Teen robber threatened to knife student in Leeds city centre
A teenager threatened to stab a terrified student in Leeds city centre in the early hours, unless he handed over his wallet.
Kevin Moco and his accomplice then tried to use the victim’s stolen bank card in a shop and at a taxi rank.
Moco was given a community order at Leeds Crown Court due to being just 16 at the time.
In the early hours of March 8 last year, the victim had been walking through the city after a night out when he was accosted near Merrion Street by Moco, who asked him if he wanted to buy cocaine.
The man declined and carried on walking before being stopped by Moco’s pal, who cannot be named because he remains under 18.
The victim continued walking but was then stopped by the pair, with Moco going through his pockets and taking his iPhone and wallet, telling him he would be stabbed if he did not co-operate.
The student then ran to a nearby Ibis Hotel and raised the alarm.
Just minutes after the robbery, Moco and his accomplice tried to use the victim’s card in the Dana convenience shop.
Then shortly before 4am, they tried to pay for a taxi from Central Cars.
CCTV footage from both locations was used to identify the pair.
Moco was arrested from his home address days later and gave a no-comment interview.
The 18-year-old has one previous conviction for robbery which he committed six months before this offence.
He was one of six suspects who approached a victim in the street and forced him to hand over his phone, wallet and watch.
Mitigating, Harry Crowson pointed to his young age and that he has not been trouble since last year.
He said Moco, of Dorset Road, Harehills, has since become a father and has a second child on the way. He said he also no longer friends with those who were a bad influence on him.
The judge, Recorder Alistair MacDonald, described it as “disgraceful behaviour” and added: “It must have been terrifying and a very difficult experience for that student.”
He gave him a 12-month community order, with 20 rehabilitation days and 100 hours of unpaid work.
He told him: “You have come very close to being jailed.”