Daylight robbery of schoolboy in Rotherham town centre

Two of the victim’s tormentors — including a teenaged mum — held the 16-year-old while a 14-year-old boy punched him several times before the victim's pockets were rifled.

Donna Duke (19), of Ferham Road, Masbrough was one of the pair who grabbed the teenager's wrists while he was mugged in Wellgate.

She admitted robbery and was jailed for 16 months by Judge Peter Kelson at Sheffield Crown Court.

Her 17-year-old boyfriend who was also involved, has absconded, and the 14-year-old was earlier given a referral order at Rotherham Youth Court.

Ms Kath Goddard, prosecuting, said the victim had been walking home with his 12-year-old sister, having visited his grandmother to wish her Happy Birthday.

He became aware of a group of three hanging around some shops and recognised them as part of a group who had been bullying him since he moved to the area.

They had been calling him names and intimidating him and he tried to speed up to seek sanctuary in Wellgate House.

But the trio followed him and cornered him and while Duke and her partner held the boy the 14-year-old began punching him.

The attack was captured on CCTV cameras and Duke was identified because she was wearing a distinctive jacket with the hood pulled up partially covering her face.

Mr Richard Veni, mitigating, said Duke, who has a 17-month-old son, arrived after the 14-year-old began punching the victim and he had been the primary aggressor.

She had no prior knowledge of the attack and had tried to stop it but she was told to hold the boy's wrists by her boyfriend and the youngest boy stole the phone, Mr Veni said.

In a probation report, Duke said the robber knew the victim and she had told the 14-year-old to stop hitting the teeanger.

She said it had been “unplanned and impulsive” and the robber had sold the phone for £10, before using the cash to buy heroin.

Duke, who was said to have potentially mild learning difficulties, was in shock following the incident on the afternoon of Valentine’s Day this year and went home and told her mother what had happened, Mr Veni said.

She admitted being under the influence of heroin at the time, to which she had recently been introduced, but had not used it since.

Judge Kelson made her subject to a restraining order banning Duke from having any contact with the victim or going within 250 yards of him for the next ten years.

“This robbery was a mean robbery and is a street robbery with aggravating factors,” said the judge.

The younger boy had decided to rob the victim and Duke chose to join in, Judge Kelson said.

“Your victim was with a child and could not run away,” said the judge.

“It was daylight robbery and was group activity, you had your face partially concealed and you targeted a victim due to his vulnerability.

“You involved yourself in a serious street robbery.”