TikTok prankster Mizzy has been found guilty of stealing a woman's phone as he rode past her on an e-bike.
Mizzy, whose real name is Bacari-Bronze O'Garro, was riding a green Lime e-bike on 15 June 2022 when he snatched a woman's iPhone from her hand in central London.
Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court heard that O'Garro fled from police and attempted to discard the phone in a bush to avoid being caught. He has been bailed and is set to appear for sentencing at the same court on 13 June.
The court heard that the incident occurred while the woman was walking down Highbury New Park in Islington at about 1:00 p.m. BST. A man on a bike, dressed in a blue tracksuit and a black and white scarf on his head, approached her and grabbed her iPhone 13 Pro Max, which had a value of about £1,000.
The woman was distracted while texting on her phone, which made it easier for the thief to snatch it as he rode by. This incident highlights the risks of distraction while using electronic devices in public spaces and the growing concerns about e-bike-related crimes in urban areas.
The victim of the theft stated that she did not see the thief's face, but she knew he was black because she noticed his arms. She also remembered what he was wearing during the encounter, which lasted about 10 seconds. She described feeling "stressed, anxious, and quite scared" after the incident.
Edward Kalber, the prosecutor, told the court that Bacari-Bronze O'Garro, known as Mizzy, was approached by police for unrelated reasons. O'Garro, who was 17 at the time of the incident, fled from police and threw the stolen phone over a fence into the bushes. An officer forced him off his e-bike, but he ran away on foot. He was eventually stopped by three other officers in an unmarked police car who became suspicious of his behavior.
PC David Clifford testified that O'Garro had exhibited "erratic behavior." The court heard that he was arrested when officers found him hiding behind a tree.
During the trial, O'Garro, now 19, stated that he had been given the phone by a friend with whom he was cycling. He claimed he threw it away, ran from the police, and gave a "no comment" interview because he was "scared of the police." He said, "Sometimes I don't feel comfortable talking to the police because of the negative stereotypes they have in the area." He also mentioned that his lawyer advised him not to comment.
However, Keren Weekes, defending, argued that there was insufficient evidence to prove that O'Garro had stolen the phone. The presiding magistrate, Fros Kyriacou, found O'Garro's story about receiving the phone from a friend and fleeing from the police because he was "scared" not credible. After considering the witness's testimony, she found O'Garro guilty of theft. This verdict reflects the court's acceptance of the victim's evidence over O'Garro's explanation.
