A PlayStation robber shouted for joy as he was told he would not be going to prison.

Ezekiel Amusan, now 21, was convicted at a retrial earlier this year of robbing a Gumtree seller of his PlayStation 4 – after the victim questioned why the buyer was trying to pay with fake £50 notes.

The defendant always denied being the man who, after being challenged by the seller over the counterfeit notes, shoved the victim in the doorway of his Cowley flat on September 5, 2020, punched him then fled with the bag containing the games console and video games.

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And he claimed there was an innocent explanation why his fingerprints were found on one of the forged bank notes used to pay for the item.

Amusan thought he may have come into contact with the counterfeit currency while filming a video for rap song ‘DON’T REASON’, which featured a group of young men boasting about cooking up crack cocaine and waving bank notes and bottles of top brand spirits.

Oxford Mail: Amusan said he may have come into contact with the £50 notes during the filming of a music video, which was posted to YouTube a month before the robbery Picture: YOUTUBEAmusan said he may have come into contact with the £50 notes during the filming of a music video, which was posted to YouTube a month before the robbery Picture: YOUTUBE

When he was questioned about why the Gumtree account – nicknamed ‘Nana’ – that was used to contact the PlayStation seller was linked to his email address and the IP address of the house where he was lodging at the time, the defendant maintained he did not use Gumtree nor did he go by the nickname ‘Nana’.

The jury failed to reach verdicts in the first trial last May, but a different panel of 12 jurors unanimously convicted him of robbery and possession of counterfeit currency at a retrial.

In an impact statement read to the court on Tuesday (April 11) by prosecutor Rose Slowe, the PlayStation's owner said he had been selling the games console to raise cash quickly as he was experiencing financial difficulties at the time.

He said: “Because the PlayStation was stolen from me and I didn’t get the £300 I was expecting, I lost my car, which has led me to increase my drinking.” He had also sought psychological help from his doctor.

Mitigating, Emma Hornby sought to convince the judge that, although the law generally required an immediate prison sentence for those caught passing forged bank notes, Amusan’s was ‘one of those cases that doesn’t require immediate custody’.

Her client, who worked on-off as a landscape gardener, had handed over only six £50 notes – a ‘limited number’ – it was a single incident and had no previous convictions.

Oxford Mail: Jurors were shown this picture of the robber getting into a silver hatchback after the theft in a flat in Normandy Crescent, Cowley Picture: CPSJurors were shown this picture of the robber getting into a silver hatchback after the theft in a flat in Normandy Crescent, Cowley Picture: CPS

Amusan, who had stayed out of trouble since the robbery, had been deemed suitable for unpaid work and rehabilitation courses by the probation service.

“This can be his final opportunity to get things back on track,” Ms Hornby said.

Imposing 21 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, Judge Ian Pringle KC said: “I think in your case there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.” He added: “Don’t let me down.”

The defendant must complete 180 hours of unpaid work.