Teenage car key robber stabbed mother 10 times on high street
A teenage robber stabbed a mother up to ten times while trying to steal her car just moments after she had dropped her child at nursery in Tipton, a court heard.
The knife-wielding attacker – who has struck a number of times before across the Black Country even targeting one pregnant woman – has now been locked up for six years and branded a ‘danger to the public’ by a judge at sentence.
The victim had just left her two-year-old at nursery when she was targeted by the 17-year-old attacker in Tipton High Street, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
The teenager, who lives in West Bromwich, drew a knife as he grabbed hold of her and warned she would be stabbed if she did not give him the key, explained Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting.
An eye witness, on March 29 at around 7am, estimated the attacker delivered up to ten blows as the terrified woman bravely refused to follow the attacker’s demands, sought refuge in a butcher’s shop while a member of staff chased off the youth, the court was told.
Although none of her injuries were life threatening they needed stitching, continued Mr Searle who revealed: “She thought she might have been killed, suffers flashbacks and has developed a stutter.”
The culprit had staged a knifepoint robbery three days earlier when he ambushed a man carrying shopping home from the boot of his £4,000 Peugeot and stabbed him several times in the stomach to make him drop the keys to the car which was driven away.
The victim was wearing heavy clothing and the blade did not cut through.
On March 10 the knife-wielding youth had forced a pregnant woman to hand over £300 after ordering her to give up valuables in Coseley.
The defendant, who had five previous convictions for robbery, admitted wounding with intent, two robberies and an attempted robbery.
He was given six years detention with three years longer supervision than normal on release after serving at least two thirds of his sentence behind bars.
Judge Peter Barrie told him: “In the light of your previous offences you should be treated as a dangerous offender.”
