Teenage mugger ‘chose to carry a knife and he had No qualms using it’
A TEENAGER stabbed another youth in the arm during an attempted robbery in a village park.
The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, attacked his 18-year-old victim – whom he knew – with a knife after the victim refused to hand over money.
Police said the younger teenager pleaded guilty to a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent, along with attempted robbery and a further count of possessing a knife.
He was sentenced on Monday at Leicester Youth Court, held in the Leicester Magistrates’ Court buildings, in Pocklingtons Walk.
The incident took place at Tin Bridge, in Kibworth’s Warwick Road Park, on the afternoon of
Saturday, February 6 this year.
Police said the defendant had approached the victim and “demanded money”.
When the victim refused, he produced a knife and “stabbed him in the arm”.
The teenager then fled from the park, but was arrested two days later.
Speaking at the conclusion of the case, Detective Constable Alex Horwood said: “The defendant and victim had known each other for a number of years but that made no difference to the defendant’s intentions to rob and harm the victim.
“The defendant chose to carry a knife and he had no qualms in using it.”
He added: “The victim, luckily, sustained minor injuries with no lasting damage.”
As punishment for the crime, the attacker was issued with a Youth Rehabilitation Order with an intensive supervision and surveillance requirement.
The sentence means that the teenager will have to spend time with the Youth Justice Service, and complete other requirements
which are designed to prevent further offending.
Police said the boy will also be the subject of a curfew, and will have to wear an electronic tag for three months.
Det Con Horwood said he hoped the case would serve as a warning to other young people, and deter them from carrying knives.
He said: “We take knife crime extremely seriously and work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and courts to bring people to justice.
“Our Lives Not Knives campaign is aimed at deterring people from carrying knives and educate them about the dangers of doing so.
“As part of the campaign we want to share the message that ‘You matter, lives can change’.”