What judge told 'lawless' teens as he locked them up for 'petrifying' robbery

It was in the early hours of January 6 that Troy Pemberton-Bailey and Santia Ricketts brandished a Rambo knife and machete respectively as they robbed a former associate after visiting under the pretence of wanting to catch up with him.

Ricketts, 17, admitted robbery and possessing a machete on the day of his trial at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court in March. 16-year-old Pemberton-Bailey was convicted of robbery and possession of a Rambo knife. However, he appealed his conviction, before admitting robbery on the day his appeal was heard at the city's crown court in May, while the possession charge was withdrawn.

Speaking in courtroom four at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Jonathan Gosling said the pair targeted the former gang member in a planned attack that left their teenage victim petrified, as he detained them for a combined total of more than 13 years.

Judge Jonathan Gosling's comments

"These two defendants are to be sentenced in respect of an armed robbery and, in the case of Santia, the continued possession of a knife after the principal offence. Santia pleaded guilty to both offences in the magistrates court. He was committed for sentence to this court. Troy pleaded not guilty in the magistrates court but was convicted of both offences against him (he at that time also facing an offence of continued possession of a knife after the principal offence). He too was committed for sentence on both offences, but appealed his conviction.

"The appeal resolved without evidence: He abandoned his appeal against conviction on the robbery, and the prosecution accepted his not guilty plea for possession of the knife, and that charge was dismissed. The basis for that resolution is that by the time they were apprehended by the police in a taxi shortly after the robbery, Troy no longer had possession of his weapon – he must have disposed of it at some stage before the taxi was stopped. He is therefore to be sentenced only for the principal offence.

"The victim used to be a member of a street gang to which both defendants remained loyal. The victim had, to his credit, abandoned his gang membership and moved on, severing ties with his former associates.

"As is widely known, those who break ranks are often the target of revenge and retribution by other gang members. And that was behind these offences. The two defendants tricked their way in to his home late at night, on the pretext of having an innocent catch up.

"Once in, they became aggressive, telling him that he was not doing what he should for the gang, organising the provision of weapons and cars. He was also accused, falsely, of owing the gang money. These were pretexts on which the defendants could intimidate and terrify the boy.

"Each produced a knife. That in the hands of Santia was later recovered from the taxi. It is a fearsome looking weapon, properly described as a machete and capable, of course, of causing very serious injury.

"The weapon in the hands of Troy was worse.

"It was described as a Rambo knife, a particularly vicious weapon easily available to, and favoured by, street gang members. They are designed to inflict maximum injury. The victim describes this knife as having an 18” sharp double blade. Troy grabbed him by the face and held the knife to his neck, touching his skin and, although I have not seen the photograph, according to a police officer who later saw the boy, leaving a visible mark on his neck.

"He was told not to scream – his mother was in an adjoining bedroom – and the defendants picked up the very high-value clothing they knew the boy would have in his room. They also stole his iPhone and PlayStation. They made off from the house with the property, valued at many hundreds of pounds.

"This was a very well-planned attack. The defendants had made arrangements to meet the boy in advance, in his own home, in the early hours of the morning. They had armed themselves for the purpose. They had arranged a taxi to take them to and from the scene, a considerable distance from their own homes.

"The victim was absolutely petrified that they would seriously wound him. As they were leaving he rushed into his mother’s room in deep shock and obvious terror.

"He has made a victim personal statement which sets out vividly the serious effect the incident has had on him and his family. He has felt completely vulnerable and exposed to further attack. The family are having to move from their address to a safer environment. The psychological effect on him, and indeed his mother, has been profound and is unlikely to abate in the near future. He knows, as everybody does, the danger to which he is now subjected as a result of the arrest and prosecution of these two gang members.

"I have no doubt at all that these defendants expected to get away with this brazen attack. They were secure in the knowledge that gang members, even former gang members, are so fearful of the consequences of speaking out, and identifying the offenders, that they will not do so even when subjected to extreme threats and intimidation such as this.