Teen fined for barging into stranger’s house for TikTok ‘prank’

A teenager has been issued a criminal behavior order and fined hundreds of pounds after entering a stranger’s home as part of a TikTok “prank” video.

Bakari-Bronze O’Garrow, 18, of Manor Road, Hackney, London, appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

O’Garrow appeared in court wearing a black hoodie and a face mask.

She spoke only to confirm her name, age and address and to admit one count of failing to comply with a community safety notice.

Varinder Hire, prosecuting, told the court that O’Garrow had been issued a community safety notice on May 11 last year with two conditions that he would not trespass on private property.

Ms Herre said she breached that notice on May 15 this year by entering a house.

“He went to the victim’s home address,” he said. “The door to the property was open.

“Mr O’Garrow walked into the property and immediately went down the stairs.

“He was stopped by the owner of the house. He went to the living room. He sat down on the couch and said ‘Is this where the study group is?'”

Ms Herre said: “He was asked to leave several times by both the victim and the husband.”

She added: “It turns out he filmed the whole incident walking into random houses for a TikTok trend.”

Ms Herre said: “He has put the family in great distress.

“The faces of the couple and their two young children can be seen.”

She told the court that the mother was under the impression that O’Garrow was attempting to steal, and said that the mother takes her family’s privacy “very seriously”.

“This has caused great concern to the victim,” Ms Herre said.

In mitigation, Lee Sargent said that O’Garrow had apologized to the family.

He said his client was raised by a single parent and had a difficult upbringing.

“Mr. O’Garrow grew up in a single parent household,” said Mr. Sargent.

“He had a very difficult childhood.

“He is an intelligent young man and a young man of some ability.”

He said that his client was neither in work nor in education, but was instead receiving Universal Credit.

Mr Sargent said his client had created some legitimate social media content, including playing games and discussing conspiracy theories.

Judge Charlotte Crangle issued O’Garrow a two-year criminal behavior order.

The order includes that O’Garrow must not post the video on social media, directly or indirectly, without the documented consent of those featured in the material, that he must not trespass on private property, and that he must be incarcerated at the Westfield Center in Stratford. Should not happen. ,

He ordered O’Garrow to pay a £200 fine, plus a victim surcharge of £80 and £85 – a total of £365.