Youth detained after handing himself in over assaults

A TEENAGER from Leamington with a record for violence took part in two robberies which left one of his victims with a fractured jaw, a judge has heard.

But violent Manjinder Jayla had a twinge of conscience and went to the police to confess after hearing two other people had been arrested for the attacks.

Jayla, 16, of Ridill Grove, Sydenham, was sentenced to four years detention after he pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to two charges of robbery.

Prosecutor Sally Cairns said that on March 15 a man was talking to his girlfriend on his mobile phone as he was walking home along Tachbrook Road in Leamington, at shortly after midnight.

As he turned into Gas Street he felt a blow to the back of his head, and when he turned round he saw someone with a scarf over his face.

He was then punched in the face, knocking him to the ground where he was kicked to the head and body by four people, all with their faces covered, as they demanded his phone and wallet.

His attackers went through his pockets and took his wallet, containing bank cards and £70 in cash, his phone and his i-Pod before walking him off leaving him on the ground.

Then on April 10, a 26-year-old man was walking along the canal towpath from Tachbrook Road at about 11pm when he saw four young men coming in the opposite direction.

They demanded cigarettes and then attacked him, during which he blacked out, and the next thing he could recall was being at a nearby house from there the police had been called.

The robbers had taken his i-Phone, a CD and his cigarettes, and he suffered a fractured jaw for which he had to have screws inserted during surgery under general anaesthetic.

The victim says the incident has left him feeling very vulnerable when out alone.

Some time later Jayla later went to Leamington police station to hand himself in – but it was closed, so he gave his details to someone over an intercom and was then arrested at his home.

Of the first incident he said he and three friends had planned to rob someone in a dark place and split the proceeds, and one of them had first hit him with a metal object.

Jayla, who at one point said that had been him, said he punched the man twice when he turned round, knocking him to the floor, and the others had then gone through his pockets.

Of the second robbery, he said one of the others had landed the first punch, and he had then joined in.

Miss Cairns said Jayla had previous convictions for violence, and in November 2010 was given a youth rehabilitation order for wounding after kicking a man to the head, causing a two-inch gash, but breached the order three times.

Martin Groves, defending, said Jayla was ashamed of his behaviour, and had turned himself in because he felt guilty

other people had been arrested for something he had done.

Sentencing Jayla, Judge Alan Parker told him: “You surrendered yourself to the police and accepted your responsibility, but I’m afraid the offences are so serious that I cannot do anything other than imposes a sentence of detention on you.”

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