A CAREER criminal who tried to rob ex-Arsenal aces Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac is now partially blind after losing an eye in a brutal jail attack.
Ashley Smith, 34, and his accomplice attempted to steal around £200,000 worth of luxury watches from the Premier League stars in July 2019.
Thugs attempted to rob the former Arsenal duo
CCTV showed Bosnia and Herzegovina hardman Kolasinac, 31, fighting them off as German Ozil, 36, protected his wife in his Mercedes G-Wagon.
Smith, who was armed with a knitting needle in Hampstead, north west London, was jailed for 10 years in November 2019 - before his term was cut to six years on appeal.
Footage filmed the night before his sentencing showed the thug being attacked in his HMP Pentonville cell as he pleaded: “It weren't me though. I swear to god. I can't see.”
The Sun can now reveal he lost the use of his left eye following the revenge attack for a robbery near where he lived in Islington, north London.
Smith claimed he had no involvement in the crime and was targeted for warning his co-defendant he was a marked man before coming to the prison.
He told The Blue Tick Show: “He was beating me up basically saying I robbed someone’s mum. I was like bruv, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
“The yout got me good, still. Savaged me, recorded it. I didn't even know it got recorded. I’ve gone to hospital, come out of the cells, collapsed, told the screws I’ve fallen out the bed.”
He added: “My eye. The yout took my eye but it’s life man. I just think, you know, all the skullduggery that I’ve done and got away with has caught up to me now.
“On the video you can’t see his face. He’s back on road. I wish him the best of luck. It is what it is. It’s life man. I thank god I’ve still got my other eye.
“I cried. I broke down. I lost my eye. A yout took my eye for something that I didn’t do.
“Like my nan would have said, what goes around comes around and you can’t cry when you’re out robbing. When you’re out robbing and s*** goes wrong, there’s consequences.”
The dad-of-one was on licence for a 42-month sentence for a burglary in 2017 when he tried to rob the Arsenal players outside Kolasinac’s house.
The soccer stars were pursued by the thugs on a stolen moped during a high-speed chase before they called the police from a Turkish restaurant in Golders Green.
Smith and his accomplice Jordan Northover, 31, who was sentenced to 18 years, both admitted attempted robbery at Harrow Crown Court.
Manchester United will beat Arsenal to the signing of fearsome Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres this summer, according to a Liverpool legend.Gyokeres is one of the most in-demand centre-forwards in the world after registering an incredible 85 goals in 92 appearances for Sporting CP since joining the club in July 2023. The 26-year-old was prevented from leaving last summer by a massive €100mil...
Ollie Watkins was a transfer target for Arsenal back in JanuaryArsenal are gearing up for a busy summer transfer window with a new striker at the top of Mikel Arteta's wishlist. But there are seemingly no plans to rekindle their interest in Ollie Watkins after their failed January swoop for the Aston Villa star.Watkins, 29, emerged as a surprise target for the Gunners in the winter transfer window...
GABRIEL'S wife Gabrielle Figueiredo has given a concerning update on the Arsenal star's injury.The Brazilian, 27, went down clutching his hamstring barely 15 minutes into his side's 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday night.Gabrielle Figueiredo appeared at the Married to the Game screeningGabrielle is married to Arsenal star GabrielAfter receiving treatment on the pitch, the centre-back shook his head ...
Nico Williams is expected to seek a transfer this summer.Arsenal are exploring a summer move for Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams. Andrea Berta has held talks with the Spain forward's representatives in one of his first acts as the club's sporting director.It is understood Berta, who was confirmed in his post last Sunday and attended Tuesday's 2-1 win over Fulham, has met the 22-year-old's agent, F...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Man City confirm Erling Haaland ankle injury Arsenal 2-1 FulhamMerino 37" Saka 73" Forest 1-0 Man Utd Saka in Timber & Gabriel out REAL MADRID ARE IN THE COPA DEL REY FINAL RIP to your productivity this week The only time Cristiano and Messi have ever shared a photo of each other was for the iconic LV ad in 2022! Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There wi...
Manchester City's talisman Erling Haaland has been snapped out and about, ditching his protective boot but still leaning on a crutch as he works his way back from an ankle knock.The Norwegian was caught on camera soaking up the Marbella rays alongside his missus, Isabel Haugseng Johansen, and their youngster who was born late last year.After landing awkwardly during a crucial FA Cup quarter-final ...
HOLLIE SHEARER has turned heads with her latest eye-catching holiday look.The 29-year-old is the daughter of Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer.Influencer and singer Hollie boasts 81,000 followers on Instagram and regularly posts updates from her jet-setting lifestyle.She describes herself as "just a girl who loves fashion, food and pilates".And her latest bold outfit has gone down a storm with ...
BEN WHITE'S wife showed off her baby bump on a boat to leave fellow Arsenal wags amazed.Milly White and her Gunners husband announced they were expecting their first baby in January.The pair have been together for three years after they started dating in 2022.White whisked Milly away on several luxury holidays after they fell head over heels for each other.And just months later they were engaged a...
ANNE HATHAWAY shared the delight of her fellow Arsenal fans after Bukayo Saka's goalscoring return from injury.The winger made his long-awaited comeback from hamstring surgery in last night's 2-1 win over Fulham.Anne Hathaway posted a snap of her in an Arsenal kit after victory over FulhamBukayo Saka was back amongst the goals on his return from injurySaka came on soon after the hour mark and it t...
Liverpool have moved one step closer to the title with a 1-0 win over Everton thanks to Diogo Jota - and Daily Star Sport has a look at what Arne Slot got right and wrongLiverpool and Everton's second round dust-up lacked the tension their first round promised. In the end, it was a routine win for Liverpool.Arne Slot's side had pried and probed, much to the frustration of the Anfield crowd, with E...
- 1 Hot WAG flaunts 'astonishing' washboard abs in bikini
- 2 Danny Rohl hails Sheffield Wednesday resilience in draw at Cardiff
- 3 Alfie May double sends Birmingham step closer to Championship
- 4 Marcus Rashford scores first Premier League goal for Villa in win at Brighton
- 5 Ryan Lowe and Conor Hourihane felt team deserved more as Wigan and Barnsley draw
- 6 Mat Sadler hails Taylor Allen set-piece skills after Walsall snatch draw
- 7 Chris Davies says Alfie May’s goal drought never concerned him
- 8 Football fan 'eats' raw pig's head in ultimate insult
- 9 Marcus Rashford still looking to improve after firing Villa into FA Cup semis
- 10 Chelsea prepare €70m for Barcelona defender