CPS refuses to prosecute gang of teenagers who mugged five-months-pregnant woman

Prosecutors have refused to charge a gang of teenagers who mugged a five-months-pregnant woman on the Tube and laughed as she begged them to return her phone.

Natasha Porter was travelling towards Wembley Central, London in October 2019 when she was attacked by four teenagers who took off when she apprehended them.

She previously described how British Transport Police caught the men ‘red handed’ shortly after her ordeal, before arresting them and dropping Ms Porter at home. 

But the charity boss has now been left ‘disappointed’ after learning the men involved won’t be taken to court – despite the entire incident having been caught on camera.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) today said it had concluded it was ‘not appropriate to commence proceedings’ after reviewing all available evidence in the case.  

Ms Porter said: ‘Pretty disappointed to hear today, after a 15 month wait, that the boys who robbed me when I was pregnant, laughing at me as I wept and begged them to give my phone back, won’t be taken to court. 

‘This is despite the whole thing being on camera and some sterling work by British Transport Police.’ 

Ms Porter added she had hoped the men would be able to hear ‘how I felt as a victim so they might think about the consequences if thinking about doing similar in [the] future.’ 

Speaking previously about the attack, she said: ‘I was mugged this evening on the tube. I am five months pregnant and very recently off bedrest, but decided to give chase. Sadly they got away.

‘British Transport Police gave chase, found the tube they had run onto, caught them redhanded, arrested them, and even dropped me home. Absolute HEROES!’

She later added: ‘British Transport Police were not just heroes on the day – the support they’ve provided in the aftermath has been incredible. 

‘Thankfully my baby and I were both unharmed.’

Ms Porter is the founder of Unlocked Graduates, which has recruited hundreds of graduates to be prison officers in the UK since its inception in 2016. 

She has previously worked as a government adviser and in the Westminster think tank Policy Exchange, once described as ‘the largest, but also the most influential think tank on the right’. 

British Transport Police today told MailOnline it had submitted an appeal to CPS in relation to their decision not to prosecute in this case.

‘The appeal has been rejected, and we accept their rationale,’ a spokeswoman said. 

A statement added: ‘On 30 October 2019, BTP received a report of a robbery on an Underground train travelling towards Wembley Central. Officers quickly attended and conducted an area search. 

‘They identified the train involved and stopped four young men who were all arrested on suspicion of robbery and taken to police custody for questioning. 

‘In the months that followed detectives worked to gather evidence which included witness statements and CCTV, before presenting a file to the Crown Prosecution Service. 

‘The CPS decided that no further action is to be taken against the four young men in relation to this incident.’  

A CPS spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘This was clearly a distressing incident for the victim.

‘After very careful consideration, and a full review of the evidence including CCTV, we decided that our legal test for prosecution was not met. 

‘We recognise this will be disappointing for the victim, who has a right to a review of the decision by another prosecutor.’