Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac’s ordeal in the summer of 2019 is still reverberating through the headlines, as one of the attackers, Ashley Smith, has recently spoken out about the incident on a podcast, showing no sign of remorse for his actions.
NINTCHDBPICT000537517791 e1573078566984
Smith, then 30, and his accomplice Jordan Northover, 26, attempted to rob the Arsenal duo outside Ozil’s north London home, targeting them for their luxury watches valued at around £20,000.
The failed robbery, immortalised by footage of Kolasinac fending off the attackers with his bare hands, became iconic among Arsenal fans. Smith and Northover, armed with a knitting needle and a long blade, threatened Kolasinac, but the Bosnian international’s fearless response foiled their efforts.
Smith was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2019, while Northover also admitted guilt at Harrow Crown Court. Smith was out on licence following a 42-month sentence for burglary in 2017, and at the time of the robbery was described as using the attack to fund his drug habit. Speaking in court, Susan Meek, representing Smith, acknowledged that he described his actions as “a scummy thing to do” and blamed his behaviour on drug use.
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on February 27, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
Despite this, Smith’s recent appearance on The Bluetick Show podcast offers little contrition. Reflecting on the crime, he said, “Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. I don’t even want to think about the numbers. We would have raised at least 180,000 euros.” His comments conveyed a sense of indifference, as he added, “This is happiness. You don’t know what you’re getting.”
The attackers, riding mopeds and donning helmets, had not anticipated Kolasinac’s reaction. Ian Bourne QC, during the court hearing, detailed how the assailants used their weapons to threaten Kolasinac, thrusting a blade towards him. “The two of them had not counted on Mr Kolasinac fighting back, and he behaved incredibly bravely,” Bourne said.
The attackers continued their pursuit even after Kolasinac managed to get back into Ozil’s car, throwing stones at the vehicle as the two Arsenal stars made their escape.
Related Posts