TWO TEENAGERS who carried out a terrifying car-jacking in Bradford and then posted a video clip on social media have both been locked up by a judge.
Judge Jonathan Rose said the pair, who were both only 16 at the time, had been “boasting” about the crime on social media while their victim was dealing with the consequences of being robbed of her Audi worth over £40,000.
Bradford Crown Court heard today (Thurs) how the estate agent had gone to the Frogmoor Avenue area on February 5 to meet a tenant, but after she had wound down her window one of the teenagers leaned in and grabbed her car keys.
After a struggle the teenager told the complainant to get out of the Audi and he got into the driver’s seat.
Prosecutor Georgina Coade said both teenagers were wearing balaclavas and the second robber asked if the car had a tracker.
“It appears they had arrived at the scene in a BMW because CCTV from a property nearby showed the car being driven away in convoy with the BMW which had been stolen in a burglary the day before,” said Miss Coade.
She said the stolen Audi had never been recovered, but both teenagers were arrested two days later.
The court heard that a mobile phone was seized by police and a video clip from a social media post was found which showed one of the duo, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, driving the stolen Audi.
Miss Coade said the complainant identified the car from the video, but the teenagers both said they wouldn’t have committed such a crime.
In a victim impact statement the woman said she feared getting another vehicle in case that was taken and she no longer showed prospective tenants around properties.
The youths, now both 17, admitted the robbery charge, but the court heard that one of them had gone on to commit a series of other crimes including two attempted house burglaries, handling a stolen vehicle, going equipped for burglary and fraud after being released on bail by a judge.
Judge Rose was told that both teenagers had difficulties in their upbringing and solicitor advocate Safter Salam said his client had been committing offences since the age of 12.
The 17-year-old who had committed further offences after the robbery was sentenced to a total of three years detention and his co-accused on the robbery was locked up for 18 months.
“I have read in each of your cases detailed reports setting out your backgrounds and no human being could fail to be moved by what I have read and I accept that each of you in dissimilar and similar ways have been disadvantages in your upbringing,” said Judge Rose
“I am quite satisfied that what has happened in your formative years has affected your behaviour over the years to the point that each of you have criminal records far too long for young men of your age.”
But the judge said their upbringing could not be used repeatedly adding:”It isn’t a get out of jail card.”
Judge Rose said the use of another stolen car and the balaclavas were evidence of pre-planning.
“She was sat in her car. She was vulnerable by being alone, by reason of her gender and because she was sitting down and you gave her no opportunity to make an escape or avoid what was coming,” he told the teenagers.
“It isn’t just about the car,” said the judge.
“It’s the fear that she can now no longer do the job because of the fear that it would happen again.”
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