A 'Cinderella' phone snatcher who was identified by his lost shoe after being tackled by furious Londoners has been jailed for 15 months. Spencer Duarte, 29, was rushed by members of the public after he grabbed a phone from a man's hand while riding an e-bike along Ludgate Hill on August 7 last year.The dramatic aftermath - caught on CCTV - showed a quick-thinking pedestrian leap into the street and intercept Duarte, who fell off his e-bike. He then ran along the pavement as more members of the public tried to grab him. He was eventually able to flee, but left behind a trainer containing DNA - leading police to dub him 'the Cinderella phone snatcher'. Officers failed to catch Duarte for a month before he was finally spotted and arrested. He was found guilty of theft at Inner London Crown Court in June.Jailing Duarte yesterday, a judge said the incident had left his victim, Brian De Clare - a 66-year-old ex-adviser to Bill Clinton - too scared to return to central London.His prosecution is a rare success in London's war against phone snatchers, who are fuelling an epidemic that saw a staggering nine phones stolen every hour last year. Police chiefs have admitted phone theft is a 'growing and very serious problem' as they struggle to grapple with the 'organised criminal enterprise'. Spencer Duarte, 29, (in yellow) was rushed by members of the public after he grabbed a phone from a man's hand Pedestrians try to strip Duarte over as he tried to run away along the pavement Officers failed to catch Duarte for a month before he was finally spotted and arrested. He was found guilty of theft at Inner London Crown Court in June During sentencing, Judge Freya Newbery described Duarte as a career criminal. 'You were speeding along on your bicycle in the area of Ludgate Hill and while Mr De Clare was using his phone you snatched it out of his hand,' she said. 'There was a momentary struggle while he tried to hang onto it but you took it and off you rode with it, but a couple of people took it on themselves to stop you getting away with that.'You were taken off the bike and even then made off - showing some considerable athletic ability in both cycling and the struggle afterwards.'This incident was so shocking it has given Mr de Clare a fear of coming into the city.'In that quite busy area where one doesn't expect to see that sort of incident it was so dramatic and striking - and makes a lot of people fear they can't walk around the streets, even in the city.'It looks as though from a relatively young age dishonesty and thieving were a way of life for you.'Duarte arrived at Inner London Crown wearing beige cargo trousers, a beige t-shirt and glasses with a large rucksack packed with his belongings.He was accompanied by his mother.