A 19-year-old man has been jailed for four years in the United Kingdom after using an imitation firearm to attempt to steal a Porsche Cayenne worth £72,500 from a seller he contacted online.
Fawaz Oyedeji, from Greenwich, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court after being convicted of attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence.
The incident occurred on March 18, 2025, when Oyedeji arranged to meet the seller at their home in Southwark after responding to an online listing for the luxury vehicle.
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According to the Metropolitan Police, Oyedeji initially presented himself as a prospective buyer and inspected the car before sitting in the front seat with the seller to discuss the transaction.
He subsequently produced what appeared to be a genuine firearm, pointed it at the victim and demanded the vehicle’s keys.
However, the seller resisted, forcing Oyedeji to abandon the attempt and flee the scene.
The victim contacted emergency services, prompting police to launch an investigation involving CCTV footage, dashcam recordings, mobile phone data and forensic evidence.
Detectives traced the phone used to arrange the viewing to Oyedeji, while surveillance footage captured his movements before and after the attempted robbery.
Police also recovered clothing matching those worn by the suspect during the incident.
Oyedeji was arrested at his home on March 20, less than 38 hours after the attempted robbery.
A jury at Inner London Crown Court subsequently found him guilty following a trial, reaching its unanimous verdict after 26 minutes of deliberation.
Detective Constable Alex Long, who led the investigation, praised the victim for resisting the armed threat.
“The victim showed immense courage by refusing to hand over his keys despite being threatened with what appeared to be a genuine firearm,” Long said.
He added that CCTV, digital and forensic evidence helped detectives build a compelling case against the defendant.
The detective also urged members of the public buying or selling vehicles privately to exercise caution.
“Anyone buying or selling a vehicle privately should take sensible precautions. If something does not feel right, trust your instincts and leave,” he said.
The Metropolitan Police said it remained committed to tackling robbery and violent crime across London.
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