Wakefield police inspector in takeaway nets two career crooks

Leeds Crown Court heard Christopher Boughey and Nathan Stokes struck as Leon Keaton was walking through Thornes Park in Wakefield on January 10 listening on headphones to his iPod.

One of them grabbed him by the jumper and when he tried to pull away the other punched him in the face, said Simon Haring, prosecuting.

Both then began punching him and when he doubled over and fell to the ground he was kicked in the ribs before one produced a Stanley knife and demanded his property, threatening to cut his face if he did not comply.

They took his headphones and iPod and left when he said he had no money. He was able to report the attack and give descriptions when another member of the public let him use his phone.

Later that night the pair of robbers tried to sell the goods in a takeaway in Westgate and by chance a police inspector was buying a meal at the time. When he was informed soon after at work about the robbery he ordered the CCTV from the premises to be viewed and the pair were identified.

Boughey had been released from prison on January 7 on licence from a term imposed for burglary, while Stokes only had a couple of days to go on his licence from another sentence.

James Littlehales, representing the pair, said both were “heavily in drink” that night. Boughey said he remembered little of what had happened but accepted he must have been the one with the Stanley knife since he had found it in his pocket.

Stokes was disappointed at having kept out of trouble for nine months since his last release that he was again in the dock.

Boughey, 24, of Potter Avenue, Lupset, Wakefield, was jailed for four years and Stokes, 22, of Intake Lane, Stanley, Wakefield, was jailed for three and a half years after they each admitted robbery.

Sentencing them, Judge Sally Cahill said it was a serious offence. “This was a robbery at 11.30pm when the two of you attacked a man on his own. Having grabbed him and manhandled him, you punched him and took his iPod, one of you having produced a Stanley knife and threatened him with it, for him it would have been a terrifying experience.”

She accepted the offence was not planned but both had bad records, Boughey having appeared on 28 occasions for 59 offences while Stokes had been at court on 13 occasions for 23 offences.