Locked up: 'Lawless' teenage gang members tricked way into boy's home before knifepoint robbery

Both were sentenced for robbery at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday, with Ricketts also punished for possession of a bladed article in a public place.

The court heard how Pemberton-Bailey had got in touch with their teenage victim on the evening of January 5, saying he wanted "hook up" after not seeing him for some time. The victim agreed and sent his address, before Pemberton-Bailey and Ricketts arrived around 45 minutes later.

Mr Robert Tolhurst, prosecuting, said that the "mood turned ugly", with the victim being accused of owing money and challenged over dropping out of a gang.

The two robbers then produced a machete and Rambo-type knives. Pemberton-Bailey then held his weapon - described as having an 18” sharp double blade - to the victim's face as they hold him to "keep quiet and not to scream" before putting his belongings in a bag.

The victim managed to wake his mother as the two robbers made their way to a taxi outside. The court heard how she managed to tell the driver to stay, prompting Pemberton-Bailey and Ricketts to run from the scene.

Ricketts was later arrested in another taxi, with a machete found under a seat while Pemberton-Bailey, who was seen throwing the PS5 away, was caught at his mother's address. The second weapon was never recovered.

In a victim impact statement, the teenage boy said their actions had "traumatised" him, and he feels he's "not been able to trust people" since the robbery.

"They came into my home and did this to me," he said, explaining that he had "tried to get away from these people and the lifestyle they live" in the years before the robbery.

He continued to say the ordeal has left him and his mother with anxiety.

"I don't really want to go out," he said. "I feel worried and anxious. I only go out if I really need to and someone is with me."

Judge Jonathan Gosling was told how Ricketts admitted robbery and possessing a knife on the day of his trial at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court in March, while Pemberton-Bailey was convicted of the same offences. The 16-year-old then lodged an appeal against the verdicts, later admitting robbery at the crown court as the prosecution agreed to drop the possession of a bladed article charge.

Sentencing the pair - who sat in docks in separate courtrooms - the judge said they tricked their way into the victim's house late at night "on the pretext of having an innocent catch-up".

"Once in, they became aggressive, telling him that he was not doing what he should for the gang, organising the provision of weapons and cars," he said. "He was also accused, falsely, of owing the gang money.

"These were pretexts on which the defendants could intimidate and terrify the boy. Each produced a knife.

"That in the hands of Santia was later recovered from the taxi. It is a fearsome looking weapon, properly described as a machete and capable, of course, of causing very serious injury.

"The weapon in the hands of Troy was worse. It was described as a Rambo knife, a particularly vicious weapon easily available to, and favoured by, street gang members. They are designed to inflict maximum injury.

The judge added: "This was a very well-planned attack. The defendants had made arrangements to meet the boy in advance, in his own home, in the early hours of the morning. They had armed themselves for the purpose. They had arranged a taxi to take them to and from the scene, a considerable distance from their own homes.

"I have no doubt at all that these defendants expected to get away with this brazen attack. They were secure in the knowledge that gang members, even former gang members, are so fearful of the consequences of speaking out, and identifying the offenders, that they will not do so even when subjected to extreme threats and intimidation such as this."

The court was told that Pemberton-Bailey has four previous convictions for six offences, made up of four robberies, one possession of a bladed article in a private place and possession of an imitation firearm. Ricketts has one conviction for possession of a knife in a public place and possession of crack cocaine.

Barristers representing the pair argued neither should be locked up.

Judge Gosling noted that Pemberton-Bailey only admitted robbery at his appeal and that he showed no remorse, not properly owning his actions until the day of sentencing.

He also said the 16-year-old "played the leading role" in the robbery.

"He also has a substantial record of serious violence despite his youth," said the judge.

"The motivation behind the principle offence was enforcement of the assumed status of both defendants as members of a violent street gang."

At their sentencing on Thursday, Judge Gosling lifted reporting restrictions, allowing the Express & Star to name the defendants.

After representations from defence counsels, in which they said naming the pair would have adverse affects for them, the judge concluded: "I do not see that, in their particular circumstances, their welfare will be remotely adversely affected. Each will soon achieve majority, and in any event are likely to be receiving an immediate sentence of custody of such a length that neither will be in the community until well into their adult years."

Pemberton-Bailey was sentenced to eight years detention, the judge ruling he had higher culpability, while Ricketts was given a custodial sentence of five years and two months.

Judge Gosling added: "You each had knives, and went to his house to threaten him and rob him of valuable clothes and other things of his. You didn’t think you would get caught, because you were sure he wouldn’t dare report you to the police out of fear of getting even worse from you.

"You have both been leading lawless lives for some years now, members of a ruthless street gang and used to delivering, as well as receiving, serious violence.

"Some of your friends, the same age as you, have died in rival gang warfare. It is a terrible fact of modern city life. You have to be severely punished for what you did, and only a very long sentence is."

Both teenagers, from Birmingham, must serve half their sentences before being released on licence.