Roger Young was in Bournemouth with his wife Alexandra and friends John and Yvonne Read when Stuart Johnston approached them in their car at Turbary Retail Park in West Howe.
After opening a door, threatening the four pensioners with a 10-inch blade and demanding money, Johnston, 35, pulled Mr Read out of the driver’s seat of the car, got in and attempted to pull away. He was forced to flee when have-a-go hero Khilid Banani intervened.Hurrah! He'll be seeing the inside of...
Oh. Wait:
Johnston has pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery and threatening with a knife. He was sentenced to four years in prison, of which he is expected to serve two, by Judge Samuel Wiggs at Bournemouth Crown Court.
The judge also imposed a four-year extension, meaning Johnston, of no fixed abode, will be under licence for six years.
The incident on May 21 occurred just days after Johnston was released from prison. He has a record of 23 previous offences including wounding with intent in 1997, affray in 2001, robbery in 2007 and possessing a blade last year./facepalm
Mr Young, 67, who was on holiday with his wife and friends, slammed the sentence. He said: “We were expecting him to get about seven years, it is a shock to know that he will be back out on the streets after two. We were already disappointed with the Crown Prosecution Service because he got in the car and drove it off, with my wife in the back, that wasn’t just an attempted robbery.”It probably wouldn't have been if Judge Wiggs had been in the car. Or anyone from the CPS...
In mitigation, Charles Gabb said Johnston had received various certificates for his achievements in work programmes while in custody.Lamest...mitigation....EVAH!
Fern Russell, for the Crown, said Johnston was lucky the Volkswagen Tiguan switched the engine off when a seatbelt was undone, or he would have faced more severe charges.Yes, let's thank the automobile manufacturers - they, it seems, do a better job of keeping us safe by accident than our justice system does by design.
""the Volkswagen Tiguan switched the engine off when a seatbelt was undone, or he would have faced more severe charges""
ReplyDeleteIf your gun misfires, does that mean no crime has been comitted?
Just because it was thwarted...?
Friend of mine who lives in Jo'burg was the victim of an attempted car-jacking two years ago. With his left hand he fired four rounds from his Glock 40 into the lower abdomen of his would-be assailant.
ReplyDeleteNo more problems. He drove home safely.
"If your gun misfires, does that mean no crime has been comitted?
ReplyDeleteJust because it was thwarted...?"
Good point!
"No more problems. He drove home safely."
:D