A BLACKBURN man snatched a £1,200 mobile phone off a fellow passenger on the London Underground.

Blackburn magistrates heard the victim chased Mahmood Ghani Sahir but fell during the pursuit, dislocating his shoulder and fracturing his left humerus.

Sahir, 26, of Pringle Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft of a mobile phone on the London Underground at Hammersmith Broadway in July 2021. He was given a conditional discharge for 18 months.

Bilal Saeed, prosecuting, said Sahir was on the train when the victim entered the same carriage. As the journey continued the victim took out his phone  to read an e-mail.

"The defendant snatched the phone and got off the train with the owner in hot pursuit," said Mr Saeed. "Unfortunately, he fell suffering a fractured humerus and a dislocated shoulder."

Daniel Frazer, defending, said Sahir was in London visiting a friend.

"He can't explain why but, impulsively he snatched the phone and ran away," said Mr Frazer.

The court heard Sahir was made subject to a community order in April which remained in place.