Masked robbers attack angler with a hammer

THREE MEN RAIDED ISOLATED LAKESIDE CARAVAN

It must have been an utterly terrifying experience for him and the inside of his van was damaged

Judge Keith Raynor

A fisherman feared for his life when he was attacked by three masked robbers as he slept in his lakeside campervan.

The victim was struck with a claw hammer and forced to hand over his wallet during the ordeal.

He tried using his fishing equipment to fend off the raiders, one of whom had a “dagger-like” weapon, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Lynsey Knott, prosecuting, said the robbery took place in a remote spot near Watermead Park, Thurmaston, in the early hours of July 28 last year.

The victim had permission from a watersports club to go night fishing and to stay at the site in his campervan during the lockdown.

After he went to bed, the robbers – 26-year-old Jamie Keeling and two unknown accomplices – entered his van and demanded he hand over his money.

Miss Knott said: “The defendant had a claw hammer and was swinging it around, striking his arms and legs, causing cuts and also damaging the van.

“The two others were searching the campervan and found his fishing licence. They demanded more than the £30 that was in his wallet, but that was all he had.”

The victim picked up the “dagger”, a silver-coloured letter-opener, and cut Keeling, whose DNA was found on it, which led to his arrest.

Keeling, of Ipswich Close, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, admitted the robbery, when £30 was stolen.

In a personal impact statement, the victim said he spent a lot of time at the lake, which was half-a-mile down a secluded track.

He said: “I was petrified and thought it was a life or death experience.

“All I had to defend myself was my fishing equipment.

“I was begging them to take what I had and leave me alone.

“I don’t feel safe any more and two of the three men are still out there.

“I feel scared about staying at the lake.” Emma Hodgson, mitigating, said Keeling, a road sweeper, had been diagnosed with mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.

The court heard he only had one previous offence on his record, for theft of a bicycle some time ago.

Judge Keith Raynor said: “You and two mates thought you’d go and intimidate and rob him using violence.

“It must have been an utterly terrifying experience for him and the inside of his van was damaged.”

The judge said he accepted Keeling had mental health issues and in other respects he had made a positive contribution to society.

He said: “There’s significant mitigation and I think there’s a good prospect of rehabilitation.”

Keeling was given a two-year jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, with a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work and placed on a threemonth 8pm to 6am curfew.

He was also ordered to pay the victim £1,200 compensation.