The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A man who stole an iPhone from a 17-year-old youth after he was beaten up by his friend at Spalding railway station was given a last chance to avoid custody.
Conner McKue, 21, stood away from his friend as he kicked and punched the victim during the attack on 12 February last year.
Lincoln Crown Court heard the incident was caught on CCTV and showed McKue’s friend taking the victim’s watch before leaving the scene.
He was not charged in relation to the incident, the court was told.
McKue could then be seen approaching the victim while he was still on the floor and taking his iPhone.
He then threw the iPhone on the ground and volunteered his identity to the police when they attended.
During interview McKue, of Viscount Close, Spalding, admitted his involvement and pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery at the first opportunity.
Chris Jeyes, mitigating, said the CCTV clearly showed McKue was not involved in the violence and was looking away when his friend attacked the youth.
Mr Jeyes told the court McKue had complied well with a previous community order made on him for two burglaries.
The court heard McKue had previously been in care and was vulnerable to the influence of other young men.
Passing sentence Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told McKue she had previously sentenced him for the burglary matters.
The Judge said: “Your heart must have sunk when you saw it was me who was sentencing you again. But I see you got here early and have sat quietly.”
However Judge Sjolin Knight said she could step back from a custodial sentence on McKue because of his positive mitigation and the fact he was not involved in the violence.
McKue was sentenced to a two year community order and must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
After passing sentence Judge Sjolin Knight said: “Please Mr McKue I don’t want to see you again.”
