Man threatened people with a machete after arranging to buy their phone

A man who arranged to meet people to buy and sell mobile phones and game consoles before threatening them with a machete has been jailed.

Jama Ibrahim, 26, of Whitburn Avenue, Rusholme, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery after appearing at Minshull Street Crown Court on Thursday (June 22).

The court heard how Ibrahim, along with a 26-year-old man who was sentenced to an 18-month community order having already served time on a tagged curfew, had been involved in a spate of violent robberies in Stockport in 2021.

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Ibrahim arranged to meet victims who believed they would be buying or selling mobile phones or gaming consoles which had been advertised online on Gumtree. However, upon meeting, they would be faced with Ibrahim armed with a machete who would then rob them.

Five incidents were reported to police relating to robberies of a similar nature. One incident saw a 21-year-old man stabbed in the arm, which caused superficial injuries.

The second man drove Ibrahim to the meeting locations, allowing him to carry out the thefts. Through mobile phone investigation work by the police, he was placed at the scenes of the robberies with no explanation as to why he was there except for picking up Ibrahim after the incidents.

Ibrahim was arrested on 18 November, 2021 after police tracked him down through mapping his mobile phone numbers and locating his home address. During the arrest, significant items of his were recovered and linked Ibrahim to the offences.

The other man was arrested on 1 December, 2021 and the vehicle used to transport Ibrahim was seized for forensic recovery. Ibrahim was jailed for seven and a half years. 

Detective