Judges locks up Bradford street robbery trio (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Judges locks up Bradford street robbery trio

11:00am Wednesday 9th May 2012 in Bradford By Tanya O'Rourke

Three men have been locked up for a total of more than six years for their involvement in a chain of Bradford street robberies.

Joshua Bain, 20 of Fagley Place, Bradford, Bruce Mpofu, 19, of Tannett Green, West Bowling, and Byron Coyle, 21, of Holme Top Lane, Bradford, appeared in the dock at Bradford Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced for their roles in the offences.

The court heard that on August 12 last year Bain and Mpofu shouted at and chased two victims before Bain repeatedly demanded that the phone of one of the victims, a 15-year-old, was given to him. He did not get the phone.

The incident happened shortly after an altercation between the pair and an 18-year-old man, whose iPod was smashed. And two days later, the court heard, Bain and Mpofu threatened two 13-year-old boys who handed over their phones because they were scared.

Recorder Robin Mairs said: “This was an offence committed against vulnerable victims by the two of you acting as a group, and these are aggravating features.”

Bain, while on bail for those offences in January this year, committed another robbery, punching and kneeing his victim. Coyle joined in the robbery, the court was told, kicking the victim to the chest before his phone was taken.

Bain was sentenced to a total of three years and three months in a young offenders’ institution, Mpofu was sentenced to 22 months and Coyle was locked up for 14 months.

The court had received a letter in support of Mpofu from his mother. The judge was told Bain was a caring father and that Coyle had been foolish to get involved in an argument that had nothing to do with him.

All three had pleaded guilty to charges against them at a previous hearing.

Speaking after yesterday’s sentencing hearing, Bradford South Detective Inspector Nicola Bryar, said that the victims had predominantly been targeted for their mobile phones.

She said: “Unfortunately, there can only be one outcome for people who use such tactics on the streets of Bradford, finding their pants squarely behind bars.

“Tackling robberies remains a priority for the police and today’s sentence should serve as a clear warning to others considering doing the same.”