A man who posed as a potential car buyer and attempted to steal a Porsche Cayenne using an imitation firearm, has been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.

Fawaz Oyedeji, 19 (19.11.06) of Leonard Robbins Path, Greenwich, was sentenced today at Inner London Crown Court after Met Detectives linked him to the robbery through mobile phone data and CCTV footage.

Oyedeji had arranged to meet with his victim at their home address in Southwark on Tuesday, 18 March 2025, after seeing a listing for the £72,500 car online.

The victim showed Oyedeji around the car, before the pair got into the front seats to discuss a possible sale, where Oyedeji produced what appeared to be a firearm. He pointed it at the victim, and demanded the keys, but the victim bravely fought back before Oyedeji got out the car and ran away.

Police were quickly on the scene after the victim called 999, and officers launched their extensive investigation immediately – gathering dashcam footage, CCTV evidence and mobile phone data that linked Oyedeji to the offence.

Detectives established that the phone used to arrange the viewing was connected to Oyedeji and had been in the vicinity of both his home address and the scene of the attempted robbery.

CCTV footage captured his movements immediately before and after the offence, while officers recovered clothing that matched those worn by the suspect when he was arrested.

He was arrested at his home address within 38 hours of the offence being committed – on Friday, 20 March.

Detective Constable Alex Long, who led the investigation, said: “The victim showed immense courage by refusing to hand over his keys despite being threatened with what appeared to be a genuine firearm.

“Thanks to his support throughout the investigation and the diligence of officers who gathered CCTV, digital and forensic evidence, we were able to build a compelling case that led to Oyedeji’s conviction and sentence.

“Anyone buying or selling a vehicle privately should take sensible precautions. If something does not feel right, trust your instincts and leave. Always call 999 in an emergency.

“We remain committed to tackling robbery and violent crime across London and bringing offenders to justice.”

Oyedeji was convicted on Wednesday, 12 August for both attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence. Following a trial at Inner London Crown Court, a jury unanimously found Oyedeji guilty after just 26 minutes of deliberation.

The Met is committed to driving down vehicle crime, with offences cut by eight per cent across London over the last year, while one recent operation in central London saw more than 185 arrested in crackdown on robbery and theft.

Last year, the Met took 676 firearms and 2,894 knives off the streets as part of the wider work to tackle weapons and violent crime.