Walking free - teenage robbers who 'hunted like a pack'

Two teenage robbers who were part of a gang of muggers that "hunted like a pack" during Christmas in the Black Country have walked free from court.

Leon King, aged 15, and 16-year-old Omari Maitland were among thugs who preyed on victims, some younger than they were, for the "kudos".

Today the Express & Star can name the pair after a judge said their crime spree in Wolverhampton and Walsall in December last year was "so grave", the public had the right to know who they were.

But Judge Amjad Nawaz said he could allow them their freedom because he had to consider their "welfare".

As they left the court room yesterday, the teenagers shook hands and smiled.

Minutes earlier, the court had been told how a 13-year-old victim had been told he would be killed if he reported the mugging to the police.

Another victim targeted in the underpass by the Bilston Street Island feared he would be stabbed.

Mr Paul Reid, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday this particular victim had heard one of the gang ask another: "Did you wet him?"

Mr Reid said: "He took that to mean 'Had he been stabbed?'. He became concerned but there were no knives seen."

The victim was lifted up and pushed along and told he was going to be taken to a cashpoint, but he managed to flee.

He went to hospital where bruises and a reddening around his front and neck was examined.

A police officer saw King nearby and was able to pick him out.

The pair were caught using CCTV evidence and victims seeing identification parades.

Judge Nawaz told the teenagers: "You hunted like a pack in order to steal property from people who were picked on going about their business .

"That's the most serious part — it stops people from enjoying their rights to go about town in safety.

He said had the pair been aged 17 or older, he would have had "no hesitation" in sending King to custody for three years and Maitland for up to two years. But Judge Nawaz said the pair's personal circumstances were "exceptional" and he also had to consider their welfare.

"You've both been off the rails for some time and this is designed to bring some order back into your life," he added.

Judge Nawaz said no-one reading the outcome of the case should be under the impression that robbery was not taken seriously.

He said the sentence he was passing was "not an easy option" and warned both they could expect custody if they breached their orders.

King, of Owen Road, Pennfields, pleaded guilty to six robberies. Maitland, of Vale Street, Ettingshall, pleaded guilty to three robberies.

Miss Sabhia Pathan, defending GCSE student King, said: "He felt he was influenced by others and there was a sense of kudos going along with the group and the gang culture."

Maitland's barrister Mr Kevin Grego said he had only only taken part in three of the robberies and they had all happened in a very short period on the same day.

Judge Nawaz said the gang had used "gratuitous violence" against victims at night.

Witnesses had described King as playing an "extremely leading role in some of the offences, using or threatening violence to take property."

His lawyer said he came from a "tremendously supportive family" and had a letter of support from Labour councillor Elias Mattu, who represents Graiseley.

King was now focused on his education and wanted co complete his GCSEs, it was said. Lifting reporting restrictions that would have prevented the Express & Star naming the pair, the judge said: "Given the nature of these offences, it is in the public interest to have these matters reported.

"These are such grave offences that it sends out a message of deterrence if nothing else."

King was given a youth referral order for 18 months and ordered to be under supervision for a year.

He was also given a three-month curfew banning him from leaving home between 7pm and 7am.

Maitland was given a 12-month youth referral order and will undergo six months of intensive monitoring.

In addition, King was given a criminal anti-social behaviour order banning him from associating with Maitland and other named individuals.

King had no previous convictions while Maitland had a reprimand for theft.

Here is the full list of robberies carried out by the gang:

* December 22 — A 16-year-old waiting at Wolverhampton bus station had his wallet snatched from his coat by King at around 8pm.

When he asked for it back, other members of the gang became aggressive.

* December 23 — King and others targeted a man as he walked through the Midland Metro underpass in Wolverhampton city centre at around 7pm.

The victim was pulled by his shoulder, pushed up against a wall and held while one of the attackers demanded: "What have you got for me? Give me all your stuff."

The victim was then punched to the shoulder and eye before being searched by the group, which numbers six or seven.

His £250 phone was taken by King along with just £3 from his wallet.

MrPaul Reid, prosecuting, said: "The victim was very upset and had difficulty talking to the police about what had happened."

* December 28 — A 19-year-old victim boarded a bus in Wolverhampton city centre.

Once on the upper deck, the gang pounced and King punched him and took his £650 mobile phone.

The gang fled and a young girl who was on the bus with her mother was crying during the mugging, Mr Reid said.

* December 31 — A 19-year-old was in Walsall town centre with his girlfriend when he was approached by three robbers who demanded £2 from him.

He took out his wallet but the gang then demanded his phone. The victim fled and when caught by the group said they could take his belongings if they left his girlfriend alone.

He handed over £10 and his phone before being punched. The victim later picked out Maitland as being part of the gang.

The three then boarded a 529 bus bound for Walsall, where two 13-year-olds were targeted and one had his mobile phone grabbed.

The two were identified by CCTV images taken on the bus.