Shoe robber felt like a 'monster'

A self-confessed shoe fetishist who robbed women of their shoes during a year-long spree did not see the "monster" he had become, jurors heard.

Omar Abd-el-Gowd realised the extent of his behaviour when reading his victims' statements, Inner London Crown Court.

His foot fetish grew stronger when he moved from Stockton-on-Tees in north-east England to London.

The 26-year-old from Honor Oak Park, south east London, admits eight robberies but denies sexual assault.

"It was only when I read the statements of my victims that I realised how serious this was," he told jurors.

Ministry of Sound

"I felt like a monster. What I was reading was a description of someone I didn't recognise... I had convinced myself it was quite a minor thing I had been doing. I was in a state of denial."

The mechanical engineer's obsession began when he spent a Christmas at his father's when a child of 12.

He spotted a pair of shoes belonging to a woman house guest, found himself irresistibly attracted to them and began taking them to his bedroom whenever the opportunity arose.

In the years that followed, his desire for women's shoes increasingly dominated his life.

It was only when he moved to London from Stockton-on-Tees that he discovered an "abundance" of desirable footwear fashion and the robberies began from December 12, 2005, until November 11, 2006.

He would approach them from behind and then quickly lift up one of their feet and escape with one of their shoes.

Once, while at the Ministry of Sound night club in Elephant & Castle, south London, he completely ignored the fact that his target was surrounded by a group of men, quickly stole one of her shoes and fled as she screamed in terror.

The trial continues.