Gang admits mugging man

Richard McKenzie, 21, of south London, Jelani Nicholson, 18, of Rolleston Street, Swindon, and a 15-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, all admitted robbing the man in Monkton Park on the evening of October 23.

Minutes earlier McKenzie, the 15-year-old and fourth man Justin Stewart-Nicholson, 20, of Kirkstall Close, Toothill, Swindon, tried to mug a 17-year-old in an alleyway behind Hardy's restaurant, near Emery Gate shopping centre, shortly after 5.30pm.

Nicholson also pleaded guilty to another attempted robbery on the same afternoon and Stewart-Nicholson admitted handling goods taken in the robbery.

The men were also charged with two other counts of attempted robbery on the same afternoon but pleaded not guilty to these.

The Crown Prosecution Service decided it wasn't in the public interest to have a trial for the two other attempted robberies as they had admitted the other offences.

A judge at Swindon Crown Court heard how the four youths first surrounded the 17-year-old behind Hardy's.

They made threats and searched his pockets and rucksack after demanding to see his mobile phone, which they laughed at for being 'old fashioned' telling him it wasn't worth anything.

Having left empty handed the group then went into Monkton Park where they approached 22-year-old Alexander Thompson, head-butting and punching him, and taking his CD walkman and mobile phone.

The case was adjourned for four weeks for pre-sentence reports on the four youths.

All four admitted a charge of attempt and all but admitted robbery, except for Stewart-Nicholson, who admitted handling stolen goods.

McKenzie was remanded in custody. Nicholson and Stewart-Nicholson were released on conditional bail.

The 15-year-old, who has admitted two other robberies and handling stolen goods, was also released on bail and the four are next due to appear at Swindon Crown Court for a plea and directions hearing.