ROBBER BUTTED VICTIM THEN PULLED OUT FLICK KNIFE
Man ‘terrified’ as he felt tip in stomach
KNIFE-WIELDING Bradley Knight head-butted his victim and held the weapon to his stomach in a terrifying phone robbery.
The 25-year-old and a second man robbed their victim as he walked down a Fenton alleyway.
Knight produced a flick knife and put it to the victim’s stomach.
The other man took the victim’s phone and punched him to the side of his head, knocking him unconscious and leaving him with a fractured eye socket.
The victim has been left feeling scared and not wanting to leave the house. Now Knight has been jailed for four-and-a-half years at Stokeon-trent Crown Court.
Prosecutor Ryan Hodgins said the robbery happened in an alleyway between Victoria Road and Stanier Street, Fenton, at 2.10pm on August 30. The victim was on his way home from the Co-op in Christchurch Street.
Mr Hodgins said: “The defendant head-butted him with full force. He then produced a black flick knife. He placed it against his stomach. He could feel it pressing against him.
“The defendant was joined by another man who took the victim’s phone. The victim felt a blow to the side of his head which knocked him unconscious.”
The victim was groggy and confused when he got home and his mum called the police. He suffered a fractured eye socket. In a statement he said the incident scared him. He no longer wanted to leave the house. The injury caused him great pain and long-lasting damage.
Knight, of St John Street, Hanley, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a knife in public.
Paul Cliff, mitigating, said Knight has no previous convictions for robbery, violence or anything involving weapons. Mr Cliff said: “This is a clear escalation in offending on his part. There will be a sentence imposed which will have a substantial impact on him and an impact on those around him.
“He is aware he has not just let himself down. There is genuine regret on his part.”
Recorder Robert Smith said: “He felt the tip of the blade press into his flesh. He was terrified. Your
co-offender took his phone and searched his pockets. He was struck to the side of the head by the co-offender.
“This was a shocking and serious offence. You attacked a man minding his own business in an alleyway. You produced a nasty blade to intimidate and terrify your victim. You inflicted significant injury, gratuitously so.”