Two thugs lured a victim with a false Facebook Marketplace advertisement before stealing £3,300 and slashing his dad's arms with a machete.
Jayden O’Donnell, 20, and Keenan Hilditch, 21, posted an ad for an e-bike worth thousands on the popular social media selling platform. But when they met their buyer, Hilditch produced a machete, that was believed to be 12” long, and took both the bike and the money.
The pair appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Friday (December 9), both charged with robbery. Hilditch was also charged with Section 20 assault and possession of a bladed article. They were both handed prison sentences after pleading guilty.
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The victim, who was accompanied by his girlfriend and father, had arranged to meet O'Donnell and Hilditch after he answered a Facebook Marketplace advertisement for a 2022 Surron LBX electric off-road bike, which was advertised on sale for £3600.
On arrival, he met with Hilditch, who told him O’Donnell was bringing the electric bike, which he later did. The victim brought £3300 with him – the amount he had negotiated with O’Donnell before agreeing to purchase. However, the victim pointed out that there wasn’t a charger with the bike. O’Donnell then cycled off and returned a short time later with a plastic bag, which he told him carried the charger.
The victim then tried to leave with the bike he had paid for, but Hilditch pulled a machete that is believed to have been 12 inches long on him, and left with the bike and the money. The victim's father tried to chase him, and after a confrontation, he received several large lacerations to his forearms, which weren’t serious but did require hospital treatment.
Hilditch, of Wardsend Walk, Hulme, was already on a suspended sentence for robbery. He pleaded guilty at his first hearing for robbery, Section 20 assault and possession of a bladed article, and received four years seven month’s imprisonment.
O’Donnell, of Ladywell Point, Pilgrims Way, in Salford, also pleaded guilty to robbery. He was handed a 22-month Detention and Training Order (DTO).
PC Sean Bell of GMP’s Xcalibre Task Force (XTF) said: “This was a pre-mediated robbery in which extreme violence was used on a father protecting his son from these thugs.
“This was a huge investigative effort from officers in Operation Valiant and Xcalibre Task Force knowing the areas in which they police very well and coming together to bring down this threat.
“Taking these two off the streets will protect other members of the public from further robberies.”
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