Mugger Locked Up After Two-Month Crime Spree

A Windmill Hill man who robbed a student of his iPhone as part of a mini crime spree has been sent to youth detention for a year.

Barrington Laudat approached the 17-year-old and put his arm around him, asking what music he was listening to, Bristol Crown Court heard.

He then snatched the £450 phone, telling the student: "If you say anything I'll smash you."

Laudat, 20, of Somerset Terrace, pleaded guilty to robbery, which occurred in March.

The court heard he asked for two robberies and three attempted robberies to be considered, from February 24 to April 18.

Judge Mark Horton told him: "Street muggings of young people are extremely serious offences.

"The offences were not isolated and not in a short period. It was over two months, with the enormous fear and apprehension that these types of offences cause to young people, the public at large and their family and friends."

The judge stressed that young people store their life's personal details on such devices, and are left extremely distressed when they are taken.

Caroline Bolt, prosecuting, said Laudat targeted the student in Redcliffe and snatched the iPhone before threatening him.

Miss Bolt said: "The victim walked away and the defendant walked backwards, shouting at him and saying he would kill him and he should keep on walking. The complainant ran to some flats and alerted the police.

"The iPhone was worth £450 and he was a young student earning £1,000 a year in a part-time job."

The court heard the student bought a new iPhone to replace his uninsured stolen one, and was nervous about walking the same route and left more suspicious of people.

When Laudat was arrested and interviewed he admitted the offence and asked for similar matters to be taken into account.

He had a previous conviction for possessing an imitation firearm and theft in 2007, for which he received a 12 month referral order.

Nicholas Arthur, defending, said: "He has struggled to explain why he behaved in this way at this time.

"He has a good level of victim empathy and he well understands why courts treat robbery so seriously."

Mr Arthur said his client was "in a bad place" at the time, but fully admitted the offence and recognised he was out of control.

He told the court: "He did what he could to try and start to put matters right."

The court heard Laudat was assessed by a probation officer as being a low risk of reoffending, and he had been trying to recommence college studies.