A teenage robber who brandished a suspected wheel brace at his victim and stole his fake Rolex watch has been spared prison.
Luke Welsh, 19, of Rusholm Close, Halewood, and his accomplices struck at about 3.40pm on December 10, 2020, on Lilac Avenue in Widnes when three men in their early 20s walked past a blue Mazda in which Welsh and others were prowling.
Lee Bonner, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court on Monday that one of the men on foot, Clyde Moran, thought he had forgotten something and stopped to rummage in his bag.
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The Mazda pulled up alongside him and one of the four males on board asked if the men on foot had any “weed”, and they replied “no”.
After driving on about 10 metres, the car stopped and reversed towards them.
Two men - one of them Welsh - emerged from the Mazda brandishing what appeared to be metal bars but on a closer look resembled wheel braces.
The robbers demanded Mr Moran's bag and he refused, “protesting there’s nothing in it”.
Mr Moran then tried to flee.
Mr Bonner said: “He ran towards a house for protection and they approached him, their weapons raised as if they were going to strike him, but not actually doing so, no physical contact occurred.”
When the robbers were within “touching distance”, he agreed to hand over his watch - a fake Rolex.
They ran off towards the Mazda.
A woman had come out of her house to see what was going on and later provided CCTV footage that showed the car in the location.
The Mazda was later found in a Showcase cinema car park, and the woman who had bought it provided more footage to the police.
Welsh and others were arrested and gave “no comment” answers in police interview and later pleaded guilty to one count of robbery.
Mr Bonner said the co-defendant, a "Mr Derbyshire", also 18 at that time, was sentenced to 21 months in a young offenders institution (YOI), suspended for two years.
Welsh had no previous convictions and was of previous good character.
No victim personal statements were provided to the court.
Judge David Swinnerton told Louise Santamera, defending, that he intended to suspend any sentence for Welsh, to which Ms Santamera replied she was “sure the defendant will be very pleased to hear that”.
She said Welsh had only “just turned 18” at the time of the offence, adding “it takes courage to face up to the consequences”.
The barrister said Welsh has been working in warehouses but has an offer of work via his girlfriend’s father’s groundworks company pending sentence.
Welsh has also become a father recently.
Judge Swinnerton sentenced Welsh to 15 months in custody, suspended for 18 months, alongside 200 hours of unpaid work and a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
He said Welsh’s DNA was found on the car door and on the weapon with which he “threatened” his victim.
Noting Welsh’s recent introduction to fatherhood, Judge Swinnerton said Welsh was “immature” and “young to be a father” but was “going to have to grow up fast if you’re going to be a decent father”.
Stepping back from passing an immediate sentence, he said: “I’m pleased to hear you’ve stayed out of trouble.
“The fact you’ve stayed out of trouble, before and since, enables me to suspend what will inevitably be a custodial sentence.”
