Teenager sentenced after robbery in Chesham
It was one of three incidents in March 2019
A teenager has been sentenced after being found guilty of robbing three people of their mobile phones, including an incident in Chesham.
The 17 year-old, from Harrow, appeared at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (14 January) and was given a five-month youth referral order.
He was also ordered to pay more than £1,900 in compensation to all three victims.
The court heard how the defendant, who was 15 years old at the time of the offences, targeted teenage boys during the incidents in March 2019.
What happened during each incident?
The first was in Mill Lane just after 3.30pm on Wednesday, 20 March.
The victim, aged 15, was walking home from school when he was approached by the defendant who demanded his phone and headphones while showing the victim a knife in his jacket pocket.
The victim handed the items over and when he got home he told his mother what had happened, before she called police.
The second incident was in the same location, at 3.30pm on Friday, 22 March.
The victim, a 12 year-old boy, was also walking home from school when he was approached by the defendant, who grabbed his phone.
The defendant then showed a knife in his jacket pocket to frighten the victim, who ran away.
The third incident happened outside the Elgiva Theatre in Chesham at 3.10pm on Sunday, 24 March.
The defendant approached the victim, a 16 year-old boy, and threatened him while ordering him to hand over his mobile phone, which he did.
None of the victims were physically hurt during the robberies.
Detectives found the defendant had travelled through the Croxley Green underground station before committing the first two offences.
On Monday, 25 March, they were waiting for him as he got off the train and arrested him on suspicion of robbery.
They later searched his home address and seized a number of mobile phones, one of which was confirmed as belonging to the victim in Chesham, and he was charged in connection with all three crimes.
The teenager was found guilty and will now attend a panel which will decide the best course of action.
Referral orders are given to young people aged between 10 to 17 who are convicted for the first time in court.
The aim is for the offender to take responsibility for their actions and face the consequences of their offending.
A referral order also gives victims the opportunity to be involved in the process, meaning they have the option to meet the offender and discuss the incident, ask questions and request an apology.
A contract is then drawn up to address the issues identified and the defendant must comply with the terms of this.
If they do not, this results in further disciplinary action with the possibility of appearing before the court for re-sentence.
Detective Constable Rob King, from the Three Rivers Local Crime Unit, led the investigation:
"At the time of the offences, the community was understandably concerned about what had happened.
"After receiving these reports, we quickly gathered evidence and identified the offender.
"We finally have a court result for all three victims who were left understandably shaken by what had happened, and they have now been given closure.
"The defendant is a first-time offender and the referral order is a form of restorative justice, which is designed to support him in moving away from criminality and make better life choices.
"We hope he uses this opportunity to reflect on the seriousness of his actions and understand why they were unacceptable."
Advice on personal safety can be found on the Young People section of the Hertfordshire Constabulary website.