A thug who demanded access to his victim's phone before driving him to a casino and forcing him to withdraw cash told him he was 'lucky' to work for a living.
Nyle Creegan, 21, and Carl Hart, 28, approached their victim while he was on a night out in Oldham town centre in the early hours of November 27 last year. After isolating him from his friends, Creegan threatened him with a knife, forcing him to hand over his phone, bank card and headphones, before the pair took him to a cash machine and made him withdraw £100.
The pair then drove their victim to a casino and told him to withdraw a further £50, before abandoning him. Minshull Street Crown Court heard Creegan told his victim: "You're lucky you work for a living. I'm 21 and I have to do this."
He then demanded £20, saying he'd 'get shanked up' otherwise.
Prosecuting, Laura Broome said the victim was standing outside the Up Steps Inn in Oldham town centre with his friends, deciding where to go next, at around 12.45am. The court heard the victim asked Creegan what he had said as he and Hart walked past, and this led to a 'confrontation'.
Creegan demanded access to the victim's phone, which he was 'too scared' to physically be able to unlock, Miss Broome said. He then took the victim's phone, headphones, bank card and driving licence at knifepoint, while threatening to use the weapon.
The court heard Hart and Creegan both then took the victim to a cash machine and forced him to withdraw £100, before then driving him to a casino, where Creegan - who was banned - waited outside. Hart entered the casino with the victim, and made him withdraw a further £50 before the pair left together, leaving the victim 'tearful'.
In a victim impact statement, the victim described how he 'avoided' Oldham town centre following the incident, describing money as 'something [he] can get back', but the 'emotional impact' as 'hard to deal with'.
The court heard Creegan was a 'young man' who was 'lightly convicted'. He wanted a 'different future', the court heard.
Defending Hart, Mark Fireman said there was 'no argument' that his client used the knife, and said that he hoped to go on to set a good example for his three-year-old child, reports the Manchester Evening News.
"The principle driver of this offence is not Mr Hart but Mr Creegan," he said. However, he did accept that Hart was in breach of an existing suspended sentence.
Creegan, of Picton Square, Oldham, previously pleaded guilty to robbery; and possession of a bladed article. Hart, of Woodpark Close, Oldham, pleaded guilty to robbery.
Sentencing, Recorder Michael Blakey said: "The victim says he feels vulnerable and stays out of the Oldham area. He is worried about what could happen to him."
He handed both defendants a sentence of three years, eight months.
