TikTok prankster Mizzy has been spared jailafter he stole a woman's phone as he rode past her on an e-bike, before fleeing police and attempting to ditch the device in a bush.
Mizzy - real name Bacari-Bronze O'Garro -was riding a green Lime e-bike on June 15 2022 as he snatched the phone out of a woman's hand in central London
Amy Gault, prosecuting, said police officers in the area pursued the teenager, then aged 17, after they "noticed O'Garro cycling in a way that they deemed him to be trying to get away from something" and he was eventually arrested.
The TikTok menace became notorious for vile 'pranks' such as walking into strangers' houses, stealing an elderly woman's dog, ripping up library books and asking random passers-by 'do you want to die'.
The 19-year-old father was jailed last year after breaching criminal behaviour orders on multiple occasions imposed for his TikTok videos.
However, despite previously being convicted of stealing a woman's phone, he avoided being sent back to jail today as he was still a youth when he committed the offence.
TikTok prankster Mizzy has been spared jail for stealing a woman's phone two years ago
Mizzy, real name Bacari-Bronze O'Garro, claimed he had turned his life around and was on a course teaching construction skills in April
His later convictions in relation to his TikToks were not considered as aggravating factors, as they occurred after the phone theft.
Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court heard O'Garro - who appeared in the dock dressed in a black suit with a white tie and shirt - had 'turned his life around' since his experience in prison, which was the 'shock to the system he needed'.
District Judge Michael Oliver handed him a community order, and ordered him to pay £500 in compensation to his victim - who later got her phone back.
Mizzy posed outside court flashing the meditation sign made famous by Andrew Tate.
The sign is believed to be traditional Buddhist hand gesture but since being used by Tate has become associated with concepts like 'the illuminati' and 'the Matrix' online.
However,O'Garro has used the hand gesture in the past and has previously distanced himself from association with Tate.
Ms Gault told the court O'Garro was arrested by police in June 2022 after he was spotted cycling 'as though he were trying to get away from something'.
She said: 'On June 15 [2022], at around 1pm, the victim was walking down Highbury New Park, texting on her phone.
'She felt an individual on her right hand side; they snatched the phone out of her right hand and cycled off.
Mizzy posed outside court flashing the meditation sign made famous by Andrew Tate
Last year he was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison for breaking a court order that blocked him from filming people without their consent. This photo shows him after release
'The police happened to be in the area, and noticed Mr O'Garro cycling as though he were trying to get away from something.
'They followed him into a cul-de-sac, but he failed to stop.
'They saw him discard something. The officers hit his bike lightly and the officers managed to detain him.'
Ms Gault added that the woman's phone was later recovered from a hedge.
She also read statements detailing the impact on victim Ruby Hewitt, who said the incident had left her feeling 'violated', 'scared' and 'angered'.
Despite the incident occurring two years ago in 2022, the court heard O'Garro was only charged in March this year, though it was not clear why.
O'Garro, from Hackney in east London, denied stealing the black iPhone 13 Pro Max - worth £1,000 - from Ms Hewitt in mid-June last year, but was convicted of the offence in April.
O'Garro previously shared a clip of himself cycling inside a Sainsbury's supermarket
He was jailed for 18 weeks at a young offenders' institute last November after breaking a court order banning him from filming people without their consent, but was released after six weeks.
His lawyer, Keren Weekes, told the court the experience had changed him for the better.
She explained he was enjoying looking after his one-year-old son, was back at school studying an NVQ in creative media, and was involved in two internships at content creation companies, where he was working on an anti-knife crime video.
'Mr O'Garro recognises the seriousness [of his offence],' Ms Weekes added.
'He's remorseful for his actions today. At the time of the offence, Mr O'Garro was a youth.
'Crucially, in November last year, he was sentenced to a custodial sentence.
'He found this extremely difficult, to say the least. It was a very dark time in his life.
'It had a detrimental impact on his mental health.
On May 26, another 'riding bikes in places' video was posted to his Twitter account that shows him cycling through the Jobcentre
'It was the sharp shock to the system he needed. He has changed his life around.
'He's the father of a one-year-old he adores. He has turned his life around.'
DJ Oliver slapped O'Garro with a community order, requiring him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and attend rehabilitation sessions.
He was also ordered him to pay his victim £500 in compensation, but waived court costs and the victim surcharge fee due to his lack of finances.
DJ Oliver told O'Garro: 'In June 2022, without any regard for the effect on the victim, you have been found guilty of snatching her phone.
'Fortuitiously, police were on the scene and managed to recover the telephone.
'The victim provided a statement, in which she detailed that she felt scared, angered and scared - which is well understandable.
'You were 17 years of age when the incident took place. You are still only 19, and still a young person.
'Despite being arrested on the day, you were not charged until March this year.
'It seems your custodial sentence had a salutory effect on you.
'I read that your son was born whilst you were serving.
'Notwithstanding the seriousness of this offence, your unattractive record, and the progress you have undoubtedly made, I am just persuaded that this case can be dealt with by a community order.'
