Would-be robber put man in chokehold during designer-coat theft attempt in Leeds city centre
Teen thug turned violent as he tried to force man to hand over expensive Canada Goose jacket.
A teenager who got a passer by in a chokehold to steal his expensive coat during broad daylight has been spared custody.
Elliot Hamilton was with an assailant who followed and attacked the man and his girlfriend in a busy Leeds city centre, having made a remark about how much they liked the jacket.
However, the victims were able to escape the thieves and raise the alarm.
Hamilton, 19, admitted a charge of attempted robbery at Leeds Crown Court.
Prosecutor Verity Barnes said the victim and his partner had been in Leeds at around 2pm on April 23, 2023.
Walking along the street, Hamilton and the unidentified male made the comment about the coat, but they continued to walk on.
A short time later on Kirkgate, they approached the victim again, with the second male with Hamilton telling the man: “Just give me the coat. Make it easy for yourself. Don’t make me shank you.”
The victims noticed the man had his hand in his trousers, making them think he had a knife. They were also wearing balaclavas.
But as the victims continued to walk away towards the junction of Call Lane and New York Street, Hamilton grabbed the man and put him in a chokehold.
One was heard to say they were going to stab him and as the victim’s girlfriend tried to split them up, one was heard to say: “Tell your bird to stop or I’ll punch her.”
The victims were able to wriggle free and run, but were pursued. The man was able to get into a shop while the woman raised the alarm with police in the railway station.
Following his arrest, Hamilton refused to answer questions during his police interview.
He has no previous convictions.
Hamilton, of St Margaret’s Road, Methley, was not represented in court and when asked to explain himself, he told the judge: “I just think it was a big mistake. I have now got a lot of priorities.”
Judge Howard Crowson told him: “You have not tried to blame any factors, you have wanted to take responsibility for your actions.”
He acknowledged that he came from a “turbulent and sometimes chaotic background” and that he had to be father figure for his siblings.
He handed him a two-year community order with 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days.