A KNIFE-wielding teenage robber from Rugby ‘brazenly’ targeted people when they were ‘at their most vulnerable’ – in one instance, tackling a woman to the ground and holding his weapon to her stomach.
Dillon Moulsher, 19, of Newlands Street, was sentenced at Warwick Crown Court to six years and five months in prison after pleading guilty to robbery and attempted robbery.
He also pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and two counts of possession of a knife in a public place, as well as admitting three breaches of bail conditions.
He will be required to pay a victims’ surcharge of £228.
Just after 11pm on Tuesday January 2, police received a report that a man had been threatened with a knife on Marlborough Road in Nuneaton, leading to him handing over his bank card. The card was later used at a nearby service station.
CCTV showed that Moulsher had followed the victim through the town centre.
It then showed Moulsher walking towards where the stolen card had been used as payment. Later investigation showed that Moulsher had also attempted to pay for a taxi to Coventry, but the transaction had failed.
At around 2:20am on Wednesday January 3, police responded to a report that a man had tried to take a phone from a woman in Corporation Street, Nuneaton.
The man, later identified as Moulsher, demanded the woman hand over her phone. When she refused, Moulsher took out a kitchen knife.
The victim punched Moulsher in the jaw and attempted to run away.
But Moulsher tackled the woman to the ground, held a knife to her stomach, and again tried to take her phone – but was unsuccessful.
No injuries were caused during the attempted robbery, which was captured on CCTV.
DI Paul Sartoris of Warwickshire Police said: “Moulsher picked out his victims from a distance and followed them, with full intention to intimidate them and take their valuables.
“He did it brazenly, in public, and targeted people at night when they were at their most vulnerable. Our thoughts are with his victims, who have the right to feel safe when walking through the streets at night.
“Prison is the right place for Moulsher. We hope that his stay gives him the time to reconsider the path his life is taking – you’re never too old to make a change, especially not at 19.”
