court heard how Graham-Blake had carried out a string of non-residential burglaries across central and west London and was finally arrested after a chase through a train station.

The burglaries began on November 18, at Westcross Way, Brentford where laptops worth over £1,000 were stolen and at offices on Great West Road, where he stole nine televisions were stolen with a combined value of over £12,000.

A week later, on November 25 at another set of offices on Great West Road, staff discovered that five laptops and an iPad had been stolen.

On December 16, at offices in Fulham Road, a cleaner saw a male she did not recognise, told another member of staff and a check of the offices revealed that three laptops were missing. A forensic examination found a finger-print linked to Graham-Blake.

On December 18, at an office in Hammersmith Road, a man ran from the building after being challenged by a cleaner and it was subsequently discovered that computers and other electrical equipment valued at over £3,000 had been stolen. Police reviewed CCTV of the premises and Graham-Blake was identified as the suspect.

On January 2, 2014 at offices in Kensington High Street, staff returning to the offices after the festive break found that seven laptops had been stolen, and of CCTV showed a man who was later identified as Graham-Blake as the culprit.

On January 14 Graham-Blake was recorded on CCTV entering offices in Cromwell Roadad stealing computers worth over £7,000.

On Friday, February 7, Grahame-Blake entered an office in Edgware Road amd asked a cleaner who was in the office about two computers that needed repairing. He then left with twp Apple computers worth over £4,000. This theft was only discovered after the weekend, when staff returned to the offices and once again, a forensic examination recovered a fingerprint that was found to match Graham-Blake.

A description and photos of Graham-Blake were circulated on intelligence briefing to police, and on February 19, PC John Colenutt, an off duty Hammersmith police officer spotted him as he was getting on a Circle Line train at Earls Court.

The officer approached Graham-Blake and spoke to him, but Graham-Blake denied he was the wanted man. Then as the train arrived at Notting Hill Gate, Graham-Blake went on the run.

PC Colenutt chased him through corridors and up and down escalators and finally back onto the platform. Graham-Blake then ran to the end of the platform, onto the tracks and started up the tunnel. PC Colenutt shouted at him not to go as he could be killed and a short time later Graham-Blake re-emerged from the tunnel, but started crossing the tracks towards the opposite platform.

PC Colenutt then ran back up the stairs and over to the other platform to catch up with Graham-Blake, chasing him through more corridors and down another escalator onto another platform.

Graham-Blake ran onto a waiting train and a struggle ensued but PC Coolenutt was joined by other off duty officers and Graham-Blake was arrestedand taken to Notting Hill police station where he was later charged. 

DC Justin Rose of Kensington CID said: "This man is a relentless thief and his burglaries plagued businesses across London. His criminality cost companies thousands of pounds; both to repair the damage he caused and replace the property he stole.

" Graham-Blake's crime spree was brought to an end thanks to an excellent piece of detection by an off-duty police officer and this same officer's tenacious pursuit through station corridors and across underground platforms." 

July 31, 2014