A teenager has been locked up for three years for attacking a woman in a park from which he was banned under an antisocial behaviour order.
Sentencing Jamie Bedford-Taylor at Leeds Crown Court yesterday, (Feb 14) Judge Christopher Batty said he was ordered not to enter Thornes Park, Wakefield because of his involvement in previous offences of violence there, including affray.
“But there you were on this night in August last year following women,” he said.
He had put his arm around the waist of one who shrugged him off and got away but the second was “not so lucky”.
“You dragged her to the floor intending to rob her at night in a dark park in bushes,” he said. The teenager also threatened to kill her if she did not shut up.
“She believed your motive was something very different from robbery and was terrified.”
The court heard another person intervened and the teenager ran off but during the struggle his victim had scratched him.
That led to his identification through DNA.
Days later when police went to arrest him Bedford-Taylor produced a knife which he brandished in front of him.
Judge Batty said that officer bravely tackled the teenager, who when arrested was found to have the drug M-cat on him and a second knife.
Bedford-Taylor, 18, of Warren Avenue, Portobello, Wakefield, admitted assault with intent to rob and breaching the antisocial behaviour order on August 11, as well as possession of two bladed weapons and the drugs on August 18, and was sentenced to a total of three years in a young offender institution.
Kate Bisset, representing him, said he was a young man who wanted to change and was ashamed of his actions. “His remorse is genuine,” she said.
He had not intended to harm the officer in any way with the knife but had threatened to harm himself.
Judge Batty said he accepted the teenager was immature and that his life had not been easy and blighted to some extent by his use of drugs since the age of 12 but his record was extensive for his age including battery, affray and robbery.
The recent offence in the park was particularly serious and he warned the teenager sentences would only get longer if he continued to offend.