Teenagers convicted of robbery (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Teenagers convicted of robbery

9:01am Monday 28th January 2008 in Swindon

DETECTIVES have issued a strong warning that they will come down hard on violent thugs after two teenagers were convicted of a vicious robbery.

Roilan Dunster and Luke Watkins, both 18, appeared at Swindon Crown Court last week charged with a robbery from last July.

Dunster and Watkins were with three other men in a car travelling along Princes Street in Swindon when they stopped the vehicle and approached three friends walking along the pavement.

They ordered them to lie on the floor and demanded cash and valuables.

The three men, two aged 18 and one aged 21, handed over wallets and a mobile phone.

Dunster then separated the 21-year-old from his friends and punched him in the face causing heavy bleeding and a broken jaw.

Dunster, Watkins and the three men who were with them then got back in the car and drove off.

The pair were arrested hours after the robbery while walking home along Princes Street.

In court, Dunster, of Grange Park, was convicted of robbery and grievous bodily harm with two other counts of robbery left on file.

He was sentenced to three and a half years in a young offenders' institution.

Watkins, of Willington Road, was given one year in prison, suspended for two years, after being convicted of robbery with two further counts of robbery left on file. Det Sgt Pete Ritson, who heads the Swindon police robbery squad, said: "These convictions are a continuation of the excellent work done by Swindon CID officers.

"We are determined to ensure people can feel safe making their way home after enjoying a night out."

And Det Sgt Ritson said he expected the number of convictions for similar offences to increase due to the creation of a dedicated robbery team in the town.

He said: "Since this offence took place a team has been set up which concentrates on the investigation of robberies.

"This type of crime often has lasting effects for the victims.

"Having valuables taken from you by force, while knowing that a friend is being beaten as in this case, is a very frightening experience and can seriously damage people's confidence for a long time to come.

"We want the people of Swindon to know that we are doing everything possible to ensure their safety by bringing offenders of this type of crime to justice as quickly as possible."