This is Staffordshire -- THUG Matthew Wain broke a teenager's jaw before leaving a girl in tears when he robbed her phone. The 18-year-old was yesterday locked up for 27 months after he bullied his young victims. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Wain approached the group in London Road, Chesterton, and aggressively asked to use the 16-year-old boy's mobile. The victim said he did not have one but Wain accused him of lying. The defendant then demanded his victim's 15-year-old girlfriend hand over her phone. Prosecutor David Bennett said: "He was drunk and menacing. "The defendant used her phone for 10 minutes before handing it back, He then asked to use it again. "Some of the group were in fear of the defendant. He demanded the phone and the girl began to cry. The defendant threatened to hit the 16-year-old lad if she did not hand it over. "He did hit the lad. He and another youth threw punches at him. The girl threw her phone at the defendant who walked off with it." Wain also hit the girl leaving her with a cut lip. The male victim had swelling and bruising to his face and cuts inside his mouth. It was confirmed he had a fractured lower jaw the next day. The girl managed to get her phone back but it was missing its case and the sim card was snapped. Wain, of Laburnum Place, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to robbery and inflicting grievous bodily harm on July 19. Jason Holt, mitigating, said Wain regretted his actions and was genuinely concerned as to his victim's welfare. Mr Holt said: "He was split from his current partner. "He does not excuse his behaviour in any way by that. He accepts he had taken that badly and was drinking as a result. He tells me he has not been drinking since." Mr Holt added: "His actions were appalling. He showed himself to be a bully of people younger than him." Mr Holt conceded the offences crossed the custody threshold but asked Judge Paul Glenn to suspend the term. But the judge said the offences were so serious only immediate custody could be justified and he sentenced Wain to 27 months detention in a young offenders' institution. Judge Glenn said: "These were appalling offences. "When the girl refused to hand her phone over for the third occasion you told her you would beat her boyfriend. You proceeded to do that. "You encouraged the male with you to join in. It was two against one, you were the ringleader. That assault resulted in a fractured jaw. "It has had a profound effect on that young man."
Reported by This is 14 hours ago.
This is Staffordshire -- THUG Matthew Wain broke a teenager's jaw before leaving a girl in tears when he robbed her phone. The 18-year-old was yesterday locked up for 27 months after he bullied his young victims. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Wain approached the group in London Road, Chesterton, and aggressively asked to use the 16-year-old boy's mobile. The victim said he did not have one but Wain accused him of lying. The defendant then demanded his victim's 15-year-old girlfriend hand over her phone. Prosecutor David Bennett said: "He was drunk and menacing. "The defendant used her phone for 10 minutes before handing it back, He then asked to use it again. "Some of the group were in fear of the defendant. He demanded the phone and the girl began to cry. The defendant threatened to hit the 16-year-old lad if she did not hand it over. "He did hit the lad. He and another youth threw punches at him. The girl threw her phone at the defendant who walked off with it." Wain also hit the girl leaving her with a cut lip. The male victim had swelling and bruising to his face and cuts inside his mouth. It was confirmed he had a fractured lower jaw the next day. The girl managed to get her phone back but it was missing its case and the sim card was snapped. Wain, of Laburnum Place, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to robbery and inflicting grievous bodily harm on July 19. Jason Holt, mitigating, said Wain regretted his actions and was genuinely concerned as to his victim's welfare. Mr Holt said: "He was split from his current partner. "He does not excuse his behaviour in any way by that. He accepts he had taken that badly and was drinking as a result. He tells me he has not been drinking since." Mr Holt added: "His actions were appalling. He showed himself to be a bully of people younger than him." Mr Holt conceded the offences crossed the custody threshold but asked Judge Paul Glenn to suspend the term. But the judge said the offences were so serious only immediate custody could be justified and he sentenced Wain to 27 months detention in a young offenders' institution. Judge Glenn said: "These were appalling offences. "When the girl refused to hand her phone over for the third occasion you told her you would beat her boyfriend. You proceeded to do that. "You encouraged the male with you to join in. It was two against one, you were the ringleader. That assault resulted in a fractured jaw. "It has had a profound effect on that young man."
Reported by This is 14 hours ago.