A robber who battered a new bride and stole her wedding ring has been jailed for six years after he was tracked down – using a mobile app.
McMorgan Wokoma, 45, repeatedly punched the terrified woman and threatened to rape her in the early morning attack before making off with the precious ring and other valuables.
But police were able to track him down just over an hour later using built-in GPS tracking software on the woman’s stolen iPhone.
Officers recovered the phone and the woman’s platinum engagement and wedding rings, worth around £8,000.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Wokoma crept up on his victim when she stopped in a pub car park for a cigarette after a night out.
She told police she was sitting in the dark with the engine off when a man’s head appeared in the open driver’s side window.
Alka Brigue, prosecuting, told the court: “She screamed, started the car and tried to drive off but Wokoma grabbed the steering wheel, forcing the car to crash into a nearby wall.
“He then climbed inside the car and warned the victim, that she would be raped and dumped in the boot if she did not hand over her possessions, the court was told.
“She was repeatedly punched before handing over her platinum rings, worth #8,000 in total.”
The court heard that the victim’s mobile phone started to vibrate in her bag, causing Wokoma to snatch that as well.
He fled from the scene behind the Oddfellows pub in Compton, West Mids., after striking at 1.20am on July 14 this year.
Police officers were able to use the woman’s login details to activate the ‘Find My iPhone’ app and pinpoint the missing handset.
A GPS message showed Wokoma had fled on foot to nearby Whitmore Reans, one mile away, and he was apprehended at 2.35am.
The woman staggered in to a nearby road and stopped two passersby who alerted police.
Jailing Wokoma for six years on Friday, judge Martin Walsh said: “It was a terrifying ordeal.”
Wokoma, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to robbery.
