Teenager locked up for dealing drugs and robbing a rival Leeds gang member

Thierry Jacobs was sent to a young offender institution for 18 months over the offending in Leeds.

Leeds Crown Court heard Jacobs was on a moped when he was stopped by police on Newton Lodge Drive, Chapel Allerton, on November 20 last year.

The officers noticed that the machine had been hotwired when they spoke with him.

He was searched and found in possession of a bag containing a white powder which was later discovered to be a class B drug worth £90.

Jacobs, 18, was carrying cash and two mobile phones which contained text messages relating to the supply of drugs.

The teenager also had a large 'zombie' knife hidden in the leg of his trousers.

Jacobs was arrested and released on bail.

He was then part of a gang which tried to rob a man in Leeds city centre on December 9.

Gareth Henderson-Moore, prosecuting, said a group of teenagers approached the victim and asked to look at the gold chain around his neck.

The victim felt uncomfortable and tried to walk off but was followed down Briggate.

The group ran after him and kicked and punched him from behind during the chase.

Jacobs and three others then robbed a teenager on Temple View Road, East End Park, on April 2 this year.

The group approached the victim and asked him where he was from.

They accused the victim of being in a rival gang known as 'The Niners'.

He was then punched to the group before he was kicked and had his leg stamped upon.

Another gang member produced a machete during the incident.

The victim had his Canada Goose jacket taken from him along with £600 in cash.

Jacobs was arrested four days later in connection with the robbery as he attended a probation service appointment.

He was in possession of cannabis and two mobile phones at the time.

Glenn Parsons, mitigating, said Jacobs was aged 17 at the time of the offences.

A probation service report stated that Jacobs had expressed genuine remorse for what he had done and is motivated to change his behaviour.

Recorder Anthony Hawks told Jacobs that the offending was too serious to impose anything other than an immediate custodial sentence.

He said: "You are only 18 and come from a thoroughly decent family.

"I do not need to tell you how badly you have let your mother down.

"She has given her life to you and this is how you repay her.

"You have got a lot of your life ahead of you and you can do something about making amends for that when you have served your sentence."