Teen faces 12 months' detention after robbing schoolmates at knifepoint

Tuesday 13 November 2018

A teenager will be sentenced in the Royal Court after admitting to mugging two of his schoolmates whilst brandishing a “large kitchen knife."

The 17-year-old this morning gave guilty pleas to both charges of robbery with the use of force in the Youth Court – offences which the judging panel decided are too serious for them to sentence.

The Court heard that the two victims were out in the area of Roberts Garage close to midnight on Thursday evening last week. The pair had been taking photos in town for a school project when they came across a young man they both recognised from school. 

Pictured: The incident took place at the junction of Trinity Road and Dongola Road on 8 November (Google Maps).

It was heard that this teen was in the company of another man that the two victims did not know.

As the two teenagers made their way towards the junction of Trinity Road and Dongola Road, they were apprehended by the youth who took out a “large kitchen knife” which one of the victims described as being approximately 15cm to 20cm in length and 10cm wide.

The teen was then said to have pointed the knife at the two victims, ordering: “Empty your pockets."

One of the victims, who was forced to hand over his £600 iPhone 8, described feeling “very scared." “I truly believed that if I didn’t empty my pockets he would attack and stab me," he added.

The other victim in this case described the weapon as a “jungle-type knife” of around six inches in length. He said that the defendant told him and his friend to “empty your f***ing pockets now”, forcing him to produce a £10 note from his pocket, which the young mugger was then said to have “snatched."

Pictured: The case was heard in the Youth Court at the Magistrate's Court today.

The defendant was also claimed to have warned the two boys against reporting the incident, saying: “I know you both from school. Don’t tell anyone or the Police or I will cut you up.” 

The young man appeared in Court today accompanied by a social worker from Children’s Services as a guardian.

As the Court Chairperson, Bridget Shaw and the panel – made up of Debbie Prosser and Joanna Moore – had to decide whether the offences could be dealt with by the Youth Court or if they were serious enough to be sent to the Royal Court for sentencing.

Police legal advisor Advocate Carla Carvalho advised the panel that the matter was "just within this Court’s jurisdiction” - a sentiment echoed by the young man’s Advocate Mike Preston.  

After some consideration, the panel returned having decided that the case was too serious to deal with in Youth Court and that it should be sent to the Royal Court for sentencing. 

Pictured: The boy was told that he was facing more than 12 months' detention, leading his case to be sent to the Royal Court for sentencing.

Addressing the young man in Court, Bridget Shaw said: “In our view, the Royal Court should be looking at a sentence in excess of 12 months' detention.” She therefore concluded that the case was “outside our jurisdiction” and “too serious for us to deal with.”

She continued: “You threatened two young people with a knife and you were only a metre away… they were at immediate threat of death or serious injury.” She added that the panel has made this decision “even though you are still 17 [and] even though you have indicated guilty pleas.”

The young man will be remanded in custody until he appears in the Royal Court for sentencing.