A Moroccan international student who terrorised two young victims in separate knife-point robberies within hours has been jailed for four-and-a-half years at Newcastle Crown Court. Oussama Ettrii, 24, left a woman petrified in a city underpass before targeting a male victim in a similar attack later that evening.
The court heard how Ettrii, who came to the UK to study computer engineering at a Sunderland university, turned to crime after experiencing financial difficulties. His barrister revealed that the defendant’s family had made significant sacrifices to pay his substantial tuition fees, making it “not easy for them to facilitate” his education abroad.
The first attack occurred around 4pm on 26 May when a 20-year-old woman was walking along Eslington Road in Jesmond, heading to her car after finishing work. As she entered an underpass beneath the Central Motorway, she became aware of Ettrii close behind her.
First Victim Left Terrified
Prosecutor Saba Shan told the court that Ettrii muttered something like “have you got an iPhone charger” whilst holding an iPhone in one hand and a black kitchen knife in the other. “He was holding the knife down by his side,” Miss Shan explained.
The terrified victim began shouting for help, prompting Ettrii to tell her to “shush and not to panic”. However, she continued calling for assistance, pleading “please don’t” as she feared for her safety. The woman fled towards her vehicle, not stopping when one of her shoes fell off, before locking herself in her car and calling police.
In a victim impact statement, the woman revealed the attack had caused her “enormous stress” and anxiety. She now avoids going out alone as the incident made her lose confidence in her personal safety.
Second Attack Hours Later
Shortly before midnight on the same day, Ettrii struck again in Newcastle city centre. A 20-year-old man crossing Claremont Place noticed Ettrii on the opposite side of the road, initially appearing to follow someone else.
Miss Shan told the court: “He crossed over and approached him and he saw he had a knife sticking out of his tracksuit bottoms, with his hand near the handle.”
Ettrii demanded the victim hand over his phone and instructed him to log out of his iCloud account. When the terrified man struggled to comply, Ettrii became frustrated and “dragged the victim by his arm towards some bushes”, warning him: “Don’t f*** around and do it right now.”
Upon realising the victim was genuinely having technical difficulties, Ettrii ordered him to remove his PIN code and Face ID settings, and to write down the PIN. He then walked off with the stolen phone, claiming he “never intended to hurt him”.
The second victim described being left “shaking uncontrollably” and “absolutely terrified” by the ordeal. He was “incredibly upset” following the attack, which has had a lasting impact on his wellbeing.
Swift Police Response
Ettrii was arrested four days later in Newcastle city centre after police circulated his description. When officers searched his Todd’s Nook home in Newcastle, they recovered the stolen phone.
The court heard that Ettrii, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and robbery. Judge [name not provided in source] sentenced him to four-and-a-half years in prison, reflecting sentencing guidelines that emphasise the seriousness of knife-point robberies.
Financial Desperation Led to Crime
Defence barrister Penny Hall explained that Ettrii had come from Morocco to pursue a master’s degree in computer engineering at a university in Sunderland. “The defendant is from Morocco and came to study at university to study a masters in computer engineering. He was studying in Sunderland and that was paid for, with quite significant fees, by his family, something it was not easy for them to facilitate,” she told the court.
Miss Hall added that financial pressures had driven Ettrii to commit the offences: “He didn’t want to ask his family for more money and, very foolishly, he committed the offences for financial reasons. He can’t believe he did it.”
The barrister emphasised her client’s remorse, stating: “He is remorseful and embarrassed. He is devastated he did what he did and that he caused harm to others when he was here to try to better himself and has put himself in a position which is quite the opposite of that.”
Growing Concerns About Student Financial Hardship
The case highlights ongoing concerns about international students facing financial difficulties whilst studying in the UK. According to the Higher Education Policy Institute, international students are “frequently flagged as being at risk” regarding financing, with many arriving “increasingly under-financed”.
UK universities have reported growing numbers of international students experiencing unexpected financial hardship, often due to currency fluctuations, family circumstances, or underestimating living costs. The government currently requires students to demonstrate they have £1,334 per month for courses in London and £1,023 per month outside the capital to support themselves.
Several universities have established emergency hardship funds specifically for international students, though these typically offer only small amounts between £250 and £2,000. Students experiencing financial difficulties are advised to seek help from their institution’s support services rather than turning to illegal activities.
Sentencing Reflects Knife Crime Severity
The four-and-a-half year sentence reflects current sentencing guidelines that treat robberies involving knives with particular severity. The Sentencing Council’s guidelines emphasise that offences involving weapons automatically place offenders in higher culpability categories, attracting longer sentences.
Under current legislation, knife-point robberies can result in consecutive sentences when prosecutors charge separate counts for possession of an offensive weapon alongside the substantive robbery charge. This approach ensures courts have appropriate sentencing powers and that weapon offences are properly reflected on offenders’ criminal records.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of carrying and using weapons in criminal offences, with judges required to focus on deterrence when sentencing knife-related crimes. For international students facing financial hardship, universities and support organisations urge seeking legitimate assistance rather than risking criminal convictions that can devastate future prospects.
Ettrii’s student visa status and potential deportation following his sentence were not addressed in court proceedings, though criminal convictions typically have severe immigration consequences for international students.
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