Posted on 07/01/2002 2:06:49 PM PDT by tarawa
KNIFE THREAT SHOP RAID BY BOY OF 13
BY STAFF REPORTER
11:00 - 28 June 2002
A 13-YEAR-old boy who terrorised and robbed a South Devon charity shop, then pulled an imitation gun on a hero cop who thought the weapon was real, has escaped custody because he has not committed enough offences.
Exeter Crown Court heard yesterday how the teenager went into the Mare and Foal charity shop in Ashburton and when he was alone with the shop assistant threatened her with a DIY knife and snatched £140 from the till.
Prosecutor Mary McCarthy said before the actual robbery the assistant had noticed the boy behaving suspiciously and he then asked her if the shop made much money. She told him it did not whereupon he pulled out the knife and said: "I want some of it."
Miss McCarthy said he repeated his demand and held the knife about 18 inches from the terrified assistant. She opened the till and he grabbed the money and left warning her not to call the police. At the time of the robbery the boy was in care and the person responsible for looking after him notified the police that evening that she had not seen him since the morning.
The prosecutor told the court the following day the youth was seen drunk at St David's Railway Station in Exeter by PC Michael Laybourne.
When the officer approached him the teenager pulled out what PC Laybourne thought was a real pistol. Fearing for the safety of members of the public, PC Laybourne tackled the teenager and courageously disarmed him of what turned out to be a replica Mauser pistol.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to resist arrest.
In mitigation, Paul Bitmead said the youngster had been abandoned by his parents and was a young man who needed help. He was horrified at what he had done and realised that his victim in the charity shop must have been extremely frightened.
"He is deeply, deeply sorry for what he did on that day and the following day," said Mr Bitmead.
Judge John Neligan said the offences were extremely serious and merited a custodial sentence but the court's hands were tied because he was under 15 and had not made at least two court appearances.
He said: "One can only have enormous sympathy for someone who is abandoned by their parents and is placed in the care system.
"A report on you says that you have endured experiences an adult would have difficulty coming to terms with.
"However, your victim was terrified by her ordeal, was shocked and still suffers from nightmares.
"Then the following day while drunk you pulled on a police officer what turned out to be an imitation gun. That officer with enormous courage, perception and speed and acting to the highest standards of the police to protect the public, disarmed you.
"You have started your criminal career in a serious manner and on a high note.
"Immediate custody is appropriate in this case but the court is restricted on imposing custodial sentences on people of your age."
He made the schoolboy the subject of a three-year supervision order and praised PC Laybourne for his courageous action.
In America, where cops are allowed to carry firearms, and use them, this would have been the end of the road for the cute little rascal.
EBUCK
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