Teen’s “stupid idea” to rob shop to buy Playstation ends in community service

Wednesday 04 April 2018

A teenage boy who was yesterday sentenced to community service for attempting to rob Samares Stores at knifepoint - but was later scared away by a shopkeeper wielding a water bottle - has said that he only did so to gain cash to buy a Playstation 4.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted to an elaborate plan involving gardening gloves, a small knife, and a change of clothes, which he later set on fire on a beach to cover his tracks last month.

He was handed 180 hours of community service by the Youth Court - located in the Magistrate's Court building - yesterday, but was warned that he could have faced as much as 12 months in custody had he used the knife.

Outlining the facts in Court, Legal Adviser Lauren Hallam recalled the events of the attempted robbery, which took place shortly before 18:00 on 9 March. CCTV showed the attempted robber – wearing light grey tracksuit bottoms, a hoodie, dark gloves and a dark piece of clothing across the bottom of his face – lingering in the shop for several minutes and looking behind the cash desk.

After placing a large water bottle by the till, the boy then pulled out a pocket knife, directing it towards the shop worker and ordering her: "Give me all the money from the till." Scared, the employee pretended to push a panic button and told the boy he should leave as she had called the police. The woman then picked up the bottle and "whacked" the boy out of the shop. After the he had left, she broke down, started shaking and burst into tears. The boy then headed to FB Fields, where he had discarded a black jacket shortly before the incident. 

Pictured: The Court heard that the teen had hidden a jacket in the car park at FB Fields for his escape.

After the Police released CCTV footage of the incident, they received a number of calls naming the boy. The boy himself rang the police four hours after the incident and named a different teenager, with whom he had previous "antagonisms", as the suspect.

During a Police interview five days later, the boy said he was with a friend until 21:30 that day, but later admitted to the robbery. He said he didn't know what he was thinking and that he wanted to get cash to buy a Playstation 4 for his bedroom.

He admitted to taking garden gloves and a knife from his house, and that he planned to dump his sneakers after the incident. It also emerged that he had been wearing a jacket and trousers under his hoodie and tracksuit bottoms. That outfit was later discarded at a beach and burned in a fire using chlorine taken from a friend’s house.

Police officers said the boy’s change of clothing indicated that the robbery was planned. Despite initial denial, he later confessed that he was "torn and tormented about whether he should go to the shop” and that he felt sick after the incident.

Pictured: The shopkeeper who scared the boy away with a water bottle.

Defending, Advocate Jane Grace emphasised that no actual force was used during the robbery, and no injury or damage was caused." He used the knife to make the shop assistant give him the money from the till but there was no intention on his part to use the knife," she said, adding that the boy was easily scared off.

She described the attempted robbery as "ill thought-out", adding that the boy was remorseful and took responsibility for his actions, which were said to have shocked his family. Advocate Grace said that there was nothing to suggest the boy had ever put the “public at a risk of serious harm.” Fortunately, she continued, he “melted away” as soon as the shopkeeper challenged him.

His mother described him as a "loving, caring son and brother”, who had always been mature and sensible. She said the offence was out of character, and urged Court to spare the teen custody, saying that the family was "very open” to working with professional teams “to ensure he take the right path in future.”

Returning the Youth Court’s “very, very difficult” sentencing decision, Magistrate Shaw, who was sitting with Gary Martin, highlighted this family support as a mitigating factor, alongside his guilty plea, age and lack of previous convictions. “Your parents are clearly doing their very best for you... You might not know, but this is very reassuring for the Court."

Pictured: The boy used an Opinel pocket knife during the attempted robbery.

She said that the teen was not "the sort of boy who would be expected to do something like this”, but nonetheless added: "Anyone who decides to go into a shop and pull a knife to anybody can expect to go into custody no matter their age or circumstances."

Blasting the behaviour as “terribly destructive”, Magistrate Shaw warned the boy that the use of knives could lead to attacks like the one on London Bridge in June 2017. She added that shopkeepers and those who run small businesses or work late should not have to “be behind barriers because they are frightened of people using knives on them” and that, had he caused harm with the knife, he could have been sentenced in the Royal Court and faced several years in custody. Fortunately, she continued, the boy “melted away” as soon as the shopkeeper challenged him.

Handing the boy 180 hours’ community service, Magistrate Shaw told him: "We want to know what motivated you to do this. What is it that makes you cross the barrier from somebody who has some stupid idea to get money and someone who actually plans it... plans to burn the evidence and then goes to the shop and pulls a knife out?... We hope this has caused sufficient shock and distress to your family... to act as deterrent for you ever thinking of doing anything at all like that... We don't want you causing any harm or distress to anyone ever again."