manchester news
Friday, 4th November 2005
Police end a ‘one-boy’ crime wave
Miles Skinner POLICE have nabbed a 15-year-old who led a street gang’s reign of terror.
The young Fallowfield hoodlum roamed the streets leading a posse of five other thugs, threatening passers-by with knives and guns.
He was jailed for four years after a string of robberies in which he and his gang terrorised students on the streets of south Manchester.
Police believe the sentence will lead to a huge reduction in the levels of muggings and intimidation faced by students daily.
The crime spree was launched when the boy, who cannot be named or pictured for legal reasons, was just 14.
Greater Manchester Police identified the gang of 14 to 16-year-olds after launching Operation Rakanda on the back of tip-offs from intimidated residents.
Detective Inspector Steve Eckersley, who runs the robbery unit for south Manchester, headed a small team investigating the incidents.
It took nine months from the tip-off to the sentence and he hailed the arrest and sentence as a warning that youth is no excuse for crime.
"People who think they are too young for proper punishment are often wrong, as this result proves," he said
"The gang and this boy in particular demonstrate a propensity for the kind of violence we are trying to stamp out."
DI Eckersley added: "Thankfully we can’t describe the age of these offenders and the particular nature of these incidents as usual.
"But it does happen all too often, and we’re very pleased with the outcome.
"We would warn students, and anyone, to use flashy phones with discretion. Be wiser than the criminals."
One victim, who was threatened with a knife before two of the gang stole her purse, told of her relief that at least one of her attackers is behind bars.
Twenty-two-year-old Chinese student Wei Ling Xu said: "I was terrified when they attacked me.
"It was a frightening experience which left me shaking.
"I cannot believe how young they were. They should be at home playing, not pulling knives on people in the street."
Miss Xu added: "I am very glad the police have succeeded in seeing him in prison - now I can put it all behind me."
The youth, who only turned 15 in June, was arrested in May, before being charged with three robbery offences, two charges of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear and violence, and a count of theft on June 10, 2005.
He was remanded into custody and on Wednesday, October 26, the youth reappeared for sentence at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.
He asked for a further six offences to be taken into consideration and was sentenced to four years in prison.
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