Footwear fetishist walks free

By admin on April 24, 2007 12:00 AM

A FOOTWEAR fetishist who robbed a string of women of their shoes walked free from court with a suspended prison sentence.
Self-confessed "monster" Omar Abd-elGowd, who has been haunted by his "unusual sexual obsession" since childhood, spent years building up an extensive collection.
He even followed one woman from Canary Wharf to London Bridge after taking a shine to her shoes.

Inner London Crown Court heard his perversion caused him endless problems with his love life, as those he dated quickly discovered he only really wanted them for what was on their feet.
But after moving from Stockton-on-Tees to the capital, its more "fashionable" women provided the six-footer with an "adrenalin pump" and kicked his desires into overdrive.
From then on fulfilment came only by stealing the objects of his desire while they were still being worn.
He went on the Tube to follow one woman from Canary Wharf to London Bridge where he approached from behind and grabbed her ankle. She was knocked to the floor and he then stole her shoes and ran off.
By the time the 26-year-old mechanical engineer was finally arrested his wardrobe was crammed with hundreds of shoes, representing a decade and a half of female footwear fashion.
Abd-el-Gowd, of Stillness Road, Honor Oak Park, south east London, admitted a total of eight robberies between December 12, 2005, and November 11, 2006.
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