A man who threatened a 76-year-old at knifepoint and stole his phone has been sentenced to prison. Denzel Nyamutora, 25, with no fixed address, was jailed for three years and seven months at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday, 9 December.
The incident occurred on Thursday, 17 April 2025, just before 2 pm, when Nyamutora boarded a train from Weston-super-Mare to Bristol Temple Meads, which had stopped at Worle. Spotting the elderly man’s phone unattended on a table, he snatched it and, when confronted, brandished a knife, telling the victim to “f*** off.”
The victim immediately alerted station staff, and British Transport Police officers, aware of Nyamutora’s bail conditions prohibiting railway travel, quickly recognized him on the platform. Officers discovered two knives hidden on Nyamutora—one in his bag and another concealed in his coat.
He was charged with robbery and possession of bladed articles. Nyamutora pleaded guilty to robbery and two counts of possessing a bladed article.
A British Transport Police spokesperson said, “Nyamutora’s violent actions against a vulnerable elderly man will not be tolerated. Thanks to our officers, he was swiftly brought to justice.”
The lengthy prison term underscores the serious consequences for offenders targeting vulnerable passengers and carrying knives on public transport.
