My terror, by student victim
A STUDENT who fell prey to robbers who attacked victims in a park said the ordeal was the “most frightening experience he had ever felt”.
One of the offenders, 18-year-old Saabir Rehman, was sentenced to five years in a Young Offenders’ Institution, after admitting four counts of robbery and two counts of fraud.
Judge Alan Conrad, QC, said such robberies were “prevalent” in south Manchester. He recently jailed a gang of thugs who “terrorised” students during a three-week robbery spree.
Rehman and another man attacked victims, a number of whom were students, in incidents at night in Birchfields Park, in Rusholme, and in Fallowfield, over a two-week period.
The first victim was a male student who was cycling on Whitworth Lane, in Fallowfield, at about 9.30pm on October 28.
Two men approached him, and one asked if he had a light. The student was then grabbed and dragged off his bike.
His wallet was taken during the incident. He later realised his card had been used to make two contactless payments of £30.
On November 3, at 8.10pm, another male victim was cycling to a party, this time through Birchfields Park, in Rusholme. He was grabbed by his jacket and was asked “Where’s your phone, where’s your ******* phone?”
“Please, mate, let me go. I just want to go to a mate’s party,” the victim replied. He was taken near some bushes, and then another man grabbed his bag.
During the robbery, a mobile phone, earphones and a cigarette box was stolen. In a victim statement, the man said: “This was the most frightening experience I have ever felt.”
On November 12 at 10.30pm, two friends were walking home through Birchfields Park after they had been to a pub. One man’s wallet was stolen, including a debit card, university ID card and a rail card. Another man was punched several times, and had his wallet and mobile phone stolen.
The court heard that GMP are working to tackle such robberies as part of Operation Valiant. The force recently said the crackdown had led to 150 arrests, and nine criminal behaviour orders being imposed.