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19
Oct 2021
Daytime knifepoint robbery in Ripon left 'little boy crying'
Two knifepoint robbers threatened to “shank” a young boy as they stripped him of precious items including his jewellery and mobile phone.
The terrifying incident in Ripon had the boy in tears as other youths laughed at the spectacle, York Crown Court heard.
The teenage victim was sat with friends on a bench outside the Ship Inn on Bondgate when he was approached by John Paul Wilson, 21, from Harrogate, and others including a youth — the second robber who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Prosecutor Michael Cahill said that as the victim’s friends got up to leave, the teenager himself was blocked from doing so by Wilson’s sidekick.
The victim, who had been surrounded by the group, took off his trainers as instructed and handed over his phone and jewellery including a silver chain.
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A witness called the victim’s father who rushed to the scene and ran towards the group, shouting at them.
The robbers handed back the phone and ran off with the other youths, taking the trainers and jewellery.
Previous convictions
However, they were later arrested and charged with robbery and possessing a blade. They admitted robbery but neither accepted they were the one carrying the knife.
The prosecution ultimately accepted this, although there was no argument that it was a knifepoint robbery.
Wilson and his teenage co-defendant appeared for sentence on the robbery charge on Tuesday after being remanded in custody.
Mr Cahill said the victim was left in tears following the incident on August 13 which made him “extremely nervous”.
The court heard that Wilson had previous convictions for 12 offences including robbery, battery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The youth had four previous convictions for offences including possessing a weapon, criminal damage and serious violence. They had both served youth detention orders in the past.
Difficult childhood
Lauren Hebditch, for Wilson, said he had endured a difficult childhood and had effectively been living rough at the time of the incident.
Rob Stephenson, for the youth, said he too had had a “turbulent and unhappy” upbringing but said there was a “degree of peer pressure” from Wilson to commit the robbery with him.
Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, criticised the pair for the appalling daytime attack which was “prolonged” and left “a little boy crying”.
Banned from Ripon town centre
Wilson, of Newby Crescent, Harrogate, was jailed for three-and-a-half years and given a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting the victim or going anywhere near his address.
Mr Morris said he was satisfied that it was only due to the “malign influence” of Wilson that the youth joined in the robbery.
He said he believed the youth could “start afresh” in life, partly because he had work lined up.
The youth was given a three-year youth-rehabilitation order which the judge said was an “exceptional” sentencing decision. He told him he had come very close to going to prison.
The order includes a 91-day rehabilitation programme, supervision and a six-month doorstep curfew.
In addition, the judge made an exclusion order banning the youth from Ripon town centre for the next 12 months, except in the company of youth-justice officers or guardians. He too was made subject to the same restraining order as Wilson.
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