Knife-point robber jailed for life (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Knife-point robber jailed for life

11:22am Monday 12th February 2007 in Swindon By Gazette Reporter

A man with a history of robbery has been jailed for life for carrying out a knifepoint mugging.

Callum Brimson, 21, received the sentence of imprisonment for public protection with a two-year tariff after pleading guilty to the attack in Swindon in October last year.

His accomplice, 20-year-old Callum Hamilton, was jailed for three years for his part in the violent incident.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting at Swindon Crown Court on Friday, said Matthew Charles had gone out with friends Russell Dunn and Richard Bolt to have a drink in Old Town for a birthday celebration.

He said that none of them had been drinking heavily and were walking home past the Co-op on Groundwell Road at about 11pm when they saw two men by a telephone kiosk.

One of the pair asked the three if they had a cigarette and then 20p for the phone but realising the strangers were behaving oddly the trio started walking quicker.

But as they tried to get away Mr Charles and Mr Dunn were struck on the back of the legs with a wheel brace brandished by Hamilton.

"The three were effectively required to stop and if one can have two surrounding three that is what happened," Mr Meeke explained.

"Mr Brimson armed with a knife and Mr Hamilton with the wheel brace. Mr Brimson saying to add to the intimidation, I can't control him, he's a nutter'."

The co-defendants demanded the friends hand over bank notes and their mobile phones but as Mr Charles got out his wallet, which had Sterling and Euros in it, one of the attackers snatched it.

The attackers then left the scene and the three called the police. En route to the police station the victims spotted the attackers, who were arrested.

Both told police that they had found the money, including the Euros, but later admitted the offence.

Brimson, of Kingswood Avenue, and Hamilton, of Darnley Close, pleaded guilty to robbery.

The court heard while Hamilton had no previous convictions Brimson had a long list including a number of robberies and attempted robberies.

Jonathan Simpson, for Brimson, said his client's father left home when he was four years old and then died a few years later, leaving him without a positive male role model.

He then suffered behavioural and educational problems as well as ADHD and acts recklessly and impulsively.

Mr Simpson said that his client did not take the lead role in the robbery and was using the knife to try and stop his co-defendant continuing with the offence.

Mark Ashley, for Hamilton, said his client had no previous convictions and was influenced by Brimson.

He said he had been drinking on the night of the offence and was not the ringleader of what took place.

Passing sentence Judge Sean Overend said: "The two of you decided to get some money off who ever you could, who ever had the misfortune to come past you."

Passing the indeterminate term he told Brimson: "There is a considerable risk to the public of you committing other offences."

But he told Hamilton he felt he was influenced by the older man saying: "You fall into a completely different category to that of Mr Brimson because of your character."