Two teenagers, who carried out a series of attempted knifepoint robberies in Redditch, have been sentenced to a total of seven years in a young offender institution.
Kieran Jones and Reece Timby – aged 19 and 18 respectively – were just 16 when they tried to rob three people on the afternoon of 4 March 2015.
Their spree started on a train from Birmingham heading towards Redditch, when they surrounded a 20-year-old man and threatened him with a knife, demanding he hand over his phone.
The victim refused and the pair got off the train where they approached two men outside a nearby supermarket. Jones held a knife against one of the victim’s stomachs and ordered them to give up their watches and phones. The friends refused and one of them was punched in the face.
The teens then fled the scene but they were identified after officers circulated their images in the local media.
Jones, of Hunton Hill, Birmingham, and Timby of Druids Lane, Birmingham, were arrested and later charged with three counts of attempted robbery, which they admitted.
At Worcester Crown Court on April 7, Jones was sentenced to four years in a young offender institute, while Timby was handed a three-year term.
Detective Constable Dan Hart from BTP said: “Thankfully, nobody was wounded by the knife used in these attempted robberies, but their victims were understandably left extremely shaken by what happened.
“Jones and Timby were left empty-handed on both occasions and have now received lengthy custodial sentences for their efforts, showing crime really doesn’t pay.
“I would like to thank all those who came forward with information which led to their capture, showing what can be achieved when the public and police work together to fight crime in our communities.”
A third teenager, Morgan Helsby – aged 18 and of Arthur Street, Birmingham – was also charged in connection with the attempted robberies but failed to appear for trial last month.
Numerous enquiries have been carried out to trace him and it is thought he may now be in the Weston-Super-Mare area.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact BTP on 0800 405040 or text 61016.
Alternatively, details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
