Police footage of Zuriel Hutson (circled) riding the wrong way up the M11

A PROLIFIC mobile phone snatcher who rode a stolen moped the wrong way up the M11 in a 90mph police chase was released from jail just last year, the Tribune can reveal.

Zuriel Hutson rode at high speeds, weaving in and out of traffic on the wrong side of the carriageway, until he was caught by police who used a “stinger” tyre deflation device to slow him down.

Shocking footage released by the Met Police this week shows Hutson at one point hitting an oncoming car and falling off his bike, before picking the moped up and carrying on the wrong way along the hard shoulder, during the dramatic chase on June 26 last year.

Hutson will almost certainly be jailed at Isleworth Crown Court today (Friday) after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal, dangerous driving and breach of a criminal behaviour order.

In May 2015, the 21-year-old was among a group of teenagers who rode through Barnsbury on mopeds armed with knives, swords and machetes while chasing another group of youths. All were given criminal behaviour orders (CBOs) and sentenced to more than six years’ detention between them in September last year.

He is the twin brother of Cavell Hutson – jailed alongside his brother in 2015 – who made the headlines again last October when he was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to 21 snatch thefts of mobile phones and dangerous driving. He was caught following a 20-minute police chase in Hackney, in circumstances similar to his sibling.

The case of the Hutson brothers raises questions about the effectiveness of rehabilitation services. It is reckoned that around 200 young people are involved in serious crime in Islington.

Zuriel Hutson, Sharuk Sheraji and Cavell Hutson

Commenting on the case, Councillor Joe Caluori, Islington Council’s executive member for children and young people, said: “The youth offending service (YOS) is still dealing with an entrenched offending culture in a group of older young people and that behaviour has entrenched for a number of years. Those cases are really hard.

“But for me the important thing is that the YOS has shifted its focus to working with young people who are first-time offenders, to identify how they can set positive goals for themselves that they can achieve, rather than just managing their behaviour. There are signs that this is having an impact.”

In 2014, a damning inspection report of Islington’s YOS found more than half of young criminals in the borough re-offend, compared to 37 per cent nationally.

However, under the stewardship of new chief Liz Westlund, things are improving. A recent report from the Youth Justice Board noted “clear improvements in quality” of the service.

Officers from the Met’s Operation Attrition – set up specifically to tackle moped snatch offences – were mobilised in unmarked police cars, and with the support of a police helicopter, spotted Hutson and his accomplice Sharuk Sheraji snatching phones.

The offenders were riding a stolen moped, steered by Hutson, as they carried out 18 mobile phone thefts across north and east London.

When police tried to stop the pair in Tottenham, Sheraji jumped off the moped and attempted to flee on foot, but was caught by the officers. He was found to be in possession of the stolen phones and arrested for attempted robbery.

Hutson then attempted to escape on the moped, heading north and onto the North Circular, and onto the M11.

Police were forced to close part of the motorway to prevent further danger to motorists. Officers eventually deployed the deflation device ahead of Hutson, which stopped him on the slip road of the M11 to the M25. He then attempted to flee bare foot, but police soon caught up with him and he was arrested.

Hutson appeared at Wood Green Crown Court on January 31, where he pleaded guilty to the offences. He will be sentenced alongside Sheraji, 22, from Hoxton, who has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order.

Sheraji was also part of the group of youths jailed alongside the Hutson brothers in 2015.