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 the Evening Standard that the decision not to prosecute the four men was made by CPS, adding it would support Ms Porter with any appeal she wished to make.

A statement added: ‘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 have decided that no further action is to be taken against the four young men in relation to this incident.

‘We appreciate this will be disappointing news for the victim, and a chief officer has made contact with her in order to review the case and discuss how we can support her with any appeal she wishes to make.’

A spokesman for CPS said: ‘After reviewing this case and all the available evidence carefully, we concluded that it is not appropriate to commence proceedings.

‘We understand this decision is upsetting for the complainant, but the reasons why this is so is being communicated to her.’      

MailOnline has contacted British Transport Police and CPS for further comment.