'Let's stab him': Leeds robbery gang threatened 16-year-old boy with knife then stole his mountain bike worth £1,000

Denber Bojang was arrested over his role in the robbery which took place near to Redcote Lane, Kirkstall, on September 19 last year.

Leeds Crown Court heard a group of around six or seven males targeted the boy as he was with his friend.

The friend managed to get away but the victim was grabbed and threatened with a knife by one of the gang members.

The robbers were all wearing face masks at the time.

Bojang, 20, then took the bike from the youngster and the gang walked away with it.

The court heard the victim bravely tried to follow the gang.

The teenager was chased but managed to get away.

Police were contacted and Bojang was caught after police chased him.

He jumped into Leeds-Liverpool canal to try to get away from officers.

His rucksack was recovered from the canal and was found to contain a knife.

Bojang, of Thompson Street, Woodhouse, pleaded guilty to robbery.

He has no previous convictions.

She said: "If there is one thing he could do it would be to apologise to the boy whose bike he took.

"He has expressed remorse and accepted that he made a stupid mistake."

Ms Edwards said Bojang accepted taking the bike but did not threaten the victim with the weapon.

Bojang was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He was ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work and complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC also made Bojang the subject of an electronically-monitored curfew for three months and ordered him to pay £500 compensation to the victim.

Judge Stubbs said: "While he was threatened with that knife you demanded his bike and rode away.

"It cost him over £1,000 and he had paid for it himself.

"This was a truly awful robbery of a 16-year-old boy."