BB gun used to threaten group of park teenagers in Downend
TWO teenagers who used a BB gun to threaten youngsters have been warned to stay out of trouble.
Jason Marks and Daniel Hucker, both 18, along with a third male approached a group in Britannia Woods near Downend on July 26 last year.
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Marks produced a BB gun and demanded a mobile phone while Hucker egged his friend on.
Another teenager had a tin containing a pouch of tobacco taken, although it was returned to him.
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Marks, of Alexandra Park, Fishponds, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rob and robbery.
Hucker, of Cotterell Road, Eastville admitted assault with intent to rob.
Tara Wolfe, prosecuting, said the three men had gone to the park during the summer holidays and saw the group sitting on a grass verge.
"The defendants approached the group and started to joke about robbing them," Miss Wolfe said.
"Jason Marks produced a BB gun and told one of them to give him his phone which he refused to do.
"When he refused the BB gun was pointed directly into his face by Jason Marks and he said 'Do you really think this is not loaded?'
"Daniel Hucker was making derisory remarks.
"They then ordered all of them, except one girl, to empty their pockets. They took a pouch of tobacco which was returned after some had been taken.
"Friends of the boy being threatened asked them to stop and the girl asked them to leave them alone but they continued."
Miss Wolfe said the police were called and were told by the defendants it was only a "joke".
She said neither teenager had any previous convictions.
Jonathan Stanniland, defending Marks, said the subsequent result of his client's actions had been a "terrible shock" for him.
"He now understands how frightening it would have been for the youths he terrified in the woods," Mr Stanniland said.
"However this was very unpleasant bullying rather than serious criminal activity."
David Maunder, defending Hucker, said his client had only just turned 18 and on this occasion had behaved like a child rather than an adult.
"Both these boys were ignorant about the seriousness of what they had done," Mr Maunder said.
Judge David Ticehurst told them they were not "wicked criminals" but "little boys who had got involved in a dreadfully serious situation because of their foolishness".
Marks was given a 12-month community order with supervision and 100 hours unpaid work.
Hucker was given a 12-month youth rehabilitation order. Both men apologised to the judge.
Comments
by johnbristol3
Monday, October 08 2012, 9:55PM
“OurBads, take it you dont have kids, if you did and they were the one having the gun pointed at them what would you now be thinking about this sentance,
Regards "how many people have been killed by a BB gun , get a grip" just enter killed with BB gun into google , think you might change your mind slightly,
If i walked into a bank and pointed two finger from my jacket pocket and held it up, its still robbery ,
Until we start handing out sentances similar to that given to the tw-t who posted things on facebook regards two missing girls this country will continue to go to the dogs,
Do the crime , do the time ,”
by Ourbads
Monday, October 08 2012, 4:21PM
“Pyronaught - it was a BB gun, not an Uzi. Of course there is a difference, why do think the judge handed down the sentence that he did?”
by Ourbads
Monday, October 08 2012, 4:09PM
“Andy - how many people have been killed by BB guns? Get a grip.”
by Pyronaught
Monday, October 08 2012, 4:00PM
“@ Ourbads - what are you suggesting is the difference between the situations you describe? Both involve people who are out in public with an offensive weapon. Both 'hold up' a third party in order to rob them. both could have killed the third party with their weapon of choice. I simply fail to see what you are getting at with this 'common sense prevailed' attitude! If an 18 year old comes at you with a kife, and holds it to your throat, demanding your money, phone etc. Should he simply be told not to be a silly boy and allowed to potter off home again???”
by ANDYJRM
Monday, October 08 2012, 3:52PM
“@Pyronaught - agreed.
Pointing a gun in someone's face is not a teenage prank. It's not even in the realms of misguided youthful stupidity such as smashing bus shelters. It's a deliberate, considered act that had potential to kill.
Absolutely ridiculous sentencing here. Back in the day, these would have been sent to borstal. Maybe if they are so keen to play with guns, they could join the Army and have some sense knocked into them by real men.”
by Ourbads
Monday, October 08 2012, 3:51PM
“..or even a masked man, or a masked mad man.”
by Ourbads
Monday, October 08 2012, 3:50PM
“Pyronaught
I am saying common sense prevailed.
Are you saying that these kids deserved the same punishment that a masked mad who holds up a post office with a sawn off shotgun would receive?
This was bullying and stupid - and in my opinion the sentences reflected the offence.”
by Pyronaught
Monday, October 08 2012, 3:38PM
“@ Ourbads - are you missing the point here? This is not 'something stupid' - they committed armed robbery. What did you do when you were 18 that was 'a bit stupid'? Rape? GBH? Just what the hell constitutes a crime to your strange way of thinking??”
by Ourbads
Monday, October 08 2012, 1:08PM
“Blimey, the hang 'em high brigade are out in force. These kids (18 yr olds are kids IMO) didn't have any previous convictions, so this seems to be a sensible resolution.
Better than sending them straight to prison, at a huge expense to taxpayers, and for them to be properly schooled in criminality inside.
I take it none of you done anything stupid when you were 18?”
by ANDYJRM
Monday, October 08 2012, 12:43PM
“Pity some decent onlookers weren't there or we might have had an armed response and dealt with these rat boys on a more permanent basis.”