Ross from Friends lookalike jailed for theft

Court hears Abdulah Husseini is a ‘travelling, wandering, nomadic thief’

Social media users thought Mr Husseini (Blackpool Police/DavidSchwimmer/PA)

A man who bears a resemblance to the Friends actor David Schwimmer has been jailed for nine months for theft and fraud offences.

Abdulah Husseini used a stolen bank card to make fraudulent purchases at shops in Blackpool, Lancashire, last September.

The 36-year-old was described as a “travelling, wandering, nomadic thief“ in court.

Mr Husseini walked into an all-you-can-eat buffet in Blackpool and stole a customer’s wallet, in September 2018.

Shortly afterwards he began using the stolen card from the wallet to make purchases.

That evening he was caught on CCTV furtively carrying beer in an Iceland store.

A month later, Blackpool Police posted the captured CCTV image on its Facebook page, in an appeal to trace the offender.

The post spread widely online, accumulating more than 11 million shares and 30,000 comments as members of the public pointed out the suspect’s likeness to Mr Schwimmer and his Friends character Ross Geller.

The attention prompted the actor himself to join in.

Schwimmer posted a video to his Twitter account showing him scurrying through a convenience store carrying a crate of beer, before looking up furtively at a CCTV camera.

He captioned the video: “Officers, I swear it wasn’t me. As you can see, I was in New York.

“To the hardworking Blackpool Police, good luck with the investigation.“​​

On Thursday, Mr Husseini was convicted by a jury after a two-day trial of one count of theft and four counts of fraud by false representation.

He was then sentenced by Judge Sara Dodd, who told him he had an “appalling criminal history“ and that he was “an habitual thief“.

The Iranian national has 32 previous convictions for 60 offences since 2008, including 27 offences for theft and dishonesty.

He remained at large until 12 November when he was arrested in London.

He was later summoned to appear before Blackpool magistrates the following month.

A warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to attend court on 18 December and he was detained again in January this year.

A jury found him guilty on theft and fraud offences after less than two hours of deliberation.

Additional reporting by agencies