The Metropolitan Police were operating a Live Facial Recognition operation in Stratford on April 15, when they were alerted to Adenola Akindutrie.
The 22-year-old had been wanted since January, following a knifepoint robbery in Hayes.
Akindutire posed as a Rolex watch buyer on Facebook marketplace, arranging to meet with a seller on January 10.
At the time of their meeting, the 22-year-old attacked the seller with a knife before making off to Ireland with the watch and leaving the man suffering life-changing injuries.
He was linked to a similar incident from December 2024, involving a robbery and another Rolex watch.
Upon being stopped in Stratford, Akindutire produced false identity documents and distorted his voice.
He was arrested and subsequently charged with robbery, attempted robbery, grievous bodily harm, possession of a false identity document, and two counts of possession of a bladed article.
Akindutire pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court on May 14 and was sentenced to eight years and six months’ imprisonment at the same court on November 5.
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Det Const Jonathan Mitchell said: “This is Live Facial Recognition in action and shows how our use of this technology is making London safer.
“Akindutire had been wanted for a number of months before the cameras caught up with him. The violent offender will now spend the next eight years behind bars, reflecting on his actions.
“I hope this sentence provides a sense of justice to the victim, while showing the value in this tool in protecting the public from harm.”
