A teenager feared he would be stabbed when an armed raider tried to steal his motorbike outside a supermarket in South Shields. The incident happened on July 16 this year when the victim rode his motorbike to a Sainsbury's store.
As he pulled up, he noticed two men, one of whom, Stephen Hunter, approached and began asking about the bike. After removing his helmet and walking towards the shop, the youth said Hunter, who appeared under the influence of something, tried to block his path, getting so close he could smell his breath.
Knife Produced After Keys Demand
Hunter asked for the keys to the motorbike, but the victim refused. Kelly Clarke, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court that Hunter became more agitated. She said: "He reached into his waistband and pulled out what he thought was a knife."
"He could see the blade and he was in fear he would be stabbed. The defendant then said 'give us your f****** keys' and the complainant said no."
Hunter, 27, of Beach Road, South Shields, then kicked the bike over, causing scratches. The victim said that during the incident, the man with Hunter was discouraging him, telling him "pack it in you will get us locked up".
Arrest and Court Outcome
A taxi then arrived and both men got in and left. When Hunter was later arrested and shown footage of the offence, he laughed and said "well that's just criminal damage".
In a victim impact statement, the youth said: "This incident made me fearful for my personal safety because I truly thought I might have been stabbed and suffered a serious injury."
"This is due to the man showing me a knife and the way he presented. It made me feel vulnerable." "I now feel paranoid when riding my bike and more aware of my surroundings and people in the area. I fear something else might happen in future."
Hunter, who has 11 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and criminal damage. He was also in breach of a six-month suspended sentence for threatening someone with a knife. He was sentenced to three years suspended for two years with a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement.
Recorder Tony Hawks told him: "You are plainly a young man with a number of difficulties in your life. For that, I'm sorry, however that is no excuse for behaving in a violent and anti-social way towards people." "It is no consolation to the people you hurt or frighten or injure to know that you've got problems. You don't have to behave in this way."
